L'Arc en Ciel Fanfiction .::. Angel and Demon

Chapter 12:~Gambatte, Tet-chan!~

After half an hour, the food was ready. Hyde had put out the fire and remained inside the kitchen, door closed, his heart pounding, his eyes staring blankly at the wall... his mind confused.

"What the hell is this?" Hyde wondered. "It’s... it’s not like Tetsu to come and grab me... and kiss me... like... Oh! Kuso!! Why did he do that?! Why at this moment?!"

Tetsu was wondering the same sitting on the couch in the dining room. He grabbed his head between his hands and bit his lower lip trying not to cry out in shame and barrenness.

"Why did I do that?! Why the hell did I do that?! What the hell did I do it for?!" Rational scolded both Emotional and Lustful inside Tetsu’s head.

"Tetsu you moron! You must be desperate about the band!" Hyde whimpered, and sat on the kitchen floor, his head bent forward, between his hands. "He must think I’m a slut, and he can just... pull out anything with me... to get what he wants. Tet-chan! You are so mean! You are so fucking mean!!" Hyde cried in silence. "Maybe... he just thinks it will boost my ego and make me feel better, and make me go back to singing... He must think I’m that shallow."

"Haido hates me now... I’m sure!" Tetsu thought sinking in the couch. "He must believe I’m teasing him or that I am so cold... Oh... why did I have to do that? I’m not... even... after him... anymore... or... am I? Oh, no... Not again... I’ve discussed this with myself before. I can’t. I just can’t. And this is absolutely not the right moment..."

Ken knocked on the door and Tetsu got up from the couch startled. The sudden sound had echoed like a gun banging inside the room. He walked in hesitation and opened the door to let his friend in.

"Huh? What’s with that spooky face, Tet-chan? I got you your anime!" Ken smiled holding his cigarette between his lips and pushed the tape against Tetsu’s chest.

Tetsu didn’t answer. He took the tape, and left it on the dining room table. Then he walked back to regain his previous position in the couch, and resumed his brooding.

"Huh? Huh? What’s wrong?" Ken asked following Tetsu and noticing the ice calm in the house. "Where’s Haido?"

Tetsu pointed towards the kitchen without raising his head.

"Closed door? You fought?" Ken asked puzzled, tilting his head to one side in order to catch a better sight of the slim man sinking a couple steps from him.

Tetsu didn’t answer. All he wanted at that moment was to disappear.

"You slapped him!" Ken concluded. "Well, don’t worry Tet-chan, I’m sure he deserved it."

Tetsu shook his head and sunk in the couch again. His throat was tied.

"I’ll go talk to him. Uh... He slapped you?"

"No." Tetsu murmured.

"Scratched you? Bit you? Tugged from your hair?..."

"Go to hell!"

"You two switched personalities!!" Ken laughed pointing at Tetsu, but stopped when he saw no reaction in him. "OK, I’m going to see the ‘other’ brat..."

Ken opened the kitchen door and found Hyde sitting on the ground biting distractedly on a piece of bread.

"What are you doing, Doiha-chan?" He asked puzzled and crouched beside him.

"Tet... Tet-chan..." Hyde gasped.

"No. I’m Ken-chan. See? I’m taller and I smoke... Ken-chan da."

"Tet... Tet-chan..."

"You are baka or just plain blind?"

"Tet... chan..."

"Just what the hell happened while I went to rent a couple movies??!!" Ken yelled very irritated.

"Tet... chan..."

"Oh, my God! You two are equally irritating!! Will you tell me what happened?!"

"Tet-chan... kissed... me..." Hyde looked up at Ken perplexed. His face was crossed by an expression of utter pain.

"He... did what?!!"

"Ha-hai..." Hyde looked down again and resumed biting on his piece of bread.

"Well... it’s Tet-chan. If you had kissed him, I wouldn’t worry because you always hug and kiss everyone... you are such a flaming fag... But Tetsu..."

"Okama ja nai." Hyde answered absentmindedly.

"Come here!" Ken grabbed Hyde by an arm and dragged him into the dining room. The smaller man looked like a rag doll being pulled by Ken.

"Tetsu!" Ken called out. Tetsu jumped in the couch startled by the sound. Again the banging of the gun shot. He felt he was being shot endlessly by Ken’s voice... by Rational’s voice.

"Ha-hai?"

"You kissed this guy?!" Ken exclaimed holding Hyde by the arm and waving him in front of Tetsu. Hyde didn’t resist or fight. He was totally aghast and weak. His robe opened in front of his friends, letting them see he was still naked under it. Tetsu looked away clenching his teeth and fists.

"You kissed him?! Answer me!" Ken yelled out.

Tetsu looked down blushing and sighed. "Hai."

Ken dropped Hyde who stood in the middle of the room staring at the floor, and walked towards Tetsu. Tetsu could see Ken’s yelling coming. He could foresee the insults, the scolding, the shaking... But suddenly Ken hugged him and patted his back. (!)

"Oro?"

"Congratulations, Tet-chan! You finally got the guts!"

"Shut uppppp!!!!" Rational was packing up for vacation.

"You wimp! It took you years to get the balls to do this, right? But you did!"

"Ken, shut up!" Tetsu’s eyes pooled in impotence tears, he could feel Rational closing the door and leaving the ‘on vacation’ notice on it.

Hyde raised his head and looked at them puzzled.

"What?" Now he was sure this was a scheme to make him feel better. Of course. They had had plenty of time to plot something like this while he was asleep. Tetsu would fake a crush to make Hyde feel better and resume their activities as a band. He was furious that his friends thought he was so shallow.

Tetsu was so embarrassed he was shaking, he motioned towards the hanger where his coat was, in an obvious attempt to leave Hyde’s apartment.

"Oe, Oe!" Hyde ran and stood in front of him. "Where do you think you are going?" Hyde decided to ruin their plan and punish them.

"Out. Let me out!" Tetsu yelled supplicant. He had to reach Rational and drag him back.

"No. I’m not in the mood to let anyone out today." Hyde answered scrutinizing Tetsu’s red face.

"Listen, Haido... I’m sorry. It won’t happen again..."

"Huh? Naze ka? I liked it. You are a good kisser, Tet-chan. Do it again!" He urged smiling a fake grin.

"Na—Na--Nani?!"

"Oh, Come on!" Hyde pouted tilting his head to one side and smirking evilly.

Ken was overly amused at their conversation. It was obvious to him that Tetsu’s shy reaction encouraged Hyde to pick on him.

"This is so much better than staying at home doing nothing..." Ken thought to himself very pleased and watched smiling broadly.

Tetsu felt his heart pounding inside his chest, the blood running fast along his veins. He wanted to run away, but he couldn’t move. Hyde threw his arms around Tetsu’s neck, his evil grin plastered all over his face. His eyes narrow and demanding. Tetsu stammered. He swallowed with difficulty and finally, he fainted.

"Huh?" Hyde caught Tetsu, the weight of his body dragging him down unexpectedly.

"That’s it, Haido! You got him pregnant!" Ken exclaimed laughing heartily.

"Huh? Nani?" Hyde was puzzled shifting his eyes from Tetsu in his arms and on the floor to Ken sitting on the couch.

"It will be weird cuz you both look so ‘uke’." Ken laughed. "Why don’t you kiss sleeping beauty awake?" He suggested devilishly.

He supposed Hyde would hurl something at him, insult him, or...

"OK." Hyde agreed surprising Ken, and kissed Tetsu a long deep kiss.

Tetsu got up instantly, blushing, rubbing his lips with his both hands. His mind was confused upon waking up to the distorted image of Hyde’s face so close to his. He could feel the tingling sensation on his lips, and a thin transparent thread of saliva that bonded both mouths for a second as Hyde pulled apart grinning. Tetsu caught the shining before it faded away.

"Wha-what the hell...?!" Tetsu screamed tormented.

"It worked." Hyde said smiling self-secure and got up giving Ken a victory sign, which caused the tall guitarist to burst out laughing.

"Well, well... I know my cue... I know when I have to leave... just you two be careful... wear protection... Tet-chan might like colorful ones, ya know..." Ken laughed grabbing his coat, but Hyde pulled from it retaining him.

"You two will stay here, until I say so, since you are having so much fun out of me, and you will clear this situation right away!!" Hyde yelled. "I’m done with the game. Who of you planned this?"

"OK. No plans. We just improvised." Ken sighed. "Tetsu has a crush on you. Situation cleared. Sayounara!" Ken said and motioned towards the door again... again being stopped by Hyde.

"That is not enough!"

"What? You are planning a threesome already?" Ken protested. "Tetsu is the fag, not me."

"This looks so very much like something you would plan, ne? If Tetsu had a secret crush on me, then why did you know?" Hyde asked angrily.

"Tet-chan is a blabbermouth when he’s drunk..." Ken shrugged. "He snores and talks in dreams."

Tetsu was blushing sitting on the floor, unable to mutter a single word. Neither to defend himself against Ken’s accusations, nor against Hyde’s. Not even to contravene the unstylish remarks about him.

"Oh, really? And how come it all happens so suddenly when I’m down and you two are dying for a concert?! What’s going on here Tetsuya?!" Hyde yelled getting increasingly angrier. He couldn’t understand why of all schemes, they had to pull out this one... He couldn’t understand how Tetsu... the one who knew him the best, apart from Sakura, would play this stupid role, and assume he was only feeling bad because he had been rejected... How could Tetsu consider him so shallow?

Tetsu remained shuddering silently.

"Well, this is not sudden. It’s been going on for a long while. Tetsu was kind enough not to let you know because you were soooo in love with Sakura. And about the concert, I dunno what yer talking about." Ken added matter-of-factly.

"What?! You expect me to believe that crap? Why am I supposed to believe this shit?!"

Ken shrugged. "Because Tetsu wouldn’t lie to you about something like this. You would. But he wouldn’t. He’s not that insensitive."

Hyde gaped amazed at Ken’s words.

"And besides, I think maybe you knew, deep inside, you just ignored it." Ken added dryly.

"Tetsuya! Say something!" Hyde ordered.

"I’m sorry..." Tetsu muttered in a low voice, mourning the death of Rational.

"_I’m sorry_ was for the kissing scene before... now say something about Ken confessing your damned feelings!"

"Uh... maybe Ken’s right... I don’t know... it’s been a long time..." Tetsu whispered in a very low voice, unwilling to upset Hyde even more. Hyde became frantic at his words.

"Are you two sure you came here to help me, or just to screw up my head a bit more?!" Hyde yelled.

"Oh! Since when you have a problem with being liked?" Ken laughed, but stopped when he saw both Hyde’s and Tetsu’s angry eyes on him.

"Do as you please..." Hyde snapped and walked towards his bedroom.

Ken opened the door and gave a meaningful look at Tetsu.

"Hey, pal. Go over to him and tell him the truth. It’ll work out. He seems to be more mad at the fact that he never knew than at the fact that you like him."

"Of course he is. He loves attention." Tetsu whispered. "But I’m not sure..."

"You really like him? I mean... you still do? Like before?" Ken asked.

"I’m... not sure..." Tetsu repeated in fear. "Time has numbed my feelings... fear has worked too... I... I..."

"Yeah, you still do. If you didn’t you wouldn’t hesitate." Ken nodded.

"He’s a guy... no matter how much he looks like a girl..." Tetsu tried to reason.

"And he has quite a temper..." Ken added.

"I know."

"He’s one tough cookie... but I bet he’s all mellow inside. It will take you no time to make him see you are not doing this for the band."

"I hope so... If anything, I’m not doing this for the band. I still don’t know why I’m doing it though."

"It was an old pending debt. Even if it doesn’t work, you still had to try, ne?" Ken said smiling. "And if it does you won’t have to worry about food..." he added wickedly.

"Yeah." Tetsu tried to chuckle nervously.

"Yet, his mood swings might be annoying..." Ken went on. "Go steady but cautiously with him."

"Uh... yeah, that’s what I’ll do."

"... and he’s a crybaby."

"Uh, well, yeah."

"But you are a crybaby too sometimes...."

"Un." Tetsu nodded biting his lower lip.

"He’s nice... when he wants to be..."

"Yeah, that’s true too."

"... and since you won’t be his first guy, everything will be easier in bed..."

"Don’t say that, Ken-chan! It’s so embarrassing... I gotta sort out my feelings first. I don’t wanna hurt him... or myself."

"Go for it, Tet-chan! Do your charming thing... You can’t see it yet, but your feelings are obvious." Ken encouraged him smiling.

"Un." Tetsu nodded and got up. Ken left smiling, and lit another cigarette while walking out.

"Tet-chan will do him good..." Ken thought smirking. "Now... I gotta find out about Sakura... he must be devastated."

He got on the elevator smirking, feeling he was the ultimate cool guy in the world.

"Sa... I’m the only straight guy left in this band... They might become a bad influence on me, ne..."