Falling Down

Co-written with Aya

Here is the actual chapter. Sorry for the mix up. ><


Akira pulled his boots back on wincing. "Come on, I'll go introduce you. I really need to go take a shower and get cleaned up soon though."

"Poor baby." Reiko laughed patting his arm gently following after him to look for Tatsuya. She kind of hoped it wasn't the same guy or else Akira might get mad if he was as friendly as he was before. Though she had a really good feeling they were the one and the same.

Akira shook his head seeing Tatsuya with Masa. It seemed Tatsuya was a lot like Ryuu in that he liked to touch.

"Yo Tatsuya!"

"Ah! Ah-kun-" His eyes went wide, "Ah! Hakui!" Tatsuya giggled moving from Masa's side who sighed in relief thanking Akira when Tatsuya's back was turned.

Reiko cringed slightly watches Tatsuya bounce over, "Ah. . . Hi."

"Ah!! Ah-kun and Hakui are dating!? That means we can do it!" Tatsuya bounced in place grabbing their hands giggling.

"Er. . . What?" Reiko raised an eyebrow at Tatsuya then looked at Akira giving him a look that said he better explain.

"An-ano, I take it you've already met." Akira looked at Reiko and then back at Tatsuya. "That's not . . . eto, I don't think that's going to happen Tatsuya, sorry."

Tatsuya pouted staring at them both with big eyes, "But. . . You're both really pretty. . ." Releasing their hands he pouted more, "The offers there anytime! Hakui has my card~" He smiled winking at them before turning back to Masa who shrieked and quickly scrambled to get away from Tatsuya who bounced after him.

"My name is Reiko damnit!" She sighed softly shaking her head, "He's a bit more intense than Ryuu-chan. . ."

"Somebody help me!!" Masa whimpered as Tatsuya caught him hugging him tightly, "Get it off me!"

"But Tat-chan loves Masa~!"

"Masa doesn't love Tat-chan! Get off you freaking cross dressing molester!"

"Nooo!"

***

Haru glanced up hearing the door open. He couldn't see who it was at first. He recognised Ruka's voice and wondered why he was the one coming to look for him. Usually Jiro or Daisuike would. That or they had the good sense to stay the hell away from him until he was good and ready to talk to them.

"What the fuck do you want?”

Ruka frowned at the hostile tone. Haru was really upset. Sighing he walked closer. "I was worried about you. I'm sorry if Tatsuya did anything inappropriate. He. . . He doesn't really get it exactly."

He really didn't want to explain that Tatsuya just didn't get that sex normally wasn't just something people did for the hell of it because they wanted to and that leading people on was wrong.

"I'm sorry if he led you on."

Haru got to his feet looking at Ruka. "Why the hell would you be worried about me? That's an escort's job isn't it? Lead people on. Just go find Suke or something and leave me the fuck alone."

Ruka glared at Haru. Even if Tatsuya was an escort didn't mean that he was a bad person and Haru was acting like he was. "I was concerned about you because you're Daisuike's brother but if you're just going to insult people I won't bother." He stepped closer, his hand clenching slightly."But you better not as hell talk about Tatsuya that way again. Even if you are his brother, it doesn't mean you can talk through your ass about people's friends."

Haru sat back down glaring at Ruka trying to hide the pain of what he was really feeling. "Fine. Whatever. I didn't mean to insult your friend. Now leave. No one asked you to come find me and if they did they can fuck off."

Ruka frowned staring at Haru. He really wanted him to leave, which usually meant a few different things. Shaking his head he moved closer. "Daisuike was worried about you but I wanted to come myself." Frowning he walked closer, "It's about Tatsuya isn't it? Did you really find him that attractive?" It wasn't a surprise. They had to literally guard Tatsuya during big races, though most guys knew to stay away from him unless approached or else a beat down would ensue.

"Here." Pulling a card out from his pocket he slid it across the table to Haru. The card was plain, a name and number and that was it. "His card. Honestly if you're that into him, call him up. I doubt he'd make you pay since he approached you first."
Haru looked at the card for a moment and was very tempted to take it. He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked up at Ruka.

"It's not that. I get more than enough offers for sex every night. That's not what I want. He . . . he reminded me of someone." He shook his head. "Never mind just forget it. Tell Suke I'll be out in a bit. Now will you please leave."

Ruka frowned surprised. Tatsuya? Reminding anyone of anybody? That was odd. That flamboyant nature was hard to come by at all and to find someone like it was rare. No wonder he was upset that Tatsuya ditched him for Akira.

"Actually. . ." He sighed, "Nevermind. I'll leave you in peace, but can you find me when you're done? I got something really important to ask you. Like, I want to know by the end of the night, but. . . If not that's fine." He smiled softly.

"I'm leaving Tatsuya's card as well. . ."

"Say it now, Ruka. I'm not going to stick around." Not with someone here that reminded him so much of Kyoshi. He was not putting himself through that, it was already putting him in a bad mood and Jiro was probably going to get pissed at him. Especially if he got into a fight because of it. He didn't want to ruin the weekend that Daisuike had worked so hard to put together. He fingered the card fighting with himself whether to take it or not.

"I'm probably going to head home tonight. No sense being here."

Ruka sighed. He wished almost that Tatsuya hadn't come. He wanted to get to know Daisuike's brothers since they were going to be his in-laws. Rubbing his face he looked at Haru.

"Since you want to be alone I'll be quick." Taking a breath he stared directly at Haru, his insides twisting. "I want to marry your brother and I want your approval."

Haru sat there for a long moment before getting up and walking over to Ruka. He looked him in the eye before punching him.

"Get out."

Ruka stumbled back holding his face, shocked that Haru hit him. What the hell was his problem? His mind really couldn't get around it and he stared in shock at the man. Recovering slowly he stared at him rubbing his face some, then narrowed his eyes slightly.

"What the hell is your problem?"

Haru glared itching to hit him again, but he wouldn't. Not yet. "No fucking way I'm letting you screw up his life any more than it already is. I don't care if you guys are together but getting married . . . no fucking way. Don't go acting like this is something permanent."

Ruka stared at Haru, completely shocked by how he was acting. Why was he so against them marrying? How would he screw up Daisuike's life? It made no sense and he felt sick to his stomach just thinking about it. Jiro had been fine with it, and even if at first Akira was worried his concerns were valid but he accepted them. Why was Haru so against it?

"How would I fuck up his life Haru!? Why do you think that it's not permanent? You may not understand it, but I love Daisuike and would do anything for him. This isn't some stupid crush. This is the man I love and I'll do anything for him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him."

"You say that now, but you'll change your mind. Once the newness wears off and you're having to deal with normal everyday stuff you'll want out. You say you love him, but what you love is that he'd do anything for you. I've seen the way he is with you, the way he waits on you hand and foot. Cleaning your house, cooking your meals, doing your laundry like some fucking wife." Haru took a step forward his eyes hard and cold. "You can't tell me you don't like the attention."

"You don't know shit Haru. I've tried time and time again to get him to stop doing that but he won't. He enjoys it. Sure it's nice but I love him far more than just because he does things like a wife would. He isn't a wife, he's Daisuike and I love him for him."

Ruka ran his fingers through his hair, distraught. Why was Haru doing this to him? It hurt to hear him so against them being married. He wanted everyone's approval. "Who cares if the newness wears off? I've lived with him for nearly 4 months. I know the everyday things and there's no way in hell I want out." His voice got softer, staring at the man in front of him. It hurt to see him staring at him with such cold and hard eyes. "Why can't you accept that I want to marry him? What is the difference between us now and married?"

Haru listened to him, some of the rage fading, leaving just the same ache that was always there. "Four months is nothing. Even if you guys have been through a lot in that time." Haru turned away from him. "Do you have any idea what it's going to be like for you being married to a yakuza? You've only seen part of it. Once he's back at work full time, you'll get sick of it. I'm done talking about this. Don't even know what the fuck you bothered asking my opinion anyway. You'll just do what you want anyway."

"Because Daisuike's family is important to him and that means it's important to me. I want him to be happy and I know he'd want his family there when he announces the engagement and he'd want his family there every step of the way." Ruka frowned looking away. "I don't care about the risks of being married to a Yakuza. I have a general idea of what can happen and I love Daisuike enough to get past that. Hell, Reiko wasn't even dating Akira and he's not even Yakuza and look at how much trouble they get into." He frowned looking back at Haru, his eyes determined.

"I don't care that he slices people up for a living, I've seen the aftermath of what he can do even if the guy lived. I've seen him bruised and broken, but that only makes me love him more and strive to give him what he desires and needs. I love him Haru." Closing his eyes for a moment he turned shaking his head walking to the door. "I just really hope you don't make him choose between the people he loves and he person he loves because I won't do that to him. It's why I asked you."

Haru turned back to look at him. "That is up to Daisuike and I'd rather you hadn't bothered asking me. Go do whatever. I won't try to convince him other wise if that is what you are scared of."

He started for the doors just wanting away from everything for a while. He'd been hoping to have some peace and quiet to get things sorted out but now he was even more upset than before. He just didn't want to see his brother go through the same thing he had. Too have something truly special and have it all ripped away from you. That, and he was fairly certain that Ruka had no real idea what he was getting into with Daisuike. Outside of the four of them, no one knew.

"I wasn't scared of that, I just don't want to pull him in two different directions." Ruka stopped his hand on the doorknob looking over his shoulder at Haru. "I really hope you change your mind about this. . . I really want your blessing . . ." Lowering his head he opened the door then sighed.

"If you ever change your mind, just call me. . ." He pushed through the doorway heading out of the room quickly. He felt shaky and sick and needed to be alone.


With a frown, Tatsuya watched Ruka quickly leave, not missing the tears in his eyes and the bruise forming on his face. Barely letting the door shut he opened it again stepping inside the room, not entirely happy.

"What did you do to Ru-kun."

Haru was getting ready to leave when the door opened again, Tatsuya walking through it. He stopped and backed away a few steps, not able to look at him. Why the hell was he here? He was the last person he wanted to see right now.

"I hit him, what did it look like? What are you doing here?"

"Why the hell did you go and do that?! He really wants to marry Daisuike and you get all angry at him! Who cares if he wants to marry your brother? You may want to protect Daisuike in some way but you're only going to hurt him in the end if you keep being so hostile about it." Tatsuya glared stepping forward crossing his arms. "I was looking for you and heard Ruka was looking for you so I followed. I wanted to give you my card. . ."

"Why the hell would you look for me?" Haru glanced up at him for a moment before looking to where the card was still laying on the table. "Ruka already tried to give me one, but I figured I wasn't your type anyway. And I'm not trying to hurt Daisuike. I'm trying to keep him from getting hurt."

Tatsuya blinked and tilted his head to the side, frowning more, "Not my type? I wouldn't approach you if you weren't my type. I just get distracted easily by pretty boys. They're adorable." He nodded a few times smiling happily thinking about them, "With all their smooth skin and soft contours. . . " He snapped himself out of the train of thought looking over Haru. "If he wants to be in love let him. You trying to 'protect' him isn't going to do anything but make him mad and irritated at you and screw things up. You can't stop people from doing what they want." He frowned again pouting, "You aren't going to do anything anyways. He's already in love. Like Ru-kun said, what's the difference? They're also off in their own little world."

Shaking his head he walked closer, "If it was anyone else I would say to break ‘em up, but it's Ru-kun. He wouldn't have fallen in love with just anyone. Not after Sono. It would take someone special to get around all those sharp corners and to actually get past just the sex portion of him."

Haru took a few steps back trying to keep distance between the two of them. He really didn't want to talk about this anymore. It was making too many painful memories come up.

"Fine, you're right. Whatever. They are going to be in for a very nasty shock though." He edged to the side wanting to get around him and too the door. He really wanted to go home, go home and forget about all of this.

Tatsuya glared moving to block Haru's escape. This guy was starting to piss him off and he didn’t care if he was letting his cute façade slip. He didn't necessary agree with everything that Ruka thought about, nor did he care for relationships, but if anyone could make one work, it was Ruka. Especially if he found that special person, which apparently he had.

"Why? You saying your brother is going to cheat on Ruka or something? Because that's the only way it would fail. Even then it wouldn't because Ruka would forgive him and welcome him back if that's what he wanted. No amount of pain or sorrow can get through to them because they're different than everyone else." Stepping forward more he brought himself up more, trying to get as much height as he could to look Haru in the eyes.

Reaching out he pointed a finger at Haru frowning, his voice a bit darker again, "You mess with them and I'll make sure you regret it."

Haru blinked at him then frowned. "Why the hell would I put my brother through something like that. I had to live through it and I'm sure as hell not letting him. His life-our lives-have been hard enough as it is. I want him to be happy, but relationships like this are nothing but heartache in the end. Even if the both of them want to make it work, there are those who will make sure it won't."

Why was he saying all this? He didn't even know this guy and here he was telling him things he'd never said to anyone. Maybe it was the look in his eyes, the way he was trying to be intimidating and failing. He'd always laughed at Kyoshi's attempts at intimidation. He shook him self, now was not the time to be thinking about that.

"So you'll destroy him so someone else won't? How kind of you." Tatsuya scoffed softly, his eyes become a darker shade. He was thoroughly pissed off. Ruka deserved to be happy and this man was trying to destroy the one thing that Ruka truly wanted in life. "What makes you think he'll be the same as you? Who made you the predictor of the future, huh?" Clenching his fist he licked his lips glaring Haru, his tone losing every ounce of friendliness it once had.

"Just because you were hurt doesn't mean you should destroy what happiness your brother does have in life. You're just making his life that much harder than you say it already is." Stepping backwards he crossed his arms looking Haru over.

"You're no better than the people you say will make sure their relationship doesn't work. Shouldn't you be the protector of your brother's happiness and not the person helping to destroy it?"

Haru stared at him realizing that he was right. With a growl he turned and headed for the far side of the room not wanting to be near him. It wasn't like he was the one going to ruin it, far from it. He just knew what was probably going to happen. Though, Daisuike definitely had a lot more favor in Takahiro's eyes than he ever did. He'd never been able to do anything right in either of his parent's eyes.

He wasn't smart like Jiro, he didn't have Daisuike's patience or Akira's looks. He was the odd brother out and had always felt like he'd been made to feel that way. Kyoshi had been the one person who had made him feel like he was worth something. No one had wanted to help protect him or his relationship with Kyoshi, just the opposite. But then again Jiro didn't know about it and neither did Daisuike. He wondered if things might have been different if they had.

He slumped down in one of the chair feeling defeated and useless. It was pointless to argue about something that was going to happen anyway. He didn't want to see Daisuike or Ruka get hurt, but he couldn't be sure that was going to happen. He just thought it might because of what happened to him. He would just have to do what he could to make sure it didn't. Even if it meant standing up to his father.

When he finally did speak his voice was soft with none of the earlier anger in it. "You're right. I'm just stupid and jealous. I want him to be happy, but it hurts too because he has the chance at something that was taken away from me." He glanced over his shoulder at Tatsuya for a moment, the sight of him sending a fresh wave of guilt and remorse through him. "You've made your point. I'm wrong. I'll tell Ruka he has my blessing."

Tatsuya stared at him for a moment but then slowly nodded. It surprised him to hear him say something so personal, but it made sense. Walking over to him, he pulled out a card from his jacket pocket setting it on the table sliding it to him. Before he could say anything, he slipped around to be in front of him leaning close to his ear.

"I do role plays if you ever want to call."

Pulling back from his ear, he leaned over and kissed Haru on the lips, his fingers brushing his jaw before he parted.

"There won't be any charge if you do call."

Haru stared at him before sighing and dropping his gaze. It had been so long since anyone had kissed him and the urge to pull him down for more was almost too strong to resist. He closed his eyes. No matter how much he wanted this person to be Kyoshi he wasn't. "Thanks. If you will excuse me I need to go find Ruka and apologize."

He slowly got to his feet looking down at Tatsuya. He almost said something and thought better of it. Putting the card in his pocket he headed for the doors wondering how he was going to track Ruka down. He really hadn't been thinking earlier. It he'd thought about it he would have realized that Ruka being upset would mean that Daisuike would be upset as well. Time to go fix yet another mistake.

Tatsuya pouted staring towards Haru's back. He was kind of hoping for something. Usually irritated and stressed guys wanted to do something. This guy was completely different. Or holding back. Deciding he wanted to at let Haru know he meant it, he leaned back against the table, propping his legs slightly.

"Ne, Kobayashi-san. . ." Seeing Haru turn around to him, he smiled at with him his playful smile, full of promises. "Don't keep me waiting long, okay? My room is at the Garden, room 345. Just call ahead to give me a warning that you're coming. I look forward to seeing you this weekend." He reached up to hair brushing some strands from it, smiling still at him.

Haru looked at him for a long moment. Turning he strode over to him and pulling him up kissed him hard, an arm going around the slender waist.

"Just make sure you are ready."

Stepping back he ran his fingers through Tatsuya's hair before turning and leaving. He'd figure out what he was doing later. Two years is a long time to be alone and even if it didn't mean anything he just wanted to feel something.

Tatsuya grinned licking his lips, "I'll definitely be ready."