Wildflowers & Chewing Gum
Wildflowers & Chewing Gum
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font-family:Tahoma;color:black;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\'>*Prince of Tennis
does not belong to me and I am making no profit from the writing/posting of
this story.
“I did. Takashi.”
Kawamura smiled to himself, remembering
with a sudden rush of pleasure. The last two days had passed in a warm, hazy
blur for Kawamura, his thoughts never straying too far from the delicious
memory of kissing Shuusuke – holding Shuusuke. He’d almost surgically removed
his thumb with a paring knife earlier that day, much to his father’s amusement.
Thankfully, Kawamura-San had managed not to comment, preferring instead to
snicker quietly to himself while his son had struggled to hide his blush.
Amusing though his dad had found it, Kawamura had been embarrassed and blushed
with the memory of it as he walked along the sidewalk, strides long and sure
and completely at odds with the nervous fluttering in his belly. The flower
stems clutched so tightly in his fist were slippery with his sweat and he was
inordinately grateful for the stick of gum he’d popped into his mouth on his
way out the door.
The sun was setting – looking just the way it had two days ago when
him and granted Kawamura’s most desperate wish. He wanted to see
down – wanted to see him awash in brilliant purples and pinks.
He wanted to see that smile again. He wanted to see that look.
Still chomping on gum that had lost its flavor about half-way to
steps slowed to a standstill when his destination loomed before him. Excited
and still apprehensive, he took a single step forward, and then another.
The door looked huge. But that was ridiculous, wasn’t it? He’d been to
of times. He’d bounded right up and knocked on the door, exchanging
pleasantries with
occasion, his mother, as well.
Now, however, it looked very different to Kawamura. Behind that door, lay a
labyrinth of uncharted emotions and experiences.
He licked his lips and swallowed, coughing suddenly when he remembered that he
did, in fact, still have a wad of gum in his mouth. He looked around, eager now
to get rid of it but frowning when he realized that he couldn’t simply spit it
onto the sidewalk. There was nothing for it – he’d simply have to chew it until
he got inside and could slip it into a trash can.
He gripped the bouquet tighter, took a deep breath and another step forward.
One mangled leaf hung from between his fingers – he didn’t notice.
“I did. Takashi.”
Kawamura smiled, his confidence returning as he made his way up the walk.
very clear that he was interested in accepting Kawamura’s feelings and even in
returning them.
He began to climb the stairs, chin up, eyes bright. He wondered if
these past few days as often as Kawamura had thought of him.
“Taka-san?”
Kawamura spun around, eyes wide, to see
casually. His head was tilted in silent observation and that faint, enigmatic
smile served to greet Kawamura as
between them. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his cheeks and the tip
of his nose were pink from the cold.
Kawamura descended the steps again, wanting to meet
Kawamura as he was,
waning sunlight and Kawamura could do nothing but stare.
“Fujiko. Hello.”
The flowers hung, forgotten, by his side, petals straining toward the concrete
walk, leaves caressing Kawamura’s hand, though he noticed none of that.
“You should have called. I’d have waited for you.”
drew near, stopping just short of reaching Kawamura.
“Oh. Yeah, I guess I should have called. I was just…” He paused here, suddenly
remembering that he’d come to deliver a gift. He smiled bashfully, holding out
the small bouquet of wildflowers he’d picked near the park.
he took the flowers from them. “Thank you, Taka-san. They’re very beautiful.”
Kawamura watched the shorter boy toy with the petals of the flowers. With slow,
dawning regret, Kawamura realized that he should have given
those best, didn’t he? How could he have forgotten something so important?
“These grow near the park, don’t they?”
Kawamura.
Kawamura nodded. “Yes. But I didn’t pick them in the park.” He was quick to
point that out lest
breaking the law and stealing flowers.
Kawamura that
entertaining such thoughts.
“Thank you, again, Taka-san. I don’t think anyone’s ever brought me wildflowers
before.”
Kawamura smiled, made happy by
“No one?”
enough.”
Kawamura laughed, ducking his head shyly as
dead leaf. “I guess I just wanted a reason to see you, Fujiko-chan.”
Kawamura’s ear, grinning at the result. Kawamura wrinkled his nose and tilted
his head in an attempt to see at least one petal, earning himself
don’t need a reason, Taka-san.”
Kawamura took a step forward, licking his lips faintly when
coveted, intense look. He wanted to say something, anything. Wanted to comment
on the myriad of colors playing over
mouth just looked so…kissable.
“Taka-san?”
laced with amusement and indulgent adoration.
“Yes?” Kawamura answered automatically, transfixed.
“Don’t you want to kiss me?”
Kawamura nodded quickly, stepping forward again to wrap his arms around
pressed close against him. “You’re beautiful.” He whispered, embarrassed to
have said it aloud, but unable to refrain.
Careful not to crush the flowers between them,
and stroked the back of the taller boy’s neck. “So are you, Taka-san.”
Kawamura laughed, his lips grazing
clinging to his lips.
“Are you busy tonight, Shuusuke?” He asked, rubbing his friend’s back in slow
circles, unwilling to let him go just yet.
Instead of answering,
and kissed him softly, lips clinging, teasing, tempting Kawamura to deepen the
kiss. Kawamura made a soft sound and parted his lips, moaning when
own, so slow and deliberate and perfect.
When he pulled away, he smiled at Kawamura. “Stay for dinner, Taka-san? You
must be hungry by now.”
Kawamura closed his fingers around
alight with the happiness he could never conceal. “How did you guess?”
blue petals as they climbed the steps together. “This gum has lost its flavor.”