[FIC] Gakuen Heaven: Surfacing: Match

[evocates]

Annnnnd more!

Surfacing: Match
- a direct sequel to Set

Authors: kagayachou and the_dw
Characters/Pairings: Shichijo/Saionji, Shichijo/Nakajima, mentioned Saionji/Nakajima, implied Nakajima->Niwa
Rating: PG-13
Words: 4149
Summary: Omi finally confesses his feelings to Kaoru, and things are more complicated than anyone had thought. Niwa makes an appearance; the other side of the equation is still unbalanced though...


Kaoru was on the couch where he usually sat. Beautiful, elegant and nursing a cup of Earl Grey, Kaoru was leisurely reading something or other that would probably give Omi himself a mild headache before the words became digestible.

"Kaoru..." Omi placed the papers Nakajima had given him onto the tea table, but instead of straightening up and walking back to his seat in front of the computer or checking the tea, as was his wont, Omi knelt onto one knee, and placed a hand over the one the redhead held over his book.

Kaoru looked up from his book, blinking rapidly when he realized that Omi was kneeling down in front of him. He moved the book to the side, setting his teacup down carefully before sliding off his seat, dropping down to kneel beside Omi. He placed his hands carefully on Omi's shoulders, looking into violet eyes worriedly.

"What's wrong?"

He wasn't protesting the 'Knight' treatment because he could easily recognize the pain, hurt, and confusion in Omi's eyes, in nervous way he bit his lip. Omi had never mastered the skill of hiding his emotions; Kaoru was glad for that.

Omi shook his head. He didn't know how to answer. Instead, he wrapped his arms around the other boy and pulled closer until he could tuck his chin over Kaoru's shoulder and smell the rich milky soap on his silken skin.

"Nakajima said that you told him you love me..."

Kaoru froze at the touch, nearly pulling away but... Omi didn't sound angry. He didn't sound repulsed. He was hugging him. So that meant... no, he shouldn't jump into conclusion. Kaoru took a deep breath and hugged Omi loosely, burying his face into Omi's shoulder for a moment before he pulled away a little, looking up to meet violet eyes with green.

He raised a trembling hand to brush Omi's silver hair away from those eyes that told him that, far from being disgusted, Omi actually... Hide might actually be right. Kaoru closed his eyes, hands dropping back to his side and he clenched them, turning away slightly. He... he didn't want to be wrong.

"... He spoke the truth."

Omi smile faintly. "I love you too, Kaoru." Those words rolled easily off his tongue, "I've loved you ever since... junior high; I don't know when exactly." He bit his lower lip to prevent himself from running his mouth, because honestly, he wanted Kaoru's response.

Kaoru couldn't stop the utterly blissful smile when he heard those words. He clung tighter to Omi, holding him closer and half-burying his face into Omi's shoulder again. "I don't know either. It's just that... I... I've loved you for as long as I remember. But Omi," he lifted his head, looking into violet eyes, smiling widely. "It doesn't matter when we started. We both love each other now, and that's all it matters." At least, to me, he didn't say.

"I... " Omi took a deep breath when further words refused to come out, then tried again. "With Nakajima, I..." Omi ducked his head, pressing his forehead to Kaoru's shoulder. He was breathing heavier now, hands shaking a little even as they held on to Kaoru, distressed. "I love you. I love you, and he kept telling me you love me too, and I didn't believe him, because he lied about... other things, and..."

Kaoru didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Omi's shoulder, one hand running through silver hair while the other stroking Omi's back soothingly. Something was wrong here. Omi was deeply upset, and... Kaoru was observant enough to tell that Omi was trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince Kaoru that he loved Kaoru. He closed his eyes for a moment before holding Omi to him tightly.

"What did he lie about?" Kaoru's voice was low, comforting, with a hint of steel behind it. "Tell me, Omi. You're hurting yourself this way. I love you," he turned his head and pressed a kiss onto Omi's temple. "Tell me."

Omi nodded slightly, but took another moment to steady himself before he could look at Kaoru again. "Do you remember... a month back, when he went around telling whoever he felt like that he wanted them to be his?" Ashamed, he looked away with a dry laugh. "I didn't believe him, so he kept trying until... for a moment, I did. And I got so angry at him, and at myself, and I couldn't tell you because..."

Kaoru looked at him for a moment. That laugh... the memory of Omi's anger, and how, that day, Omi's smiling mask had completely shattered. "He pulled that joke on almost everyone we know," he said quietly, almost musing aloud. "I think I know why he did it, but it's not my business to say. But Omi, you were so angry at him, you..." Kaoru's eyes widened. Something here was adding up, and... and it made perfect sense. All the pieces were clicking together in place, but the picture they formed seemed too incredible to be believed, especially since he knew both Omi and Hide far too well.

But such things were out of logic's control.

He took a deep breath, cupping Omi's cheek with a hand and turning to face him. Kaoru wanted confirmation. "Omi, you... you fell for him." His voice was soft, surprised, and curious.

Omi went still, violet eyes wide and staring back into cool, calm green. Why didn't Kaoru look or sound the least bit hurt by that? He nodded numbly, feeling almost childish in the face of Kaoru's speculative awe!?

"I love you, Kaoru..."

Kaoru pressed his lips to Omi's ear, his voice low and calming as he spoke, because he knew that at any moment Omi might break down, and... he wasn't going to let that happen. "I love you too, Omi. I believe you when you say that. I can see it from your eyes." He stroke Omi's hair a little more - a comforting gesture. "But at the same time I think you love Hide too. It's... not mutually exclusive, you know." His tone had just a little of a teasing note to it, but he sobered back up quickly.

"Omi, it's perfectly possible for you to love more than one person at the same time. You have a big enough heart for that; more than enough. I love you, and I..." he shrugged slightly. "It isn't that I don't mind, but it's not that I mind either. I'm not hurt, I don't feel betrayed. You haven't betrayed me in any way." He kissed the top of Omi's head. "You shouldn't feel that way, na, Omi?"

"I fucked him," Omi blurted out.

"Hard. Without lube, and that guy was OK with that." He kept his eyes on Kaoru, but his body was tensing from preparation for a slap or something. Anger. Anything. It was one thing talking about this with Nakajima; the bastard had no morals. But Kaoru?

"It was hate sex, Kaoru." He drew back, crossing an arm over his chest, the shame washing over him again. "And he bled. And I don't... I don't deliberately hurt people like that! And he didn't care! And I tried to make it better. I tried to make it up to him, and it didn't work.

"Didn't I... Isn't that," he couldn't quite say 'betrayal.' "You should be angry at me. I'm angry at me."

Kaoru could only stare at him for a moment, nearly gaping. He... he knew that Omi sometimes got violent when he's angry, especially when he had been goading and pushed into that state, but this... Kaoru closed his eyes for moment, trying to imagine the scene. But he couldn’t. Omi simply wasn't the sort to be unnecessarily violent without cause, so... so Hide must have goaded him into it. And judging from what Omi had said, it was probably true.

But would telling Omi that even help, he wondered.

"Omi," Kaoru begun, carefully. "I know you don't hurt people like that. And I know what Hide is like. I think... I think there just isn't one person at fault here. Hide likes to goad people and push them beyond their limits, and well, he knows what could have happened. You didn't rape him; I know that. If he wanted to stop you, he could have."

He took a deep breath. God, when had the situation become so damn complicated? Reaching out, he drew Omi close again, wrapping him into a tight hug. "I'm not angry at you. If anything, I should be angry at Hide, because he should have known when to stop provoking you." He huffed a little.

"Blaming yourself is useless; you should know that already," Kaoru chided gently. "You love him, ne? Show him that. And... if he doesn't forgive you, the only reason why is that he had never blamed you in the first place."

When Omi met Kaoru's eyes again, he spoke quietly, in a calmer voice. "I know it's possible to love more than one person at the same time. But that doesn't mean it's right, does it? Because if it really was all right, then papa..." his voice cracked.

The silver-haired boy seldom talked about his own family. His father left because his mother wouldn't stand for sharing him with some other woman and, oh, did Omi take after his father: eyes, nose, ...the same smile when he wasn't faking it. He only grew more like that lanky Frenchman over the years, with platinum blonde hair and eyes that couldn't keep a secret to save anyone's life.

And now...

"You are not your father," Kaoru said firmly, cupping Omi's face with both hands, staring straight into those violet eyes. He could see the turmoil there; the confusion, the hurt. It hurt Kaoru almost physically to think that loving someone would cause Omi so much pain; pain that he would do his very best to alleviate. "You're more loyal than anyone I've ever known. I know you won't leave me, Omi. Even if you want to I won't let you."

He took a breath. "I won't ever ask you to choose, because Hide's my friend and I will never hurt you this way. Love is never 'wrong', Omi. I'm not saying that your father abandoning you was right, but, this... this isn't wrong. You're different from him. You won't abandon me; this, I am very confident of." Kaoru stroke his hand through Omi's hair slowly, carefully, before drawing him back into his arms. "If I have to share you with Hide, then so be it. I might be selfish, but I will never force you to choose."

And that was why Omi never said anything about whoever the hell Kaoru slept with. The chairman, his rival, Itou... (Itou's best ability wasn't just luck - it was getting lucky with anyone he so chose; Omi was sure of it). But the difference was that Omi would step back and let Kaoru live his own life, if that was what Kaoru wanted. He wouldn't force Kaoru to choose; he'd back off.

Except, Kaoru wanted him to stay. And... 'Share?'

"Kaoru?" Omi lifted his head, bewildered. "Share me? With... that guy?"

Kaoru's lip twitched. "Yes. Because you love him." He turned away a little, staring at a spot on the floor as he continued, "If you don't do anything about the love you feel for him, you will keep obsessing over it. You'll keep thinking about him, but yet you won't do anything because... because you're with me, and he's your rival. You'll just keep hurting yourself further and I... I don't want to see you hurt, Omi."

He turned back to face Omi, "You're already in pain now, and denial hurts so much. But acceptance and inactivity hurts even worse. I don't ever want to see you hurt. So yes, I am willing to share you with him."

He quirked a smile. "Beside, Hide is my friend. It's not as if he's the brute Niwa." At that, Kaoru scowled, but only for a moment. He smiled at Omi reassuringly, "I... I really won't mind."

Omi still had a ton of misgivings in his mind, but despite that, Kaoru's words managed to make him feel better. Cupping Kaoru's cheek, he scooted closer and kissed him chastely, gently.

Just as Omi was about to draw back, Kaoru wrapped his hand around his tie, pulling him forward again. He pressed his lips to Omi's, nibbling on his new lover's bottom lip as his hands wrapped around Omi's neck.

"Kaoru..." The name was muffled as Omi felt himself grow weak with Kaoru's touch. Letting his eyes slide shut, he followed the prompting and leaned closer, opening his mouth a bit to let Kaoru in.

Kaoru nibbled on Omi's lip one more time before he darted into Omi's mouth, licking the roof of the mouth, slowly coaxing Omi's tongue to reach out even as he explored Omi's mouth thoroughly. His hand had migrated from Omi's neck into his hair, gripping silver hair lightly, their bodies pressed together. A small frisson of pleasure danced its way down his spine, and he shivered a little.

"Mm... Omi..." he moaned softly.

Then, there was a knock. Kaoru ignored it in his preoccupation with Omi, but then there was the familiar sound of the turn of the lock and a very familiar, very unwelcome voice.

"Um, Kaoru-chan, did you... oh," Niwa blinked as he came upon the scene. Kaoru glared at him, pulling away from Omi reluctantly.

"When a person knocks, they usually wait for permission before they enter the room. But I suppose that you won't know that, Niwa. What do you want?" His tone was pure frost.

Niwa scratched his head sheepishly, "Er, sorry for barging in, but... did you see a kid, around this tall," he gestured to his waist, "big brown eyes, short black hair, wearing a sailor outfit? He ran off to somewhere... I don't suppose you guys saw him?"

While Kaoru gave Niwa a withering look, Omi was a little too preoccupied with his best friend to look away. It took a while before Niwa's words sank in, but when they did, he didn't move away from Kaoru, nor did he move closer again. He looked at Niwa, honestly curious.

"If he came by, I don't think either of us would have noticed, unless this kid was as loud as you, Niwa-kaichou..." Somehow, that sounded respectful. Somewhat. "But what would, I'm presuming, a primary-school boy be doing at this high school? Is he a cousin of yours?"

Niwa looked more sheepish than ever, stuffing his hands into his pockets and looking away. "Nah. He's a kid from a police station that I'm supposed to look after. And now I've lost him. Some kind of police intern I am, huh?" He chuffed under his breath to himself, rubbing the back of his neck.

Kaoru's brows knitted together. There was something that he's not telling them, but he couldn't figure out exactly what that is. He watched closely as Niwa gave the both of them a strangely subdued grin, shrugging expansively.

"I've better go and find him," he said. "The kid really shouldn't be left alone. Sorry for interrupting." With that, he turned to leave, a hand on the doorknob.

But Omi spoke up, "Please wait." He gave Kaoru a significant look, then stood up, continuing, "Can we help?" He didn't like the thought of a little kid running around, lost somewhere unfamiliar, alone and vulnerable. The school was safer than a lot of places, yes. It didn't change the fact that Niwa needed to find him, and probably needed all the help he could get.

Kaoru sighed quietly. Sometimes Omi was too kind, or perhaps it was Kaoru who was too selfish. But Kaoru could understand his love's train of thought, and while he couldn't stand Niwa, the fact remained... Kaoru nodded, shrugging almost nonchalantly.

"The school is huge, and there might be the chance that he went out of the school. You'll have to search the whole island, then, and you can't do it alone. You need the help."

No one had ever said that Kaoru was particularly tactful; he disliked sugarcoating logic anyway.

Niwa winced a little at the harsh words, turning around to face them once more. He shook his head. "It's okay. I've got a few people helping me already, and I have some vague ideas where he might have gone. So it's really okay. Besides," he smirked slightly, eyes turned towards the doorframe, "you guys have... other things planned, right? So don't worry about it. He'll probably be in the Council room when you guys bring the paperwork over later or something."

"Saa," Omi shook his head. "I dare say neither of us would be in the mood for said 'other' things now. Isn't that right?" He turned to his best friend. "Kaoru?"

At the same time, in the back of Omi's head, he noted that Niwa seemed quieter, as though the guy had a lot on his mind, for once, that actually had little to do with the school. But that was Nakajima's business wasn't it? That is...it would have been, if Itou hadn't waltzed in between them about three or four weeks back...

Actually, Kaoru was still 'in the mood' for such things, but Omi obviously wasn’t. Besides, Kaoru himself was a little worried for the lost child as well. He huffed, pulling away from Omi and leaning back a little against the couch. "Omi's right. We want to help. You could always do with more hands, and Omi has access to the surveillance cameras of the school and the announcement system." He looked at Niwa steadily. "Are you sure that you don't need those?"

Niwa shoved his hands in his pockets again, resisting the urge to scratch his head like a chastised schoolboy. Sometimes he forgot that Kaoru was 'Queen' for more than just his looks, but Kaoru always managed to remind him again so easily. He gave them both an almost-easy smile, shrugging. "If you guys really don't mind... I searched the left wing already, and the top floors of the right wing, so there really aren’t too much more ground to cover. And err... if you guys found him, call me immediately, okay? Don't approach him suddenly or touch him." He voice grew quiet, and he looked away. "He doesn't like it."

Omi blinked, brows creasing a tad, but he simply nodded. He'd learned long ago that sometimes, for sanity's sake, it was best not to ask Niwa too many questions. The guy would blab everything out if he thought it needed to be said anyway. Or Kaoru would ask.

"Why don't you make an announcement now before we go anywhere else?" He walked over to his computer and keyed in the password, hooking up the speaker's microphone as the computer loaded.

Niwa blinked. Well, that was fast. Why didn't he think of going to the Treasury immediately? But even as he asked himself that question, he knew the answer: he was too frantic and panicked, and... but it didn't matter now. Niwa walked over to the computer, plopping down onto the chair and drawing the microphone towards himself.

"Testing, testing." The microphone was obviously working, so he continued. "Niwa here. I'm calling out to all the students who are in school this weekend if they had seen a 7 year old boy with brown eyes and black hair, wearing a sailor uniform. His name is Eiji. If you have seen him, please call me immediately and tell me your location. Don't try to approach him."

Well, that should be enough. Niwa stood up again, flashing a smile at both Omi and Kaoru. "Sankyuu. I really should've come here first. You both helped a lot."

Kaoru crossed his arms, genuinely curious. "Why didn't you ask H- Nakajima-san for help?"

Niwa failed to hide a wince. "Nah. Hide is busy with his own things." In fact, they were both so busy with 'their own things' that they hadn't seen each other outside Council work for over two weeks. Niwa didn't know how he had suddenly lost a best friend, because apparently Hide found his presence so abhorrent that he's going out of his way to avoid Niwa. Normally if that happened, Niwa would have pestered Hide endlessly until his best friend yielded and told him about what was bothering you, but now...

Things had simply gotten very awkward after Hide had 'stolen' Keita from him. Well, he understood why now that Keita had seen fit to respond to every advance that Niwa made to him, even while he was attached to someone else. He knew why Hide did it, but... it still hurt. It still felt like betrayal, and though he had certainly forgiven Hide for it, he couldn't just forget it either.

Niwa shook his head to clear it when he heard his phone ring. He picked it up.

"The kid's with me on the roof."

‘Well, think of the devil, and the devil calls,’ Niwa thought wryly as he registered the very familiar voice just before Hide hung up. He turned to Omi and Kaoru.

"Eiji's with Hide on the roof. I'm going up there to get him now. Again, thanks for your help!" And with that, he made for the door in haste.

Omi just managed a curious look; it was really how he felt upon hearing that Nakajima was busy with his own things. No, he wasn't. He was in the Student Council office working a moment ago, and Niwa was... somehow failing at babysitting.

And now that he'd just gone off, that left Omi and Kaoru alone again. Omi unplugged the microphone, and murmured, "Kaoru? Should we talk to Nakajima?"

Kaoru looked at Omi. For one, he dearly wanted to say no, to the hell with those two and continue kissing Omi. But he knew that those words weren't what he really wanted to say, that it was just his impatience, lust and brattiness talking. Besides, it's clear that Omi really needed to talk to Hide about all that Omi had poured out to him just now. Omi wouldn't do anything about it and let things stagnate if he wasn't pushed; he was always like this with emotional matters.

He nodded. "Yes. Let's follow Niwa; we can talk to Hide after Niwa's collected the boy."

"Hide." Omi echoed. He nodded after a moment and logged out.

Kaoru wasn't his best friend since childhood for nothing. He tilted his head to the side, catching Omi's eyes and holding it with his own intense green ones. "You want to know what my relationship with him is, right?"

'Yes!' Omi thought. He nodded again after another stretch of silence. "Nakajima said... you go to him because I..." he looked to the side, "don’t give you what you want. Or something along those lines."

Kaoru blinked. "... Hide is an idiot." He sighed, "I don't go to him for that. It's... something that is an understanding between us; relieving of tension of a sort. We are good friends." He laughed softly to himself. "We're in the same situation... were, anyway. It's resolved on my side now. We understand each other, and we... were in the same boat... That's all there is to it."

He chuckled, "Do you want there to be more?"

Wide violet eyes stared back at Kaoru, both eyebrows raised. "More?" Omi tilted his head, "But... if you were in a similar situation with Nakajima, doesn't that mean," he paused, and there was a small, genuine smile coming out. Kaoru's situation had been that he loved Omi, and didn't say anything. But Nakajima? Omi frowned.

"Nakajima... has feelings for Niwa-kaichou?" Actually, that made sense; Omi nodded to himself. With anyone else, his rival's facial expressions always seemed a little limited. The Vice President of the Student Council only ever revealed frustration where the President was concerned.

"But... Kaoru," he stepped closer, taking Kaoru's hands as he asked, "what do you mean by more?"

Kaoru smirked to himself. It looked like Omi had figured out Hide's situation very easily; it was that obvious. He laughed a little at Omi's confusion, leaning forward to peck his lover on the lips.

"Won't you find it more fun if, instead of just sharing you, we can have a proper threesome?" He nearly giggled out loud, but chose to step back, turning away towards the door.

"We're going to find Niwa and Hide now, ne? Hurry up then, Omi."

The poor thing took a second to catch up, but when he did, it was to hug Kaoru from behind. He just had to say it.

"Your genius breaks my brain." Omi kissed Kaoru's cheek. "I love you so much."

End

Continued in Surfacing: Possibilities