On The Edge

By: Selim

Rating: T

Summary: Henry finds his relationship with Ikki is on the rocks and another man coming in on what is his. Can he get his act together before his relationship is completely gone?

Pairings: Henry x Ikki, Koji x Ikki, suggested Koji x Karin

“Henry-san!” A very feminine voice called, making him turn back and face Erika. She’d grown up nicely, developing from a tomboy to a beautiful young lady that had caught the attention of men in the high school. Her school uniform fit loosely on her, almost as if she was trying to put forward that the tomboy inside her still existed. “Ikki told me to tell you he’ll be a little late. Kenjikuro-sensei wasn’t so happy with his final and wanted to discuss the answers after class.”

Glancing at his watch, he frowned. He had to go to work shortly and Ikki usually walked him to work before departing with a kiss that seemed endless if his employer didn’t halt the tongue action. “How long should it take?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Erika smiled. “Can’t say. I’ll see you later though, with finals done I finally have time to myself. Karin and I are going shopping for graduation.”

“Oh? Both of your school graduations fall on the same day?” Henry tilted his head to the side. “And you do know, you don’t get to wear whatever you want for graduation – unless they changed the rules since I went to high school.”

Giggling, Erika walked passed him and down the street. “Of course not! Koji’s throwing a party and invited me, Ikki, and a few others from our school. The rest are his friends from Rosewood – hence Karin.”

Watching her retreating form, Henry leaned back against the gates of the school, waiting patiently for Ikki. He must have zoned out because the next thing he knew, long thin arms wrapped around his waist and a pale face pressed up against his shoulder. “You waited!” Ikki shouted cheerfully.

“And I’m deaf.” Henry played with his ear, but smiled sweetly at his boyfriend. “Of course I waited, you’re my boyfriend.”

Grasping Henry’s arm, Ikki started in a dead run in the direction of the convenience store. “You’re going to be late, and if you’re late, we don’t get a kiss.” He reasoned, turning a corner sharply. Henry almost found himself being slammed into a wall. Never once did he take his eyes off his lover’s swift form as they made it to the main road where the convenience store was located where his lover came to an abrupt stop.

Henry gave off a small grunt as his body slammed into his lover’s, knocking both of them down on the ground – his larger body pressing down against Ikki’s smaller one. Instead of immediately pulling up, Henry pressed his body further down onto Ikki, watching the boy’s face scrunch from pain to embarrassment. “Not now, Henry.” Ikki whispered, pushing his boyfriend off him before sitting up.

Sighing, Henry brushed himself off before standing up and glancing at his watch. He needed to clock in, or he’d be late. “A kiss?” He leaned forward. Ikki met him halfway for a chaste kiss before pulling away. Henry grumped, disappointed.

“I won’t be home today, Koji invited me to hang out, so I’ll probably stay at his place and do my homework – don’t look like that!” Ikki pressed a finger against Henry’s cheeks, trying to get the man to smile. “I’ll arrive super early at your house and walk you to school!” Henry bit the inside of his cheek before smiling weakly.

The last few weeks, Ikki had been spending more and more time with friends than he. At first, the clerk had accepted the fact that Ikki wanted to spend his final years in high school with all his friends before they split to go their own ways, but it was starting to irritate him that he wasn’t even getting a decent kiss from the boy.

“No school tomorrow.” He explained, hotly. “Student Body Track run; I’m not joining so I was going to take morning shift here and stock the shelves since you get off early tomorrow. So we could spend some time alone.”

Ikki’s own smile was just as forced at that point. “But, that means you have to work really early! We won’t see each other until three-!” He whined.

Henry found his patience thinning as he tapped his foot. “We don’t see each other besides before school and the fifteen minutes I have until work anyway, so what’s the difference!” He stormed off, leaving the shell-shocked high school boy on the sidewalk.

Following after, Ikki pushed past the store doors, glaring at his boyfriend. “What the hell do you mean by that? We spent all day with each other on Sunday – for the last year!”

“At this store!” Henry yelled back, sliding his apron on. “Now that I think of it, do your parents even know we’re dating?”

“I was going to tell them!”

“When! Next year?” Henry all but slammed his palm on the counter. “I’ve bent over backwards making certain that my parents knew, that my friends knew, and that those who shouldn’t know didn’t! What have you done?”

Narrow eyed, Ikki stomped his foot. “My parents just aren’t ready to know! Mom’s still hyped up on me dating her best friends daughter! Besides, my friends know, most of the school population knows!” Putting his hands on his hips, Ikki breathed deeply. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

“You are!” Henry keyed his name into the cash register. “You won’t even give me a proper kiss anymore! Even when you were, you always held back. Our relationship has been the same since we started dating! I’m ready for the next level-”

Ikki’s eyes softened when he turned to the door, ready to leave. “But I’m not, Henry.” He whispered lowly. With that, he was gone and Henry was left to consider of what had just happened between them.

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” Koji’s voice echoed throughout the grand parlor of his home as he headed towards the door. Sure, one of his butlers could have done this small chore, but he knew who was behind the door and felt it was his duty to invite his friend in.

Opening the door, he smiled politely at Ikki, but his smile was washed off his face when he noticed tears falling from plump cheeks. “Tenryou? What’s wrong?” He wrapped an arm comfortingly around the boy’s shoulders and brought him into his home. A maid raised a fine blonde brow at her master, but Koji dismissed her and walked into the entertainment room where a variety of snacks had been put out prior to their meetings. Ikki happily took a seat, rubbing his eyes with the jacket of his school uniform.

The two sat in silence, occasionally broken by a sniffle from Ikki before everything calmed down. “I’m sorry.” Ikki sobbed, sitting back against the fine leather sofa. “I probably should have gone straight home and changed clothes.” He observed his sticky jacket arms, scrunching his face a bit.

Smiling absently, Koji just shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll have something dry brought down for you.” He walked out of the room to address a maid passing by to bring clothes down. From the corner of his eye, he watched as Ikki leaned forward, starting to sniffle again. “What’s wrong Ikki?” He whispered, approaching his friend. He really didn’t know how to approach the boy, never having had to worry about consoling upset friends. It felt foreign to wrap his arms around the public school boy and embrace him warmly.

“Henry and I fought.”

Ah, so that’s it. Koji sighed, sitting back. I’m not too surprised, really. “What about?” He inquired.

Throwing his arms up Ikki rolled his shoulders. “He just got all defensive because I was coming here today and wanted me to spend the evening with him. I spend all my time with him, I want to spend time with my friends before graduating and he doesn’t understand.”

Scratching his scalp, Koji raised a fine brow. “Is that all?” A bit of jealousy? It wasn’t like he was doing anything wrong with Ikki.

“And he wants sex! I’m still in high school! I’m not ready!”

“You just figured this out now?”

Lowering his hands, Ikki glanced over his shoulder confused. “Huh?”

Leaning back, Koji watched his television, letting the logo of the well-known company drain into his memory as he chose his words carefully. “We all figured out that he wanted sex from you a long time ago. It was all he hinted at when he was around you, but we learned to keep our mouths shut, figuring you were giving into him-”

“Are you calling me easy?” Ikki shouted with a squeak.

“Of course not!” Koji rushed. “Karin kept reassuring us that you weren’t giving into his advances. I knew you weren’t too, because you’re smarter than you put out. It’s obvious that you aren’t going to give everything to a run of the mill cashier at the convenience store that is constantly being robbed – on his watch, might I add.”

Ikki blushed, pulling off his uniform top when a maid entered with a new pair of clothes for him. Koji didn’t say anything, but turned his head from the undressing friend nervously. “What makes you think he’ll always be a cashier? One day he’ll have a degree and will be working for real. And who says he might not become store manager one day?”

Koji chuckled. He would live to see the day that Henry became store manager. He was always shocked the young college student hadn’t been fired yet. Besides that, Ikki was still missing the point. “So you two fought about having sex?”

“Well… I haven’t been kissing him like I use to either, so he’s been complaining. I’ve just been so busy, and it’s the last time I get to act like a kid. If we have sex, than I’m, like, chained to him. Right?”

“Not precisely.” Koji leaned back. “I’ve been with Karin, and she’s now dating someone else.”

“You didn’t have sex.”

“Never said that.” Koji smirked. “I’ve had sex, you’re the only one who hasn’t. You don’t see me tied down with anyone. Maybe that romance between you and Henry is gone?”

“And maybe it was never there.” Ikki sat back down, dressed in some of Koji’s clothes now. The rich boy looked over his friend. He never noticed what a feminine build his best friend had over the years. Slender hips that the jeans embraced lovingly and the polo shirt that was so big it fell over his shoulders, letting pale skin shine. He hadn’t even noticed what a heart throb his friend had become, either. Maybe it was because every time he did see Ikki the boy was in a school uniform or street clothes two sizes too big.

Blushing, Koji shook his head trying to rid himself of those thoughts. “Anyway, help me come up with some party ideas. I want everything to be, uh, like the meager lifestyle.”

Growling, Ikki faced his friend with a glare. All thoughts of Henry were gone as he snorted out, “Stop acting as though we’re another species.”

“You aren’t?” Koji joked.

“No!”

Shrugging his shoulders, Koji pulled out a pencil and scribbled illegible kanji before marking it off. “Get rid of ragged clothes.” He smiled, ignoring the fist that slammed down on his shoulder.

“Bastard!”

“Henry-san? Why are you still here, your shifts been over for twenty minutes now.” The storekeeper approached the college student. Crunching up further in a ball, Henry let his eyes shift over the street, watching for any movement. “Where’s your boyfriend? He’s usually here by now to walk you home, though I think it should be the other way around. Kids should be guided home so sickos don’t get a hold of them.”

“I’m, uh,” Henry muttered, “waiting for him.” His subconscious snorted at those words. Ikki wasn’t coming, they’d had a fight and the boy was probably still at Koji’s, like he said he was going to be. All nightlong. Jealousy poked at his stomach, making it toss and turn. Ikki never stayed at his house…

The storekeeper was about the shut off the store light when he dug through his pockets. “My wife wanted me to give you this.” He pulled out a sealed envelope and handed it to Henry. Instead of opening it, Henry brought it to his chest, turning his head. “It’s a little something for your ring fund. She says that she wants an invitation.”

Sighing, Henry held the letter back out. “Tell Yumi-san that it won’t be necessary. I think my relationship with Ikki is over.”

“Really? You two seemed to be getting along so well.” The storekeeper leaned back against the counter. “What’d you do?” He accused.

“I did nothing wrong!” Henry proclaimed. “I gave Ikki a kiss, and he backed away. He told me that we needed some time apart.” Well, Ikki had never said that, but it sure felt like that was what the boy had said. “And he accuses me of only wanting sex! I’m happy waiting until he’s ready, even if it takes until we’re both out of school.”

Running his index finger along his jaw, the storekeeper looked thoughtful. “We’ll, you have been pushing him recently.”

“I’ve only brought sex up once! Today!”

“Verbally, maybe. Every time I see you two, you’re initiating some kissing. If I didn’t tell you to get to work, you’d have him slung over my counter, fucking him for the world to see.” It was blunt, but Henry knew it was the truth. Actually, that had been a dream he had once. Ikki, under him with his bum facing the window as Henry fucked him, letting the world know whom the high school boy belonged to. Maybe it was just his exhibitionist side, but it would remain nothing more than a fantasy. Ikki wasn’t that type of boy. “Don’t try to hide it; this is just how it is.”

Henry turned his head the other way. “I wasn’t forcing him into anything. I want to spend some time with him, even though I’ve taken some extra hours here to buy…y’know… but he’d rather spend time with Koji. He didn’t even want to tell me that he was going to a party.”

With a sigh, the storekeeper rubbed his temples. “You’re overreacting. Go home and sleep on it. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Shutting off the light, he gave the college student a nudge out the doors. “Trust me, he just needs some space with his friends. It’s the end of his school year, next year he has college and probably won’t see anymore of his friends.”

“Okay,” Henry accepted that and left work. When the shop door was shut and locked behind him, the cool breeze of night attacked his bare arms, giving him a sense of nostalgic. He usually didn’t like to travel alone at night, but there was no way out of it sometimes. Luckily, since he started to date Ikki, he didn’t have as much of a problem anymore. Usually, his boyfriend would take his hand and give him a reassuring smile. Though they weren’t as serious Medabot battlers and they had once been, the memories still circled the battlefield. For Henry, they circled the night and his time as the Phantom Renegade.

Shaking his head, Henry pushed the thoughts away. That was the past. He was now Henry, the serious student trying to work up to a career. Though Arcbeetle and he rarely fought, if only for demonstration for beginners, the two were still companions. Arcbeetle, however, spent a lot of time at home, helping Henry’s mother do her chores and becoming more humanlike as the days went by. Not that Henry minded, it was a world that the Battle Champion wanted – where medabots weren’t tools but treated like individuals.

He choked on a chuckle as he made it into his parent’s apartment complex. His mother was still up, cleaning her kitchen and preparing some cookies. She smiled warmly at him and pulled a bento meal from the refrigerator. “Where’s Ikki-kun?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Henry broke his chopsticks and began eating.

With a frown, his mother poured him some coffee and sat it in front of Henry. “So, I guess I’m never going to meet his parents.”

“That’d make two of us they’ll never meet. In fact, they don’t know we’ve been dating.” He bit into the wood of his chopstick before pulling away to examine his teeth mark. His mother scowled at his actions. “We got in a fight today, at the store. He stormed off, and I haven’t heard from him since.” Probably sleeping now. Henry roughly shoved a pickled egg into his mouth, his eyes narrowing in anger. Would he and Koji be sharing a room? A bed?

“Henry-sweetie, please stop gnawing. That’s such a bad habit, I don’t know where you could have picked it up.” His mother soothed, touching his shoulder lovingly. “He’s just scared. Maybe his parents are close-minded, and he’s afraid of confrontation and what his parents will think. Give him some time, I’m sure he’ll come around.” Pecking his forehead (“I’m not a child!” Henry swiped at her playfully) she left the kitchen to go to bed, leaving her son to finish his dinner.

Carefully, Henry closed the container for his bento box. He was no longer hungry. Dumping the container back in the refrigerator, he walked towards his bedroom and slouched in his bed. From the corner of his room, he could see Arcbettle’s deactivated body surrounded by books of various subjects. A few his college class books.

“Arcbeetle…” He whispered, knowing he wasn’t going to receive a response. “You watch my interactions with Ikki. Do I come on to hard? Am I forcing him into sex?” He just didn’t know. He could have sworn he was working at a pace Ikki wanted. Pulling his pillow on his face, Henry breathed in deeply. He had no idea how to take on the situation, and no one was even listening to what he had to say.

Closing his eyes, he decided to sleep and let Ikki cool down before they talked again. Bothering an angry teen was the last thing Henry wanted to do.

A week later, Ikki still hadn’t spoken to (or seen) Henry. To keep himself busy, he’d placed all his free time into helping Koji pull a reasonable graduation party, even talking the rich boy into furnish some alcohol. None of that rich stuff the boy had in his wine cellar. Ikki had suggested some cheap beer, so Koji and Karin could have a taste of a more ‘simpler’ life (though Ikki couldn’t tell how his life was so much easier than what Koji and Karin had grown up in).

After school, Erika and he had walked back to Koji’s mansion where the party would be held to help set it up (because Koji had refused to have any help for his celebration). They had changed clothes at school, earning distasteful looks from the student body and jealous looks from fellow classmen.

Erika had chosen a form-fitting outfit, talking about how she had planned to score a big fish that night (winking when she said that). Not that she looked bad or anything. Usually at home she wore tight jeans, but today she wore a short skirt that showed enough of her milky thighs that Ikki had first asked what she had planned.

Though he didn’t feel much better about his clothes. Koji had bought them for him the day before, having them tailored to fit. Henry would have never let him wear something as suggestive as Koji had bought him. Most of his body was apparent to the eye and a pair of tight jogging shorts covered the only thing that was left to the imagination. He felt more like going clubbing than hanging with friends for a couple of drinks and good times.

And the wolf whistles. Ikki was tempted to run in the direction of the convenience store and have Henry walk him to the party. No, Ikki reprimanded himself, I’m not going to go back to him until he respects that I don’t want to have sex!

“Ugh, I feel so uncomfortable.” Erika breathed.

“You feel uncomfortable? My back is cold.” Ikki joked. They weren’t too far from Koji’s place. “Would you prefer if I hailed a taxi?”

“No, I’m good.” Erika smiled sweetly, leaning against him. “Have you received any college acceptance letters?”

“Uh. Tokyo University is accepting me.” He blushed. He put an application with his scores there, because it was where Henry was going to school. Now he wasn’t as fond of the idea as he had been weeks before. “What about you?” She was jumping from heel to heel, so obviously she was thrilled to tell him all about it.

Beaming, Erika grabbed his arm as they continued to walk down hill towards the more expensive part of town. “I’m going to the states! Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication accepted me and is enthusiastic by my writing ability. Think about it! Me in one of the best Journalism Colleges in the United States! See, I told you learning English wasn’t a stupid idea. Finally it comes in handy.” She poked his shoulder.

“I’m so proud of you.” Ikki was honest. He knew Erika would go somewhere big, like the states. Wait until he told Henry! No, wait. Shaking his head again, Ikki cleared his mind. “Look, there’s Koji’s house! Race you!” He took a head start, ignoring the gasp of surprise coming from Erika.

When they arrived, Koji was already standing outside with the door open, letting them in. “Been waiting for you. The others will arrive shortly. Make yourself comfortable.” Ikki nodded as he and Erika slipped off their shoes in favor of house slippers that had been set out for company. Karin whistling brought his attention to the red headed girl.

“Is this the outfit you were talking about, Koji-kun?” She gushed, walking around Ikki to get a good look at him. Ikki was beginning to feel self-conscious as he felt Koji’s gaze fall on him as well. “It’s so gorgeous! I never knew you looked so sexy without those baggy clothes on. And you settled with Henry…” Karin said mostly to herself.

Koji’s arms wrapped around Ikki, letting his fingers guide along the design innocently. “I noticed when he was changing clothes that he has a body. Besides, he and Henry aren’t dating anymore, maybe he’ll be lucky tonight.”

Karin blushed, putting her fingers over her lips. “Oh, Ikki…” She whispered. “I’m sorry! That was out of bounds.”

“Henry and I are still dating!” Ikki shouted. “And what do you mean ‘lucky’?” He eyed his rich friend critically. Erika broke into laughter, plopping herself down on a plush couch.

“You are?” Erika leaned forward intently. “There was an extra seat at our graduation just for Henry, and he didn’t show up? Now that I think about it, he hasn’t been at the front gate since last week when Kenjikuro-sensei kept you after.”

Ikki settled into the couch, sighing. “We had a small argument and haven’t seen each other since.” That was all they needed to know. He gave a glare at Koji to silence the tall, gangly rich boy when the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of more guests.

Erika was the first one to stand up, her arms waving up in the air excitedly. “Let’s get this party started!” Karin joined her in a squeal as they ran to open the door.

It wasn’t that Ikki wasn’t having fun. He just felt rather uncomfortable with all the eyes on him. Several guys from Koji’s school had introduced themselves with little modesty, coming over to mesh their bodies with Ikki to drag the boy onto the designated dance floor. Just as often, Ikki had excused himself to stand somewhere else, but the guys were persistent.

“Wha’s up?” Koji’s slurred voice caught his attention, dragging the boy towards him. Ikki relaxed as the lustful gazes he was receiving from other boys stopped and turned the other direction. Turning around, Ikki faced his best friend with a bright smile. Koji, on the other hand, was confused by this and just lifted his beer can to his lips for another gulp.

“Thank you,” Ikki leaned back against his friend. “God, you reek of that stuff! How many cans have you had?” He was still on his second can, but that was because he’d spent most of the party running from grabby hands to enjoy his beer. Erika was happily enjoying herself. She and Karin were the center of attention along with some other girls.

With unfocused movements, Koji tried counting with his fingers before completely giving up after a few tries. “Heh…heh. Thish stuffhs great!” He took another swig of his alcohol, dodging Ikki’s reach for the can. “Geth your own!”

“I think you’ve had too much to drink, Koji-kun.” Ikki laughed, making another grab for the can. Instead, he was met with Koji’s hard chest and a hug. “Koji?” He blushed.

Koji drowned the last few drops of beer before he reached to put the can of beer of a side table. Never once did either his or Ikki’s eyes leave each other until Koji swept down and placed a clumsy kiss on the boy’s lips. Pulling away, Ikki pressed his hands against Koji’s chest, giving the man a push. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Swaying some, Koji reached forward again, claiming the boy’s lips once more. This time, Ikki slapped him and marched towards the front door. “You’re drunk. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Or whenever.” He slid his shoes on and marched out the door.

Putting his hand on his head, Koji sighed and walked back to where the party was still going on, oblivious to what had just happened, to get another beer. He needed it after that crash to his ego.

A knock at the front door captured Henry’s attention momentarily from his textbook and notes. He was planning on doing some late night cramming for his own semester finals before getting at least three hours of sleep, but he could take the time to take a break. Standing up he went to answer the door when the knocks became more hectic. “May I help you?” He asked before looking to see who was at the door. A somber Ikki lowered his head, his shoulders shaking as he muffled his sobs. “Ikki?” Henry wrapped his arms around the boy and dragged the teen inside. A wetness against his chest signaled that the high school graduate had just begun crying. “What’s wrong, love?”

“I…” Ikki started, rubbing his nose against Henry’s chest. “…I needed to see you.”

Sitting the boy at the table, Henry went to prepare some tea as an awkward silence fell between them. Pouring hot water in a ceramic teacup, Henry sat it in front of Ikki. “I remember my graduation party. I drank. A lot. I’m certain so did you, so watch the alcohol doesn’t settle in your stomach.” Standing up again, he grabbed some saltine crackers from a cabinet and set them before Ikki. “And eat these, so you won’t feel sick later.”

Nodding, Ikki complied with what Henry said, his fingers playing with the rim of the cup. “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”

“No. I was just doing my homework. So close to my last degree, I’ve been slacking off so much.” He rubbed the back of his neck absently. “Guess what though.”

“You got that management you’ve been working towards?” Ikki smiled absently.

“Nah.” Henry ducked his hand. “I was all geared up for that last week, but I received a call today. I got a cushy job with that medabot development lab north of here, in Fukushima.” He pulled his textbooks back over. “I can’t believe they took me without my degree, though. Not that I’m going to question it.”

Ikki sulked forward, letting his bangs over his eyes. “You’re leaving?”

“Well, I have to be in Fukushima to arrive at my job.” Henry reasoned.

“But…” Ikki leaned forward, pushing his tea away as he covered his head with his arms. “Are we really over, then? Was I just a fling and when I couldn’t give you what you wanted, you’re getting rid of me?” He shook with uncontrolled sobs.

Jerking up, Henry put his pencil down. “Of course not, Ikki!” He reached over, but Ikki slapped his hands. “What’s wrong now?”

“You…didn’t…even…come…after…me…” Ikki said between sobs, “…after…we…fought!”

“Ikki, I was at work! I couldn’t just leave, suppose someone had robbed the place!”

Pushing tears from his face, Ikki shook his head. “Work! Work! Work! That’s all you ever think about! All the time I dated you, we spent all our time together at the store! You never once took me out on a proper date.” The last was a whisper as the boy tried to get up and leave, but Henry grabbed his elbow before he could make it away from the table.

“Why don’t you let us discuss this before you jump to conclusions?” Henry started, but the light turning on in the hallway broke his concentration as his mother stepped into the kitchen.

“Henry-sweetie, what’s with all the noise? You father has work in the morning – oh! Ikki-kun, good evening!” She swooned, wrapping her arms motherly around the boy. With just as quick of movements, she looked over his outfit; Henry did the same thing for the first time since bringing the boy in the house. With a gasp, he ran towards his bedroom to get a robe for the boy to cover himself. While he was gone, Henry’s mother leaned in and whispered in Ikki’s ear, “you look very nice.”

“Many others thought so too.” Ikki blushed. When Henry returned with a long robe, the boy thankfully took it and wrapped it around himself. “Koji really thought so.” He whispered absently.

“What’d he do-?” Henry slammed his palms against the counter. This was more skin than he’d even seen! If that rich brat touched my Ikki, I’ll kill him.

Turning around, Ikki blushed and thanked any gods that were watching him when Henry’s mother took control of the situation. “I’m sure nothing bad happened. Ikki probably had some drunken partiers wanting to dance with him, isn’t that right Ikii-kun?” She smiled, and the boy nodded quickly. “Now, why don’t you shut those books and go to bed. Ikki, would you like me to pull the futon out or call your parents to come pick you up?”

“…I am suppose to be staying with Koji, but I don’t really want to go back over there.”

“Then I’ll pull out the extra futon for you in Henry’s room. Henry-sweetie, please go and get Ikki-kun some more comfortable clothes. Come on Ikki…” She reached out and took the boy’s hand to lead him out of the room. With a glance to his side, he could still see the fuming Henry; quickly Ikki allowed himself to be escorted to (what appeared) safety with Henry’s mother.

The high school graduate blushed when they were no longer in earshot of his fuming boyfriend. “Thank you. I don’t think I could ever tell him what happened tonight.”

“Nobody took advantage of you, did they?” She asked as she reached on the top shelf of the storage closet for the curled up futon. Ikki helped her so she wouldn’t strain herself.

“No, ma’am.” He clutched the rolled up bed close to his chest as the woman began shuffling through bedding. “Just a kiss, or two. But, I think I made the mistake in running. It’s obvious that Henry is calling off our relationship since he is leaving.”

Piling the blankets on the bedroll, the woman scrunched her face up. “Ikki-kun, have you even spoken with Henry at all? If you had, then…no, I shouldn’t say anymore. Go on to Henry’s room, sweetie. Sleep well.” She walked off, leaving Ikki in the storage room, baring all his bedding.

“Ikki, I couldn’t find pajamas, per say. You don’t mind sleeping in a pair of my shorts and a tee-shirt, do you?” Henry started as he walked into the room. Ikki sniffled, turning his face from Henry’s. “Please don’t cry anymore.” Henry pulled Ikki into his arms. “I’m sorry…for whatever I’ve done to disappoint you.”

Henry had given Ikki his bed in favor for the foldout futon. For a fact, Henry knew the old bed hurt when laid on, so he felt obligated to give Ikki only the best. Settling under his blankets, he watched as Ikki rubbed the comforter on the bed, gazing blankly at the ceiling. He’d been that way since the breakdown in the closet and Henry worried the small boy would cry himself to death before the night was done. “Ikki…” He whispered, and the boy’s head turned to face him. “I was never planning on leaving you.”

“You have that…job in Fukushima.” He whispered.

“What does that mean; that I have to give up the life I have here? With you?” Henry lain on his belly. “I was going to ask you later, when I was all prepared, but if you think I’m going to leave you, I’ll have to ask now.”

“Huh?”

Rubbing his temples, the store clerk sat up and crawled into his own bed with the tense Ikki, wrapping his arms around the boy’s waist. “I want you to come with me, Ikki.” He lifted his head and placed his on the boy’s shoulders. “I wanted you to live with me in Fukushima. That’s why I wanted your parents to meet me as your boyfriend, so they knew where you were living.”

Sitting up, Ikki glared down at his college lover. “You think I’d just move in with you!”

“Well…” Henry blushed, turning away to stare down a wall. “…I had more than just asking you planned-”

“I won’t have sex.” Ikki pushed Henry off the bed and turned away. Tugging the blankets up, he wrapped himself up in a cocoon of blankets. “So I’d never accept that. Besides, I only put an application in at Tokyo University, not any schools in Fukushima. I’d have no reason to move.”

Henry’s body suddenly slumped up on the bed in front of Ikki’s face. Yanking back, Ikki almost met the same fate as his boyfriend of falling off the bed, but he caught himself in time. “You don’t have to go straight to college. You can apply for the next semester.”

“And loaf around-” Ikki started but was silenced as lips pressed against his own.

“I’d never expect you to loaf around. There’s this medabot training ground there for starters. I hear they’re always looking for a few good trainers. They’d take you quickly, I know it.” Wrapping his arms around Ikki’s waist, Henry dragged the boy towards him, ignoring the squeals coming from his lover. “So…can I meet your parents now? Or shall we elope?”

“Uh…” Ikki jerked back. “Elope?”

From the side of the room, a voice droned lowly, “Just propose and go to sleep, Henry. Some of us need our sleep.” Arcbettle’s lit up eyes watched them carefully from his secluded spot in the corner of the room. Henry stuttered flabbergasted before throwing his pillow at his bot.

“You big mouthed-!” He jerked away from the bed and made his way over to his medabot in attempt to grab the metal companion. His attack was fruitless when Arcbeetle took off in another direction towards the door, passing one glance at Ikki before continuing down the hall, Henry hot on his trail. “-When I get a hold of you, I’ll turn you into a Christmas ornament!”

Sitting up, Ikki watched the door stricken. What did Arcbeetle mean by that? Climbing out of the bed, he approached the door and watched from the sidelines, as Arcbeetle slid down the stairs, Henry no longer following as the dark haired man glowered dangerously. “Henry…” Ikki whispered.

“I wasn’t going to ask.” Henry started. Ikki felt his breathing become heavier and his heart hurt. “Not right now. I wanted to wait, until I had the ring.”

“Oh, Henry…” Ikki squeaked. His eyes stung as he cried for the nth time that night. “I would have said yes, but…Japan bans gay marriage.”

Gaze lowered to the floor, Henry said, “My parents had agreed to pay for a private ceremony. Our Buddhist priest has agreed to allow the ceremony be done at the temple. T-That’s why I’ve been working so hard the last year; to buy the rings. I’d never expect you to move in with me without knowing that I’m very committed.”

Ikki lowered his head.

“I was hoping it would be a little more romantic-”

“That’s why you never left the convenience store. That’s why you worked day in, day out and didn’t spend any outside time with me.” Ikki’s soft voice cut him off. “Please tell me you’re not marrying me for sex.”

Approaching Ikki, Henry wrapped his arms around the boy. “Never.” He breathed. “I would never use you like that, Ikki. You got to believe me.” He pressed his head on the boy’s shoulders. It wasn’t that hard, Ikki was so short in comparison to him. “Yes, I want to be more affectionate with you, but I can learn to wait because I love you.”

Ikki sniffled, rubbing his nose against Henry’s chest. “Please tell me that again.”

“I love you. I love you so much.” Henry breathed.

Wrapping his arms around his boyfriend’s head, the short medabot fighter leaned forward so their lips touched. “I was so mad at you,” he spoke between chaste kisses, “and I was thinking of calling our relationship off today. But then, when I was at Koji’s party, I felt so uncomfortable. Everyone was having the time of their lives, and I keep thinking about you. People wanted to dance with me. Liked my outfit, very much. But I didn’t want to be near them.” Each sentence was spoken between kisses as he led Henry back towards the man’s bedroom. “And then, Koji kissed me-”

“I’ll kill him.” Henry breathed. His little lover giggled.

“He just kissed me, but he was really drunk. The last week, he’d been acting so funny around me. He chose that outfit. He said I had such a nice body, that I should show it off. He kept telling me that I was making the right choice to give up on you; but when he kissed me, I didn’t know what to do.” Pulling away, Ikki rested his head on his lover’s chest and let Henry’ breathing lure him into a desired tranquility. “I could have just walked away, and stayed at the party. I mean, Koji was drunk so he might’ve not known what he was doing. Or I could have taken him on with that kiss and let him be my lover for one night, but I didn’t. Before I knew it, I was here, wanting you.”

“I’m glad.” Henry mumbled, his chest rumbling.

Raising his head up to kiss the older man, Ikki continued. “Then I was all confused. I want to hate you, but I keep coming back and you’re haunting my thoughts.” Smiling, he grasped Henry’s head in his hands, staring at the half lidded obsidian eyes. “And I hear from Arcbeetle you want to marry me, and you know what?”

“Hm?” Henry followed Ikki’s example and grabbed the boy’s face lovingly.

“You never asked yourself. How am I to accept a proposal when it was never asked?” Sticking his nose in the air, he waited for his response.

“Well…I…Um…Without a ring?”

“I can wait.”

“Uh…will you marry me?” Henry asked sheepishly.

“How unoriginal!” Ikki threw himself down on Henry’s stocky body. “I’m marrying an unoriginal sales clerk!”

Wrapping his arms around Ikki, Henry chuckled. “That’s an ‘unoriginal medabot designer” to you.” Ikki squealed with laughter as they hugged close. “Do you forgive me?”

“Only if you forgive my ignorance.”

“I’d forgive anything for you.”