One Plus One Equals Two, Sweetheart (Xylto x Ashstar)

[Ashstar]

"It's crowded," Hitsuki complained as he pushed his way through the sea of people. The summer heat made it no better and the lack of space was even worse. Hitsuki finnally made his way out of the crowd, eyeing the shaved ice stand before him. Luck was on his side as it seemed; there were no people in line. Hitsuki was about to claim the spot as 'first in line' when an small child rammed head first into his side, making sure to cling on to hitsuki's jacket desperately.

 

"Mister, please, help me!," the young girl's face was covered with snot and tears," I've lost her!". Immediately, Hitsuki jumped to attention and kneeled before her," have you've lost your mum?". The girl sniffles and tugs Hitsuki in the direction of a giant tree. She points and Hitsuki's gaze follows." What the hell?," Hitsuki frowned at a small white teddy bear, snagged in a tree branch as if it were clinging for its life." Please, mister! Before she falls and dies!!," the child wailed.

 

Hitsuki sighed and rolled his sleeves, nails digging into the rough bark as he climbed. Alas, he had the stuffed toy in his hands and with the greatest of ease, slid down the tree. The child snatched the teddy bear, sobbing her thanks and returning to her mother. Hitsuki sighed and smiled lightly. His smile fades as he turns back to the line, seeing that it had gotten long already.

[Xylto]

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His grip on the phone tightened as his mother's voice became quieter and quieter. He only nodded and said she didn't have to worry about him. Then the phone call ended with his being the one who turned it off first. He ruffled his hair, perplexed. Walking through the crowd, Daiki started calculating: the hospital fee, the rent, the... His eyes stopped at the weird bear clinging onto the branch. How did that thing get up there?

 

"Mister, please, help me!" The bear must be belonged to that little girl who was pulling that boy's shirt, pleading help. He skimmed through the familiar teenage face then blinked. How coincident. It was the regular kid at his coffee shop. A chuckle escaped his lips when he got a look of the emotion that flickered through Hitsuki's face: annoyance, regret and tolerance. It must have been because of the crowd-free shaved ice stand. Oh, there was a group of kids coming. He got to be quick!

 

As the two colorful cool cups finally settled in his hands, he waited until the heroic kid was back to reward him.

 

"Hey, Hitsuki!" He called out and strode over when the boy saw him.

 

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[Ashstar]

Hitsuki's eyes went wide and his face reddened as he heard the familiar voice. He had to be quick! Hitsuki settled for coolly looking the other direction as if he hadn't noticed the other. When the older man had gotten just a few steps away, Hitsuki made the mistake of looking back. In hand, Daiki hand two cups of shaved ice. Hitsuki broke down all over again. His eyes fluttered as he tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. Again, here he goes again. Hitsuki felt like melting. "NO!," he mentally slaps himself,"calm down, it's just some shaved ice."

 

"Long time no see, Daiki-San," Hitsuki cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure.

[Xylto]

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He bit the inner of his lower lips as Hitsuki seemed to be going through an emotional roller coaster when the boy saw him (though he tried so hard not to). He wondered whether the boy liked the shaved ice that much or it was something else. Daiki pushed the idea away quickly. There was no chemical reaction when Hitsuki fixed his hair, when his cheeks were dusted with a faint pink tint or when they first met and he mistook the other for a girl from behind (it was all because of the hairstyle, he swore!). Why was he even thinking about this? He was twenty-five and got a girlfriend who happened to be travelling on the other side of the globe. He didn't know if they were still in a relationship. She stopped contacting him for a week and he had not got the time and heart to get in touch with her. Like such thing was easy when she always lost her phone and changed her number.

 

Daiki smiled at the greeting then chuckled.

 

"It's only been a month," His hands offered Hitsuki the shaved ice. "Choose one. For saving the poor bear for the princess."

 

 

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[Ashstar]

Hitsuki tried to hide his face by looking away as he accepted the ice of his choice. He nearly dropped the cup when his hand mistakenly made slight contact with Daiki's. Mentally, Hitsuki was hyperventilating. He was such an idiot! If this kept up, he'd be figured out! Then who knows what'll happen next?!?!

 

Hitsuki managed a sheepish grin ," sorry, I almost spilt that! Thanks, by the way..for the ice I mean. I didn't expect you to see that, but, I was pretty awesome, huh?"."that's it! You've totally have him fooled!," Hitsuki smirked inwardly.

[Xylto]

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The reaction surprised him. It was so evident that he could not help covering a part of his face at that moment. He licked away the little drops of ice that accidentally landed on his palm. Of course, he turned aside to do, figuring it would not put either him or Hitsuki in an awkward situation. He sent a furtive glance at the Hitsuki who seemed to be busy contemplating. High schoolers are just adorable. Living in the best stage of life, experiencing the pure uncalculated boisterous love. Wow, since when did he start to have thoughts like an old man?

 

"Right, you are the prince of the girls," He grinned, his teeth biting the yet used straw to hold there while his fingers filliped Hitsuki's forehead. "Why didn't you come by last month?"

 

Oh, here came the emotional roller coaster again. Wasn't it good to be young and naive? These feelings were just fireflies, Hitsuki. Eventually, the morning came and they died.

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[Ashstar]

Hitsuki turned his gaze back to Daiki. How was he going to explain this? Thinking of an excuse, Hitsuki nugdes the concrete below him. Suddenly a good excuse came to mind and he quickly blurted," I had club activities!". Hitsuki felt like a dumbass again. That was more of a lie than an excuse; Hitsuki had no club activities since he hung out with the rest of the delinquents after school. And they hung out at daiki's coffee shop.

 

Hitsuki, out of habit, began twirling a strand of his hair and playing with the ends of his shirt.

[Xylto]

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Club activities, this word brought back the joyous memories of his high school days. Before he found himself attaching to the scent of coffee, he was a huge fan of photography. Back in those years, he was so sure in ten years later, he would be a photographer, backpacking around the world with Kimiko to take prize-winning pictures. Nevertheless, there was always a turning point in a person's life. His happened earlier than the day his dream came true.

 

"How was it?" Daiki said, gesturing to seat on the bench under the shade of that gigantic tree where a bear once stuck on.

 

He quietly listened to Hitsuki making up about his breathtaking dramatic activities while leaving humorous remarks at the correct time. Daiki had volunteered to take the half that was not under the protection of the tree. Rays of sunshine fell on his face, outlining his pure black hair with a golden light, complimenting those fine qualities of an appearance that only Daiki had. When Hitsuki finally reached his limits of improvisation, he shifted his position so they were face-to-face.

 

"Why are you here alone?" Asked Daiki whose visage quickly turned serious when he saw a moving many-legged tiny creature crawling slowly around Hitsuki's collar.

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[Ashstar]

Hitsuki grew silent. The next excuse wasn't coming easy to him as the one before and the way Daiki's face was so serious told him that his story wasn't believed. Hitsuki averted his gaze to glance about the area. Children ran after one another and people were laughing. Oh how he wished he was one of those children or people; he wouldn't be stuck in the situation he was in now. It was hard; hiding his feelings, because he'd be weak. He was fawning over a MAN for christs sake and his the boys(referring to the group of delinqeunts he hangs with) figured him out, it'll be the end of him.

 

He began to tense when the feeling of something on his neck dragged him back into reality. He hopelessly stared at Daiki," What I-is it? It's a spider isn't it?!". God, he felt like a chick! But bugs weren't exactly his cup of tea. Just thinking of them made him all queasy inside.

 

He remained still as if awaiting for Daiki to remove the thing from his neck before it got any further.

[Xylto]

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[td]Daiki pressed the back of his hand against his lips to stifle his laugh, which was obviously a futile attempt. Hitsuki's face was very emotional. He had no idea how the boy managed to look at him with eyes full of a childish kind of resentment and at the same jitters. It's just a worm, well, a caterpillar, he had wanted to say, however, it would be likely to scare Hitsuki double. Oh, God, the mean side of him was urging, tempting Daiki to tease Hitsuki endlessly. Because this would be a good laughing stock for the shop for a decade at least. He had been going a series of misfortune last month, alleviation required.

 

"Just sit still," Daiki removed the straw from his emptied shaved-ice cup. "Crane your neck to the left, my left." He waved his arm to indicate the side.[/td]

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[Ashstar]

Hitsuki slowly cranes his neck to Daiki's left, squeezing back any cowardly cries as he felt the creature crawl further up his neck. Children began to crowd around watch, giggling amongst themselves and pointing." Daiki! Hurry up, Daiki! Get it off," Hitsuki stomps his foot repeatedly and receives more laughs from the children. Ticked, Hitsuki manages to glare and the children, who run away.

 

Hitsuki felt like weeping.

[Xylto]

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[td]A succinct I don't know was always the reply he gave her whenever she nagged him with that question why though he didn't truly understand the meaning of his answer. He forcefully accepted the answer itself the way we had to admit one plus one equal two. Therefore, those words came out of his lips easily like Hi and Hey.

 

Daiki inched closer, close enough to be breathing in the fragrance of Hitsuki's shower gel. It was one of those trendy scent that highschoolers liked. His hand adjusted the collar so that the catepillar who was standing halfway, wriggling his legs couldn't reach Hitsuki's neck. The delicate curve, the porcelain skin, they casted a layer of mist over his mind, blinded him just the same as those colourful lights of the dance floor did. It only lasted for a minute for he had turned his back to the illumination. The not-very-little worm suddenly lied supine and started moving when it noticed the weird change in surface. Nimbly, Daiki flicked the insect into his empty cup, using the straw. The humored grin continued to be decorated on his face as he knocked the stomping feet with his foot.

 

"Hey, it's OK now," he chuckled. "You are worm free. Now you kids..." Turning to the children around them with a sly smirk, Daiki picked the caterpillar up. He held out the straw to them. "This little buddy needs a new collar."

 

The kids started screaming and ran away, giggling. Daiki chased after them but not for long. Throwing the cup along with the worm in the trash bin, he made his way back to Hitsuki. His gaze dropped on the pale neck once again. He wondered if there would be a day when he could interpret the true essence of those three words[/td]

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[Ashstar]

In all reality, Hitsuki wanted to cry in glee. He'd been saved by Daiki, not like it was the first time, but he was thankful. "Thank you..Daiki," hitsuki's eyes flutter as he tries to hold back a blush. Out of habit he tugs a strand of hair behind his ear and looks down. Hitsuki felt so messed up inside. Like as if he were wreckage from a hurricane , tornado, or something. He felt as if he were at a losing state.

 

So lost in his thoughts, Hitsuki didn't pay any attention to his lingering friends, who watched both him and Daiki from a distance. It was until one of them called out that Hitsuki reacted on instinct and moved a reasonable distance away from Daiki. He fixed his posture and shoved his hands in his pockets. "What the hell do you want?!," Hitsuki responded, trying to sound tough in a way. To be honest, Hitsuki was ticked. Another moment with Daiki, screwed up by his friends. That pissed him off actually..

[Xylto]

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[td]He pretended that a beat of his heart had not missed to lighten up a smile. That particular move left too much effect on him.

 

"No problem," Avoiding the look from Hitsuki, he veered his eyes elsewhere and caught a glimpse of the familiar group of delinquents whom had been around Hitsuki before he even met the boy.

 

Out of etiquette, Daiki smiled and waved at Hitsuki's gang. Those kids had once been the customers of his coffee shop anyway. Then Hitsuki left the bench with his hands shoved into the jeans' pockets, shoulders squared. Feeling his presense not longer needed, he stood up from the bench to leave. He could sense a pair of eyes on his back but they surely would not last long. Before disappearing into the stream of walking humans, Daiki turned his head once to look at Hitsuki. He stopped his track when he found two boys fisting each other's collar, glaring down. In this circumstance, if it was someone else not Hitsuki, Daiki would be worried. At this moment, he was worried about the other kid who must have been the one to start this stare-down contest. Scratching the back of his head, he joined the pedestrians in long strides for he was five minutes late to work[/td]

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[Ashstar]

Hitsuki look behind himself only to find daiki gone. He looked around; daiki was no where to be found. He left so suddenly. Hitsuki lowered his gaze to the ground , disappointed. Hitsuki shrugs it off, knowing that at any time he could visit Daiki at the coffee shop. Hitsuki was thrown into a head lock. Laughing, he struggles in his friend's playful grasp soon breaking free to return the gesture.

 

(Time skip)

 

Hitsuki watched as objects moved past him in a blur. He adjusts his seat belt, grumbling about how it was too tight and received an amused chuckle from the person beside him, handling the steering wheel. Hitsuki flicks a candy wrapper at his friend, who began to nag him about doing stupid shit. "Shut up, Kazuma! You're lectures are going to make me brain dead, " hitsuki grinned as Kazuma pulled into a parking lot. "You are going to be the very death of me, Hitsuki," Kazuma glares at the red head, who returned a grin in reply.

 

Hitsuki unfastens his seat belt and gets out the car. Hitsuki locks his gaze on the familiar doors of the coffee shop and heads in, not waiting for Kazuma. The scent of coffee lingered about the shop, just as it was before. Hitsuki sits at his usual place, taking in the sweet aroma.

[Xylto]

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[td]The afternoon light shone through the glass window of the cafe. The grand clock had just struck four fifteen and rang a clean, mellifluous sound. By happenstance, Daiki was taking orders when his green eyes caught the car entering the parking lot. Not until then did he realize how easy it was to spot a red head no matter how far or how crowded. The manager, Shin, held up the pot in his hand then turned to his employee to inform the latter with a chuckle.

 

"Your VIP has come!" And Daiki rolled his eyes in reply though his lips curved up.

 

Bringing back orders from table 3 and 4, he received a pat on the shoulder from Shin. It was a code for 'You go make his usual. I'll take care of 3 and 4'. If it wasn't for the obviousness of Hitsuki, they both wouldn't have received special treatments from Manager. However, such wasn't entirely a bad thing. He could relax more if the red head was here. The manager would do the harder parts of the work and left Daiki with simply assisting him when things got out of hand. Of course, he wouldn't neglect his work even given the chance. But a short break wouldn't start World War III.

 

He laid down the cup of coffee in front of Hitsuki then smiled like he usually did.

 

"Good afternoon."[/td]

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[Ashstar]

Hitsuki beamed a grin as Daiki smiled down at him," Hey." Hitsuki sipped lightly at the coffee that was placed before him. 'It's been awhile since I drank coffee like this! It still as good as I remember it to be," Hitsuki smiled slightly to himself. Kazuma walked in soon and took a seat across from Hitsuki, a glare present on his face," You left me behind. Again." Hitsuki was too deep in his thoughts to hear the blonde rant on. He was o me how happy that Daiki still knew what his favorite coffee was. That made him all....warm and fuzzy inside. Hitsuki ' s eyes began to flutter and h lowered his head to hide the faint blush on his face..