There for Each Other Chapter Thirteen (Bleach, Rose/Love)
Title - There for Each Other Chapter Thirteen
Disclaimer - Don't own any of the characters, I just lock myself in my room and make them bend to my muse's will.
Rating - M ladies and gents, enjoy.
Word Count -4,900
Warning - There is het in here (Lisa/Love & YoruHara) but this will be yaoi so there are some overtones, if that bothers you (or vise versa).
Summary - It began with a stranger rescuing a stranger and went on from there. Love & Rose's story from Academy, Soul Society & beyond. There will be angst, UNF to the max, meddlesome YoruHara with help from a certain raven-haired be-spectacled visored - & let's throw in a Kuchiki!
Back to Chapter Twelve!
Between Kidō and Hakuda
“By the end of this semester I expect none of you to need the incantations for bakudo one and eight…some of you may not need it when we begin them next week….” Here their kidō professor -- Arakari Shuji -- glanced Rōjūrō’s way and sitting next to him Aikawa saw the frown such attention put on the noble’s face. “The rest of you need not worry, you will all get there.”
“We’ll start at the back. Come forward, say the incantation, you may attempt to cast it if you want extra credit,” Their sensei moved to stand off to one side as the farthest back female student on the end Shuji had pointed to moved into the place he’s vacated before the class.
As she started to speak Aikawa’s attention moved to the man beside him at the small table as he whispered, “I wish people would stop assuming I already know how to do kidō.”
“You couldn’t do some if sensei asked?”
“No…well…” Rōjūrō waffled. “I might I guess. Damn. But that look he gave me was the one that assumes I’m a master already and…why am I here wasting his time.”
“I didn’t see that look,” Aikawa argued. “Stop readin’ into shit. He knows you have a kidō master fer a mom…’n’prolly knows all those rules you were talkin’ about age restrictions.”
“I should at least have a grasp on the first twenty by now…I had actually decided…” Here he trailed off and as Aikawa opened his mouth to prompt the noble held his hand up for quiet as Shuji looked away from the third student’s rendition of the incantation for bakudo number one to where they sat whispering. “Sshh.”
Aikawa didn’t mind sitting near the front of the classroom, it made for an easy escape to be on the bottom near the side door. There were main doors that led into a hallway of the larger building and one at the top of the central stairs that lead outside, they took the heaviest flow of humanity at the beginning and end of class time. Aikawa had noticed that the side door was never really utilized, he and Rōjūrō would be of the last few students to recite the incantation.
More than halfway through the class, the noble realized they wouldn’t get through the entire class before the lesson ended for the day.
“Ōtoribashi would you be the final student this session?” Sensei’s voice broke into his thoughts and he looked up much like a prey that’s caught a predator’s scent.
Shit, Rōjūrō sighed and Aikawa made sure to look a different direction when he grinned and snickered, the noble was much too distracted to notice the sound. “Hai, Sensei.”
“Arigatō goizamasu,” Shuji gave a small bow.
As Rōjūrō stopped in the center of the teacher’s stage he returned the bow to sensei and then turned to the class and gave them one as well, he figured he would just do the kidō instead of saying the incantation twice and let those watching know. He didn’t mention that he’d never done a kidō in his life, and Aikawa wanted to swat him on the back of the head for his pride.
For a few moments the noble stood there quietly, giving sensei a brief moment to think the blond might try to do the kidō without the incantation. He knew the theory of doing kidō his mother had indeed taught him everything but hadn’t taken him through the practice of them.
“Encompassing drop, trembling cold stone blockade…” He chewed nervously on his lip letting his reiatsu fill him, making its form take up every inch of the words he spoke thinking of lining the palm of his hand as he held it out fingers together and pointing toward the ceiling, turned toward the teacher so he would see the small burst of spiritual pressure. “Pale opposing perception. Bakudō number eight, Seki.”
Warmth seared his palm and he felt the shape of the spell, it felt instantaneous to the loud crash of sensei being repulsed back into the wall. The intensity zinged through the noble and he let out a soft pleased sound and looked down in astonishment at his own hand. That was wonderful.
Something shifted in his reiatsu Rōjūrō had no idea what but it seemed to sing inside and was harder to tamp down as he moved quickly to the teacher’s side. He hadn’t been shoved too hard, but it had taken him by surprise. “I’m so sorry; I’ve never done kidō Sensei.”
“You’re off to a fantastic start Ōtoribashi!” Shuji exclaimed and patted the blond on his shoulder briskly, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Work tonight on control, my suggestion is to use pillows as targets, sit facing a wall,” He turned his attention to the classroom as a whole and gestured to them. “All of you, work on filling the incantation with your spiritual pressure, let it flow from your hands and out of your palms, give it defensive intent with a slight aggressive edge.”
Sensei ended class then and complimented Rōjūrō once more before he let the noble escape.
“So that was yer first try?” Aikawa’s voice came to the blond as he left the side door and found his roommate waiting.
Rōjūrō felt the heat of a blush steal over his face. He had always been the son of a well-know kidō master and it had led to more than one compliment that surprised the noble. His first instinct had always been to demure such flattery but the look on Aikawa’s face made him feel a warm rush of pride. “Yes.”
“I’m guessin’ it surprised you as much as it did sensei?” Aikawa said with a small huff of mirth, noticing the blush on the noble as easily as he usually did.
“I was thinking of Okaasan hearing I was a washout in kidō,” Rōjūrō murmured truthfully, deciding not to share how the noble had calmed himself by remembering that Aikawa wouldn’t care. The way his roommate openly accepted the blond, had never failed to cheer Rōjūrō when he thought about it, even if he didn’t understand his roommate the more he learned about him. His next words confirmed it and sent his heart thudding.
“Washout? So what? I’ve seen y’fight this shit isn’t important, it’s one tool. Remember the pointy blades with that Eri Ueda lady? She says you got atural grace.” Although it was a compliment Rōjūrō noticed the slight jealous petulance flavoring the last two words, and neither of them had to mention what the same sensei had thought of Aikawa’s idea of swordsmanship. “And y’know damn well I wouldn’t let that shit happen anyway…I’d let you have all Lisa-senpai’s free time fer studyin’,” Aikawa promised as they started out of the building that housed the various large kidō classrooms and toward their dorms.
“Are we already at the part of the relationship where you give away each other’s time without asking?” Rōjūrō murmured curiously and the look Aikawa shot his way made the noble feel a pang of guilt. Only one person should bear the brunt of the blond’s current mood: Yadōmaru.
That girl.
“Well after that show in class y’sure as hell ain’t getting a tick of it now,” Aikawa let the tactless statement fade away with nothing more than the flicker of a scowl almost in confusion.
“I don’t mind,” Rōjūrō made them turn while his roommate was talking distracted, his hands moving to animate his sincerity. “Most of her free time is spent with the both of us. I do appreciate that any of the time the two of you share with each other is usually elsewhere.”
“Usually?” Aikawa’s eyebrows shot up and he made sure Rōjūrō saw it.
Knowing very well that Lisa made sure to show her affection in sight of the blond whenever she could Rōjūrō made sure to bite his tongue this time. He was saved as the other man finally commented on where they were headed. “Wonderful garden I saw the other day…one of Lisa-senpai suggestions.”
“Which one?”
“The serene smaller one…It’s more circular shaped than the others, it’s green now, but only a few things are blooming,” He took them around another corner and nestled among what was mostly laundry rooms, kitchen and personnel buildings, was a decent sized swath of vibrant green spotted here and there with flowers.
Both of them moved through the wending path that led through the high shrubs to the carved stone bench in the middle, along the center of the garden was a ring of brilliant yellow flowers springing right from the ground only about as high as their ankles. Aikawa lifted a hand as they walked through, fingers moving along the tiny jagged leaves of the flowerless shrubs that seemed to make up most of this garden.
Astute brown eyes noticed the small green bulbs -- well after they noticed the sharp thorny bits of the plant. “They’re still sleepin’.”
A small smile curled the noble’s lips at his roommate’s observation and the blond teased, “Still sleeping? How lyrical.”
“It’s like y’think I won’t punch you,” Aikawa said with a sigh he tried to sound as put-upon as possible in an over-dramatic fashion. “I will.”
“Shush! You’re still correct!” Rōjūrō turned and tugged at Aikawa’s sleeve when he stopped just outside the ring of yellow flowers. “Most of the Academy’s gardens won’t be full for a month or so…there’s one near the entrance that’s designed to flower year-round.”
“These ones still have some growin’ t’do.”
“Yes, but this will be soooo…” Rōjūrō moved backwards down the path, encouraging with a firm grip on his roommate’s sleeve. “SoSoVery lovely once they’re all abloom.”
“Do y’know their names?” Aikawa glanced down at his feet where the yellow flowers grew around him as he slowly walked through, following his roommate to the seat in the garden’s center.
“The yellow ones are called tulips; all the other ones are rosebushes.”
“Are they yellow too?” Aikawa mumbled as he dumped his books beside the bench to leave enough space for him to sit and still share. When Aikawa had heard the other man’s answer he realized that they weren’t just here to see a garden but shore up the Rukongai-born’s ignorance on flora and fauna. At least where roses were concerned.
The noble stood there, thinking about sharing the small bench with his roommate, “Yes they do grow in yellow but I think these ones will probably be white or pink.”
Aikawa didn’t let the blond stand there long before he moved over a little and muttered, “Sit.”
“We can go drop our books off at our room now if you wish. I just wanted to show you…”
“Uh-huh. Sit.” Aikawa slapped the palm of his hand against the empty bench, waiting until the blond perched half his ass on it. “Y’think you could talk me through the kidō?”
“If you want. I figured Yadōmaru would have continued some of the lessons after I’d left the room,” Rōjūrō made sure he was turned slightly away from Aikawa.
“Do you need more space?” Aikawa asked after a moment, looking down at the space between them just as the noble glanced at the very same, then their eyes met.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Take up some space why don’t you?” Aikawa glanced meaningfully at the ample space between them. “Lisa doesn’t do academic shit while we’re alone.”
Of course, Rōjūrō moved over enough that he was comfortably sharing the bench with Aikawa, the noble very aware of their knees touching.
Aikawa could practically see the thought on his roommate’s face and he chuckled, “Y’sure you don’t need someone?”
“That depends upon your definition of both the words “need” and “someone” Love,” Rōjūrō focused his gaze on the green-budded rosebushes as he let the words come out drily. The noble knew Aikawa thought his new friend was above bordellos, that obviously he’d come upon that conviction recently meant that somewhere in the equation there was a pedestal located under the blond. How that had gotten there Rōjūrō had no clue.
“Same old definition,” Aikawa gave a one-shouldered shrug his own gaze moving to the verdant rosebushes. “Nothin’ special. What’cha mean?”
“Yes I need, but not really for more than an hour or two, and the someone is really extraneous,” Rōjūrō looked down at the book he’d set in his lap when he’d sat down.
“What’s the fun in payin’ for it Ōtoribashi?” Aikawa grumbled.
“You actually get it,” Rōjūrō teased back, since his roommate had already told him their senpai was a tease.
“No fun,” Aikawa argued.
“Yes fun,” The blond’s voice lowered and he gave his friend a wiggle of golden eyebrows. “Very fun.”
At the rough-but-still-soft insidious words Aikawa felt the bottom drop out of his stomach, he stopped the sharp intake of breath in reaction but only just. “Oi--”
“There’s no hand-holding or much cuddling really, but honestly what’s the big deal?” For some reason the silence that his question entered sounded so quiet it seemed fragile.
“Damn.” Aikawa shook his head a little disappointed, knowing he really only felt this way because of one of those “spiritual muscle memories” having spent most of his afterlife wandering aimlessly through less-than-populous parts of Soul Society. “I’m gonna make you hold Lisa’s hand.”
“Really? You want to ask her about that maybe?” Rōjūrō looked over in disbelief.
“She ain’t afraid t’hold hands.”
For a moment Rōjūrō was sure there was something accusatory in the other man’s tone, “I’m not afraid! I’m just not interested in holding your girl’s hand!”
“She’s not mine,” Aikawa frowned at the possessive as he reached over and captured Rōjūrō’s hand.
The zing of awareness tore through Rōjūrō and he attempted to free himself. “Love!?”
“It’s more about soothin’…tellin’ someone that needs it that yer here,” Aikawa swooped down to retrieve his book with his free hand before standing and giving Rōjūrō’s hand a tug. “Don’t wanna be late to hakuda.”
“Love.” The blond grumbled as he reluctantly got to his feet and it was now Rōjūrō’s turn to be led somewhere. The last time Rōjūrō had held someone’s hand outside of family had been long before he had last been kissed, which was saying something. “Do you--”
“Yeah woman I know where we’re goin’, I know ya think I ain’t payin’ attention,” Aikawa slowed so he wasn’t straining their arms at maximum distance and squeezed pale fingers. “Ready f’the real stuff?”
“What do you mean?” Rōjūrō tried to keep a few steps behind Aikawa unfortunately the other man was having none of that from the captive noble.
Aikawa didn’t say anything, just stopped and adjusted their hands until their fingers were laced together, lifted a meaningful eyebrow at the noble before continuing their journey to the dorms.
“You’re going to have people talking,” The noble warned with a slight warmth of mirth, somehow feeling the threat of rumors wasn’t any such thing to Aikawa before he looked up and saw the look on his roommate’s face.
“Shut-up.”
“What!”
“You’re not doin’ it,” Was the reply as they moved seamlessly into the thin hallway-foot-traffic of the dorms between class. “The shuttin’-up.”
“Wh--”
“Shut-up,” Dark fingers squeezed and Rōjūrō bit his lip and looked down at his toes as he followed beside Aikawa. They usually walked through the crowd like this, side-by-side, letting people move to either side and not between.
When their arms bumped with the rhythm of their step the noble felt it much more keenly than usual because when they moved apart the tug of their joined hands brought them back to contact, then away. It was easy enough to see that no one was noticing the new bridge between the two first years but Rōjūrō was far too concerned with the warmth in his fingers, palm and wrist.
They made it to their room and although they just stopped by to leave their academic supplies on the way to hakuda the blond was still surprised when he was still attached to his roommate at the hand even as they were closing the door after leaving.
“I may be amenable to the benefits of hand-holding,” Rōjūrō said as he only just kept himself from caressing his thumb back and forth along the side of the other man’s hand. “I imagine you have other reasons to do this with Lisa-senpai?”
“No shit,” Aikawa gave a sage nod and it made the noble burst out in a short snort of mirth. “What was that sound?”
“Oh look it’s your turn to shut-up,” Hissed the blushing blond.
Aikawa was about to comment on the sound, not so much as it coincidentally sounding like a tiny boar he’d once seen -- although that would have some merit to teasing the noble -- but to suggest Rōjūrō’s likelihood to break apart if he chuckled so mightily.
“Rōjūrō-kun is that you?” A deep voice interrupted as its owner caught sight of the blond on his way through Academy grounds.
Rōjūrō was taken aback a moment, looking at the brunette walking toward him with a friendly look to his handsome unshaven face. He was familiar but the noble couldn’t quite place the face, although his ensemble was just the right bit of lazy and dashing. “It is.”
“Oh Rōjūrō-kun!” At the curious look on the blond’s face the newcomer put a hand to his chest as if his heart pained him. “You’ve grown into such a handsome man! You don’t remember me do you? Kyōraku Shunsui.”
“Shun-Shun!” Rōjūrō surprised his roommate by launching himself into the larger man’s arms for a mammoth bearhug that lasted far too long, easily wrenching their hands apart from a grip unprepared for the move.
Aikawa watched as Shunsui’s hand gave a few strokes to the blond curtain of hair down Rōjūrō’s back as they stood close. They didn’t have a good track record with people Rōjūrō knew from the noble courts. “I’ll just stick with Kyōraku if y’don’t mind.”
“Oh!” Rōjūrō stepped back to the disappointment of the taichō, turning to look at Aikawa. “Love this is Kyōraku Shunsui the heir to the--”
“Yeah, seventy-seventh in line fer…yada, yada…” He held his hand out to the captain stepping a bit closer, his move adjusting the balance of the space making Rōjūrō have to put more space in-between them all. “Aikawa.”
“It’s a nice district,” Shunsui nodded as he looked bemused at the outstretched hand before accepting it with a squeeze and a small pump before letting go. “Bodyguard?”
“You know Otousama wouldn’t--uh--I mean…he’s my roommate…after the happenings out at Tani’s Otousama told me that I had convinced him I didn’t need protection,” The blond glanced Aikawa’s way and nervously noted his curious brown gaze no doubt wondering about the aborted original answer. That was only partially the reason Ito had not accompanied him to the school (the public cause) meant to distract from the real reason, being part of the punishment/snub of Rōjūrō’s father.
Shunsui shook his head with a tsk or two, blaming himself for bringing Rōjūrō around that kind of crowd. “Ito-san will be out of a job without chasing after you part of his duties.”
Aikawa gave Rōjūrō a nudge so that he could better show off his bewildered stare but the noble didn’t answer any question about his father, as he suspected was his roommate’s question. “Shun-Shun used to baby-sit me while my mother was still a bodyguard for his family…which Otousama quickly put a stop too, only giving her enough time to make her feel like she wasn’t being pressured to settle down and make heirs.”
“I don’t know how three isn’t enough for that man,” Shunsui huffed.
“He wants an actual male heir,” Rōjūrō quipped and Shunsui looked admonished as he laughed when he thought it was inappropriate to do so, but he couldn’t contain his mirth. “Still does.”
“That’s stupid,” Aikawa objected.
“A male heir that will make more Ōtoribashi,” Rōjūrō murmured to his friend as he noticed Shunsui look around them toward the building exit. “Although I’m sure he thinks the gotei will straighten me out in that respect and succeed where you failed Shun-Shun,” He was pleased to see the light blush that hit the captain’s cheekbones since both he and the blond’s father assumed the boy would be too young to figure that out.
Getting his youngest child to spend time with the taichō accused of only allowing female members promotion into the highest seats of his division (those around him the most), had backfired on the Ōtoribashi Head in more way than one, visiting bordellos was the least of the patriarch’s concerns.
If all the things Aikawa thought Rōjūrō was implying about his father were true the roommate wasn’t surprised the blond had fled that life. He knew the noble thought that he was doing this for a few instruments -- and it was partly true sure -- but here Rōjūrō was with no bodyguard to watch over him and freedom to go where he pleased. Aikawa knew that kind of freedom felt good, even more so now that he had gone from walking the wide world of Soul Society to living in a 14x20 foot room.
“We must meet again soon, for tea or saké,” Shunsui put a hand on the other noble’s shoulder, fingers squeezing gently as he met lavender eyes with a grin. “So much to catch up on.”
Rōjūrō put his hand on the one clutching his shoulder returning the smile with a small twitch of the corners of his mouth. “I’m sure it felt like a blink to you old man.”
Shunsui pulled away and clutched overdramatically to his chest with both hands, staggering a few steps back from the two. “You wound me with that barbed tongue of yours Rōjūrō-kun.”
“I would show you how clever it is, but I think we’re going to be late for hakuda,” Rōjūrō teased and Shunsui chuckled and pulled him into a hug again. “Send me word.”
“Try to stop me,” Shunsui gave a final squeeze before stepping away, hands lingering on the other’s shoulders, eyes looking into his challengingly. “My hell butterfly knows where to find you.”
“Whatever t’hell you do make sure I don’t meet that man,” Aikawa murmured as they bid farewell to Shunsui so they would make it to class on time.
“Who?”
“Yer father…he don’t sound like a guy I’d get along with.”
“If it makes you feel any better he probably wouldn’t even let you set foot in his presence,” Rōjūrō murmured seriously, his eyes apologetic and resigned to his father’s behavior. “He’s not very open-minded.”
“How’d you escape unscathed?” Aikawa asked, even if he had proof that the blond had not come out completely unmarred.
“You rescued me remember?” Rōjūrō said with a small bump of his shoulder into Aikawa’s as they made their way to the training ground. He told himself not to reach for Aikawa’s hand, although his was getting cold without his palm pressed to his own.
“Pfft didn’t have shit to do with that.”
“Maybe not directly but you have to know you’ll always be my hero Love,” Rōjūrō admitted. “If I haven’t told you that before now I’m deeply sorry for it.”
Shocked at feeling a wash of modesty warm over his face Aikawa shook his head, “Naw.” He thought quick for a moment as golden eyebrows lifted in surprise at his denial. “I mean…not always…We ain’t gonna be roomies after graduatin’…goin’ our separate ways.”
The expression on the noble’s face went from curious to reproving, “I’m sure you’ll make it far in the gotei, there’s no questioning you being accepted into it.”
“Right--”
“Look, they don’t--” Rōjūrō stepped forward and grabbed Aikawa by his upper arms, like he wanted to shake sense into his friend. “They wouldn’t let you attend this school if they weren’t prepared to get something out it. Yamamoto is really the only one that puts money into the school’s scholarship fund constantly; there are lump sums from charitable nobles but not many.”
Aikawa instantly thought of Yoruichi and not because she was a noble, she was in the gotei she was a sister in adversity. It had slipped his mind that his stay here wasn’t free, that someone was paying for his tuition because they believed in him like Rōjūrō. He hadn’t thought he was looking for approval but the memory of Yamamoto allowing him admittance to the Academy a soldier that saw another potential ally and nothing more. A man.
“OY!”
The loud shout did Aikawa justice and both of them paused to glance over, catching sight of someone in an unmistakable black uniform, neither of them thought of how close they were standing together. “Excuse me--”
“Tall brunette, wearing sensational pink and a sakkat, seen him?” The woman huffed as she sent a slender finger under the pink scarf tied daintily around her neck in a bid to loosen it, her ample bosom clearly heaving with the labored breath of someone that had recently been running or using shunpo.
“Kyōraku,” Aikawa nodded and pointed a thumb back the way they had come. “Wasn’t wearin’ the hat though.”
“Thanks Handsome,” She gave him a brilliant smile paired with the wink of a stormy-grey eye, a determined look coming into her steely gaze before she actually vanished in flash step.
“She wasn’t much older than us,” Rōjūrō observed, somehow realizing that although still rare, he and his roommate weren’t the youngest to have graced the corridors of Shinō.
Aikawa gave a grunt of agreement as he let his gaze lower to the fingers sunk into his kimono sleeves. “Y’know yer gonna end up in the kidō corp,” Aikawa didn’t hesitate to keep the argument up from before the large-chested shinigami had interrupted, although this time it was more just to rile up the noble. It was really starting to become a nasty habit but it filled him with such glee. “They prob’ly work on opposite sides of Soul Society.”
“I will not. We’ll be in the same division so shut-up,” Rōjūrō finally released him and continued on toward hakuda, mostly to hide the furious blush that had smashed into his face the moment he’d realized they were close enough that their legs were entwined.
“Shit y’got me t’believe I’d get into the gotei don’t try and make it more unbelievable,” Aikawa snorted.
“Well maybe not but I don’t think we’ll never see each other again,” Rōjūrō protested. “Are we not friends?”
Aikawa glanced his roommate’s direction and was caught with his piercing lavender eyes that same sadness there and worse than before. They lived together and Aikawa hadn’t noticed the difference in the blond in that respect. There was always a melancholy tinge to the noble’s entire being, but it had not been this obvious since their first day of Academy. “Fuck yes, of course we are! S’dumbass question Ōtoribashi.”
The change was jarring; there was an opening of the noble’s face much like he had when he talked about his instruments, only this was full of something tender Aikawa didn’t quite understand. He watched the noble blush for some reason (it was so obvious on that pale skin) then move his eyes quickly to the ground before his feet, shrugging the shoulder he had rested the strap of his bag of books. “Good. Friend’s don’t just stop talking to each other.”
Outside they neared the sparring area Aikawa thinking of how his life would be outside the Academy. “It’ll be weird not sleeping with you.”
Lavender eyes glanced around to make sure they weren’t anywhere near anyone. “You can have sleepovers,” The noble teased ignoring the ‘yesplease’ flash of want deep in his belly at his own suggestion and instead let himself enjoy the rumble of laughter from his friend, so much so that he joined in.
Trying not to just stop mid-laugh at the musical sound made by the blond, Aikawa couldn’t help himself, the noble just didn’t laugh, before with the small snort of a giggle and now this. He hadn’t noticed but…Wow. “Good I ain’t had noble food before.”
“I don’t think I’m going back there,” Rōjūrō admitted and it was met with silence. He looked his roommate’s way but the other man was already looking at the blond.
“Why wouldn’t you? Its part yers ain’t it?”
“I don’t want it.”
“Y’don’t…What about yer babies?” He stopped as the noble turned around and put a hand out to impede Aikawa, fingers brushing his chest.
“Don’t be foolish, those are being brought to me the second I graduate and not a moment later.” He told himself not to pull back, not to step away in such an obvious manner when the sensation of reiatsu and warmth made Rōjūrō’s fingers tingle in such a wonderful way. “I’m going to play you my favorite song; I won’t do it on anything less than my guitar…oh or maybe my viola…” His gaze went far away, to that day his mind going over different sounding instruments.
They arrived at their hakuda class prompting Aikawa to nudge the noble with, “Oi now ain’t the time fer daydreamin’.”
To be continued...
Disclaimer - Don't own any of the characters, I just lock myself in my room and make them bend to my muse's will.
Rating - M ladies and gents, enjoy.
Word Count -4,900
Warning - There is het in here (Lisa/Love & YoruHara) but this will be yaoi so there are some overtones, if that bothers you (or vise versa).
Summary - It began with a stranger rescuing a stranger and went on from there. Love & Rose's story from Academy, Soul Society & beyond. There will be angst, UNF to the max, meddlesome YoruHara with help from a certain raven-haired be-spectacled visored - & let's throw in a Kuchiki!
Back to Chapter Twelve!
Between Kidō and Hakuda
“By the end of this semester I expect none of you to need the incantations for bakudo one and eight…some of you may not need it when we begin them next week….” Here their kidō professor -- Arakari Shuji -- glanced Rōjūrō’s way and sitting next to him Aikawa saw the frown such attention put on the noble’s face. “The rest of you need not worry, you will all get there.”
“We’ll start at the back. Come forward, say the incantation, you may attempt to cast it if you want extra credit,” Their sensei moved to stand off to one side as the farthest back female student on the end Shuji had pointed to moved into the place he’s vacated before the class.
As she started to speak Aikawa’s attention moved to the man beside him at the small table as he whispered, “I wish people would stop assuming I already know how to do kidō.”
“You couldn’t do some if sensei asked?”
“No…well…” Rōjūrō waffled. “I might I guess. Damn. But that look he gave me was the one that assumes I’m a master already and…why am I here wasting his time.”
“I didn’t see that look,” Aikawa argued. “Stop readin’ into shit. He knows you have a kidō master fer a mom…’n’prolly knows all those rules you were talkin’ about age restrictions.”
“I should at least have a grasp on the first twenty by now…I had actually decided…” Here he trailed off and as Aikawa opened his mouth to prompt the noble held his hand up for quiet as Shuji looked away from the third student’s rendition of the incantation for bakudo number one to where they sat whispering. “Sshh.”
Aikawa didn’t mind sitting near the front of the classroom, it made for an easy escape to be on the bottom near the side door. There were main doors that led into a hallway of the larger building and one at the top of the central stairs that lead outside, they took the heaviest flow of humanity at the beginning and end of class time. Aikawa had noticed that the side door was never really utilized, he and Rōjūrō would be of the last few students to recite the incantation.
More than halfway through the class, the noble realized they wouldn’t get through the entire class before the lesson ended for the day.
“Ōtoribashi would you be the final student this session?” Sensei’s voice broke into his thoughts and he looked up much like a prey that’s caught a predator’s scent.
Shit, Rōjūrō sighed and Aikawa made sure to look a different direction when he grinned and snickered, the noble was much too distracted to notice the sound. “Hai, Sensei.”
“Arigatō goizamasu,” Shuji gave a small bow.
As Rōjūrō stopped in the center of the teacher’s stage he returned the bow to sensei and then turned to the class and gave them one as well, he figured he would just do the kidō instead of saying the incantation twice and let those watching know. He didn’t mention that he’d never done a kidō in his life, and Aikawa wanted to swat him on the back of the head for his pride.
For a few moments the noble stood there quietly, giving sensei a brief moment to think the blond might try to do the kidō without the incantation. He knew the theory of doing kidō his mother had indeed taught him everything but hadn’t taken him through the practice of them.
“Encompassing drop, trembling cold stone blockade…” He chewed nervously on his lip letting his reiatsu fill him, making its form take up every inch of the words he spoke thinking of lining the palm of his hand as he held it out fingers together and pointing toward the ceiling, turned toward the teacher so he would see the small burst of spiritual pressure. “Pale opposing perception. Bakudō number eight, Seki.”
Warmth seared his palm and he felt the shape of the spell, it felt instantaneous to the loud crash of sensei being repulsed back into the wall. The intensity zinged through the noble and he let out a soft pleased sound and looked down in astonishment at his own hand. That was wonderful.
Something shifted in his reiatsu Rōjūrō had no idea what but it seemed to sing inside and was harder to tamp down as he moved quickly to the teacher’s side. He hadn’t been shoved too hard, but it had taken him by surprise. “I’m so sorry; I’ve never done kidō Sensei.”
“You’re off to a fantastic start Ōtoribashi!” Shuji exclaimed and patted the blond on his shoulder briskly, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Work tonight on control, my suggestion is to use pillows as targets, sit facing a wall,” He turned his attention to the classroom as a whole and gestured to them. “All of you, work on filling the incantation with your spiritual pressure, let it flow from your hands and out of your palms, give it defensive intent with a slight aggressive edge.”
Sensei ended class then and complimented Rōjūrō once more before he let the noble escape.
“So that was yer first try?” Aikawa’s voice came to the blond as he left the side door and found his roommate waiting.
Rōjūrō felt the heat of a blush steal over his face. He had always been the son of a well-know kidō master and it had led to more than one compliment that surprised the noble. His first instinct had always been to demure such flattery but the look on Aikawa’s face made him feel a warm rush of pride. “Yes.”
“I’m guessin’ it surprised you as much as it did sensei?” Aikawa said with a small huff of mirth, noticing the blush on the noble as easily as he usually did.
“I was thinking of Okaasan hearing I was a washout in kidō,” Rōjūrō murmured truthfully, deciding not to share how the noble had calmed himself by remembering that Aikawa wouldn’t care. The way his roommate openly accepted the blond, had never failed to cheer Rōjūrō when he thought about it, even if he didn’t understand his roommate the more he learned about him. His next words confirmed it and sent his heart thudding.
“Washout? So what? I’ve seen y’fight this shit isn’t important, it’s one tool. Remember the pointy blades with that Eri Ueda lady? She says you got atural grace.” Although it was a compliment Rōjūrō noticed the slight jealous petulance flavoring the last two words, and neither of them had to mention what the same sensei had thought of Aikawa’s idea of swordsmanship. “And y’know damn well I wouldn’t let that shit happen anyway…I’d let you have all Lisa-senpai’s free time fer studyin’,” Aikawa promised as they started out of the building that housed the various large kidō classrooms and toward their dorms.
“Are we already at the part of the relationship where you give away each other’s time without asking?” Rōjūrō murmured curiously and the look Aikawa shot his way made the noble feel a pang of guilt. Only one person should bear the brunt of the blond’s current mood: Yadōmaru.
That girl.
“Well after that show in class y’sure as hell ain’t getting a tick of it now,” Aikawa let the tactless statement fade away with nothing more than the flicker of a scowl almost in confusion.
“I don’t mind,” Rōjūrō made them turn while his roommate was talking distracted, his hands moving to animate his sincerity. “Most of her free time is spent with the both of us. I do appreciate that any of the time the two of you share with each other is usually elsewhere.”
“Usually?” Aikawa’s eyebrows shot up and he made sure Rōjūrō saw it.
Knowing very well that Lisa made sure to show her affection in sight of the blond whenever she could Rōjūrō made sure to bite his tongue this time. He was saved as the other man finally commented on where they were headed. “Wonderful garden I saw the other day…one of Lisa-senpai suggestions.”
“Which one?”
“The serene smaller one…It’s more circular shaped than the others, it’s green now, but only a few things are blooming,” He took them around another corner and nestled among what was mostly laundry rooms, kitchen and personnel buildings, was a decent sized swath of vibrant green spotted here and there with flowers.
Both of them moved through the wending path that led through the high shrubs to the carved stone bench in the middle, along the center of the garden was a ring of brilliant yellow flowers springing right from the ground only about as high as their ankles. Aikawa lifted a hand as they walked through, fingers moving along the tiny jagged leaves of the flowerless shrubs that seemed to make up most of this garden.
Astute brown eyes noticed the small green bulbs -- well after they noticed the sharp thorny bits of the plant. “They’re still sleepin’.”
A small smile curled the noble’s lips at his roommate’s observation and the blond teased, “Still sleeping? How lyrical.”
“It’s like y’think I won’t punch you,” Aikawa said with a sigh he tried to sound as put-upon as possible in an over-dramatic fashion. “I will.”
“Shush! You’re still correct!” Rōjūrō turned and tugged at Aikawa’s sleeve when he stopped just outside the ring of yellow flowers. “Most of the Academy’s gardens won’t be full for a month or so…there’s one near the entrance that’s designed to flower year-round.”
“These ones still have some growin’ t’do.”
“Yes, but this will be soooo…” Rōjūrō moved backwards down the path, encouraging with a firm grip on his roommate’s sleeve. “SoSoVery lovely once they’re all abloom.”
“Do y’know their names?” Aikawa glanced down at his feet where the yellow flowers grew around him as he slowly walked through, following his roommate to the seat in the garden’s center.
“The yellow ones are called tulips; all the other ones are rosebushes.”
“Are they yellow too?” Aikawa mumbled as he dumped his books beside the bench to leave enough space for him to sit and still share. When Aikawa had heard the other man’s answer he realized that they weren’t just here to see a garden but shore up the Rukongai-born’s ignorance on flora and fauna. At least where roses were concerned.
The noble stood there, thinking about sharing the small bench with his roommate, “Yes they do grow in yellow but I think these ones will probably be white or pink.”
Aikawa didn’t let the blond stand there long before he moved over a little and muttered, “Sit.”
“We can go drop our books off at our room now if you wish. I just wanted to show you…”
“Uh-huh. Sit.” Aikawa slapped the palm of his hand against the empty bench, waiting until the blond perched half his ass on it. “Y’think you could talk me through the kidō?”
“If you want. I figured Yadōmaru would have continued some of the lessons after I’d left the room,” Rōjūrō made sure he was turned slightly away from Aikawa.
“Do you need more space?” Aikawa asked after a moment, looking down at the space between them just as the noble glanced at the very same, then their eyes met.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Take up some space why don’t you?” Aikawa glanced meaningfully at the ample space between them. “Lisa doesn’t do academic shit while we’re alone.”
Of course, Rōjūrō moved over enough that he was comfortably sharing the bench with Aikawa, the noble very aware of their knees touching.
Aikawa could practically see the thought on his roommate’s face and he chuckled, “Y’sure you don’t need someone?”
“That depends upon your definition of both the words “need” and “someone” Love,” Rōjūrō focused his gaze on the green-budded rosebushes as he let the words come out drily. The noble knew Aikawa thought his new friend was above bordellos, that obviously he’d come upon that conviction recently meant that somewhere in the equation there was a pedestal located under the blond. How that had gotten there Rōjūrō had no clue.
“Same old definition,” Aikawa gave a one-shouldered shrug his own gaze moving to the verdant rosebushes. “Nothin’ special. What’cha mean?”
“Yes I need, but not really for more than an hour or two, and the someone is really extraneous,” Rōjūrō looked down at the book he’d set in his lap when he’d sat down.
“What’s the fun in payin’ for it Ōtoribashi?” Aikawa grumbled.
“You actually get it,” Rōjūrō teased back, since his roommate had already told him their senpai was a tease.
“No fun,” Aikawa argued.
“Yes fun,” The blond’s voice lowered and he gave his friend a wiggle of golden eyebrows. “Very fun.”
At the rough-but-still-soft insidious words Aikawa felt the bottom drop out of his stomach, he stopped the sharp intake of breath in reaction but only just. “Oi--”
“There’s no hand-holding or much cuddling really, but honestly what’s the big deal?” For some reason the silence that his question entered sounded so quiet it seemed fragile.
“Damn.” Aikawa shook his head a little disappointed, knowing he really only felt this way because of one of those “spiritual muscle memories” having spent most of his afterlife wandering aimlessly through less-than-populous parts of Soul Society. “I’m gonna make you hold Lisa’s hand.”
“Really? You want to ask her about that maybe?” Rōjūrō looked over in disbelief.
“She ain’t afraid t’hold hands.”
For a moment Rōjūrō was sure there was something accusatory in the other man’s tone, “I’m not afraid! I’m just not interested in holding your girl’s hand!”
“She’s not mine,” Aikawa frowned at the possessive as he reached over and captured Rōjūrō’s hand.
The zing of awareness tore through Rōjūrō and he attempted to free himself. “Love!?”
“It’s more about soothin’…tellin’ someone that needs it that yer here,” Aikawa swooped down to retrieve his book with his free hand before standing and giving Rōjūrō’s hand a tug. “Don’t wanna be late to hakuda.”
“Love.” The blond grumbled as he reluctantly got to his feet and it was now Rōjūrō’s turn to be led somewhere. The last time Rōjūrō had held someone’s hand outside of family had been long before he had last been kissed, which was saying something. “Do you--”
“Yeah woman I know where we’re goin’, I know ya think I ain’t payin’ attention,” Aikawa slowed so he wasn’t straining their arms at maximum distance and squeezed pale fingers. “Ready f’the real stuff?”
“What do you mean?” Rōjūrō tried to keep a few steps behind Aikawa unfortunately the other man was having none of that from the captive noble.
Aikawa didn’t say anything, just stopped and adjusted their hands until their fingers were laced together, lifted a meaningful eyebrow at the noble before continuing their journey to the dorms.
“You’re going to have people talking,” The noble warned with a slight warmth of mirth, somehow feeling the threat of rumors wasn’t any such thing to Aikawa before he looked up and saw the look on his roommate’s face.
“Shut-up.”
“What!”
“You’re not doin’ it,” Was the reply as they moved seamlessly into the thin hallway-foot-traffic of the dorms between class. “The shuttin’-up.”
“Wh--”
“Shut-up,” Dark fingers squeezed and Rōjūrō bit his lip and looked down at his toes as he followed beside Aikawa. They usually walked through the crowd like this, side-by-side, letting people move to either side and not between.
When their arms bumped with the rhythm of their step the noble felt it much more keenly than usual because when they moved apart the tug of their joined hands brought them back to contact, then away. It was easy enough to see that no one was noticing the new bridge between the two first years but Rōjūrō was far too concerned with the warmth in his fingers, palm and wrist.
They made it to their room and although they just stopped by to leave their academic supplies on the way to hakuda the blond was still surprised when he was still attached to his roommate at the hand even as they were closing the door after leaving.
“I may be amenable to the benefits of hand-holding,” Rōjūrō said as he only just kept himself from caressing his thumb back and forth along the side of the other man’s hand. “I imagine you have other reasons to do this with Lisa-senpai?”
“No shit,” Aikawa gave a sage nod and it made the noble burst out in a short snort of mirth. “What was that sound?”
“Oh look it’s your turn to shut-up,” Hissed the blushing blond.
Aikawa was about to comment on the sound, not so much as it coincidentally sounding like a tiny boar he’d once seen -- although that would have some merit to teasing the noble -- but to suggest Rōjūrō’s likelihood to break apart if he chuckled so mightily.
“Rōjūrō-kun is that you?” A deep voice interrupted as its owner caught sight of the blond on his way through Academy grounds.
Rōjūrō was taken aback a moment, looking at the brunette walking toward him with a friendly look to his handsome unshaven face. He was familiar but the noble couldn’t quite place the face, although his ensemble was just the right bit of lazy and dashing. “It is.”
“Oh Rōjūrō-kun!” At the curious look on the blond’s face the newcomer put a hand to his chest as if his heart pained him. “You’ve grown into such a handsome man! You don’t remember me do you? Kyōraku Shunsui.”
“Shun-Shun!” Rōjūrō surprised his roommate by launching himself into the larger man’s arms for a mammoth bearhug that lasted far too long, easily wrenching their hands apart from a grip unprepared for the move.
Aikawa watched as Shunsui’s hand gave a few strokes to the blond curtain of hair down Rōjūrō’s back as they stood close. They didn’t have a good track record with people Rōjūrō knew from the noble courts. “I’ll just stick with Kyōraku if y’don’t mind.”
“Oh!” Rōjūrō stepped back to the disappointment of the taichō, turning to look at Aikawa. “Love this is Kyōraku Shunsui the heir to the--”
“Yeah, seventy-seventh in line fer…yada, yada…” He held his hand out to the captain stepping a bit closer, his move adjusting the balance of the space making Rōjūrō have to put more space in-between them all. “Aikawa.”
“It’s a nice district,” Shunsui nodded as he looked bemused at the outstretched hand before accepting it with a squeeze and a small pump before letting go. “Bodyguard?”
“You know Otousama wouldn’t--uh--I mean…he’s my roommate…after the happenings out at Tani’s Otousama told me that I had convinced him I didn’t need protection,” The blond glanced Aikawa’s way and nervously noted his curious brown gaze no doubt wondering about the aborted original answer. That was only partially the reason Ito had not accompanied him to the school (the public cause) meant to distract from the real reason, being part of the punishment/snub of Rōjūrō’s father.
Shunsui shook his head with a tsk or two, blaming himself for bringing Rōjūrō around that kind of crowd. “Ito-san will be out of a job without chasing after you part of his duties.”
Aikawa gave Rōjūrō a nudge so that he could better show off his bewildered stare but the noble didn’t answer any question about his father, as he suspected was his roommate’s question. “Shun-Shun used to baby-sit me while my mother was still a bodyguard for his family…which Otousama quickly put a stop too, only giving her enough time to make her feel like she wasn’t being pressured to settle down and make heirs.”
“I don’t know how three isn’t enough for that man,” Shunsui huffed.
“He wants an actual male heir,” Rōjūrō quipped and Shunsui looked admonished as he laughed when he thought it was inappropriate to do so, but he couldn’t contain his mirth. “Still does.”
“That’s stupid,” Aikawa objected.
“A male heir that will make more Ōtoribashi,” Rōjūrō murmured to his friend as he noticed Shunsui look around them toward the building exit. “Although I’m sure he thinks the gotei will straighten me out in that respect and succeed where you failed Shun-Shun,” He was pleased to see the light blush that hit the captain’s cheekbones since both he and the blond’s father assumed the boy would be too young to figure that out.
Getting his youngest child to spend time with the taichō accused of only allowing female members promotion into the highest seats of his division (those around him the most), had backfired on the Ōtoribashi Head in more way than one, visiting bordellos was the least of the patriarch’s concerns.
If all the things Aikawa thought Rōjūrō was implying about his father were true the roommate wasn’t surprised the blond had fled that life. He knew the noble thought that he was doing this for a few instruments -- and it was partly true sure -- but here Rōjūrō was with no bodyguard to watch over him and freedom to go where he pleased. Aikawa knew that kind of freedom felt good, even more so now that he had gone from walking the wide world of Soul Society to living in a 14x20 foot room.
“We must meet again soon, for tea or saké,” Shunsui put a hand on the other noble’s shoulder, fingers squeezing gently as he met lavender eyes with a grin. “So much to catch up on.”
Rōjūrō put his hand on the one clutching his shoulder returning the smile with a small twitch of the corners of his mouth. “I’m sure it felt like a blink to you old man.”
Shunsui pulled away and clutched overdramatically to his chest with both hands, staggering a few steps back from the two. “You wound me with that barbed tongue of yours Rōjūrō-kun.”
“I would show you how clever it is, but I think we’re going to be late for hakuda,” Rōjūrō teased and Shunsui chuckled and pulled him into a hug again. “Send me word.”
“Try to stop me,” Shunsui gave a final squeeze before stepping away, hands lingering on the other’s shoulders, eyes looking into his challengingly. “My hell butterfly knows where to find you.”
“Whatever t’hell you do make sure I don’t meet that man,” Aikawa murmured as they bid farewell to Shunsui so they would make it to class on time.
“Who?”
“Yer father…he don’t sound like a guy I’d get along with.”
“If it makes you feel any better he probably wouldn’t even let you set foot in his presence,” Rōjūrō murmured seriously, his eyes apologetic and resigned to his father’s behavior. “He’s not very open-minded.”
“How’d you escape unscathed?” Aikawa asked, even if he had proof that the blond had not come out completely unmarred.
“You rescued me remember?” Rōjūrō said with a small bump of his shoulder into Aikawa’s as they made their way to the training ground. He told himself not to reach for Aikawa’s hand, although his was getting cold without his palm pressed to his own.
“Pfft didn’t have shit to do with that.”
“Maybe not directly but you have to know you’ll always be my hero Love,” Rōjūrō admitted. “If I haven’t told you that before now I’m deeply sorry for it.”
Shocked at feeling a wash of modesty warm over his face Aikawa shook his head, “Naw.” He thought quick for a moment as golden eyebrows lifted in surprise at his denial. “I mean…not always…We ain’t gonna be roomies after graduatin’…goin’ our separate ways.”
The expression on the noble’s face went from curious to reproving, “I’m sure you’ll make it far in the gotei, there’s no questioning you being accepted into it.”
“Right--”
“Look, they don’t--” Rōjūrō stepped forward and grabbed Aikawa by his upper arms, like he wanted to shake sense into his friend. “They wouldn’t let you attend this school if they weren’t prepared to get something out it. Yamamoto is really the only one that puts money into the school’s scholarship fund constantly; there are lump sums from charitable nobles but not many.”
Aikawa instantly thought of Yoruichi and not because she was a noble, she was in the gotei she was a sister in adversity. It had slipped his mind that his stay here wasn’t free, that someone was paying for his tuition because they believed in him like Rōjūrō. He hadn’t thought he was looking for approval but the memory of Yamamoto allowing him admittance to the Academy a soldier that saw another potential ally and nothing more. A man.
“OY!”
The loud shout did Aikawa justice and both of them paused to glance over, catching sight of someone in an unmistakable black uniform, neither of them thought of how close they were standing together. “Excuse me--”
“Tall brunette, wearing sensational pink and a sakkat, seen him?” The woman huffed as she sent a slender finger under the pink scarf tied daintily around her neck in a bid to loosen it, her ample bosom clearly heaving with the labored breath of someone that had recently been running or using shunpo.
“Kyōraku,” Aikawa nodded and pointed a thumb back the way they had come. “Wasn’t wearin’ the hat though.”
“Thanks Handsome,” She gave him a brilliant smile paired with the wink of a stormy-grey eye, a determined look coming into her steely gaze before she actually vanished in flash step.
“She wasn’t much older than us,” Rōjūrō observed, somehow realizing that although still rare, he and his roommate weren’t the youngest to have graced the corridors of Shinō.
Aikawa gave a grunt of agreement as he let his gaze lower to the fingers sunk into his kimono sleeves. “Y’know yer gonna end up in the kidō corp,” Aikawa didn’t hesitate to keep the argument up from before the large-chested shinigami had interrupted, although this time it was more just to rile up the noble. It was really starting to become a nasty habit but it filled him with such glee. “They prob’ly work on opposite sides of Soul Society.”
“I will not. We’ll be in the same division so shut-up,” Rōjūrō finally released him and continued on toward hakuda, mostly to hide the furious blush that had smashed into his face the moment he’d realized they were close enough that their legs were entwined.
“Shit y’got me t’believe I’d get into the gotei don’t try and make it more unbelievable,” Aikawa snorted.
“Well maybe not but I don’t think we’ll never see each other again,” Rōjūrō protested. “Are we not friends?”
Aikawa glanced his roommate’s direction and was caught with his piercing lavender eyes that same sadness there and worse than before. They lived together and Aikawa hadn’t noticed the difference in the blond in that respect. There was always a melancholy tinge to the noble’s entire being, but it had not been this obvious since their first day of Academy. “Fuck yes, of course we are! S’dumbass question Ōtoribashi.”
The change was jarring; there was an opening of the noble’s face much like he had when he talked about his instruments, only this was full of something tender Aikawa didn’t quite understand. He watched the noble blush for some reason (it was so obvious on that pale skin) then move his eyes quickly to the ground before his feet, shrugging the shoulder he had rested the strap of his bag of books. “Good. Friend’s don’t just stop talking to each other.”
Outside they neared the sparring area Aikawa thinking of how his life would be outside the Academy. “It’ll be weird not sleeping with you.”
Lavender eyes glanced around to make sure they weren’t anywhere near anyone. “You can have sleepovers,” The noble teased ignoring the ‘yesplease’ flash of want deep in his belly at his own suggestion and instead let himself enjoy the rumble of laughter from his friend, so much so that he joined in.
Trying not to just stop mid-laugh at the musical sound made by the blond, Aikawa couldn’t help himself, the noble just didn’t laugh, before with the small snort of a giggle and now this. He hadn’t noticed but…Wow. “Good I ain’t had noble food before.”
“I don’t think I’m going back there,” Rōjūrō admitted and it was met with silence. He looked his roommate’s way but the other man was already looking at the blond.
“Why wouldn’t you? Its part yers ain’t it?”
“I don’t want it.”
“Y’don’t…What about yer babies?” He stopped as the noble turned around and put a hand out to impede Aikawa, fingers brushing his chest.
“Don’t be foolish, those are being brought to me the second I graduate and not a moment later.” He told himself not to pull back, not to step away in such an obvious manner when the sensation of reiatsu and warmth made Rōjūrō’s fingers tingle in such a wonderful way. “I’m going to play you my favorite song; I won’t do it on anything less than my guitar…oh or maybe my viola…” His gaze went far away, to that day his mind going over different sounding instruments.
They arrived at their hakuda class prompting Aikawa to nudge the noble with, “Oi now ain’t the time fer daydreamin’.”
To be continued...