CHAPTER ONE
Heaving the packets of ice onto the bench and handing them one by one to Haruko, Ayako smiled at the younger girl in the blaze of the campfire. "He should be coming soon, don’t worry," she said slyly.
Haruko jerked and nearly cut herself instead of the ice. She blushed, turning bright red as she fumbled with opening the plastic bag and tipping the ice into the large blue cooler. "Aya-chan!"
Ayako laughed and passed the last packet over. "This may be a singles party, but that doesn’t mean you have to remain single, you know, Haruko!"
Akagi finished stoking the charcoal under the grill and joined them, flushed and looking visibly irritated. "It’s half past seven, where are all those idiots?" he growled.
"Ay, Akagi sempai, I brought a few more bottled drinks with me which I left at the store’s cooler earlier, could you please get them? Kogure-sempai has gone to return the rented bicycle." Ayako asked innocently. Akagi nodded and left. The older girl zeroed in on the pointedly quiet other and grinned devilishly at her again.
"Rukawa-kun will be here tonight, Haruko! Are you going to just sit there and watch him all day again?"
Haruko looked up, her cheeks staining crimson rapidly, and she shook her head vehemently. "I don’t—!"
"You really should take this chance to tell him how you feel, you know!" Ayako twinkled at her. "No other girls around screaming and getting in the way, this is a great opportunity! Don’t let it pass!"
"B-b-but—"
"No buts about it," Ayako gave the other girl a friendly tap on the shoulder. "You never know until you try, do you? Who knows what might happen after tonight?!"
Haruko opened her mouth to protest again, but the older girl leaned forward and whispered confidentially,
"You wouldn’t want anyone else to get to him first, would you?"
Flushing in embarrassment, she nodded fiercely in acknowledgement. Ayako sat back with a satisfied smile, before a loud shout interrupted their separate reveries. "Aya-chan!"
"Miyagi!" she called, standing and waving. "Over here!"
In the light of the darkening sunset, the short, slim boy jogged across the grass with his arms loaded with a large tray. "Chicken wings, all done!" he grinned cheerfully, blushing as he saw the pretty manageress. Behind him, Mitsui strolled more leisurely, with the straw mats rolled up and slung about his shoulders with a string. Then…
"Haha! The Tensai is here!" The shout could be heard clearly for all the distance between the group and the lone self-declared genius who ran energetically down the beach towards them.
Miyagi rolled his eyes and turned, then started as two tall silhouettes loomed behind the tiny figure of obnoxious redhead. "Hanamichi, look out!"
CHAPTER TWO
Hanamichi whirled around, his heart thumping loudly as two figures detached themselves from the darkness, then breathed a sigh of relief as he saw who it was, before surprise and then glee replaced shock.
"Substitute!"
Fujima chuckled at the nickname Hanamichi had given to him during their game together. "Sakuragi Hanamichi," he answered jovially, nodding at the redhead, "What are you doing here?"
"Mm! Gori is having a Valentine’s Day party!"
Fujima’s eyebrows rose. "For the basketball team?" He was answered by a series of enthusiastic nods. Right, he likes the captain’s sister, if I recall correctly…
It took a few more moments before Hanamichi took in the sight of the taller boy, who peered down at him through black-rimmed glasses. "Hanagata! What are you doing here? Wha—" his question was cut short as his gaze lowered to the arm so casually slung around the shorter boy’s slim shoulders. A slow, dark flush spread over Fujima’s pale cheek, but his bottle-green eyes sparkled as Hanamichi threw back his head and guffawed uncontrollably. "Teme! I never knew you two were that way!"
Hanagata frowned at Hanamichi, but the shorter boy restrained him quietly, before turning to Hanamichi with a smile. "So, who else is at your party?"
"Everyone!" came the boisterous answer. Then, like an afterthought, "Would you like to join us?"
The two boys glanced at each other, then Fujima nodded, "Sure, why not?" The three of them walked across the grass to the campfire, where the smell of honey-coated hotdogs and fried marshmallows was beginning to waft in the air.
[Half an hour later]
Rukawa sat dozing slightly on the bench, then shifted uncomfortably at the seemingly growing proximity of the brown-haired girl beside him. He could feel the concerned gaze upon his back as he turned pointedly and ignored the quiet coughs behind him.
They were all gathered around the campfire, where they had been telling jokes and stories for the past half-hour and absorbed in their own private conversation. Mitsui was sitting quietly besides Kogure while the latter chatted to Akagi, Miyagi was blushing all too openly as he fielded questions about his studies from Ayako, Fujima and Hanagata clearly lost in their own private universe, Rukawa half-asleep, Haruko looking longingly at him, and a certain redhead glaring jealously at the attention the dozing blue-eyed boy commanded from his chief love interest. Then a loud cough, and Kogure rose slowly, smiling in the firelight.
"I’ve got an announcement for you all," he said slowly in his soft voice, one hand reaching up to push his glasses firmly back onto the bridge of his nose.
"Eh?" almost everyone managed to stop their private conversations, and turned to face the bespectacled young vice-captain of Shohoku basketball. Kogure smiled.
"I won a scholarship to England. I’ll be leaving the end of this school term."
Dead silence reigned for a few moments.
"Wow, glasses-boy! You’re that smart?" Kogure grinned in embarrassment and sat down amidst the scattered clapping and cheering which surrounded him. "Of course he is, baka!" Ayako’s stern voice could be heard over the general din.
No one noticed as another dark-haired boy tensed.
CHAPTER THREE
Ayako grinned at the boy opposite her. "Do you seriously mean to say that you sleep during class, Ryota! I must pay attention to you next time!"
Miyagi blushed and shrugged. "Not all the time!" in protest, but continued, "Ah well. After I flunked my exam, and I thought I couldn’t play basketball again, I did feel like making more effort, you know…"
The happy voice floated off into the night.
Rukawa noted that the girl was seriously following him. He debated turning around and asking her to buzz off, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. He was irritated and annoyed, and he knew more than sensed the glare directed from behind the girl onto his back. Do’aho…
"Rukawa-kun?" a quiet voice squeaked nervously from behind him. He ignored it and continued walking forward aimlessly, his hands shoved in his pockets as he fought to contain his frustration at being stalked like this. What is this girl doing…
Fox! Hanamichi growled in his mind as he tried as best as he could to inconspicuously tail the pair around. What debauchery have you got in mind, making sweet Haruko-chan follow you around like that!
"Rukawa-kun, I want to tell you something," she tried again. Her heart was pounding furiously, but the boy in front of her acted as though he hadn’t heard as he continued walking. If anything, his stride grew bigger.
I should give up, she realized as disappointment hit her hard. Then the words of Ayako came floating back to her. You wouldn’t want anyone else to get to him first, would you? and her resolve hardened by the merest degree.
"No," she murmured to herself as convincingly as she could. "I won’t give up!"
Ayako looked closely at Miyagi. She swore his blush was getting deeper, and that his eyes were fixed on the sand most of the time. His smile however, was the brightest she ever remembered, and she wondered if the rumors that he had a crush on her were true.
Stupid fox, stupid fox! Hanamichi had to restrain himself from running over and throttling the kitsune. Haruko-chan wants to talk to you! How can you keep pushing her away? Haruko-chan! I am here if you need to talk! Don’t talk to that stupid kitsune! For god’s sake, I can’t believe I’m seeing this! What does the fox have that I don’t?! He growled to himself as the girl before him turned a corner and disappeared. He hurried after, cursing under his breath and rounded the corner, before he crashed into a shorter, smaller body and sent it sprawling to the ground.
"Sakuragi-kun!"
The taller of the two he had been following stopped and slowly turned around, his pale face impassive in the moonlight, and his eyes glittering shards of cold crystal. "Do’aho."
I can’t believe this just happened to Tensai! Hanamichi could only stare numbly down at the girl he had just knocked down, before his gaze shifted to the normally expressionless stare of the fox. Moonlight swept down upon the three, frozen in a tableau.
CHAPTER FOUR
"They’ve all disappeared," Hanagata murmured into Fujima’s ear. Fujima grinned, and shifted slightly in the taller boy’s arms as he leaned against him. They had moved to a small sheltered porch on the beach, a short length away from the barbecue pit. In the darkness, he could just make out Ayako and Miyagi sitting on the edge of the campfire, and behind them Akagi who was intent on his job as chief cook for the night. Further on down the beach, two other figures strolled, presumably Kogure and Mitsui. The redhead, the ace-rookie and the quiet captain’s sister were nowhere to be seen. Fujima couldn’t suppress a smile to himself as he wondered what they were all up to.
"Kenji?" a soft voice interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to face the source of the inquiry. "Yes, Hana?"
The firelight glinted on Hanagata’s glasses as he leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on the brown-haired boy’s cheek. "Happy Valentine’s Day."
His emerald eyes laughing, Fujima returned the chaste kiss, before sighing contentedly and relaxing again. He looked at the sky, where silver constellations winked in a bed of velvet blackness. "Hana?"
Strong arms tightened around him, bringing an embrace of warmth that secured him in his next question. "How did we ever make it so far?"
He felt his lover’s lips curve in a smile against his forehead, and he accepted the kiss, unsure at first as he always was when Hanagata loved him, then more certain, and with fervor and renewed mutual passion. He was startled when the other boy stopped, and then began to speak softly.
"Because I love you, and because I can’t stop loving you. Because when you became everything in the world to me, I lost all notion of being alone. Because when you smile at me, nothing can go wrong, and the days and nights become filled with hope and happiness. Because our goals and our aims have always been similar, and because I trust you in everything. Because when I take you in my arms, and feel the beating of your heart so, so close to mine, I can shut out the world and everything else disappears. Because when I’m with you, my soul is so full, I feel I could burst with joy and just sing with all the hope you bring to me by being in my life. Because when I get angry at you, I see your face and I feel your touch in my head, begging you to forgive me for every harsh word or action I made. Because when you look at me with sorrow in your eyes, I forget everything except to pray you smile again. Because your truth, your spirit, has taught me so many things. Because, Kenji, I can’t see life without you. That’s why, Kenji. That’s why."
Warmth flooded Fujima as he looked up into the heavens and smiled, a smile of tremulous confidence and love and trust. "Aishiteru, Toru. Happy Valentine’s Day."
CHAPTER FIVE
"Kogure!" Mitsui tried again, but his nerve and voice were failing considerably in accordance with each other. The bespectacled boy sighed inwardly to himself and fixed his old friend with a slightly exasperated look.
"You’ve been shouting my name for the past half-hour, Mitsui," but then his gaze softened and he reproached himself for being unkind. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
The chance he was waiting for!
"Kogure…"
"Mm?"
"Nothing." Mitsui kicked himself silently in frustration as the other boy winced and continued walking.
Haruko broke the stillness first, scrambling up with her eyes wide in surprise. "Sakuragi-kun! What are you doing here?"
"What? What am I doing here? Wha—what are the both of you doing here?!" he blustered. A snort, and Haruko wheeled around, the object of her persistence remembered. He had finally responded! She took a step towards him and took a deep breath. "Rukawa-kun?" It took a moment for her to realize that Rukawa’s gaze was leveled at the redhead in a piercing stare. Oh no, please don’t let them fight again!
"Rukawa-kun?" she tried again. The tension in the air mounted, until a sudden movement broke the silence again. The swish of Rukawa’s jeans as he walked with slow, deliberate steps towards that of his nemesis. The glow in his eyes had darkened. Hanamichi was seething, prepared to strike…until Rukawa stopped a few inches in front of him, grabbed him roughly by the waist, and kissed him.
What’s that drum and that sound?! Stop it! Hanamichi was gasping for breath now, his arms entwined in warmth as time seemed to slow down and flashes of light dance before his eyes. Burst of colors sprang into life in the night sky. Fireworks. Akagi had brought fireworks. That pounding, which filled his ears and his entire being. His heartbeat. A taste of sweetness, exploring his mouth, and hands which roamed hungrily, greedily upon his back and chest. Without thinking, he responded, his own hands searching, savoring the smooth touch of bare skin which pressed into his flesh. It was like a dream, a dream of silken touch and nimble fingers, running over him, and hotness, in his mouth and under his hands. Then logic exploded, and his eyes widened in pure unadulterated shock.
RUKAWA! OH MY GOD, WHAT IS HE DOING?! WHAT AM I DOING?! WHAT ARE WE DOING?!
A loud gasp and he was jolted back to reality, and he turned quickly, in time to see Haruko’s face, a silent mask of shock and disbelief, wet with tears of pain before she spun and fled. "Haruko-chan!" he was about to race off after her when he was pushed forcefully to the ground.
Haruko ran all the way, the stitch in her side unnoticed, the sobs wracking her body as she collapsed onto the grass a few meters away from the campfire. What had she just seen? What had she just done? Had she seen correctly? Had Rukawa Kaede, the one she had had a crush on and was planning to tell of her feelings that very night, kissed her good friend and confidante Sakuragi Hanamichi? She fainted.
CHAPTER SIX
Kogure wasn’t the only one getting irritated. Mitsui cursed under his breath as he looked out at the ocean. Waves were gently lapping his feet as he walked a little behind the other boy. They had been friends for so long. What was holding him back?
Moonlight shone in glimmering paths on the rippled surface as the froth nipped and dance delicately in the sea breeze. All was quiet, the noisy people, namely Sakuragi Hanamichi, was clearly not in the immediate vicinity. In the distance, beyond the blazing light of the campfire, he thought he saw two figures lying together under a low pavilion, and just make out occasional laughter bubbling up from that side.
What is wrong with him? Is he upset that I’m leaving? Kogure wondered. Maybe he disapproves. No, I’m sure he disapproves, I can feel it. Why doesn’t he say anything? We’ve been walking alone for the past hour! He sighed before he could stop himself.
Mitsui looked up from the pebble patterns of the wet sand he had been lost in when he heard Kogure sigh. His heart tightened. He had to say it, now!
"Kogure?" he began tentatively. The other boy stopped and turned slowly. "Yes?"
I like you. I’ve always liked you. I feel funny inside now because you said you’re leaving. I don’t want you to go. "Eh, nothing."
This is getting ridiculous, Kogure noted despite himself. It’s obvious he wants to tell me something. Patience, Kogure. It’s only been an hour since he said he wanted to take a walk and its only been about the thirty-first time he responded with a ‘nothing’ after calling me about thirty-one times. He’ll tell you when he’s comfortable. No point in fretting.
But is he okay? He seems really troubled. Maybe I should just ask him. He stopped abruptly and turned around.
Mitsui, his head hanging, crashed right into his best friend just as he aimed a kick at a stone, causing him to lose the better part of his balance and slam onto the ground on top of Kogure, who at some point in time turned around to face him. His vision was swimming and he groaned as his foot began to throb. Then again, he wasn’t as flattened as he expected to be. He looked down and choked.
Kogure was turning blue, gasping for air, his face buried in the taller boy’s chest. Mitsui was by far the heavier of the two. Panic seized the ex-gangster, who rolled off his friend and climbed to his knees weakly. "Kogure?! Are you all right?!"
The bespectacled boy had sat up, his glasses crooked on his nose, taking in quick shallow breaths as he regained his senses. Mitsui stopped, struck by wonder. He’s so beautiful. His heart ached. Kogure was going to leave, leave him.
"Mitsui?" the gasping boy managed as he reached up and adjusted his glasses. They were bent from the impact of the fall, however, and still appeared lopsided. "I was going to ask if you were all right, you know. You’re not normally this distracted. Are you unhappy with me leaving? Or is it something els—mph!"
Mitsui had given up on words. In the shadows of the beach, under the peaceful face of the pale moon, lips locked together in fierce longing, and two bodies melded in surrendered passion.
CHAPTER SEVEN
He’s cute when he laughs, Ayako thought before she could stop the treacherous thought which formed in her head. Miyagi looked quizzically at her. "Did you say something, Aya-chan?"
Laughter rose to her lips and she smiled at him. "I didn’t. I was just thinking."
"What are you doing?!" Hanamichi scrambled up in shock, but he was pinned to the ground even before he could climb to one knee. "Kitsune!"
Rukawa stretched, looking down languorously at him. "Do’aho."
"Nani?!" Outrage spurted through the redhead as he writhed and struggled, trying to get out of the dark-haired enemy’s clutches. "Get off me!"
Rukawa ran his tongue thoughtfully between his lips, his gaze traveling upwards and fixing itself on the moon. Tonight it was large and full, a gleaming white circle, which hung in the darkness like a brilliant beacon. "What day is it today, baka."
Annoyed and not at all amused by the question, Hanamichi growled deep in his throat. "It’s Valentine’s Day, stupid kitsune! Get off me! I need to get to Haruko-chan!"
Rukawa tore his eyes away from the captivating sight of the moon and fixed on the squirming Hanamichi beneath him in a none-too-innocent position.
You know you can't fool me
I've been loving you too long
It started so easy
You want to carry on
"Do’aho."
"Stop calling me that, baka kitsune!"
I realize the best part of love is the thinnest slice
And it don't count for much
But I'm not letting go
I believe there's still much to believe in
He leaned down, the full length of his body effectively weighing the redhead to the ground as he paused, staring Hanamichi right in the eye. Deliberately, he licked the other boy’s lips, watching in satisfaction as the honey-brown eyes widened in shock.
Ain't it funny how some feelings you just can't deny
And you can't move on even though you try
Ain't it strange when you're feeling things you shouldn't feel…
He bent his head, nuzzling the soft skin of the neck, breathing in the other’s scent. He pondered, then opened his mouth and bit him, softly, just his teeth grazing flesh, and pulling. The struggles had ceased.
And you don't want to face what's wrong or right
Ain't it strange how fate can play a part
In the story of your heart
"I don’t like Haruko, do’aho."
The whisper at his ear caused a tremor to run through his body as the silken touching began again, soft probing caresses which made him flush and cause his cheeks to burn a hot, hot red, kisses which inflamed him with desire as they grew in intensity.
I barely know you but somehow I know what you're about
A deeper love I've found in you, and I no longer doubt
You've touched my heart and it altered every plan I've made
And now I feel that I don't have to be afraid
--- ON TO LAYERED ILLUSIONS ---