Fanfiction: Fighting! (Part 6/6: A Place to Belong)
Characters: Takki, Pi, Jin, Ryo, Kame, Tsubasa, Matchy and Tsuyoshi
Pairing: TakkiPi, TakiTsuba, Akame, Ryopi, TsuyoTsuba
Genre: AU, angst, comedy, fluff, romance, smut
Rating: PG13
Summary: We all want a place to belong, so does Tsubasa. But after so many detours, will he ever find his paradise?
Disclaimer: The boys are not mine. They're in paradise and I'm lost.
Note: The end is here. For Dorayaki-chan, for your constant support. Thank you!
Part 1/6: A Perfect Life?
Part 2/6: The Prince and the Punk
Part 3/6: Of Different Worlds
Part 4/6: In the Summer Heat
Part 5/6: Supa Idols
Part 6/6: A Place to Belong
It's a bright, blessed and beautiful day, and the last day in the life of high-schooler Takki. Today, he is graduating from high school.
After the graduation ceremony, Takki sat alone in the student councillor room to bid farewell to his favourite rendezvous. But before long, he is joined by the usual suspects.
'That was quite a speech! Did you spend long preparing for it?' Pi asks as he wraps his arms lovingly around his boyfriend, who had earlier delivered a powerful and passionate speech at the graduation ceremony.
Takki smiles faintly. 'No, it’s what I already feel in my heart. I just said it aloud that's all.'
Pi is impressed; his boyfriend never fails to make him brim with pride.
'All this about stepping out your comfort zone, living a fuller life and fighting for your dreams, I never knew you had it in you,' Ryo says, looking at Takki in a very different light.
'And you definitely walk the talk,' Kame praises.
Jin only nods vigorously in agreement. Sometimes it seems he has lelt all the thinking to Boyfriend Kame. But seeing the goofy, life-is-perfect-and-I-feel-great look that he perpetually wears on his face, no one can really fault him.
'I heard you're not enrolling in business studies like your parents wanted. Instead, you're gonna study music,' Kame continues.
When news got out that Super Supermart's heir is taking up music and not business, the company's stocks actually dipped for consecutive days on the Nikkei Index. He had expected his father to oppose vehemently. But the old man was surprisingly calm. He was actually relieved that his son has found a purpose in life.
He still remembers what his father said, 'I always thought you were drifting through life, existing but not living. It's like you're living a half life. But I'm glad that you've found something you want to pursue.'
Although he has found a purpose in life, Takki still can't help but feel that his life is incomplete. And he knows that it'll soon be even more so.
'Jin and Kame, please step out for a moment. I need to talk to Pi and Ryo in private.'
Looking at the uneasy Ryo and puzzled Pi, Takki smiles kindly but sadly. Then he picks Pi up and hugs him nostalgically. Finally, he pulls apart and looks deep into Pi's misty eyes.
Takki searches for words to say. But they don't come easy.
Sensing his helplessness, Pi says, 'I know it's hard. But you're only leaving the school, not leaving us or me.'
But Takki knows better, he knows that he's leaving behind much more than a building.
'I have a graduation present for you, Pi.'
With that, he takes Ryo's hands and places them in Pi's.
'Ryo, I don't have any present for you, only responsibility. I want you to be responsible for Pi's happiness.'
'Takki, what's this?' Pi protests.
'Ryo, do you accept?'
Stunned and speechless, Ryo can only let his increasingly dewy eyes do the talking.
'I take it that you accept,' Takki smilingly answers on his behalf.’ After all, you've always been silently and secretly looking out for Pi from the sidelines, nursing the hope that one day he'll notice your feelings.'
'What's the meaning of this,' Pi asks impatiently.
'You know I love you and I always will,' Takki replies, stroking Pi's wavy brown locks very gently. 'But I'm breaking up with you.'
..................
Sitting in the Bentley on his way home, Takki looks at his empty hands. For the longest time, they were lovingly held, now all by themselves, they look lonesome. Perhaps they too know that from now on, they'll have no more hands to hold.
But all is not lost. When he gets home, he can always hold his mother's, or get her to hold his. His mother has recently been spending much more time at home. Takki suspects that she's doing it out of guilt. She probably thinks that her son has chosen to abandon a bright future for an arty farty one because of her neglect, and she is trying desperately to turn things around.
Takki lets out a mischievous grin. It's true that every cloud has a silver lining.
..................
In another corner of Tokyo, Tsubasa is also looking at his hands, and the cloth burns around his wrists.
As a means to once again evoke the sex god in him, his lover, Tsuyoshi had resorted to violent sex and bondage. Tsubasa used to be able to come over and over again without much encouragement. But ever since he returned to his former lover, he had difficulty performing.
'This's what sleeping around gets you!' the harsh lover grunted into his ear, as he lashed a leather whip on already bruised skin. 'Look what that softie vanilla boy did to you!'
Tsubasa can't deny Takki's effect on him. He wants to feel that touch again: airy yet electrifying, soft yet needy, gentle yet urgent. But no one has yet been able to come close.
'Vanilla boys are just bad for business. You'd better not let me hear any complaints from our clients.'
Tsubasa nodded obediently.
'Maybe we can try drugs next. I've been trying this new cocktail and I like it.'
Tsubasa trembled inwardly. Tsuyoshi had promised him that although he sells drugs, he won't use them. Thinking back, Tsuyoi had promised him other things too. He promised that he would take care of him. He gave him shelter, but he also made him sell his body. He said that he loved him, but he would sleep around. At least, he came back. No matter how wild things got outside, he would always return home to Tsubasa. Maybe this is love, after all. Maybe this is all the love that he's worth.
Therefore, no matter how bad things get, Tsubasa would console himself with the nice little things that Tsuyoshi had done for him. Tsuyoshi came back for him. After the police interference had died down, Tsuyoi sent his men out to look for him. But he wished he hadn't.
...............
'I think I need to go to the restroom,' Tsubasa informs his distracted client, a very presentable lady in her 40s.
'No! Hold it in!' She orders. Then softening a little, she coos, 'Not now of all time, sweetheart. Now, smile and look pretty, my handsome little boyfriend.'
The rich lady, having paid good money for the social escort to impersonate as her boyfriend at her nephew's graduation concert at Suntory Hall, is determined to show him off for all he's worth. Possessively, she clings onto him as they proceed to the reception hall, where a meet-and-greet session is underway. Wearing a stiff, plastic smile, she waves warmly to her elder sister.
'Wow, what do we have here?' Her poised and elegant elder sister asks in surprise.
'You're always edging me on to get a boyfriend, so I got myself one. And younger boyfriends are all the fad now, so I got myself one too.'
'Did you? From a catalogue?'
Tsubasa struggles to snuff out his smirk. It's clear that the elder woman is not convinced.
'He sure is pretty. But my boy is still the prettiest one alive,' she brags. 'Let me get him here.'
Before long, a specimen of God's-gift-to-women stands before them.
'Sweetheart, meet your Aunt Yuri's new boyfriend. Sorry, I didn't get your name.'
'Tsubasa.'
'That's a lovely name. I'm Takki. Nice to meet you.'
Soon, the ladies are too busy gawking and rating other young boys in attendance to notice that the two prettiest ones have started to drift away. Solemnly walking away from the crowd, the two boys awkwardly avoid each other's gaze.
'How are you?' Takki starts. He awes himself with his self-control. In his imagination, he had often envisioned what their reunion would look like. Either he bitch-slaps Tsubasa to death or he bear-hugs the him to death. No matter what happens, Tsubasa dies. How could he forgive anyone for deserting him the way he did? No farewell note, no call of assurance, nothing. He was worried sick. It's infinitely worse than waking up cold and alone after a long, passionate night of love-making.
Tsubasa looks away, still silent.
'Why?' Takki doubts that the truth will set him free. But he needs to know.
'My boyfriend has found me and wants me back.'
'Would you stay if I asked you to?' Takki questions, breathing a little heavily. He's growing agitated. 'You never gave me a chance.'
Gripping onto Tsubasa's shoulders, Takki looks painfully at him and adds, ‘You never gave me a fighting chance!'
'He doesn't fight fair. You'll only get hurt.'
Tsubasa is ashamed of choosing such a man. But there has never ever really been a choice. Because beggars can't be choosers.
He brushes Takki aside. 'It's too late now anyway,' he sighs and walks away, again.
But Takki clutches onto his arm obstinately.
'I'm your aunt's pretend boyfriend, for goodness sake! Is there a more doomed way to revive a relationship?'
Suddenly, Takki giggles.
'It's not funny,' Tsubasa chides in all seriousness. 'Look Takki, you're like this concert hall. I don't belong here. I didn't the first time. I don't now. And I never will.'
'Forget it,' Takki declares as he holds eagerly onto both of Tsubasa's hands. 'Forget about this place. If you don't belong here, then I'll just go to you.'
With furrowed brows, Tsubasa says with a sour smile, 'Come with me? I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.'
'Then we'll find a place where we can both belong,' Takki insists. 'If we can't find that place, then we'll make it, make a place where we can belong.'
It is then Tsubasa felt it, the love-defining beat that his heart skipped.
Not wanting to hear another objection, Takki locks him into a death-grip embrace.
'Let's go home, Tsubasa. I'm tired.'
Melting into those needy arms, Tsubasa momentarily loses his ability of speech. Finally, in a tender whisper, he says, 'I think I'm already home.'
The End
Bonus (pics are taken from Google search):
Takki: Pi is........ But you are.......
Where are you Tsubasa? I still blush when I think of you.
Hrmp... don't think that you're the only one with wings. I can fly away too.
Well, okay, maybe not. But this Tsubasa-lookalike nurse sure makes it all worth the pain.
Ryo: Can I have Pi?
Takki: But what do you offer in return?
Ryo: Let's go somewhere private. I'll show you.
Happily ever after?
Takki: You complete me.
Marry me? I'll take good care of you.
Note: I first heard the song 'A Lover's Concerto' in a movie, Anna Magdalena. The music video of this song can be seen here.
Thank you for reading and for following through with this journey.
I find it a little hard to let go of this momentum. So next up, tomorrow, picspams: Takki Love Guru series. In the meantime, you can check out the earlier TakiTsuba Love Guru series.
Pairing: TakkiPi, TakiTsuba, Akame, Ryopi, TsuyoTsuba
Genre: AU, angst, comedy, fluff, romance, smut
Rating: PG13
Summary: We all want a place to belong, so does Tsubasa. But after so many detours, will he ever find his paradise?
Disclaimer: The boys are not mine. They're in paradise and I'm lost.
Note: The end is here. For Dorayaki-chan, for your constant support. Thank you!
Part 1/6: A Perfect Life?
Part 2/6: The Prince and the Punk
Part 3/6: Of Different Worlds
Part 4/6: In the Summer Heat
Part 5/6: Supa Idols
Part 6/6: A Place to Belong
It's a bright, blessed and beautiful day, and the last day in the life of high-schooler Takki. Today, he is graduating from high school.
After the graduation ceremony, Takki sat alone in the student councillor room to bid farewell to his favourite rendezvous. But before long, he is joined by the usual suspects.
'That was quite a speech! Did you spend long preparing for it?' Pi asks as he wraps his arms lovingly around his boyfriend, who had earlier delivered a powerful and passionate speech at the graduation ceremony.
Takki smiles faintly. 'No, it’s what I already feel in my heart. I just said it aloud that's all.'
Pi is impressed; his boyfriend never fails to make him brim with pride.
'All this about stepping out your comfort zone, living a fuller life and fighting for your dreams, I never knew you had it in you,' Ryo says, looking at Takki in a very different light.
'And you definitely walk the talk,' Kame praises.
Jin only nods vigorously in agreement. Sometimes it seems he has lelt all the thinking to Boyfriend Kame. But seeing the goofy, life-is-perfect-and-I-feel-great look that he perpetually wears on his face, no one can really fault him.
'I heard you're not enrolling in business studies like your parents wanted. Instead, you're gonna study music,' Kame continues.
When news got out that Super Supermart's heir is taking up music and not business, the company's stocks actually dipped for consecutive days on the Nikkei Index. He had expected his father to oppose vehemently. But the old man was surprisingly calm. He was actually relieved that his son has found a purpose in life.
He still remembers what his father said, 'I always thought you were drifting through life, existing but not living. It's like you're living a half life. But I'm glad that you've found something you want to pursue.'
Although he has found a purpose in life, Takki still can't help but feel that his life is incomplete. And he knows that it'll soon be even more so.
'Jin and Kame, please step out for a moment. I need to talk to Pi and Ryo in private.'
Looking at the uneasy Ryo and puzzled Pi, Takki smiles kindly but sadly. Then he picks Pi up and hugs him nostalgically. Finally, he pulls apart and looks deep into Pi's misty eyes.
Takki searches for words to say. But they don't come easy.
Sensing his helplessness, Pi says, 'I know it's hard. But you're only leaving the school, not leaving us or me.'
But Takki knows better, he knows that he's leaving behind much more than a building.
'I have a graduation present for you, Pi.'
With that, he takes Ryo's hands and places them in Pi's.
'Ryo, I don't have any present for you, only responsibility. I want you to be responsible for Pi's happiness.'
'Takki, what's this?' Pi protests.
'Ryo, do you accept?'
Stunned and speechless, Ryo can only let his increasingly dewy eyes do the talking.
'I take it that you accept,' Takki smilingly answers on his behalf.’ After all, you've always been silently and secretly looking out for Pi from the sidelines, nursing the hope that one day he'll notice your feelings.'
'What's the meaning of this,' Pi asks impatiently.
'You know I love you and I always will,' Takki replies, stroking Pi's wavy brown locks very gently. 'But I'm breaking up with you.'
..................
Sitting in the Bentley on his way home, Takki looks at his empty hands. For the longest time, they were lovingly held, now all by themselves, they look lonesome. Perhaps they too know that from now on, they'll have no more hands to hold.
But all is not lost. When he gets home, he can always hold his mother's, or get her to hold his. His mother has recently been spending much more time at home. Takki suspects that she's doing it out of guilt. She probably thinks that her son has chosen to abandon a bright future for an arty farty one because of her neglect, and she is trying desperately to turn things around.
Takki lets out a mischievous grin. It's true that every cloud has a silver lining.
..................
In another corner of Tokyo, Tsubasa is also looking at his hands, and the cloth burns around his wrists.
As a means to once again evoke the sex god in him, his lover, Tsuyoshi had resorted to violent sex and bondage. Tsubasa used to be able to come over and over again without much encouragement. But ever since he returned to his former lover, he had difficulty performing.
'This's what sleeping around gets you!' the harsh lover grunted into his ear, as he lashed a leather whip on already bruised skin. 'Look what that softie vanilla boy did to you!'
Tsubasa can't deny Takki's effect on him. He wants to feel that touch again: airy yet electrifying, soft yet needy, gentle yet urgent. But no one has yet been able to come close.
'Vanilla boys are just bad for business. You'd better not let me hear any complaints from our clients.'
Tsubasa nodded obediently.
'Maybe we can try drugs next. I've been trying this new cocktail and I like it.'
Tsubasa trembled inwardly. Tsuyoshi had promised him that although he sells drugs, he won't use them. Thinking back, Tsuyoi had promised him other things too. He promised that he would take care of him. He gave him shelter, but he also made him sell his body. He said that he loved him, but he would sleep around. At least, he came back. No matter how wild things got outside, he would always return home to Tsubasa. Maybe this is love, after all. Maybe this is all the love that he's worth.
Therefore, no matter how bad things get, Tsubasa would console himself with the nice little things that Tsuyoshi had done for him. Tsuyoshi came back for him. After the police interference had died down, Tsuyoi sent his men out to look for him. But he wished he hadn't.
...............
'I think I need to go to the restroom,' Tsubasa informs his distracted client, a very presentable lady in her 40s.
'No! Hold it in!' She orders. Then softening a little, she coos, 'Not now of all time, sweetheart. Now, smile and look pretty, my handsome little boyfriend.'
The rich lady, having paid good money for the social escort to impersonate as her boyfriend at her nephew's graduation concert at Suntory Hall, is determined to show him off for all he's worth. Possessively, she clings onto him as they proceed to the reception hall, where a meet-and-greet session is underway. Wearing a stiff, plastic smile, she waves warmly to her elder sister.
'Wow, what do we have here?' Her poised and elegant elder sister asks in surprise.
'You're always edging me on to get a boyfriend, so I got myself one. And younger boyfriends are all the fad now, so I got myself one too.'
'Did you? From a catalogue?'
Tsubasa struggles to snuff out his smirk. It's clear that the elder woman is not convinced.
'He sure is pretty. But my boy is still the prettiest one alive,' she brags. 'Let me get him here.'
Before long, a specimen of God's-gift-to-women stands before them.
'Sweetheart, meet your Aunt Yuri's new boyfriend. Sorry, I didn't get your name.'
'Tsubasa.'
'That's a lovely name. I'm Takki. Nice to meet you.'
Soon, the ladies are too busy gawking and rating other young boys in attendance to notice that the two prettiest ones have started to drift away. Solemnly walking away from the crowd, the two boys awkwardly avoid each other's gaze.
'How are you?' Takki starts. He awes himself with his self-control. In his imagination, he had often envisioned what their reunion would look like. Either he bitch-slaps Tsubasa to death or he bear-hugs the him to death. No matter what happens, Tsubasa dies. How could he forgive anyone for deserting him the way he did? No farewell note, no call of assurance, nothing. He was worried sick. It's infinitely worse than waking up cold and alone after a long, passionate night of love-making.
Tsubasa looks away, still silent.
'Why?' Takki doubts that the truth will set him free. But he needs to know.
'My boyfriend has found me and wants me back.'
'Would you stay if I asked you to?' Takki questions, breathing a little heavily. He's growing agitated. 'You never gave me a chance.'
Gripping onto Tsubasa's shoulders, Takki looks painfully at him and adds, ‘You never gave me a fighting chance!'
'He doesn't fight fair. You'll only get hurt.'
Tsubasa is ashamed of choosing such a man. But there has never ever really been a choice. Because beggars can't be choosers.
He brushes Takki aside. 'It's too late now anyway,' he sighs and walks away, again.
But Takki clutches onto his arm obstinately.
'I'm your aunt's pretend boyfriend, for goodness sake! Is there a more doomed way to revive a relationship?'
Suddenly, Takki giggles.
'It's not funny,' Tsubasa chides in all seriousness. 'Look Takki, you're like this concert hall. I don't belong here. I didn't the first time. I don't now. And I never will.'
'Forget it,' Takki declares as he holds eagerly onto both of Tsubasa's hands. 'Forget about this place. If you don't belong here, then I'll just go to you.'
With furrowed brows, Tsubasa says with a sour smile, 'Come with me? I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.'
'Then we'll find a place where we can both belong,' Takki insists. 'If we can't find that place, then we'll make it, make a place where we can belong.'
It is then Tsubasa felt it, the love-defining beat that his heart skipped.
Not wanting to hear another objection, Takki locks him into a death-grip embrace.
'Let's go home, Tsubasa. I'm tired.'
Melting into those needy arms, Tsubasa momentarily loses his ability of speech. Finally, in a tender whisper, he says, 'I think I'm already home.'
The End
Bonus (pics are taken from Google search):
Takki: Pi is........ But you are.......
Where are you Tsubasa? I still blush when I think of you.
Hrmp... don't think that you're the only one with wings. I can fly away too.
Well, okay, maybe not. But this Tsubasa-lookalike nurse sure makes it all worth the pain.
Ryo: Can I have Pi?
Takki: But what do you offer in return?
Ryo: Let's go somewhere private. I'll show you.
Happily ever after?
Takki: You complete me.
Marry me? I'll take good care of you.
Note: I first heard the song 'A Lover's Concerto' in a movie, Anna Magdalena. The music video of this song can be seen here.
Thank you for reading and for following through with this journey.
I find it a little hard to let go of this momentum. So next up, tomorrow, picspams: Takki Love Guru series. In the meantime, you can check out the earlier TakiTsuba Love Guru series.