Note: I have nothing to do with Here is Greenwood and its characters except to be a fan who enjoys the OVAs a lot. This story is my extrapolation of the storylines as seen in the OVAs. I apologize if this story doesn't quite fit in with the manga.
Despite the day's scheduled events, Kazuya couldn't help smiling as he dressed.
Two weeks had gone by since his kidnapping and recovery. During that entire time Shinobu-senpai had taken care of him, practically the first person he saw each morning and the last person each night. Every morning before the rest of the dormitory awoke Shinobu-senpai took him down to the baths and, after removing the bandages from the previous night, proceeded to gently scrub his back and buttocks. Every night Shinobu-senpai rubbed more of his brother's salve into Kazuya's skin before taping new bandages over the scabs. As a result of his friend's extreme care, when the last of the scabs finally peeled off naturally just the day before the skin beneath them showed no signs of scarring or the puckering that usually occured.
Kazuya sighed, knowing that he would no longer be receiving Shinobu-senpai's welcome attentions. Although he'd felt very strange after that first morning with his friend, there hadn't been a repeat of his reactions since. One morning he'd been so relaxed that he nearly fell asleep while Shinobu-senpai scrubbed his back. In fact, Shinobu-senpai had been forced to shake him out of the trance-like state he'd slipped into.
He didn't know when he'd become used to feeling his friend's hands all over his back--and a bit lower--but he'd missed it the night before, and he'd missed being bathed that morning. It was strange, really. He hadn't wanted to put Shinobu-senpai through the trouble of tending to him, but it had been rather nice to know that he cared.
Kazuya remembered a time when his brother, Kazuhiro, had done the same things for him that Shinobu-senpai had. Kazuhiro had bathed him when he was little, and tended to all the cuts and abrasions that went with being an active young boy growing up. And sometimes when he was restless and unable to sleep, Kazuhiro had massaged his shoulders and back until he drifted off.
Kazuya sighed again. Well, his time for being pampered had passed, and he was on his own again.
He studied his reflection in the mirror and, after straightening his collar, left the room.
He went down the stairs and left Greenwood. His destination was the bridge over the koi pond where he'd once daydreamed about Miya and later had learned about Shinobu-senpai's family history. Now it was the place where Tochizawa wanted to shoot the scene that had previously bothered Kazuya the most: his kiss with Shinobu-senpai.
Surprisingly, Kazuya found himself looking forward to it. No matter what else happened, it would be his first kiss. Ever. Of course, when he was a toddler he'd kissed his mother and later his brother. But those hadn't been real kisses. This one would be a real kiss, or as real as it could be for the sake of the movie. True, he hadn't planned on his first kiss being with Shinobu-senpai or any boy for that matter, but it couldn't be helped. Still, maybe he'd be able to learn something about the proper way of kissing so that when he and Miya finally moved on to that stage in their relationship he wouldn't be totally ignorant.
Naturally, he and Shinobu-senpai had never really rehearsed this scene before. They'd practiced the dialogue up until and right after their kiss, but they'd never actually done it. After all, even though they trusted Mitsuru-senpai and Shun not to comment, they hadn't felt comfortable enough to kiss each other when it wasn't really necessary.
As Kazuya approached the bridge, he was slightly surprised by the large crowd that had gathered. Some of his nervousness returned as he realized that nearly the entire population of Greenwood would be watching them during the shooting.
He spotted Shinobu-senpai standing with Shun and Mitsuru-senpai off to one side and quickly moved to join them.
"It's about time, Hasukawa," Mitsuru-senpai said. "We were wondering if you were ever going to wake up."
"Excuse me?" Kazuya said, glaring at the older boy. "As I recall, you were the one that was still sleeping when I went down to breakfast with Shun and Shinobu-senpai."
Mitsuru-senpai glowered back at him. "Well, what took you so long, then?"
Kazuya started to retort, but Shinobu-senpai stepped in. "Enough," he said. Kazuya shot another black look at Mitsuru-senpai and turned away.
"Shinobu-senpai," Shun said, breaking the silence that fell among them, "I have a question. Why are you so willing to kiss Suka-chan now when you refused to kiss Mitsuru-senpai to get rid of Misako?"
"Because there is a valid reason for kissing Hasukawa," Shinobu-senpai said.
Kazuya blinked. "A reason?"
Shinobu-senpai nodded. "I wasn't about to kiss Mitsuru in front of everyone. Perhaps if Misako had come to us quietly and privately I would have let her possess me and kiss Mitsuru, always assuming of course that Mitsuru was amenable."
Mitsuru-senpai sighed. "I guess I would have. Kissing you would have been a small price to pay to get rid of her."
"But with all of you standing there," Shinobu-senpai continued, "the scene became too irrational. As it happened, Misako didn't need a kiss from Mitsuru to pass on. Remember that she had stayed behind for another reason entirely and had only latched onto Mitsuru because he was the handsomest boy in the dormitory."
Kazuya nodded. "That's right," he said to Mitsuru-senpai, "she had no tie to you whatsoever."
"And even when she got her kiss by possessing Kone," Shun added, "she didn't pass on. Instead she brought those other ghosts back with her."
Kazuya shivered. That had been a very trying time. It had taken all of Shinobu-senpai's diplomacy and tact to get the girls out of the dormitory.
"This time, though," Shinobu-senpai said, "there is a valid reason for me kissing Kazuya. We are doing this for a movie, so it isn't a real kiss, no matter how convincing we make it."
Kazuya nodded. "We're doing it for Tochizawa." He heard someone approaching and turned around. "Speak of the devil," he said. "Good morning, Tochizawa."
"We're ready to begin whenever you are," the other boy said, pushing his glasses up a bit.
"Very well," Shinobu-senpai said calmly. "Then let's get this over with."
Kazuya swallowed once, a ghost of his former distress rising again. He fought it down and forced a grin to his face.
"Let's do it," he said.
He and Shinobu-senpai moved out onto the bridge, taking their places about midway across. It was, Kazuya reflected, almost exactly the same place where he'd moped about Miya and he'd finally revealed his true feelings for her to his friends. Now, though, there was another relationship he had to contemplate and discuss. Or, rather, that Kenichi had to discuss.
"Action!"
The beginning of the scene was simple enough. Kenichi and Seishiro leaned on the bridge's railing, watching the koi swimming below. Their discussion began innocently enough, but Kenichi strove to avoid any mention of the incident with Mikuro, wherein he'd been raped and Seishiro had subsequently pummeled Mikuro into unconsciousness. As the conversation continued, however, Seishiro's quiet queries revealed the full depth of his concern and caring. Kenichi, realizing that what he felt for his friend had passed far beyond simple friendship and the brotherly love that had originally described his feelings, wondered wistfully--almost desperately--whether his friend felt the same way. Finally, unable to bear the pain of not knowing any longer, he screwed up his courage and prepared to confront his friend outright.
Kazuya took a deep breath as he prepared to deliver the fateful lines that would lead into Kenichi and Seishiro's kiss.
"Senpai," he said quietly.
"Yes, Kenichi?" Shinobu-senpai responded.
"There's something I want to tell you," Kazuya continued, "that I need to tell you. But, I'm afraid if I tell you that you'll hate me."
"Kenichi," Shinobu-senpai said, "you're my best friend. I love you like a brother. You know that you can tell me anything. I won't hate you."
Kazuya closed his eyes and turned away from the pond and from his friend. "That's just it," he said after a few moments of silence. "I don't love you like that. I mean, you're like my older brother, and I'm glad that you're here for me. But what I feel for you...it's different." He took a deep breath. "I don't know how to describe it," he said, "It's like what...what Mikuro felt for me, only it's not." Kazuya opened his eyes and gazed forlornly up at his friend, allowing tears to creep down his cheeks. "I want to spend the rest of life with you, senpai. At night I dream of being held by you and waking up in your embrace."
Kazuya's lip quivered and he turned away, bringing his hand up to wipe at his eyes. "I'm in love with you, senpai," he whispered. "I'm sorry. Please don't hate me." Kazuya turned completely around, unable to look up at Shinobu-senpai.
He felt a hand touch his shoulder and slowly pull on it. Kazuya resisted at first, then allowed himself to be turned around. He kept his eyes closed and his head low. Then he felt a gentle hand touch his cheek and he leaned against it, allowing a thumb to gently wipe away a tear that had beaded on his eyelashes.
"Kenichi," Shinobu-senpai said softly.
That was Kazuya's cue. He slowly lifted his head and opened his eyes to look up into his friend's face.
Shinobu-senpai gazed at him with a gentle smile on his face. He leaned down towards Kazuya.
This is it! Kazuya thought, closing his eyes as his role called for. It's really going to happen!
"Ai shiteru," Shinobu-senpai whispered.
Kazuya felt something inside him tighten painfully at the soft words. Then his friend's lips were pressed against his and he could think of nothing else.
It was...nice. No, it was more than nice. The knot inside him loosened and fell away before the gentle warmth of that kiss. Shinobu-senpai's lips were soft against his, neither overly moist nor overly dry. They were perfect, just like Shinobu-senpai.
Help me, Kazuya thought desperately as he lost himself in the tenderness of the kiss. I'm falling in love with you, senpai. Kazuya struggled to regain control of himself, but all he wanted was to stay where he was.
Kazuya didn't know how long they'd been kissing. It could have been a few seconds or a few hours for all he knew or cared, but something impinged on his awareness, drawing him back to awareness. It was a strange tension in Shinobu-senpai's lips. It was almost as if he was holding back somehow.
Kazuya didn't understand. Holding back? Why would his friend be restraining himself?
Shinobu-senpai started to pull away. A part of Kazuya wanted desperately to throw his arms around his friend and draw him back into the kiss, but as conscious thought returned he remembered where he was and what he was doing there. He slowly opened his eyes and stared up into Shinobu-senpai's face. His eyes widened as his gaze locked onto his friend's eyes. There was something roiling in those gray-green orbs. Normally they were shining with amusement or gleaming with mischief, and lately he'd seen worry and concern in them. He'd never seen his friend suffering from strong emotions, not even the time he'd nearly had his hand crushed by a senpai struggling to regain control of himself. Now, though, those eyes were fairly pulsing with barely suppressed emotion.
Shinobu-senpai's hand fell to Kazuya's shoulder and pulled him back towards him. Kazuya thought that they were going to kiss again--and part of him wanted to--but instead he was drawn into a strong embrace. Then he remembered what was supposed to happen. He struggled to recall his lines, then remembered that for now all he had to do was return his friend's embrace.
Easily--and eagerly--done. He brought his arms up and wrapped them around Shinobu-senpai's waist. He closed his eyes and leaned into his friend, his cheek resting against Shinobu-senpai's chest. He felt strong arms squeeze him and he shivered with emotion.
"Senpai," he whispered, only partially acting. It was all he could do to remember to speak at all.
"Ken-chan," Shinobu-senpai said softly.
Neither one of them spoke then. Kazuya couldn't remember if there were any more lines in the scene, but he didn't care. All he wanted was to stay exactly where he was. He felt safe and loved, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Safe, yes, but loved? Really loved? Not for a long time. He didn't want to let go.
"And...cut!"
Kazuya felt Shinobu-senpai pull away slowly and he nearly cried out in fear and despair. It took him a moment to realize that his friend hadn't jerked away from him but slipped away slowly and gently, as though Shinobu-senpai, too, didn't want the embrace to end.
There was noise in the background. Kazuya looked around, startled, as he recognized it as applause. Everyone who'd been watching was clapping and cheering.
Kazuya looked up. "Senpai?" he whispered. "What happened?"
His friend gazed down at him. "We'll talk later," he said in a ragged voice.
"That was terrific!" Tochizawa shouted as he ran up. He clapped a hand down on Kazuya's shoulder. "I didn't think you had it in you, Suka! I almost believed it was real! You were very convicing." He paused. "You know, maybe you should consider a career in acting. Then we can make movies together. You star in them and I'll direct them!"
"Tochizawa," Shinobu-senpai said, "will we need to do this again?"
Kazuya marveled at his friend's calm tone. He didn't trust himself to speak. If he opened his mouth, his voice would likely give away everything he was feeling.
Tochizawa was shaking his head. "No, we did it all in one take, senpai. You two are terrific actors. We may even finish this movie ahead of schedule at this rate."
Shinobu-senpai smiled and shook his head. "That's the only scene for today, isn't it?"
Tochizawa frowned. "Well, we're supposed to shoot the scene with the two of you talking about the future later, but that has to wait until sunset." He shrugged. "Other than that, there's nothing else."
"Good," Shinobu-senpai said. "Then we'll meet you at the playground later."
"Sure, senpai," Tochizawa said. "Later." He walked back across the bridge to where their classmates were dismantling the movie equipment.
Kazuya followed behind Shinobu-senpai as they rejoined Shun and Mitsuru-senpai. Their friends' eyes were wide and their faces were flushed, but both of them seemed happy and pleased.
"That was great, senpai," Shun said. "That was even better than Mitsuru-senpai and Suka-chan's rape scene."
"I don't know what to say," Mitsuru-senpai said. "I'm speechless."
"Not if you're saying something," Shinobu-senpai said, teasing. "Mitsuru, I need to talk to Hasukawa for a bit, so please don't come back to our room for a while."
Mitsuru-senpai blinked. "Sure," he said, confused. "Shun and I were going into town for lunch anyway."
"Good," Shinobu-senpai said. "Enjoy yourselves." He looked back at Kazuya. "Let's go."
Kazuya followed his friend, wondering what his friend wanted to talk about, and what would happen once they got back to the dormitory.
* * *
Shinobu closed the door behind him as he entered his room. Kazuya had already seated himself on the edge of the lower bunk. A worried and slightly fearful expression occupied his face. Shinobu didn't blame him. He felt uncomfortable and just a little nervous after what had happened this afternoon.
What had happened? What should have been a simple scene--however unusual and unnatural it was--had eroded his control and had nearly unleashed the full extent of his emotions. It had taken every ounce of his willpower not to grab Kazuya's face and crush the younger boy's lips with his own.
It didn't make any sense. He wasn't physically attracted to Kazuya, yet why had he reacted so strongly to the kiss?
"Senpai," Kazuya said, "what happened today? I felt--"
"I don't know," Shinobu said. He crossed over to his desk and sat in his chair. "But something definitely happened when we kissed. I just don't know what."
"Senpai," Kazuya said quietly, "how do you feel about me?"
Shinobu blinked. It wasn't often that someone could take him by surprise, but Kazuya's abrupt query had. "You're one of my two best and closest friends, Kazuya. And I care about you. A lot. Why?" He watched as the other boy struggled with himself.
Kazuya sighed. "Senpai," he said quietly, "there's something I want to tell you...that I need to tell you. But, I'm afraid if I tell you that you'll hate me."
The words sounded so familiar. Shinobu suddenly remembered that Kazuya had spoken them while in character as Kenichi. He remembered what followed it, too, and he had a feeling what Kazuya was about to say fell somewhere along those same lines.
Kazuya closed his eyes. "I don't know where to begin," he said, "When we kissed today, I felt--" He stopped and swallowed. "I didn't want to stop. I didn't care about anything else, I just wanted to keep kissing you." Kazuya opened his eyes and gazed forlornly up at him. "I don't understand, senpai," he said. "I've never felt that way before. Then when you held me afterwards, I felt safe and loved. I didn't want that to end either." He looked away. "I'm sorry, senpai. Please don't hate me."
Shinobu closed his eyes. "I don't hate you, Kazuya," he said softly. "When I was kissing you..." He stopped, trying to remember everything. "Kazuya, let me tell you how I feel about you. I like you...no, I love you. You're my friend, and I love you. When I was kissing you today, and when I held you afterwards, all I could think was that someone trusted me enough to risk censure for doing something as unusual as kissing another boy." He shook his head. "And when I realized that it was you that trusted me that much, you who had and still have problems with your brother's strange ways, I loved you more." He opened his eyes. "I love you, Kazuya."
The younger boy heaved a huge sigh and looked up. His eyes were watery. "And I love you, senpai," he said softly. He slowly rose to his feet, an appeal in his eyes.
Shinobu got up and stood in front of his friend, gazing down into his eyes. Then, he raised his arms and drew Kazuya into an embrace. He felt his own eyes water as Kazuya's arms wrapped around him. He closed them and struggled to get his emotions under control.
They stood like that for a while, neither one moving, neither one trying to break away.
"Kazuya," Shinobu whispered after many long moments of silence.
"Yes, senpai?"
"Will you do me a favor?"
"Anything, senpai."
Shinobu took a deep breath. "Nearly my entire life has been empty of love. I know my mother loved me and I know Akira cared at least a little about me, but I don't think my father or Nagisa knows how to love. But then I came here, and I found a roommate I could trust like a brother. I love Mitsuru, and I know he loves me the same way. And most of the younger boys look up to and respect me, but I don't share the same bond with them that I share with you."
He swallowed. "Kazuya, what I'm saying is..." He stopped and sighed. "The night I brought you back from Nagisa's place and put you to bed you called me something different." He pulled away from his friend just enough so he could look down into his eyes. "You didn't call me 'Shinobu-senpai' the way you usually do. You called me 'Shinobu-niisan.'"
Kazuya's reaction was interesting. He flushed a bright red, but he neither confirmed nor denied it.
"Kazuya," Shinobu said, forging on, "what I'm asking is, will you please always consider me as your older brother? It would make me very happy." He held his breath as he waited for his friend's answer.
Kazuya tightened their embrace again. "I'd do anything for you," he whispered, "aniki."
Shinobu felt his breath catch. This time he didn't try to stop the tears that flooded from his eyes. "Kazuya," he whispered, "I love you."
"Ai shiteru, aniki," Kazuya said, burrowing his face into Shinobu's chest. "Ai shiteru."
Shinobu said nothing as he drew his friend--his younger brother--in even closer.
There was nothing to say.