Room 304, Diety Hall

Author: Yukimi2 yukimi2@yahoo.com

Dedication: VM, L7, and Mi-chan =)

Comment: ;_; sad part…. L7 and all the dxs fans, I know you’re gonna kill me, but never fear, it’s not the end yet….. Comments pls. ^-^;

Episode 25: Goodbye, My Shin-chan II {T____________T}

Shinya brushed his hair silently and absently. He didn’t know how long he’d been there, staring at himself in the mirror and frowning at himself with dissatisfaction. It wasn’t as if he was going anywhere; the party was just next door.

"Brushing it 100 times is not going to make it any uglier." Kyo commented across the room.

Shinya threw his brush across the room and it smacked the shorter man on the butt cheek.

"OW~~! That’ll bruise, you know."

"Not my problem." Shinya stood up and walked to the tiny closet. He sighed in disappointment. Despite shopping the other day with Toshiya, he couldn’t buy anything because of money; and he could not find anything small enough to fit his size {duh, it’s Shinya ^^;}

"Shinya, it’s just next door. You don’t have to look exclusive."

Shinya ignored Kyo.

Suddenly, the dorm entrance burst open and Toshiya came in.

"Laaa~! Shinya!" He grinned seductively while holding a large white box in the air.

"Er, konbanwa, Toshiya." Shinya stared at the box. "What’s that?"

Toshiya walked toward the younger man and thrusted it to him. "Dozo!" He winked. "Farewell present for you."

"Farewell present?" Shinya gasped. "For me? Arigatou, Toshiya!"

"No problem. Hope you like it."

Shinya beamed happily when he opened the box and pulled out a black, silk skirt with oriental patterns on it. "Oh, my God! Toshiya! This must have cost you so much!"

The blue head shrugged it off with a haughty laugh. "Money is nothing when friendship is concerned."

Kyo snorted. "That’s easy for you to say." He turned to Shinya. "You should see his house… or should I say, mansion."

Shinya’s eyes widened in surprise. "Toshiya! I didn’t know you’re rich!"

The blue head blushed. "Well, not that rich…"

Kyo chuckled. "Yeah, right! You guys even have your own indoor pool."

Toshiya pouted. "Kyo.."

Shinya gasped. "Wow! I wish I had an indoor pool!"

"Maybe sometime I’ll invite you to my place, ne?"

"Arigatou, Toshiya."

"Hnn… you want me to fix your hair?" Toshiya played with Shinya’s auburn locks. "Oh my! You have such nice hair."

Shinya blushed.

The door opened again.

"We’re having too many visitors today." Kyo said.

"What took you so long?" Toshiya asked.

"Konbanwa, Kaoru." Shinya greeted.

Kaoru pouted. "At least Shinya’s nice enough to greet me ne."

The blue head checked his watch. "Tsk, tsk. Took you 10 minutes to get here from downstairs. So slow."

"Well it’s not my fault you misplaced my present for Shinya."

"You bought a present for me too?" Shinya asked in surprise.

Kaoru gave the younger man a small box. He stared at the ground sheepishly. "I know it won’t be much after what Toshiya gave you… but I hope you like it."

Shinya opened the box and took out a pin with a musical note on it. "What do you mean, Kaoru? I love it!"

The door opened again, but this time, Levin was there. "Shinya-san! The party’s starting."

Kyo raised an eyebrow. "Already?"

Shinya got up. "You guys go ahead. I’ll change real quick, OK?"

Everyone walked out to the next room except for Levin.

"Levin-chan?" Shinya asked.

Levin slowly walked to the auburn head. "Shinya-san. Are you leaving me?" {;_;}

Shinya bit his lip. "I think we should sit down & talk about this ne. " They both settled on Shinya’s bed. Shinya wrapped his arms around the smaller man securely. "You asked me if I’m leaving you; and the answer is no. I am going back to my home because my family needs my help right now…’

"But that means you’re leaving me…."

"No, it doesn’t. I am physically going somewhere else, but I will always be in your heart, ne?"

Levin blinked innocently, then slowly smile.

Shinya stroked his roommate’s hair lovingly. "I don’t know how long I’ll be away; and I don’t know if I will ever come back again, but I will write to all of you. And I promise that I’ll see you again in this lifetime."

Levin nodded. "Shinya-san."

"Nani?"

"I made a card for you." He handed it to the bishounen. Shinya looked at the card. It was made from plain white paper. The front had a crayon and marker drawing of him; and on the inside were words written clumsily, yet carefully. It said: ‘Shinya-san, I will miss you. Take care. From, Levin.’

It was so sweet. The most costless, simplest, but most powerful and impacting. Shinya didn’t know what else to say, so instead, he hugged the smaller man tightly in his arms and thanked him ceaselessly. He knew it was going to be difficult to leave Diety Hall.

*****

As soon as Kyo, Kaoru, and Toshiya walked into Die’s dorm, they could see crowds of people and Yukihiro mixing some songs.

Die popped out of nowhere and grabbed Kaoru on his shoulders. "Kaoru!"

"Die?"

"Did you see a delivery man anywhere?" He shook the smaller man repeatedly.

"Delivery man…? Wha…" Kaoru blinked. He was getting dizzy from all the shaking.

Die let go and gripped his hair. "Arrgh! I told the shop to deliver them to me at 8 sharp!"

Kyo stared at him. "Die, you need to explain!!"

"You don’t understand! I ordered carnations for Shinya, but it’s 8:45 and they’re still not here!!’ He exclaimed.

Toshiya crinkled his nose. "Carnations?"

Die flushed. "Hey! They smell fresh; and I can’t afford much right now."

Kaoru thought about it. "If you ordered from Caddie’s gift and flower shop, I guarantee you the flowers will arrive tomorrow morning at 8."

"WHAT?!?!?"

Kaoru shrugged. "Utada is the receptionist, so I’m not surprised."

"NOOOOOO!!!!!"

"Die, calm down," Toshiya reassured. "Shinya’s train doesn’t leave tomorrow until 9. the station isn’[t too far from here, so he doesn’t need to leave until after 8. you can give him the flowers then."

Die clenched his fist. "That delivery man had better show up!"

*****

Levin went ahead of Shinya to the party, but the younger man lingered a little longer by the mirror, watching himself with the skirt Toshiya just gave him.

There was an unexpected knock on the door.

"It’s open."

The door silently opened.

Shinya gasped in surprise. "Konbanwa, Prof. Yoshiki."

Yoshiki smiled. "Konbanwa."

Shinya blinked several times just to see if he was hallucinating or not.

"I came here to say my farewells." Yoshiki stated with a polite nod.

Shinya realized he wasn’t seeing things, so he nodded.

"Shinya, just wanted to say that you’re a very good and very talented musician."

"Sou desu ka?"

"Hai. Sou desu. And I hope you’ll continue with music."

"I definitely will, Professor."

"I think we’ve all enjoyed your company here."

"As I do yours."

"I hope to see you in the future."

"So do I to you."

Yoshiki reached out a hand.

Shinya didn’t understand at first, but eventually realized, so he reached out and they shook hands.

"Take care, Shinya." Yoshiki said with a smile.

"Arigatou gozai masita." Shinya said. "And you also take care."

Yoshiki nodded and walked out the dorm.

*****

Shinya finally arrived at the party and was immediately greeted by the Diety Hall crowd. Even though almost the entire dorm residents were there {@_@ is that possible?} the auburn head did not see Die anywhere.

"Open the door. It’s stuffed in here!" Shuse exclaimed.

Someone pushed the door open and some residents decided to occupy the hallway.

As usual, the poker players were seated at the table intensely focused on their cards, except this time, they had kept Kaoru’s cookies and are using them for poker chips. The bathroom was occupied by Kirito and Aiji and the rest of Pierrot were playing video games on the couch. Plastic Tree smoked out in the hallway, and Shinya was glad they smoked there instead of in the room.

Soon, Shinya spotted Kyo, Toshiya, and Kaoru. "Hi guys!"

"Hi, Shinya!’

Toshiya winked. "Lookin’ good for a party next door."

Shinya blushed. "Er, ano… have you guys seen Die anywhere?’

Kyo piped up. "Well, he’s at---"

Toshiya quickly clapped his hand on Kyo’s mouth. "--- the bathroom!" Toshiya finished.

"Bathroom?!?! Kirito and Aiji are in there!"

Kyo pushed Toshiya away. "He likes to watch rabbits, Shinya." Kyo smiled evilly.

Shinya scratched his head. "Rabbits? What do rabbits have to do with that?"

Kyo, Toshiya, and Kaoru: ~^^;~

"Anyway," Kaoru interjected. "Die will be back. Don’t worry."

The truth was, Die wasn’t anywhere in the building.

*****

The bus halted to a harsh stop as all the passengers were jerked forward by the inertia. The red head fell forward and almost knocked over an old lady, but luckily didn’t. Once the bus came to a complete halt, Die ran out as quick as lightning toward the empty night street. He searched for a particular place on High Street and beamed when he found it. Caddie’s Gift & Flower Shop. He jogged toward the front door and pulled the handle. It wouldn’t budge. He tried again, but the door was bolted shut. The red head looked up, then saw a sign on the window that said, "closed."

Die tugged his hair and cursed out loud. "#(@#*$&(@^%#*%(@$!!!!!"

He went all the way across town for nothing. Now what was he going to get Shinya??? He slumped to the ground and sat for a minute, feeling depressed. Everybody gave Shinya something nice and Die didn’t know what to get the younger man, but when he saw those carnations displayed on the window of the flower shop, he thought they were perfect. The flowers reminded him so much of the pretty boy. So fresh. So intricately delicate. And so beautiful.

Die walked back to the bus stop with slumped shoulders and leaned on the lamppost. All he could do now is go back and expect the flowers next morning.

He waited.

And waited.

And waited.

~Where’s the damned bus?!~ he thought.

The red head waited for another half an hour then began to feel nervous. No way was he walking all the way back to Diety Hall from High Street! That would take too long! Suddenly, Die remembered that the bus schedule changed yesterday. He hit his head on the lamppost repeatedly. The bus he got off of was the last bus to go around. He immediately fished his pockets as he looked around. Great. No quarters. No payphone. No mobile. Nobody.

The red head began jogging back to the dorm. Everyone’s going to wonder where he went, and Die hopes to make it back to the party before his roommates decide to end it.

*****

Die trudged up the staircase in dismay. He was tired, sweaty, and looked like shit. He couldn’t believe he ran from High Street all the way to Diety Hall. Even though he was fit as a football player, his lungs still hurt from all that physical exercise. It must be the smoking. Once he reached his floor, the red head saw Kaoru smoking in the hallway. At once, he knew the party was over. It was too late in the night, and everything was quiet. Die slumped next to his best friend.

"It’s over, isn’t it?" Die said.

Kaoru offered a cigar. "The party is, but you guys aren’t."

Die chuckled. "Here we go again, Kaoru the optimist." He took Kaoru’s cigar offer and brought out a lighter.

"Doesn’t hurt to be that way. Anyway, Shinya’s asleep. His train leaves morning. Why don’t you wake him up?"

"Not without those flowers."

"Die! He doesn’t care about that! He just wanted to see you! He was asking about you during the party."

"Kaoru…" Die took a long drag. "….you may find me stupid, and you could go ahead and call me stupid, but I can’t see him right now, not without those flowers. I feel so… I don’t know. I feel like I have to give him something. And when I saw those flowers, I could see Shinya delighted to receive them. After that, I just wanted to get them for him… give it to him as a surprise. Kaoru, I wanted so badly to see him happy…. God, I don’t know what I’m saying…." He buried his head on his knees.

Kaoru patted Die on the back. "I understand, Die." He reassured. "It’s just as you said at Campus Steak house; you remember that day?"

"Yeah."

"You said you love him so much, like you’ve never loved any other, that you’d climb any mountain and pick a flower from it if he’d asked. I understand perfectly how it feels."

"Thanks, Kaoru."

"But Die…"

"Nani?"

"Flower or no flower, you’d better talk to him before he leaves at 9, OK?"

Die grinned. "Hai!"

*****

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

*SLAM*

The alarm clock was knocked over and it tumbled on the floor. Die stretched out and picked up the clock and put it back on its proper place. Suddenly, he jumped. It was already 8:30.

"FUCK!!!!!"

He hastily put some unmatched street clothing and grabbed Ryuichi’s coat by accident, but he didn’t care. Die swung the door open and was surprised to find his flowers by the doorstep.

"That little fucking flower shop." He grumbled, then picked up the flowers.

"Die! There you are!"

Die looked up. "Toshiya?"

Toshiya gave a wan smile. "Good going, Shinya’s at the station already."

Die’s eyes widened. "Which station?"

"Er, the only one 15 minutes away from here…"

Die held Toshiya’s shoulders and shook him. "Which gate number? Please tell me you know which gate he’s at!"

Toshiya blinked.

*****

Shinya placed his luggage on the compartment as the rest of the passengers boarded the train. He sat by the window, which wasn’t his seat, because the train did not have very many passengers. The train was cramped and old, but Shinya didn’t care. He stared out the window sadly. He felt like crying. He was going to miss Diety Hall so much. He never thought he would become so attatched to so many people in such a short time ---- well, it seemed short. And he was never the type to warm up to people easily, which surely didn’t happen at Diety Hall. It was home away from home. And the residents of Diety Hall he will never forget. His vision was blurred from the moisture that accumulated in his eyes, but he blinked repeatedly. He thought he saw something familiar in the distance.

A blur of red.

Shinya wiped his tears away then stared. It really was Die. What was he doing there? Where was he the night before? What’s going on?

Suddenly, Die turned around and they both locked each other in a gaze. Everything else seemed to move in slow motion, as if everything felt like they were underwater, floating with the current. Die couldn’t believe it; he ran toward the auburn head as the younger man opened the window.

"Shinya!" Die gasped for breath. He’d been running quite a bit.

"Die.." was all Shinya could say.

Quickly, Die handed him the carnations.

Shinya drew a breath. The flowers were so beautiful. He took it, smelled its freshness, and smiled sweetly, but shyly. "A-arigatou." He blushed.

Die could only nod. Shinya’s smile was timid and shy, but breathtaking. The younger man looked so pretty with his auburn hair lose and the white dress that perfectly framed his delicate form. And his eyes were bright with happiness and sadness at the same time.

Not caring about the consequences anymore, Die reached up and grabbed Shinya’s hands in a secure hold.

Shinya blinked, surprised at first, then blushed hard as he looked at Die in the eye.

"Shinya," Die spoke softly, "do you…. Do you really have to leave?"

Shinya quietly nodded.

"…please don’t go…" Die pleaded.

Shinya felt his eyes water. "I’m sorry, Die. I can’t….my family…. They really need me…."

"Shinya…."

"No, call me Shin-chan…" Shinya smiled as his tears tickled down his cheeks.

"Hai, Shin-chan." Die smiled back, feeling his own eyes moisten. "When will I see you again?"

"I don’t know… but I’ll try to write to everyone…"

"Please take care." Die reached up and stroked the younger man’s tear-streamed cheeks. His heart ached to hold him.

"You, too… promise me something?"

"Hai."

"Take good care of everyone in Diety Hall. Please watch out for Levin, and please watch out for yourself, ne?"

Die nodded.

"Don’t smoke too much, ne?" Shinya sniffled and held Die’s hand tightly. "I’ll miss you." He whispered.

"I’ll miss you too." Die said. "And you know Ayumi and I….."

Shinya shook his head. "That doesn’t matter anymore. I know about it."

"Really?"

"Kaoru told me."

"WHAT?!"

Shinya giggled softly and wiped his tears with one hand while still holding the flower with the other. "Red headed imbicle."

Die smiled. "My auburn-haired beauty…"

They both looked into each other’s eyes for a moment. In that moment, the world was alien to them. Nothing else mattered, but the touch of their hands, and the loving gaze they held for each other.

Die couldn’t breathe. Shinya’s piercing emerald eyes were shining beautifully and lovingly---at him! How long had he wished for this day to come? It was like a dream, a dream come into reality. He wanted Shinya. He realized that now. No matter what he did and no matter what he said, his heart will always be with Shinya alone.

Die stammered. "S-shinya…"

Shinya listened patiently.

"Shin-chan, I ----."

The train jerked suddenly, and Shinya almost fell forward, but held onto the windowsill.

"Die, the train’s moving…"

"But I…."

Then, the train moved slowly. Die let go of Shinya’s hand, but ran across the station, trying to catch up to the window {um.. that’s not gonna work, Die-kun…}

"Shinya!"

"Die!"

The train moved faster.

"Shin-chan, I ….." Die dropped to his knees as the train moved at its maximum speed and receeded into a tiny spec in the distance. The red head hit the ground with his fist as the tears fell.

He cried and cried to himself and ignored passers-by who stared in curiosity.

"Shin-chan… I love you….."

CONTD~@ Episode 26: Miyabi

Yk2: Wahhh!!! T_T. It’s not over yet! I assure you!! *yukimi hides behind a shield from the Die x Shinya fans*

to be continued~