Room 304, Diety Hall

Author: Yukimi2 yukimi2@yahoo.com

Episode 4: The Two Admirers

Die reached Prof. Pata’s class in a haze. He wasn’t really paying attention to what was going on. He sat down right next to Kaoru, thinking about the auburn-haired beauty. Kaoru woke up and looked over to his friend. Die was being Die, but something was amiss.

"Ano…Die! Daijoubou?"

"……..."

Kaoru stared in shock. Die was never absentminded. True, he wasn’t very intelligent {Kaoru…^^; ~Yk2} , but ditziness was not relevant to Die’s nature. Kaoru sighed and slumped on his seat.

Die continued to stare in limbo. He gave a long, heart-felt sigh. All he could see were those beautiful green eyes and the name on the boy’s paper.

Shinya…. what a beautiful name…..

*****

SLAM!

Kyo craned his neck from the bed he was sleeping in and growled. "Would you mind being at least considerate to the sleeping?"

"Gomen."

Kyo sat up from his dilapidated bed and stared at his new roommate who just came in through the door. He raised an eyebrow. "You look sick today. Did something happen?"

"No."

Silence.

Kyo frowned. His new roommate is too quiet. Dude, I don’t think I can stand the silence…. Kyo thought. Then again….I can get more sleep….

"Ne, Shinya. Maybe you should get some rest. Today’s only your first day as a foreign exchange student here. Maybe being in a new place is too much for you your turning red."

Shinya felt his cheeks, then reddened even more. It was obvious he just came back from music class.

"I-I’m fine." He quickly looked down, attempting to hide his face with his hair, then ran to the restroom. The younger man bent over the sink and washed his face. He reached for a towel and dried himself. He was greatful Diety Hall’s fourth floor had private bathrooms. The only problem is that there are four people living in one dormitory instead of two, causing the small space to be even more cramped. They only had space for two bunkbeds (both having top and bottom), a table, a television, and a bathroom connected to it.

Shinya stared at himself through the mirror. He had bags in his eyes. He worked a little too hard on his first music composition assignment the night before. Not that he minded. If the composition was for Prof. Yoshiki, he’d do anything to make the music perfect.

He wondered why everyone else called Prof. Yoshiki ‘Akuma-sensei’. Prof. Yoshiki wasn’t that bad. Besides, the man was so hard-working, talented, and….and…..sexy?

Shinya felt his face heat up and covered his cheeks with his hands. He really hopes his idol would praise his music. He vowed, since the day he set eyes on Prof. Yoshiki, he would impress the man of his dreams by achieving A+ in music class, which nobody in Yoshiki’s class has ever. He could not wait to get his papers back on Monday.

Curses!!!! Shinya thought, balling up his left hand into a fist and raising it in the air. His music sheets would have been perfect if it had not been knocked down to the ground and covered with soot.

Which reminds him…….

He reached into his pockets and took out the paper with Die’s phone number written on it. Shinya closed his hand, crumpling the paper, and threw it away in the wastebasket before going back to his bed.

*****

For one thing, Die is acting really really strange lately. He’s still going to class…somewhat….and attending football practices {I’m making Die the captain of university football team ^_~ Kakkoi ne? ~Yk2} but he’s been very absent-minded. Maybe he’s given up on alcohol and starting on marijuana. Everyone else is getting worried too. No parties at Die’s place for five days means there has to be something wrong.

Totchi still hasn’t come back. And it’s making me really nervous. I was about to file a missing person’s report, but everyone else seemed unphased by his disappearance. Other students informed me it’s a normal occurrence. I guess there are times Toshiya doesn’t come back for two weeks, especially if he’s head-over-heels on a guy. Kyo just said Toshiya’s too busy fucking Hakuei…… gross…..

Kaoru set his pen down and took a deep breath. It was Saturday already and no party and no Toshiya. The cult members are too busy preparing for some ceremony the called "The Sacrifice." Kaoru just knew it’s a normal occurrence for cult members to steal chickens from the agricultural department and perform living sacrifices while Art Marju Duchain chanted their songs. It was pretty obvious what they were doing because the dorm pipes lead down to the basement (where the meetings are held) and everyone can hear Prof.Toshi’s squealing sermons. The purple head didn’t want to know any more details. But since it’s an important cult meeting, Kyo, Hiro, and Ryutaro aren’t going to be in their dorms. He had no money to gamble, so going over Koji’s was not an option. Everyone else had things to do. He had no homework either.

Why is it so quiet whenever I have nothing to study for??

Then Kaoru felt a breeze from his opened window. He walked over and leaned his elbow on the windowsill, smelling the warm autumn air. The night was quiet and peaceful.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to take a walk.

Kaoru grabbed a light jacket then headed out the dormitory.

Once outside, Kaoru decided he was going to sit underneath the tree closest to Diety Hall. Unfortunately, he found someone else sitting by the tree. He didn’t particularly appreciate someone stealing his peaceful spot, but resolved to be polite anyway.

The purple head gave a courteous nod then asked, "Is it OK if I sit here?"

The person nodded.

Kaoru settled down comfortably before asking his companion, "Sumimasen, you look familiar. Have I see you before?"

The person blinked innocently, then gave a cute smile. "I think I have music class with you."

Kaoru smiled back. "Now I remember," he stated, "you’re the new foreign exchange student. Your name is Shinya, right?"

"Yes."

"From what I heard you’re excellent at composition."

"Really?" Shinya blushed in embarrassment. No one ever said that to him before.

"Yes." Kaoru nodded, watching the younger man curiously. Shinya was really cute when he is blushing.

Shinya looked up, his pretty green eyes shining. Kaoru’s breath got caught in his throat.

"Your name’s Kaoru, right?" the bishounen quietly asked.

"Ah…yeah…" Why am I so nervous?

"Hmm…I thought you were a pre-med student."

"Oh! Um, I take music class for a GEC credit." Kaoru nervously explained. "A-and I occasionally play guitar to calm myself down. I just really like music." Kaoru fidgeted and straightened his sitting position, hitting his head on the tree trunk.

"Ittai!" Kaoru rubbed his sore spot.

The boy giggled.

Kaoru looked at Shinya then smiled at the cute way the bishounen tried to hide his laughter. Pretty soon he was laughing along.

After the laughter died down, Kaoru asked Shinya, "Which building do you live at?"

"Diety Hall." Shinya pointed at the building right in front of them.

"Really? I live there too; Room 304. What’s your room number?"

"Room 411."

Kaoru widened his eyes. "Wow. You live with three other people, don’t you?"

"Yes."

"Isn’t it a bit cramped?"

"Hmmm… sort of. But we have private bathrooms to compensate for that."

"Have you gotten used to Kyo?"

Shinya gave a soft laugh. "Kyo is Kyo. Even on the first day, it’s easy to silence him. I give him a pillow, then he sleeps."

"I guess living with Kyo, Levin, and Hyde is like living with children."

"True." Shinya said. "Keep them preoccupied then they won’t bother you."

Shinya suddenly got up. "Well, I best be going now. I’ll see you in class tomorrow."

"Wait!" Kaoru jumped up. "I’ll walk you there."

Shinya gave a slight nod.

As the two students walked to Diety Hall, they talked of classes and music composition. Kaoru definitely missed this. He missed talking to someone about music. He could talk to Prof. Yoshiki, but he didn’t want his head cut off by criticism. Then there are Diety Hall’s Music Majors, Gackt and Mana. He COULD talk to them, but, well, they were Gackt and Mana ^_^; In his hometown, he used to talk with his former guitar instructor. It’s been years since that incident. He missed those good old days…

*{Flashback…}*

"WAHHHH!!! I want my mommy!!" An eight year old Kaoru wailed ceaselessly, his whiny voice ringing through the walls of the run-down apartment.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

"WAHHHH~! Hide-sensei yelled at me!!!"

The little boy began to hit fist and feet on the floor, causing the downstairs neighbors to yell: "What the hell’s goin’ on up there?!"

"None of your damn business!" Hide stomped his feet and yelled at the downstairs neighbors. Then he turned to look at Kaoru, still throwing a reckless fit.

"I don’ wanna! I don’ wanna!!!" the little boy cried.

Hide was loosing his cool. He crushed the empty beer can he was holding, then stood up. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!!!!!!!!! >_<!!!"

Kaoru suddenly stopped, surprised at his instructor’s sudden outroar. He watched a very pissed off Hide walk toward him. The little boy grew scared then started wimpering.

"Oh no you don’t" Hide growled. "You start up again I’ll stick this beer can up your ass!!"

Kaoru stared down at his feet, drying his eyes with is long sleeved shirt.

Hide let out a deep breath. He was feeling much better after crushing the beer can and yelling on top of his lungs. "Look, kid. You need to toughen up."

Kaoru snapped his head up. He blinked confusedly at his instructor.

Hide continued. "I know your parents are making you take these lessons. I know you’d rather play with those neighborhood brats outside. Hell, I know I’d rather be out chugging booze in a bar."

Kaoru sniffled. "H-hai. Oka-san wants me to know music, but I don’t want to."

"So? I’m not cut out for teaching and I don’t wanna do it, but I have to get money." Hide shrugged. "But there’s no difference between that and yo momma, now, is there?"

"But---"

"Kaoru," Hide started. "You’ve probably heard this so many times already, but your mother wants the best for you. Your mother just wants you to have a hobby, or something to take your mind off of probs."

"Music IS my problem and YOU are my problem! " Kaoru snapped angrily. {Wooo! ^o^! Chibi-Kaoru got attitude! ~Yk2}

"Yeah, and I love you too, punk ass!" Hide sneered. "I don’t think music is your problem. Your just pissed yo momma is not giving you a choice." Hide sighed. "ANYWAYZ! I know your mom. She’s not going to let you off the hook on this one, even if you bitch and yell about stopping lessons." {Hide thinks: And if you stop lessons, I won’t have a source of income >_<;;;}

Suddenly, Hide gave a smile and patted the boy on the head. Kaoru looked up, puzzled.

"You can’t change people, kid. " Hide said. "Neither can you change your situation. If something is meant to happen, it will happen, no matter how long you wait or no matter what you do." The pink head sighed then looked at a picture, which was on the top of the TV stand, of him and his former koboito. "The best thing you can do right now is to think positive and make the best out of it."

Kaoru stared at his instructor. Hide bore a smile on his face, but his eyes expressed a slight tint of sadness.

"A-ano…Hide-sensei?"

Hide shook his head vigorously, then turned to his student with a bright grin on his face. "It’s nothing." He handed Kaoru a songbook. "Here."

Kaoru’s eyes widened with excitement. "WoW!! Thundercat’s songbook!!!!!"

"Cool, ain’t it?" Hide said. "Now, are you promising to practice everyday?"

"Promise!" Kaoru exclaimed, jumping up and down. "Hide-sensei kakkoi!!"

"Oh, I know." Hide picked up a pack of cigars. "Now go practice while I smoke in the back."

"Hai!"

"And when your mom comes knocking at the door, just pretend you know what your doing, OK?"

"Hai, Hide-sensei."

Hide grinned then sauntered over to the back door, hearing the young boy strum a few clumsy guitar chords.

*{End flashback}*

Kaoru smiled to himself. Over the years, Hide became like an older brother, mentor, and idol to him. Eventually, he himself grew to love music. He wished Hide was still here….

"Kaoru, daijoubou?"

Kaoru blinked. He saw Shinya peer at his face worriedly. He didn’t even notice they have reached their destination. "Hai, hai. I’m OK."

The younger man smiled sweetly, then turned the knob to his room. "Well, I guess I shall see you tomorrow?"

"Alright."

"Goodnight."

The purple head walked off, feeling satisfied finding a friend with the same hobby as he. Kaoru reached the top of the staircase when he heard Shinya call out.

"Kaoru!"

He turned around. "Nani?"

"Thank you." The younger man gave a tiny bow.

Kaoru asked, "Whatever for?"

"Well, I-I was having a stressful day today," The younger man explained. "And after I talked to you I felt much better. I just wanted you to know I appreciate you talking to me."

"Oh, no problem, Shinya." Kaoru couldn’t help but feel his blood rushing up to his face and his heartbeat quicken a pace.

"Oyasumi."

"Oyasumi."

Kaoru stared as Shinya closed his dorm door. Having a person like Shinya in a housing building like this was totally ironic. He couldn’t imagine Shinya sipping tea while everyone else was chugging beer. Shinya is so different. So prim. So proper. So….sexy?

Kaoru suddenly had a thought of what it would be like to get such an innocent beauty in bed.

~Ack! Stop thinking like that!!~ Kaoru slapped himself on the head. ~Living in this dorm is corrupting me!!~

"Hey Kaoru, what are you doing here?"

Die looked up at Kaoru from the bottom of the steps.

"Konbanwa, Die! I was just talking to a friend. How was practice?"

Die stuck his tongue out. "You really think we could do any better than what we always do?"

"Come on, Die. With you on the football team, you can compensate for some of the sucky players." Kaoru smiled seeing that his friend was slightly out of his air-headedness.

Die gave Kaoru a look. "Thanks, Kaoru. But unfortunately, this is a football TEAM. I do need team support you know."

Kaoru smirked. "Even if you had team support, you wouldn’t get much done anyway."

{Just imagine a college full of Jrockers playing football…@_@….Um, no. ~Yk2}

Die playfully hit Kaoru on the head. "Baka. Like you could do any better." He headed up the stairs, waving to his friend. "See ya, man."

"G’night."

Die entered his dorm. He took off his shoes while pressing a button on the answering machine.

"You have no messages." It said.

Die felt a twinge of disappointment. He was hoping that bishounen Shinya would call.

~Fuck, Die,~ he thought to himself, ~You’re such a desperate idiot. You know so many people, why do you stick with that stranger! Forget about him.~

Die threw himself on the bed, careful not to make enough noise to wake up his other roommates. It took him a while to finally sleep. He felt a little depressed over a certain someone. Little did he know that ‘certain someone’ is only one dorm room away.

*****

Kaoru took forever walking down the steps to the third floor. Not that he minded and not that he cared. All he could think of is that dazzling, innocent smile from the boy upstairs. So beautiful. And the soft spoken voice that said ‘thank you’ replayed on his head over and over. Such simple, genuine words, yet, it produced a lasting effect on the purple head.

Kaoru slipped into bed comfortably. He bore a smile on his face. He had never felt so relaxed and at ease. Maybe Shinya’s calm and quiet demeanor was making him feel that way.

The purple head sighed in satisfaction, then buried his head deep into his pillow, not noticing the sleeping figure on the other bed beside his.

CONTD ~@ Part 5~

to be continued~