Series: Koko wa (Here is) Greenwood
Author: Peach Blossom Faerie
Pairing: Mitsuru x Shinobu, Hasukawa + Shun.
Rating: PG-13
Warning: AU (if the events of episode _ had differed), OOC, mild fluff.
Disclaimer: Koko wa Greenwood isn't mine; if it was Mitsuru would have kissed Shinobu and visa verse... oh and there would be more of Lemon Herb and Cool Mint ^_^.
Just A Christmas Tale.
"So," Hasukawa moved his plate away from Mitsuru and Shun as they sat at the table, "If Greenwood is closed over Christmas, where are you and Shinobu staying?"
Mitsuru looked at the red-haired boy, as he contemplated an answer. He wasn't going to tell him that he and Shinobu owned a small apartment together; Hasukawa still hadn't made up with his brother, and he did not want the other boy inviting himself along for the holidays - he had plans, and for once, they did not involve Hasukawa.
"It doesn't matter about me," he decided to turn the conversation around, knowing that Hasukawa would either shut up or rant about his family, "Where are you staying for the holidays?"
As predicted, Hasukawa opened his mouth, and then closed it sulkily, "I don't know - but not with oniichan; that's for sure!"
Shinobu joined them, filching some of Hasukawa's food as he sat down. The conversation moved onto holiday plans, and they sat listening to Shun tell them about the hotel his family owned.
Mitsuru only listened with half an ear, most of his attention fixed on the silver-haired boy next to him. He and Shinobu had been flirting around each other for years, and since he had been kidnapped by Shinobu's deranged sister, the other boy had been sticking closer to him than ever; he didn't mind - in fact, he wished Shinobu would get a little closer, but as perceptive as Shinobu was in most things, he didn't seem to be when it came to his feelings - he refused to believe that it was Shinobu's polite way of informing him that he wasn't interested.
Fondly, he thought of the teasing he and Shinobu had done to Hasukawa just before the summer holidays, it had become one of his favourite memories and subject of many daydreams. He had wanted so badly to close the space between them, and kiss Shinobu, regardless of Hasukawa standing there; but he hadn't been able to before Hasukawa started talking, and Shinobu moved away.
____
Shinobu was growing bored; Shun's tall tales enthralled Hasukawa and so stealing his food was no fun; and Mitsuru seemed to be off in his own little world. Sliding his glance across, he noticed that his best friend was studying him again. He was glad that his cool complexion never failed him, because frequently under Mitsuru's gaze, he felt like blushing.
He had fallen for Mitsuru, but couldn't tell him. He had once planned on telling him, but his sister had kidnapped Mitsuru. He had been so scared for his friend, and then angry as hell, to walk in and find that his sister had stripped Mitsuru down to his underwear. After that, he didn't dare say anything in case she found out and used Mitsuru in worse ways, to get at him.
Another factor that he had considered was that Mitsuru always had droves of girls after him. Sure, he didn't really show any interest in the run-by gropings; but he had never shown any interest in him either - aside from when it came to teasing Hasukawa.
The holidays would be bad, being just the two of them in their cosy little apartment. They rented it out most of the year, but for holidays when neither of them wanted to go home, it was their sanctuary. No one at Greenwood knew about it either, which made it totally private, and allowed them both to relax away from the pressure of being the "sempai's".
With a sigh, he finished his own dinner, and Hasukawa's before excusing himself and heading back to the dorms.
____
Mitsuru cleared his own tray, and followed Shinobu. They needed to talk about the apartment, and it seemed that Shun's stories would keep Hasukawa busy and out of their room for a while.
"Shinobu," he called to his friend, and hurried up the stairs to join him, "Are you busy?"
"No, but don't you have band practise - if you miss it again, you'll get thrown out for sure," Shinobu replied as they walked up the stairs and into their room.
"I don't care," Mitsuru grinned, and sitting on the bed continued, "But we need to talk about the holiday, the apartment, that sort of thing."
"Ah." Shinobu sat at the desk and grabbed a pen. Turning, he resisted the urge to blush, Mitsuru was lying on his bunk, his hands behind his head. He had the irrational thought, that his pillow would smell like Mitsuru later; "The tenant left last week, I had the cleaning service go round, so it's ready for us - we just need to get groceries."
"That's good, are we putting anything up for Christmas this year?" Mitsuru smiled, "Last year the cleaners decorated the place for us - it looked good."
"Well," Shinobu couldn't deny that smile anything, "If they've not done anything, we can go out and get decorations - nothing too much though." he finished with a small smile of his own.
Mitsuru was hard pressed not to sigh at the smile; Shinobu rarely smiled and he savoured each and every one, getting a small happy buzzing feeling inside him at the fact that he was the one making Shinobu smile.
They talked for a while, before heading off to the baths and then finally to bed.
____
In the next room, Hasukawa was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Since he had moved to Greenwood, his feelings for his sister-in-law had dimmed, but he knew that he would have to keep avoiding his home until they were completely gone. It really hadn't helped having his brother working at the school, constantly reminding him of what he couldn't have and generally making his life hell. It was already confusing enough; at the beginning of the term, he had started to fall in love with Shun, sure at the time he had thought that the pretty pink-haired one was a girl, but now - now he found that he still liked the other boy, like that.
Shun was friendly and out going, and generally seemed to like him. He had admitted to him that he was gay; and it made sense to Hasukawa - Shun looked so much like a girl, that it would just seem weird to see him dating one. At the time, Shun had been terrified that Hasukawa would hate him, or ask for a new roommate, but he had assured the other boy, that it didn't matter to him. And honestly it didn't, especially when he was now considering asking Shun on a date anyway.
"Suka-chan," Shun's voice floated up to him from the bottom bunk, "Are you awake Suka-chan?"
"Yeah, what is it?" he whispered back; the walls were too thin and he didn't want to annoy the Sempai's in the room next door.
"You can stay at my place over the holiday if you want. If there isn't any space, you can always share my room with me." Shun sounded hesitant and nervous, two states he had never seen the other boy in before.
Shuffling over, he opened the curtain of his bed and swung his head over the side. Moving Shun's curtain, he peered in, "Really? Is that alright?"
"Of course Suka-chan, although - you might be on your own some times, because I have to work; but if you don't mind," he smiled brilliantly up at him, "I would love to have you join me."
"That would be so great - arigato gozimas Shun, and of course if you need any help, I can help as well," he returned Shun's smile, "I'll tell Oniichan tomorrow. Arigato - oyasumi." he swung back on to the bed and stared at the ceiling with a smile on his face - he had somewhere to go, and he would be spending Christmas with the person he was rapidly growing to care about.
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ON TO PART TWO...
