[log] Oshitari, Kamio

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Date: 12.15.2005
Rating: G
Summary: Kamio gives Oshitari a gift and vents some angst. :D



Kamio didn't bother with wrapping gifts. Then again, he normally didn't bother buying them -- or stealing them, same difference in his mind -- but this year was different, right? He had a home...sort of. A boyfriend. And people that he could actually tolerate for more than five minutes.

That had to count for something.

Though he wasn't going to be a complete sap like many of his housemates and get something for everyone that he stumbled over in the hallway. Really, he didn't have the time or the inclination to bother with it. However, the gift bag he carried as he made his way through the hallways was directed towards one of the few people he would bother with. He came to halt outside an unassuming door and took a deep breath.

Nothing would truthfully top the packages that Oshitari had left for him and Saeki earlier that day, at least not in Kamio's mind. He'd already affixed the silver ear cuff to his right ear, and the coat was one of the few things he'd put carefully in the closet. How could a bag of books and CDs even hope to compare?

Reminding himself that that wasn't the point and it was the thought that was supposed to count -- god, he sounded like his mother -- he lifted his knuckles and rapped sharply on the door.

Oshitari was standing over the last of his suitcases, snapping the locks deftly and glancing over the rest, mentally cataloguing the contents yet again in his head. His journals and notes in his carry on bag, one small suitcase of clothing, and his violin, safe in its case.

He fingered the trench coat draped across the bed, standing there still habitually barefoot, but otherwise dressed impeccably in a pair of tailored gray slacks and blue-gray cashmere sweater. There would be several other suitcases, full of trinkets, maps and clothing, waiting for him in the plane, after the taxi, bus, train and second taxi he would have to take just to get to that point. Useless circling around...he sighed, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses in irritation.

The knock on the door snapped him back from his almost scowling. Expecting Kamio, he uttered a low, "Enter."

Kamio turned the knob and pushed open the door. The room he stepped into was neater than his own. Quieter too, as it was missing the almost-constant background noise that the redhead's laptop played. However, it was still a comfortable enough space, if he discounted the baggage. That left Kamio feeling a bit awkward -- he'd been avoiding his housemates, even their journals, since the start of the whole holiday thing, after all, and directing his own frustration towards the punching bag on a more regular basis.

Seriously, Sakaki-san was going to have to replace that soon.

Still, as much as the blue-haired mutant seemed aggravated by his parents, he at least had something -- somewhere -- to go back to. Scratching the back of his neck with his empty hand, Kamio stood just inside the door and frowned at himself.

Gift. Right. Just give it to the other teen and leave. It should be easy enough, and he could go back to his room or the gym and brood. Or whatever the hell he was doing.

"Here," he said, crossing the room in a few quick steps and holding out the plain, red bag. "'s not much or anything, but…yeah."

Taking the bag carefully from the redhead, as if it contained glass or some other fragile thing, Oshitari studied Kamio behind his glasses. Something was off with the speedy mutant, something other than embarrassment over the gift giving.

"Thank you" he intoned softly, dropping his gaze to the gift bag and retreating to the edge of the bed with it, settling down to delve his hand into it. Not wrapped, but he couldn't imagine Kamio could take the time to bother with such trivialities. Upending the cheery red bag, into his palm tumbled two books and some CDs. Setting it all carefully by him, he picked up the books first, glancing over the covers. He grinned, almost smirking. Books on hand to hand combat. "These will certainly come in handy" he noted, flipping through the first one, his eyes catching and scanning a paragraph detailing a move he thought he could use on Shishido in their next sparring match. His eyes flicked to the CDs.

Classical. It seemed to be the theme of gifts for him. He didn't mind, but most of the ones he had received so far had been unexemplary. His tastes didn't exactly endear him to the collected works of Beethoven and Chopin, but he now had enough CD's of their work now to put him to sleep should he have trouble with insomnia again.

Not expecting anything else, his carefully constructed grin broke out into a genuine, delighted smile when he discovered the selections weren't as ordinary. "Rachmaninov...Berlioz..." his voice caught as he lifted up the last, "Russian violinists." He looked to Kamio, impressed. "Thank you" he said again, already working the cellophane off of the CD in his hands. He recognized a few of the pieces...he wanted to hear them. "Not much, you said. You are so very wrong" he murmured, crossing to his small portable stereo in the corner, wrestling with the security tape.

Kamio turned his head and watched the other mutant cut across his room, hastily pulling off the wrapper and security tape of the CD. He was…relieved, in a way; picking up something decent for Oshitari had given him almost as much of a headache as getting something for his boyfriend. The books had been obvious -- the blue-haired mutant had proven to be a fast learned when it came to fighting techniques, and Kamio was pretty sure the other would surpass his own skill soon.

The CDs had been harder. Classical music was not something the redhead knew a lot about, preferring harder beats and moodier lyrics, but a quick glace through the appropriate section at the nearest music store had proven too commonplace. He'd wanted to get the other something different -- maybe even a little unique -- and the rows of standard classical composers hadn't caught his fancy.

It hadn't been until he started sampling pieces that he'd downloaded that he'd found a couple of names that were tied to something interesting. The fact that they composed heavily in violin, Oshitari's chosen instrument, was a bonus.

Still, Kamio shrugged off the other's enthusiasm. "Nah, 's no big deal," he assured the taller teen.

Already stepping back from the stereo after placing the CD inside, Oshitari cocked his head back to smile at Kamio. The almost harsh strains of a madly played violin filled the room, and the grin widened noticeably.

"Attempting to lessen my enjoyment with modesty, Kamio-kun?" he teased lightly, letting his eyes close and his head fall back to better enjoy the music. "Mm...Come in, sit down, if you will" he gestured blindly to Kamio, letting all the violent notes wash over him.

Kamio glanced at the floor for a moment, listening to the quickened pace of the violins from the speakers. "Hn. Nice," he acceded, mostly to himself. It wasn't one of the pieces that he'd sampled, but it still had an interesting style to it. Running his fingers through his hair, he tucked a few strands behind his ear -- though he'd mostly given up on trying to keep the fall of his bangs under control.

"Yeah, sure," the redhead agreed, swiftly cutting over to the bed and sitting down next to the suitcases. The music was curious enough to hold his interest. Besides, there was nothing much for him to do unless he went back to his room and prodded at his sleeping boyfriend. He wasn't really in the mood to go the gym, as the punching bag was wearing thin and he could only run so many laps around the building before he became completely bored. Or before his own thoughts turned against him, and he started asking questions that he already knew the answer too.

As arresting as the music was, Oshitari's attention was split between it and the redhead sitting on his bed. Such a strange, closed off expression...he sauntered to his desk chair, straddling it backwards to rest his chin on his loosely crossed and elegantly draped arms to study Kamio intently. He wasn't sure if it was so much curiosity as it was concern for the speedy mutant, but he brushed such consequential thoughts out of his head...he had far too much to ponder than any conflicting emotions over what he considered a very interesting attraction to Kamio. After a long moment, he asked, "What is wrong, Kamio-kun? You seem...hm. Not exactly restless...pensive, perhaps? Is there something I can do?"

"Ah…what?" Kamio's thoughts were snapped away from the crescendos of the music by the other's voice. "Me? Wrong? Nothing." The denial was reflexive, hasty, and only about half meant. Blue eyes widened a fraction, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "I mean, nothing much," he corrected. "Just some stupid stuff. I'll be fine."

Oshitari wasn't so easily put off as that. "You certainly aren't required to, but you can confide in me if you wish to, Kamio-kun" he told the red-haired mutant, his expression sympathetic.

"Confiding is theoretically supposed to relieve stress, you know" he pointed out, cocking his head on his arms.

Kamio felt a small blush color his cheeks; he and his boyfriend had had this talk how many times before he had opened up to other? It wasn't even that he didn’t trust Oshitari -- the blue haired teen was one of the few people that he did trust, actually, beyond Saeki, Ohtori and Shishido. Sighing softly, the redhead rubbed his hand to his face.

Keeping things inside his own head hadn't really been helping. He had been sleeping, at least, and the nervous energy he tended to have all the time wasn't so bad now that he'd found a few outlets for it. But that didn't mean it was any easier to ignore.

"I…yeah," the redhead muttered. "Kou's still out like a light most of the time and I’m having stupid thoughts about going home." He shrugged. "Not much to confide. I'm just worrying too much over nothing."

Noting the blush but not commenting on Kamio's dismissal, Oshitari frowned slightly and pressed.

"Of course you'd be concerned about Saeki-kun...why would your thoughts about home be stupid? It isn't impossible for you to go back, is it?"

It certainly helped explain why any comment from Kamio had been absent anytime one of their number mentioned returning home for the holidays. Himself included.

Kamio gave a low snort. "Wouldn't know," he grumbled harshly. His ire wasn't directed at the other the teen, but still...home. Family. They were subjects best left alone, so far as the redhead was concerned.

"Haven't been there for two years, and I'm not going back long enough to find out."

Oshitari regarded him for a long moment, long enough for the CD to change tracks into a much more haunting melody. He wasn't put off by the hostility in the redhead's tone, indifferent to any ire in his direction, be it meant for him or not.

"Then why exactly is it an issue? Do you wish you could go back, perhaps?" he asked carefully, though it sounded casual coming out of his mouth.

The silence bothered Kamio, though at least the violin music filled the background. It made him feel even more fidgety than usual, but when the question finally came, the redhead's frown deepened. "I don't know," he admitted, flexing his fist then shrugging. "Just sometimes wonder about…stuff, ya know?"

Oshitari knew all about wondering about stuff, as Kamio put it, but never exactly about his family or his home. It baffled him, frankly, why the redhead would waste energy driving himself crazy about it.

"What sort of stuff exactly?" he prodded relentlessly, "Along the lines of if they are better off without you? Or...if you are?"

"Both, kind of," the redhead admitted. He let out a deep breath, still wary of the subject at hand. "Can't help but wonder sometimes, ya know." He shifted, drawing one leg up to rest his elbow on, and stared at the floor. "Idiotic, really," he muttered. "Just…everyone keeps talking about family this, family that," he complained. "I'm sick of hearing about it."

"That does not make what you feel idiotic" Oshitari assured him, all too aware that he was among the many that had most likely made Kamio uncomfortable, talking about their families.

"Besides" he added, a small smile touching his lips, "You can at least be sure you are not the only one pondering such things, and that at least one of us would prefer staying here with you and the rest than leave at all."

"It is idiotic," Kamio grumbled. "I know they didn't want me after this happened. Hell, I don't think they wanted me before my powers showed," he confessed. Reaching down the fiddle with the cuff of his jeans, the redhead held back another sigh before the rest of the other mutant's words registered.

"I…yeah," he murmured, blushing a little. That the other would want to be around him right now -- especially when his mood was even more surly than normal -- was something of a shock. "Thanks," he murmured, glancing away to hide the faint blush under the fall of his hair. "I'd rather you stayed here too. Going to get kind of boring, with Kou sleeping and you gone. Think even Wings is leaving," he sighed.

"Only for a matter of days" Oshitari clarified, strangely happy that Kamio was as sorry to see him leave as he was to leave. "I am sure you'll find someone skulking around here to beat into the practice mats in the meantime" he chuckled, thinking how much he would pay to watch the redhead dance around Tachibana and pummel him relentlessly.

Standing up, he moved back to the stereo, after a quick, discreet glance at his new watch (he really would have to thank Saeki for that later), and flicked the power off, retrieving the CD to play at a later time. It was quiet a moment before he added softly, "And...If that is true, Kamio-kun, then they are the idiotic ones. Not you."

Kamio frowned at the loss of the music, making a mental note to himself to later download more by the same composer. Interesting stuff, actually. "Mm…yeah, probably," he sighed. Though in truth, he tended to avoid most of the people he saw in the gym. Watching the other take the CD out of the player, the redhead sighed and stood up himself.

Oshitari probably needed to leave soon, right?

"I guess," he agreed with a shrug.

Oshitari glanced back at the redhead on his bed, eyes searching for a moment as he absently snapped the CD back into its case. There wasn't much he could say to that...well, nothing that wouldn't be too revealing.

Instead he busied himself collecting the rest of Kamio's gifts, placing them carefully into his carry on back, even the little bag. "Will you walk me to the taxi, Kamio-kun?" He asked, picking up bags reluctantly.

It was quiet, too quiet in the halls, and once outside, Oshitari stared dully at the car waiting for him. Early. Of course it would be. He looked back at Kamio, something about the redhead prompting him to abruptly drop his bags and hug him tentatively, awkwardly.

Confused by his own actions, Oshitari patted Kamio on the back as he pulled away, blinking at him for a pause before uttering a quiet, "Merry Christmas, Kamio-kun."

He walked silently to the waiting taxi without looking back.