Title: Unable to Move On [3/3]
Season & Theme: Autumn/Re-awakening (Writer's choice)
Band: Gazette
Chapters: 3/3
Author: ryuutsuki
Genre: Angst/Drama
Warnings: None.
Rating: PG
Pairings: ReitaxRuki
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Synopsis: He had lost his way, unable to move forward. Then he came along, reaching out to him. (bad summary D:)
Comments: You know, I forgot to mention this at the very beginning of the fic. This story is actually based upon a comic I'm making. It's just that...there were few gaps that I needed filled for the manga. ^^;; And so I wrote this fic in order to get some ideas. I eventually did fill in the gaps but...I'm so horrible at updating fics. *smacks self*



“Ruki…” Reita glanced towards Aoi, who nodded in response. Being given the ok, he turned the knob and walked in.

It had been months since he had last seen his best friend. It felt like...forever.

The figure before him sat silently against the wall on his bed, dressed completely in white. Once he think about it, everything else was in white. The walls, the floor, the bed…everything. It was a bit unnerving.

Slowly, he strode towards the other. He felt his heart drop little by little as he sat on the bed and stared into those blank eyes. So empty…

Reita didn’t even noticed Aoi leaving. He was in his own world…and that was Ruki. He couldn’t bear for the other to remain in this position forever. But what to say? What to do? What can he do to help?

“…Hey Ruki.” The blonde smiled, grasping a cold hand into his own. “It’s me, Reita. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

He paused. It wouldn’t be a good idea to bring up anything from the present. Maybe a memory or two from the past might help?

“…Ruki? Remember…remember the first time we’ve met? We were what? 5 years old? I remember you being so scared in meeting new people. My family and I moved in next door and you and your mom greeted us. And well…my first thought on you was ‘Wow, he’s really short!’. Of course, I wouldn’t say that in front of you. I think you might beat me up for it if you could. I also remember your puppy always coming to your side, whether you were at home or not. Hey, I would’ve thought your puppy would follow you to school if the teachers let…I remember…you trying to cut flowers from your garden to give to your mom for Mother’s Day. You kept asking me to help you cut some and I ended up helping you. And man, that was a real pain! All those thorns…I wondered why you would only cut the roses and you said because they’re the prettiest among the lot.” The blonde gave a small laugh. “Your mom was so pissed at us but she forgave us when we told her it was for Mother’s Day. Sometimes I couldn’t help but think that your mom was really scary when angered. I had hoped that I wouldn’t become a victim to her punishments or anything.”

“And uh….I remember school. School….god, it was the one thing I hated. Then again, your case was different. You were surprisingly popular when I attended school with you. Elementary,…junior high, and high school. I kinda figured why you were popular eventually. You were quiet and yet you were kind, smart, and talented at many things.” He leaned back against the wall besides Ruki, his hand still clasped with the younger man.

“I admit…I was kind of envious…you were different from me. I was a loner. I had nobody but you. You were the only friend I had. You were the only one who helped me when I fell countless times. Even after all these years, you still stayed by my side. You…made me happy.”

Turning his head to the brunette, he whispered, “Now…I only wished to help you.”

He wrapped an arm around the other’s shoulders and pressed his body close to his, resting his head on the mass of brown locks.

“…If only I knew how to help you…”

Silence greeted them for a few moments before he checked the time. ‘Crap,…I forgot I had errands today. Mom will be so pissed if I don’t go home soon…’

“…I’m so sorry, Ruki. I need to get going but…I’ll come back tomorrow. I’ll make sure to spend more time with you, I promise.” With a small smile tugging against the corners of his lips, Reita squeezed his hand gently before moving away to leave.

Just as he closed the door, the same hand he touched twitched ever so slightly.

--

This went on for two weeks. Reita went and visited his best friend every day, whenever he had time (School is important, you know). He brought up a lot of random events from the past, both good times and bad. No matter what they were, it brought something up within the blonde. Just talking about brought him a bit of happiness because they were all shared with Ruki.

He just hoped that this would help. Two full weeks had gone by and so far, there hadn’t been any improvements.

‘Would he get better? I want him to but…what if he stayed this way? What’s going to happen to him if that happens?’ The blonde bit his lips. No, he shouldn’t think that way. He needs to be strong for Ruki.

The older man checked his watch. 10:30 pm. It was already late.

He had asked his mother and Aoi beforehand if he could accompany Ruki and was given permission to stay with him for the night. Darkness engulfed the two figures within the room. Only a single small window was able to catch the sight of the starry night and the dim rays of the moonlight.

Sitting on a cushioned chair beside the bed, Reita watched as the brunette sleep. He could faintly hear the other’s breathing and his hand clasped firmly against his own for the past half an hour.

He leaned forward and brushed the shorter one’s bangs from his eyes before sighing softly.

If only Ruki knew how he felt…

Sure, he had brought up past memories but…he had never mentioned about his feelings that developed over the past few years.

Reita could never say it to him. Back then, he thought of the many possibilities if he had taken the opportunity to do so. Ruki would reject him flat out and that would also end their relationship as friends. Or maybe he would reject him and asked if they could stay as friends. Or…he would accept and their feelings may be mutual? That would be impossible. For all he knew, Ruki was as straight as an arrow. He had only seen him around girls.

Laying his head against his arms, the blonde stared as he rubbed a thumb over Ruki's cool hand.

He then blinked for a moment before deciding to go to sleep.

"Good night, Ruki..." he mumbled, closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

--

The clock dimly showed 4:20 am when Reita murmured softly in his sleep. He never knew the brunette was shifting lightly, his head tilting to the other man.

"...I love you, Ruki. Don't leave me..."

A few moments later, Ruki cracked his eyes open with some difficulty. Staring drowsily at the blonde before him, he muttered, "Rei-chan..."

Then he closed his eyes once more.

--

The next morning, Reita rubbed his forehead against his arm sleepily as he yawned. Sleeping like that felt pretty uncomfortable.

Sighing to himself, he unconsciously squeezed Ruki's hand...only to find nothing but the sheets underneath. He raised his head abruptly. The bed was empty.

'Ruki's...Ruki's not here?!' Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around Reita's shoulders. He turned to find the brunette smiling at him.

"Yo...when did you come back?"

The blonde was speechless. He...Ruki...what?

"Ruki..." He pulled the other into a tight embrace. "You're...awake...! But how...?"

Reita felt the brunette smile once more. "You told me something that I've been waiting to hear all these years..."

Feeling very confused, he released Ruki with widened eyes. "...What was it?"

"I think you were asleep when you said it. You said, 'I love you, Ruki.'" the other replied.

The tall blonde gaped in shock, his face started to heat up in embarrassment. "I...I..."

"And I wanted to say I love you too." Ruki interrupted with a grin.

"You do...?"

He nodded in reply.

"I...thought you were straight." Reita lowered his head, trying to cover his blush. He wondered why could he blush so easily.

"Hm...I may have been seen around girls but I also kept my distance. Obviously, you had not realized."

"Oh? Well-"

"Ah! Takanori-kun's awake! That's great!" Both men turned to see Aoi, Kai, and Uruha standing by the door with smiles on their faces.

"You are amazing, Akira-kun." Aoi started. "And we welcome you back to the land of the living, Takanori-kun."

"Eh? What do you mean by that?" Ruki asked, raising a brow.

"You...don't remember what happened?" Kai asked slowly.

The brunette lowered his head with a grim expression. "...I do. I remembered everything."

Reita glanced up to him and patted his back reassuringly.

"...I'm sorry, Takanori-kun."

Ruki simply nodded.

"Anyways,...I just want you to know that the criminals were caught yesterday. You need to be there in court to justify." Aoi said softly.

He nodded again. "When?"

"In two weeks."

"Okay."

Stroding towards Reita and Ruki, the dark-haired man then said, "I'll be handing you the papers tomorrow. Akira-kun, if it's alright with you, he will stay at your house."

The blonde nodded. "Of course."

"That's good to know." Aoi suddenly grinned. "In the meantime, why don't the both of you go out on a date or something? Uruha, can you give Takanori-kun his clothes?"

Uruha nodded and handed the brunette his clothes before the two could say anything.

"Wha...?" Ruki looked down at the bundle in his arms, still shocked.

"Don't think we didn't know. We heard your confessions just a few minutes ago." Kai grinned.

"Wha-wha-wha....j-just go already!" Ruki shooed them away, his face red as a tomato.

Reita also walked out, muttering somewhere along the lines of "Those fools, how could they?" and "I'll be waiting outside..."

The brunette stared at his clothes for a few minutes before putting them on silently and quickly headed out of the building to where Reita was waiting. On the way, he heard Uruha called, "Don't be out late! You gonna have to come back soon, you hear me?"

Kai also called out from the reception. "Take care, okay?"

"Yes, yes, I know. See you guys later!" Ruki waved as he scanned for the blonde outside. Reita stood nearby a tree with both hands shoved into his pockets.

Striding over, the brunette asked, "Let's go?"

Reita nodded once.

"Oh...almost forgot. Ne, Rei-chan?"

"Wha-"

Ruki pressed his lips against the blonde's with a grin.

"Thank you...for saving me."

Reita grinned as well. "...And thank you for loving me."


The End.


A/N: (;_________;) Finished. Much love to those who commented on my fic. Very appreciated.