Title: 217
Pairing: Nishikaro (Ryo-Shige)
Genre: AU, romance, fluff
Rating: PG-13 for boykisses and language XD
Summary: Shige likes to stare at the stars, and the one night he wants to count them he can't because of the boy next door.
A/N: I know it's been so long since I posted. I was randomly inspired. I'll update the others soon. I promise!
I was determined to count the stars that night. I didn’t care how many people told me it was impossible. If they can count how many people are in the world, can’t I count stars? Just like people, each star is unique. Don’t they deserve to be counted?
I don’t really like people. I like stars. People are mean and selfish. They push each other around and instinctively say mean words. They’re frustrating and can only put me into a bad mood. But stars just sit there twinkling. They seem so calm, despite the fact I know that their light is moving at millions of miles per hour. Even the darkest nights aren’t scary because I can feel their smile.
I like to sit on my roof. When my parents are sure I’m asleep, I sneak up to the roof. I lay back and name all the constellations. I bring my blanket and pillow. Sometimes I fall asleep. But the sunrise always wakes me up. So I can sneak back into bed before my parents know.
Night-time was my time. No people, just stars. I could actually think. But he changed that.
I never notice when anyone moves in. I don’t pay attention to people anyway.
So one day at lunch, I sat down at my regular table with Tegoshi and Masuda. They’re some of the few people I can stand. So while we’re being weird and messing with our food, the sound of the plastic tray hit the table next to me.
“Hm, you’d think there’d be roof prints on your face.” I almost jumped out of my seat as I turned to the new voice. There was a smirk on thin lips. One of the eyebrows placed above dark, round eyes was raised. His bowl cut hairstyle framed his round face. The thin lips parted from their smirk to laugh at my jump.
“Who the hell are you and what the hell are you talking about?” Tegoshi and Masuda don’t really know about my nightly excursions to my roof for stargazing. That kind of thing would bore them. The new face smiled again and I ignored the pang in my chest.
“I’m your new neighbor, Nishikido Ryo. “ I searched my head for that name or his face, but I couldn’t find anything.
“Oh, well I’m-“
“Katou Shigeaki.” He smirked at the face I made. I’m not sure what face I made, but his face seemed to be in a permanent smirk. “Your parents told me your name.” I think my jaw dropped.
“My parents? Then why didn’t-“
“They said you were at the library or something boring like that.” I rolled my eyes and turned the other way. I picked up my chopsticks.
“Well nice meeting you Nishikido-kun-“
“Ryo” He corrected me.
“Well, nice meeting you Nishikido-kun, but I have a lunch to eat before I got study for my English test next hour.” After a few moments I heard his plastic tray slide off the table.
“Fine, well, see you around then.” He said sourly before he walked away. It’s silent and I wonder why. I slowly looked up from my plate to see Tegoshi and Masuda staring at me. Tegoshi was grinning like an idiot and Masuda was wearing that surprised idiot look. Thus, both looked like idiots.
“What?” I said through my bite of food, so it sounded more like “wuh?” Tegoshi leaned in to my ear and whispered,
“Why didn’t you tell me you have a cute new neighbor?” I rolled my eyes while they continued to laugh.
When Nishikido said “see you around,” he meant it. I saw him everywhere. Suddenly I noticed him in my literature class. And his locker wasn’t too far from mine, which is strange because Ka and Ni are nowhere near each other in the alphabet. (1) And we ended up walking home together everyday. And as we ran into each other so much, talking couldn’t be avoided. He’s just the kind of person I hate. Loud, annoying, selfish, arrogant and always teasing me. Yet somehow, I just couldn’t stay away. There’s something in that smile that keeps me coming back.
One day I discovered he plays guitar. So we went over to his house and he played for me. He showed me a song he was working on. He called it “Code.” But then as he showed me he just kept working on it. So eventually the tune got into my head, and I started to sing along. He stopped playing and slowly looked up at me. His face grew from amazement to annoyance.
“Oh, um sorry.” I stuttered. “It’s just kind of catchy.” Nishikido laughed and slapped me over the head.
“You probably shouldn’t sing.” I think he expected me to laugh but I glared at him.
“I’m going home now.” He’s silent as he watched me walk out the door. Why was I so mad? It’s just Nishikido. Why should I care that he mocked the voice I’ve been privately working on and that I thought didn’t sound too bad. Why?
Things grew back to normal rather quickly. Seeing as I didn’t have much to be mad at for too long, and he wouldn’t have left me alone anyway. He offered to teach me guitar. I told him no because I’m sure he would have found a way to squeeze money out of me for it. I would have kept saying no, but he had help.
“Come on Shige, I think you’d be great.” Nishikido pestered as we took our seats at lunch. Tegoshi stopped midsentence and turned toward us.
“Oi, what are you guys talking about?” He had that mischievous grin on his face that never leads to anything good. I brushed my hand.
“Nothing.”
“He won’t let me teach him guitar.” Nishikido said before I can stop him. Tegomass’s eyes grew big and Tegoshi’s hands slammed palm down on the table.
“Oh you must! That would be cool!” He says like the excited idiot he is. “And I play guitar too, so we can be a trio! Or maybe one of us can switch to bass or, well Taka can play drums! I think? Or maybe Ryo will switch to bass and I’ll just be vocals…”
And so, that afternoon I found myself back in Nishikido’s bedroom. We dive right into chords for some reason. He doesn’t even tell me the notes of each string. So I keep getting confused and he gets irritated. We start yelling at each other and he finally sighs. I watch him as his course hands rub across his forehead. I absorb his body lines, etched in frustration. The red cotton t-shirt falls a little short, just barely exposing his stomach. It doesn’t help that he wears his jeans just a bit low. I can see at least the black waistband of his underwear.
His form suddenly shifted as he turns around and bended over. He popped back up with a book in his hand. He flung it at me and it hit me in the face, and it hurt.
“Hey! What’s this?” I sat back, rubbing my forehead with one hand as the other picked up the book. The cover reads ‘Beginning Guitar.’ I looked back up at him; his stony eyes seemed to be avoiding mine for some reason.
“Um, well. It’s the first book I ever used, and what really helped me learn.” I nod as I looked from him to the book. “Take the book, and the guitar. We’ll meet back here when you think you’ve gotten somewhere.” My jaw dropped.
“But, your guitar-“
“Baka! I have another one.” His angry eyebrows melted from a grimace to a smirk that I was growing to love. “One as amazing as I am can’t go without 2 guitars.” I threw a pillow at him. He looked shocked but just threw it back at me with a laugh. We started laughing for almost no reason and kept on laughing. I’ve heard my own laughter enough that I can block it out, so I only heard his. It’s not something you would call crystal. It has a sharp quality but it’s innocent and I want to hear more. I got lost in it before it fades with mine. The room was silent for probably only 5 seconds, but it felt longer. I slowly looked at him to find he was already looking at me. I didn’t understand his gaze. And I didn’t give it anymore thought before I got confused. So I shrugged as I looked away. I stood, holding the book and guitar.
“Uh, well. See you around! Thanks!” We smiled before I left the room. I ran out of the house, being careful not to hurt the guitar. I ran through the lawn and into my door. I forgot to say anything to my parents and ran up to my room. I set the guitar and book down on my bed and plopped into my desk chair. I rested my chin into my palm and stared at the guitar. What does it mean to me? What does its owner mean to me?
I didn’t have much time to think before I heard a chink at my window. My head turned sharply so I got that weird shock of pain because I turned it too fast. I held my neck in pain as I peered through the glass. I had never realized that Nishikido’s room was right across from mine. How did I not notice? I opened my window as the grimace of pain was still on my face. When I can actually saw him, he was smirking, as always.
“What?” He snickered as if saying ‘aren’t I so clever to throw rocks at your window?’ Yes Nishikido, very original.
“You forgot your backpack.” My eyes popped open and I turn to run over to get it. “Wait!” I stopped and slowly turned back around.
“What?” I asked in an exasperated fashion.
“I’ll throw it over.” I shook my head in confusion.
“What?”
“I’ll throw it over!” He said with a bit more frustration.
“But what if it doesn’t make it?” But he just grinned like an idiot.
“Of course it will make it.” And before I could say another word, he tossed it. And it made it.
I’m just kidding.
It fell.
Down.
Into the mud.
And somehow it’s unzipped.
My papers flew out.
A lot landed in the mud.
Some flew over the fence into the street.
I slowly looked from the ground to the window. The window was framing a smiling happy boy, but now it framed a scared-for-his-life-oh-shit-he-better-ru
n-or-shige-is-going-to-kill-him boy.
Eventually, our literature teacher finally understood that the reason Nishikido had a black eye and why my essay was half gone and half covered in mud, was the same reason.
So a week later, I brought the guitar over to Nishikido’s house and I showed him what I had figured out. He must have worked on something himself because he was very patient as he corrected my fingerings. But I couldn’t stand this lesson any longer. Every time his fingers pressed over mine to guide them, a shock went under my skin. His breath was on my neck as he leaned over to correct me. At other points his dark, midnight eyes where right in mine. So it didn’t last more than 15 minutes. I told him my mother wanted me home earlier for dinner and he shrugged and let me go.
Every week got a little easier. Well, at least I grew used to it. But the feelings never changed. By the end of first semester we could at least stay for half an hour. One day, he decided he was going to teach me Code, which by now was finished.
His callused but soft fingers guide mine where needed. The shock is there, but I no longer gave and outside reaction. He sang along with the chords and his fingers showed mine where to strum. I took in his husky voice that might make Tegoshi scoff, but it melted me. My mind tingled with every note. I couldn’t focus and he laughed this time instead of scolding. We finally fumbled through to the chorus.
He was sitting in front of me this time. And I was so focused on learning the song so I didn’t have to think about him that I barely noticed how close he’s getting. He was singing along, softly, almost like a lullaby.
“Mou sukoshi dake” (2) He helped guide my fingers to the next chord before he sang, “Ai wo.” And where he should have moved my fingers and sung the second ‘ai wo,’, he put the meaning into my mouth. In just one kiss, his lips clung to mine, as if trying to portray the meaning of his Code. I don’t remember how long we stayed in that kiss, but slowly, our lips parted. When they finally did, the guitar fell out of my grasp. I stood up and away. My hand quickly moved to my lips. Nishikido’s eyes were full of hurt. I don’t want to know how mine looked.
I dashed out the door and ran back home. I ran to my room and shut the curtains tight. I heard the clink of rocks against my window. I tried to ignore them. I turned on my stereo, but behind the angry bass lines I could still here the little chink. I left my room and took a shower. Maybe the flowing water could erase my thoughts. But in the back of my mind, I could still hear the little chink.
The chink followed me down to dinner. The chink followed me into the TV room. But the chink was gone when I finally sneak back to my room. I sighed with relief and snapped open my curtains. His light was off. And the sky has turned off its light too. Well, the big one. The only light left is that of my twinkling friends. I sighed before I grab my blanket and pillow. I slid open my window and slipped out, crawling onto the roof.
I set out my blanket and lie down, setting my head down upon the pillow. I observe the growing silence, as the sound of distant TVs stereos fade as people get ready for bed. It’s calming and I can almost forget that little chink. I sigh and look from star to star. I was determined to count the stars that night.
“Well, let’s get going.” I can’t help but count out loud. I had to start over a few times in the beginning, but eventually I developed a method. As I’m in around 213, a voice says,
“What about that star right there?” I shake my head.
“Not there yet.” I continue with my counting, pretty sure I knew where I was.
“Oh okay then.” And then I stop.
“217-“I slowly turn my head and see my guest. I expect him to be angry, but he’s just smiling. I’m sure I’m blushing. He scoots his body closer and wraps his arm around my waist.
“Don’t stop on my behalf.” I can’t really refuse him. And I don’t really want to. I haven’t turned my head away yet, so his is right in front of mine. He giggles and rubs our noses. “Aren’t you going to continue counting?” My eyes can barely look away in the embarrassment that they want to. They’re too busy staring into his. He laughs and uses his other hand to shove my head away. “Count. You were on 217.” I nod and continue counting. But now I’ve forgotten where I was. The number 217 is pointless without its assignment. I’m sorry little star number 217. I forget which you were. But I think you can forgive me, considering the circumstances.
“Um Nishikido?” He smiles into my cheek.
“Ryo.” I no longer want to fight him over name usage.
“Um, then Ryo?” His fingers play the side of my stomach as he hums his song.
“Yes Aki-chan?” I laugh at my new name.
“Aki-chan?!” I ask maybe a little too loudly. He nods and it moves my head a bit, and I don’t mind.
“Well, get on with your question.” He says, not even justifying my new ridiculous nickname. I sigh and turn my gaze back to him.
“I forgot where 217 was.” He laughs and goofily nuzzles our noses. “And it’s your fault.” Ryo raises his eyebrow as he snarks,
“And how is it my fault that you can’t keep track of your stars?” I sigh and can’t believe the words that come out of my mouth.
“Because you’re the first person I’ve ever loved more than stars and I can’t possibly focus on them while you’re around. So if you could please do something about this ache in my chest or otherwise get off my roof so I can go back to counting stars.” The smile that grows on his face is brighter than any star I’ve ever stared at. His hand moves from my waist to my cheek. His eyes close and somehow I know to close mine. He closes his lips too, but they close on mine. And as his fingers guided mine earlier that day, his lips guide mine. A song is playing in both of our heads. And slowly, a new code forms.
217.
(1) In the Japanese alphabet, they are 16 characters apart.
(2) Just a bit more
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katrinasacay 
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tegomass_ai 
chipper
calm
busy
artistic
accomplished