Welcome to School, My Love. (Tuti x Arawn -- private)

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo held out his hand for Kei, watching the student's fingers move. "Thanks," he said with a soft smile at Kei, eyes slipping away at the question before he looked back at Kei.

 

"That was Masao...an ex boyfriend," he answered after a minute as he fixed the sleeve of his shirt, chewing on his tongue lightly as he tried to figure out how much to say. "He's one of the reasons I'm here."

[tuti]

Kei's hands froze in action for a split of a second; he had not seen that coming. So Ryo was like that? Strange thing was that Kei did not feel grossed out by Ryo. In a normal situation he would think that two men sharing a romantic relationship as something disgusting. So why wasn't he feeling like that now? "I assume it didn't end well, then why did you go out with a guy like that in the first place?" He accused as he finished securing the brace and stood up from the couch. What was this heavy feeling on his chest?

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo tilted his head slightly as he noticed the pause in movements, not entirely certain what to make of it. "Surprised?" he asked at the freezing, a bit amused, but his tone grew serious as he next spoke.

 

"Because I was 16," he said softly, glancing down at the floor. "And when you're gay and have constantly been told it's wrong then the first person to come along and say it's okay shows interest in you, you kind of jump. It was nice, you know? At the time it was great to hear that I...I wasn't a freak or...or..." His voice trailed away and he shook his head slightly, wishing his hair was pulled back because he just wanted to hide the emotions that slipped along his face, to hide the tears that wanted to fall. He never talked about this and it was hard...and also nice to know that he trusted someone enough to talk about this.

[tuti]

Kei's eyes softened as he saw Ryo revealing his true emotions to him; it was sad to see someone who always acted cheerful and strong break down. He looked so vulnerable. Kei sat down next to Ryo and placed a hand over his shoulders, when he actually wanted to hug him. "It must have been really difficult, I am sorry I spoke without any care for your feelings." He said softly. "But you should not worry about him anymore, I wont let him get close to you. I promise." He said, his face as serious as his words.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo inhaled softly to calm himself down and he wiped his eyes. "Thanks," he said softly, looking at Kei, taking in the expression and the tone. "I don't think he'll just come after me....." he added softly after a minute. "He's going to come after you because he thinks you're with me, never mind you've no interest in guys."

 

Despite the serious tone, the barest hint of disappointment was in the last few words. Even in a situation like this, he couldn't help but realize he'd never get Kei no matter how hard he tried or how hard he didn't try.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Ryo inhaled softly to calm himself down and he wiped his eyes. "Thanks," he said softly, looking at Kei, taking in the expression and the tone. "I don't think he'll just come after me....." he added softly after a minute. "He's going to come after you because he thinks you're with me, never mind you've no interest in guys."

 

Despite the serious tone, the barest hint of disappointment was in the last few words. Even in a situation like this, he couldn't help but realize he'd never get Kei no matter how hard he tried or how hard he didn't try.

[tuti]

"Then let him believe we are together." He said without really thinking it. A part of him wanted to help Ryo while the other, a part he didn't know he had, concealed other intentions. "If we pretend to be lovers, he will definitely get the message." He said with a pause. "Of course, I am not afraid of him so if he wants to get to you, he'll definitely come to me first and that's exactly what I want; let me deal with him for you Ryo." He hoped the other saw his plan simply as a gesture of kindness.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo's cheeks turned a little pink at the offer, but he shook his head. "Can't let you do that," he said with a soft smile. "You shouldn't have to pretend to be something you're not, even if it is to try to help a friend." He paused slightly before smiling and just light squeezing Kei's leg as he stood.

 

"But thank you for offering," he said with a soft smile at Kei. "I really do appreciate it."

[tuti]

Kei grabbed Ryo's hand in his and squeezed it lightly not wanting to leave the other as an easy target to Masao even if he didn't want to admit that his intentions weren't entirely pure. "Why do want to confront Masao on you own? You've been carrying this burden on your shoulders for far too long. It's time that you leave some else take care of it. Please." He said one more time, trying to persuade Ryo to change his mind.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo blinked at the squeeze on his hand, not having expected it. He softly chewed his tongue as he thought before he squeezed Kei's hand back softly. "All right," he said softly, watching Kei. "But don't get hurt, please..."

[tuti]

Kei smiled softly, glad that the other finally decided to agree to his plan. "Don't worry about me." He said and squeezed Ryo's hand one last time before standing up. "I'm hungry lets order something."

---

 

The next day was a Saturday and most of the students who lived in the college dorms stayed there instead of going back home. Mostly because their hometown was very far from the campus. Kaito, who was still curious about the guy from last night, and also really eager to see Ryo's face, walked to Kei's room. And for the first time he knocked on the door instead of barging in.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo pulled back his hair and he stretched once he was done. He looked up as the door was knocked and he hesitated a little before answering it and he smiled brightly when he saw Kaito. "Hey," he said, opening the door for the other student to come in and he shut it quickly after glancing around to make sure Masao still hadn't shown up. "How're you?"

[tuti]

"Yo-ho~!" Kaito greeted Ryo with a wide smile and waved at Kei, who was in the kitchen making coffee. "I'm good! And yo-" He gasped as he noticed the brace on Ryo's hand. "What happened to you?" He asked full of concern and immediately took Ryo's hand in his. Kei rolled his eyes, the devotion in Kaito's voice more than obvious.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo smiled softly. "Gentle," he said with another smile. "I twisted it yesterday in class. I moved a way I shouldn't have." He was glad to have another reason to smile because he had seen Kei roll his eyes.

 

"But Kei patched me up," he added with a soft laugh. "Do you want anything to eat?"

[tuti]

Kaito's mouth formed a small 'O' as he very reluctantly let go of Ryo's hand. "Yes please!" He brightened up at the sound of food and sat down on the couch next to Ryo. "Ne, I noticed there was a guy waiting for one of you last night, who was he?" He asked innocently.

 

"That's none of your business Kaito." Kei said as he walked towards Ryo and handed him a cup of coffee. "Here you go." He said softly.

 

Kaito pouted noticing that the atmosphere between the two had changed drastically, it made him feel jealous. "Men! You two look as if you were lovers!" He said and laughed at his own joke.

 

"We are." Kei said and calmly drank his coffee. Kaito's green eyes popped out dangerously wide and he turned to face Ryo with a nervous laugh. "He is joking right?"

[Arawn_Bheur]

"Thanks," Ryo said with a smile before sipping his coffee in order to keep from making a sound of embarrassment at how easily Kei answered, but he shook his head at Kaito's question. "No, he's not," he said softly, glancing at Kaito before looking away. He knew how Kaito felt about him and he didn't want to hurt him, but in order for Masao to believe, everyone had to believe.

[tuti]

"What?!" Kaito was not only surprised but also very hurt by this unexpected news. "How?!" He asked as he quickly stood up from the couch. He was in a complete lost, he hadn't notice anything between the two so how was it possible that the two of them were now a couple? "I thought you agreed that you'll learn to like me!" He accused, his green eyes watering up with tears.

 

"Would you please give it a rest? Don't be such a baby and get over it." Kei said as cleaned his glasses; this was the perfect moment to burst Kaito's bubble. The red haired boy glared daggers at Kei, for the first time really disliking the other guy. He then looked at Ryo searching for any sign of hope in the handsome boy's face but found none. "You guys are the worst!" He said no longer containing his tears and stormed out of the room.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo watched Kaito go, at a complete loss of words. He didn't think Kaito would have acted like that at the news, and it hurt to see him so upset over this. He glanced at Kei, watching him for a second. "You do know that sympathy can go a long way," he said softly. "He's kind of had his heart broken over a ruse."

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Ryo watched Kaito go, at a complete loss of words. He didn't think Kaito would have acted like that at the news, and it hurt to see him so upset over this. He glanced at Kei, watching him for a second. "You do know that sympathy can go a long way," he said softly. "He's kind of had his heart broken over a ruse."

[tuti]

Kaito practically ran out of the building with no real direction of where to go; he just wanted to go away from there, away from them. Yet he didn't run too far, he stopped in front of a big sakura tree near the campus entrance and sat down. Resting his back against the tree's trunk and hugged his legs like a lost child crying his eyes out - not caring whether someone passing by could see him or not. He felt so betrayed. Kaito truly believed that Ryo was honestly thinking about him but his hopes were brutally demolish as if they were nothing. For the first time Kaito experienced the feeling of having a broken heart.

 

---

 

"What?" Kei was angry and jealous at Ryo's concern for Kaito, though his face did not show it. "Were you seriously thinking about going out with him? Well, I'm sorry if I ruined things for you two." He said fixing his glasses before walking to the kitchen to put is empty mug in the sink.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo arched an eyebrow at the words, a little shocked by them. "No, I did not plan on going with out him," he said after a few seconds of silence. He leaned back in his chair a little, twisting the mug on the table, eyes following its movements. He had only planned on dating one person, but that person was unavailable and had made it known plenty of times..."There had only been one person I wanted to be with, but that's not going to happen." outside of this lie.

 

Ryo stood and put the mug up before leaving the kitchen. He needed to go for a walk, to clear his head. "I'm going for a walk," he said softly before leaving the dorm before Kei could protest.

_______

 

The air was heavy with moisture and clouds rolled through the sky, threatening to empty their contents on the quiet college campus. Ryo didn't seem to notice the threatening look of the weather and he barely acknowledged Hiro as Hiro walked past him. He didn't know what to do...He felt silly for having a crush on a man who was straight, a man who wouldn't like him back. This ruse sounded like a good idea, but it honestly hurt to be so close and so far away.

 

He sighed softly as he walked around the side of a building and his eyes widened slightly as he almost ran straight into Masao.

 

"Good morning, Ryo," Masao purred, catching Ryo by the arm and pulling him close.

[tuti]

Kei sighed suddenly feeling extremely tired and leaned against the kitchen sink. What am I doing? Not only did he, very wrongfully, lashed out at Kaito but he was also lying to Ryo. He was not really a social person but he never was one to treat people as if they were dogs.

 

He quickly left the room determined to apologize to Ryo and later to Kaito but couldn't find them anywhere. Just when he was about to give up on his search he saw from the corner of his eye Masaro talking with Ryo. A sudden feeling of possessiveness erupted from deep inside of him and he angrily pulled Ryo from the other man's embrace. "I thought I told you not to come here, didn't I?" He said still holding Ryo's good hand in his.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo blinked slightly as he was pulled back, not having expected Kei to show up. He lightly squeezed Kei's hand, smiling slightly.

 

Masao smirked as Kei came over. "I don't recall that conversation," he said with a wicked grin and wink at Kei. "I'm at liberty to talk with who I want." He leaned close to Kei. "I see you really like him...Have you gotten a taste, yet? I trained him well..." he added in a low, wicked purr.

 

Ryo colored a little. "Back off, Masao," he said, pushing the man away from Kei.

 

Masao caught Ryo's injured wrist, fingers squeezing hard as he twisted slightly, bring Ryo closer. "Now, you have no right to tell me what to do, my pet," he whispered low, brushing back a strand of Ryo's hair. He then let Ryo go. "I'll be seeing you," he said before slipping down the street and vanishing down a side alley.

[tuti]

Kei's fingers bended in toward his palm tightly, ready to strike at Masao and punch him hard on the face, but before he could make a move the irritating man left. He frowned noticing that Masao was going to be more than just threat, the man meant danger. He slowly turned around to face Ryo and softly touched the other's shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked and very carefully took Ryo's injured hand in his. "Sorry I wasn't much of a help." He apologized as he looked into Ryo's eyes through his glasses.

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo watched Masao go before his eyes slid to Kei's and he smiled softly. "Yeah, I'm okay," he said with another soft smile before he looked down. "I'm sorry for all of this," he added softly, fingers softly squeezing Kei's hand. "I really am...I didn't know he'd show up."

[tuti]

"Hey, don't be too hard on yourself." Kei said softly and reached up with his hand to lightly caress Ryo's cheek. He had no control of his own body anymore and he was more than willing to let it act on its own accord. "But you should stick to me from now on; we don't know when he'll show up again."

[Arawn_Bheur]

Ryo blushed slightly at the feeling of Kei's fingers and he looked back up. "Thanks," he said softly, smiling gently. "Yeah....that might be a good idea..." His eyes slipped over Kei's face, just watching Kei, a little confused by the behavior, but he didn't stop it.