LOG: Kiraku and Echizen Part 3/3
Who: Echizen and Kiraku (and Minamoto)
When: Monday 23rd.
Where: School mostly.
Summary: Echizen and Minamoto have it out, and a still pissed off Kiraku yells at them. They get detention. And things just evolve from there~
Warning/Rating: PG-13
Player Comments: This was a long time in the making, and will take a few posts to get posted. So sorry for the spam!
Comments/Crits Allowed: Of course~
Kiraku fumbled with the key he had that would let him into his family's condo. His palms were sweaty and he was having trouble keeping a good grip on the key because of it. Not to mention, his hand kept shaking and he couldn't get it to stop. A fact that Minamoto noticed as he stood silently behind the boy. He could see that his friend was scared of what might possibly be waiting for him on the other side of the door. His mother? His father? Both of them? Maybe Minamoto's father was there also? Wherever Kiraku's father was, more often than not, his own father was usually close by. Or perhaps all of their parents were there. Considering how late it had gotten, and the fact that none of them had bothered to answer their cell phones, it was quite possible that each of their parents had called one another looking for their children and were now all gathered here angrily awaiting them. And what would they say to them? What would they do as punishment? Would they be grounded? Or forced to stay away from each other and not allowed to speak with one another for who knew how long?
Minamoto didn't like the thought of any of that, and he was the one who regularly got detention. He could only imagine how Kiraku felt about it. So in an effort to try and calm his best friend down and lend him some support, Minamoto silently reached around Kiraku and grabbed ahold of the trembling hand still fighting with the key. Almost immediately, the shaking ceased as hoped. However, the reason for it stopping appeared to be different than expected. Because a moment later, Kiraku tugged against his hold, trying to pull his hand away. "...Let go." He muttered softly in irritation before yanking his hand free of the other boy's grip and then proceeding to open the door.
"Kiraku Yasuyuki!" Kiraku had barely set foot into the house, when the angry voice of his mother suddenly rang through the air, making him flinch and instantly freeze again where he stood. Minamoto flinched in surprise as well upon hearing the unusually unhappy-sounding tone in the woman's voice. "Where in the world have you been?! I have been trying to call you nonstop for the past two hours! Why haven't you been answering your phone?! I've been worried sick!!" As Kiraku pushed the door, Tsumako came into view, wearing what was quite possibly one of the unhappiest faces Minamoto had ever seen on the woman. Thankfully, as he scanned the rest of the room, it was made obvious that she was alone and he let out a silent breath of relief knowing that his own parents weren't also waiting there. But even so, the woman he had come to think of as a second mother currently looked furious and it quickly became obvious why Kiraku was frightened to walk inside the house. Even now, the other boy looked pale again and was avoiding eye contact with his mother.
"Answer me, young man!" Tsumako shouted further making both Kiraku and Minamoto flinch again. "Did you completely forget after all the times I reminded you that you were supposed to meet with your father at the Sunshine 60 building this afternoon?! Because you weren't there, your father had to cancel his plans and he might not be given another chance to speak with those people! He is furious with you right now! Now tell me what exactly you have been doing this entire time?!" It was at that moment that it suddenly dawned on Minamoto exactly why Kiraku had been so upset and what exactly they had done.
"It was my fault, Kiraku-san," spoke up a voice from behind Yasuyuki and Minamoto. Till that point Echizen had been very quiet. Even during their walk he'd said nothing and done nothing except bring up the rear. He'd watched and he'd waited, and more importantly he'd been thinking all of this time. And what he'd realised had came as something of a shock to him. This whole thing was *stupid*. Ridiculously, completely and utterly stupid beyond all rational belief. Fighting with his boyfriend, and all because of what? Because he couldn't get along with Minamoto? So the hell what? Not everyone in the world could get along with their boy/girlfriends friends, or their parents. So why did this time have to be such a Big Deal? Echizen had realised that, as soon as he was able, he needed to get Minamoto away from Yasuyuki, sit him down, and tell him to grow up. That they needed to settle their differences or else just get used to each other, because clearly neither had any intention of leaving Yasuyuki's side. And for his sake, Echizen and Minamoto needed to come to some agreement.
Because now Echizen knew just how much he cared about the other boy. He knew and he had no intention of letting that go. It would be the stupidest thing he'd ever done. And it didn't matter to him how young they were, if it felt right then what was the harm? Echizen had never felt more right about anything else in his life.
So when they'd walked up to the Kiraku's condo and Yasuyuki had struggled with the key and the lock, Echizen had struggled with the need to help. Something Minamoto did not, and was told off for doing. Once the door was open, Yasuyuki's mother was on them in an instant, anger plain in her voice. And fear plain in Yasuyuki's. Echizen stepped forward, carefully moving his boyfriend to the side as he came up to the front. The shortest of the three, but he looked Tsumako directly in the eyes. "I'm sorry. A stupid mistake lead to us all getting detention after school. We weren't allowed to use our cell phones so couldn't take the calls and we couldn't get away. It wasn't Yasuyuki's fault, he was just caught in the crossfire and Ishikawa-sensei didn't care about the difference. I'm... very sorry." He wasn't sure if his apology was going to work or not, but he needed to try. And it was the truth. Yasuyuki wasn't to blame for being absent, not calling or for even getting the detention in the first place. He'd just been in the wrong place and the wrong time, and he didn't need to be punished further for it. Echizen's lips twitched into a small half smile. "Maybe there's a way we can make it up to Taizou-san?" His father would hate it, but he knew how much Taizou looked up to him, and how much pull his father could still have if and when he decided to ever take off that damn monks robe. Maybe Echizen could force him into helping out here. It was worth a shot.
Tsumako stared at Echizen, her face still twisted into an uncharacteristically angry frown. She had begun tapping her foot. Not saying a word as she did so, just simply tapping her foot. Both Kiraku and Minamoto had long become familiar with the habit and could recognize it as a sign that the woman didn't like something she had been told. "And why exactly were all three of you doing in detention? Hmm? What were you doing?" She asked the youngest of the three teens point blank. Apparently not in any mood to be as willing as she normally was to fall for the boy's ability to charm her. "I'll have you know that I have already been on the phone with your parents asking if they knew where Yasuyuki is. And I would really like to hear a reason for why I shouldn't call them back right now to tell them what their son was doing to cause my *own* son trouble in school, Echizen Ryoma. So tell me what this 'stupid mistake' of yours was."
"It's because we were up on the school roof when class had already started." Minamoto piped up instead, still standing behind Kiraku and attempting to avoid direct eye contact with the angry mother. Years of experience in seeing the woman who was like a second mother to him in all her moods had taught him it wasn't smart to try and get cute with her when she was angry like Echizen seemed to be doing in his mind. But even so, even if it meant she was going to get even more upset with them, and even if it meant he was going to have to deal with his own father yelling at him as well when he got back to the apartment. So long as his best friend didn't suffer for something that wasn't even his fault, he was willing to put his neck out as well and take the responsibility for what was partially his for the blame. "Yasuyuki was trying to bring us back down to class." He admitted, which was the truth, or at least that was his original intentions. But Minamoto wasn't going to elaborate further if he didn't have to, so they could save themselves at least some embarrassment.
Tsumako was quiet for a moment, her gaze having shifted to Minamoto as he had spoken and now staying fixated there, giving Minamoto further trouble in attempting to make eye contact with the woman. "And what was the reason for why you were at the roof in the first place?" She asked slowly, causing Minamoto to grimace inwardly. So much for avoiding talking about that part of the situation.
"...We...were arguing." Minamoto offered, rubbing at the back of his neck in discomfort. However, that didn't appear to be enough of an answer for Tsumako, as she continued to wait expectantly for more of a reply. "...Me and Echizen were fighting." He added, letting out a defeated sigh as he finally forced himself to meet the mother's stare. "Yasuyuki was trying to break us up when Ishikawa-sensei found us. He wasn't to blame for anything. He was being his 'model student' self as usual." It was tease. Something he probably shouldn't be doing considering the circumstances. But even so, surprisingly enough when he glanced over at his best friend, the slightest of a smile appeared in response.
Seeming to be satisfied enough with that answer, Tsumako then directed her attention back to Echizen, giving him the same expectant stare. "Is this true?" She implored.
When Minamoto piped up, Echizen lowered his head and tipped it to the side, watching the boy out the corner of his eye. He was telling the truth, which seemed to be a risky move, but it might work too. Honesty was the best policy and all that. But when Tsumako addressed him, Echizen's head snapped up to look at the woman, and he nodded. "Unfortunately," he answered honestly with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"We were stupid, we were arguing, and Yasuyuki jumped in to stop it and was punished to." He tried not to sound too upset by getting his boyfriend into trouble, but had a feeling some of it had leaked out into his words. But there was nothing else to say then, they'd told her what she needed to hear, hopefully got Yasuyuki out of trouble. But now they needed to get themselves out of trouble. If Tsumako was telling the truth, which he imagined she was, then his mother was probably worrying herself sick right now. Normally she wouldn't have been too bothered, he would come home at odd times sometime, but being called by a friends mother would have put her on edge. So now... now he was going to have to try and calm his own mother down, which was going to be fun.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his cell and switched it on, immediately it beeped at him to tell him that not only did he have missed messages, he had missed calls too. He winced, turned the cell back off again and slipped it into his pocket. He'd deal with that when he was sure that Yasuyuki would be okay. Turning to the boy, he offered a small, sad smile. "I'm really sorry we got you in trouble. Twice. It won't happen again..."
For a moment, Kiraku just silently stared back at Echizen, his face blank save a single eyebrow that arched in question. "Never again? You expect yourself to not cause me trouble at all for the numerous years we still have ahead of us~?" He asked, amusement over the thought apparent in his voice as the corners of his mouth arched up into a small smile. "That's sweet of you to offer, ...but I'm not expecting you to become Mr. Perfect, Ryoma. Everyone makes mistakes. ...I just want you to be what I need. That's perfect enough for me." Shrugging his shoulders to accent his words, he gave a small awkward chuckle as he looked away from the younger boy again, a small blush rising on his cheeks.
A sight that once again made Minamoto want to beat Echizen senseless for the boy's sway over his best friend's emotions, but there was more to it than that. And a sudden sadness washed over him as he realized that whatever fight he had been trying to have with the younger teen for Kiraku's attention was now lost. Echizen had already accomplished the feat of completely and utterly stealing the former Midoriyama captain's heart. That much was obvious from the simple look in his best friend's eyes right now. And if what he had seen back at the school was really what he believed it to be, then the feeling was a mutual one. And no amount of his efforts was going to be able to stop such feelings. Minamoto sighed in frustration. He suddenly wanted out of this house as quick as possible. But he knew he couldn't leave until Tsumako said he, lest the woman gained more of a reason to be upset with him.
However, thankfully, the mother appeared to had calmed down considerably thanks to Minamoto's and Echizen's efforts and had was no longer looking at them with an angry stare. Still, standing with her hands on her hips, she let out a long sigh. "You two have caused a lot of trouble and worry for my family." She reminded her son's two companions. "But I suppose it will be okay. I'll call Rinko-san to let her know Ryoma-kun is safe. And I'll have a talk with Taizou and explain the situation and will make sure he and Hayato-san have calmed down by the time they get back so they don't try to kill their own sons." That thought didn't comfort Minamoto and he hoped for his own sake that the woman was successful, as he wanted to avoid as much of his father's anger as possible. "But I'm mostly thankful you're all okay. You had me so worried. And I'm glad you were honest with me." She admitted, smiling at the three boys finally. She then beckoned both Minamoto and Echizen over to her. As they obeyed, she placed a gentle, motherly kiss on each of their foreheads. ...Which was then followed by her grabbing both of them by the cheek and pinching until it became painful. "Though if I ever find out you two have been causing my Yuki-chan misery by fighting with each other again, I won't be so nice about things next time~" She chirped cheerfully, beaming at them with her usual happy smile once again.
"I..." A light blush began to spread across his cheeks, and he wished fervently he could hide or that he at least had one of his caps to hide behind. He'd not meant to be taken really literally, it had been an apology. A heartfelt one at that. Echizen had hated getting his boyfriend in trouble and had hated the idea that Yasuyuki was upset about it all. He'd wanted to make it better. And, clearly, something had been made better. Because Yasuyuki was smiling at him again, teasing him again, and Echizen was feeling very embarrassed. "... numerous years?" he asked, unable to stop himself, the words had just... popped out! His blush became a little more pronounce at that point, until Yasuyuki mentioned he didn't want him to be Mr Perfect and that all he needed to be was what he needed. And he had to think about that...
Could he actually be what Yasuyuki needed? Or wanted? He could try, and try very hard to be all of that. But it would be difficult. Echizen was under no delusions that he wasn't the best person to get along with. He could be an annoying pain in the ass, and he was told he was emotionally stunted by some people. Though he didn't agree with that part too much. He wasn't emotionally stunted, he just had a hard time vocalising what he was feeling. Keeping it to himself had always been the best way of dealing with them. But here... with Yasuyuki, he needed to learn to be more open, he thought. More open, more understanding. More emotionally available.
All of that went through Echizen's mind in a matter of seconds, ending with him smiling slightly at a boyfriend who wasn't looking at him any longer. A blushing boyfriend he wanted very much to kiss right then. But with Minamoto and Tsumako watching, he didn't think it was wise. Tsumako spoke up then, and Echizen turned back to look up at her. She didn't seem as angry, yet her posture still spoke of some irritation. Though it could have just been a comfortable place for her to put her hands. "Thank you." he answered in response to her saying she would call his mom and tell her he was okay, it would save him having to do it, and the inevitable explanations. He and Minamoto were then called forward, Echizen was confused, but rather than argue he stepped forward... to be kissed on the forehead... and have his cheek pinched painfully. One eye closed in a wince until he was released. Glancing over and up at Minamoto, he nodded and looked back to Tsumako with a smile of his own. "Shouldn't happen again. Not if I can help it." He didn't want any part of Yasuyuki's life to be miserable, even if that meant holding his tongue and trying to make the extra effort to be nice to Minamoto. He'd do it. Whatever it took he would do it.
"...Yeah." Minamoto muttered simply, confirming Echizen's words while rubbing at his abused cheek and staring at the ground in an effort to avoid eye contact with the woman again. It was true that he would be trying to avoid arguing with Echizen from now on in an effort to keep Kiraku happy and to avoid another situation like this where they had to fess up to being complete idiots, but still, the reality of the situation he was dealing with just made him want this whole day to be over with.
"Good~! Let's keep it that way, then~!" Tsumako insisted, while patting each of the boys on the cheek she had pinched, before turning away to hunt down her phone. "I'll go make those calls now. You boys go ahead and make yourselves at home like always~! I'm sure there's a few things you'd both like to talk out with Yuki-chan still~"
Something that Minamoto wasn't in the mood for at the moment, so taking the opportunity given, he could hopefully take his leave now. "Actually, ...Tsumako-san, is it okay if I go?" He called to the woman, making her stop in her tracks and look back at him questioningly, and causing Minamoto to shuffle his feet uncomfortably. "Suzuko is probably at home by herself right now." Which was most likely the truth, and because of that, he figured one or more of the messages on his phone when he turned it back on was going to be from his little sister crying, demanding to know where he was.
Tsumako's eyes suddenly went wide then, her mouth going agape, as the realization of something important she had forgotten immediately struck her. "Oh, dear~! I forgot all about Suzuko-chan. Yes! Shoo! Go home now! Make sure she's okay! She's too young to be left by herself!" She commanded, walking back over and waving the teen towards the door.
Not about to argue, Minamoto allowed himself to be escorted back over to the front door. However, before he left, the voice of his former captain called out to him. "Takuma-kun..." Pausing for a moment, he looked back over his shoulder at his best friend curiously. "Thank you." Kiraku offered in response, smiling warmly back at Minamoto.
And despite himself and how he was feeling right now, Minamoto smiled back, unable to refuse the boy and his happiness. "What are you thanking me for? I helped get you in trouble! Of course I was gonna help get you back out of it!" He laughed, before turning back to head out the door again. "See ya tomorrow, Yasuyuki." He called, waving a hand back at him, and stopping again to think for a minute added, "...You too, Echizen."
Closing the door again, Tsumako then moved to head back towards the kitchen, intent on finishing her task. Only to be stopped by her own son this time. "Okaa-san, is it alright if Ryoma stays here tonight?" He asked, casting a glance over at his boyfriend and giving him an affectionate smile as he reached out to take ahold of the younger boy's hand.
This in turn made the woman grin enthusiastically as well. "If he wants to~! I'll tell Rinko-san that he'll be staying the night when I call her~" She answered happily, before disappearing again to go about her calls, leaving the two boys alone.
Echizen was a little surprised when Minamoto suddenly decided he wanted to go. Normally he was the type who would try and sit between himself and Yasuyuki just to keep them apart. But here he was, going. But he supposed that if he did have a younger sister waiting at home, then it was good that he was leaving. She could be getting scared on her own. But his surprise was compounded upon when, saying goodbye to Yasuyuki, Minamoto then did the same to him. It took him a second to blink and actually answer. "Uh... yeah... see you, Minamoto." It was the strangest sensation, he felt a little awkward saying that, but it was a start.
And then he was gone, and he wondered if he should make his own excuses to head home. Echizen was trying to think of something when his hand was taken and he was pulled a step closer to his boyfriend. Looking up at him and that smile, he found there was just no way he was going to be able to say no to staying the night with him. Even if they hadn't talked about it before hand and Yasuyuki had just sprung it on him, he liked the idea. He smiled back and took a few steps closer as Tsumako left them alone.
"Staying the night?" he asked, a teasing edge to his smile. he was tempted to ask if that meant Yasuyuki was talking to him now and he was out of the doghouse, but he refrained. Instead his smile turned into an all-out grin of happiness. He didn't need to know with words that things would be okay between them now, he could just *feel* it.
Kiraku's smile grew in size to match Echizen's as he pulled his boyfriend closer and wrapped him in a loose hug. "What? Do you not want to stay here with me~? I would've thought for certain you would want this opportunity to show me how sorry you really are for being such an awful troublemaker~" He teased playfully before moving in to give the other boy a small gentle kiss. He then quickly pulled away again, large amused smile still on his lips as he started backing away from Echizen. "...But if you really do want to escape me, you can just make up an excuse about suddenly also having a little sister that I never knew about, so you have no choice but to return to her side like a good aniki~" He joked, still backing away while holding onto the younger teen's hand. "But I believe I have a few things here with me that will make you want to stay in my arms and say to hell with your imaginary sister~ Come with me to my room."
Kiraku then tugged on the hand he was still holding to get the boy to follow him as he made his way down the hall passed the kitchen, where his mother stood giggling on the phone with who was no doubt his boyfriend's own mother, gossiping about the cute things their sons do that would most likely highly embarrass them if they stayed to listen. Reaching his room, Kiraku then pulled Echizen in after him, shutting the door again and pressing the other teen back against it, his arms wrapped tightly around the other as he pushed against him giving him a longer, deeper kiss. After long moment of staying that way, Kiraku pulled back again slightly so that just their noses touched. He was quiet for another minute as he simply stared at his boyfriend, smiling fondly at him as he turned over something in his head and then seemed to make up his mind on a thought. "If I tell you something important, you're not allowed to make fun of me or leave at all. Because I'll be serious. So now's your last chance to run while you still can~"
Being pulled into the circle of his boyfriends arms felt really good. He'd missed it. In the weeks where Yasuyuki had been angry with him and had ignored him, they hadn't done any of this. Hell, he'd not even had as much as a smile from the other boy. It had cut pretty deep at the time, even if he'd understood that he'd messed up and deserved it. Each scowl aimed in his direction, everytime he was brushed off and ignored. It had stung... But all of that seemed irrelevant now. Slipping his own arms about Yasuyuki's waist, he pressed closer and tried not to laugh at the teasing tone of his boyfriends words. "Troublemaker? I thought that's what you liked about me, Yasuyuki?" he smiled as his boyfriend leant down to kiss him and once again everything felt just right again. The world was back on it's axis and he was back where he belonged; with Yasuyuki.
When Yasuyuki pulled back, Echizen was quick to follow, not liking the idea of being too far away from him. With the realisation he had come to concerning his feelings for his boyfriend, and having him smiling at him like that and now walking away? That wasn't happening. Nor had he ANY intention of making an excuse and leaving. He was shaking his head to his boyfriends words. "No imaginary little sister. Just an older brother somewhere in Europe who I wouldn't leave you for." He answered, still smiling and this time he nodded when the older teen asked him to come to his room with him. Echizen followed him into the room and was promptly forced against the closed door and kissed thoroughly. Lifting his arms he slipped them about the other boys neck and pressed against him, kissing him back.
He damn near pouted when the kiss was broken, but Yasuyuki didn't pull completely away so he was content with that. Leaning back against the door, eyes closed, he had to open at least one of them when he was talked to. There had been a few minutes of quiet and then suddenly it was disrupted, and Echizen found he just wanted to shut him back up again by kissing him. Instead he laughed lowly and leant his head back against the door, watching his boyfriend in amusement. "I won't run, but I'm not promising I won't make fun of you if it's funny." He smirked, a brow raising curiously. "So what's so important you have to trap me in your room to tell me?"
"You would make fun of me even when I'm serious~? Such a cruel boyfriend I have." Kiraku teased again, doing his best to make a put-upon face at Echizen. Which he was sure would've had more impact if he didn't keep smiling at the other teen. But in the mood he was currently in, a relieved and thankful one, he could hardly stop himself from being what he was. Which was glad...and happy. Happy to be with this boy. This contentment and comfortableness that he felt whenever Echizen was with him was what had ultimately made something latch onto his heart and refuse to let go once it was there. The smaller boy gave him butterflies and made him feel warm all over simply by looking at him. And no matter how upset he could get with him, there was one thing he knew for certain now and could never bring himself to deny. "I love you." He said softly, his eyes staring intently into Echizen's with a small smile still lingering on his lips as he spoke the simple but powerful few words.
Had this been just a few short years ago, he never would have imagined he would be here at this moment, holding the likes of Echizen Ryoma in his arms and telling him that he was in love with him. Such a thing would've been complete utter nonsense to his jaded mind back then. But here he was and he was so happy that it was the case. This boy had done so much for him, allowing him to become the better and stronger and much happier person he was today, and he could never think of going back to a life without him in it. "You make me happier than I've ever been in my life, and...I love you~!" He repeated, laughing softly as he said the magical words again, a considerable blush having spread across his cheeks. But it felt like a weight had suddenly lifted off of him simply by saying that small declaration. And it all felt so very right.
Almost he felt bad, but he knew that the older teen was just teasing, so the feeling faded away into noting as he laughed at him. "Maybe I won't then. Just for you." he replied once he'd stopped laughing to just smile up at Yasuyuki. It was so effortless when he was around him. Smiling, laughing, they both just came so naturally to him it was a wonder he never did it more often. But the truth of the matter was, he just wasn't that kind of guy. There was just something about his boyfriend though, something that made him so happy and so bubbly that the feelings just needed expressed! Plus he'd been told by Yasuyuki he needed to laugh more because he seemed to like the sound for some reason, and that was good enough for him.
But then he had to wonder just what it was he was about to be told and why it was so serious. A few days ago he would have been worried that this was the inevitable 'break up' talk, but he didn't think that Yasuyuki would have been smiling to deliver that kind of news. So when he was told, his eyes widened a little. That soft, gentle tone coupled with those words, words he'd been nervous enough to say to himself let alone voice, had a very strange effect on him. His heart had begun to beat rapidly, as if he'd just ran 100 laps, he could feel his cheeks heating up quite nicely too.
Echizen searched the other boys eyes, trying to work out if what he was saying was actually the truth. Which was weird, because he knew that Yasuyuki would never have joked about something like this before. Which meant it was true. His boyfriend loved him. Actually honest to goodness loved him. And what was more... he loved him right back.
Yasuyuki repeated the words and they sounded just as amazing the second time around as they did the first. And Echizen didn't think. Pulling back his right arm, he moved his hand to grab a fist full of his boyfriends shirt and pulled him down into a deep, fiery kiss. It was as passionate as he could make it, throwing all of his emotion into it, most he couldn't even begin to have explained, so this seemed the best way to show it. When they finally parted, flushed and breathless, Echizen smiled against his boyfriends lips, a sweet and happy smile. "I love you too," he replied quietly, sealing the words with a second, much more tender kiss. "I don't get it, I don't want to get it, but I love you too." It felt so good to be able to say it. In his own mind he'd been flitting around the subject since he'd started to realise, not wanting to think about it too much and certainly not wanting to say it. He'd been afraid that maybe Yasuyuki wouldn't feel the same way... Echizen couldn't have been more glad to be wrong in his life!
Kiraku had admittedly been a bit overwhelmed when he was suddenly dealing with Echizen responding to his declaration of love the way he was. He had certainly hoped the other boy would be happy to hear the words, but hadn't expected anything quite as happy as this was. He had been practically yanked into a very passionate kiss, so he could only expect that meant his boyfriend was happy, at least. And shortly after their lips parted, his face now several shades brighter as proof of the other teen's efforts, he got a more vocal conformation of what he believed. In the form of Echizen repeating the same words, followed by more kissing, and then saying it again as well to make sure the information stuck with him. The boy might've been speaking quietly when he said it, but he had heard it loud and clear the first time. Not that he minded in the least hearing him say it as many times as he liked. He was now sure that his boyfriend enjoyed saying the words as much as he did himself.
Though if his face hadn't been completely red before he was certain it was after Echizen had said what he wished to say as well, and he was sure he stared back at him with a rather dumbfounded look on his face upon hearing him. He honestly hadn't expected his boyfriend to repeat the words back to him. His intentions had only been to speak his mind on something he had been bottling up for a while and felt was the right time to say it. He would have been happy just having that much, but he couldn't say he had any problem with the fact that Echizen chose to speak up now. It made him all the happier. And as a result, after simply staring warmly at the other teen for a moment, Kiraku broke into a cheerful laugh. He continued to laugh for a long minute before coming to a stop with a soft chuckle as he rested his forehead against the other boy's, letting out a contented sigh as he did so. "So you don't get it, do you?" He asked softly, smiling happily at his boyfriend. "I think I do, though. And I bet I can show you the answer~ Will that work~?"
For just a few seconds he had the feeling maybe he's said the words wrong. Yasuyuki was just looking at him, looking at him for a very long time. And while it was a nice expression on his face, soft and warm, he was starting to feel uncomfortable with the quiet. Until Yasuyuki started to laugh. It was... a pretty amazing sound. Echizen relaxed and started to smile up at the other boy, quietly basking in the sound of that laugh, a sound he found he'd missed in the while they'd been separated.
He was a little sad when the sound finally stopped. But then Yasuyuki leant forward and Echizen closed his eyes. They rested like that for a moment and Echizen... he'd never felt so at peace, so calm and happy. Until that happiness came crashing down around his ears with his boyfriend teasing him. Laughing, the younger boy pulled away to look up at Yasuyuki. "Guess you could show me. But I think I'll work it out eventually. I'm still trying to work you out." And he was enjoying every moment of that. Each day he was learning something new, things he probably should have already known, things that most other people took for granted. But his whole world, for a very long time, had centred around tennis. Now he had other things to think about. Much more interesting things.
When: Monday 23rd.
Where: School mostly.
Summary: Echizen and Minamoto have it out, and a still pissed off Kiraku yells at them. They get detention. And things just evolve from there~
Warning/Rating: PG-13
Player Comments: This was a long time in the making, and will take a few posts to get posted. So sorry for the spam!
Comments/Crits Allowed: Of course~
Kiraku fumbled with the key he had that would let him into his family's condo. His palms were sweaty and he was having trouble keeping a good grip on the key because of it. Not to mention, his hand kept shaking and he couldn't get it to stop. A fact that Minamoto noticed as he stood silently behind the boy. He could see that his friend was scared of what might possibly be waiting for him on the other side of the door. His mother? His father? Both of them? Maybe Minamoto's father was there also? Wherever Kiraku's father was, more often than not, his own father was usually close by. Or perhaps all of their parents were there. Considering how late it had gotten, and the fact that none of them had bothered to answer their cell phones, it was quite possible that each of their parents had called one another looking for their children and were now all gathered here angrily awaiting them. And what would they say to them? What would they do as punishment? Would they be grounded? Or forced to stay away from each other and not allowed to speak with one another for who knew how long?
Minamoto didn't like the thought of any of that, and he was the one who regularly got detention. He could only imagine how Kiraku felt about it. So in an effort to try and calm his best friend down and lend him some support, Minamoto silently reached around Kiraku and grabbed ahold of the trembling hand still fighting with the key. Almost immediately, the shaking ceased as hoped. However, the reason for it stopping appeared to be different than expected. Because a moment later, Kiraku tugged against his hold, trying to pull his hand away. "...Let go." He muttered softly in irritation before yanking his hand free of the other boy's grip and then proceeding to open the door.
"Kiraku Yasuyuki!" Kiraku had barely set foot into the house, when the angry voice of his mother suddenly rang through the air, making him flinch and instantly freeze again where he stood. Minamoto flinched in surprise as well upon hearing the unusually unhappy-sounding tone in the woman's voice. "Where in the world have you been?! I have been trying to call you nonstop for the past two hours! Why haven't you been answering your phone?! I've been worried sick!!" As Kiraku pushed the door, Tsumako came into view, wearing what was quite possibly one of the unhappiest faces Minamoto had ever seen on the woman. Thankfully, as he scanned the rest of the room, it was made obvious that she was alone and he let out a silent breath of relief knowing that his own parents weren't also waiting there. But even so, the woman he had come to think of as a second mother currently looked furious and it quickly became obvious why Kiraku was frightened to walk inside the house. Even now, the other boy looked pale again and was avoiding eye contact with his mother.
"Answer me, young man!" Tsumako shouted further making both Kiraku and Minamoto flinch again. "Did you completely forget after all the times I reminded you that you were supposed to meet with your father at the Sunshine 60 building this afternoon?! Because you weren't there, your father had to cancel his plans and he might not be given another chance to speak with those people! He is furious with you right now! Now tell me what exactly you have been doing this entire time?!" It was at that moment that it suddenly dawned on Minamoto exactly why Kiraku had been so upset and what exactly they had done.
"It was my fault, Kiraku-san," spoke up a voice from behind Yasuyuki and Minamoto. Till that point Echizen had been very quiet. Even during their walk he'd said nothing and done nothing except bring up the rear. He'd watched and he'd waited, and more importantly he'd been thinking all of this time. And what he'd realised had came as something of a shock to him. This whole thing was *stupid*. Ridiculously, completely and utterly stupid beyond all rational belief. Fighting with his boyfriend, and all because of what? Because he couldn't get along with Minamoto? So the hell what? Not everyone in the world could get along with their boy/girlfriends friends, or their parents. So why did this time have to be such a Big Deal? Echizen had realised that, as soon as he was able, he needed to get Minamoto away from Yasuyuki, sit him down, and tell him to grow up. That they needed to settle their differences or else just get used to each other, because clearly neither had any intention of leaving Yasuyuki's side. And for his sake, Echizen and Minamoto needed to come to some agreement.
Because now Echizen knew just how much he cared about the other boy. He knew and he had no intention of letting that go. It would be the stupidest thing he'd ever done. And it didn't matter to him how young they were, if it felt right then what was the harm? Echizen had never felt more right about anything else in his life.
So when they'd walked up to the Kiraku's condo and Yasuyuki had struggled with the key and the lock, Echizen had struggled with the need to help. Something Minamoto did not, and was told off for doing. Once the door was open, Yasuyuki's mother was on them in an instant, anger plain in her voice. And fear plain in Yasuyuki's. Echizen stepped forward, carefully moving his boyfriend to the side as he came up to the front. The shortest of the three, but he looked Tsumako directly in the eyes. "I'm sorry. A stupid mistake lead to us all getting detention after school. We weren't allowed to use our cell phones so couldn't take the calls and we couldn't get away. It wasn't Yasuyuki's fault, he was just caught in the crossfire and Ishikawa-sensei didn't care about the difference. I'm... very sorry." He wasn't sure if his apology was going to work or not, but he needed to try. And it was the truth. Yasuyuki wasn't to blame for being absent, not calling or for even getting the detention in the first place. He'd just been in the wrong place and the wrong time, and he didn't need to be punished further for it. Echizen's lips twitched into a small half smile. "Maybe there's a way we can make it up to Taizou-san?" His father would hate it, but he knew how much Taizou looked up to him, and how much pull his father could still have if and when he decided to ever take off that damn monks robe. Maybe Echizen could force him into helping out here. It was worth a shot.
Tsumako stared at Echizen, her face still twisted into an uncharacteristically angry frown. She had begun tapping her foot. Not saying a word as she did so, just simply tapping her foot. Both Kiraku and Minamoto had long become familiar with the habit and could recognize it as a sign that the woman didn't like something she had been told. "And why exactly were all three of you doing in detention? Hmm? What were you doing?" She asked the youngest of the three teens point blank. Apparently not in any mood to be as willing as she normally was to fall for the boy's ability to charm her. "I'll have you know that I have already been on the phone with your parents asking if they knew where Yasuyuki is. And I would really like to hear a reason for why I shouldn't call them back right now to tell them what their son was doing to cause my *own* son trouble in school, Echizen Ryoma. So tell me what this 'stupid mistake' of yours was."
"It's because we were up on the school roof when class had already started." Minamoto piped up instead, still standing behind Kiraku and attempting to avoid direct eye contact with the angry mother. Years of experience in seeing the woman who was like a second mother to him in all her moods had taught him it wasn't smart to try and get cute with her when she was angry like Echizen seemed to be doing in his mind. But even so, even if it meant she was going to get even more upset with them, and even if it meant he was going to have to deal with his own father yelling at him as well when he got back to the apartment. So long as his best friend didn't suffer for something that wasn't even his fault, he was willing to put his neck out as well and take the responsibility for what was partially his for the blame. "Yasuyuki was trying to bring us back down to class." He admitted, which was the truth, or at least that was his original intentions. But Minamoto wasn't going to elaborate further if he didn't have to, so they could save themselves at least some embarrassment.
Tsumako was quiet for a moment, her gaze having shifted to Minamoto as he had spoken and now staying fixated there, giving Minamoto further trouble in attempting to make eye contact with the woman. "And what was the reason for why you were at the roof in the first place?" She asked slowly, causing Minamoto to grimace inwardly. So much for avoiding talking about that part of the situation.
"...We...were arguing." Minamoto offered, rubbing at the back of his neck in discomfort. However, that didn't appear to be enough of an answer for Tsumako, as she continued to wait expectantly for more of a reply. "...Me and Echizen were fighting." He added, letting out a defeated sigh as he finally forced himself to meet the mother's stare. "Yasuyuki was trying to break us up when Ishikawa-sensei found us. He wasn't to blame for anything. He was being his 'model student' self as usual." It was tease. Something he probably shouldn't be doing considering the circumstances. But even so, surprisingly enough when he glanced over at his best friend, the slightest of a smile appeared in response.
Seeming to be satisfied enough with that answer, Tsumako then directed her attention back to Echizen, giving him the same expectant stare. "Is this true?" She implored.
When Minamoto piped up, Echizen lowered his head and tipped it to the side, watching the boy out the corner of his eye. He was telling the truth, which seemed to be a risky move, but it might work too. Honesty was the best policy and all that. But when Tsumako addressed him, Echizen's head snapped up to look at the woman, and he nodded. "Unfortunately," he answered honestly with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"We were stupid, we were arguing, and Yasuyuki jumped in to stop it and was punished to." He tried not to sound too upset by getting his boyfriend into trouble, but had a feeling some of it had leaked out into his words. But there was nothing else to say then, they'd told her what she needed to hear, hopefully got Yasuyuki out of trouble. But now they needed to get themselves out of trouble. If Tsumako was telling the truth, which he imagined she was, then his mother was probably worrying herself sick right now. Normally she wouldn't have been too bothered, he would come home at odd times sometime, but being called by a friends mother would have put her on edge. So now... now he was going to have to try and calm his own mother down, which was going to be fun.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his cell and switched it on, immediately it beeped at him to tell him that not only did he have missed messages, he had missed calls too. He winced, turned the cell back off again and slipped it into his pocket. He'd deal with that when he was sure that Yasuyuki would be okay. Turning to the boy, he offered a small, sad smile. "I'm really sorry we got you in trouble. Twice. It won't happen again..."
For a moment, Kiraku just silently stared back at Echizen, his face blank save a single eyebrow that arched in question. "Never again? You expect yourself to not cause me trouble at all for the numerous years we still have ahead of us~?" He asked, amusement over the thought apparent in his voice as the corners of his mouth arched up into a small smile. "That's sweet of you to offer, ...but I'm not expecting you to become Mr. Perfect, Ryoma. Everyone makes mistakes. ...I just want you to be what I need. That's perfect enough for me." Shrugging his shoulders to accent his words, he gave a small awkward chuckle as he looked away from the younger boy again, a small blush rising on his cheeks.
A sight that once again made Minamoto want to beat Echizen senseless for the boy's sway over his best friend's emotions, but there was more to it than that. And a sudden sadness washed over him as he realized that whatever fight he had been trying to have with the younger teen for Kiraku's attention was now lost. Echizen had already accomplished the feat of completely and utterly stealing the former Midoriyama captain's heart. That much was obvious from the simple look in his best friend's eyes right now. And if what he had seen back at the school was really what he believed it to be, then the feeling was a mutual one. And no amount of his efforts was going to be able to stop such feelings. Minamoto sighed in frustration. He suddenly wanted out of this house as quick as possible. But he knew he couldn't leave until Tsumako said he, lest the woman gained more of a reason to be upset with him.
However, thankfully, the mother appeared to had calmed down considerably thanks to Minamoto's and Echizen's efforts and had was no longer looking at them with an angry stare. Still, standing with her hands on her hips, she let out a long sigh. "You two have caused a lot of trouble and worry for my family." She reminded her son's two companions. "But I suppose it will be okay. I'll call Rinko-san to let her know Ryoma-kun is safe. And I'll have a talk with Taizou and explain the situation and will make sure he and Hayato-san have calmed down by the time they get back so they don't try to kill their own sons." That thought didn't comfort Minamoto and he hoped for his own sake that the woman was successful, as he wanted to avoid as much of his father's anger as possible. "But I'm mostly thankful you're all okay. You had me so worried. And I'm glad you were honest with me." She admitted, smiling at the three boys finally. She then beckoned both Minamoto and Echizen over to her. As they obeyed, she placed a gentle, motherly kiss on each of their foreheads. ...Which was then followed by her grabbing both of them by the cheek and pinching until it became painful. "Though if I ever find out you two have been causing my Yuki-chan misery by fighting with each other again, I won't be so nice about things next time~" She chirped cheerfully, beaming at them with her usual happy smile once again.
"I..." A light blush began to spread across his cheeks, and he wished fervently he could hide or that he at least had one of his caps to hide behind. He'd not meant to be taken really literally, it had been an apology. A heartfelt one at that. Echizen had hated getting his boyfriend in trouble and had hated the idea that Yasuyuki was upset about it all. He'd wanted to make it better. And, clearly, something had been made better. Because Yasuyuki was smiling at him again, teasing him again, and Echizen was feeling very embarrassed. "... numerous years?" he asked, unable to stop himself, the words had just... popped out! His blush became a little more pronounce at that point, until Yasuyuki mentioned he didn't want him to be Mr Perfect and that all he needed to be was what he needed. And he had to think about that...
Could he actually be what Yasuyuki needed? Or wanted? He could try, and try very hard to be all of that. But it would be difficult. Echizen was under no delusions that he wasn't the best person to get along with. He could be an annoying pain in the ass, and he was told he was emotionally stunted by some people. Though he didn't agree with that part too much. He wasn't emotionally stunted, he just had a hard time vocalising what he was feeling. Keeping it to himself had always been the best way of dealing with them. But here... with Yasuyuki, he needed to learn to be more open, he thought. More open, more understanding. More emotionally available.
All of that went through Echizen's mind in a matter of seconds, ending with him smiling slightly at a boyfriend who wasn't looking at him any longer. A blushing boyfriend he wanted very much to kiss right then. But with Minamoto and Tsumako watching, he didn't think it was wise. Tsumako spoke up then, and Echizen turned back to look up at her. She didn't seem as angry, yet her posture still spoke of some irritation. Though it could have just been a comfortable place for her to put her hands. "Thank you." he answered in response to her saying she would call his mom and tell her he was okay, it would save him having to do it, and the inevitable explanations. He and Minamoto were then called forward, Echizen was confused, but rather than argue he stepped forward... to be kissed on the forehead... and have his cheek pinched painfully. One eye closed in a wince until he was released. Glancing over and up at Minamoto, he nodded and looked back to Tsumako with a smile of his own. "Shouldn't happen again. Not if I can help it." He didn't want any part of Yasuyuki's life to be miserable, even if that meant holding his tongue and trying to make the extra effort to be nice to Minamoto. He'd do it. Whatever it took he would do it.
"...Yeah." Minamoto muttered simply, confirming Echizen's words while rubbing at his abused cheek and staring at the ground in an effort to avoid eye contact with the woman again. It was true that he would be trying to avoid arguing with Echizen from now on in an effort to keep Kiraku happy and to avoid another situation like this where they had to fess up to being complete idiots, but still, the reality of the situation he was dealing with just made him want this whole day to be over with.
"Good~! Let's keep it that way, then~!" Tsumako insisted, while patting each of the boys on the cheek she had pinched, before turning away to hunt down her phone. "I'll go make those calls now. You boys go ahead and make yourselves at home like always~! I'm sure there's a few things you'd both like to talk out with Yuki-chan still~"
Something that Minamoto wasn't in the mood for at the moment, so taking the opportunity given, he could hopefully take his leave now. "Actually, ...Tsumako-san, is it okay if I go?" He called to the woman, making her stop in her tracks and look back at him questioningly, and causing Minamoto to shuffle his feet uncomfortably. "Suzuko is probably at home by herself right now." Which was most likely the truth, and because of that, he figured one or more of the messages on his phone when he turned it back on was going to be from his little sister crying, demanding to know where he was.
Tsumako's eyes suddenly went wide then, her mouth going agape, as the realization of something important she had forgotten immediately struck her. "Oh, dear~! I forgot all about Suzuko-chan. Yes! Shoo! Go home now! Make sure she's okay! She's too young to be left by herself!" She commanded, walking back over and waving the teen towards the door.
Not about to argue, Minamoto allowed himself to be escorted back over to the front door. However, before he left, the voice of his former captain called out to him. "Takuma-kun..." Pausing for a moment, he looked back over his shoulder at his best friend curiously. "Thank you." Kiraku offered in response, smiling warmly back at Minamoto.
And despite himself and how he was feeling right now, Minamoto smiled back, unable to refuse the boy and his happiness. "What are you thanking me for? I helped get you in trouble! Of course I was gonna help get you back out of it!" He laughed, before turning back to head out the door again. "See ya tomorrow, Yasuyuki." He called, waving a hand back at him, and stopping again to think for a minute added, "...You too, Echizen."
Closing the door again, Tsumako then moved to head back towards the kitchen, intent on finishing her task. Only to be stopped by her own son this time. "Okaa-san, is it alright if Ryoma stays here tonight?" He asked, casting a glance over at his boyfriend and giving him an affectionate smile as he reached out to take ahold of the younger boy's hand.
This in turn made the woman grin enthusiastically as well. "If he wants to~! I'll tell Rinko-san that he'll be staying the night when I call her~" She answered happily, before disappearing again to go about her calls, leaving the two boys alone.
Echizen was a little surprised when Minamoto suddenly decided he wanted to go. Normally he was the type who would try and sit between himself and Yasuyuki just to keep them apart. But here he was, going. But he supposed that if he did have a younger sister waiting at home, then it was good that he was leaving. She could be getting scared on her own. But his surprise was compounded upon when, saying goodbye to Yasuyuki, Minamoto then did the same to him. It took him a second to blink and actually answer. "Uh... yeah... see you, Minamoto." It was the strangest sensation, he felt a little awkward saying that, but it was a start.
And then he was gone, and he wondered if he should make his own excuses to head home. Echizen was trying to think of something when his hand was taken and he was pulled a step closer to his boyfriend. Looking up at him and that smile, he found there was just no way he was going to be able to say no to staying the night with him. Even if they hadn't talked about it before hand and Yasuyuki had just sprung it on him, he liked the idea. He smiled back and took a few steps closer as Tsumako left them alone.
"Staying the night?" he asked, a teasing edge to his smile. he was tempted to ask if that meant Yasuyuki was talking to him now and he was out of the doghouse, but he refrained. Instead his smile turned into an all-out grin of happiness. He didn't need to know with words that things would be okay between them now, he could just *feel* it.
Kiraku's smile grew in size to match Echizen's as he pulled his boyfriend closer and wrapped him in a loose hug. "What? Do you not want to stay here with me~? I would've thought for certain you would want this opportunity to show me how sorry you really are for being such an awful troublemaker~" He teased playfully before moving in to give the other boy a small gentle kiss. He then quickly pulled away again, large amused smile still on his lips as he started backing away from Echizen. "...But if you really do want to escape me, you can just make up an excuse about suddenly also having a little sister that I never knew about, so you have no choice but to return to her side like a good aniki~" He joked, still backing away while holding onto the younger teen's hand. "But I believe I have a few things here with me that will make you want to stay in my arms and say to hell with your imaginary sister~ Come with me to my room."
Kiraku then tugged on the hand he was still holding to get the boy to follow him as he made his way down the hall passed the kitchen, where his mother stood giggling on the phone with who was no doubt his boyfriend's own mother, gossiping about the cute things their sons do that would most likely highly embarrass them if they stayed to listen. Reaching his room, Kiraku then pulled Echizen in after him, shutting the door again and pressing the other teen back against it, his arms wrapped tightly around the other as he pushed against him giving him a longer, deeper kiss. After long moment of staying that way, Kiraku pulled back again slightly so that just their noses touched. He was quiet for another minute as he simply stared at his boyfriend, smiling fondly at him as he turned over something in his head and then seemed to make up his mind on a thought. "If I tell you something important, you're not allowed to make fun of me or leave at all. Because I'll be serious. So now's your last chance to run while you still can~"
Being pulled into the circle of his boyfriends arms felt really good. He'd missed it. In the weeks where Yasuyuki had been angry with him and had ignored him, they hadn't done any of this. Hell, he'd not even had as much as a smile from the other boy. It had cut pretty deep at the time, even if he'd understood that he'd messed up and deserved it. Each scowl aimed in his direction, everytime he was brushed off and ignored. It had stung... But all of that seemed irrelevant now. Slipping his own arms about Yasuyuki's waist, he pressed closer and tried not to laugh at the teasing tone of his boyfriends words. "Troublemaker? I thought that's what you liked about me, Yasuyuki?" he smiled as his boyfriend leant down to kiss him and once again everything felt just right again. The world was back on it's axis and he was back where he belonged; with Yasuyuki.
When Yasuyuki pulled back, Echizen was quick to follow, not liking the idea of being too far away from him. With the realisation he had come to concerning his feelings for his boyfriend, and having him smiling at him like that and now walking away? That wasn't happening. Nor had he ANY intention of making an excuse and leaving. He was shaking his head to his boyfriends words. "No imaginary little sister. Just an older brother somewhere in Europe who I wouldn't leave you for." He answered, still smiling and this time he nodded when the older teen asked him to come to his room with him. Echizen followed him into the room and was promptly forced against the closed door and kissed thoroughly. Lifting his arms he slipped them about the other boys neck and pressed against him, kissing him back.
He damn near pouted when the kiss was broken, but Yasuyuki didn't pull completely away so he was content with that. Leaning back against the door, eyes closed, he had to open at least one of them when he was talked to. There had been a few minutes of quiet and then suddenly it was disrupted, and Echizen found he just wanted to shut him back up again by kissing him. Instead he laughed lowly and leant his head back against the door, watching his boyfriend in amusement. "I won't run, but I'm not promising I won't make fun of you if it's funny." He smirked, a brow raising curiously. "So what's so important you have to trap me in your room to tell me?"
"You would make fun of me even when I'm serious~? Such a cruel boyfriend I have." Kiraku teased again, doing his best to make a put-upon face at Echizen. Which he was sure would've had more impact if he didn't keep smiling at the other teen. But in the mood he was currently in, a relieved and thankful one, he could hardly stop himself from being what he was. Which was glad...and happy. Happy to be with this boy. This contentment and comfortableness that he felt whenever Echizen was with him was what had ultimately made something latch onto his heart and refuse to let go once it was there. The smaller boy gave him butterflies and made him feel warm all over simply by looking at him. And no matter how upset he could get with him, there was one thing he knew for certain now and could never bring himself to deny. "I love you." He said softly, his eyes staring intently into Echizen's with a small smile still lingering on his lips as he spoke the simple but powerful few words.
Had this been just a few short years ago, he never would have imagined he would be here at this moment, holding the likes of Echizen Ryoma in his arms and telling him that he was in love with him. Such a thing would've been complete utter nonsense to his jaded mind back then. But here he was and he was so happy that it was the case. This boy had done so much for him, allowing him to become the better and stronger and much happier person he was today, and he could never think of going back to a life without him in it. "You make me happier than I've ever been in my life, and...I love you~!" He repeated, laughing softly as he said the magical words again, a considerable blush having spread across his cheeks. But it felt like a weight had suddenly lifted off of him simply by saying that small declaration. And it all felt so very right.
Almost he felt bad, but he knew that the older teen was just teasing, so the feeling faded away into noting as he laughed at him. "Maybe I won't then. Just for you." he replied once he'd stopped laughing to just smile up at Yasuyuki. It was so effortless when he was around him. Smiling, laughing, they both just came so naturally to him it was a wonder he never did it more often. But the truth of the matter was, he just wasn't that kind of guy. There was just something about his boyfriend though, something that made him so happy and so bubbly that the feelings just needed expressed! Plus he'd been told by Yasuyuki he needed to laugh more because he seemed to like the sound for some reason, and that was good enough for him.
But then he had to wonder just what it was he was about to be told and why it was so serious. A few days ago he would have been worried that this was the inevitable 'break up' talk, but he didn't think that Yasuyuki would have been smiling to deliver that kind of news. So when he was told, his eyes widened a little. That soft, gentle tone coupled with those words, words he'd been nervous enough to say to himself let alone voice, had a very strange effect on him. His heart had begun to beat rapidly, as if he'd just ran 100 laps, he could feel his cheeks heating up quite nicely too.
Echizen searched the other boys eyes, trying to work out if what he was saying was actually the truth. Which was weird, because he knew that Yasuyuki would never have joked about something like this before. Which meant it was true. His boyfriend loved him. Actually honest to goodness loved him. And what was more... he loved him right back.
Yasuyuki repeated the words and they sounded just as amazing the second time around as they did the first. And Echizen didn't think. Pulling back his right arm, he moved his hand to grab a fist full of his boyfriends shirt and pulled him down into a deep, fiery kiss. It was as passionate as he could make it, throwing all of his emotion into it, most he couldn't even begin to have explained, so this seemed the best way to show it. When they finally parted, flushed and breathless, Echizen smiled against his boyfriends lips, a sweet and happy smile. "I love you too," he replied quietly, sealing the words with a second, much more tender kiss. "I don't get it, I don't want to get it, but I love you too." It felt so good to be able to say it. In his own mind he'd been flitting around the subject since he'd started to realise, not wanting to think about it too much and certainly not wanting to say it. He'd been afraid that maybe Yasuyuki wouldn't feel the same way... Echizen couldn't have been more glad to be wrong in his life!
Kiraku had admittedly been a bit overwhelmed when he was suddenly dealing with Echizen responding to his declaration of love the way he was. He had certainly hoped the other boy would be happy to hear the words, but hadn't expected anything quite as happy as this was. He had been practically yanked into a very passionate kiss, so he could only expect that meant his boyfriend was happy, at least. And shortly after their lips parted, his face now several shades brighter as proof of the other teen's efforts, he got a more vocal conformation of what he believed. In the form of Echizen repeating the same words, followed by more kissing, and then saying it again as well to make sure the information stuck with him. The boy might've been speaking quietly when he said it, but he had heard it loud and clear the first time. Not that he minded in the least hearing him say it as many times as he liked. He was now sure that his boyfriend enjoyed saying the words as much as he did himself.
Though if his face hadn't been completely red before he was certain it was after Echizen had said what he wished to say as well, and he was sure he stared back at him with a rather dumbfounded look on his face upon hearing him. He honestly hadn't expected his boyfriend to repeat the words back to him. His intentions had only been to speak his mind on something he had been bottling up for a while and felt was the right time to say it. He would have been happy just having that much, but he couldn't say he had any problem with the fact that Echizen chose to speak up now. It made him all the happier. And as a result, after simply staring warmly at the other teen for a moment, Kiraku broke into a cheerful laugh. He continued to laugh for a long minute before coming to a stop with a soft chuckle as he rested his forehead against the other boy's, letting out a contented sigh as he did so. "So you don't get it, do you?" He asked softly, smiling happily at his boyfriend. "I think I do, though. And I bet I can show you the answer~ Will that work~?"
For just a few seconds he had the feeling maybe he's said the words wrong. Yasuyuki was just looking at him, looking at him for a very long time. And while it was a nice expression on his face, soft and warm, he was starting to feel uncomfortable with the quiet. Until Yasuyuki started to laugh. It was... a pretty amazing sound. Echizen relaxed and started to smile up at the other boy, quietly basking in the sound of that laugh, a sound he found he'd missed in the while they'd been separated.
He was a little sad when the sound finally stopped. But then Yasuyuki leant forward and Echizen closed his eyes. They rested like that for a moment and Echizen... he'd never felt so at peace, so calm and happy. Until that happiness came crashing down around his ears with his boyfriend teasing him. Laughing, the younger boy pulled away to look up at Yasuyuki. "Guess you could show me. But I think I'll work it out eventually. I'm still trying to work you out." And he was enjoying every moment of that. Each day he was learning something new, things he probably should have already known, things that most other people took for granted. But his whole world, for a very long time, had centred around tennis. Now he had other things to think about. Much more interesting things.