[Chaptered] telling lies - chapter one
Title: telling lies
Author: Annie
Pairing: Juri x Taiga, Hokuto x Taiga, Jesse x Hokuto
Genre: Fluff, Romance, Drama
Rating: PG
Summary Just when Juri thinks he finally won Taiga's heart, Hokuto returns to steal Taiga back. As hidden emotions from the past resurface, Hagiya tries desperately to hold onto Yasui, and Juri can only try to hold onto Taiga, even when the older boy starts to slip away.
A/N: Sequel to " keeping secrets" :) dedicated to isshofluffy for her (late) birthday!! :D I'm really mad at myself for being so late with this... but I can only blame school. xD I'm on break now, so I plan to write a lot! :3 Frankly, I'm also going through some real life relationship issues, so as usual, I am writing some of it into my fic... doing so really helps me vent my stress... x)
Chapter One: breaking trust
“Trust me...”
Juri could clearly read the two words formed so softly by Hokuto’s lips. The lips that, seconds later, had gently kissed Taiga’s forehead. Taiga had lowered his gaze shyly, a pale pink blush visible on his cheeks. Juri could feel his heart heavy, hurting. Indescribable pain.
I thought... you promised, Taiga... You promised you would love me...
A day had since passed, but the clear image of Hokuto, his hand on Taiga’s warm cheek, returned to Juri’s mind. Visible, unfading. The pain soon followed, rekindling as well.
On his way to pick up Taiga to walk to school together as routine nowadays, Juri’s steps slowed, heavy as the weight bearing down on his chest.
Have I done something wrong?
I must’ve.
But Juri didn’t understand what. What had he done wrong? Why was Taiga punishing him like this? Juri frowned, stopping himself just as his fingers were about to press the doorbell.
From within the soft white curtains of his living room, Taiga watched as Juri hesitated, just outside his door.
Juri...
Taiga wanted desperately to open the door and apologize to his friend. To tell him he loved him. But Taiga didn’t have the courage to do so. He probably hates me... already.
With a final deep breath, Taiga forced himself to open the door.
“I told you to stay away from me...” was all he could whisper, as he tried to walk past Juri. A heavy tug on his arm forced Taiga to turn back. “I told you... I don’t care what happens,” Juri’s eyes gazed deeply into Taiga’s. “I won’t lose to him.”
Worry reflected in Taiga’s eyes, as Juri grasped his hand. “I promised I would make you let go of the past,” Juri murmured softy. “I thought you promised you would love me...”
“I-I did... I-I mean, I do... I love you, Juri...”
Juri lowered his gaze, “I don’t want to force you to say those words.”
Taiga’s chest clenched painfully, his voice choked to a whisper. “J-Just give me some time... I need some time to let go of him.”
Juri’s faltering gaze failed to conceal his disbelief. But Taiga didn’t know what else he could say. There was nothing else to say.
~~
“No, no, no, that was totally your fault!”
Hokuto laughed and shook his head, “No, I’m pretty sure I didn’t force you to stay up that late!”
Jesse rolled his eyes, a broad grin spreading on his lips. “Even if you didn’t directly tell me to stay up, you knew I wouldn’t go to sleep until you did!”
“Well...” Hokuto shrugged. “I still proved that I could stay up longer than you,” he smiled proudly.
“Hey you were the one complaining your eyes were hurting by three in the morning,” Jesse elbowed him playfully.
“Yeah, but you still gave in at the end and said good night first. It’s okay, you can admit I won.” Hokuto patted Jesse in mock comfort, his smile unfading.
Jesse scrunched his nose in annoyance. “Whatever,” he huffed.
As the sound of Hokuto’s laughter died away, a gentle stillness between them followed.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Hokuto whispered softly. “Since we used to be the closest friends, talking all the time, texting each other to say good night.”
Jesse bit his lip, unable to stop himself from admitting, “To be honest... Hokuto, I miss those times.”
“It’s weird to think we haven’t spoken much recently, being in different classes this year.”
Jesse sighed inwardly, releasing the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding back. Hokuto had ignored his words.
“Yeah, weird,” Jesse couldn’t find any better words to answer.
“I’ve got to go now, but I’ll see you at lunch, Jesse,” Hokuto waved a hurried goodbye before running ahead.
Jesse merely nodded, still at a loss for words. He could only watch helplessly as Hokuto ran up behind a familiar figure and grasped the boy’s slender hand.
Taiga Kyomoto.
A look of surprise, a smile of relief.
Taiga’s smile was too beautiful.
Jesse watched it all, but why couldn’t he be the one holding Hokuto’s hand? Instinctively, he bit his lip as his heart tightened in his chest.
Would he ever be the one to hold Hokuto’s hand?
Jesse shut his eyes. It was wrong to keep thinking about his friend in this way. Especially since Hokuto was barely even his friend any longer. Ever since the school year had begun, and the two of them were no longer in the same class, the time they had to talk with one another seemed to slip away. And now, when Jesse had finally gotten the courage up to speak to Hokuto again, he saw Hokuto with Taiga again. Just like last year, when Jesse had warned Hokuto so insistently against Taiga.
Taiga was bad news. Taiga wasn’t right for him. Be careful around Taiga.
But Hokuto had never listened. Even now.
Why had Jesse been so foolish? To just walk up to Hokuto. To just try talking to him again. To bring up their past, their memories, after all this time, so casually, as they walked to school.
Beyond this, his only thoughts revolved around the one question that had burned in Jesse’s mind every time memories of Hokuto had resurfaced.
Why did we have to break apart?
~~
Jesse looked up in surprise to see Hokuto sitting down beside him. Even though Hokuto had said he would eat lunch with him, Jesse had been disappointed so many times before, he hadn’t dared to get his hopes up.
“You actually came...” he smiled softly.
Hokuto grinned, “I said I would.”
“But still...” Jesse shook his head. He shouldn’t complain; he was lucky Hokuto was even here. “Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked quietly, guessing there had to be a reason as to why Hokuto had suddenly returned to his side.
Hokuto sighed, his shoulders sagging. With a weak smile, he turned his gaze to Jesse’s eyes. “You can still read right through me, I suppose,” he murmured.
“Just a little,” Jesse shrugged slightly, his chest clenching. It was as if they had never been apart, as if they were still best friends. A longing desire for the past gripped Jesse’s chest. He could still remember everything about his friend. He could still read his actions, understand his every word. He could tell Hokuto was about to tell him something serious.
Did he finally realize... that I love him?
False hope.
The image of Hokuto slipping his fingers into Taiga’s hand reappeared before Jesse’s eyes. He tried hopelessly to block out the memory in denial. This couldn’t… couldn’t be about...
“It’s about Taiga,” Hokuto murmured, his gaze unfaltering, as if he could see through Jesse’s fading smile.
As if he was watching as Jesse’s heart fell.
“But...”
“I knew you’d still be against him,” Hokuto muttered, finally turning his eyes away, almost bitterly. “I know you’re just trying to protect me… and I… I don’t want to get hurt... but I want Taiga back”
Jesse could barely breathe.
“But I wanted to tell you I still value your advice, your friendship. Can you be happy for me? I want to be happy with him...”
Jesse could feel himself suffocating.
“You always warned me against him, telling me to stay away. But I can’t. I can’t let him go again. I’m sorry, Jesse, but I just wanted to tell you this. I hope we can still keep in touch. I want to be friends with you again, even though I’m following my heart to Taiga. Even though we haven’t talked much recently.”
Jesse bit his lip, his eyes wandering, out of focus.
“Why would you think I still care?” Jesse finally heard himself reply, but his voice sounded harsh, harsher than he could have intended. “We haven’t spoken in a while, and the first thing you want to tell me is this? I don’t have the right to tell you not to love someone.” Especially not now… “Go ahead, Hokuto. I won’t mind. I just... I’m glad we can talk again.”
Jesse hoped his words sounded sincere. He hoped Hokuto would believe him.
He couldn’t bring himself to meet Hokuto’s worried gaze.
Author: Annie
Pairing: Juri x Taiga, Hokuto x Taiga, Jesse x Hokuto
Genre: Fluff, Romance, Drama
Rating: PG
Summary Just when Juri thinks he finally won Taiga's heart, Hokuto returns to steal Taiga back. As hidden emotions from the past resurface, Hagiya tries desperately to hold onto Yasui, and Juri can only try to hold onto Taiga, even when the older boy starts to slip away.
A/N: Sequel to " keeping secrets" :) dedicated to isshofluffy for her (late) birthday!! :D I'm really mad at myself for being so late with this... but I can only blame school. xD I'm on break now, so I plan to write a lot! :3 Frankly, I'm also going through some real life relationship issues, so as usual, I am writing some of it into my fic... doing so really helps me vent my stress... x)
Chapter One: breaking trust
“Trust me...”
Juri could clearly read the two words formed so softly by Hokuto’s lips. The lips that, seconds later, had gently kissed Taiga’s forehead. Taiga had lowered his gaze shyly, a pale pink blush visible on his cheeks. Juri could feel his heart heavy, hurting. Indescribable pain.
I thought... you promised, Taiga... You promised you would love me...
A day had since passed, but the clear image of Hokuto, his hand on Taiga’s warm cheek, returned to Juri’s mind. Visible, unfading. The pain soon followed, rekindling as well.
On his way to pick up Taiga to walk to school together as routine nowadays, Juri’s steps slowed, heavy as the weight bearing down on his chest.
Have I done something wrong?
I must’ve.
But Juri didn’t understand what. What had he done wrong? Why was Taiga punishing him like this? Juri frowned, stopping himself just as his fingers were about to press the doorbell.
From within the soft white curtains of his living room, Taiga watched as Juri hesitated, just outside his door.
Juri...
Taiga wanted desperately to open the door and apologize to his friend. To tell him he loved him. But Taiga didn’t have the courage to do so. He probably hates me... already.
With a final deep breath, Taiga forced himself to open the door.
“I told you to stay away from me...” was all he could whisper, as he tried to walk past Juri. A heavy tug on his arm forced Taiga to turn back. “I told you... I don’t care what happens,” Juri’s eyes gazed deeply into Taiga’s. “I won’t lose to him.”
Worry reflected in Taiga’s eyes, as Juri grasped his hand. “I promised I would make you let go of the past,” Juri murmured softy. “I thought you promised you would love me...”
“I-I did... I-I mean, I do... I love you, Juri...”
Juri lowered his gaze, “I don’t want to force you to say those words.”
Taiga’s chest clenched painfully, his voice choked to a whisper. “J-Just give me some time... I need some time to let go of him.”
Juri’s faltering gaze failed to conceal his disbelief. But Taiga didn’t know what else he could say. There was nothing else to say.
~~
“No, no, no, that was totally your fault!”
Hokuto laughed and shook his head, “No, I’m pretty sure I didn’t force you to stay up that late!”
Jesse rolled his eyes, a broad grin spreading on his lips. “Even if you didn’t directly tell me to stay up, you knew I wouldn’t go to sleep until you did!”
“Well...” Hokuto shrugged. “I still proved that I could stay up longer than you,” he smiled proudly.
“Hey you were the one complaining your eyes were hurting by three in the morning,” Jesse elbowed him playfully.
“Yeah, but you still gave in at the end and said good night first. It’s okay, you can admit I won.” Hokuto patted Jesse in mock comfort, his smile unfading.
Jesse scrunched his nose in annoyance. “Whatever,” he huffed.
As the sound of Hokuto’s laughter died away, a gentle stillness between them followed.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Hokuto whispered softly. “Since we used to be the closest friends, talking all the time, texting each other to say good night.”
Jesse bit his lip, unable to stop himself from admitting, “To be honest... Hokuto, I miss those times.”
“It’s weird to think we haven’t spoken much recently, being in different classes this year.”
Jesse sighed inwardly, releasing the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding back. Hokuto had ignored his words.
“Yeah, weird,” Jesse couldn’t find any better words to answer.
“I’ve got to go now, but I’ll see you at lunch, Jesse,” Hokuto waved a hurried goodbye before running ahead.
Jesse merely nodded, still at a loss for words. He could only watch helplessly as Hokuto ran up behind a familiar figure and grasped the boy’s slender hand.
Taiga Kyomoto.
A look of surprise, a smile of relief.
Taiga’s smile was too beautiful.
Jesse watched it all, but why couldn’t he be the one holding Hokuto’s hand? Instinctively, he bit his lip as his heart tightened in his chest.
Would he ever be the one to hold Hokuto’s hand?
Jesse shut his eyes. It was wrong to keep thinking about his friend in this way. Especially since Hokuto was barely even his friend any longer. Ever since the school year had begun, and the two of them were no longer in the same class, the time they had to talk with one another seemed to slip away. And now, when Jesse had finally gotten the courage up to speak to Hokuto again, he saw Hokuto with Taiga again. Just like last year, when Jesse had warned Hokuto so insistently against Taiga.
Taiga was bad news. Taiga wasn’t right for him. Be careful around Taiga.
But Hokuto had never listened. Even now.
Why had Jesse been so foolish? To just walk up to Hokuto. To just try talking to him again. To bring up their past, their memories, after all this time, so casually, as they walked to school.
Beyond this, his only thoughts revolved around the one question that had burned in Jesse’s mind every time memories of Hokuto had resurfaced.
Why did we have to break apart?
~~
Jesse looked up in surprise to see Hokuto sitting down beside him. Even though Hokuto had said he would eat lunch with him, Jesse had been disappointed so many times before, he hadn’t dared to get his hopes up.
“You actually came...” he smiled softly.
Hokuto grinned, “I said I would.”
“But still...” Jesse shook his head. He shouldn’t complain; he was lucky Hokuto was even here. “Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked quietly, guessing there had to be a reason as to why Hokuto had suddenly returned to his side.
Hokuto sighed, his shoulders sagging. With a weak smile, he turned his gaze to Jesse’s eyes. “You can still read right through me, I suppose,” he murmured.
“Just a little,” Jesse shrugged slightly, his chest clenching. It was as if they had never been apart, as if they were still best friends. A longing desire for the past gripped Jesse’s chest. He could still remember everything about his friend. He could still read his actions, understand his every word. He could tell Hokuto was about to tell him something serious.
Did he finally realize... that I love him?
False hope.
The image of Hokuto slipping his fingers into Taiga’s hand reappeared before Jesse’s eyes. He tried hopelessly to block out the memory in denial. This couldn’t… couldn’t be about...
“It’s about Taiga,” Hokuto murmured, his gaze unfaltering, as if he could see through Jesse’s fading smile.
As if he was watching as Jesse’s heart fell.
“But...”
“I knew you’d still be against him,” Hokuto muttered, finally turning his eyes away, almost bitterly. “I know you’re just trying to protect me… and I… I don’t want to get hurt... but I want Taiga back”
Jesse could barely breathe.
“But I wanted to tell you I still value your advice, your friendship. Can you be happy for me? I want to be happy with him...”
Jesse could feel himself suffocating.
“You always warned me against him, telling me to stay away. But I can’t. I can’t let him go again. I’m sorry, Jesse, but I just wanted to tell you this. I hope we can still keep in touch. I want to be friends with you again, even though I’m following my heart to Taiga. Even though we haven’t talked much recently.”
Jesse bit his lip, his eyes wandering, out of focus.
“Why would you think I still care?” Jesse finally heard himself reply, but his voice sounded harsh, harsher than he could have intended. “We haven’t spoken in a while, and the first thing you want to tell me is this? I don’t have the right to tell you not to love someone.” Especially not now… “Go ahead, Hokuto. I won’t mind. I just... I’m glad we can talk again.”
Jesse hoped his words sounded sincere. He hoped Hokuto would believe him.
He couldn’t bring himself to meet Hokuto’s worried gaze.