Nat 7.9.99

Ever since Sugi broke his arm, J had taken it upon himself to help Sugi out
in his daily routine. Soon they became the talk of the school, for outside
of class, J and Sugi had become inseparable. Little things like helping Sugi
queue for food in the canteen, carrying heavy equipment from the AV room to
Sugi’s office made as if they were the most loving couple around when in
reality, there was a cool truce in the air.

Of course, J did not give a damn about what others made of their
relationship (okay, maybe save for that one person…). Sugi had saved his
dear brother from suffering the same plight as he, and he felt it was his
duty to take care of Sugi to repay this debt. In the beginning, Sugi had
been contemptuous of his help – after all J had spurned him time and again –
and rejected his help. But the proud Lucifer eventually allowed J to assist
him in various matters, probably thinking that he might as well make use of
J while he could.

Surprisingly, Sugi did not take the opportunity of their proximity to make
advances nor try to rekindle the fire of their previous passions. Rather, he
went about life as if nothing outta the blue had ever happened between the 2
of them, and the relationship between the duo was ‘business only’. This
subdued Sugi initially made J suspicious and rather uneasy, but it was not
in his nature to hold grudges or condemn a person for making a mistake and
he soon relaxed his attitude towards Sugi.

In fact, J was beginning to see a totally different facet to the arrogant
and dictatorial tyrant that the S.C. President was often known to the
masses. Sugi’s job was no easy task, but he took all his responsibilities in
stride and handled then with decisive intelligence. J often stayed in Sugi’s
office till late in the evening helping the injured Sugi with paperwork and
data entry while the latter pondered over the numerous difficult
administrative decisions that needed to be made.

Perhaps J disliked going back to his dorm to face the loud and crude Franz,
for he was spending most of his time at Sugi’s place…

---

Ino was not happy at the turn of events. He could not understand why of all
persons did J in particular have to ‘look after’ Sugi. Yes, Sugi did save
him from a broken arm and he was indebted to Sugi for that, but what had _J_
have to do with anything? He heaved a long-suffering sigh: J and his
misguided sense of duty.  Sugi had something up his sleeve - he did for a
moment doubt that – but what was it? Ino knew that it was morally wrong (za4
qing2 za4 li3 ^^”) of him to suspect his benefactor of any devious plots but
it was _Sugi_ that was involved here.

“Ino, stop starring into space like that, it’s bad for your mental health.
Besides, who’s gonna talk to me if my roommate’s always preoccupied like
that?” Takuya added with a wink.

His good nature rubbed off Ino and Ino smiled in spite of himself. The past
few weeks since he arrived at St Luna had been turbulent times for the
brothers but throughout the crisis, Takuya had been very supportive and
encouraging. The usually reserved found himself making firm friends with the
somewhat talkative Takuya.

“Tonight’s Mambo night at Club Ecstasy, wanna go clubbing? Might be able to
pick up some people - you should have no problem doing that =D” Takuya
chuckled while Ino blushed slightly.

“I donno, I’ve got work to do for Ichiro-sensei…”

“It’s Friday night for God’s sake! Put all your worries aside and let your
hair down! Come on man!” Takuya half dragged the half reluctant Ino outta
the door.

---

The neon lights cast a garish glow on the dance floor as hundreds of nimble
bodies wriggled to the pounding music spun by the house DJ. Ryu surveyed the
club scene gloomily, downing his 4th glass of bourbon.

In the far corner of the club, Hisashi and Takeo were necking passionately
while Yukihiro tried desperately to hide himself in the shadows. Ryu
absentmindedly wondered what Sugi planned to do with this delinquent brother
of his. Jun and Kirito were (dirty) dancing on the floor, with Kirito doing
_very_ naughty things with his hands… Takuro watched quietly from his table
as Jiro flirted with danced with every male in the room, occasionally
winking back at Takuro who smiled back.

All those couples so happy with each other, while I’m here damning myself to
liver cancer alone, Ryu mused bitterly. The culture festival had been a huge
success and he was back in power as Vice President. Yet 2 things marred his
successful comeback: his role in Sugi’s injury and --- J and Sugi’s growing
intimacy.

He had thought that despite all he had done, Sugi had forgiven him and they
could go back to the good old days. But what was this nagging feeling that
was plaguing him day and night?

Jealousy?

Ryu mentally shook his head: It couldn’t be. After all, there was an
unspoken agreement between the 2 of them that no matter how they audaciously
they flirted outside, they would eventually come back to each other…

“It’s you Takuya!” Hide’s (Ino wondered: Isn’t he supposed to be a Chemistry
teacher at St Luna? He manages a nightclub too? Wonder how in the world he
got the board to approve…) greeting resounded from all four walls of Club
Ecstasy. “And look who you’ve brought along? “ Hide scrutinized Ino from the
top of his head to the tip of his toes making Ino feel uneasy. “That’s one
helluva good-looking boy you got there for a roommate, Taku-chan” Hide
winked conspiratorially at Takuya.

“Welcome to Club Ecstasy, where the night never ends!!” Hide welcomed Ino
with a fierce hug leaving him feeling slightly perturbed but strangely, not
at all adverse to his touch. There was something about Hide that projected
genuine warmth that few could resist.

“Sit down, have a drink, erm, Inoran? And Taku-chan, regarding _that_ matter
I was talking to you about the other time…” Soon they were deeply absorbed
in conversation and Ino quietly sneaked off by himself. “Hey Ino! Looking
good!” Franz slapped Ino on the shoulder with his free arm, his other arm
around a young Caucasian boy of barely 14. “Hi Franz.” Ino replied politely
and hurried away towards the bar. Along the way, he paused several times to
return people’s greetings with a warm smile or friendly nod. Even though Ino
was a reserved student who keep a low profile, people were drawn to him by
his gentle appearance and helpful nature (when he was not dozing off =p). He
was pretty popular among his peers even though he never realized it himself
^_^

“A bourbon please.” Ino finally sat down on a stool and gestured to the
bartender TMR.

“TMR, my favourite drink for the gentleman, my treat.” Ryu said as he
slithered up next to Ino.

Here was the root of all his troubles, Ryu thought, a smothering anger
rising up in him steadily. “So you’re alone huh? Where’s that protective
brother of yours… _J_?” Ryu spat out that vile syllable with all the venom
he could muster.

“You’re drunk.” Ino said matter-of-factly.

Undaunted, he went on: “You poor thing, he _abandoned_ you didn’t he? In
favour of the our more _responsive_ S.C. President?” Ryu taunted.

Ino continued to stare at Ryu with a look of revulsion mixed with pity,
which made Ryu all the more furious but he held his temper. He leant forward
and whispered into Ino’s ear.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret: Your beloved J’s gone to Sugi’s house
for the weekend…”

That did it.

Ino jerked into action and walked straight for the exit while Ryu basked in
his triumph at provoking Ino, wolf-whistling after Ino: “I can’t wait for
the VDO!”

---

“Come on in”, Sugi opened the door with his good arm, and J stepped gingerly
into Sugi’s home. Growing up in the orphanage, he had never known luxury
till he and Ino were nominated for the Student Exchange Programme. He had
though that St Luna’s S.C. dorm was marvelous. That was _nothing_ compared
to this mansion. Sugi’s home was easily twice the size of the S.C. dorm,
tastefully furnished with expensive artwork from all over the world.

“Country bumpkin, stop drooling over there. Let’s get down to business.”
Sugi remarked, walking towards a side door.

J forgave Sugi for his insolence for the opportunity to view so many
masterpieces at such close range. “Where is everyone?” J asked, curious as
to why there were no servants in this huge abode to greet the young master
when he came home.

“My parents are on holiday in Greece and they dismissed all the servants.
That leaves just you and me now.” Sugi replied mysteriously.

---

On the walk towards Sugi’s home after directions from Takuya (who had tried
to dissuade him from going, but to no avail), Ino’s fury at hearing that J
and Sugi were gonna spend a weekend together subsided considerable. He didn’
t know why he had gotten so worked up when Ryu told him the ‘little secret’,
so much so that he now found himself standing foolishly in front of Sugi’s
doorstep.

It’s his life, why should I interfere? Ino chided himself for being a
busybody, recalling all the times he had scolded J for being
overprotective – and now he was committing the same mistake. Shaking his
head, he was prepared to walk off when he heard noises emanating from the
garage door.

“Not so hard, you’re hurting me!”

“Sorry, I’m trying to get a better shift to a better position.”

“It’s damn uncomfortable for both of us now, hurry up, I can’t wait.”

Ino swung open the garage door and saw J sprawled on top of Sugi amidst a
pile of books.

“Look Ino, I can explain.” J scrambled to get out of the tangle of books
while Sugi winced painfully at J’s shifting bulk.

Ino walked out hurriedly, but J finally caught up with him and spun him
around. “Ino, I was only at Sugi’s house to help him clear out his garage. I
was carrying a whole pile of old books and accidentally bumped into Sugi and
we lost balance…”

“I’m sorry to have intruded upon the private moment between the 2 of you.”
Ino said coolly.

“Will you stop it?” J thundered, stunning the both of them. “I know there
was bad blood between us and Sugi previously and you’re still prejudiced
against Sugi. But won’t you trust your own brother?” J asked pleadingly.

“I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Ino shook off J’s grip and walked alone into the shadows, widening the
distance between the siblings.