Junjou Possession

Chapter #2

Junjou Possession |Chapter#2 l Haruhiko

My footsteps echo across the pavement as I exit the aquarium, and the image of my love.

Immediately, I unlock, open, and enter the black car outside. For a moment, all thoughts have disappeared and all I can hear is that deafening silence.  Then, as I recall the moments inside, I hear his voice resonate all around me. Normally, his voice is soft and sweet, but not this time. His voice was loud, and rough. How had he managed to change so drastically without me noticing? Perhaps Akihiko would know. Though, he would never admit anything to me.

Without another thought, my cell phone slips into my hands and I have dialed that dreaded number. At first, I surely expected he would ignore my call. I realize I would do the same for him. But, despite my thoughts, I hear his ever-so-loving voice. “What the hell do you want?”

I cross my free hand over my chest. Perhaps I was truly insane, but I will never know unless I speak to him right now. “I must speak with Misaki. It is an urgent matter.”

“Are you an idiot?!” He yells into the phone. “Why the hell would I let you speak to him?!”

I brace myself for more yelling with a grip on my shirt. “Two minutes. I only need to confirm something. You may listen in if you like, but do not interrupt.”

I hear his low groan on the other side. He is annoyed, as he always is with my presence. “You have one minute.”

For politeness, I simply utter one more phrase to him. “Thank you.”

I hear Misaki’s name being called in the background, and before I can even let out another breath, Misaki is on the line. “Hello? Usagi-ani?”

I feel the blood rush through my veins as easily as I feel the cloth in my fingers. His voice was back to normal. He was still himself. But I had specifically told him to call me Haruhiko, hadn’t I? That still leaves me with this one question I must ask. “Misaki. Were you at the aquarium just now?”

I imagine him blinking in confusion as he lets out a soft chuckle. “Sorry, no. I haven’t been back there since last time we both met there.” I could hear his grip tighten on the phone. “Why do you ask?”

Misaki wasn’t lying. So, what does that mean? What does that mean just happened? I let out a low sigh as I try to wrap my brain around it. “I understand.” I lean my head against the window. “And your eyes are green, right?”

“Yes, as always.” He emits another sweet chuckle. My heart almost melts right there, and I am tempted to say those words again, though I know I cannot for Akihiko is listening in. “It’s not like I got contacts, or anything.”

“I understand.” I close my eyes before I attempt to swiftly end this confusing conversation. I know it has been over a minute, though Akihiko has made no signs of stopping the conversation. Perhaps he is just as confused as I am. “Thank you for your time.”

Without even listening for an answer, I instantly hang up and sink down lower into my seat. I run one hand through my hair as I envision two Misakis: each one standing side by side.

Misaki on the left is rebellious: a kid who doesn’t care what others think of him. Misaki on the right is obedient: a kid who cares too much how everyone perceives him. Misaki left is someone I barely know, while Misaki right is a person I know painfully well. Is this a mirage placed in my brain, or polar opposite twins? I exhale a deep breath. No way is it the latter. That just doesn’t happen.

So, why is my brain creating this mirage? Do I wish for an opposing Misaki? Do I want to be swept away by the ocean of his eyes?

I still feel the pounding of my heart. Why do his eyes even matter? Why do I keep imagining them? Misaki’s eyes held no reason for my love. So, why are those crystal eyes imprinted into my brain? Why?

I pound my fists into the steering wheel. Why was this all so confusing?

I admit that I cannot leave this place until my brain copes with the situation. The only way to do that is to confront this mirage of mine. I slip my phone back into my pocket, open the car door, and shut it before I lock it behind me. I can barely make out the sounds of my own footsteps as I rapidly storm into the ocean blue. Right in front of the biggest fish tank. That was where he has always been.

I halt as soon as I see the container. As I stare at the soothing waves, I begin to remember his presence more. The left Misaki would stare at this fish tank from four o’clock until we closed at eleven. He would observe every detail, even write a few notes in a notebook, and leave without even a word to anybody. I could only stare at his fascination and wonder just why such a simple thing was so incredible to him.

It was nearly a week ago when I began to notice his resemblance to Misaki. Before then I only caught glimpses of his face. But, a few days ago, he began to notice me watching him and gave me the most innocent of looks. I instantly recognized him as my love. With only the one difference, I have had the image of his eyes pressed into my brain ever since that day. Today, I suppose I was fed up just watching, and desired to know why Misaki was even here. Now, I am more confused than ever.

“Hey.”

I hear a faint voice, and I turn towards those familiar, yet so distant, eyes. “Misa-“ I am about to say Misaki, but I close my mouth. No, this is not Misaki. This was my mirage. “Minori, was it?”

He throws his hands into his pockets as he gives me the faintest of smiles. “Glad we both have our names right, Mr. Haruhiko.”

I take one step forward, and leave all past doubts behind me. We are three steps apart, and that distance seems so far. He looks as if he is about cry, even though he is smiling his malicious smile. He takes those three steps, and veers around me. He bends down to pick up a small bracelet off the ground, and stands back up as he examines it. “Sorry to intrude, but I forgot this.”

The bracelet looks like a friendship one that I used to see my classmates making in grade school. There are approximately twenty beads wrapped around a black ribbon. Placed on the ribbon are brown and blue beads that seem to reflect the colors of his being. Why is such a small thing so important to him? Why would he waste time to go back and pick it up?

I am about to speak, but before I can I notice a small drop of water drip from the ocean of his eyes. He instantly wipes it away with a shrug. “Excuse me. I’ll be going now.”

Why does he cry? Why does he smile whenever he is hurting inside?

I don’t even blink. I grip tightly to his wrist and pull his body against mine. I wrap my arms around his thin bones and squeeze his warm flesh between my fingertips. In the blur of movement, his bracelet goes clattering against the floor. I do not notice the sound, only the feel of him in my arms. He is so much stronger than Misaki on the outside, but even frailer on the inside. He is not my Misaki, but I cannot resist this urge to comfort him.

“W-What are you doing?” He whispers quietly. Misaki would have been resisting with all his might by now, but Minori was limp. He just stood there, body shaking with emotional distraught.

My grip only tightens. “Last time I checked this was called a hug. If you think of it as something else, you may simply say so.”

He growls, but his voice is still quiet. “That’s not what I meant, bastard.” He head-butted my shoulder and is somehow coming closer to me. “Why are you hugging me?”

I close my eyes, taking in the smell of his hair. “Why, indeed.”

Both of his hands find my chest, and he pushes me away. I am forced to open my eyes and see him storming off without another word. Still in my trance, I rush to keep him close to me. “Minori!” I yell.

But, again, my efforts are futile. By the time I reach the entrance, he has jumped into another black car, and he drives away. I am left with the scent of his hair, the warm touch of his skin, and his name on my lips.