[RP LOG - Shishido and Ohtori]
Characters: Shishido Ryo and Ohtori Choutarou
Rating: PG
Timeline: the morning after the failed concert ( this log), while they're both still in university
Summary: Ohtori wakes up after staying over at Shishido's, only to learn some upsetting things about his friend.
Sunlight. That was the first thing that Ohtori Choutarou noticed as he started to stir from his sleep. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the light on his eyelids. The next thing he noticed was the fact that he had unfamiliar material against his bare chest. Finally, a slight movement next to him made his eyes snap open, and what he saw almost made his heart stop. There, lying on the floor next to him among the sheets, blankets, and pillows, was his best friend Shishido Ryo.
He lay very still for a moment, trying to remember what had happened. Oh. Yes. The aborted concert, the huge rainstorm, toasting marshmallows by the fire. Beyond that, Ohtori wasn't quite sure what happened. While he remembered the fleece throw, the rest of the bedding didn't look familiar to him.
Ryo
He looked at Shishido with a smile on his lips, just watching the other sleep. Despite being tired, his friend must have gone to fetch all that after Ohtori had accidentally fallen asleep on him. There was something nice about watching Shishido at rest. He was always in a rush to be going places, and Ohtori couldn't help but feel that he was witnessing something rare here. Sitting up a little, he gently brushed some hair off Ryo's face, wondering why his stomach was doing strange somersaults. There wasn't anything odd about this, right? Best friends stayed over at each other's places all the time, right? Though deep down, Ohtori was starting to wonder about things....
Shishido Ryo was never a morning person. The slightest movement made him alert in an instant. He opened his eyes, expecting that he would need to punch someone and right in front of him smiling was Ohtori Choutarou, still bare chested, The sunlight behind him made a nice halo for the angel. In the morning, he looked even more angelic. His heart jumped to his throat. Now THIS is how I should be woken up every morning.He would prefer this over gunshots, pounding or yells.
"Ohayo," he said yawning. "Did you rest well?"
Oh crap. Ohtori should have remembered from all those tennis camps that Shishido was a light sleeper. Hopefully Shishido wouldn't notice the way he was blushing, or the fact that he had just pulled his hand away from his face. But when Shishido spoke, he didn't seem bothered by it so Ohtori tried to shove his worry to the back of his mind.
"Ohayo, Shishido-san." Ohtori smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck before mussing his own hair a bit. "I slept just fine....thanks for bringing all the blankets and stuff out...I'd have frozen to death otherwise."
Sitting up, he grabbed the jersey he had worn last night and slipped it over his head. "Your floor's actually pretty comfortable." He said with an amused smile, but it was true. He'd slept better than any of his nights in his dorm, but at the moment he didn't want to over-analyze why that might have been the case.
Shishido was also bare chested as he sat up. He had a problem with sleeping with clothes so he kept it at a minimum. No matter how freezing it is, he always slept without his shirt on. "Is it really? you know what? You're right. I haven't slept well in ages. I should just sleep on the floor all the time now." He commented as he dug around for his shirt. Where the hell?
He sighed and gave up on it. He stood up, exposing that he was only in shorts and thought a little bit before he went off to the kitchen. He knew he had at least eggs toast butter and cheese and maybe a little sausage. He was doing a mental inventory of where the coffee was and if there were onions and tomatoes. "Sit there, I'm making breakfast." He smiled at the boy, he was about to ask Choutarou to help set up the table in the living room but he stopped. He cant be in the kitchen.
Ohtori rubbed his face a little and nodded, still a little too sleepy to really protest. He didn't' trust himself in a kitchen at the moment, what with all those sharp objects and fire hazards. The last thing Shishido needed was for Ohtori to burn down his apartment.
"I'm just gonna go clean myself up a little, and get dressed. Bathroom's over there?"
Ohtori pointed down the narrow hallway to an open door as he stood up and grabbed his clothes off the rack.
"Yup, down there," Shishido was cracking eggs in a bowl. Denver Omelette sounds good this morning. He could already hear the sizzle of the bacon on his little breakfast griddle with sausages. He started beating the eggs, and once he was done he started cutting the onions, once finished he tossed them into the bowl of eggs and started with the peppers and did the same. Once done, he washed the tomatoes real quick, and then Ohtori's smiling face in the morning flashed in his memory. He smiled, as he started cutting the tomato, he wasn't paying attention as the knife went through the tomato and some of the tip of Shishido's finger.
"OW! FUCK!" He yelled dropping the knife on the floor and reaching for a towel. It was a minor injury but it bled like crazy. The tomato juice didn't make it better. it stung like hell. "OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" He was fumbling around the kitchen for the first aid. Figures, it was in the liquor cabinet. He reached for it with a free hand and dropped it.
Ohtori splashed some water over his face to wake himself up before pulling his now dry clothes on. Ahhh...much better than the other night, even if they were a little stiff from the rainwater. He yawned again, wondering why it was so hard for him to wake up this morning.
But all that flew from his head when he heard Shishido cursing and yelling in pain. He rushed out of the bathroom towards the kitchen.
"Shishido-san!" His eyes went wide at the sight of the blood. He scooped up the first aid kit, oblivious to the open liquor cabinet before literally flying to Shishido's side.
"Are you okay? What happened?" He quickly opened the first aid kit as he peppered questions at his friend. "Make sure you apply pressure."
"Knife slipped." Was the only things he could say. blood was everywhere, on his bare chest and on the kitchen towel he was holding it down with. God, this was embarrassing and painful. He was not thinking anymore. The tomato juice salt was stinging. "There are towels in the little closet in the hall, can you get me some?"
He forgot about the liquor cabinet which lay open exposing bottles of gin, vodka, half empty whiskey bottles and more. Then he knew as soon as he said closet that there was more liquor there. "OH FUCK."
Nodding his head, Ohtori headed for the closet. He certainly found the towels Shishido wanted. But there were also some other things he hadn't expected to find. Bottles. Most of them were empty, but there were others that were still half full. Vodka. Gin. Rum. It seemed that Shishido was about as well stocked as any bar. Ohtori grabbed some towels, a puzzled and worried look on his face. When he returned to the kitchen, the contents of the liquor cabinet finally came to his attention.
He took Shishido's hand and carefully in his own, wrapping the wound up and holding it gently but firmly.
"Shishido-san..."
"OW! What?" he asked as he tried to control the mixed feeling of pain and discomfort, nervousness and irritation at himself. It was not working. He knew that Ohtori had found out about his bottles and that tone of voice never sounded good to him."Do you have the towel?"
He pretended to be oblivious to all this. "Can you help me bandage this up?"
Shishido was avoiding his unspoken question, and Ohtori knew it. But for now, he would hold his tongue. Shishido was still bleeding, and if someone didn't move the bacon and sausages, the kitchen really would burn down.
With swift, efficient movements, Ohtori turned off the stove and removed the pan before turning his attention to Shishido's cut. "Keep holding that towel firmly pressed against your cut. I'll grab some stuff from the first aid kit."
The tone of Ohtori's voice made it very obvious that their discussion wasn't over yet. He fished through the kit for antibiotic ointment, tape, and gauze. "Here...Let me bandage that up..."
Shit. He didn't buy it. He didn't know why he was so scared. He was of age and he could handle himself well. He didn't get piss drunk at some bar and came home with a whore. When he drank, he drank alone. But the tone of Ohtori's voice scared him, more than losing his finger or burning down the house. If any of those other things happened, it would be ok.
He held down on the towel and watched Ohtori flawlessly bandage him. It wasn't the first time he did this for him. He let his mind wander to the time when he had trained himself in tennis. He had let Ohtori serve his scud serve to him without a racket and after that he was in pain. It was worth it though and in the end he earned the respect of many players. The situation was different though this time. He knew he did something wrong.
Despite the tumultuous thoughts running through Ohtori's head, he was still as gentle as ever when he bandaged Shishido up. One thing at a time, he told himself. That done, he felt himself sink to the floor, adjusting his legs to sit cross-legged.
He knew Shishido would want to say something, to explain away what it was he saw. But Ohtori just held up his hand to his friend, silently telling his friend not to say a word. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, collecting his thoughts.
After what seemed like an eternity, Ohtori stood up. His voice was still soft, but it held a hint of something else to it. Not quite anger, not quite disappointment, and not quite panic either. "I'll finish making breakfast while you get yourself dressed..." He looked at Shishido's face, his expressions communicating more than he could with words. And after that, you and I have a lot of talking to do...
"Thanks," He said softly when Ohtori was done with his bandage. He was going to explain the bottles when a hand flashed upon his face. Never. He has never done that to me. He must be really furious. Shit, I brought this upon myself His eyes lowered to the ground in shame as he reached for the plates and set the table up, allowing Choutarou to finish cooking breakfast and himself some time to think.
He had been drinking for a while now. It was his only way to deal with shit. Really, it was the cheapest way. He doesn't like gambling or womanizing, he was too busy. He had been working odd jobs for a while and decided he wanted to give bartending a shot. Truly, most of the drink bottles were for that purpose of practicing, but he drank them all too. It would be a shame to throw it away, right?
He was fearful of Choutarou's eyes. It was the first time he's seen those and he didn't like it at all. He went to his room and pulled on a shirt and some jeans. Fuck. Now what do you say to someone like that
While he was alone in the kitchen, Ohtori let his mind wander a bit. Just what had Shishido been going through to push him to drink to such a degree? While he was angry, he was more worried than anything. How could he help? Could he even help at all? How could he have let this happen, and still call himself Shishido's best friend?
Serving the breakfast up onto two plates, Ohtori brought the food out to the living room, placing it down on the coffee table. As he sat down to eat, he noticed the bottles shoved underneath. He sighed, realizing what the clinking he had heard last night must have been.
When Shishido returned to the room, Ohtori gave his friend a small smile, patting the space next to him, inviting the brunette to sit. "C'mon...eat up while it's hot..."
He didn't know how to react to that. Honestly, he doesn't know what to tell Ohtori. It was in times like these that he clams up. he cant be outspoken when he knows it will hurt the person he loves likes the most. If there is a God, help me now.
He wished the floor would swallow him right then and there as he sank into the floor right next to Ohtori. He busied himself with food. Not really wanting to talk. But his eyes were flooded with emotion. He was sorry Choutarou had to see that.
"Itadakimasu," he mumbled before digging into food
"Itadakimasu." The same mumbled words fell from Ohtori's mouth before he slowly started to pick at his food. He had to admit that he wasn't feeling all that hungry, and wound up pushing it around on his plate more than anything. He took a few bites here and there before putting his fork down with a sigh.
"Shishido-san?" Ohtori's voice was soft and gentle. He was worried about Shishido more than anything. Now wasn't the time to be angry. "Shishido-san, no matter what, we could always talk, right?" Ohtori bit his lower lip, uncertain of exactly how to continue. "So...please...talk to me..."
The request was so simple, yet so difficult, and Ohtori knew it. But just knowing that Shishido must have been suffering in order to do something like this was painful too. Not knowing what else to say, Ohtori let his eyes do the talking. Please...let me try to help....whatever you must be going through...share it with me...
Shishido was slowly eating. Yep, he was not hungry at all. He picked at a burnt bacon and put it down, looking at it and then decided he didn't want it. He stared at his plate for a while realizing that tears were forming in his eyes. He looked up at the ceiling trying to blink it back but it was too much.
He didn't want Choutarou to see him like this. He was supposed to be the sempai. He was supposed to be strong and yet now he seemed broken. There was the divorce, his brother taking most of his parent's money leaving him with barely a cent to his name. There was starving many nights and being cold. There was working odd jobs, there was school. There was barely paying for school - there was getting kicked out of the old apartment.
God too much for this boy to handle. That is when he started drinking. That was why he started drinking. He looked over to Choutarou and let his eyes do the talking. He was begging for help and it was only Choutarou that he trusted to help him. But did he really want him too? He didn't want to bother the boy.
Tears fell from his eyes, down to the plate and then he broke down.
Ohtori did the only thing he knew how to. He wrapped his arms around Shishido, holding him tightly. He didn't say a word, just held him while trying to offer silent support. Ohtori had no idea what misfortunes were hidden away in the scant year separating them, but for now it was enough that Shishido was letting him be here.
"Ryo...just let it out....I'm here..." Ohtori continued to hold his friend, stroking his long hair gently in an attempt to provide some sort of comfort.
Shishido has never cried. Not once in his life. Even as a child, Shishido Ryo was a tough boy. It was only now that he had let it all out, clinging onto Ohtori he had sobbed. "Choutarou, HELP ME!" was the only words he could utter under the pain he was in. He never felt his loneliest - until now.
Ohtori was at a loss, having no real idea how to help. But he would do his best, with everything he had. Ikkyu nyuu kon was his trademark saying after all.
"I'll try...we're the Silver Pair, right? There's nothing we can't face as a team, right? We'll make it through this, okay?"
Ohtori didn't know how it was that he was sounding so confident, because on the inside he wondered if he knew what the hell he was talking about. But Ryo needed him, so he'd stay by his friend's side no matter what.
What am I doing? Shishido realized that he was on the floor bawling like a baby. "I'm sorry, Choutarou." He said, standing up and going to his room. "I need to be alone for a few." He locked the door and started screaming. There, that felt better. What the hell is going on? Why am I going haywire right now? Come on, Ryo. You can fucking do this. Why are you making a scene?"
He reached for a bottle of Jameson next to his bed. Opening it, he took a swig of the whiskey and then looked at the door. Ohtori Choutarou was just outside those doors and he was in his arms just a minute ago. He felt stupid all of a sudden and looked at the bottle. "I have a real friend out there. And I don't need you anymore." He said to the bottle. he took his sheet and filled it with the bottles in the room, crashing and banging all the way. He injured himself with all the broken glass around him. Yet he had no regrets. He had a problem but he's not facing it alone. Choutarou was back.
Ohtori wondered why he seemed to be moving in slow motion. How was it he couldn't stop Shishido from closing himself off in his room. As he heard the lock engage, his heart rate sped up. What was he planning to do? The scream had him rushing to the door, trying to open it. Damn. Ryo really did lock it. But Ryo often needed to vent right? Maybe things weren't too bad after all. Ohtori tried to rationalize things so he didn't have a panic attack.
It was when he started hearing the sound of glass shattering incessantly did he start to panic. "Shishido-san! Ryo!!!" Ohtori pounded on the door, but to no avail.
Oh God...what do I do? What do I do?! He clutched the cross hanging at his neck, mind racing. Then he just let his body take over. "Shishido-san!!!!" He backed up and threw his entire weight against the door. Twice, he did this before he felt the door buckle under his force.
The first thing he saw was the blood, then the glass, and then Shishido in the middle of them both. "Ryo..."
"Choutarou..." He stared at his friend and smiled. He thought that the sight of his friend breaking the door was the most beautiful ever. "I need help getting all this bottles away from me. [b]ALL[/b] of them." He said, meaning they would clear out all the liquor in the house. He went over to Choutarou and put a bloody hand on his friend's face. "Thank you."
It was all he can say. His eyes conveyed honest gratitude. He felt free.
"Ryo...."
Ohtori's eyes searched Shishido's before he felt himself give his former doubles partner a shaky smile. He gently moved Shishido's hand off his face so he could look at it.
"First we need to take care of your cuts. Then we can worry about cleaning this place out." Ohtori wondered if that would be good enough, but either way, it was a good place to start.
He took a quick look around the room before his eyes fell on the door hanging on its hinges. He smacked his forehead with a groan.
"Oh...oh dear. I'm sorry about that Shishido-san...I'll pay for the repairs..."
Shishido Ryo laughed. It was a kind of laugh that both have not heard before. It was free and pure. Much like what he was feeling that moment even his stinging hand cant make the smile go away. "Dont worry about the door. Choutarou, you have a funny way of saving me. Thank you for being paranoid, crazy goody two shoe. if you were not here..." he trailed off and shook his head not wanting to say what was in his head. 'I would have drank myself to death.' he continued in his head. Then he spoke. "but my Choutarou is back. I'll be ok now."
That laugh. That happy sound was bubbling through Shishido, and echoing through the room. Ohtori'd never heard anything so beautiful before. And that joyful feeling was contagious. Ohtori could feel his at first shaky smile gain strength, and blossom into a full out grin.
...my Choutarou...
Those words played over in his head as he considered them. He hardly had any time to consider the feelings he seemed to have been building up, but it was slowly becoming clear to him that he cared a lot for Shishido. He wasn't sure what exactly he wanted those words to mean, but it still made his insides feel warm.
"Shishido-san, y'know...I never really left..." Because he would always and forever be Ryo's Choutarou, even if they just stayed best friends. "I'll always be here for you..."
Shishido smiled and stood closer to Ohtori and looked up to him, his eyes shining with joy. "That's why you're perfect for me Choutarou. Because you're always optimistic, always smiling for me and that makes us the perfect combination. What I lack you have to make up, and you always seem to know when I need you the most." He said and then reached around the boy to envelop him in his arms.
"I am glad you're back. At least now, I feel that my life is a little more complete." He said as he rested his head on the taller boy's chest. "Will you allow me to be weak for now, Choutarou?"
Feeling a little shell shocked at all the events that seemed to explode into the morning, Ohtori simply wrapped his arms around his friend, holding Shishido in a tight embrace. He was happy that Shishido was determined to solve this problem, yet a bit scared of what they may have to face. Ohtori really had no idea what the depth of Shishido's problem was. But they would just have to take things one step at a time.
"I would never call you weak, Shishido-san...but if you need someone to lean on..." Ohtori hugged his friend more tightly before remembering that Shishido was still injured. He loosened his hold a little.
"Now, we'd better look after those cuts...."
Perfect together So, Shishido thought so too. Well, they did make a pretty unstoppable team before. Ohtori hoped he wasn't reading anything into that comment. After all, just because he was starting to realize things about his feelings towards his partner didn't mean that it worked the same way vice versa.
"That's a great idea," he said as he let go, purposefully letting his lips brush just a little on Choutarou's chest, smelling his scent. "I never let you know what happened right?" He let Choutarou lead him out of the room into the kitchen to get his wounds dressed. The adrenalin wore off so now he was in pain. He tried to ignore it as he watched Choutarou gather the things to dress his wound and smiled inwardly.
He is the only one who can calm me or do this to me. God help me if he didn't find me. I would probably be dead.
"My parents divorced a year ago, and supposedly split the money between 2 of us. Me and aniki, but aniki took all the money and practically left me with nothing," he explained as he winced." Yeah, so I had to work for all this on my own. It was tough, Choutarou. They were all in Japan, and I am here in New York, without a cent to my name, barely speaking the language and god, help me if I knew my way around. But I managed."
Ohtori concentrated on patching his friend up, but listened carefully to what was said. He frowned, realizing that he had no idea what had happened, and instantly felt guilty. How could he have let himself lose touch with Shishido for that short time?
Carefully pulling a piece of glass out of Shishido's arm, he continued to work. "I'm so sorry, Shishido-san...I wish I could have helped somehow. But you've managed...I know it must have been hard...but we won't give up, right?" Finishing up with the last injury, Ohtori carefully tied off the last bandage.
"There we go..." Not knowing what came over him, he took Shishido's bandaged hand and gave it a quick kiss. "Mom used to do that for all my scrapes...said it would help things heal faster."
Shishido stared at the place where Ohtori kissed and stopped himself from clinging to his friend to hug him. "Thanks," he grinned then gave his friend a peck on the cheek. "You're the best Mama Choutarou!" he teased.
"Well, you're here now and that's what matters, eventually, I wish you and I could be room-mates," he said.
"Mama Choutarou?!" Ohtori laughed and made a slight face. "Please don't call me that again." But even with the light admonishment, he couldn't help but touch the spot on his cheek here Shishido kissed him.
"And I hope so too. I'll work really hard to save up money so we can do that next year." And so I can get you out of this place. Ohtori wasn't blind to all the problems in the building. The building just wasn't safe.
"Why don't you take it easy...I'll clean things up so you don't aggravate your injuries..."
"Yes Mommy!" He said as he sat on the couch, feeling a little dizzy with all the blood he lost that morning. Add that to he really didn't eat breakfast. "Yeah that's a good idea. I do feel woozy" He laid on the couch staring at the ceiling. "You know what I like about you Choutarou? You're like the complete opposite of me but you understand me, and you goddamn are sexy. and your hair..." He said as he closed his eyes. He didn't know what he was saying let alone know if it was coherent.
Ohtori groaned. "Shishido-san..." Maybe this was how Oishi felt getting called the 'Mother of Seigaku'. Oh well, may as well go along with it. "Fine fine. So be good and go and rest. Feeling dizzy is not a good sign"
The violinist decided to start in the kitchen so he could stay within easy sight and earshot of Shishido. He let his friend's voice wash over him as he carefully went through all the cupboards, removing every single bottle. But once he heard what came out of Shishido's mouth, he stopped.
Sexy. Ryo think I'm sexy
But then he noticed the blood on his shirt. Of course, Shishido was probably just delirious from the blood loss, and probably had no idea what he was talking about. So...why did that feel a bit disappointing?
Shishido went into some kind of weird limbo state when he was awake, yet not quite. He knew that Ohtori was in the kitchen, yet he did NOT have control over what he was saying or what he was doing. He stood up and went to the kitchen thinking of getting a drink but ending up hugging Ohtori from behind.
"I LOVE YOU!" he screamed before he fainted and fell gracefully on the kitchen floor.
After that outburst, Ohtori was now firmly convinced that Shishido was going to be the death of him. First off, there was the hug from behind. Ohtori was been absorbed in his task and didn't hear Shishido approach him. Second was the 'confession' practically yelled into his ear. Third was the sight of Shishido slumping to the floor. Was it possible to suffer three heart attacks in such quick succession?
"Shishido-san!" Ohtori knelt down to check on his friend. "Shishido-san!!" He carefully lifted his friend up and carried him to the couch, setting him down carefully. He grabbed a dampened cloth and returned to Shishido's side. "C'mon Shishido-san...don't' do this to me..." Ohtori looked around the room for the phone in case he had to call for an ambulance.
It took a little over 10 minutes but Shishido finally stirred. "Gah! My head! What the hell happened?" he tried to get up to no avail. He felt like he has a major hangover though he did not drink that day. He looked at Choutarou who looked like he just suffered a heart attack. "What's wrong with you?"
Ohtori let out a huge breath as he felt himself sit on floor with a slight 'flump', glad that Shishido had come to without him having to call the ambulance. He shook his head with a slightly strained chuckle.
"What's wrong with me?" Honestly, Shishido needed to stop worrying about him so much. "How about you fainting in the kitchen when I told you to stay resting on the couch." He put a gentle hand on Shishido's shoulder to keep the other man from getting up. "You scared me half to death...so just lay down and rest, okay?"
"What are you talking about? I never left the couch and how could I go to the kitchen? I couldn't even get up! Make yourself useful and get me some water." he said laying back. God this is worse than new years hangover. He smiled inwardly as Choutarou went to fetch his water. A vague recollection of what happened in the kitchen flashed in his head. 'so! I really said it huh?'
Ah, so Shishido didn't remember that incident in the kitchen. Ohtori wondered if that was perhaps for the best, since he wasn't totally sure how he should respond to that confession. Getting up from his spot next to the couch, he chuckled before heading towards the kitchen.
"Hai, Shishido-san..."
He returned with the water and sat down on the floor so he was level with Shishido. "Should I call a doctor?"
Shishido shook his head. "Nah, no need, besides Mama Choutarou already took care of me." He grinned and winked at his friend with a twinkle in his eye. He couldn't help but notice Choutarou being a little quiet. Maybe the boy was exhausted. After all, he did chase Ryo around the whole morning.
He sighed. "You're such a good guy I don't know if I deserve you. I'm so fucked up."
He laid back on the couch. He really meant what he said. He loves the boy.
There Shishido went, calling him 'Mama Choutarou' again. Ohtori rolled his eyes playfully. "You keep calling me that, and I'll never stop calling you Shishido-san." He chuckled a little as he levelled his semi-serious threat at his friend. "And don't say such things, Shishido-san. Your'e a great friend! Things haven't exactly been easy for you, and what you need right now are friends who will help you. You were always there for me when we were at Hyoutei, so let me try to return the favour now."
Ohtori's voice seemed firm for the first time in what was turning out to be a crazy day. In his mind, Shishido, for all his faults, was still a wonderful person, and nothing in the world would make him change his opinion.
"So, you be good and stay resting here while I finish cleaning up. And when that's all done, maybe we can go for coffee or something."
"Coffee sounds great," Shishido declared as he did not protest just resting. He felt like crap. yet at the same time he felt like he could take on the world. He wondered if this is how it is to fall in love. He grinned to himself. 'Look at me, getting giddy about Choutarou!' he let out a snort but knew that he was just thinking what he felt.
"Mom!" He called out to Ohtori who had started cleaning out the bottles in his room. "MOOOOOM!" He sounded bratty, just the way he wanted it, to tease the poor boy.
The process of clearing Shishido's apartment of all the bottles was a little trickier than Ohtori had originally thought. Who knew there were so many creative places to stash them! He felt a little embarrassed to be going through Shishido's apartment with a fine toothed comb, probably poking in places that he shouldn't. But concerned as he was, he drew the line at looking in places like Shishido's dressers. That, Ohtori reasoned, would be WAY too much of an invasion of privacy.
The sound of Shishido whining made Ohtori laugh. He couldn't help it. Mukahi-senpai had always accused Shishido of being a drama queen, always looking for attention, and for a split second, he wondered if his red-headed team mate might have been right. He poked his head out of the room, craning his neck to look at Shishido.
"What is it, Shishido-san?" He called out in a sing-song voice, much the way a parent would to a young child. After all, two could play that game.
Shishido snorted at sing-song tone that Choutarou used. It was cute. really, it was. He sighed melodramatically. "Are you almost done? I want some company... " He asked, then rolled over to his side to watch Choutarou work, realizing that there must at least be 50 bottles to clear out.
"Ne, Choutarou...What would I do without you?" he half asked that question, knowing the answer would be the same. He knew he needed Choutarou in his life and this time, he would not let him go. He intended to move out of here to move in with his friend. They belong together.
He then reached underneath the couch for one familiar thing that is NOT alcohol. It was one of the many photo albums stashed underneath the futon. This one he pulled out was one of him and Ohtori. He grinned as he opened to his favorite picture of Choutarou. But, of course , Choutarou hated this picture.
"I'm not sure if I'm done with your room yet..." Ohtori frowned a little, going over all the potential hiding spots in his head that he felt comfortable going through. "When you feel better, you and I are going to have to go through this place again." Ohtori wanted to make sure they got every last one so the temptation was at least minimized. But in reality, it all depended on Shishido. Ohtori would do as much as he could, and make sure his friend had someone to talk to, but ultimately it was Shishido who would have to fight this battle.
"Well, if you don't learn to ask nicely, I don't know if I should keep you company." Tying up the last garbage bag, Ohtori teased Shishido as he made his way back to his friend's side. But when he got there, he covered his eyes with his hand. "Oh geez! You know I hate that photo, Shishido-san! I look like such a doofus!"
The photo in question showed Ohtori in the middle of eating from an ice cream cone, while looking over his shoulder in surprise. He had a smudge of ice cream on his face to boot.
"What?No you don't," Shishido grinned, putting the album closer to Ohtori's face. "It's my favorite picture of you." He whispered. "I think it just that candid, open and youthful you that I love er... like."
He flipped the page once more, and it showed a picture of them winning a match. Choutarou looked so happy back then.
"I have ice cream all over my face!" Now it was Ohtori's turn to whine. "You have strange tastes in photographs, Shishido -san"
But all complaints were silenced when Shishido turned the page, and Ohtori's entire face brightened. "I remember that match! That team from Chiba was pretty tough." Memories flooded his mind as he thought back to that day. Things were so much simpler for both of them then, but Ohtori supposed that was just the process of growing up.
"Bah! We won right? They're losers." He handed the album to Ohtori, knowing that the boy would want to hold it anyway. "You really don't remember when that ice cream picture was taken?" He asked as he made room for Choutarou to sit next to him in the couch.
The picture held a special meaning to him. The day it was taken, it was Choutarou's birthday, and he had thought that Shishido forgot. But, when he came over to the ice cream shop for a surprise party he planned and approached with a cake and balloon he was surprised. He was glad the shrimp Gakuto snapped the picture for him.
It was then, that Shishido realized how special of a friend Ohtori was to him.
Of course Ohtori remembered when that photo was taken. Usually he tried to avoid mentioning his birthday to anyone (as most people who's birthday fell on Valentine's Day might do). But even though he tried to hide it away, the Regulars had managed to surprise him with a party anyway. And from the grin that was on Shishido's face, Ohtori knew it was his double's partner who had arranged this all for him. Shishido was just that kind of friend.
"I'm sure there are lots of better photos from that party in here." Ohtori flipped the page, unfolding more and more memories.
"You okay sitting up like that, Shishido-san?"
"Yeah, I am fine, let me lean back just a little," He said as he eased his back onto the backrest and laid his arm across the top of the backrest almost around Ohtori's shoulders. "Heh. Gakuto was too jumpy. I shouldn't have given him the camera." he said as he pointed to pictures that were off center and weird, though Gakuto did take great Candid shots, and had some of the group shots good. "Look there, doesn't it look like Hiyoshi was actually smiling there?" He pointed to a picture of the boy who never smiled. It was small so he had to lean over, causing his other hand to fall on his friend's shoulders. He left it there.
Ohtori's bright laughter filled the room. "Hey, Hiyoshi wasn't that bad. He smiled more than you think he did."
The two sat and looked through the album, laughing and reminiscing. Ohtori didn't even notice how closely they sat together on the couch. After they had gone through the album, Ohtori leaned back and sighed.
"We had a lot of good times..." Ohtori turned his head and smiled at his friend. "And we'll make lots more good memories, right?"
"You bet we will," He grinned at his friend just now realizing that he had his arm around Ohtori. He blushed and took his arm away pretending to scratch his head. "It's just beginning, Choutarou. It's only the beginning."
He winked and pulled out one more thing underneath the couch. It was a box, mostly meant for a huge boot. he blew the dust off the top and coughed. then opened it. In it sat some of their medals for winning doubles and some of the things precious to Shishido. A lock of his hair, the scissors used to cut it, Ohtori's old cross, (he broke it in one of the games), some of Ohtori's post it notes in his locker reminding him not to be late and stuff.
"I kept this." He smiled raising an old notebook paper with Ohtori's handwriting. In it, was only 2 words. "Ganbatte, sempai."
Ohtori carefully fingered the various items in Shishido's box. Who knew that Shishido was so sentimental? Tracing his fingers over his own familiar writing.
"Well, it still applies...maybe even more so now than ever." He gave Shishido a soft smile before turning his attention back to the box.
"How are you doing? You feeling well enough for some fresh air and coffee?"
"Sure," Shishido smiled as he stood up and went to the hallway closet where he had hung his old Hyoutei Jersey Jacket. He grinned and winked at Ohtori before showing him that he had his old one. "This was from when I forgot my umbrella."
He referred to another one of his favorite memories as he opened the door. Yep, he was ready to change. No more alcohol. He didn't need them, he had Choutarou to make him happy now. Maybe it will be a tough run, but, with his tall silver haired friend - his better half. He knows that he has a strong support to back him up.
"Ne, Choutarou, aren't you glad you found me?"
For all his talk about how Hyoutei was full of lunatics, or ego-maniacs, it was obvious that Shishido had enjoyed his time there. Ohtori smiled at the sight of the jacket, thinking of his own that was still sitting in Japan. As the took the bottles to the garbage disposal, Ohtori gave pause to wondering just what was in store for them. Certainly there would be tough times, but Ohtori was sure that as long as they could stick together, nothing would be insurmountable.
"Yeah...I am, Shishido-san."
Rating: PG
Timeline: the morning after the failed concert ( this log), while they're both still in university
Summary: Ohtori wakes up after staying over at Shishido's, only to learn some upsetting things about his friend.
Sunlight. That was the first thing that Ohtori Choutarou noticed as he started to stir from his sleep. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the light on his eyelids. The next thing he noticed was the fact that he had unfamiliar material against his bare chest. Finally, a slight movement next to him made his eyes snap open, and what he saw almost made his heart stop. There, lying on the floor next to him among the sheets, blankets, and pillows, was his best friend Shishido Ryo.
He lay very still for a moment, trying to remember what had happened. Oh. Yes. The aborted concert, the huge rainstorm, toasting marshmallows by the fire. Beyond that, Ohtori wasn't quite sure what happened. While he remembered the fleece throw, the rest of the bedding didn't look familiar to him.
Ryo
He looked at Shishido with a smile on his lips, just watching the other sleep. Despite being tired, his friend must have gone to fetch all that after Ohtori had accidentally fallen asleep on him. There was something nice about watching Shishido at rest. He was always in a rush to be going places, and Ohtori couldn't help but feel that he was witnessing something rare here. Sitting up a little, he gently brushed some hair off Ryo's face, wondering why his stomach was doing strange somersaults. There wasn't anything odd about this, right? Best friends stayed over at each other's places all the time, right? Though deep down, Ohtori was starting to wonder about things....
Shishido Ryo was never a morning person. The slightest movement made him alert in an instant. He opened his eyes, expecting that he would need to punch someone and right in front of him smiling was Ohtori Choutarou, still bare chested, The sunlight behind him made a nice halo for the angel. In the morning, he looked even more angelic. His heart jumped to his throat. Now THIS is how I should be woken up every morning.He would prefer this over gunshots, pounding or yells.
"Ohayo," he said yawning. "Did you rest well?"
Oh crap. Ohtori should have remembered from all those tennis camps that Shishido was a light sleeper. Hopefully Shishido wouldn't notice the way he was blushing, or the fact that he had just pulled his hand away from his face. But when Shishido spoke, he didn't seem bothered by it so Ohtori tried to shove his worry to the back of his mind.
"Ohayo, Shishido-san." Ohtori smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck before mussing his own hair a bit. "I slept just fine....thanks for bringing all the blankets and stuff out...I'd have frozen to death otherwise."
Sitting up, he grabbed the jersey he had worn last night and slipped it over his head. "Your floor's actually pretty comfortable." He said with an amused smile, but it was true. He'd slept better than any of his nights in his dorm, but at the moment he didn't want to over-analyze why that might have been the case.
Shishido was also bare chested as he sat up. He had a problem with sleeping with clothes so he kept it at a minimum. No matter how freezing it is, he always slept without his shirt on. "Is it really? you know what? You're right. I haven't slept well in ages. I should just sleep on the floor all the time now." He commented as he dug around for his shirt. Where the hell?
He sighed and gave up on it. He stood up, exposing that he was only in shorts and thought a little bit before he went off to the kitchen. He knew he had at least eggs toast butter and cheese and maybe a little sausage. He was doing a mental inventory of where the coffee was and if there were onions and tomatoes. "Sit there, I'm making breakfast." He smiled at the boy, he was about to ask Choutarou to help set up the table in the living room but he stopped. He cant be in the kitchen.
Ohtori rubbed his face a little and nodded, still a little too sleepy to really protest. He didn't' trust himself in a kitchen at the moment, what with all those sharp objects and fire hazards. The last thing Shishido needed was for Ohtori to burn down his apartment.
"I'm just gonna go clean myself up a little, and get dressed. Bathroom's over there?"
Ohtori pointed down the narrow hallway to an open door as he stood up and grabbed his clothes off the rack.
"Yup, down there," Shishido was cracking eggs in a bowl. Denver Omelette sounds good this morning. He could already hear the sizzle of the bacon on his little breakfast griddle with sausages. He started beating the eggs, and once he was done he started cutting the onions, once finished he tossed them into the bowl of eggs and started with the peppers and did the same. Once done, he washed the tomatoes real quick, and then Ohtori's smiling face in the morning flashed in his memory. He smiled, as he started cutting the tomato, he wasn't paying attention as the knife went through the tomato and some of the tip of Shishido's finger.
"OW! FUCK!" He yelled dropping the knife on the floor and reaching for a towel. It was a minor injury but it bled like crazy. The tomato juice didn't make it better. it stung like hell. "OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" He was fumbling around the kitchen for the first aid. Figures, it was in the liquor cabinet. He reached for it with a free hand and dropped it.
Ohtori splashed some water over his face to wake himself up before pulling his now dry clothes on. Ahhh...much better than the other night, even if they were a little stiff from the rainwater. He yawned again, wondering why it was so hard for him to wake up this morning.
But all that flew from his head when he heard Shishido cursing and yelling in pain. He rushed out of the bathroom towards the kitchen.
"Shishido-san!" His eyes went wide at the sight of the blood. He scooped up the first aid kit, oblivious to the open liquor cabinet before literally flying to Shishido's side.
"Are you okay? What happened?" He quickly opened the first aid kit as he peppered questions at his friend. "Make sure you apply pressure."
"Knife slipped." Was the only things he could say. blood was everywhere, on his bare chest and on the kitchen towel he was holding it down with. God, this was embarrassing and painful. He was not thinking anymore. The tomato juice salt was stinging. "There are towels in the little closet in the hall, can you get me some?"
He forgot about the liquor cabinet which lay open exposing bottles of gin, vodka, half empty whiskey bottles and more. Then he knew as soon as he said closet that there was more liquor there. "OH FUCK."
Nodding his head, Ohtori headed for the closet. He certainly found the towels Shishido wanted. But there were also some other things he hadn't expected to find. Bottles. Most of them were empty, but there were others that were still half full. Vodka. Gin. Rum. It seemed that Shishido was about as well stocked as any bar. Ohtori grabbed some towels, a puzzled and worried look on his face. When he returned to the kitchen, the contents of the liquor cabinet finally came to his attention.
He took Shishido's hand and carefully in his own, wrapping the wound up and holding it gently but firmly.
"Shishido-san..."
"OW! What?" he asked as he tried to control the mixed feeling of pain and discomfort, nervousness and irritation at himself. It was not working. He knew that Ohtori had found out about his bottles and that tone of voice never sounded good to him."Do you have the towel?"
He pretended to be oblivious to all this. "Can you help me bandage this up?"
Shishido was avoiding his unspoken question, and Ohtori knew it. But for now, he would hold his tongue. Shishido was still bleeding, and if someone didn't move the bacon and sausages, the kitchen really would burn down.
With swift, efficient movements, Ohtori turned off the stove and removed the pan before turning his attention to Shishido's cut. "Keep holding that towel firmly pressed against your cut. I'll grab some stuff from the first aid kit."
The tone of Ohtori's voice made it very obvious that their discussion wasn't over yet. He fished through the kit for antibiotic ointment, tape, and gauze. "Here...Let me bandage that up..."
Shit. He didn't buy it. He didn't know why he was so scared. He was of age and he could handle himself well. He didn't get piss drunk at some bar and came home with a whore. When he drank, he drank alone. But the tone of Ohtori's voice scared him, more than losing his finger or burning down the house. If any of those other things happened, it would be ok.
He held down on the towel and watched Ohtori flawlessly bandage him. It wasn't the first time he did this for him. He let his mind wander to the time when he had trained himself in tennis. He had let Ohtori serve his scud serve to him without a racket and after that he was in pain. It was worth it though and in the end he earned the respect of many players. The situation was different though this time. He knew he did something wrong.
Despite the tumultuous thoughts running through Ohtori's head, he was still as gentle as ever when he bandaged Shishido up. One thing at a time, he told himself. That done, he felt himself sink to the floor, adjusting his legs to sit cross-legged.
He knew Shishido would want to say something, to explain away what it was he saw. But Ohtori just held up his hand to his friend, silently telling his friend not to say a word. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, collecting his thoughts.
After what seemed like an eternity, Ohtori stood up. His voice was still soft, but it held a hint of something else to it. Not quite anger, not quite disappointment, and not quite panic either. "I'll finish making breakfast while you get yourself dressed..." He looked at Shishido's face, his expressions communicating more than he could with words. And after that, you and I have a lot of talking to do...
"Thanks," He said softly when Ohtori was done with his bandage. He was going to explain the bottles when a hand flashed upon his face. Never. He has never done that to me. He must be really furious. Shit, I brought this upon myself His eyes lowered to the ground in shame as he reached for the plates and set the table up, allowing Choutarou to finish cooking breakfast and himself some time to think.
He had been drinking for a while now. It was his only way to deal with shit. Really, it was the cheapest way. He doesn't like gambling or womanizing, he was too busy. He had been working odd jobs for a while and decided he wanted to give bartending a shot. Truly, most of the drink bottles were for that purpose of practicing, but he drank them all too. It would be a shame to throw it away, right?
He was fearful of Choutarou's eyes. It was the first time he's seen those and he didn't like it at all. He went to his room and pulled on a shirt and some jeans. Fuck. Now what do you say to someone like that
While he was alone in the kitchen, Ohtori let his mind wander a bit. Just what had Shishido been going through to push him to drink to such a degree? While he was angry, he was more worried than anything. How could he help? Could he even help at all? How could he have let this happen, and still call himself Shishido's best friend?
Serving the breakfast up onto two plates, Ohtori brought the food out to the living room, placing it down on the coffee table. As he sat down to eat, he noticed the bottles shoved underneath. He sighed, realizing what the clinking he had heard last night must have been.
When Shishido returned to the room, Ohtori gave his friend a small smile, patting the space next to him, inviting the brunette to sit. "C'mon...eat up while it's hot..."
He didn't know how to react to that. Honestly, he doesn't know what to tell Ohtori. It was in times like these that he clams up. he cant be outspoken when he knows it will hurt the person he loves likes the most. If there is a God, help me now.
He wished the floor would swallow him right then and there as he sank into the floor right next to Ohtori. He busied himself with food. Not really wanting to talk. But his eyes were flooded with emotion. He was sorry Choutarou had to see that.
"Itadakimasu," he mumbled before digging into food
"Itadakimasu." The same mumbled words fell from Ohtori's mouth before he slowly started to pick at his food. He had to admit that he wasn't feeling all that hungry, and wound up pushing it around on his plate more than anything. He took a few bites here and there before putting his fork down with a sigh.
"Shishido-san?" Ohtori's voice was soft and gentle. He was worried about Shishido more than anything. Now wasn't the time to be angry. "Shishido-san, no matter what, we could always talk, right?" Ohtori bit his lower lip, uncertain of exactly how to continue. "So...please...talk to me..."
The request was so simple, yet so difficult, and Ohtori knew it. But just knowing that Shishido must have been suffering in order to do something like this was painful too. Not knowing what else to say, Ohtori let his eyes do the talking. Please...let me try to help....whatever you must be going through...share it with me...
Shishido was slowly eating. Yep, he was not hungry at all. He picked at a burnt bacon and put it down, looking at it and then decided he didn't want it. He stared at his plate for a while realizing that tears were forming in his eyes. He looked up at the ceiling trying to blink it back but it was too much.
He didn't want Choutarou to see him like this. He was supposed to be the sempai. He was supposed to be strong and yet now he seemed broken. There was the divorce, his brother taking most of his parent's money leaving him with barely a cent to his name. There was starving many nights and being cold. There was working odd jobs, there was school. There was barely paying for school - there was getting kicked out of the old apartment.
God too much for this boy to handle. That is when he started drinking. That was why he started drinking. He looked over to Choutarou and let his eyes do the talking. He was begging for help and it was only Choutarou that he trusted to help him. But did he really want him too? He didn't want to bother the boy.
Tears fell from his eyes, down to the plate and then he broke down.
Ohtori did the only thing he knew how to. He wrapped his arms around Shishido, holding him tightly. He didn't say a word, just held him while trying to offer silent support. Ohtori had no idea what misfortunes were hidden away in the scant year separating them, but for now it was enough that Shishido was letting him be here.
"Ryo...just let it out....I'm here..." Ohtori continued to hold his friend, stroking his long hair gently in an attempt to provide some sort of comfort.
Shishido has never cried. Not once in his life. Even as a child, Shishido Ryo was a tough boy. It was only now that he had let it all out, clinging onto Ohtori he had sobbed. "Choutarou, HELP ME!" was the only words he could utter under the pain he was in. He never felt his loneliest - until now.
Ohtori was at a loss, having no real idea how to help. But he would do his best, with everything he had. Ikkyu nyuu kon was his trademark saying after all.
"I'll try...we're the Silver Pair, right? There's nothing we can't face as a team, right? We'll make it through this, okay?"
Ohtori didn't know how it was that he was sounding so confident, because on the inside he wondered if he knew what the hell he was talking about. But Ryo needed him, so he'd stay by his friend's side no matter what.
What am I doing? Shishido realized that he was on the floor bawling like a baby. "I'm sorry, Choutarou." He said, standing up and going to his room. "I need to be alone for a few." He locked the door and started screaming. There, that felt better. What the hell is going on? Why am I going haywire right now? Come on, Ryo. You can fucking do this. Why are you making a scene?"
He reached for a bottle of Jameson next to his bed. Opening it, he took a swig of the whiskey and then looked at the door. Ohtori Choutarou was just outside those doors and he was in his arms just a minute ago. He felt stupid all of a sudden and looked at the bottle. "I have a real friend out there. And I don't need you anymore." He said to the bottle. he took his sheet and filled it with the bottles in the room, crashing and banging all the way. He injured himself with all the broken glass around him. Yet he had no regrets. He had a problem but he's not facing it alone. Choutarou was back.
Ohtori wondered why he seemed to be moving in slow motion. How was it he couldn't stop Shishido from closing himself off in his room. As he heard the lock engage, his heart rate sped up. What was he planning to do? The scream had him rushing to the door, trying to open it. Damn. Ryo really did lock it. But Ryo often needed to vent right? Maybe things weren't too bad after all. Ohtori tried to rationalize things so he didn't have a panic attack.
It was when he started hearing the sound of glass shattering incessantly did he start to panic. "Shishido-san! Ryo!!!" Ohtori pounded on the door, but to no avail.
Oh God...what do I do? What do I do?! He clutched the cross hanging at his neck, mind racing. Then he just let his body take over. "Shishido-san!!!!" He backed up and threw his entire weight against the door. Twice, he did this before he felt the door buckle under his force.
The first thing he saw was the blood, then the glass, and then Shishido in the middle of them both. "Ryo..."
"Choutarou..." He stared at his friend and smiled. He thought that the sight of his friend breaking the door was the most beautiful ever. "I need help getting all this bottles away from me. [b]ALL[/b] of them." He said, meaning they would clear out all the liquor in the house. He went over to Choutarou and put a bloody hand on his friend's face. "Thank you."
It was all he can say. His eyes conveyed honest gratitude. He felt free.
"Ryo...."
Ohtori's eyes searched Shishido's before he felt himself give his former doubles partner a shaky smile. He gently moved Shishido's hand off his face so he could look at it.
"First we need to take care of your cuts. Then we can worry about cleaning this place out." Ohtori wondered if that would be good enough, but either way, it was a good place to start.
He took a quick look around the room before his eyes fell on the door hanging on its hinges. He smacked his forehead with a groan.
"Oh...oh dear. I'm sorry about that Shishido-san...I'll pay for the repairs..."
Shishido Ryo laughed. It was a kind of laugh that both have not heard before. It was free and pure. Much like what he was feeling that moment even his stinging hand cant make the smile go away. "Dont worry about the door. Choutarou, you have a funny way of saving me. Thank you for being paranoid, crazy goody two shoe. if you were not here..." he trailed off and shook his head not wanting to say what was in his head. 'I would have drank myself to death.' he continued in his head. Then he spoke. "but my Choutarou is back. I'll be ok now."
That laugh. That happy sound was bubbling through Shishido, and echoing through the room. Ohtori'd never heard anything so beautiful before. And that joyful feeling was contagious. Ohtori could feel his at first shaky smile gain strength, and blossom into a full out grin.
...my Choutarou...
Those words played over in his head as he considered them. He hardly had any time to consider the feelings he seemed to have been building up, but it was slowly becoming clear to him that he cared a lot for Shishido. He wasn't sure what exactly he wanted those words to mean, but it still made his insides feel warm.
"Shishido-san, y'know...I never really left..." Because he would always and forever be Ryo's Choutarou, even if they just stayed best friends. "I'll always be here for you..."
Shishido smiled and stood closer to Ohtori and looked up to him, his eyes shining with joy. "That's why you're perfect for me Choutarou. Because you're always optimistic, always smiling for me and that makes us the perfect combination. What I lack you have to make up, and you always seem to know when I need you the most." He said and then reached around the boy to envelop him in his arms.
"I am glad you're back. At least now, I feel that my life is a little more complete." He said as he rested his head on the taller boy's chest. "Will you allow me to be weak for now, Choutarou?"
Feeling a little shell shocked at all the events that seemed to explode into the morning, Ohtori simply wrapped his arms around his friend, holding Shishido in a tight embrace. He was happy that Shishido was determined to solve this problem, yet a bit scared of what they may have to face. Ohtori really had no idea what the depth of Shishido's problem was. But they would just have to take things one step at a time.
"I would never call you weak, Shishido-san...but if you need someone to lean on..." Ohtori hugged his friend more tightly before remembering that Shishido was still injured. He loosened his hold a little.
"Now, we'd better look after those cuts...."
Perfect together So, Shishido thought so too. Well, they did make a pretty unstoppable team before. Ohtori hoped he wasn't reading anything into that comment. After all, just because he was starting to realize things about his feelings towards his partner didn't mean that it worked the same way vice versa.
"That's a great idea," he said as he let go, purposefully letting his lips brush just a little on Choutarou's chest, smelling his scent. "I never let you know what happened right?" He let Choutarou lead him out of the room into the kitchen to get his wounds dressed. The adrenalin wore off so now he was in pain. He tried to ignore it as he watched Choutarou gather the things to dress his wound and smiled inwardly.
He is the only one who can calm me or do this to me. God help me if he didn't find me. I would probably be dead.
"My parents divorced a year ago, and supposedly split the money between 2 of us. Me and aniki, but aniki took all the money and practically left me with nothing," he explained as he winced." Yeah, so I had to work for all this on my own. It was tough, Choutarou. They were all in Japan, and I am here in New York, without a cent to my name, barely speaking the language and god, help me if I knew my way around. But I managed."
Ohtori concentrated on patching his friend up, but listened carefully to what was said. He frowned, realizing that he had no idea what had happened, and instantly felt guilty. How could he have let himself lose touch with Shishido for that short time?
Carefully pulling a piece of glass out of Shishido's arm, he continued to work. "I'm so sorry, Shishido-san...I wish I could have helped somehow. But you've managed...I know it must have been hard...but we won't give up, right?" Finishing up with the last injury, Ohtori carefully tied off the last bandage.
"There we go..." Not knowing what came over him, he took Shishido's bandaged hand and gave it a quick kiss. "Mom used to do that for all my scrapes...said it would help things heal faster."
Shishido stared at the place where Ohtori kissed and stopped himself from clinging to his friend to hug him. "Thanks," he grinned then gave his friend a peck on the cheek. "You're the best Mama Choutarou!" he teased.
"Well, you're here now and that's what matters, eventually, I wish you and I could be room-mates," he said.
"Mama Choutarou?!" Ohtori laughed and made a slight face. "Please don't call me that again." But even with the light admonishment, he couldn't help but touch the spot on his cheek here Shishido kissed him.
"And I hope so too. I'll work really hard to save up money so we can do that next year." And so I can get you out of this place. Ohtori wasn't blind to all the problems in the building. The building just wasn't safe.
"Why don't you take it easy...I'll clean things up so you don't aggravate your injuries..."
"Yes Mommy!" He said as he sat on the couch, feeling a little dizzy with all the blood he lost that morning. Add that to he really didn't eat breakfast. "Yeah that's a good idea. I do feel woozy" He laid on the couch staring at the ceiling. "You know what I like about you Choutarou? You're like the complete opposite of me but you understand me, and you goddamn are sexy. and your hair..." He said as he closed his eyes. He didn't know what he was saying let alone know if it was coherent.
Ohtori groaned. "Shishido-san..." Maybe this was how Oishi felt getting called the 'Mother of Seigaku'. Oh well, may as well go along with it. "Fine fine. So be good and go and rest. Feeling dizzy is not a good sign"
The violinist decided to start in the kitchen so he could stay within easy sight and earshot of Shishido. He let his friend's voice wash over him as he carefully went through all the cupboards, removing every single bottle. But once he heard what came out of Shishido's mouth, he stopped.
Sexy. Ryo think I'm sexy
But then he noticed the blood on his shirt. Of course, Shishido was probably just delirious from the blood loss, and probably had no idea what he was talking about. So...why did that feel a bit disappointing?
Shishido went into some kind of weird limbo state when he was awake, yet not quite. He knew that Ohtori was in the kitchen, yet he did NOT have control over what he was saying or what he was doing. He stood up and went to the kitchen thinking of getting a drink but ending up hugging Ohtori from behind.
"I LOVE YOU!" he screamed before he fainted and fell gracefully on the kitchen floor.
After that outburst, Ohtori was now firmly convinced that Shishido was going to be the death of him. First off, there was the hug from behind. Ohtori was been absorbed in his task and didn't hear Shishido approach him. Second was the 'confession' practically yelled into his ear. Third was the sight of Shishido slumping to the floor. Was it possible to suffer three heart attacks in such quick succession?
"Shishido-san!" Ohtori knelt down to check on his friend. "Shishido-san!!" He carefully lifted his friend up and carried him to the couch, setting him down carefully. He grabbed a dampened cloth and returned to Shishido's side. "C'mon Shishido-san...don't' do this to me..." Ohtori looked around the room for the phone in case he had to call for an ambulance.
It took a little over 10 minutes but Shishido finally stirred. "Gah! My head! What the hell happened?" he tried to get up to no avail. He felt like he has a major hangover though he did not drink that day. He looked at Choutarou who looked like he just suffered a heart attack. "What's wrong with you?"
Ohtori let out a huge breath as he felt himself sit on floor with a slight 'flump', glad that Shishido had come to without him having to call the ambulance. He shook his head with a slightly strained chuckle.
"What's wrong with me?" Honestly, Shishido needed to stop worrying about him so much. "How about you fainting in the kitchen when I told you to stay resting on the couch." He put a gentle hand on Shishido's shoulder to keep the other man from getting up. "You scared me half to death...so just lay down and rest, okay?"
"What are you talking about? I never left the couch and how could I go to the kitchen? I couldn't even get up! Make yourself useful and get me some water." he said laying back. God this is worse than new years hangover. He smiled inwardly as Choutarou went to fetch his water. A vague recollection of what happened in the kitchen flashed in his head. 'so! I really said it huh?'
Ah, so Shishido didn't remember that incident in the kitchen. Ohtori wondered if that was perhaps for the best, since he wasn't totally sure how he should respond to that confession. Getting up from his spot next to the couch, he chuckled before heading towards the kitchen.
"Hai, Shishido-san..."
He returned with the water and sat down on the floor so he was level with Shishido. "Should I call a doctor?"
Shishido shook his head. "Nah, no need, besides Mama Choutarou already took care of me." He grinned and winked at his friend with a twinkle in his eye. He couldn't help but notice Choutarou being a little quiet. Maybe the boy was exhausted. After all, he did chase Ryo around the whole morning.
He sighed. "You're such a good guy I don't know if I deserve you. I'm so fucked up."
He laid back on the couch. He really meant what he said. He loves the boy.
There Shishido went, calling him 'Mama Choutarou' again. Ohtori rolled his eyes playfully. "You keep calling me that, and I'll never stop calling you Shishido-san." He chuckled a little as he levelled his semi-serious threat at his friend. "And don't say such things, Shishido-san. Your'e a great friend! Things haven't exactly been easy for you, and what you need right now are friends who will help you. You were always there for me when we were at Hyoutei, so let me try to return the favour now."
Ohtori's voice seemed firm for the first time in what was turning out to be a crazy day. In his mind, Shishido, for all his faults, was still a wonderful person, and nothing in the world would make him change his opinion.
"So, you be good and stay resting here while I finish cleaning up. And when that's all done, maybe we can go for coffee or something."
"Coffee sounds great," Shishido declared as he did not protest just resting. He felt like crap. yet at the same time he felt like he could take on the world. He wondered if this is how it is to fall in love. He grinned to himself. 'Look at me, getting giddy about Choutarou!' he let out a snort but knew that he was just thinking what he felt.
"Mom!" He called out to Ohtori who had started cleaning out the bottles in his room. "MOOOOOM!" He sounded bratty, just the way he wanted it, to tease the poor boy.
The process of clearing Shishido's apartment of all the bottles was a little trickier than Ohtori had originally thought. Who knew there were so many creative places to stash them! He felt a little embarrassed to be going through Shishido's apartment with a fine toothed comb, probably poking in places that he shouldn't. But concerned as he was, he drew the line at looking in places like Shishido's dressers. That, Ohtori reasoned, would be WAY too much of an invasion of privacy.
The sound of Shishido whining made Ohtori laugh. He couldn't help it. Mukahi-senpai had always accused Shishido of being a drama queen, always looking for attention, and for a split second, he wondered if his red-headed team mate might have been right. He poked his head out of the room, craning his neck to look at Shishido.
"What is it, Shishido-san?" He called out in a sing-song voice, much the way a parent would to a young child. After all, two could play that game.
Shishido snorted at sing-song tone that Choutarou used. It was cute. really, it was. He sighed melodramatically. "Are you almost done? I want some company... " He asked, then rolled over to his side to watch Choutarou work, realizing that there must at least be 50 bottles to clear out.
"Ne, Choutarou...What would I do without you?" he half asked that question, knowing the answer would be the same. He knew he needed Choutarou in his life and this time, he would not let him go. He intended to move out of here to move in with his friend. They belong together.
He then reached underneath the couch for one familiar thing that is NOT alcohol. It was one of the many photo albums stashed underneath the futon. This one he pulled out was one of him and Ohtori. He grinned as he opened to his favorite picture of Choutarou. But, of course , Choutarou hated this picture.
"I'm not sure if I'm done with your room yet..." Ohtori frowned a little, going over all the potential hiding spots in his head that he felt comfortable going through. "When you feel better, you and I are going to have to go through this place again." Ohtori wanted to make sure they got every last one so the temptation was at least minimized. But in reality, it all depended on Shishido. Ohtori would do as much as he could, and make sure his friend had someone to talk to, but ultimately it was Shishido who would have to fight this battle.
"Well, if you don't learn to ask nicely, I don't know if I should keep you company." Tying up the last garbage bag, Ohtori teased Shishido as he made his way back to his friend's side. But when he got there, he covered his eyes with his hand. "Oh geez! You know I hate that photo, Shishido-san! I look like such a doofus!"
The photo in question showed Ohtori in the middle of eating from an ice cream cone, while looking over his shoulder in surprise. He had a smudge of ice cream on his face to boot.
"What?No you don't," Shishido grinned, putting the album closer to Ohtori's face. "It's my favorite picture of you." He whispered. "I think it just that candid, open and youthful you that I love er... like."
He flipped the page once more, and it showed a picture of them winning a match. Choutarou looked so happy back then.
"I have ice cream all over my face!" Now it was Ohtori's turn to whine. "You have strange tastes in photographs, Shishido -san"
But all complaints were silenced when Shishido turned the page, and Ohtori's entire face brightened. "I remember that match! That team from Chiba was pretty tough." Memories flooded his mind as he thought back to that day. Things were so much simpler for both of them then, but Ohtori supposed that was just the process of growing up.
"Bah! We won right? They're losers." He handed the album to Ohtori, knowing that the boy would want to hold it anyway. "You really don't remember when that ice cream picture was taken?" He asked as he made room for Choutarou to sit next to him in the couch.
The picture held a special meaning to him. The day it was taken, it was Choutarou's birthday, and he had thought that Shishido forgot. But, when he came over to the ice cream shop for a surprise party he planned and approached with a cake and balloon he was surprised. He was glad the shrimp Gakuto snapped the picture for him.
It was then, that Shishido realized how special of a friend Ohtori was to him.
Of course Ohtori remembered when that photo was taken. Usually he tried to avoid mentioning his birthday to anyone (as most people who's birthday fell on Valentine's Day might do). But even though he tried to hide it away, the Regulars had managed to surprise him with a party anyway. And from the grin that was on Shishido's face, Ohtori knew it was his double's partner who had arranged this all for him. Shishido was just that kind of friend.
"I'm sure there are lots of better photos from that party in here." Ohtori flipped the page, unfolding more and more memories.
"You okay sitting up like that, Shishido-san?"
"Yeah, I am fine, let me lean back just a little," He said as he eased his back onto the backrest and laid his arm across the top of the backrest almost around Ohtori's shoulders. "Heh. Gakuto was too jumpy. I shouldn't have given him the camera." he said as he pointed to pictures that were off center and weird, though Gakuto did take great Candid shots, and had some of the group shots good. "Look there, doesn't it look like Hiyoshi was actually smiling there?" He pointed to a picture of the boy who never smiled. It was small so he had to lean over, causing his other hand to fall on his friend's shoulders. He left it there.
Ohtori's bright laughter filled the room. "Hey, Hiyoshi wasn't that bad. He smiled more than you think he did."
The two sat and looked through the album, laughing and reminiscing. Ohtori didn't even notice how closely they sat together on the couch. After they had gone through the album, Ohtori leaned back and sighed.
"We had a lot of good times..." Ohtori turned his head and smiled at his friend. "And we'll make lots more good memories, right?"
"You bet we will," He grinned at his friend just now realizing that he had his arm around Ohtori. He blushed and took his arm away pretending to scratch his head. "It's just beginning, Choutarou. It's only the beginning."
He winked and pulled out one more thing underneath the couch. It was a box, mostly meant for a huge boot. he blew the dust off the top and coughed. then opened it. In it sat some of their medals for winning doubles and some of the things precious to Shishido. A lock of his hair, the scissors used to cut it, Ohtori's old cross, (he broke it in one of the games), some of Ohtori's post it notes in his locker reminding him not to be late and stuff.
"I kept this." He smiled raising an old notebook paper with Ohtori's handwriting. In it, was only 2 words. "Ganbatte, sempai."
Ohtori carefully fingered the various items in Shishido's box. Who knew that Shishido was so sentimental? Tracing his fingers over his own familiar writing.
"Well, it still applies...maybe even more so now than ever." He gave Shishido a soft smile before turning his attention back to the box.
"How are you doing? You feeling well enough for some fresh air and coffee?"
"Sure," Shishido smiled as he stood up and went to the hallway closet where he had hung his old Hyoutei Jersey Jacket. He grinned and winked at Ohtori before showing him that he had his old one. "This was from when I forgot my umbrella."
He referred to another one of his favorite memories as he opened the door. Yep, he was ready to change. No more alcohol. He didn't need them, he had Choutarou to make him happy now. Maybe it will be a tough run, but, with his tall silver haired friend - his better half. He knows that he has a strong support to back him up.
"Ne, Choutarou, aren't you glad you found me?"
For all his talk about how Hyoutei was full of lunatics, or ego-maniacs, it was obvious that Shishido had enjoyed his time there. Ohtori smiled at the sight of the jacket, thinking of his own that was still sitting in Japan. As the took the bottles to the garbage disposal, Ohtori gave pause to wondering just what was in store for them. Certainly there would be tough times, but Ohtori was sure that as long as they could stick together, nothing would be insurmountable.
"Yeah...I am, Shishido-san."