Log: Atobe and Eiji~ Cookies and the shocking truth
Who: Kikumaru Eiji and Atobe Keigo
What: Eiji visits Atobe to see his pircings and the tattoo and finds out more than he wanted.
When: September 19th, afternoon/evening
Where: Atobes room
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Eiji was more hyperactive then ever. He was with his friends again and could play Tennis with them. After he had commented on one of Atobes Post he remembered, that Atobe had invited him to see his Piercings and if he remembered right he also mentioned Cookies. It took a bit for him to find out which room was Atobes, but as he had found it finally he knocked.
I just hope he is home, nya.
Atobe looked up from his book as he heard the knock. "Yes?"
Carefully Eiji opened the door and looked inside. "Ah hello Atobe-san. I hope I don't Interrupt you with something important", he murmured a bit sheepish.
"Not really, just the second rereading," Atobe replied, closing Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies. "I really must visit a bookstore soon. How are you?"
"Then it is okay I think", he smiled slightly and finally entered the room completely. He let his eyes wander. First he looked through the room and then looked Atobe over. He was different from what he remembered but it was not a bad change at all, he looked good, really good.
"I'm fine. Actually really happy to see everybody again." he said as he stepped closer. "They look really good", he then nodded at the Piercings he saw.
"Thanks. I quite think so, too." Of course he would. He was the King, after all, and the King obviously looked perfect. Atobe sat up and stretched. "Though to be honest, a couple of years ago I never would have thought I'd one day be holding the school record for most piercings." He smirked a bit.
"Probably nobody would have", Eiji chuckled. No nobody have thought that Atobe would change that way. "So you really have the most piercings in school? How do you know?"
"I've kept my eyes open," Atobe chuckled. "There's one guy in second year with ten, but unless someone has hidden quite a lot of new piercings under their clothes since the Okinawa trip last year, I'm in the lead." The beach certainly made it easy to count such things. There were few places not revealed when everyone was running around in swimming trunks and bikinis, and frankly, if someone was hiding ten piercings under their swimming suit, Atobe did not even want to know.
"Oookay yeah...", Eiji still smiled as ever, "So... you mentioned a Tattoo too if I remember right", Perhaps he could ask Atobe about Piercings, because since some month now he toyed with the idea of getting one or two piercings himself, but he still wasn't sure.
"Yes, I believe I did." His smirk got just a bit wider. "You want to see?"
"Sure!", Eiji grinned happy. He liked to see a good tattoo, and he was sure that Atobe had a really cool tattoo, it was Atobe after all.
Chuckling at the others enthusiasm, Atobe quickly pulled off his t-shirt, showing off the vicious purple shark right over his heart. Of course, this also let Eiji see three more piercings, including the latest one.
"Heee thats really pretty and it is well made", Eiji said as he approached Atobe a bit more to have a better look. He had seen some tattoos and knew how important it was to have a good tattoo artist. The Piercings looked good too.
"Of course it's well made," Atobe snorted, amused. "Do you really think ore-sama would settle for anything less than the very best?"
"Nope, not at all", Eiji laughed and just sat on the ground. Atobe was really nice. "So.... uhm... what have you done the past three years... Beside getting those piercings and that tattoo?"
"What have I done? Oh, this and that, you know." Atobe shrugged. "Was the captain of Hyoutei High for a moment, came here, stopped using a wig, got a boyfriend, lost my grandma, broke my leg. And that was just the first autumn here," he added. "Last year I brought my dog here, led my team to victory in the school tournament, fought with my father, rejoiced at new laws, fought with my boyfriend, cut my hair, got back together with him, realized I fail at baking and started getting lessons, lost my memory for a bit, learned to surf, found a way to control the local media, got a sponsorship I didn't truly need, and took my boyfriend's family to England for Christmas. This year I developed a new technique and paid for it with a scar, got engaged, fought some more with my father, lost my dog, realized I'd grown taller, got my team second in the school tournament, gave up my Japanese citizenship, and returned to camp on a student visa." He paused. "I can bake cookies now without poisoning anyone or blowing up the oven."
At first Eiji just sat there and stared. That was much, but then, he didn't really knew why, he started to laugh. "Okay okay that were three interesting years for you", he chuckled, "But I'm somehow glad that there are others who have problems with their Dads."
"Having problems with him is putting it mildly," Atobe murmured. "After he tried to marry me off we actually had a contract drawn that specified I can do what I wish until my next birthday, after which I'll do whatever he says as much as I'm obliged to by law." He smirked. "Which is why I gave up my citizenship. I'm now only a British citizen, and according to the British laws, I'll be of age when I turn eighteen by next month." He ran a hand through his long, blonde locks. "When I do, I'm going to change my family name. I'm having nothing to do with that man anymore, not even his name, even if it would only be until I marry, anyway.“
"Wow... Okay I don't even come close to your problems with your parents as it seems.", Eiji smiled sheepish and scratched the back of his red head.
"He actually forced me to dye my hair so I'd look more Japanese to his business associates," Atobe said dryly. "He really should have thought about that before he married an English woman... between that, trying to force me to marry, and threatening my boyfriend, well, I wish him luck trying to come up with a new heir this late in life, because I sure as Hell am not going to do as he wishes."
"Yeah... that sounds really bad. I'm glad that you found a way to get out of that contract", Eiji smiled brightly, "And I hope you'll be happy with your boyfriend."
„Oh, I'm very happy, all right." Atobe's smirk melted into a genuine smile as he fiddled with the crude piece of twisted metal around his ring finger.
"Thats great", Eiji smiled warm He hoped that he would find someone that made him smile just like Atobe did right now. Well he knew one who could, but he would never risk their friendship. he would never be able to bear that person hating him. "Uh... You mentioned baking.... Do you have some cookies perhaps?", he then asked sheepish.
"Cookies and candy." Atobe got up to go digging through the drawers of his desk, paying no mind to the fact he was now shirtless. "I was supposed to have muffins, but an agitated Dan does not make for a good teacher, so I ended up totally ruining them."
"Yay Candy", Eiji cheered and didn't mind Atobe shirtless as he was. It was nice to look at after all. "Huh? I hope he has calmed again. And If you like I can try and teach you next time. I'm good at cooking and baking too", he really was worried about Dan and his Ochibi even if he still didn't really knew what was going on with Echizen but something seemed to have happened.
"Mmm... after the initial explosion we rather agreed to concentrate on tennis until he feels better. Not that we're having a lot of success with that, either, but at least he can get out of the frustrated energy without involving fire." Atobe brought up a box of cookies, two kinds of chocolate, and three bags of candy. "Take your pick."
"Uhhh that sounds really bad." he just hoped everything would return to normal someday. As Atobe offered him the sweets he took the box of cookies and placed it in front of him. The first one soon had vanished between his lips and immediately he started to smile brightly. "They are really good", he then said.
"See?" Atobe rolled his eyes. "And yet Eishirou still teases me about my baking. I haven't even given him a food poisoning in half a year at least!"
"Hehe it is mostly a matter of practice. And they are really good", Eiji grinned, "But perhaps Kite-san doesn't mean it as he says. Nee-chan teases my cooking as well just because I made a really stupid mistake many years ago. I know that she just says it because she loves me and likes to tease me. perhaps it is the same with Kite-san."
Atobe gave him a half-smirk. "We had a festival the day before Valentine's. I sold cookies. Eishirou had a booth right across from me. And you know what he sold?" He took an almost vicious bite of one of the poor cookies. "Stomach medicine."
Eiji laughed. That was funny somehow. "Thats mean", he said, "but funny. And hey, your Cookies are really good so you should be above such a thing shouldn't you? Your THE Atobe Keigo after all, the king."
"Yes, I am the Atobe Keigo," Atobe agreed. "And he's the man I plan to see across the breakfast table for the rest of my life, so if we argue over cookies, I'll just be happy that it's not anything more serious."
"Is it really arguing and not just teasing? Did you talk to him about it?", Eiji asked.
"Oh, I have talked to him about it. Doesn't seem to stop him." There was a fond smile on Atobe's lips, though. "Not like it's anything new. We started our relationship by bickering. If we didn't find anything to disagree over, I'd worry."
"Well then it is okay I think and isn..." Eiji stopped and lowered his head with a light blush. No he probably shouldn't say that even if he didn't think that Atobe would actually mind.
"Yes?" Atobe raised his eyebrows. "Do go on..."
"Uhm... It's just... isn't make-up sex just the best after all", he said sheepish and ran his fingers through the red chaos of hair.
Atobe actually laughed at this. "Oh, I assure you, our sex is great no matter what," he said with a wicked grin. "But yes, there's a certain special quality to that."
Eiji relaxed again as he heard Atobe laugh. "Then you really shouldn't worry about some small cookies", he chuckled and ate another one.
"I don't worry about them. I can still be irked, though, can't I?" Atobe finally made his way back to the bed to put his shirt back on. "What about you? A boring life?"
"Hehe yeah perhaps your right", Eiji chuckled but then looked up wondering what to tell. "Mostly I think. I just went to a new high school in a more.... rough part of town so I could attend the dance school that was next to it. I've learned some things for live I think. Had a bad fight with my dad, for which is why he and Tamaki, my oldest Brother are ignoring me since. Had about 3 or 4 short relationships and some Month ago I had my debut on stage with a big show my dance school had produced. I even had a solo part, what was really cool. Beside that my life is really boring I guess."
"Dancing?" Atobe echoed. "Am I to understand you're giving up on tennis?"
"Nah I still play Tennis, but I only want to play doubles with Oishi. Singles is boring and there is nobody else I want to play with, and he wants to become a doctor. And I really like dancing."
"...A true loss to the world of professional doubles." Atobe pulled his shirt back on.
"Yeah perhaps it is... But Oishi really wants to be a doctor, and yeah he is the only one I can be the best Player I'm able to be. But hey I'm a win for the world of professional dancing", Eiji laughed at the end.
"It's such a pity, seeing everyone slip away," Atobe sighed. "I heard Fuji's planning to quit, too. What's this world coming to?"
"I don't know, but I'll enjoy it as long as I can, play together with Oishi. But hey I think you will still find many worthy opponents. The world is not just Japan and England."
"Oh, there are plenty of worthy opponents right here," Atobe chuckled. "Sanada is here, and Yukimura. And while Dan is certainly not Echizen, he has tricked me once or twice."
"Nya that's good to know", Eiji smiled wide. He'd like to see a match between any of his old friends and opponents soon, to see what they have learned these three years. "Ah that reminds me... I have to mail Mukahi when he wants to play", he sighed. He couldn't believe that he actually had asked the other acrobatic for a singles match. But it was more a match of acrobatics that of tennis.
"Knock the little bitch down a peg or two," Atobe chuckled, though there was a clear tone of affection in his voice. "Last time we got drunk together he announced he'd beat anyone in acrobatics blindfolded."
"Then I really have to try my best to teach him otherwise. I have learned much from my dancing. He won't have a walk-over at all."
"Good. He really gets annoying at times. I mean, honestly. He can start gloating when he wins a match bleeding and blind, but no sooner."
"Hehe that reminds me of some matches we have seen in middle school. They were quite heavy sometimes." A little sigh escaped him, yeah they were all so passionate about tennis and now? Were they still? He didn't knew. "But I don't think that I can manage hitting him hard enough to get blind, so I just have to win the game."
"Well, I wasn't hit hard as much as the ground was harsh." Atobe's fingertips danced over his scar. "Enough blood will blind you just as effectively as a direct head blow, I assure you. But you're right~ You'll just have to win."
"Urgh, sounds painful....." he too had experienced some painful things but he almost never bled, it were just bruises, sprains and such things... almost normal for a dancer.
"Eh, I lived. And completed Cassandra's Gift in exchange for that." The smirk that now claimed his lips was one of self-assured triumph. "You should have seen their faces when I got Koori no Sekai past the Zone."
"Heee that sounds cool. And I'm sure they were totally awed." Eiji returned that smirk. "Nya... I would have loved to see that."
"It was truly awesome, yes... too bad I got told off badly after it." Atobe chuckled. "Apparently I was being reckless, stupid, and just plain idiotic."
"Hm aren't we all sometimes? Just thinking of Tezuka-buchou back then when he risked his arm, two times just for us to win in the end. Ochibi who got his Eye injured and still wanted to play Ibu. I don't even know how many times Kaidou and Momo got injured. Fuji too. We were all reckless."
"Yeah, well, most of them weren't left with permanent scars in the end," Atobe chuckled. "And at least those were tournament matches, not just a random match for my opponent to show off his skills to potential sponsors. I still say it was worth it, though."
"Nya okay that's right, but hey, you won right? And you probably looked really cool.", Eiji grinned and ate another cookie. He couldn't get enough of them. They were just too good.
"Of course I won. And then fainted, but that's secondary." Atobe was glad to see at least someone was enjoying his cookies.
"Hehe yeah totally secondary." Eiji really liked Atobe, he hadn't have thought back in middle school that he would sit here someday and eat Atobes cookies while talking to him normally. Atobe always seemed to be from a different world, and now... now he was still something different, but he wasn't out of reach anymore.
"Have you seen a lot of people here yet?" Atobe asked next, coming back to the desk and opening a bag of marshmallows.
"Not really. I have seen Oishi, and have wrote with some of the others on the internet, but actually haven't met any. I should really change that next week" He had not much time the last days, for he had to unpack and get everything in place. Then he had to find out what he had to do and read for classes. It was boring but had to be made. And then there was still training. "I hope I can meet Fujiko and Ochibi next week."
"Mm... make sure not to startle Echizen, though." Atobe popped a marshmallow into his mouth. "I upset him unintentionally. Dan almost scratched my face clean off."
"Is it that bad? I mean I don't know what happened, but something seemed to have happened. Of course I try not to startle him, I would never want to hurt our Ochibi." Eiji was really worried. What has happened to their little one?
"I never wanted to hurt him, either." Atobe raised his eyebrows. Did the other think he was that much of a bastard? "Didn't expect he'd freak out at a stuffed toy."
"Sorry..." Eiji murmured. He had talked before thinking again and he had thought he finally had learned to think before saying anything. "Of course you wouldn't. I.... I'll try my best not to hurt him in any way..."
"He's rather... delicate at the moment." To say the least. "One hopes he'll get better..."
Eiji chewed on his lower lip as he heard that. It seemed to be really bad. "Yeah....", he sighed. Now he was all depressed again. That was not good, especially when these scary noises will come back tonight. He didn't wanted to. "I really hope that he'll get better again."
"...Sorry." Atobe sighed, again running a hand through his hair. "I swear, it's almost like a tradition... another autumn, another load of crap dropped on the chibis."
"Really? Nyaaa I don't like that", he pouted, Why can't they all be happy together ay they were back in middle school? They had so few problems back then and now? He felt so guilty for having such a good time, beside the thing with his dad.
"Well, there was trouble around this time last year, too." Atobe shrugged. Marshmallows wouldn't help, he needed chocolate right now.
"What happened?", he asked low. He didn't feel like sweets anymore. More like coiling up and crying, but he hadn't cried in years and he wouldn't start it now. But he'd remember the 'coiling up' part for later.
"...You sure you want to know?" Atobe looked at him seriously. "I'd rather not get killed for upsetting you."
"I'll manage. I've heard many bad things from my classmates", he assured. But this was different. This were his friends and not some stranger they were talking about. "And who should kill you? I won't."
"Your doubles partner for one," Atobe pointed out. "He'd hardly have any mercy for me, of all people."
"Oishi would never kill you", Eiji smiled sheepish, still oblivious to the changes Oishi had undergone, "And I won't tell him if you would upset me, if that makes you feel safer."
"...It involves Fuji."
"Fujiko?", Eiji asked worried directly. "What has happened to Fujiko? Please tell me.", he pleaded.
Atobe drew a deep breath. He supposed he could just tell Kikumaru... The other would find out anyway if he asked around a bit, and at least this way it'd be the bare truth and not the exaggerated and twisted rumors. "An ex-boyfriend of his showed up," he said. "Threatened him with a knife and raped him."
Eiji stared at Atobe in shock. Fuji.... his Fujiko got... this can't be true. How could anybody do something this horrible? Eiji didn't even realized that tears began to fall. "How... how is he now?"
"He's... better, far as I can tell." At least. "Dating Tachibana, now... generally getting his life back on track." Atobe shook his head. "About the chibis... well. Apparently, the sicko had a cousin... who was attending this school. And the cousin had his eye on Echizen."
Eiji was relieved that Fuji was better, and he hoped that Tachibana would take good care of his Fujiko but as Atobe told him that this bastard had a cousin this was an even greater shock. "You mean Ochibi got.... " Now he really started to cry. This was so unfair. neither Fujiko nor Ochibi have ever done anything bad, why were they cursed with such horrible fates? This wasn't fair, not fair at all.
"No. Not that. He didn't rape Echizen." Atobe looked away. Better not to speak of his suspicions. "Instead, he decided to get Dan out of the way... permanently."
"But... Dan-kun is fine isn't he?", Eiji asked carefully. This was almost too much, but he had begged Atobe to tell him and he would face anything he'll tell him. Eiji wanted to be there for his friends but to do this, and especially to not say anything wrong he had to know what happened.
"Barely." Sigh. "The kid was afraid of water. Like, afraid enough he apparently started screaming and shaking if he had to walk too close to the pool. So of course the bastard tried to drown him... the Echizen brothers found him underwater. He was technically dead for a moment, unconscious for days. They didn't even know until he woke up whether there'd been brain damage."
"How could anybody do such things?", he asked in a whisper. He just couldn't understand how people could hurt others or actually kill.
"That's something I hope I'll never understand." Certainly, there were people he wished dead, but he doubted he could ever do such a thing with his own hands. "The two are now in prison, though, and both Dan and Fuji are getting better. Dan's actually gotten over his phobia from what I understand."
"And........... Ochibi?", he asked still very low. Part of him was afraid what horror news he would hear but another part still wanted to know so he could help the younger boy.
"...He got hurt recently," Atobe murmured. "I don't know much of the details, and I'd rather not spread any of my personal speculations... his Achilles tendon got cut, though; it might take a full year for that to heal. He's also got a broken arm... and his earrings got torn out."
That sounded really bad. That was probably why Dan-kun had written that Oishi shouldn't mention Piercings in front of Ryouma. Slowly his head sank until his face was hidden behind his red bangs. Why was life so hard to some who really didn't deserve it? Ochibi was such a nice boy, Dan and Fuji too....
Atobe hesitated a bit before placing a hand on Eiji's shoulder. "He'll be all right," he murmured. "The little bastard beat me in stubbornness once. There's no way this would get him down."
Slowly he nodded. Atobe was right. Ochibi was stubborn and he would recover. Ochibi had gotten over an amnesia in just a few days back in middle school and then defeated Yukimura. There was no way that the same boy would now droop. There was just no way at all, right? "Yeah... your right, that wouldn't be like Ochibi....", he smiled sheepish and lifted his head again.
"Exactly." Atobe nodded firmly, squeezing Eiji's shoulder. "He's pretty vulnerable right now, but he'll be stronger for it in the long run, I'm sure. How could he not? He's got all his friends and his boyfriend and his brother helping him through it, after all."
"Uhn", he nodded and actually smiled again. Yes they would be there for him if he needed them and they would help him to get over it and in the end they would all laugh together again, he was sure. "Thank you Atobe-kun, that you told me."
"Figured it's better for me to tell you than for you to hear the rumors." Atobe shrugged. "I'm sure Echizen would appreciate a visit, but from what I learned, stuffed monkeys might be unwise."
"Okay no stuffed monkeys then", Eiji smiled sheepish. It was strange now. He should visit Oishi later. He really needed him now. "Then I'll visit him next week. And I'll be careful."
"Good boy. My experience was rather... peculiar." He gave a mirthless chuckle. "I actually had to use an impression of Tezuka to get Echizen to snap out of his panic so he could stop Dan from killing me."
"An impression of Tezuka?", Eiji asked curious.
Atobe's lips twitched before he took on an expression of complete seriousness. "Echizen Ryoma!" he barked sharply in his best commanding voice, except it didn't sound like him as much as a certain other captain. "Don't let your guard down!" A pause, then, in his best impression of Tezuka's tones, "You must become the pillar of Seigaku. Stand up! Echizen!"
Eiji chuckled slightly. Yes that was totally Tezuka. "You're really good"
Atobe laughed. "Guess I listened to him enough back then," he said, returning to his own voice. "It was good enough to cut through his hysteria, in any case."
"Thats good", he nodded but then sighed, "I somehow think I should have come earlier",he murmured. It was idiotic he knew, he couldn't have prevented anything but still... he just felt that way.
"Hey, you're here now. It's what matters at the moment." The camp was a strange place. Where else would he have found himself reassuring Kikumaru Eiji of all people?
"Sure but still...", another sigh. "Ah sorry Atobe-kun I'm being stupid again. hasn't happened in months."
"...You haven't been stupid in months?" Now wasn't that a strange comment.
"Ah... forget it", he smiled sheepish.
"...Maybe this time." With one last squeeze of his shoulder, Atobe let go. "Need something to get you over the news? Oishi'd kill me if I offered you alcohol, but I do have some heavy-duty chocolate."
"I told you he won't kill you, and actually I wouldn't mind some alcohol right now, just one to get me down again and then we can talk about chocolate."
"As long as I don't have to listen to lectures about corrupting any young ones." Atobe abandoned his candy stash now in favor of going for the better hidden collection of "treats". Taking out a bottle of very good wine -- as though he'd have drunk anything less -- he then got two glasses and poured some into both, offering one of them to Eiji.
"I'll promise you won't. It's just one glass after all." And he really needed it now. With a little smile he took the offered glass and sniffed slightly. That smelled good, of course, and as he sipped at the wine he was sure that it had to be a really good one. "You really have taste", he said with a little wink and took a bit larger sip this time. Yes this was what he needed now.
"But of course," Atobe chuckled, taking a sip himself. "Could you truly think otherwise of the great Ore-sama?"
"Nope, not at all." was there something better than whine and chocolate? Well actually yes, knowing his friends save for example but for the moment he was fine with just whine and chocolate.
Taking another sip, Atobe then went digging for his very best chocolate. It calmed the nerves, and tasted great, besides.
Eiji robbed a little closer so he could lean against the bed while still sipping on his glass and at the same time, get some chocolate from Atobe.
Atobe reached out some chocolate towards Eiji. "I'm really corrupting you, aren't I?"
"I don't mind at all." He took the chocolate and began to suck on it so it would melt. A luxurious purr could be heard as the chocolate began to melt.
"Even if your dear partner disapproves so badly?"
"Hm?" Eiji tilted his head. "Why should he disapprove? Okay he would say that I shouldn't drink alcohol because I'm still underage but he can't say anything against chocolate."
"It's chocolate from me," Atobe pointed out. "I'm giving you wine, I wouldn't put it past him to claim I've added something untoward in the sweets as well."
"I don't think that he would say that", Eiji murmured. Why would Atobe think something like that from Oishi. He had been always so gentle.
Oishi had always been gentle, yes. And now he was not acting like himself at all. Atobe wouldn't put anything past Oishi right now.
"Why do you think he would say that?"
"Because apparently anything I do is objectionable."
"Don't say that!.... I'm sure... he.... he is just stressed.... he doesn't mean it. He told me that his school is really hard, so perhaps he is just on edge.", Eiji tried to defend his best friend and find a good reason for his behavior.
"He got Echizen to forget about spelling again."
"What?", Eiji asked worried.
"Right after the incident, when he first got online at the hospital, Echizen's spelling and grammar on his journal were wrecked. He got back to normal after that, but... at Oishi's journal, he was again forgetting all about capital letters and punctuation."
"I didn't noticed that....." Eiji murmured.
"Yeah, well, I did. Dan definitely did. Heard Echizen panicked totally over that. I don't care how hard Oishi's school was, that's no excuse."
Eiji hung his head and stared in his wineglass. He felt bad, again. "Sorry", he murmured almost silent.
"First off, nobody needs to apologize to me, and secondly, you shouldn't apologize for something Oishi has done."
Eiji wanted to apologize right away again but then just nodded slightly. It was just, now that they were back together, it felt as if they were a unit, what one did affected the other and so he felt responsible for Oishi too. But Atobe was right, he couldn't apologize for something Oishi did.
"You are Seigaku's Golden Pair, not Golden Player," Atobe reminded him. "If Oishi decides to be a jerk, that has nothing to do with you."
"But.... " Eiji wanted to object but then just sighed. Yeah perhaps he just confused their old friendship with something else, he shouldn't confuse it with. "Perhaps I should go....."
"...Kikumaru..." Great. And he lectured at others for acting like jerks? Such hypocrisy.
"Hm?" He looked up and actually managed a rather crooked smile. "Sorry Atobe-san I'm... fine, don't worry.", he said as he put the glass aside and stood up again.
"You don't look fine to me."
"But it's not your fault. I'm just an idiot."
"How are you an idiot?"
"I'm.....", he shook his head at himself. "I'm mixing some things up that shouldn't be mixed up."
"Such as? Doubles and friendship?" Atobe asked. "...Friendship and crushes?"
As Atobe mentioned the second combination he looked away.
"...I don't exactly need Insight for this, you realize."
"probably not..." he sighed.
"...I wish you luck." Atobe sighed, shaking his head.
"There is nothing I would need luck for. I won't risk our friendship. Everything will stay as it was."
"And you'll end up miserable when he starts dating someone else simply because he never even knew you were interested."
"That would be none of your business then. And as long as he is happy, that's good enough." But Eiji wasn't so sure himself if it really would be.
"Even if there's a chance he might be happy with you?"
"How would you know?", Eiji asked, "As I said. I won't risk anything just because of some speculations."
"Oh, I don't know. But you know what? Neither will you unless you say something." Atobe's lips twitched. "I'd tell you something like he surely won't abandon you for saying something like that... but frankly, I'm not so sure anymore."
Again Eiji sighed. "Not now.... perhaps some day. But not now", there was no way he would tell Oishi anything now where they had so many other problems.
"Just keep it in mind." Atobe shrugged. "I know I suffered plenty for not confessing, though in my case it was more a matter of sexual frustration than heartbreak over risked friendship."
"I will... not as if I could forget it anyway..."
"Not forget... but you just might find yourself tempted to push it into the background."
"We will see. But... perhaps I really should go now.", Eiji murmured.
"...If you're sure." He still wasn't certain the other was all right.
"Yeah I'm sure. I have to.... think. Sorry Atobe-san. It was nice and, when I'm back to normal I'd like to come again some time."
"...Anytime." Atobe took another sip of his wine. "I'm unlikely to run out of sweets." Or stronger stuff, if it were needed.
"Okay.... thanks", Eiji smiled slightly and went for the door. "See you in class then Atobe-san", he said and left the room again. He had so much to think about. But he didn't knew if he could be alone right now. Perhaps he should search Oishi. He wanted to be with him even if it would hurt right now. He really wanted to be with him.
What: Eiji visits Atobe to see his pircings and the tattoo and finds out more than he wanted.
When: September 19th, afternoon/evening
Where: Atobes room
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Eiji was more hyperactive then ever. He was with his friends again and could play Tennis with them. After he had commented on one of Atobes Post he remembered, that Atobe had invited him to see his Piercings and if he remembered right he also mentioned Cookies. It took a bit for him to find out which room was Atobes, but as he had found it finally he knocked.
I just hope he is home, nya.
Atobe looked up from his book as he heard the knock. "Yes?"
Carefully Eiji opened the door and looked inside. "Ah hello Atobe-san. I hope I don't Interrupt you with something important", he murmured a bit sheepish.
"Not really, just the second rereading," Atobe replied, closing Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies. "I really must visit a bookstore soon. How are you?"
"Then it is okay I think", he smiled slightly and finally entered the room completely. He let his eyes wander. First he looked through the room and then looked Atobe over. He was different from what he remembered but it was not a bad change at all, he looked good, really good.
"I'm fine. Actually really happy to see everybody again." he said as he stepped closer. "They look really good", he then nodded at the Piercings he saw.
"Thanks. I quite think so, too." Of course he would. He was the King, after all, and the King obviously looked perfect. Atobe sat up and stretched. "Though to be honest, a couple of years ago I never would have thought I'd one day be holding the school record for most piercings." He smirked a bit.
"Probably nobody would have", Eiji chuckled. No nobody have thought that Atobe would change that way. "So you really have the most piercings in school? How do you know?"
"I've kept my eyes open," Atobe chuckled. "There's one guy in second year with ten, but unless someone has hidden quite a lot of new piercings under their clothes since the Okinawa trip last year, I'm in the lead." The beach certainly made it easy to count such things. There were few places not revealed when everyone was running around in swimming trunks and bikinis, and frankly, if someone was hiding ten piercings under their swimming suit, Atobe did not even want to know.
"Oookay yeah...", Eiji still smiled as ever, "So... you mentioned a Tattoo too if I remember right", Perhaps he could ask Atobe about Piercings, because since some month now he toyed with the idea of getting one or two piercings himself, but he still wasn't sure.
"Yes, I believe I did." His smirk got just a bit wider. "You want to see?"
"Sure!", Eiji grinned happy. He liked to see a good tattoo, and he was sure that Atobe had a really cool tattoo, it was Atobe after all.
Chuckling at the others enthusiasm, Atobe quickly pulled off his t-shirt, showing off the vicious purple shark right over his heart. Of course, this also let Eiji see three more piercings, including the latest one.
"Heee thats really pretty and it is well made", Eiji said as he approached Atobe a bit more to have a better look. He had seen some tattoos and knew how important it was to have a good tattoo artist. The Piercings looked good too.
"Of course it's well made," Atobe snorted, amused. "Do you really think ore-sama would settle for anything less than the very best?"
"Nope, not at all", Eiji laughed and just sat on the ground. Atobe was really nice. "So.... uhm... what have you done the past three years... Beside getting those piercings and that tattoo?"
"What have I done? Oh, this and that, you know." Atobe shrugged. "Was the captain of Hyoutei High for a moment, came here, stopped using a wig, got a boyfriend, lost my grandma, broke my leg. And that was just the first autumn here," he added. "Last year I brought my dog here, led my team to victory in the school tournament, fought with my father, rejoiced at new laws, fought with my boyfriend, cut my hair, got back together with him, realized I fail at baking and started getting lessons, lost my memory for a bit, learned to surf, found a way to control the local media, got a sponsorship I didn't truly need, and took my boyfriend's family to England for Christmas. This year I developed a new technique and paid for it with a scar, got engaged, fought some more with my father, lost my dog, realized I'd grown taller, got my team second in the school tournament, gave up my Japanese citizenship, and returned to camp on a student visa." He paused. "I can bake cookies now without poisoning anyone or blowing up the oven."
At first Eiji just sat there and stared. That was much, but then, he didn't really knew why, he started to laugh. "Okay okay that were three interesting years for you", he chuckled, "But I'm somehow glad that there are others who have problems with their Dads."
"Having problems with him is putting it mildly," Atobe murmured. "After he tried to marry me off we actually had a contract drawn that specified I can do what I wish until my next birthday, after which I'll do whatever he says as much as I'm obliged to by law." He smirked. "Which is why I gave up my citizenship. I'm now only a British citizen, and according to the British laws, I'll be of age when I turn eighteen by next month." He ran a hand through his long, blonde locks. "When I do, I'm going to change my family name. I'm having nothing to do with that man anymore, not even his name, even if it would only be until I marry, anyway.“
"Wow... Okay I don't even come close to your problems with your parents as it seems.", Eiji smiled sheepish and scratched the back of his red head.
"He actually forced me to dye my hair so I'd look more Japanese to his business associates," Atobe said dryly. "He really should have thought about that before he married an English woman... between that, trying to force me to marry, and threatening my boyfriend, well, I wish him luck trying to come up with a new heir this late in life, because I sure as Hell am not going to do as he wishes."
"Yeah... that sounds really bad. I'm glad that you found a way to get out of that contract", Eiji smiled brightly, "And I hope you'll be happy with your boyfriend."
„Oh, I'm very happy, all right." Atobe's smirk melted into a genuine smile as he fiddled with the crude piece of twisted metal around his ring finger.
"Thats great", Eiji smiled warm He hoped that he would find someone that made him smile just like Atobe did right now. Well he knew one who could, but he would never risk their friendship. he would never be able to bear that person hating him. "Uh... You mentioned baking.... Do you have some cookies perhaps?", he then asked sheepish.
"Cookies and candy." Atobe got up to go digging through the drawers of his desk, paying no mind to the fact he was now shirtless. "I was supposed to have muffins, but an agitated Dan does not make for a good teacher, so I ended up totally ruining them."
"Yay Candy", Eiji cheered and didn't mind Atobe shirtless as he was. It was nice to look at after all. "Huh? I hope he has calmed again. And If you like I can try and teach you next time. I'm good at cooking and baking too", he really was worried about Dan and his Ochibi even if he still didn't really knew what was going on with Echizen but something seemed to have happened.
"Mmm... after the initial explosion we rather agreed to concentrate on tennis until he feels better. Not that we're having a lot of success with that, either, but at least he can get out of the frustrated energy without involving fire." Atobe brought up a box of cookies, two kinds of chocolate, and three bags of candy. "Take your pick."
"Uhhh that sounds really bad." he just hoped everything would return to normal someday. As Atobe offered him the sweets he took the box of cookies and placed it in front of him. The first one soon had vanished between his lips and immediately he started to smile brightly. "They are really good", he then said.
"See?" Atobe rolled his eyes. "And yet Eishirou still teases me about my baking. I haven't even given him a food poisoning in half a year at least!"
"Hehe it is mostly a matter of practice. And they are really good", Eiji grinned, "But perhaps Kite-san doesn't mean it as he says. Nee-chan teases my cooking as well just because I made a really stupid mistake many years ago. I know that she just says it because she loves me and likes to tease me. perhaps it is the same with Kite-san."
Atobe gave him a half-smirk. "We had a festival the day before Valentine's. I sold cookies. Eishirou had a booth right across from me. And you know what he sold?" He took an almost vicious bite of one of the poor cookies. "Stomach medicine."
Eiji laughed. That was funny somehow. "Thats mean", he said, "but funny. And hey, your Cookies are really good so you should be above such a thing shouldn't you? Your THE Atobe Keigo after all, the king."
"Yes, I am the Atobe Keigo," Atobe agreed. "And he's the man I plan to see across the breakfast table for the rest of my life, so if we argue over cookies, I'll just be happy that it's not anything more serious."
"Is it really arguing and not just teasing? Did you talk to him about it?", Eiji asked.
"Oh, I have talked to him about it. Doesn't seem to stop him." There was a fond smile on Atobe's lips, though. "Not like it's anything new. We started our relationship by bickering. If we didn't find anything to disagree over, I'd worry."
"Well then it is okay I think and isn..." Eiji stopped and lowered his head with a light blush. No he probably shouldn't say that even if he didn't think that Atobe would actually mind.
"Yes?" Atobe raised his eyebrows. "Do go on..."
"Uhm... It's just... isn't make-up sex just the best after all", he said sheepish and ran his fingers through the red chaos of hair.
Atobe actually laughed at this. "Oh, I assure you, our sex is great no matter what," he said with a wicked grin. "But yes, there's a certain special quality to that."
Eiji relaxed again as he heard Atobe laugh. "Then you really shouldn't worry about some small cookies", he chuckled and ate another one.
"I don't worry about them. I can still be irked, though, can't I?" Atobe finally made his way back to the bed to put his shirt back on. "What about you? A boring life?"
"Hehe yeah perhaps your right", Eiji chuckled but then looked up wondering what to tell. "Mostly I think. I just went to a new high school in a more.... rough part of town so I could attend the dance school that was next to it. I've learned some things for live I think. Had a bad fight with my dad, for which is why he and Tamaki, my oldest Brother are ignoring me since. Had about 3 or 4 short relationships and some Month ago I had my debut on stage with a big show my dance school had produced. I even had a solo part, what was really cool. Beside that my life is really boring I guess."
"Dancing?" Atobe echoed. "Am I to understand you're giving up on tennis?"
"Nah I still play Tennis, but I only want to play doubles with Oishi. Singles is boring and there is nobody else I want to play with, and he wants to become a doctor. And I really like dancing."
"...A true loss to the world of professional doubles." Atobe pulled his shirt back on.
"Yeah perhaps it is... But Oishi really wants to be a doctor, and yeah he is the only one I can be the best Player I'm able to be. But hey I'm a win for the world of professional dancing", Eiji laughed at the end.
"It's such a pity, seeing everyone slip away," Atobe sighed. "I heard Fuji's planning to quit, too. What's this world coming to?"
"I don't know, but I'll enjoy it as long as I can, play together with Oishi. But hey I think you will still find many worthy opponents. The world is not just Japan and England."
"Oh, there are plenty of worthy opponents right here," Atobe chuckled. "Sanada is here, and Yukimura. And while Dan is certainly not Echizen, he has tricked me once or twice."
"Nya that's good to know", Eiji smiled wide. He'd like to see a match between any of his old friends and opponents soon, to see what they have learned these three years. "Ah that reminds me... I have to mail Mukahi when he wants to play", he sighed. He couldn't believe that he actually had asked the other acrobatic for a singles match. But it was more a match of acrobatics that of tennis.
"Knock the little bitch down a peg or two," Atobe chuckled, though there was a clear tone of affection in his voice. "Last time we got drunk together he announced he'd beat anyone in acrobatics blindfolded."
"Then I really have to try my best to teach him otherwise. I have learned much from my dancing. He won't have a walk-over at all."
"Good. He really gets annoying at times. I mean, honestly. He can start gloating when he wins a match bleeding and blind, but no sooner."
"Hehe that reminds me of some matches we have seen in middle school. They were quite heavy sometimes." A little sigh escaped him, yeah they were all so passionate about tennis and now? Were they still? He didn't knew. "But I don't think that I can manage hitting him hard enough to get blind, so I just have to win the game."
"Well, I wasn't hit hard as much as the ground was harsh." Atobe's fingertips danced over his scar. "Enough blood will blind you just as effectively as a direct head blow, I assure you. But you're right~ You'll just have to win."
"Urgh, sounds painful....." he too had experienced some painful things but he almost never bled, it were just bruises, sprains and such things... almost normal for a dancer.
"Eh, I lived. And completed Cassandra's Gift in exchange for that." The smirk that now claimed his lips was one of self-assured triumph. "You should have seen their faces when I got Koori no Sekai past the Zone."
"Heee that sounds cool. And I'm sure they were totally awed." Eiji returned that smirk. "Nya... I would have loved to see that."
"It was truly awesome, yes... too bad I got told off badly after it." Atobe chuckled. "Apparently I was being reckless, stupid, and just plain idiotic."
"Hm aren't we all sometimes? Just thinking of Tezuka-buchou back then when he risked his arm, two times just for us to win in the end. Ochibi who got his Eye injured and still wanted to play Ibu. I don't even know how many times Kaidou and Momo got injured. Fuji too. We were all reckless."
"Yeah, well, most of them weren't left with permanent scars in the end," Atobe chuckled. "And at least those were tournament matches, not just a random match for my opponent to show off his skills to potential sponsors. I still say it was worth it, though."
"Nya okay that's right, but hey, you won right? And you probably looked really cool.", Eiji grinned and ate another cookie. He couldn't get enough of them. They were just too good.
"Of course I won. And then fainted, but that's secondary." Atobe was glad to see at least someone was enjoying his cookies.
"Hehe yeah totally secondary." Eiji really liked Atobe, he hadn't have thought back in middle school that he would sit here someday and eat Atobes cookies while talking to him normally. Atobe always seemed to be from a different world, and now... now he was still something different, but he wasn't out of reach anymore.
"Have you seen a lot of people here yet?" Atobe asked next, coming back to the desk and opening a bag of marshmallows.
"Not really. I have seen Oishi, and have wrote with some of the others on the internet, but actually haven't met any. I should really change that next week" He had not much time the last days, for he had to unpack and get everything in place. Then he had to find out what he had to do and read for classes. It was boring but had to be made. And then there was still training. "I hope I can meet Fujiko and Ochibi next week."
"Mm... make sure not to startle Echizen, though." Atobe popped a marshmallow into his mouth. "I upset him unintentionally. Dan almost scratched my face clean off."
"Is it that bad? I mean I don't know what happened, but something seemed to have happened. Of course I try not to startle him, I would never want to hurt our Ochibi." Eiji was really worried. What has happened to their little one?
"I never wanted to hurt him, either." Atobe raised his eyebrows. Did the other think he was that much of a bastard? "Didn't expect he'd freak out at a stuffed toy."
"Sorry..." Eiji murmured. He had talked before thinking again and he had thought he finally had learned to think before saying anything. "Of course you wouldn't. I.... I'll try my best not to hurt him in any way..."
"He's rather... delicate at the moment." To say the least. "One hopes he'll get better..."
Eiji chewed on his lower lip as he heard that. It seemed to be really bad. "Yeah....", he sighed. Now he was all depressed again. That was not good, especially when these scary noises will come back tonight. He didn't wanted to. "I really hope that he'll get better again."
"...Sorry." Atobe sighed, again running a hand through his hair. "I swear, it's almost like a tradition... another autumn, another load of crap dropped on the chibis."
"Really? Nyaaa I don't like that", he pouted, Why can't they all be happy together ay they were back in middle school? They had so few problems back then and now? He felt so guilty for having such a good time, beside the thing with his dad.
"Well, there was trouble around this time last year, too." Atobe shrugged. Marshmallows wouldn't help, he needed chocolate right now.
"What happened?", he asked low. He didn't feel like sweets anymore. More like coiling up and crying, but he hadn't cried in years and he wouldn't start it now. But he'd remember the 'coiling up' part for later.
"...You sure you want to know?" Atobe looked at him seriously. "I'd rather not get killed for upsetting you."
"I'll manage. I've heard many bad things from my classmates", he assured. But this was different. This were his friends and not some stranger they were talking about. "And who should kill you? I won't."
"Your doubles partner for one," Atobe pointed out. "He'd hardly have any mercy for me, of all people."
"Oishi would never kill you", Eiji smiled sheepish, still oblivious to the changes Oishi had undergone, "And I won't tell him if you would upset me, if that makes you feel safer."
"...It involves Fuji."
"Fujiko?", Eiji asked worried directly. "What has happened to Fujiko? Please tell me.", he pleaded.
Atobe drew a deep breath. He supposed he could just tell Kikumaru... The other would find out anyway if he asked around a bit, and at least this way it'd be the bare truth and not the exaggerated and twisted rumors. "An ex-boyfriend of his showed up," he said. "Threatened him with a knife and raped him."
Eiji stared at Atobe in shock. Fuji.... his Fujiko got... this can't be true. How could anybody do something this horrible? Eiji didn't even realized that tears began to fall. "How... how is he now?"
"He's... better, far as I can tell." At least. "Dating Tachibana, now... generally getting his life back on track." Atobe shook his head. "About the chibis... well. Apparently, the sicko had a cousin... who was attending this school. And the cousin had his eye on Echizen."
Eiji was relieved that Fuji was better, and he hoped that Tachibana would take good care of his Fujiko but as Atobe told him that this bastard had a cousin this was an even greater shock. "You mean Ochibi got.... " Now he really started to cry. This was so unfair. neither Fujiko nor Ochibi have ever done anything bad, why were they cursed with such horrible fates? This wasn't fair, not fair at all.
"No. Not that. He didn't rape Echizen." Atobe looked away. Better not to speak of his suspicions. "Instead, he decided to get Dan out of the way... permanently."
"But... Dan-kun is fine isn't he?", Eiji asked carefully. This was almost too much, but he had begged Atobe to tell him and he would face anything he'll tell him. Eiji wanted to be there for his friends but to do this, and especially to not say anything wrong he had to know what happened.
"Barely." Sigh. "The kid was afraid of water. Like, afraid enough he apparently started screaming and shaking if he had to walk too close to the pool. So of course the bastard tried to drown him... the Echizen brothers found him underwater. He was technically dead for a moment, unconscious for days. They didn't even know until he woke up whether there'd been brain damage."
"How could anybody do such things?", he asked in a whisper. He just couldn't understand how people could hurt others or actually kill.
"That's something I hope I'll never understand." Certainly, there were people he wished dead, but he doubted he could ever do such a thing with his own hands. "The two are now in prison, though, and both Dan and Fuji are getting better. Dan's actually gotten over his phobia from what I understand."
"And........... Ochibi?", he asked still very low. Part of him was afraid what horror news he would hear but another part still wanted to know so he could help the younger boy.
"...He got hurt recently," Atobe murmured. "I don't know much of the details, and I'd rather not spread any of my personal speculations... his Achilles tendon got cut, though; it might take a full year for that to heal. He's also got a broken arm... and his earrings got torn out."
That sounded really bad. That was probably why Dan-kun had written that Oishi shouldn't mention Piercings in front of Ryouma. Slowly his head sank until his face was hidden behind his red bangs. Why was life so hard to some who really didn't deserve it? Ochibi was such a nice boy, Dan and Fuji too....
Atobe hesitated a bit before placing a hand on Eiji's shoulder. "He'll be all right," he murmured. "The little bastard beat me in stubbornness once. There's no way this would get him down."
Slowly he nodded. Atobe was right. Ochibi was stubborn and he would recover. Ochibi had gotten over an amnesia in just a few days back in middle school and then defeated Yukimura. There was no way that the same boy would now droop. There was just no way at all, right? "Yeah... your right, that wouldn't be like Ochibi....", he smiled sheepish and lifted his head again.
"Exactly." Atobe nodded firmly, squeezing Eiji's shoulder. "He's pretty vulnerable right now, but he'll be stronger for it in the long run, I'm sure. How could he not? He's got all his friends and his boyfriend and his brother helping him through it, after all."
"Uhn", he nodded and actually smiled again. Yes they would be there for him if he needed them and they would help him to get over it and in the end they would all laugh together again, he was sure. "Thank you Atobe-kun, that you told me."
"Figured it's better for me to tell you than for you to hear the rumors." Atobe shrugged. "I'm sure Echizen would appreciate a visit, but from what I learned, stuffed monkeys might be unwise."
"Okay no stuffed monkeys then", Eiji smiled sheepish. It was strange now. He should visit Oishi later. He really needed him now. "Then I'll visit him next week. And I'll be careful."
"Good boy. My experience was rather... peculiar." He gave a mirthless chuckle. "I actually had to use an impression of Tezuka to get Echizen to snap out of his panic so he could stop Dan from killing me."
"An impression of Tezuka?", Eiji asked curious.
Atobe's lips twitched before he took on an expression of complete seriousness. "Echizen Ryoma!" he barked sharply in his best commanding voice, except it didn't sound like him as much as a certain other captain. "Don't let your guard down!" A pause, then, in his best impression of Tezuka's tones, "You must become the pillar of Seigaku. Stand up! Echizen!"
Eiji chuckled slightly. Yes that was totally Tezuka. "You're really good"
Atobe laughed. "Guess I listened to him enough back then," he said, returning to his own voice. "It was good enough to cut through his hysteria, in any case."
"Thats good", he nodded but then sighed, "I somehow think I should have come earlier",he murmured. It was idiotic he knew, he couldn't have prevented anything but still... he just felt that way.
"Hey, you're here now. It's what matters at the moment." The camp was a strange place. Where else would he have found himself reassuring Kikumaru Eiji of all people?
"Sure but still...", another sigh. "Ah sorry Atobe-kun I'm being stupid again. hasn't happened in months."
"...You haven't been stupid in months?" Now wasn't that a strange comment.
"Ah... forget it", he smiled sheepish.
"...Maybe this time." With one last squeeze of his shoulder, Atobe let go. "Need something to get you over the news? Oishi'd kill me if I offered you alcohol, but I do have some heavy-duty chocolate."
"I told you he won't kill you, and actually I wouldn't mind some alcohol right now, just one to get me down again and then we can talk about chocolate."
"As long as I don't have to listen to lectures about corrupting any young ones." Atobe abandoned his candy stash now in favor of going for the better hidden collection of "treats". Taking out a bottle of very good wine -- as though he'd have drunk anything less -- he then got two glasses and poured some into both, offering one of them to Eiji.
"I'll promise you won't. It's just one glass after all." And he really needed it now. With a little smile he took the offered glass and sniffed slightly. That smelled good, of course, and as he sipped at the wine he was sure that it had to be a really good one. "You really have taste", he said with a little wink and took a bit larger sip this time. Yes this was what he needed now.
"But of course," Atobe chuckled, taking a sip himself. "Could you truly think otherwise of the great Ore-sama?"
"Nope, not at all." was there something better than whine and chocolate? Well actually yes, knowing his friends save for example but for the moment he was fine with just whine and chocolate.
Taking another sip, Atobe then went digging for his very best chocolate. It calmed the nerves, and tasted great, besides.
Eiji robbed a little closer so he could lean against the bed while still sipping on his glass and at the same time, get some chocolate from Atobe.
Atobe reached out some chocolate towards Eiji. "I'm really corrupting you, aren't I?"
"I don't mind at all." He took the chocolate and began to suck on it so it would melt. A luxurious purr could be heard as the chocolate began to melt.
"Even if your dear partner disapproves so badly?"
"Hm?" Eiji tilted his head. "Why should he disapprove? Okay he would say that I shouldn't drink alcohol because I'm still underage but he can't say anything against chocolate."
"It's chocolate from me," Atobe pointed out. "I'm giving you wine, I wouldn't put it past him to claim I've added something untoward in the sweets as well."
"I don't think that he would say that", Eiji murmured. Why would Atobe think something like that from Oishi. He had been always so gentle.
Oishi had always been gentle, yes. And now he was not acting like himself at all. Atobe wouldn't put anything past Oishi right now.
"Why do you think he would say that?"
"Because apparently anything I do is objectionable."
"Don't say that!.... I'm sure... he.... he is just stressed.... he doesn't mean it. He told me that his school is really hard, so perhaps he is just on edge.", Eiji tried to defend his best friend and find a good reason for his behavior.
"He got Echizen to forget about spelling again."
"What?", Eiji asked worried.
"Right after the incident, when he first got online at the hospital, Echizen's spelling and grammar on his journal were wrecked. He got back to normal after that, but... at Oishi's journal, he was again forgetting all about capital letters and punctuation."
"I didn't noticed that....." Eiji murmured.
"Yeah, well, I did. Dan definitely did. Heard Echizen panicked totally over that. I don't care how hard Oishi's school was, that's no excuse."
Eiji hung his head and stared in his wineglass. He felt bad, again. "Sorry", he murmured almost silent.
"First off, nobody needs to apologize to me, and secondly, you shouldn't apologize for something Oishi has done."
Eiji wanted to apologize right away again but then just nodded slightly. It was just, now that they were back together, it felt as if they were a unit, what one did affected the other and so he felt responsible for Oishi too. But Atobe was right, he couldn't apologize for something Oishi did.
"You are Seigaku's Golden Pair, not Golden Player," Atobe reminded him. "If Oishi decides to be a jerk, that has nothing to do with you."
"But.... " Eiji wanted to object but then just sighed. Yeah perhaps he just confused their old friendship with something else, he shouldn't confuse it with. "Perhaps I should go....."
"...Kikumaru..." Great. And he lectured at others for acting like jerks? Such hypocrisy.
"Hm?" He looked up and actually managed a rather crooked smile. "Sorry Atobe-san I'm... fine, don't worry.", he said as he put the glass aside and stood up again.
"You don't look fine to me."
"But it's not your fault. I'm just an idiot."
"How are you an idiot?"
"I'm.....", he shook his head at himself. "I'm mixing some things up that shouldn't be mixed up."
"Such as? Doubles and friendship?" Atobe asked. "...Friendship and crushes?"
As Atobe mentioned the second combination he looked away.
"...I don't exactly need Insight for this, you realize."
"probably not..." he sighed.
"...I wish you luck." Atobe sighed, shaking his head.
"There is nothing I would need luck for. I won't risk our friendship. Everything will stay as it was."
"And you'll end up miserable when he starts dating someone else simply because he never even knew you were interested."
"That would be none of your business then. And as long as he is happy, that's good enough." But Eiji wasn't so sure himself if it really would be.
"Even if there's a chance he might be happy with you?"
"How would you know?", Eiji asked, "As I said. I won't risk anything just because of some speculations."
"Oh, I don't know. But you know what? Neither will you unless you say something." Atobe's lips twitched. "I'd tell you something like he surely won't abandon you for saying something like that... but frankly, I'm not so sure anymore."
Again Eiji sighed. "Not now.... perhaps some day. But not now", there was no way he would tell Oishi anything now where they had so many other problems.
"Just keep it in mind." Atobe shrugged. "I know I suffered plenty for not confessing, though in my case it was more a matter of sexual frustration than heartbreak over risked friendship."
"I will... not as if I could forget it anyway..."
"Not forget... but you just might find yourself tempted to push it into the background."
"We will see. But... perhaps I really should go now.", Eiji murmured.
"...If you're sure." He still wasn't certain the other was all right.
"Yeah I'm sure. I have to.... think. Sorry Atobe-san. It was nice and, when I'm back to normal I'd like to come again some time."
"...Anytime." Atobe took another sip of his wine. "I'm unlikely to run out of sweets." Or stronger stuff, if it were needed.
"Okay.... thanks", Eiji smiled slightly and went for the door. "See you in class then Atobe-san", he said and left the room again. He had so much to think about. But he didn't knew if he could be alone right now. Perhaps he should search Oishi. He wanted to be with him even if it would hurt right now. He really wanted to be with him.