STARRY NIGHT
They'd always walked at the rear of the group, but until recently, they'd never had any real reason too. Now, both Marron and Gateau saw fit to make theirs an inconspicuous presence. While Carrot was busy trying to keep Chocolate's hands from roaming any place indecent, and Chocolate was busy clinging, as if for dear life, to "Darling", and Tira was busy keeping the libidos of both "her man" and "sister dear" in check, the younger brother of Carrot and the object of Carrot's annoyance did some subtle "bonding". They would hold hands, only letting go when one of the girls, or Carrot, would turn his or her attention upon them (fortunately for the two, this was not a frequent occurence), and sometimes the smaller one would touch his lover's shoulder with his head, or sneak an arm around his back for a quick "half-hug". They were very careful, for they knew if their secret got out, the flow of shit that they would get from their peers would never let up. It had been nearly three months since the tearful union had taken place between them, and they were both very elated. Chocolate had started teasing Gateau about why he never flexed for Marron anymore...
“Gateau, what is with you? There’s a girl over there whose bra-size could tell you her age, and you’re not even acting like one of those vain-glorious knights in some sap-crappy fairy-tale.”
“Well, Chocolate, I think I’ve had a change of heart, to tell you the truth.”
“What’s wrong, Sir Gateau? Has your shining armour lost its luster?”
“Aw Shaddap.”
...and Tira had even inquired of Marron as to why he was so happy...
“Oh look, Tira. Aren’t these Sakura trees so beautiful? This whole park has an aura of joy about it, don’t you think?”
“Actually, I think this park is pretty dumpy. The only joyful aura I can see is yours. You’ve been smiling a lot more than usual, Marron-chan.”
“Have I?”
“Hai. What’s going on?”
“My heart has been touched Tira-Chan. That’s all you need know of the matter.”
...and that was it. The after these questions had been asked, the other three pretty much went along their merry little ways and let Gateau and Marron be. Only, theirs was not really a secret...For with secrets, no one else is supposed to know...but Carrot knew. He knew very well about the relationship his brother shared with that big dumb gorilla of a man. But Carrot kept his big, normally liberal mouth shut. He knew he’d hurt Marron badly by saying those cruel things, and not apologizing made him feel like shit. He had his dignity (though Carrot, by no means, had a giant continent-sized amount of it), and he didn’t think he should have to say he was sorry for how he felt about the issue. Hey, was Marron apologizing to him for being gay? But still, Carrot, though stubborn, was not heartless. So rather than leaping in between the two and threatening to castrate one or both of them, Carrot left them alone and pretended not to notice.
On this particular day, at the park, Carrot was flopped over a bench, deep in thought, and actually allowing Chocolate to lay in his lap. Resisting was useless, energy-draining, and he needed time to ponder. As Carrot absentmindedly petted Chocolate’s hair and shoulders, he wracked his narrow mind for answers...How could Marron do this to him? Why did he have to “fall into the venomous clutches of a corruptor of innocents”? How could he engage in something so sick and wrong? Carrot’s train of thought screeched to a halt and time stood still as he did something he’d never done before...He considered Marron’s views on the matter...Gods, Carrot, the older boy thought to himself, why can’t you just ignore the sicky-poo nature of the whole thing and be happy for your little brother? He’s had it hard all his life, and he’s finally found love. If Gateau can make him as happy as any girl ever could, why should you give a monkey’s ~NaRF!!!~ that your brother is in love with a guy who is not your fave person in the world and who you’d like to KILL most of the time, and who you’ve had many dreams about involving that annoying little head of his exploding into teeny-weeny bits of pink confetti...Nor should you care that he’s a GUY! You stupid baka, it’s fine, dammit!
Carrot sighed, “Then why does it seem so wrong...?”
“What was that, Darling?”
Carrot jumped a little when he realized that he’d said that last sentence out loud. He shook his head, “Nothing Chocolate, I was just thinking about stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“Just stuff,” Carrot responded in a voice that made it clear to Chocolate that this ‘stuff’ was NOT up for discussion. Chocolate shrugged “Alright then, Darling.” She momentarily drifted off to sleep.
Carrot heard the little clip-clop of heels coming down the cement walkway, and looked up. There was Tira. Carrot couldn’t help but notice that there was a slight falter in her step when she looked at her sister napping in Carrot’s lap, and even though she was wearing enormous round sunglasses, Carrot still knew very well that there were tears in her eyes. He very calmly patted the space next to him on the bench and said, “Sit with me, Tira,”
Tira nodded mutely. She was pleasantly surprised when she felt Carrot’s arm around her shoulders as she lowered herself onto the bench. She smiled at Carrot and he smiled back, “Tira, would you be willing to do me a small favor?”
“Sure, Carrot-Chan.”
“Would you please, just for a moment, take off your glasses and let your hair down?”
Tira hesitated at first, then did as she was requested, removing her shades, then sliding the brass hair clip out of her pink locks, allowing them to fall over her shoulders and down her back. Carrot looked at her.
“Tira, I never told you, but you really are beautiful.”
Tira almost squealed, but managed to just emit a small gasp of delight, “Really, Carrot?”
Carrot nodded.
Tira smiled and her eyes shimmered, “Thank you Carrot. That means a lot to me.”
“Tira...”
“Carrot...?”
The two just looked into eachother’s eyes for a long time. Then they both smiled and laughed slightly.
“Ano, Niisan?”
“Eh?” Carrot looked over his shoulder and saw Marron, with Gateau at his side, standing behind him. He felt a brief peppery wave of annoyance creep over him but he quickly shoved it away.
“I think we should start heading back,” Marron said, then nodded towards the horizon, where the sun had almost completely sunk behind the distant mountains, “It’s getting late.”
After some spur of the moment thinking, Carrot said, “You guys go ahead, Tira and I are gonna stay for a while. But I think you should take Chocolate with you. She’s out like a light.”
“Yeah. Don’t wake her. I can carry her back.” Gateau said, coming around the bench. He gently picked Chocolate up, cradling the slumbering girl in his arms like she was a small child.
“Hai then, I’ll see you guys in an hour or two, ne?”
“All right, brother,” Marron nodded, and Carrot felt something very good shine within his heart as Marron smiled at him for the first time in weeks. They then turned and left, leaving Carrot and Tira sitting upon the bench, in a quiet, peaceful park in its twilight. There was silence between them until Carrot spoke up, “Tira...Um, would you like to...go for a walk with me?”
“Yes.”
Continue
Back
Back to the Story Index
