Hyouhyou Kodori
Chapter One
by Ina-chan
Finished: October 24, 2002
Revised: December 7, 2002
History: Won "Best Drama Fic" for the 2002 FRUITY GROUP Fanfiction Contest

The heart throbs with each beat
This inexplicable intoxicating heat
Loosing all sense of time
As if drinking a bottle of fine wine
Robbing the mind of its reason
The soul getting lost in confusion
As we danced and danced and danced

 ~~*@*~~

                 The faint sound of feet pitter-pattering and sliding across the polished floor greeted us as we rounded the corner of the hallway. It was just as Tomoda Kunimitsu-kun predicted when he greeted us from the front. If there was one thing about Yun-chan that never changed, it was how he pursues a goal once he actually set his mind on it. Once again, I sensed Tooru-kun begin to falter on her steps behind me. So before she could make another move, I quickly grabbed her arms and mischievously pushed her in the room.  

                “WAIT!! KAGURA-SA—” She managed to resist and anchor herself on the doorway with one hand before she tumbled unceremoniously through the entrance as she brought her other hand up to cover her mouth  

                Not that it mattered in the first place. The sole person in the room continued his graceful movements, obviously not noticing the two newcomers gawking at him from the door. His eyes were closed, deeply immersed in a kata that I recognized as one of his favourites … and completely off-guard.  I couldn’t help but frown at that. Yun-chan does that sometimes. Completely spacing out when he’s in deep concentration.  

I couldn’t help but ponder in amusement at the idea that if Kyou-kun would take this opportunity to challenge Yun-chan. That is, if Kyou-kun wasn’t gallivanting somewhere in Japan in a training trip with Shihan. From the corner of my eye, I could see Tooru-kun watching Yun-chan, in wordless adoration. Once again, that familiar pang stung my chest. Though Shihan promised to bring Kyou-kun back home before the New Year, even if it meant literally dragging him back kicking and screaming… it still hurt. Because I know the exact reason why they decided to go on a spur of a moment trip. The timing was too coincidental to ignore.  

                I forced my concentration back to watching my dancing partner. Inspecting him more closely this time, I realized why Tooru-kun was watching him like a drooling otaku adoring her favourite idol. It was obvious that he came earlier than the agreed time and has been at this for a while. Sweat glistened on his skin, dampening his hair, and the wet sections of his shirt clung persistently to the contours of his body.  Since Yun-chan did not pursue the same rigorous training as Kyou-kun, he didn’t attain the same impressive amount of muscle mass that Kyou-kun possessed. Nevertheless, he kept fit and filled in enough to shed the effeminate features that he detested as a teen-ager. The older and sharper angles of his face may have erased all doubts about his gender, but it was obvious that he was going to be one of those people envied for possessing a boyish twenty-something face for the rest of their lives.  

                Then the unthinkable happened… It was subtle and unnoticeable to the untrained eye. But I saw it there nonetheless… As Yun-chan turned to do a kick, there was a noticeable fumble on his timing. In fact, now that I think about it… his timing was off entirely! His actions were graceful and pleasing to watch, but still… the punches and kicks were done almost half-heartedly. I crossed my arms in displeasure at his disappointing efforts. Yun-chan has definitely ignored all his training.  

I could almost imagine Kyou-kun’s reaction if he were here to see it. It’ll be the same as when we were children when he would scrutinize Haru-chan when fumbles a part of a kata.  I couldn’t help but smile as the ghostly image of my Kyou-kun, shaking his head in disgust from the corner of the room, yelling…

“MADA MADA NE! NOT GOOD ENOUGH!”  

My hands flew to my mouth, realizing too late that Kyou-kun’s words had flown from my mouth. Nonetheless, the damage was already done. The enchanting spell in the room was broken.  Tooru-kun suddenly turned to me in surprise and Yun-chan froze in mid-step, opened his eyes and turned to our direction, finally sensing our presence.  

Ah well, there’s no helping it.  

“Yun-chan!” I called out impishly with a warm smile as I raised my hand in a wave  

“G-good Evening, Yuki-kun,” Tooru stammered nervously with a low respectful bow  

“Kagura… Honda-san? What are you doing here?” A definite frown of surprise lined his forehead when he acknowledged us in a tone louder than necessary. He quickly grabbed a towel on the floor by his feet before making his way towards our direction  

I glared at him with his reaction. Couldn’t he see how anxious Tooru-kun was as it is! Of all the people in the world, he should know better at how sensitive Tooru-kun was regarding about people getting mad at her. I tapered my anger and instinctively clenched my fist and waited patiently until he was within the distance of my righteous indignation.  

“AH!” Tooru immediately straightened up and looked at him in horror, “I knew it was going to be a bother! I’m sorry! I’ll leave right away!”  

“What?” Yun-chan yelled again, his head slightly cocked to one side, as he rubbed the towel over his hair  

It was only then that I saw it. I felt my anger deflate as a mischievous grin crept on my lips. Without warning, I quickly reached out and roughly pulled the tiny black electronic apparatus snugly fitted on his ear. Its twin brother immediately popped out from his other ear, the thin plastic holding them together raking against his skin. Hide crooning about his misery faintly echoed through the room.  

“Itte! Kagura!” Yun-chan let out an automatic yelp of pain tried to pull away from me, “Watch what you’re doing!”  

“HAAAAAA!” I cried out, my indignation flaring up once again, ignoring his protests as I dug through the folds of his clothes to retrieve the mini-disk player hidden in it. Upon finding it, sure enough, undeniably spinning through the transparent cover of the tiny gadget… it stared right back at me on the face… I grabbed him by the collar and started shaking him with all my might, “YUN-CHAAAAN!!!! HOW COULD YOU!!!  I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS DISC FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS!!!! AND YOU HAD IT ALL THIS TIME!!!!!! HIIIIIIDOIIIIII!!!!”

 “Halleluya- le-miserable I wanna show you how low and low. Halleluya-le-miserable do you wanna show me how low and low? Say halleluya …” Hide sang mournfully as both Yun-chan and Tooru-kun stared at me with identical blank expressions on their faces.  

Suddenly, the realization of Yun-chan actually listening AND pacing a kata to the crooning of a dead J-Rock singer sporting a giant bright red Mohawk hit me. The same realization must have hit Tooru-kun at the same time, as the two of us immediately burst out laughing, trying to control the tears threatening to roll down our eyes.  

“What is it this time?” Yun-chan glared at me as he pulled away from my grasp, now genuinely irritated

 “No wonder your timing was off…” I finally managed to blurt out, while waving the MD player in my hand “As great your taste in music can be, you suck in finding the appropriate ones to use. Besides, don’t you think you’re a little too old to just start to get into this kind of music?”

 “What exactly do you mean by that?” Yun-chan demanded in annoyance as he snatched the gadget from my hand, “And for your information, I did not pilfer your beloved… whoever this is… from you. I just picked up a random disc from Haru’s backpack this afternoon and I didn’t realize what it was until I started playing it a few minutes ago.”

 Without missing a beat, he turned to the other occupant of the room, his face completely changing into the gentle expression reserved only for Tooru-kun. I tried my best trying not to roll my eyes as he wordlessly reached over to cup her cheek to give her a quick affectionate peck on the forehead.

 “You’re not mad that I barged in like this?” Tooru-kun asked worriedly

 “Why should I be mad?” He frowned as the hand that cupped her cheek, idly wandered to the side of her face to secure loose strands of hair behind her ear, “Well… I’m a little surprised since I wasn’t expecting to see you until later.”

 Based on her tone, I’m assuming that Tooru-kun’s face brightened upon hearing his words, “Ah! By the way… how did it go?”

 “Haru and I went to the apartment that Ni-san was referring to, this afternoon,” The tone on his voice immediately became animated at her question, “It’s not very big, but compared to the cubicle I’m living in now…it’s a mansion!”  

I tried to force my mouth to open to join in on the conversation, but it wouldn’t obey my brain’s commands…   

“But what’s great about it, is that it’s only two stations from your work and five stations from the University.”  

…for some strange reason, I couldn’t get my eyes to tear away from his hand, which at that moment, slid down her arm to her hand in order to twine his fingers with hers…  

“Since Niisan knows the landlady, she’s giving us a fairly good rate considering its an apartment in the city. AND the family living there now is moving to their new place at the end of term. Meaning, if we do take it, we could actually move in even before commencement exercises.”  

…his thumb unconsciously making small lazy circles over her palm.    

“That’s wonderful!” Tooru-kun exclaimed excitedly   

She let go of Yun-chan’s hand to clasp her own hands together.  

“All that’s missing now is to bring YOU to see it for yourself. Kamura-sensei gave me the next two weeks time off work so I can prepare for my thesis defence. So anytime you’re free after work…”  

Both his hands now rested lightly on her sides in a loose embrace.  

“I’m not doing any overtime for a while… but is it okay?  Your thesis defence…”  

Now her hands rested lightly over his protective arms.  

“Sacrificing one day off that damn thesis for you is nothing compared to the months you had to endure with me when I was writing it!”

He laughed and bent down to give her another affectionate kiss on the top of her head that she responded in kind by moving her arms to go over his shoulders in her own loose embrace.  

“AAAAH! Yuki-kun! Your shirt is soaking wet! You better take it off and change before you catch a cold!”

 I took this opportunity to tear my eyes away, not that it mattered anyway. It was obvious that they’ve completely forgotten that I was in the room. They had fallen into their own little world as they made plans for their own little future. Though I know that they weren’t doing it on purpose, it still felt so dirty being forced to silently watch them… It made me feel like I’m some kind of perverted voyeur.

 “Heeeeh? Take off my shirt here? Ecchi.”

 I turned away and crossed my arms tightly across my chest, more to contain the inexplicable bubbling ire threatening to burst out from me.

 “HAAA! Iya! No! That’s not what I meant!”

 That metaphorical box was shaking violently as whatever it is inside struggled to get free against the closed lid. My struggle to keep lid of that box closed is getting harder and harder.

 “Damn it Yuki! Just be a good boy and do what your WIFE is asking you to do!”

 Shit.

 The icy sarcastic words left my mouth before I even realized I was saying it aloud. I didn’t need to turn around to see the shocked expressions on their faces. It was obvious based on the silence in the room. Whatever anger I felt was quickly overpowered by a great sense of shame.   

I took a deep shaky breath and forced a big smile on my face before turning around to face them, “Ne, Yun-chan… Why don’t you go and take a short break to change. I don’t want to practice with you if you’re going to be wet and stinky.”  

“Sure…” Yun-chan said cautiously, not tearing his eyes from me as he moved across the room to get his gym bag before heading toward the door, “I’ll be back as soon as I finish changing into drier clothes.” He stated redundantly, more as an excuse to give me a questioning look. When I didn’t respond, he continued his way out of the room, but not without giving Tooru-kun an unspoken request, giving her a light touch on the arm as he passed by.  

“Kagura-san…” Tooru-kun began as the two of us remained in the room  

“I’m sorry Tooru-kun,” I interrupted sheepishly, “I really don’t know what came over me. That outburst was uncalled for. I’m sorry.”  

“It’s all right. I know it’s very hard of you,” Tooru-kun replied as she clasped her hands together, “But I’m sure Kyou-kun is just fine. And Shisho-san did promise to bring him back before the New Year. Still, if you need to talk to me about anything, you know that you can come to me any time.”  

“Thank you,” I whispered gratefully as I closed my eyes at the sound of her words, a genuine smile touching my lips. Yun-chan was definitely lucky to find Tooru-kun. No… they were both lucky to find each other, “Ne, Tooru-kun. Why don’t you go on ahead and steal a few minutes alone with Yun-chan. Actually, you can take all the time you want.” I flourished my sentence with a knowing wink.  

“Eh!?” An embarrassed flush immediately appeared on Tooru-kun face  

She’s just so precious, I can’t help continuing to tease her, “Well… You haven’t been spending much time alone together recently, have you? Between your work, and Yun-chan’s own work, plus Yun-chan’s final year in his post-grad program… I’m sure you two can come up with something very creative in a short time with all that pent up energy. We can talk about the juicy details later.”  

“EEEEEH!? KAGURA-SAN!! W-WE HAVEN’T… I-IT’S… NOTHING LIKE THAT AT ALL!!!” Tooru-kun hid her face in her hands in embarrassment, feeling totally scandalized.  

“Sorry! Sorry! I was just teasing,” I couldn’t help laughing out loud, “But seriously, I’m going to need a few minutes to warm up anyway.  So why don’t you go ahead and follow Yun-chan.”  

“Are you sure?” Tooru-kun asked one more time  

 “Hai, hai! I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I replied as gave her a warm smile while waving her to get out of the room  

“Okay,” Tooru-kun stated uncertainly as she finally left.  

With her gone, I let out a long exasperated sigh. Honestly… they’re 25 years old and in love. What exactly do they do when they’re alone together? Play musical chairs?

 I took several cleansing breaths and started my stretching exercises. Of course, Tooru-kun was absolutely right. As usual, Kyou-kun had gone off and disappeared somewhere with Shihan and had insensitively bothered not to call or write to let me know what’s happening with him. I was just feeling anxious and worried and lonely with him not around. That has got to be the reason for this. I have to get a grip of myself. After all, Kyou-kun will be back in time for New Years… And when he comes back, I’ll give him hell ten times over for torturing me like this!  

I was so engrossed with my thoughts as I warmed up that I almost didn’t notice it… a small figure standing in the shadowed corner of the room. And when I did, I almost freaked out. That is until I realized that it was just a boy between ten to thirteen years old. His back was turned to me as he looked out a nearby window. He was probably one of the new students who got confused and wandered in.

 “Hi, there,” I called out with a big smile, forcing my pulse to slow down to a normal pace, “What’s your name?”

 The boy didn’t acknowledge my presence and continued to stare at whatever was interesting him outside.

 “Are you lost? Is your mother still talking with Tomoda-kun?” I asked again, trying not to change the expression on my face as I approached the child

 /You’re late./

 I froze. The boy’s voice was almost and in inaudible. But for some strange reason, it rang loud and clear… as if he was talking directly in my head. Fear suddenly coursed through my entire being. I wasn’t the type of person who believed in these kinds of things, but I could honestly feel all the small hairs in my body prickling in apprehension. I fought against the urge to bolt towards the door as I stood my ground.

 “Who are you?”

 /You said cram school will be done early today and you’ll be here by seven. I’ve been waiting that long./

“I’m sorry…” I replied uncertainly. The voice has a distinct familiar ring to it… My curiosity overpowered whatever fear I was feeling as I stepped forward, trying to get a better view of his face.  

/You forgot all about me, didn’t you?/  

With those words, the boy suddenly turned around to face me, his hair gleamed like silver under the pale moonlight streaming through the window. His mournful grey eyes seemed to pierce right through my soul.  

/Kagura-neechan?/  

“Yun… chan…?” I felt my breath suddenly catch painfully in my throat as I realized who it was. My hands reached out for him instinctively, only to watch them attempt to grasp thin air as the forgotten phantom from my memories disappeared to non-existence. What the hell is going on here?

 “Kagura?” Yun-chan’s puzzled voice called out from the doorway behind me, “What are you doing?”

 I spun around and saw Tooru-kun and Yun-chan looking at me with worried expressions on their faces. It was only then I realized that my hands were still crossed in an awkward position in front of me.

 “Hahahaha! This is so embarrassing! I guess you caught me in the middle of a daydream…” I said pathetically, forcing out a loud laugh as I hid my hands behind my back

 “I see…” Yun-chan raised an eyebrow, “And you used to say that I’m the one who’s strange.”

 “And you still are,” I countered flatly, “Ne… are you ready to get started or what?”

 “Do you want to start with that traditional dance you and Shigure did last year? I’ll just follow your lead… or do you want Honda-san to just pick a random song and we’ll sink or swim?” As he offered his hand to me

 “As long as Tooru-kun is the one picking the music… Though I don’t know about the sinking thing. After all, I’m not the one who’s off with the timing here,” I retorted playfully as I moved closer to take his hand

 Without warning, he suddenly yanked me towards him and I found myself tumbling forward unceremoniously. I probably would have ended up as an undignified heap on the floor had he not caught me smoothly in his arms. I could hear my heart suddenly pounding loudly in my ears as the warmth of his arms enveloped me. I suddenly felt light-headed and breathless as I felt his warm breath whispering quietly in my ear.

 “You better remember the first rule about dancing with a partner… or I just might decide to drop you right in the middle of the dance. I’m no longer a thirteen-year-old that you can push around.”

 “I can still kick your ass…” That was all I can utter lamely to refute, as I struggled against the tight constriction forming in my throat while I half-heartedly pushed myself away from his light grasp.

 I instinctively stepped away to maintain a not so obvious distance as he turned his attention back to Tooru-kun, who at the moment was waiting for our signal to man the portable CD player that they returned with. I could still feel the heat from his body prickling my skin. I rubbed my arms, trying to wipe the wanton sensation away.

 This is wrong!

 This is wrong!

 THIS IS SO WRONG!

 That painful sting in my chest is growing into a throbbing ache. Once again, the box rattled and shook violently. What’s wrong with me? What’s happening? Why is this happening?

 Kyou-kun…

Return to Prologue  
Continued on Chapter Two