[Chaptered] just vanilla (Chapter Nine)
Title: just vanilla
Author: Annie
Pairing: Juri x Taiga, Yasui x Taiga, Keigo x Juri (friendship), Hokuto x Taiga (friendship)
Genre: Fluff, Romance
Rating: PG
Summary: When Taiga finds himself falling in love with the boy behind the counter of an ice cream store, he can't help but feel his heart being torn in hesitancy as another boy steps in between them, intent on claiming Taiga's heart for his own. Taiga must then choose whether to follow his heart or to give in to the other boy, whose confession he just can't bring himself to reject.
A/N: Unfortunately, due to my failure to finish posting this before school started, real life has caught up to me, and that means I'm really sorry, I'll be really busy from now, so it might be a while before I post anything after finishing this fic... I'm still working on stuff (for both the juniors and JUMP)... slowly, but eventually I'll post again when I get the chance! >< Sorry for the wait! Now to get to sleep before my chemistry test tomorrow.. =___=
Chapter Nine: Fumbling around fate
I’ll give us one more chance...
If Juri and I are truly not meant to be together, Kentaro will be the one standing behind the counter, smiling and welcoming me as he so often does...
Juri is hardly at the store when I come looking for him, but if he’s there today... on this day that I need him most...
It’ll mean we still have a chance...
A chance to be together.
I’ll bet it all on fate...
That day, Taiga pushed open the doors and lifted his gaze, searchingly, over to the counter, and a sigh whispered from his lips. Walking slowly, Taiga approached with caged breath.
“I can’t believe... you’re here,” a smile softy illuminated his gentle features.
“T-Taiga,” Juri stammered, as if almost fearing his presence.
“I’m so glad...” Taiga lowered his eyes, trying to hide the fact that he was blinking back his tears of relief. He felt as if a stifling burden had just been lifted from his chest. But despite this, Taiga kept a greater distance than usual between Juri and himself, as though he was afraid propinquity might lead him to temptation. He didn’t have the right to do anything more than to merely speak to Juri, in veiled civility. Hesitance plagued his mind.
We were given another chance...
Does this mean…
The two of us….
Are we really meant to be?
“I-I’m glad to see you, too,” Juri murmured almost inaudibly. “I... I really need to talk to you,” he mumbled, his eyes cast in shadow, unwilling to meet Taiga’s trouble gaze. “About what happened... before, in the park...” Juri’s fingers clenched as he gripped the edges of the cash register, trying to calm his afflicted mind.
Taiga quickly shook his head, placing his hand on Juri’s, trying to relax the younger boy’s tense grip. But under Taiga’s touch, Juri’s heart throbbed awfully, the warmth of a mixture of both shyness and frustration rushing to his cheeks, washing away any of his previously troubled thoughts. It was comfort, to say the very least, but it was torture as well.
Taiga was just so close, yet Juri still couldn’t claim his heart.
“It’s all right, we don’t have to talk about it, if it’s too much to ask,” Taiga whispered softly. But in his mind, he desperately begged for Juri to tell him what he had been about to say.
Say you love me... please, just tell me...
To his dismay, Juri merely nodded, his eyes remaining downcast.
Fear clouded Juri’s mind. If he doesn’t want to hear it, I can’t force myself to confess... he told himself weakly.
“So... just vanilla again today?” He asked Taiga hopefully, attempting to change the subject. He lifted his gaze, allowing his usual, gentle smile to brighten his countenance. But where he had expected to see Taiga’s eyes smiling back at him, in cheerful agreement, Juri was instead met by a gaze that was darkened by worry.
“Is everything all right?” Keigo’s voice called from within the back room. He stepped out with a spoonful of ice cream in hand and a puzzled expression on his face. “You guys look rather sad,” he noted, an eyebrow raised in questioning.
“We’re fine,” Juri quickly answered, doing his best to dispel the tension. “Did you need something, Keigo?” he asked curiously, wishing to direct the attention elsewhere.
“Oh! Right, I just came out here to see if you wanted to try the new ice cream flavor that came in today,” Keigo grinned at Juri, offering him the spoonful that he had brought out with him. “It’s supposed to be some new, revamped version of traditional vanilla, like with all different sorts of nuts in it!” His eyes brightened with excitement as he spoke.
Juri laughed amusedly at Keigo’s innocent enthusiasm. “Sure! I’m guessing you think it tastes awesome?” he smiled.
“It does!” Keigo nodded happily. “I can go get you a spoonful, too, Taiga.”
Taiga shook his head, forcing a smile, “It’s okay, thanks, Keigo.”
“All right, if you say so,” Keigo shrugged, unperturbed. “You’ve got to try this, though, Juri!” he insisted, holding up the ice cream to Juri’s lips.
Juri grinned sheepishly and complied, leaning forward to close his mouth around the spoon in Keigo’s hand. Keigo’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he watched Juri lips touched with vanilla, the smooth cream painting his lips a pale white. Their faces close, Juri’s smile reflected in Keigo’s eyes, yielding a pang of jealousy to bite at Taiga’s mind.
Taiga felt as if the burden that had just been lifted suddenly returned, bearing down on his chest once more, like a dark shadow clouding his heart. He could only watch as Juri directed his eyes and his smile to the other boy, who then lightly slid the spoon out from between Juri’s lips, his gaze reflecting a similar, captivated happiness.
“What do you think?” Keigo asked eagerly, his eyes never leaving Juri’s.
“It’s great,” Juri nodded back. He leaned in towards Keigo once more to whisper something in Keigo’s ear, causing the younger boy’s eyes to light up in delight.
But across the counter, Taiga’s eyes only darkened as he looked on, envy tearing him apart.
This awful feeling inside... Seeing Juri happy without me, laughing without me, and instead, with someone else...
Why does it hurt so badly?
Only at the sudden call of “Keigo!” did Taiga see the two of them break apart. “I think you left the door to the freezer open!” Kentaro’s voice could be herd coming from the back room. Taiga had never felt so relieved to hear Kentaro’s voice before.
Panic flashed across Keigo’s face, he immediately apologized and headed back to the storage room in a hurry. Juri only laughed, seeing his friend rush away in such a haste.
I’d so much rather Keigo run off to Kentaro than to stay around Juri... Feeling the pinch of regret in his heart, Taiga sighed in defeat.
I just can’t force myself to fall for anyone else...
Even after all Kentaro’s done...
Why...
Why does Juri do this to me?
“Sorry about that,” Juri’s smile softened towards Taiga. “Keigo’s a little absentminded at times,” he explained, amusement lining his tone.
Taiga merely forced himself to look away. Juri’s smile was too distracting, infatuating, maddening. In an attempt to avoid the younger boy’s gaze, Taiga’s wandering eyes caught a glimpse of the vanilla still dabbed at the corner of Juri’s lips.
“Here, don’t move,” he murmured softly, by instinct reaching across the counter to gently wipe Juri’s lips with his thumb.
“Tai..ga…?”
His black eyes flashed up to Juri’s face for one moment by way of answer. Far too focused on this task, Taiga hadn’t even noticed that Juri’s eyes had widened in surprise at his sudden gesture.
He didn’t notice, that is, until their gazes met.
And in that very instant, Taiga felt himself falling, losing himself within Juri’s dark, unwavering eyes. He was falling through the air, heart pounding, cheeks flushing, breath hitching; he couldn’t help it.
He was falling in love.
But with a crash, Juri shattered the gaze with a flustered, “S-So vanilla, right?”
He turned away in a rush, fumbling to prepare his ice cream. “H-Here you go,” he nodded as he handed Taiga the cone.
Taiga nodded back slowly, his mind still in a blur from his fall. Blinking twice in an attempt to clear his thoughts, Taiga quickly reached out to take the ice cream. But in his haste, his fingers accidentally brushed against Juri’s hand, and the younger boy jerked under his touch, letting go of the cone before Taiga had even fully grasped it. To his despair, the ice cream, tossed into the air, landed on Taiga’s pink shirt, and the white cream seeped into the fabric almost instantly.
Juri’s eyes widened in horror. “I am so sorry!” he immediately apologized. Rushing over to the other side of the counter, he hurriedly led Taiga into the back room, where a surprised Keigo greeted them with a suspicious look. “Kentaro just told me he’s going to go on his break now...” He stated slowly, unsure as to what was going on.
“Great, that means I have time to fix this, before he gets back. Can you cover for my shift right now?” Juri begged, not wanting to get in trouble for abandoning the cash register.
“Sure? Are you two all right?” Keigo grinned playfully.
“Yes, now go, please!” Juri insisted, practically pushing his friend out the door before hurrying to the other side of the room. “Taiga, there’s a sink over here,” Juri gestured for Taiga to come over to where he was standing.
Taiga nodded, following his words. He then realized what he would have to do in order to wash his shirt. This is ridiculous... Taiga laughed wryly to himself. But he didn’t want to wait for Juri to have to ask.
Taking a deep breath, he sighed softly, before pulling his shirt off over his head in one swift motion. Casual, unperturbed, that’s how he would have to force himself to seem.
Juri’s felt his heart flutter uncontrollably as his eyes fleeted across Taiga’s exposed body, not daring to extend his gaze for too long. He took the shirt from Taiga, averting the other’s gaze as he turned on the faucet, allowing the water to rush down the fabric, washing away the cream. Plugging the drain, he soaked the cloth in soapy water before turning his attention back to Taiga.
“H-Here, you can take my shirt,” Juri offered hastily, pulling off his uniform and thrusting it in Taiga’s direction; he was still too shy to gaze at the older boy’s body. “I don’t want you to catch a cold...”
“O-Oh, thanks,” Taiga nodded, unable to resist the warmth of blush invading his cheeks. “But what about you?”
“I have my own shirt; I’ll get it from my locker later. You can just return my uniform to me tomorrow. Besides, I’m used to cold, working in an ice cream store,” Juri shrugged, trying his best to hide the pounding beneath his bare chest.
“O-Oh,” Taiga nodded once more, not wanting to argue. Slipping on the uniform, his heart skipped a beat, throbbing, feeling Juri’s warmth so fully, so gently, envelope him.
By the time his gaze drifted back to glance over at the younger boy, Juri had already turned away from him, busy battling away at the stain. Unconsciously, Taiga’s eyes riveted themselves upon Juri’s exposed form, his cheeks colored a bright pink as he realized he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Sitting himself down on a bench by a stack of crates nearby, Taiga couldn’t help but admire the warm glow of the sun slanting in by the window upon his friend’s unclothed back. At first, he dared not look straight up at him, but his eyes soon lifted, to treasure the look of sincere concentration reflected in Juri’s eyes, portraying his unmistakable regret for his blunder.
Juri, not having noticed Taiga gazing tenderly at him from behind, only smiled sheepishly when he heard Taiga murmur a soft, “Thank you, Juri.”
Not wanting to turn around to let Taiga see the reddening warmth that had risen in his cheeks, Juri merely kept his composure, not looking back as he whispered, “You’re welcome,” before diving his hands back into the soapy water.
Author: Annie
Pairing: Juri x Taiga, Yasui x Taiga, Keigo x Juri (friendship), Hokuto x Taiga (friendship)
Genre: Fluff, Romance
Rating: PG
Summary: When Taiga finds himself falling in love with the boy behind the counter of an ice cream store, he can't help but feel his heart being torn in hesitancy as another boy steps in between them, intent on claiming Taiga's heart for his own. Taiga must then choose whether to follow his heart or to give in to the other boy, whose confession he just can't bring himself to reject.
A/N: Unfortunately, due to my failure to finish posting this before school started, real life has caught up to me, and that means I'm really sorry, I'll be really busy from now, so it might be a while before I post anything after finishing this fic... I'm still working on stuff (for both the juniors and JUMP)... slowly, but eventually I'll post again when I get the chance! >< Sorry for the wait! Now to get to sleep before my chemistry test tomorrow.. =___=
Chapter Nine: Fumbling around fate
I’ll give us one more chance...
If Juri and I are truly not meant to be together, Kentaro will be the one standing behind the counter, smiling and welcoming me as he so often does...
Juri is hardly at the store when I come looking for him, but if he’s there today... on this day that I need him most...
It’ll mean we still have a chance...
A chance to be together.
I’ll bet it all on fate...
That day, Taiga pushed open the doors and lifted his gaze, searchingly, over to the counter, and a sigh whispered from his lips. Walking slowly, Taiga approached with caged breath.
“I can’t believe... you’re here,” a smile softy illuminated his gentle features.
“T-Taiga,” Juri stammered, as if almost fearing his presence.
“I’m so glad...” Taiga lowered his eyes, trying to hide the fact that he was blinking back his tears of relief. He felt as if a stifling burden had just been lifted from his chest. But despite this, Taiga kept a greater distance than usual between Juri and himself, as though he was afraid propinquity might lead him to temptation. He didn’t have the right to do anything more than to merely speak to Juri, in veiled civility. Hesitance plagued his mind.
We were given another chance...
Does this mean…
The two of us….
Are we really meant to be?
“I-I’m glad to see you, too,” Juri murmured almost inaudibly. “I... I really need to talk to you,” he mumbled, his eyes cast in shadow, unwilling to meet Taiga’s trouble gaze. “About what happened... before, in the park...” Juri’s fingers clenched as he gripped the edges of the cash register, trying to calm his afflicted mind.
Taiga quickly shook his head, placing his hand on Juri’s, trying to relax the younger boy’s tense grip. But under Taiga’s touch, Juri’s heart throbbed awfully, the warmth of a mixture of both shyness and frustration rushing to his cheeks, washing away any of his previously troubled thoughts. It was comfort, to say the very least, but it was torture as well.
Taiga was just so close, yet Juri still couldn’t claim his heart.
“It’s all right, we don’t have to talk about it, if it’s too much to ask,” Taiga whispered softly. But in his mind, he desperately begged for Juri to tell him what he had been about to say.
Say you love me... please, just tell me...
To his dismay, Juri merely nodded, his eyes remaining downcast.
Fear clouded Juri’s mind. If he doesn’t want to hear it, I can’t force myself to confess... he told himself weakly.
“So... just vanilla again today?” He asked Taiga hopefully, attempting to change the subject. He lifted his gaze, allowing his usual, gentle smile to brighten his countenance. But where he had expected to see Taiga’s eyes smiling back at him, in cheerful agreement, Juri was instead met by a gaze that was darkened by worry.
“Is everything all right?” Keigo’s voice called from within the back room. He stepped out with a spoonful of ice cream in hand and a puzzled expression on his face. “You guys look rather sad,” he noted, an eyebrow raised in questioning.
“We’re fine,” Juri quickly answered, doing his best to dispel the tension. “Did you need something, Keigo?” he asked curiously, wishing to direct the attention elsewhere.
“Oh! Right, I just came out here to see if you wanted to try the new ice cream flavor that came in today,” Keigo grinned at Juri, offering him the spoonful that he had brought out with him. “It’s supposed to be some new, revamped version of traditional vanilla, like with all different sorts of nuts in it!” His eyes brightened with excitement as he spoke.
Juri laughed amusedly at Keigo’s innocent enthusiasm. “Sure! I’m guessing you think it tastes awesome?” he smiled.
“It does!” Keigo nodded happily. “I can go get you a spoonful, too, Taiga.”
Taiga shook his head, forcing a smile, “It’s okay, thanks, Keigo.”
“All right, if you say so,” Keigo shrugged, unperturbed. “You’ve got to try this, though, Juri!” he insisted, holding up the ice cream to Juri’s lips.
Juri grinned sheepishly and complied, leaning forward to close his mouth around the spoon in Keigo’s hand. Keigo’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he watched Juri lips touched with vanilla, the smooth cream painting his lips a pale white. Their faces close, Juri’s smile reflected in Keigo’s eyes, yielding a pang of jealousy to bite at Taiga’s mind.
Taiga felt as if the burden that had just been lifted suddenly returned, bearing down on his chest once more, like a dark shadow clouding his heart. He could only watch as Juri directed his eyes and his smile to the other boy, who then lightly slid the spoon out from between Juri’s lips, his gaze reflecting a similar, captivated happiness.
“What do you think?” Keigo asked eagerly, his eyes never leaving Juri’s.
“It’s great,” Juri nodded back. He leaned in towards Keigo once more to whisper something in Keigo’s ear, causing the younger boy’s eyes to light up in delight.
But across the counter, Taiga’s eyes only darkened as he looked on, envy tearing him apart.
This awful feeling inside... Seeing Juri happy without me, laughing without me, and instead, with someone else...
Why does it hurt so badly?
Only at the sudden call of “Keigo!” did Taiga see the two of them break apart. “I think you left the door to the freezer open!” Kentaro’s voice could be herd coming from the back room. Taiga had never felt so relieved to hear Kentaro’s voice before.
Panic flashed across Keigo’s face, he immediately apologized and headed back to the storage room in a hurry. Juri only laughed, seeing his friend rush away in such a haste.
I’d so much rather Keigo run off to Kentaro than to stay around Juri... Feeling the pinch of regret in his heart, Taiga sighed in defeat.
I just can’t force myself to fall for anyone else...
Even after all Kentaro’s done...
Why...
Why does Juri do this to me?
“Sorry about that,” Juri’s smile softened towards Taiga. “Keigo’s a little absentminded at times,” he explained, amusement lining his tone.
Taiga merely forced himself to look away. Juri’s smile was too distracting, infatuating, maddening. In an attempt to avoid the younger boy’s gaze, Taiga’s wandering eyes caught a glimpse of the vanilla still dabbed at the corner of Juri’s lips.
“Here, don’t move,” he murmured softly, by instinct reaching across the counter to gently wipe Juri’s lips with his thumb.
“Tai..ga…?”
His black eyes flashed up to Juri’s face for one moment by way of answer. Far too focused on this task, Taiga hadn’t even noticed that Juri’s eyes had widened in surprise at his sudden gesture.
He didn’t notice, that is, until their gazes met.
And in that very instant, Taiga felt himself falling, losing himself within Juri’s dark, unwavering eyes. He was falling through the air, heart pounding, cheeks flushing, breath hitching; he couldn’t help it.
He was falling in love.
But with a crash, Juri shattered the gaze with a flustered, “S-So vanilla, right?”
He turned away in a rush, fumbling to prepare his ice cream. “H-Here you go,” he nodded as he handed Taiga the cone.
Taiga nodded back slowly, his mind still in a blur from his fall. Blinking twice in an attempt to clear his thoughts, Taiga quickly reached out to take the ice cream. But in his haste, his fingers accidentally brushed against Juri’s hand, and the younger boy jerked under his touch, letting go of the cone before Taiga had even fully grasped it. To his despair, the ice cream, tossed into the air, landed on Taiga’s pink shirt, and the white cream seeped into the fabric almost instantly.
Juri’s eyes widened in horror. “I am so sorry!” he immediately apologized. Rushing over to the other side of the counter, he hurriedly led Taiga into the back room, where a surprised Keigo greeted them with a suspicious look. “Kentaro just told me he’s going to go on his break now...” He stated slowly, unsure as to what was going on.
“Great, that means I have time to fix this, before he gets back. Can you cover for my shift right now?” Juri begged, not wanting to get in trouble for abandoning the cash register.
“Sure? Are you two all right?” Keigo grinned playfully.
“Yes, now go, please!” Juri insisted, practically pushing his friend out the door before hurrying to the other side of the room. “Taiga, there’s a sink over here,” Juri gestured for Taiga to come over to where he was standing.
Taiga nodded, following his words. He then realized what he would have to do in order to wash his shirt. This is ridiculous... Taiga laughed wryly to himself. But he didn’t want to wait for Juri to have to ask.
Taking a deep breath, he sighed softly, before pulling his shirt off over his head in one swift motion. Casual, unperturbed, that’s how he would have to force himself to seem.
Juri’s felt his heart flutter uncontrollably as his eyes fleeted across Taiga’s exposed body, not daring to extend his gaze for too long. He took the shirt from Taiga, averting the other’s gaze as he turned on the faucet, allowing the water to rush down the fabric, washing away the cream. Plugging the drain, he soaked the cloth in soapy water before turning his attention back to Taiga.
“H-Here, you can take my shirt,” Juri offered hastily, pulling off his uniform and thrusting it in Taiga’s direction; he was still too shy to gaze at the older boy’s body. “I don’t want you to catch a cold...”
“O-Oh, thanks,” Taiga nodded, unable to resist the warmth of blush invading his cheeks. “But what about you?”
“I have my own shirt; I’ll get it from my locker later. You can just return my uniform to me tomorrow. Besides, I’m used to cold, working in an ice cream store,” Juri shrugged, trying his best to hide the pounding beneath his bare chest.
“O-Oh,” Taiga nodded once more, not wanting to argue. Slipping on the uniform, his heart skipped a beat, throbbing, feeling Juri’s warmth so fully, so gently, envelope him.
By the time his gaze drifted back to glance over at the younger boy, Juri had already turned away from him, busy battling away at the stain. Unconsciously, Taiga’s eyes riveted themselves upon Juri’s exposed form, his cheeks colored a bright pink as he realized he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Sitting himself down on a bench by a stack of crates nearby, Taiga couldn’t help but admire the warm glow of the sun slanting in by the window upon his friend’s unclothed back. At first, he dared not look straight up at him, but his eyes soon lifted, to treasure the look of sincere concentration reflected in Juri’s eyes, portraying his unmistakable regret for his blunder.
Juri, not having noticed Taiga gazing tenderly at him from behind, only smiled sheepishly when he heard Taiga murmur a soft, “Thank you, Juri.”
Not wanting to turn around to let Taiga see the reddening warmth that had risen in his cheeks, Juri merely kept his composure, not looking back as he whispered, “You’re welcome,” before diving his hands back into the soapy water.