PROTECT ME: CHAPTER TWO

[andrew_in_drag]

Title: Protect Me
Author: andrew_in_drag
Pairing: Kaoru x Toshiya
Rating: mature
Warnings: sex, rudeness, swears, boyish attitudes, AU
Chapter: 2/??
Previously: >> prologue <<  >> chapter one <<
Synopsis: “Toshimasa Hara. Even now I sometimes find it hard to decide if his name gives me heartache or a headache…”

As a police officer in Shinsekai, Osaka, Kaoru has seen his fair share of trouble. Chaos takes a human form, however, in Toshiya Hara, a young local who seems intent on showing him that sometimes the right way is not always the good way, and that sometimes the wrong way can be the path to redemption. 

CHAPTER TWO

Spring that year came early and wet. The weather turned warm almost overnight, and the continual mix of sunshine and rain showers had me counting rainbows from day to day as I patrolled the streets. I felt Shinsekai was at its best in the springtime, and more and more often I found myself climbing the Tsutenkaku Tower during my lunch breaks, just to see how sweet and fresh the air was when you found yourself so high above the city.

I didn’t need to avoid Toshiya. Perhaps the rain had kept him off the streets, or maybe the other fifty thousand people in Naniwa-ku were camouflaging him from my sight. Every time I stepped out of the koban, I expected to run into him, but he remained almost frustratingly absent. For each day that passed without him, I was both grateful and mournful.

Spring brought out the colours of the neighbourhood. Shopkeepers coaxed potted weeds to grow up over their awnings, and all of a sudden more schoolchildren seemed to be out on the street. Some of them were still young enough to have been untouched by their surroundings; they smiled and sang at me, and ran in circles around the koban.

That seemed to be the spring of lost items. On one day alone I had fourteen different bags handed into me: handbags, rucksacks, school satchels. That was the fourteenth of March, a day when it rained a lot. I made detailed notes in the lost and found records of the police box, but most were reclaimed within my working hours; all but one, actually. I deliberated over whether to leave it in the hands of my relieving officer, or take it to the precinct. That wasn’t normal practice, but it wasn’t a normal bag.

My notes read:

Description – Black, small, silver chain detail on front/sides, fringing on underside. Unbranded.

Contents – 1 black eyeliner pencil, 1 packet cigarettes, 1 disposable lighter, ¥3700 in assorted change, 4 bags cannabis (approx. 1 gram each), 1 packet swan super king rolling papers.

Even the possession of small amounts of cannabis could land some kid with a five year jail sentence; add intent to supply to the list of charges, and the potential for heavy sentencing grew. It made me sad to see young people taken up so severely for soft drugs, but the thing about being a police officer is that the law is the law, and no matter how you feel about it, you have to follow it.

Whilst I was making up my mind over the bag, Toshiya jumped back into my life.

“Kaoru! I told you I’d see you soon. Is this where you usually are, then? This koban?”

I stuffed the bag into my own black rucksack and smiled hurriedly, noting that the sight of him was almost too much for my tired eyes. He wore a long red tank top with a hood, and he seemed to have added another pair of insanely tight jeans to his collection. On his feet he wore battered motorcycle boots. His wrists jingled with jewellery. I noticed a single silver barrette clipped in his otherwise loose hair, seemingly without function. His hair was wet and longer than I had thought before. I wanted to touch it.

“Hi, Toshiya. I sometimes work here, yes, but now I’m just leaving.”

“Oh?” he ran his fingers through a few damp locks of his hair. The sound produced by his bracelets was musical. “Where are you going?”

“Home,” I said, firmer than I had intended, “Home for the night.”

 “You mean you’re finally off duty? Come and have dinner with me.”

“Toshiya—”

“I’ll pay.”

“I really don’t—”

“Okay, we’ll split it.” He grinned at me. “Come on, Kaoru. Can’t you see I’m all hungry and wet? Don’t you want to cover me with your big police umbrella and make me eat something before I collapse and die?”

I sighed, but I couldn’t help but marvel at his persistence. It made me waver: I wanted to have dinner with him. Toshiya was so different from everyone I’d ever known that I seemed to regard him as some strange new species; I had an almost scientific curiosity to see what foods he ate and where he went. 

“You are so confident,” I muttered, my thoughts spilling out of my mouth before I could stop them. His eyes widened and then softened; reading my embarrassment, he laughed gently.

“Yeah, I am,” he agreed, his tone not unkind. “Not many people say no to me.”

I cleared my throat, nodded awkwardly, “I don’t imagine they do.”

There was a new seriousness in his demeanour as he shook his head: the moment between us was uncomfortable but somehow compelling. I was so cool, so cool around most people. I didn’t understand what he was doing to me. Shaking my head, I backed away.

“Sorry, Toshiya. I should really go home.”

“Sure. Okay, but you’re still a policeman, right?”

I hesitated. “Well, I’m off duty, but yes, of course.”

“Okay then.” He rounded on me. “I’m lost. You need to help me get home. You need to give me directions. I can’t read maps so I think you’re probably going to have to walk me to where I’m going.”

The energy in his eyes was exhausting. I realised that perhaps the reason he kept hassling me was because I kept saying no to him; perhaps I had even been the first unattainable person in his life. It made me smile to myself: despite his beauty and confidence, his ego still wouldn’t let him refuse the chase. I acknowledged that I was a challenge. Once he had me, he would probably discard me.

I sighed, making a chore out of opening my umbrella simply to buy time. “Toshiya, won’t your boyfriend be mad?”

He stepped forth under my shelter, smiling. “I won’t tell.”

I know we made an odd couple, walking through those rainy streets. Despite his protestations of being lost, he led me confidently through the district, and a lot of people stopped what they were doing to wave at him as he passed. He walked close to me, and kept his hood up even though my police issue umbrella covered us both amply. I couldn’t help but notice that when we were pressed together like that, my hip fit in below his like a jigsaw piece; you might have thought we were made for it.

He seemed a little pensive, so we mostly walked in comfortable silence. I was almost too drunk on his closeness to risk opening my mouth; I felt as if my tongue might betray me and start frantically declaring love for him. Of course, I wasn’t in love: I was merely infatuated, and most of the attraction was based on dreams anyway. Still, his presence was exciting. His hand was next to mine, not holding it, but brushing it occasionally. I regretted the white gloves of my uniform.

“Oh,” he said suddenly, “I know I said we’d split it, but I don’t really pay for dates.”

All the blood in my body seemed to rush to my feet. “This is a date?” I squawked.

His laughter rang. “I’m teasing you. But I lost my bag earlier, so if we’re getting dinner, which we are, you’re going to have to cough up. I’ll get you back later. I’ll pay for our second…date.” He grinned, relishing the word as if it were some delicious fruit he was sinking his teeth into, and though I laughed and agreed that I would indeed pay, my hands seemed frozen on the strap of my own bag. I wore it on one shoulder; now, I handed him the umbrella and swung my rucksack around in front of me.

“Can you describe the bag?” I said, coldness creeping into my voice, “You know, we’ve had a few handed in today.”

He hesitated. “Sure. Of course. It’s black, pretty small, got like, fringe on the bottom? There’re a few chains on it as well.” He paused again. “I made it myself. I make a lot of things myself. Clothes and stuff.” 

I closed my eyes for something longer than a blink. The nervousness was evident in his voice; slowly, I pulled his bag out from my own.

“This the one?” I asked, my voice seeming to stall in my throat. Neither of us were walking anymore, and although he put his hand out for his property, he took a slight step back.

“Um, yeah. Look, Kaoru—”

“It’s nice,” I interrupted suddenly, and he silenced.

“Thanks.” His voice was small. I let the bag pass over from my hands to his. The quiet continued as I settled my own bag back on my shoulder and took the umbrella from him. When I could not look down anymore, I let my eyes collide with his.

“Kaoru,” he said again, his voice so soft I could barely hear it over the rain, “Listen, I know you’re going to want to take me in, but please, just let me walk away from you, and I promise you won’t ever see me again. I’ll be good as gold. I won’t do it again. Please, Kaoru.” He bit his lip. “Come on. Take care of me?”

Whilst he spoke I struggled with myself; when I looked at him, the pleading in his eyes set me free.

“Don’t be silly,” I smiled, my voice becoming natural once again, “I don’t need to take you in just because you collected your lost property. You described it perfectly. And if you walk away from me, I don’t get to buy you dinner.”

“Kaoru,” he said quietly.

“I want to buy you dinner,” I repeated uncomfortably. For a few moments, we stared at each other beneath the umbrella. His hand touched mine over the handle briefly. Slowly, calmly, he laid a gentle kiss on my cheek. About half a minute passed before, together, we continued to walk along the dark and rainy streets. 

>> to chapter three >>

Comments

[leifang666.livejournal.com]

Ahhh how sweet. :)

[lady-sb.livejournal.com]

How extremely adorable. I have to tell you I love Toshiya's voice in this, the playfulness.

Thanks for the quick updates, any idea how long its gonna be?

[andrew-in-drag.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have a lot of fun writing Toshiya's dialogue. It's probably my favourite part of this!

As for how long it's gonna be, hmmm...I'm currently writing the fourth and fifth chapters, and they're not yet broaching my main plot (although chapter five does have sex, so that's alright), so I'm going to say...pretty long. I'm anticipating 20+ chapters. That tends to be my average fic length. One thing I will say: I cannot, for the life of me, keep things short!

[megumip.livejournal.com]

Loving the quick updates :)
Love the fic too.

[tcharlatan.livejournal.com]

Uh-oh~! Bad Kaoru... it's a slippery slope he's starting down, I think. I really do like this; everything is very well written, decriptive without being drawn out. I love how distinct their voices are.

[andrew-in-drag.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm really glad you're enjoying this. And yes, he's on a slippery slope indeed...!

[vmnoneko.livejournal.com]

ah, a kiss!! After all the sexual tensions*o*! Me excited now~XD