Always and Forever ~ Thoma x Ayato

Chapter 2

Ayato's POV ~ 

Mother and I were having what she called a 'little chat' about my boba addiction. Have you ever been sat down by your mother and scolded for drinking milk tea with spherical tapioca? If not, count yourself lucky. If so, I can relate. Unfortunately. 

"Ayato, you know that stuff isn't good for you," she chided as we sat together in the shade of the patio. I sighed wearily.   

"Yes, mother, I am aware that it has no visible benefits and could possibly be detrimental to my health, but once a week really doesn't sound so unreasonable." 

"I think once a month sounds better," Mother said in an almost sing-songy voice. Is sing-songy even a word? "Besides, you're sixteen now," she added, "You should be more responsible with the food you consume." 

"Says you," I teased, "Always buying deep-fried Dango whenever you can." 

"At least I share it with you and Ayaka!" Mother huffed in pretended annoyance and crossed her arms.   

We both laughed at that, and my mother stood up. "We will move this conversation to a later date, understood? I have to join your father for a political meeting."

I nodded. "Very well. Do I --"

Mother answered, cutting me off, "No, you do not have to sit in on this one, don't worry about it." She went back inside, probably to get ready for...whatever the meeting was about. 

It had started to rain. Thin streaks of water poured onto the roof and dripped down the edge. The sky grew thick with clouds as lightning rent the air. I should find Ayaka; she and her girlfriend Yoimiya were hanging out at the thin strip of shoreline near our home. 

The sound of footsteps on wet cobblestones made me jump. Speak of the Archons, Yoimiya was already here. Her orange-gold hair was out of its usual messy ponytail and hung off her shoulders. She was gasping for breath and hunched over her knees. Did she run the entire way here? 

I tried helping her up, but she slapped my hand away. "I'm...fiiinnnee," she wheezed. 

I frowned. No, you are absolutely not 'fiiinnnee'. Oh well, suit yourself, then. "Where's Ayaka? Is she still--" 

"Down...at the beach," Yoimiya said, clearing her throat. "Call-- it's an emergency--" 

"What!? Is Ayaka alright? What happened?" If something did happen to Ayaka, if anything dare touch her -- 

"Not her!" Yoimiya yelled over the rain, "She's fine. It's someone else, we found a wreck near the beach, I think a plane crashed or something. There's, like, metal and stuff in the water, and smoke from the east. I think its the east. That way's east, right?" She pointed toward the beach, waving her fingers in the general direction. 

"Emergency, you said?" I quipped, trying to steer her back to the topic. Yoimiya was incredibly hyper, and she got distracted easily. 

"Yeah, right, that. Someone's injured, I think. Probably not, like, badly injured, but they're still hurt! That's where Ayaka is, she already called the emergency line, but we're not sure if they can get here fast enough! Can you get your mom down there? Um, she's like, a trained medic or something, right?"

"Yoimiya? What are you doing outside in the rain?" Mother was back, and she had brought a large stack of towels with her. Strange. Wasn't she supposed to be in a meeting? "Aren't you cold? Please, get inside so you may dry off."

Yoimiya jumped. "Ack! Um, I mean, hello Lady Kamisato! I, um, thanks for the offer but--"

"Emergency at the beach," I interrupted, "Possible plane crash, Ayaka's there, need you because you have medical training, I'll get the first-aid kit." As I ran inside, I heard Mother and Yoimiya heading for the beach as fast as they could without slipping on the wet streets. 

It took far too long to find the first-aid kit; I had been forced to dig through the downstairs broom closet. Honestly, why do we even keep important things in the closet? They belong in some easily-accessible cabinet.

~*~

I rushed to the beach, following an old shortcut Ayaka and I always took when we were younger. By the time I arrived, Mother was leaning over a boy about my age, a worried expression on her face. 

Ayaka noticed me and waved me over, looking relieved. "Ayato, there you are!"

I handed her the first-aid kit, and knelt by Mother's side. I had to hold in a gasp. 

He's gorgeous. 

Golden hair flowed over the pale sand, gently fluttering lids hiding almondine eyes. Slender hands, worn with years of physical work grasped at the ground, holding on to nothing but air.  A lean frame, slim waist, perfect lips--

STOP. THINKING. NOW.

I forced my brain elsewhere, and stared at the gray-blue waves crashing on the shoreline instead of the boy's face.  The rain had lightened to a mere drizzle, but I no longer cared about getting soaked. My twice-cursed mind had drifted back...

He's gorgeous. 

A/N: Wrote most of this to "You're Sexy, I'm Sexy", and now I got that song on the brain. Hope you enjoyed! 

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