They were almost at the turn for Renji’s house when he noticed that he and Genichirou were walking in step. It was a peripheral observation, and not really surprising since they tended to fall into step when they walked any distance together. They were of a height, it was quite natural. Today, though, it suddenly seemed significant.
Not that Renji entirely trusted his perceptions just at the moment. The release of tension from the matches this afternoon, plus Seiichi’s surgery, had left him rather lightheaded.
Still, it struck him as a good symbol of everything that had been right and wrong during this year.
“Renji.”
His name called him back from his musing, to notice that they had reached his turn, and that Genichirou was standing with his head down, turned a little away.
“I’m… sorry.”
“For what?” Renji asked, quietly, touching his friend’s shoulder. He shook his head at the look Genichirou turned on him. “I knew what I was doing, Genichirou. I’m not blaming you.”
Not least, he reflected, as Genichirou’s eyes darkened, because Genichirou could be counted upon to blame himself.
It had been a split-second decision, almost an impulse, really, except for the calculation behind it. Renji had never expected to lose. Nor, he suspected, had Genichirou ever expected him to lose. When he had, and when he had seen the tightness of Genichirou’s mouth, the question had presented itself: How would Genichirou react to this breaking of the unbreakable rule he had set for their team this year? Renji knew perfectly well that, if it had been anyone but him, Genichirou would not have hesitated to strike, to drive home the unacceptable nature of losing. But it was him. And everyone in the club was aware that he and Genichirou were close friends, as well as teammates. Which led, inescapably, to the conclusion that, in order to keep the respect of the club, Genichirou must not react differently just because it was Renji.
So he had said so.
He had known it was a risk, to deliberately provoke Genichirou when he was that tense and angry. Knew that putting Genichirou squarely between his responsibility to the club and his care for Renji might finally break him. But he hadn’t seen any other way. Nor, to judge by the glint of helpless fury he’d seen in Genichirou’s eyes, as his hand drew back, had Genichirou.
At least, he smiled to himself, they hadn’t seen another way until Akaya interfered, blithe and brash as ever. Genichirou had been right, earlier today; Akaya’s protectiveness of his own, every bit as fierce as his will to win, would serve him well next year, when he became captain.
“Not just today, Renji,” Genichirou shook his head. “This whole year. You warned me, and I didn’t listen.”
“You chose the path that you felt you could walk on,” Renji noted. “And I chose to follow you down it.”
“It was the wrong choice,” Genichirou said, looking away.
“Was there a right one?” Renji countered.
Genichirou’s hand flashed up to touch the side of Renji’s face, softly. “Yes,” he answered, low and sharp, “one that didn’t involve losing control.”
Renji stifled a sigh. He knew quite well what the chances were of convincing Genichirou to let go of some blame he had decided to take on. And he couldn’t argue that the path Genichirou had chosen hadn’t been a dangerous one, especially once their personal bond had fallen crosswise of it. Still, there were times he wished that Genichirou’s ruthlessness were accompanied more often by detachment, rather than passion.
Of course, he supposed that was his part. So he made one more try.
“Was there a right choice we could have reached, this year?” he asked, gently. He read the stubborn There should have been in Genichirou’s tight lips, and couldn’t help a laugh. He laid his hand over Genichirou’s and turned his head to place a kiss in the palm.
“Genichirou,” he said, firmly, “stop this. If there’s anything that needs to be forgiven, I forgive you. It’s over now. Seiichi is coming back to us. We’re going to be all right.”
Genichirou’s eyes were a little brighter, now. “Have I ever won an argument with you?” he asked, with a small, rueful laugh of his own.
“There have been three occasions, to date,” Renji told him, serenely. “I made note of them.”
Genichirou smiled. “Well, since this doesn’t seem like it will be the fourth, I’ll stop. I’ll see you tomorrow, Renji. Good night.”
“Good night, Genichirou.”
Renji walked the rest of the way home with a lighter mind and heart, reassured that things were returning to where they should be.
End
[bounces] Three fics in ONE day! Three! In one! Whee!
[bouncebouncebounce]]
Bob: [hands over face] Damn the man who first contrived to combine coffee and booze. Damn him.
Heehee. Happy birthday, darling!
auh….
{blinks at title} You’ve been playing with the taichi again, have you?
{double blinks} yeah, I know, I’m supposed to be in bed already, but what did you expect me to do when you updated *three* fics in *one* day like this? ^___^
continuing on my comment from earlier, it really is quite interesting how this trio works so well together… and yet… if you were to remove even one player, regardless of who, I can’t see it working so well anymore.
We’ve obviously seen this when Yukimura was removed; his illness caused a rift between Renji and Sanada regardless of whether they both wanted it there or not… And even though Yukimura and Sanada look *great* together, and Yukimura and Renji are absolute doll babies, neither has the stabilization to last as a couple, ne?
Still, I love the little tiblit of insight into Kirihara’s character. Shall have to use that for the tez-kiri fic. {nodsnodsnods}
continuing on my comment from earlier, it really is quite interesting how this trio works so well together… and yet… if you were to remove even one player, regardless of who, I can’t see it working so well anymore.
God, I totally agree with you. They can function just in two for some time, but not quite so well as they are as a trio. All the balance (and cuteness) come from their relashionship as a trio not as a couple.
You know, as i was blissfully ignoring a perfectly good bedtime curefew and quite happily staying up to re-read “Challenge” last night… I realized that, yes, we’ve already discused this topic.
But, still, it’s so damn *true*!
Even when they *stray*… it’s not really ‘straying’, is it? Renji goes and fools around with Sadaharu, taking care of some old unfinished business… and Sanada get’s his jollies wanked… and they both do it with Seiichi’s blessing, dang it!
And it all seems so bloody *NATURAL* >.<
I don’t get it… there’s some little tiny voice trying to tell me it’s *wrong* and I’m like, “it is? really? it doesn’t *feel* wrong….”
>.< oh, the crisis of faith and belief…
OH! And what’s the background interpretation for this title? hmmm? (Yes, I know I’m supposed to be looking that book up, but with my mom springing this trip to San Fran on me next week, well… I’m playing my money safe. Or… at least… I’m *trying* to >.<)
and you know what? I want JHS and HS buchous to meet ^.^ *especially* now…
*grins* So, who do my boys represent? Faith or belief?
The way I see it, there are things Yukimura is insecure about, but his hold on Sanada and Yanagi isn’t one of them. So, as long as everyone knows what’s going on, he shouldn’t mind if they have a fling here or a friend with privileges there, any more than they would be threatened by Yukimura screwing the daylights out of Kirihara. None of those relationships are as mutual, and none of them have been through the same fire.
*tsks* Now, now, I went to a good deal of trouble to make sure that Sasaki and Sanada could have a nice, uncomplicated fling without being stuck in the same school/team. Though… there is a part of me that wants Yukimura and Sasaki to run into eachother over coffee or something. Just to have one little chat. I think they’d be entertained by each other. ^_^
who do my boys represent? Faith or belief?
>.< That’s part of what I’m trying to decide… On the one side of the coin you have faith, on the other, belief, so really they’re a similar aspect of the same coin… to have faith is to believe in something regardless of whether or not the “facts” tell you it should be right or wrong or good or bad, ne?
Yukimura screwing the daylights out of Kirihara
Hmmm… well, we’ve had Sanada x Kirihara and Seiichi x Kirihara… now we just need Renji x Kirihara and Kirihara can be named the all-around uke. ^___^v
And then you have the Doubles Team screwing each other and the Singles Team screwing each other for a nice, happy equation = Rikkaidai.
I went to a good deal of trouble to make sure that Sasaki and Sanada could have a nice, uncomplicated fling
Mouuu… why’d you go and do a thing like that for? I think Yukimura and Sasaki should somehow engage in a little friendly tennis match, and Sanada (and maybe Renji, too?) should just happen to see them…. maybe overhear them, too? {grins happily}
Earth over Thunder: Return. The time of darkness is over and the light begins to return.
*nods* The way I see these three, they definitely need all three to be stable. Otherwise, Sanada’s passion and temper get out of hand, Yanagi withdraws too far, and Yukimura burns out.
*pets Kiri-elf* He’s such a bundle of contradictions. He’s determined to beat the Great Three, but he intervenes to protect their friendship, defying his vice-captain, and then turns around and offers himself to the same treatment after his own match. *shakes head* Volatile boy.
ah, see… that’s what I get for not reading all my emails first. ^.^ Hmmm… That’s a very appropriate title then… sugoi.
“I am large, there are many contradictions in me.” ~Emerson, I believe; one of my favorite all time quotes. ^__^v
{sighs} and he’s definitely being contradictory in this Tezuka fic… then again, Tezuka all of a sudden started talking to me, so… hn.
Whitman? “I am large. I contain multitudes.” Emerson is the one about a narrow fear of contradictions being the hobgoblin of small minds. Which is both quite true and covering his ass at the same time. Ah, multi-tasking.
You know, anyone who thinks yaoi fangirls are the first ones to have dirty thoughts inspired by the otherwise innocent activities of boys together has never read Whitman.
A Tezuka who talks is half the batte. More than that, actually. *bounces*
{blinks} well, if it *is* Whitman than I’m screwed, as that was the *one* thing I remember from ENG1102. 🙁
Oh, please… yaoi fangirls are just the newest evolution of a series of societal cycles of homoerotica-meet-homophobia.
{blinks} Tezuka talking is half the battle? Great. What’s the other half? getting him to shut up again? >.<
Kyuuuuuuuute! I’m liking your Renji more and more. And I can’t help it but like Sanada doing the guilting. It’s sooooo kyuute.
*snickers* Ah, Sanada is fun to torture. It’s why I let Atobe prod at him in Storyspace.
Emily, I have to say you are my …well, I forgot the word, so I’ll say I am definetly your fan.
I’m so pleased with you Yanagi/Sanada fics…of course I love Sanada with Yukimura, I like Sanada with Kirihara, I also like Yukimura with Akaya, but….there are something speciall to me when I see Sanda and Yanagi together. I simply love them.
Of course I love those guys when they are into a relationship with Yukimura, but…the way they interact even when they are alone, talking like that, or doing something else…I don’t know, it’s special. I just miss a little some fics in Yanagi point of view, but….girl, believe me, you are great!
*snugs* Thank you, dear!
It took a while to get a good grip on Yanagi’s pov, but I rather like him, too. And I think it’s true that these two show a special side of themselves when they’re together. *dotes on characters*