My Warnings: First of all, as anyone can guess from the prologue, this has mild yaoi. By mild I mean that it’s mentioned continuously, but there’s not really anything...active...in it. It’s mainly perceived through Haruko, for now, and so you don’t get much actual contact with yaoi stuff...Also, there’s an original character in here, that I’m thinking of keeping her around (I will struggle to not make her a Mary Sue, I promise.) And before you ask, this is not a self-insertion. I’m nothing like her. Also, don’t use her without permission, though I doubt anyone would want to. Enjoy.

~~x~~

“Haruko! Hey, girl, wait up!” Washi Okite, a girl with hair like an eagle’s burnt sienna wing and eyes that always looked as if she were seeing into your soul ran up, flickering a wary glance at the shorter girl. “Kyo wa anata ga genki desu ka*?” She asked, her voice clipped and precise, perfectly articulate, but somehow managing to be easy as well.

Haruko had slowed slightly at the sound of her friend’s voice, and was now staring at her school bag, feeling as if a terrible weight were upon her shoulders. She could hear the sarcasm in her voice as she spoke. “Oh, sugoi. I feel wonderful. Terrific, super. I like having my heart ripped out and stomped upon.”

Okite, who was far from stupid, and as observant as the bird of prey for which her family name signified, only studied her friend through pale brown eyes that almost seemed golden in the early morning light.

“What do you mean?” She asked quietly, wishing for Haruko to justify her thoughts before she jumped to conclusions. This was simply the way the pale girl worked; never assumed, always drawing conclusions after she had all the information.

Haruko was no fool either; and she also wasn’t very close to Okite. Washi-san had grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, to put it lightly and in simple terms. She was older than Haruko by a year, but was in the same grade because her parents had neglected to enroll her in school in time. Haruko wasn’t especially close to Okite; her best friend by far had always been Sakuragi. However, since she could hardly turn to Hanamichi now for a listening ear...

Hoping that she wasn’t placing her trust in the wrong hands, Haruko told her of her love for Rukawa, which only made Okite nod, and then of his apparent relationship with Hanamichi, and how she’d confessed to him, and then been rejected by him.

Okite blinked several times, holding her hands clenching her bag behind her head, looking at the sky. She looked thoughtful for the moment, a mask of expression she wore well. Haruko waited for her to speak, feeling her heart clench as she remembered everything that had transpired lately.

Okite didn’t say what Haruko thought she would say. But then again, what did she expect the other girl to say? Certainly nothing like, “You should fight for Rukawa; you had first claims,” which was the way Haruko herself felt. She supposed she expected her to offer advice on how to deal with her feelings, since holding yourself in check was something that Okite honored.

“Do you love him, Haruko?” Okite rarely used any kind of endearment or title, such as –san or –kun. She only used them for teachers and authority figures, and really only because she got tired of being punished for neglecting them.

Haruko stopped and stared at the girl, surprised at the question. Hadn’t she just finished proclaimed her never-ending devotion for Rukawa to Okite, and now she was asking if she loved him? “Love” was such a weak word when collating it to what she felt for Rukawa. It was like holding a candle flame to a bonfire; the two just couldn’t be compared.

“Mochiron!** I’d walk to the ends of the Earth for him.” Even as she said it, she knew it was rather dramatic, and a tiny, far-away corner of her mind was shaking its head, proclaiming that she probably wouldn’t if presented with that task. She had been ignoring that part of her mind—the logical part—for so long that it was quite easy to do so now.

Washi-san didn’t say anything, only shot her a sideways, golden glance that seemed to shimmer in the morning light, and kept casting glances at her the entire way to school.

“By the way, I have to stay after today to make up a test, so I was thinking I’d swing by the gym and wait for you. We could walk home together.” Okite wasn’t the type to offer to go out of her way for anyone; staying after for a test was normal, since she was out of school so often, but offering to wait for someone, that was a new thing, as far as Haruko knew.

For a moment Haruko had the sense to feel somewhat honored. The feeling was quickly dashed by her former mood; gloom. She shrugged carelessly, showing that she didn’t care what Okite did with her life. Which wasn’t entirely true; Haruko hated to admit it, but she had a big heart, and she cared more about her friends then almost anyone else.

Okite didn’t seem to notice her shrug, but Haruko supposed she would have come by the gym even without Haruko’s permission. That was the way she operated, the way she was raised; if you didn’t act and do what you wanted to get what you wanted, you’d never have it. No one in her life, as far as Haruko could tell, had ever taken the initiative with her.

The school loomed into view, and Haruko felt her heart sink. Rukawa was wheeling his bike into the gate, with a fiery spirit beside him. Or, at least, that morning Sakuragi looked as if he were some otherworldly spirit. His once-buzzed hair was growing back, the strands long enough to curl downwards and brush against his forehead. He didn’t bother to comb it, it seemed, or perhaps the wind had pushed the fire-like locks around, for it was arranged in a wild disarray around his head. Haruko could only see his profile, since they were walking into the school, which was perpendicular to the path she and Okite were walking on. He was laughing wildly, his animated face lighting up in a way that could only be described as him. But as quickly as it had come, it was gone, replaced instead by a scowl and an indignant cry of, “Baka kitsune!” Rukawa only shrugged, the corners of his mouth actually pulling upwards a little. Sakuragi continued to sputter wildly, words running together as he turned the same angry shade as his hair. Rukawa ducked his head demurely, and Haruko was close enough to see those crystalline eyes peeking up at Sakuragi through his thick lashes. He spoke in a low voice, one hand reaching out and pinching Hanamichi oh-so-discreetly on the behind. Haruko only noticed because she was so used to watching Rukawa’s every smooth movement that she could follow every sinuous ripple in his muscles, even under his clothes.

Sakuragi’s tint darkened, and his ears began glowing a cheery red with something other than anger. Embarrassment. Rukawa only chuckled, the deep vibrations striking Haruko in the chest with a palpable force that brought tears to her eyes. Her icy Rukawa, whom she’d always imagined opening up to her like that, warming to only her touch and words, was instead being melted by the boy full of passionate flame.

It was the truth, the back part of her brain commented. Hanamichi was like a perfect personification of fire; high spirited, uncontrollable, unpredictable, bright, enchanting. Haruko never noticed before, but since her awareness of Rukawa was so sharp, she couldn’t help but notice Hanamichi now that he was around Rukawa. His eyes even flickered.

Haruko shook her head in an emotion akin to dismay. How could she possible compete with someone like that? Someone that brought out the life in Rukawa, someone that obviously made him happy, was attuned to him in a way she might never understand...

Because it’s wrong. The sharp thought pierced through her dismay, a conviction so powerful she actually stopped walking and merely stared at Rukawa and Sakuragi, who were now walking toward their classes. It’s wrong for two boys to be together. It’s not the natural way of things. They weren’t built to be together....anatomically speaking. Men are supposed to be with women. That’s the way it had always been, as far as Haruko was concerned, and homosexuality had never seemed even halfway plausible to her. She’d always thought of it as a big joke, something some kids might do to get attention, but would never take seriously. Watching the discreet couple, she could tell they were quite serious. And one thing was sure...if anyone ever found out, their parents would either kill them or disown them. Perhaps both.

She frowned, feeling the intense gaze of the forgotten Okite on her back. She felt her shoulder muscles tighten, her back straightening.

She wasn’t going to let her Rukawa be a disgrace to his family or his community. She would make sure of that. It was what was best for him, whether he realized it or not.

She nodded firmly to nothing. Okite only arched an eyebrow, but Haruko didn’t notice.

I will protect my Rukawa. She thought, staring at the retreating backs of the two boys. I will.

~~x~~

TBC

* How are you today? ** Of course.