The Dark Half p4

The Dark Half Part 4...           (Another language warning! Be warned!)
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        Hiroshi awoke from his dreaming with a start. His dreams hadn't been too pleasant since he was in such a bad mood when he fell asleep. This morning, though, his anger was mostly gone. He'd taken it out on his dreams. But he still wanted to have a talk with Kazuki.
       The morning crept by very slowly for him. He couldn't concentrate in Speech class. His thoughts always turned back to his friend/enemy. And he didn't even remember the whole event... But he certainly knows about Kazuko being inside him. An d Hiroshi had a lot to say to him.
       When class ended he patrolled the halls for any trace of his friend. He was nowhere to be found. Hiroshi finally had to give up and head to his next class. He again didn't concentrate much on the lesson. Kazuki choose the worst days to leave school....
     Half way through the day, after searching for him in between every class, he found him during lunch hour. He spotted him across the room, leaning down to pick up his books and leave. Hiroshi quickly ran up to him.
     Kazuki turned around and looked at his friend in surprise and then at the other people in the room, making sure they were out of earshot. Hiroshi looked at him for a moment, making sure he wouldn't turn into Kazuko again. But his horns stayed in his head and his eyes stayed blue.
      "Oh.... Hiroshi.... There you are." The demon looked downwards a moment.
       "I'm glad I found you."
       "So am I... I..I wanted to talk about last night."
        Hiroshi looked at him in surprise. "You can remember last night..?? I thought Kazuko took away your memory!"
        "He didn't this time. I guess you didn't tick him off as much as he told you you did. But still.... Hiroshi... I'm so sorry you had to meet him like that... And I'm so sorry he said those things to you..." The boy frowned and sighed. "He's very nice to me... But he can be really horrible to other people. It's just his nature... Please, forget all those things he said." He shook his head slowly. "He just doesn't like you, is all. You're not....a fag." He became very quiet.
       Hiroshi nodded. "Well... technically... I am." He shrugged. "But don't worry. I didn't take it to heart," he assured him, not mentioning just how angry he was last night. "So... you remembered ALL of last night...?"
       Kazuki couldn't help but smile a little. "Yeah... I do...."
       Hiroshi felt a blush coming on, it was so awkward. "Well... I guess I never caught your reaction...."
       The demon chuckled and blushed a bit. "I think.... I'm really flattered, Hiroshi... If things were different, like if I was just a normal human.... I'd love to accept it. You're really nice and sweet and I'd love to.... But.... Kazuko was right. It just... wouldn't work out this way..." His smile slowly drooped and he sighed sadly.
       Hiroshi sighed, too. He was frustrated. Kazuki did have feelings for him, but.... "Are you sure...? I.. I really like you...." he pleaded.
        "Oh, Hiroshi, please.... I'm really sorry. It's just.. complicated..." His big blue eyes pleaded Hiroshi to let him go. The human sighed loudly.
        "Alright. I'm sorry I pushed like that..." Both boys looked at each other, upset that fate had to be this way.
        "At least.... we can still be friends, right?" Kazuki gave a half-smile and extended a hand. Hiroshi smiled back and shook it.
       "Definitely." They stood for a moment and then brought their hands back.
        "Well, I better get back to class," Kazuki apologized. "Let's hang out after school, ok?"
         "Alright." The demon gathered his stuff and Hiroshi walked over to get in the lunch line.

          After school, they did hang out. And slowly things seemed to return to normal. They played on the Xbox 360 and laughed with each other again. They both tried to forget about last night. Kazuko kept his word and did not make an appearance. They did their homework together and were reluctant to part when it was getting late. At the surface it looked as if things were back to normal.
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        "Hey, good morning, Kazuki," Hiroshi greeted as he fell into step beside his friend. The demon nodded happily.
        "Good morning!" He looked forward again, barely dodging a boy running through the halls. Then he fell back into step. His expression changed suddenly. "Oh! Hiroshi! I just remembered!! There's a new movie coming out that I'd really like to see! If you're not doing anything after school tonight, I bet I can get us tickets to go to it! It's that new one with Johnny Depp in it!"
       Hiroshi turned very serious. "Oh. Well, I don't know.. I've got a bunch of plans tonight..."
       Kazuki's happiness fell and he looked worriedly at his friend.
      "Plans like going to the movies with my best friend!"
       The demon smiled. "Ah! Got me!"
       Hiroshi smiled back. "Yeah, I've wanted to see that one, too. Mostly just because Johnny Depp is in it. He's so awesome in every movie he's in!"
        His friend nodded enthusiastically in agreement. "He is! That's the only reason I watched Sweeney Todd and Edward Sizzorhands..."
        "How about Pirates of the Caribbean?"
        "Oh, that one, too! He was so funny as Jack Sparrow!" He put on his best imitation. "Why is the rum always gone..?"
         The boy's laughed at his sad attempt.

         The day crept by for both boys. They kept thinking about later that night. They were eager to get over that unhappy feeling in their guts and get that old happy friendship spark back. Maybe spending time at the movies would do it. Anything to break the awkwardness hanging above their heads whenever they were together....

       After school, Hiroshi met his friend at his dorm room. He strolled inside and waved to him.
       "Ah! There you are. I got perfect tickets." He handed his friend his ticket. "We just have to leave right away or we'll miss out on the good seats!"
       Hiroshi nodded. "Then we better get going. I can pay for the taxi ride to the theater." He walked over to the phone on Kazuki's desk and dialed a number.
      "Thanks."
      Hiroshi talked for a moment and then said thanks and hung up the phone. "He'll be right there. Let's head out!"
       The two boys ran down the halls, down the stairs, and finally out the door. They stood out on the pavement in front of the main street, waiting. The cab arrived very quickly to pick them up. Hiroshi opened the door for Kazuki and they both sat down, already laughing and talking about the movie. They made jokes about movie theaters and discussed what sized popcorn tub to get. Large, definitely. When the cab arrived at the theater, Hiroshi payed the man and they got out of the cab.
       "Come on, I'll save us good seats and you get the popcorn. Pepsi for me, ok?" Kazuki chirped, already bouncing up and down, tossing Hiroshi a couple of bucks. Then he took off for the right theater room so he could get the best seats. It was a good idea because many people had decided that it was a good day for a movie.
       Hiroshi smiled and went and picked up the popcorn and drinks. He made sure it was properly buttered and salted which meant at a heart-attack-inducing level. Then he made his way over to the theater.
       They were a little late, so the theater was dark and the video commercial were playing already. He scanned the seats for his friend. Kazuki waved wildly to get his attention. Finally Hiroshi saw him and waved back, almost dropping his drink. He made his way past all the sitting people and sat down next to his friend who moved his arm for him.
        "Thanks," Kazuki whispered, taking the drink and a handful of popcorn.
        "Thanks for inviting me," Hiroshi whispered back, eating a mouthful himself.
        
         The movie was pretty good, though it was mostly because of Johnny Depp. The boys laughed and whispered and received a shush from a lady behind them more than once. Overall, it was a very fun time. When the movie ended, Kazuki stood up and clapped. Hiroshi joined him and they cheered enthusiastically, though no one else in the theater joined them.
       They left the theater room happily. The awkwardness had indeed been killed by the fun time they had had. It felt like their old friendship was back. Which made them even happier.
       "Here, you keep the rest of the popcorn. I think maybe we should have gotten a medium... We were laughing so much we forgot to eat most of it.." Hiroshi shook the bag and the popcorn shifted.
       Kazuki took the bag. "Aw, thanks! So what did you think of the movie?"
       "Pretty good. How about you?"
       "I liked it. I always love movies. Like humans, they're so interesting! It makes me thankful I have the ability of blending in." Kazuki smiled.
       "I'm glad you have it, too. Otherwise I'd be back at my dorm, going bored out of my mind!"
        They both walked out of the building and looked up, surprised.
       "Oh... It's raining," Kazuki remarked, blinking as a raindrop hit him in the eye.
       Hiroshi pushed his friend back through the doors and into the building. "Wait a moment, I think I still have it in this coat...." He fished inside his coat and smile. He pulled out a small black umbrella.
      "Ah! Perfect, what luck!" Kazuki exclaimed. Hiroshi and he walked outside again and Hiroshi opened the umbrella with a little difficulty.
      He lifted it up. "Oh... heh heh." It was terribly small.
       Kazuki snickered, his hair dripping. Hiroshi looked over at him and held the umbrella over his head. Hiroshi smiled, the rain picking up and drenching him.
       "Hiroshi! Not cool!" Kazuki exclaimed, seeing how he held the umbrella over his head and got wet himself. "We'll share it." He squished up against his friend so they could both share the umbrella.
      Even though they stood extremely close together, they still got a little wet, the umbrella being made for one person. Hiroshi felt a blush coming on. They stood so close that he could feel Kazuki's chest move as he breathed. They both stood for a moment like this together, listening to the rain bounce off the top of the umbrella.
      Hiroshi finally stopped avoiding eye contact and looked at his friend. Raindrops dripped slowly down his face and he looked up to see Hiroshi looking at him. This made him blush slightly and laugh nervously. Obviously he felt the mood, too.
       People absently walked around the two boys standing up against each other in front of the movie theater. None of them spoke or stopped. It was as if they didn't exist at all. Their presence made no difference to the boy's feelings.
     The rain slowly dripping down their faces, the constant rhythmic hum of the rain beating against the umbrella, the closeness, the obvious pleasant awkwardness floating in the air around them, the being isolated from the world around them...  Both boys blushed and avoided each other's eyes, and whenever they happened to meet, they laughed nervously. Neither one made a move to separate from the closeness. The feeling became very obviously romantic.
     Slowly Hiroshi reached out and offered his hand out to the other boy. Kazuki looked down at it and paused, but slowly he reached out his own hand and took it in his.
      They both still avoided eye contact, blushing, and held hands in the rain under a tiny umbrella.
      Softly, Hiroshi whispered, "I'm sorry.."
      Softly, Kazuki whispered back, "Don't be."
      They finally found the will to look straight at each other. Kazuki spoke up. "I took your hand..."
      "Then.... you're ok with this....?" Hiroshi asked quietly.
       The boy smiled. "I... I've never been loved like this...." he admitted softly.
       Hiroshi smiled, facing him, getting rain soaked in the process. Still holding his hand, he let the umbrella fall to the ground and placed his other hand on his back. "Can I...?"  he leaned in slightly.
      The demon smiled nervously and closed his eyes, leaning forward as well. Hiroshi took it as a yes and closed his own eyes and pulled him until their lips met gently. Hiroshi's captured the boy's and they kissed each other.
      And they kissed in the rain in front of all the people passing by them. They didn't notice anything else besides each other. And it wasn't just a run of the mill so-so kiss. It was the best either one of them had ever experienced. They savored it for as long as they could hold their breath.
      Hiroshi finally let Kazuki go. His eyes opened slowly. "God..." he whispered, overwhelmed by the intensity of the romance. It was practically magical how good it was. IT was more than even he was expecting, and he had fantasized it for a while now.
         Suddenly Kazuki punched Hiroshi in the face.

      Hiroshi exhaled sharply, falling backwards a few steps. His eyes widened as he looked at his best friend. He was no longer Kazuki but Kazuko. He stood with demon horns and forked tail in the middle of the public street full of people.
       "What did I tell you!?" he growled angrily, green eyes shining and pointed teeth gleaming.
       Hiroshi didn't even give himself time to be angry. He simply grabbed the boy by the horn and pulled him toward the cab still waiting there. He opened the door and shoved him inside, slammed the door, and ran around the other side and sat down beside him.
      "What are you thinking!? You came out in broad daylight in public! Someone could have seen you!" Hiroshi whispered urgently.
       The shocked cab driver adjusted the rear view mirror to look at the boy with horns.
       Kazuko noticed, growling and flicking him off in the mirror bluntly. The cab driver looked away, trying to act like he wasn't listening.
          Then the demon turned back to Hiroshi. "What are you thinking, kissing him like that!? Did I not JUST warn you to not cause major problems!? You have a short memory and it's making my patience with you even shorter, fag."
      Hiroshi felt like punching him. "Why can't you just leave us alone?? Certainly you heard what Kazuki said!! He let me kiss him! He wants it! Why can't you just let us be together!? I can be with him and whenever you go to 'work' or whatever and get the body, I'll leave you alone! It's him that I like, not you!!" Hiroshi snapped. He just couldn't understand what Kazuko's problem was.
     Kazuko growled, acting like he was trying to be extremely patient with a young child. "You just can't leave it alone, can you? Look, I'm here to look out for Kazuki's sake. I do what's best for him, he does what's best for me. Right now, you're getting in my fucking way of looking out for him."
     Hiroshi growled right back. "How in the world am I so bad for him?? He was fucking HAPPY a moment ago, before YOU showed up and ruined it!"
     Kazuko rolled his head back into the seat. "Fine. I'll give you what you seem to be begging for. I'll break your heart if you want it so bad." He turned to directly face the human boy. He got very close to him so Hiroshi had to back up against the door of the cab to avoid touching him. Kazuko's emerald eyes glowed with excited intensity and stared down Hiroshi's brown ones. He poked the human in the chest with a clawed finger. "Want to know what our 'work' is? Want to know why I'm here, and why you're attracted to Kazuki?"
       Hiroshi boldly nodded. "Tell me, then," he growled defiantly.
      "Because we're demons from Hell and we're here to torture humans.." the demon growled, his smiled growing. He paused, obviously loving the human's shocked reaction.
      
      Hiroshi's bold defiance shrunk from him. "....What?"
      Kazuko exhaled sharply, lifting up the human's face with a clawed finger under his chin. "You heard me, human." Hiroshi shook him off, disgusted that he would even touch him like that. "That's our job. We go down to Hell and get a target. And then we got and torture that person...  Know why Kazuki is all kind and friendly and nice and human-like and attractive...?" The demon said in a mocking voice. "It's because he's the one who gets into the house. He disguises himself as a human and finds a way inside, no matter what that means..." Kazuko paused to laugh at Hiroshi's shocked expression. "Maybe he's a friendly boy scout, or maybe he's a sad lost kid, or often he's a prostitute or sex slave..." he hissed.
        Hiroshi gasped. "N-No way! He'd never do that...!" He could never even imagine Kazuki doing that. It couldn't be true!
       Kazuko snickered. "Oh, he does. He's very good at his job, isn't he? You'd never expect a cute little kid  like him to turn into someone like me... Right when its safe and I'm sure there isn't anyone around, I take over. Do you know what my job is..?" he asked breathily, taking Hiroshi's face in his hands and not letting him move away.
       Hiroshi growled and narrowed his eyes at him, unable to move away.
     "I'll tell ya. I'm the torturer. I take humans like you and slice them into pieces.... Sometimes they live, sometimes they don't... It all depends on the assignment... Sometimes they want the person dead or just suffering. I've done it to fathers, mothers, children, elderly, whole familes at the same time.... And it's real slow and full of agony.. I'm the best there is at my job.... No one can make a grown man scream for mercy quicker than I can," he smirked proudly. "Kazuki and I are the number one requested team there is. They never expect a cute little kid like my dear Kazuki.... And after we're done, I make him forget being fucked and the whole torture process so he stays all sweet and innocent..."
       Hiroshi closed his eyes, not wanting to hear another word. He covered his ears but he could still hear him speak. "S-Shut up!" he pleaded him.
       Kazuko soaked up his displeasure. "But don't think Kazuki doesn't know what he's doing.... While he's getting into the house, he's completely aware of what's going on. I only make him forget the parts his soft soul couldn't handle. That way he gets better and better at his job. God, I love him..." He paused, looking at the human. Hiroshi's eyes began to tear up. Kazuko leaned closer, grabbing a handful of his brown hair painfully.
       "Are you going to cry, human...? Awww, poor baby. You made me do it, though. You didn't heed my advice and now look where it got you....." He snickered, loving the teen's agony. "Mmm, if Kazuki wouldn't try to commit suicide or something if I did.... I would fuck you up right here..." He laughed sadistically.
       The cab driver finally spoke up. He turned around in the seat, pointing at the demon. "You! Both of you! Get the fuck out of my cab! Out!" He tossed the money at them, not wanting to sit quietly a moment more. He'd had enough of this, whatever it was.
      Kazuko ignored him, finishing up with Hiroshi. "There. Now you know, boy. Now you know why it won't work out."
     The cab driver shouted again at the demon.
      Kazuko snapped an obscenity right back at him. "Fine. I'll see you later...Tah-tah," he smirked at Hiroshi again and opened his door, getting out swiftly. Hiroshi could see him walking calmly and almost elegantly in the pouring rain down through the crowed streets of people with horns and tail fully showing. His tail swished back and forth, satisfied at his deed.
       Hiroshi leaned against the door, panting. He couldn't seem to control himself and felt a few weak tears drip down his cheeks. It just wasn't true. He has to be lying.... Kazuki.... The teen buried his face in his arms, embarrassed that he has too weak to control himself.
      The cab river turned to face him. He felt a pang of sympathy for the pathetic boy. "Awww, kid. It's ok. Come on, you're alright." He got out of the cab and opened the passenger door. "Come on out now," he said firmly, taking the boy by the arm and helping him out of the taxi. He looked down at him and saw his own kid in him. He awkwardly patted him on the back. "It's going to be ok," he assured him. He patted him on the head once and waved to him, getting back into the cab and driving away.
       Hiroshi stood in the middle of the sidewalk, the rain puring down on him and washing away the few tears.