In My Dreams, I Feel You – Second Arc

Please Read: “In My Dreams, I Feel You – Warnings and Disclaimer” (refer to archives) before proceeding to any parts of this story. Thank You! ^_^

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“Echizen….” the captain called out to him after everyone has left.
“Cheh?! Are we back to formalities now, since you’ve decided to leave?” Echizen huffed as he took out his things from inside the locker. They are the only ones left in the locker room and he can’t help but feel irritated that Mitsu-, no, Tezuka, chose to address him by his last name.

“I…Ryo…I’m sorry. I just thought maybe someone else might be here.” Tezuka wearily ran his fingers through his hair as he sat on the bench.
Ryoma didn’t reply, he just went back to buttoning his shirt getting ready to leave.

“Are you going home?” Tezuka tried to make small talk; knowing how cold and stubborn Ryoma can be especially when he’s really annoyed. True to fact, Ryoma still didn’t bother to answer.

“I’ll walk you home.” Tezuka offered, not bothering to change out of his tennis jersey when he saw that Ryoma is already putting on his shoes; meaning that Ryoma won’t bother waiting for Tezuka.

Before Ryoma can avoid him further, Tezuka already grabbed the freshman’s tennis bag along with his own and made his way towards the door. Ryoma’s brows furrowed in irritation but rather than allowing himself to speak to Tezuka, he decided that it would probably be better to just continue ignoring him. It’s not like it’s the first time that they walked together without saying anything to each other.

The two walked out of the school grounds settling into a companionable silence, when Tezuka spoke first: “Ryoma, I’m sorry. I know you have the right to be angry with me, but please stop acting so childish.”

“But I am a child, Kunimitsu. I’m only 12 years old. Would you rather I act like you instead?” Ryoma said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I know you’re mad at me.” Kunimitsu ignored the biting remarks of his boyfriend.

 

“Oh, so clever of you to notice! Well, it IS Tezuka Kunimitsu after all: Seishun Gakuen’s model student and Seigaku’s formidable Buchou and Pillar of Support!”

 

Kunimitsu let out a frustrated sigh, he was right in thinking that Ryoma won’t let him off the hook that easily. “I know you’re mad at me not just because I called you ‘Echizen’ in the locker room.”

Ryoma was quiet for a minute before he launched into another attack; “Why Mitsu?! I knew you weren’t feeling well. I would know more than anyone! I should! And you should know that I only wanted what’s best for you or at least whatever makes you happy; so don’t go accusing me of being mad at you for going to Germany! If I knew of that rehab facility, I would’ve sent you packing there myself.”

 

“Would you?” Kunimitsu responded quietly as they continued their slow pace finally reaching the last alley leading to Ryoma’s house.

 

Ryoma sighed, “Maybe not. I guess I am too selfish to rather have you here with me than millions of miles away.” he admitted in a small voice.

“But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want you to get better! I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do when you’re gone. I guess I was being childish, I’m sorry Mitsu.” Ryoma reached out his hand to hold Kunimitsu’s, his thumb drawing circles on the Buchou’s palm.

 

They had stopped walking and Kunimitsu being the taller of the two looked down on the smaller boy’s bent head, the light from the already setting sun caught in a glow of green and amber. Kunimitsu took Ryoma’s chin with his free hand and tilted the boy’s face upward so that he can look into those golden-green eyes.

 

“Do not worry yourself too much Ryo. I will do my best to get better…soon; so I can return to you once more.”

 

Ryoma’s moss-green eyes shined like gold with unshed tears. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded mutely. Slowly they bent closer towards each other, their lips meeting in a soft, lingering kiss. He let go of Kunimitsu’s hand to entwine his arms around his lover’s neck pulling the Buchou towards him, deepening the kiss. The tennis bags dropped on the sidewalk forgotten, as Kunimitsu wrapped his arms around Ryoma drawing him closer, lifting the smaller boy several inches off the ground, desperately seeking the closeness of his warmth, his scent, his wholeness that is only Ryoma.

 

As if on cue, fat drops of rain started to fall, effectively dousing their heated fervour. They pulled apart and laughed at the absurdity of the situation, before the light drizzle turned into an unexpected downpour. With no umbrella at hand, Tezuka removed his jacket and shielded Ryoma’s face from the rain, ushering the boy back on the street towards the direction of his house.

 

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“Tadaima!” Ryoma calls out. He was completely soaked through, and despite the rigorous training that Inui-senpai forces on them, he was almost out of breath by the time he reached the gate. Expecting to hear his cousin Nanako’s cheerful “Okaeri Nasai”, he was surprised to see no signs of life inside the house.

 

Where did everyone go?

 

He walks to the kitchen and found a piece of paper tacked on the fridge; he opens it without reading the note and took a glass of milk, before belatedly swiping the note as he closes the refrigerator door.

 

Ryoma, it was his mother’s handwriting. Nanako-chan and I are going out to shop for some groceries. Your father won’t be back until tomorrow. He said he’s helping a friend of his manage a store. There’s food you can heat in case you get hungry.

 

“Cheh…” is all he said as he tucks the note in his pocket. He finishes the glass and placed it on the kitchen counter before going up to his room. Reaching his private haven; he gingerly peels of his wet clothes and wraps himself in a towel before going downstairs to relieve his tired body in a warm bath.

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When they reached the doorstep, Ryoma opened the door and called out: “Tadaima!” But nobody answered. He beckoned to the dripping Buchou to come in. “It’s ok”, Ryoma assured him. “We need to get you dried off somehow.”

 

Ryoma called out again, looking at each room, wondering where everyone went. A welcoming “meowr” was all he heard when he opened his room before Karupin jumps up to him in greeting. Realizing that nobody was home, he then called out to Tezuka:

“Mitsu! Come up here and change your clothes.”

 

When Kunimitsu came up, he said “Where is everyone, Ryo?”

Ryoma just shrugged, “Beats me!”

Kunimitsu looked around the room, realizing this is the first time he’s been here since he met Ryoma. Suddenly feeling uneasy, he started to move out the door;

“Maybe I should go…” he said slowly.

 

Ryoma only looked at him and raised an eyebrow, “Ne, Buchou, are you trying to protect my virtue?!”

Seeing the blush that crept up Tezuka’s face, he can’t help but laugh out loud.
“Awww…you’re so conservative, Mitsu. Besides”, Ryoma turned to his cabinet and started to rummage for any piece of clothing that might fit the older boy, “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you catching a cold. We are sending you to Germany to get your shoulders healed after all, but what do we do with you if you get pneumonia instead?!”

He produced a green button-down short- sleeved polo from the bottom of the drawers where he mostly keeps the things he rarely use and handed it to Kunimitsu. The captain looked at it questioningly as if to ask “will this really fit me”.

 

Ryoma, reading the question in his eyes smirked, “Don’t worry it will. It is mine. But it was a gift from my aunt who’s staying in America.” He grimaced, “I guess she thought that 12 year old Asians have the same growth spurt as 12 year old Caucasians, so she sent me a shirt that’s a couple of sizes too big. So as you can see I’ve never worn it.”

Kunimitsu couldn’t help but chuckle as he unfolded the shirt.

 

“Would you like to take a bath first? It’s downstairs, I’ll get it ready for you.” Ryoma said even while he’s already walking out the door to prepare Tezuka’s bath.

 

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Ryoma placed his hand under the faucet testing the water’s temperature. He placed the towels, soap and shampoo beside the bathtub where it won’t get wet. He suddenly realized that he was humming to himself and he had to smile for behaving so oddly.

Who knew getting caught in the rain can make you act giddy? He thought to himself.

He turned around to call Tezuka, and found himself nose-to-chest with the man himself. “Mitsu!” He blurted in surprise. “Didn’t you know it’s not nice to creep up on somebody?!”

Kunimitsu only looked at him incredulously and said: “I actually thought that I was making enough noise to alert the neighbours. You were the one who’s distracted. Haven’t you learned, Ryo? Yudan Sezu ni Ikou!”

“Mada mada da ne, Buchou”, Ryoma countered.
He gestured to the bath tub, “Your bath is ready Buchou-sama. Is there any other way that I may be of service?”

“Everything looks great, but,” Kunimitsu paused looking at him “aren’t you going to take a bath? You were caught in the rain too.”

“I will, after you” Ryoma said impatiently. “So don’t take too long.”
“Maybe you should go first.” Kunimitsu said.

“Now Mitsu, don’t be stubborn. It’s all good. I won’t get a cold just because of this. Older men are more prone to illness after all.” Ryoma teased.

“Why you…” Tezuka lunged at Ryoma pretending to be offended by his jibes. But Ryoma was quick and was able to dodge the attack, sending Tezuka straight to the tub full of water.
Tezuka proved to be quicker, though, since he was able to grab ahold of Ryoma just before his body hit the water, thus sending both of them “swimming” in the bath tub.

“Ne Mitsu, this bath tub can only accommodate one person you know…” Ryoma said moving around in an attempt to disentangle himself from his boyfriend.
“Then I guess we just have to make the most of it.” Kunimitsu teased.

The Echizen’s bath tub wasn’t the most comfortable place for two lithe adolescent males. Being thrown together in such a cramp space, Ryoma ended lying on Kunimitsu’s lap, with the latter’s leg hooked over the smaller boy’s hip putting them in a spooning position. They both stilled when they realized their compromising situation.