[FIC] Gakuen Heaven: Surfacing: Chrysalis

[evocates]

Sorry for the delay, guys. PW and pwdressingroom are eating our souls. We'll be better, we promise!

Surfacing: Chrysalis
- Sequel to Metamorphosis

Authors: kagayachou and the_dw
Characters/Pairings: Niwa/Nakajima, Shichijo/Nakajima/Saionji, Niwa->Saionji and Niwa->Keita mentioned
Rating: PG-13
Words: 6338
Summary: It’s just the four of them again, as if nothing’s changed, when everything has.


Three days later, Tetsuya got a call from his father. The police had found the robber-murderer of Eiji's parents, and now one of his aunties, his mother's elder sister, wanted him back with the family. She was willing to take him in, but where was he? He was taken 'somewhere safe' - that was all she heard from the cops.

The kid was with Tetsuya, of course. Sometimes happy. Sometimes upset. When more people were around, he seemed almost fine. But he liked to draw, and sometimes the pictures that he drew had more than the brightly coloured zoo animals he liked so much.

Sometimes, he drew a room with his mommy and daddy on the bottom of the page, or... some variation thereof.

And sometimes he'd crawl onto Tetsuya's lap and sniffle as quietly as he could. Or say something strange and make even Omi stare in silence.

It was those strange things that eventually clued Kaoru in to what had happened to Eiji that he had to stay with Tetsuya, and it had angered him to the point of rage. The thought that two people were murdered and a child orphaned due to one man's greed was simply too unfair to think of. And Eiji had seen everything happen before his very eyes...

Kaoru knew that if such a thing had happened to him, he would not be able to deal with it as well as Eiji was doing. He gained a new respect for Tetsuya as well, because he had never thought that the idiot of a King would be able to deal with such a sensitive issue, much less comfort the little boy and help him accept the truth. It was a complete surprise and he began to see, just a little, why Hide had fallen for him.

Not that he had completely changed his mind. Tetsuya still had to prove himself a lot more to him to prove that he did deserve Hide's love and Kaoru's respect.

But for the most part, those two things had been placed at the back of Tetsuya's mind, to be puzzled over when say Eiji was asleep, leaving Tetsuya alone effectively.

Hide's love for him. Why had he not seen it? Or rather, see it and mistake it for anything but what it was. Because he was too busy chasing after Kaoru, and then Keita, and... Just too busy failing... so he'd come to think that he just wasn't boyfriend material perhaps.

Hell, the first time he had sex with Hide it was a matter of getting off. Hide hadn't loved him then ... had he?

Kaoru's respect was actually the last thing on his mind, so busy was he with taking care of Eiji and going to school. Well, he'd contacted the school's Chairman about Eiji, which was why the teachers never asked too much about why he was taking a little kid in and out of lessons and around campus.

Mostly, the teachers just rolled their eyes and muttered or laughed - writing it off as "it's a Chairman thing" because, well... the Chairman was complicated.

For Hide, it seemed that the relationship had come to a standstill ever since he confessed to Tetsuya, and he had no idea how to... advance it. He wanted to give Tetsuya time to... get used to the idea, and yet he was very impatient and nervous about the issue to the point that he had taken to drowning himself in paperwork so he wouldn't have to think about it. And because of that, he wasn't seeing much of Omi and Kaoru either. They both had work to do as well.

Sometimes, he wondered if it was a mistake for him to have confessed. But what was done was done; he couldn't take back the words now, and he didn't want to. It was a... relief to be able to finally tell Tetsuya about his feelings, and he didn't want the tight feeling in his chest back ever again.

And after the confession, Tetsuya treaded carefully with Hide - not to the point of treating him like he was delicate, but just... tried not to cause him needless frustration. Handing over looked over documents on time, not taking as many breaks as before... and generally setting Eiji a rather good role model by taking care of the kid on top of everything else.

But the kid was smiling when they said their goodbyes at the police station. A little teary, but still strong. Tetsuya had faith that Eiji would recover. At least, he promised he'd become King of Bell Liberty when he was old enough.

"Heh, you should have seen his aunt, Hide. She was so proud of him," he said back in the council room. "I mean, the whole thing with his parents… It's not ever gonna blow over, but Eiji said he's gonna be strong. For the rest of his family... And ah, become a policeman so he can prosecute bad guys," Tetsuya chuckled.

Yes, Eiji wanted to be a lawyer-detective king. Somehow.

Hide paused in his typing, ducking his head and hiding a fond smile. It seemed that Tetsuya had really bonded with the boy during his short stay at the school, so much that it made him wonder if Tetsuya would make a good father as well. But that was a little too far into the future to speculate, wasn't it?

"Well, he certainly has ambitions," he looked up, showing Tetsuya the smile. "It looks like he's taking you as a role model, after all..."

"Nuh uh," Tetsuya shook his head, making his way from his desk over to Hide's side. "Not just me at any rate. You're the one who wants to become a lawyer, remember?" He leaned closer and pointed out, "So it'd be you and me.

"Eiji likes you too, you know." Tetsuya settled on the couch and let his eyes go to the wall opposite, grinning at the lion and wolf pictures the kid left for them. Omi and Kaoru each received pictures too.

Instinctively, Hide shied backwards as Tetsuya leaned closer, only returning to his proper position when Tetsuya sat down. It seemed that despite being Tetsuya's best friend for so long, he was still unused to having his personal space breached so suddenly. How ridiculous.

Leaning back against his own seat, he remained quiet for a long moment before taking a breath to speak. "Ne, Niwa," he began, uncharacteristically hesitant, "have you given any thought about what I told you last week?"

It wasn't like him to be so direct with emotions, but... he had waited too long to delay it or have it put off any longer.

Tetsuya's eyes unfocused from the drawings, but he didn't turn. "Aah," he nodded. "I think... I need to get this straight. "You love me. Omi loves you - and Kaoru. And Kaoru loves Omi? Something like that?"

Hide sighed, rubbing at a temple. It sounded so simple when Tetsuya put it that way. "Yes," he admitted. "You're right - it is exactly like that. Except for perhaps a few nuances here and there..." But exactly what nuances he didn't mention - it would just confused Tetsuya more.

The other boy looked back at Hide then. "Oh?" A pause, met with silence.

Well then, Tetsuya sighed to himself, if Hide wanted to elaborate he would have done so. "What is... love?

"I'm not questioning you on whether you love me, it's just that... I'm lost, Hide. I don't know what to think. When I first met Kaoru, I thought it was love at first sight, right? Said as much." He remembered it clearly; it was as though something divine sent him a message. But maybe, he thought, he'd misinterpreted that too - like he's done so terribly with Hide.

"How did you know... when you ... fell for me?"

Hide turned away, closing his eyes. He honestly didn't know how to answer. His mind didn't, anyway, but his heart was, as cliché as that sounded, giving him the perfect answer.

"When I realized," he replied, his words low, thoughtful and slow to the point of drawling, "that I'm willing to do anything for you to be happy." He paused, trying to find the right words. "That it's not necessary for me to be... with you, as long as I can watch you from afar. That I won't mind that you hate me if you remain happy. That hurting you, in any capacity, is the worst thing I can ever do. That life without you will be boring and uninteresting and even painful."

He turned to Tetsuya, a bittersweet, lopsided smile curving his lips. "It's horribly corny and stupid of me, isn't it?"

"Yeah!" Tetsuya glared suddenly, "Because of the things you do for me." Sometimes they hurt. Not only Tetsuya, but Hide himself. "Why would I be happy with what you do if you're not happy while trying to keep me happy?

"Why would I be happy if you're not?"

Love wasn't supposed to work that way, was it? Tetsuya looked at his fists, and relaxed them.

"Some best friend I am... I don't deserve your love, Hide."

Hide's eyes grew wider and wider throughout the rant. He... quite honestly, he had never thought of that. Always, always, he had thought that what he did for Tetsuya was something right, something calculated to grant his King the maximum happiness. Never had he ever added this into the equation.

He reached out and traced a hand over the short hairs falling over Tetsuya's temples, trailing down the ear and the jawline. "Whether you think you deserve it or not," he said quietly, "you've got it anyway. And if anyone didn't deserve anyone else, I don't deserve you."

He leaned backwards against his chair, hands dropping down onto his lap and turning away. "I have never thought that I would ever hurt you in my attempts to make you happy." He choked out a laugh, pulling a shaky hand through his hand, "It just shows how much of a failure I am, doesn't it? Instead of making you happy, I made you even more miserable.

"It's just that...." he stared at his lap. "I didn't realize that my own happiness was important enough for anyone to care about."

"What?!" Tetsuya stood up. "You gotta be kidding me!" He grabbed Hide by the shoulders and just stopped short of shaking him. "I don't know what anyone else thinks, but your happiness is important to me. And it should damn well be important to you, Hide. What were you trying to do, trade in yours for mine?!"

That sounded ridiculous. Seriously.

Blue eyes turned upwards to meet violet for a moment before turning away again. Hide didn't want to Tetsuya to see his weaknesses.

"Happiness isn't free," his voice was almost monotonous, as if he had repeated this a dozen times. "One person's happiness is always bought by another's, or even several others." He took a breath, clenching his hand into fists, his nails prickling his palm, nearly breaking skin. "Yes, yes I was. But obviously I failed, because all I did was to make the both of us miserable.

"I have never apologized for taking Keita away, have I?" Taking a breath, he looked up again. But he didn't meet Tetsuya's eyes, choosing to stare at a spot above the older boy's shoulder. "I'm really sorry for doing that. I shouldn't have. Hell, if I hadn't, maybe you would have been much happier right now.

"And for that, I'm truly sorry.”

"Look," Tetsuya caught his eyes, "Forget Keita. I liked him. I still like him. Not as much as before, but you're more important right now. You seriously ... seriously think ... you need to sacrifice your happiness to make me happy, because you love me?

"Does love make everyone stupid?"

Unbidden, a laugh escaped Hide's lips. A hand rose to cover his face and eyes as he chuckled mirthlessly. "I don't know. It might seem so. It certainly seems the case of us, and Omi and Kaoru as well."

He shook his head to clear it. "Even with that... even if you are just," the amount of sarcasm coating the word could fill an ocean, "my best friend, I would have still done the same. Because I would still want you to be happy."

Tetsuya felt touched. Honestly, and really irritated, too, because Hide was intelligent and yet... "You know the best thing you could have done for me, Hide? The best thing would be to focus on your happiness. Cause underneath it all, you're awesome but ... you don't seem to think you're worth much, do you?

"And you are. I wouldn't have tried so hard to be your friend in the beginning if I didn't think you were worth it." It was similar to how he saw Kaoru. "You deserve to be happy, too. That certainly won't make me upset... unless you were a horrible bastard delighting in causing harm to others, but you don't."

He could see Hide was miserable. It was so clear now that he knew why, but before? Tetsuya just thought Hide might just enjoy hurting him, which obviously isn't the case.

"Naa, Hide... what do you want from me now that... I know? You're in a threesome... and they... well..."

Hide was truly glad that the subject was changed. He didn't want to argue further with Tetsuya on his worth, nor did he want any more mentions to be made of it. And there would be an argument if they had continued.

After all, if his own family had thought him to be basically worthless, then why would reality be any different?

Hide pushed the thoughts out of his mind and focused back on Tetsuya. He shrugged, forcibly casual. "They are both in love with each other, and have been for a long time. The only thing tying me to them is that Omi thinks he loves me. Though I don't doubt him," he smiled, half-exasperated and half-resigned, "it's not as strong as the love he feels for Kaoru. They belong to each other more than I belong with them. Though, oddly enough, they aren't willing to give me up yet."

He shrugged almost nonchalantly, "I don't want anything from you, really. I'm willing to take whatever you wish to give." He took a long breath. "If... if you are willing... and Omi and Kaoru are... we can try for a foursome."

Tetsuya's eyes went wide. "A f-!" Were his ears deceiving him? "A- A foursome?!" He flushed almost as crimson as his school blazer. "H... Hide," he took his hands off the guy when he realized his hands were shaking. "Do you know what you're suggesting? Kaoru can't stand me. And I'm accepting that fact.

"Actually," Hide pointed out rather calmly now that he was back on stable, controllable ground. A devious smirk started to curl the corners of his lips. "Actually, Niwa, what Kaoru hates isn't you - it's how you handle things. And even that is changing. He had seen how you deal with Eiji without compromising your Council work and class, and you've been working faster recently also. His perceptions are... shifting, shall we say?"

He chuckled softly, reaching out to take Tetsuya's hands into his to stabilise them and the boy himself. "I know exactly what I'm saying. It'll take more effort for you to fully convince him, of course, but I'm sure you can do it."

He looked Tetsuya in the eye, completely serious. "You love him, don't you?"

"But...but..." Tetsuya looked from Hide's eyes to his hands, and back again. "I don't get it, Hide. You love me, and you want me to go after Kaoru? And that doesn't upset you?"

Tetsuya never realized just how screwed up Hide's thought processes went. Sure, at first he'd called him a cold bastard, and sometimes he acted heartless - like that time when one of the guys in a mutual class was gonna lose his scholarship if he couldn't boost his grades by the next test, and Hide refused to tutor him because 'idiots should be expelled'...

Maybe Hide just thinks like... Tetsuya almost grimaced as he thought about his father suddenly. The guy threw a giant cat at him when he was a little kid, just to train him in self defence; set him up for failure and watch him learn to survive, that sort of thing.

Like nudging him in front of Kaoru's path and watching to see if he doesn't get slapped again.

Hide waved a hand negligently. "Those are two different matters." And to him, it really was. The fact that he loved Tetsuya did not clash with Tetsuya loving Kaoru - they existed in quite separate entities in his mind.

"I do love you," he said slowly, reaching out slowly to bury his hand in Tetsuya's hair. "But you are evidently in love with Kaoru, so it will make you happy if you have him, won't it? It'll also be more practical if Kaoru likes you, because dislike is not conducive to a foursome. Yes, I am serious about that."

He paused. "Why would I be upset at something that would obviously make you happy?"

Tetsuya stared at him for a long, blank moment.

"Much as...I like the idea," he swallowed, "Kaoru's told me to back off several times already, and uh, I don't really know Shichijo? Not as well as you guys do? Half the time I just get the feeling he's laughing at me, and the other half is indifference. You know what I'm saying, right?

"And I know you love me." It was rather hard to forget that actually. "I want to... I want to say the same, but I really ...don't know, Hide."

"I'm not asking you to love me," Hide said calmly. "I know you don't - I've already accepted that. I... I confessed in an impulsive moment, and though I don't regret it, I'm not asking anything of you because of it." He let his hand run through Tetsuya's hair gently before dropping it to his side. "I just wanted you to know.

"Nor am I asking you to accept this... proposal immediately. Think it over, Tetsuya. Kaoru doesn't hate you, I'm sure of it. Besides, what he felt for you before and what he now feels about you has changed. And Omi is generally apathetic towards everything, but he... he's seeing you in a different light too. It is possible, I'm sure of it."

He took a deep breath, looking straight into Tetsuya's eyes. "It's just whether or not we are willing to try."

The intensity of his gaze startled Tetsuya. He laughed lightly, and leaned closer again to hug Hide close.

"I'll think about it," he whispered, admitting with a dry smile, "I don't know how I'd be able to not think about it..."

***

Kaoru leaned back against his armchair in the Treasury and sighed contentedly, holding a cup of Omi-brewed tea. Crossing his legs, he looked at Omi over the top of his cup, scrutinizing the other boy.

"Ne, Omi," he began, lowering his hands to his lap. "What are your thoughts of... what we saw?"

He knew that Omi knew what he was talking about.

"Hm?" Omi paused in his typing and saved the progress reflexively before he turned the swivel chair around. It took a moment for him to place what Kaoru was referring to - that mild tick against a temple whenever he thought of the President of the Student Council.

Folding his hands on his lap, Omi. "I'm not sure, Kaoru." He stood up and walked over to sit by his Queen on the couch. "Part of me hopes that Hide's finally told Niwa-kaichou, and that the response was positive," he murmured as he poured himself a cup. "Making a confession can bring quite a relief, in my opinion. Hide seems less stressed than before.

"Especially with Eiji-kun's welcome presence," he trailed off as he gaze upon the boy's parting gifts to them, the two animal drawings fixed on the whiteboard by his computer.

"True," Kaoru nodded. Hide did seem more... carefree than before, his footsteps lighter, his back straighter. He looked less like he was carrying the world on his shoulders.

He took another sip of his tea. "If Hide did confess, and if Niwa had agreed... or at least responded positively as you say... then what would you do, Omi?

"Are you willing to give Hide up?"

Hesitation. Brief, but notable.

Then, Omi smiled faintly. "If that's what makes him happy." He took a sip, put his cup down, and turned towards Kaoru, a serious expression in his eyes. "It's what I would do for you if you ever want me to."

Kaoru shook his head immediately. "I'm not asking what Hide wants or what I want, Omi. I know that you would do whatever it takes to make the both of us happy, but Omi..."

He placed his cup on the table and turned towards his lover. Cupping Omi's jaw with a hand, he spoke, voice low and intense. "What do you want?"

Omi smiled and closed his eyes briefly, tilting his head slightly to kiss one of Kaoru's palms. When he replied his voice was lower, "I want to be greedy."

He didn't need to say much for Kaoru to understand him.

Kaoru leaned forward until his forehead was touching Omi's, a small smile on his lips. "Then be greedy. If you love him and want him, then don't let go so easily. Fight for him, show him that you still want him with us."

He closed his eyes, slowly sinking back into his seat. "I don't want to let him go to Niwa either." His lip curled, "I doubt that the idiot is good enough for him... even though he is... improving."

"Oh?" A chuckle escaped Omi's lips. Somehow, he knew Kaoru would support him. "Might it be more along the lines of finally being able to see a bit of Niwa-kaichou's strengths as clearly as Hide... already sees them?

"After all," he reached over, trailing a finger down Kaoru's uniform, over his chest, "Hide never had the misfortune of forming as negative a first impression of Niwa-kaichou as you did, now did he?"

Kaoru sighed a little at the touch, reaching up to tangle his fingers with Omi's to stop that hand. "Perhaps," he shrugged. "True, I can see now that I was wrong before: Niwa isn't just a blind Neanderthal. But just because he does have charisma and the capability to be sensitive doesn't mean that he's good enough for Hide. It doesn't mean that he isn't blind, that he can't be gentle in any way."

He looked at Omi seriously. "You know how Hide is like. Do you think Niwa will be able to deal with that? Honestly?"

Hide, Kaoru knew, had an undeservingly low sense of self-worth. Sometimes he was just like Omi: he gave too much and took too little, to the point of draining himself dry for the other person. Kaoru knew this; he could recognize it and stop it.

Could Niwa?

"Hmm..." Omi linked his fingers with Kaoru's as he pondered the question. "Niwa-kaichou ... is a leader. Meaning he generally sees more of the bigger picture, and less of the details - and Hide is all about the details."

He smiled again suddenly, with an endearing tilt of his head. "He could do it. But he'll need help, Kaoru. Our help."

Kaoru frowned a little. "Are you suggesting a foursome, then? Inculcate Niwa into the fold?"

Though... it would make sense. Omi could have both Kaoru and Hide, and Hide could have Niwa and the both of them at once, and Kaoru could make sure that the two people he loved most would be happy. The only problem was...

He detested Niwa. Detested the buffoon who mistook him to be a girl and tried to 'check'; hated the idiot who stomped all over Hide's feelings and didn't even realise he was doing it. Kaoru could rarely tolerate the Student Council President, and the last few times he did it was for the school's or Hide's sakes.

Omi pouted when he saw Kaoru's expression, and backed off a bit, "Well, not if you're against it, Kaoru." He picked up his tea again, deciding to nurse the cup in his hands, peering at the tea leaves as he did so.

Ah, it said 'good omens to come.'

He smiled to himself, and drank.

***

Omi knocked on the door of the Student Council room, a stack of papers in his hand ready to be delivered. The paperwork did not just go one way from the Council to the Treasury; sometimes when Kaoru and he had finished their work, they needed to bring it back to the Council to be approved.

It was a shining example of the inefficiency of bureaucracy, to be honest.

He shook his head, half-amused at his cynical thoughts. He pushed them out of his head and waited for Hide to open the door.

Except it wasn't Hide who answered the door.

In fact, no one did. Omi received a loud, distracted, "Come in!"

Tetsuya was frowning was at his computer, which was next to Hide's - and the computer expert was nowhere in sight at the moment. Something about an internship interview at a prestigious law firm. Tetsuya was sure Hide would get the job. Meanwhile, how the heck does Vista work?!

Omi's eyes widened slightly as he opened the door. It was rather surprising. Usually the situation was the other way around: Hide would be using the computer while Tetsuya traipsing around somewhere other the school.

Placing the papers down, he walked silently towards Tetsuya, stopping right behind the King's chair and peering over his shoulder. Vista, huh?

"Having some trouble?" he murmured.

Tetsuya looked over his shoulder with a rather confused expression upon his face, but when he saw who it was, a remembered that Omi was Hide's rival due to their programming skills, suddenly, there was hope again!

"Shichijo! Hey!" Tetsuya sheepishly grinned, shuffling his chair back a bit to give him room, "Yeah, I'm completely lost. Hide updated the operating systems on both these computers a few days ago, and this is... basically the first time I'm on mine."

Funny, Hide didn't mention that the whole interface had a makeover. And it was so pretty, Tetsuya had to admit... and painful to navigate around – sort of like Kaoru... Well, why not ask the expert?

"See, I can't even tell where to edit the background for this Powerpoint I need to make," he gestured at the page, "and that's just - Ah, you have the time to spare?"
Omi's eyes suddenly flashed, a mischievous glint appearing in them for a split second before he blinked and hid them from sight.

"Here," he told Tetsuya, placing his hand on top of Tetsuya's on the top. "Go to the Slides tab..." his mouth was inching nearer to the King's ear, and his words breathier. "Click on it..." He pressed down on the mouse, caressing Tetsuya's index finger casually as he did so. "And there you go, just choose whichever theme you like."

He withdrew his hand slowly, seemingly reluctantly, dragging his fingers gently across Tetsuya's hand.

The soft words, the lingering touch... Tetsuya was frankly stupefied. But what was more embarrassing was how easily Omi made it seem to actually do what he'd wanted to do his file. Laughing at himself, Tetsuya lifted his hand from the mouse and rubbed his nose.

"Thanks..." he said, thinking, 'Boy, do I feel like an idiot.'

Omi leaned in again. "You're welcome," he whispered into the shell of Tetsuya's ear. Lightly, and so very slowly, his lips brushed across the earlobe, kissing it and drawing it very briefly towards him before withdrawing.

"Is there anything more that I can help you with?"

Tetsuya froze. His ear... His ears were burning. With a start, he jerked back, pushing his heels against the floor so that the chair could roll aside - and just... away from Omi.

"Whadyameanisthereanythingmoreyoucanhelpmewith?!"

Because as far as he was concerned, Omi could have a big enough heart to love two people, sure, but those two actually had things in common with him - like tea, or computers, or - or-

Oh god, did Hide tell Omi about that foursome idea?!

Really, sometimes Tetsuya could be too hilarious - and unintentionally too!

Shaking his head, Omi tried to calm himself. "And you wonder why you're so easy to tease, Niwa-kaichou," he said, smiling widely. He held up his hands like a criminal. "I mean no harm; it's just a little flirting..."

And the million dollar question was: why start now?

Tetsuya rubbed his kissed ear, eyeing Omi with childish curiosity and anxious dread. The last thing he wanted was to join a threesome where two thirds of it are just trying to get along with him when they normally don't.

"Besides, you love Kaoru and Hide, na?" He still blush thinking about it.

And Omi didn't want to give up Hide - there wasn't a chance of that. Yet Hide wouldn't be fully happy unless Tetsuya was with them. Omi and Kaoru both loved Hide enough (though differently) to want him to be completely happy and to do all that they could to help him reach that stage.

He leaned a hip against the table, looking at Tetsuya seriously, the amused tone gone from his voice. "The way I see it, all four of us can have something together, but that's only possible if we work towards it as one."

"Ah... so..." Tetsuya leaned forward again, trying to match the calm mood things had turned. "Has Hide... Have you talked this over with Hide already? Or Kaoru? I mean...

"You know Kaoru doesn't like me."

Omi was almost surprised by the sudden earnestness and composure in Tetsuya's tone. Well, well, it looked like the King might be more than just a harmless puppy, after all...

"Kaoru is... unwilling because you had hurt Hide, but it was for precisely that same person that he is willing to... give it a try." At least, that was what Omi had interpreted from Kaoru's words and actions so far. "If you are more... careful and less blind..." he left it hanging.

Tetsuya laughed lightly, "And I guess you and Hide are totally up for a foursome now?" He still couldn't tell if Hide had talked things over with Omi before - if that was why Omi flirted with him. Or if Omi just had the bright idea on his own.

If he really had to think about it, there was little doubt in Tetsuya's mind that they'd all work at making a foursome work. Was that a good thing? He told Hide before that he liked the idea, but didn't think the other two were up for it. Until now...

He and Hide really worked on the same wavelengths sometimes, Omi mused silently, rather entertained by the thought. Turning his attention back to Niwa, he nodded.

"We're both willing to go for it, and Kaoru... well, he is definitely considering it." Impulsively, he reached out a hand and stroked Tetsuya's cheek, down the line of his jaw to his neck. "Think it over, na, Niwa-kaichou?"

With that, he retreated completely, walking quickly towards the door - he wouldn't want Tetsuya to see him laugh at him, would he?

Except Tetsuya could hear the laughter in his voice, and it really wasn't reassuring. Tetsuya gulped, and rubbed his ear some more, staring blankly at nothing as he thought over Omi's words. And Hide's...

But... what about Kaoru?

***

Kaoru was filing away some folders in the Treasury room, quietly considering Omi's words to him, that's what. It was true, coming from both Hide and Omi - the king... wasn't so bad to be around anymore. Most likely because the brute didn't insist on flirting with him anymore... Or anyone else for that matter.

Pushing the last folder into place, Kaoru turned towards the door and simply said, "Come in." The door wasn't locked after all. It was rare that anyone ever came over though, unless... he smiled when he saw who it was.

Hide smiled back as he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. Striding towards Kaoru, he stopped just inches away from the younger boy, his smile widening into a smirk. He knew that Kaoru disliked it when he talked into circles, so he might as well be straightforward here.

"Ne, Kaoru, what do you think of a foursome?"

Kaoru blinked up at him for a moment, then half smiled, half smirked back, brow furrowing. "You and Omi..." He sighed, then elaborated. "I told Omi earlier. While I have my reservations, I'm not against the idea.

"After all, he's not still blind to your feelings anymore... is he?"

Hide raised his eyebrow in surprise - so Omi had the same idea. Sometimes it creeped him out about how similar he and his ex-rival were. Well, this certainly made his job easier.

Shrugging, he replied, "If he is still blind after I broke down and confessed, and after I repeated on three separate occasions that I love him... then I will really have to give up on him." He chuffed dryly, shaking his head. "He definitely knows how I feel now."

"Good," Kaoru said, nodding to himself. Then, he crossed his arms, chewed his lower lip for a moment. "I trust you've submitted this 'proposal' to Niwa before coming to me, and that he's given his... 'approval'?"

Hide nodded, leaning his hip against the desk, his hand splayed on top of it. "He is... willing to give it a try, but..." he chuckled softly. "He's worried that you won't agree, to be honest, and I don't blame him for thinking so."

He paused for a moment, staring at a spot on the tabletop before speaking again. "Ne, Kaoru, will you ever learn to... accept him?"

There really was no need to name which 'him' he was talking about.

"Hn," Kaoru gave a snobbish sniff and looked away, "If I must."

He wasn't about to admit that Omi and Hide were right about Tetsuya just yet. Kaoru was aware of his own biases, but they were not without credible proof. However, people could change... easily. People’s perceptions of anyone changes even easier... But at least... at least, Tetsuya could be reliably annoying to him. Which was apparently something that charmed Hide and amused Omi to no end.

"I won't force you to," Hide replied quietly, turning away as well. "I'm just... hoping that you will give him, give... us a chance. He loves you, Kaoru."

Coming from Hide, the statement gave Kaoru pause. But afterwards, he answered, "It's puppy love. I kick him. He comes running back for a treat. You've seen that."

Hide shook his head, "I don't deny that it is... a form of puppy love. But those don't last nearly two years, Kaoru." He paused, tapping his finger on his lip as he searched for the words. "The first time he met you, he told me that he fell for you at first sight. Now he..." he shrugged. "I get the feeling that he wants to marry you."

It was a good thing Kaoru didn't have tea in his mouth. He would have choked on it. Only it would have been just a tad worse than the way he was choking now.

"M-marry me?! Don't be ridiculous!"

Kaoru stared at Hide wide-eyed, uncrossing his arms and stomping over, "Did he tell you he wanted to marry me? I'm a man!"

Hide couldn't help it - he burst into laughter. Kaoru's expression was like a cross between a deer caught in headlights and angry frustration all at once. Doubling over, he gasped for breath, his hand over his mouth muffling little, if at all, of his chuckles.

It took some time to regain his control, but he managed it in the end. "He didn't specify that, exactly, but he did.... ah, greatly imply that he can see himself spending his whole life with you." His smile was a little bittersweet as he continued.

"He saw you as a potential lifemate the moment he met you, Kaoru."

The younger boy swallowed like there was a horrible taste in his mouth. He turned away suddenly, walking away from Hide and walked around his own desk to pick up a tea cup. It was cold, but it'd do.

Lifemate? Lifemate?! Omi was his lifemate. Not Niwa Tetsuya!

"I can't talk like this," he declared. "Allow me to calm down first, if you please."

Was that a little too much? Kaoru certainly did seem... discomfited by the news, to say the least. It was the plain truth, however, and Hide would not take it back. He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair.

Stepping forward, he hesitated, and then dropped his hand before he could touch Kaoru's shoulder. "I'll leave you alone, then."

He spun on his heel, ready to leave.

"We'll continue this conversation," Kaoru grit out, clutching his teacup tightly as he struggled to not blow up - just yet. "I'll find you later." He set the cup down with an air of finality, knowing he'd only frustrate himself more if he held it so hard it broke.

Hide nodded, resigned. It seemed that he had taken the wrong approach by just telling Kaoru the flat truth. Opening the door, he stopped.

"Don't force yourself to tolerate him for my sake, Kaoru. If... if this really doesn't work out, then I'll find another way," he said quietly. "If you force yourself, it will just make us all unhappy in the end."

With that last parting line, he left the Treasury.

End

Continued in Surfacing: Breathe