What Happened to You?

[Layton "Chu" Lewis]

For Your Consideration

Pawns:
Layton "Chu" Lewis, Kouyou Ichiki, & Akio Tokuhana.
Status:
Private/OPEN
Setting:
A house party and at Chu's apartment.
Scene:
Aki invited Chu to a large house party. Chu is afraid that his feelings will develop further for Aki, so he brought Kou along to keep an eye on him. However, things do not go exactly as planned when Chu takes his first few drinks.

It had been two weeks since Chu received the party invitation from Aki. In that two weeks Chu had to use every fiber of his being to not develop his feelings any further for Aki. They had called each other a few times, met up a once of twice, had lunch, shopped, goofed around, made each other laugh, and brightened each others day. It seemed that in the two months that they knew each other they had become very good friends. However, in the pit of Chu's stomach he could sense his desire growing more and more for Aki everytime they met. In fear that he was falling in love, he called his friend Kouyou and begged him to come to the party as well, to make sure that he didn't fall any more in love with him.

On the night of the party, Aki was nice enough to meet Chu at his apartment and walk him there and Kouyou promised to meet Chu inside the party. Chu had wore a nice pair of faded blue jeans, and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. When they got the party Aki was introduced Chu to some of his friends. Aki’s friends proved to be nice, but Chu was slightly upset when Aki was invited to go dancing in another room. Aki excused himself politely and left Chu awkwardly talking to some girls.

“Oh my god, you’re gay!” Cheered one of them, “That’s so cute! Like, we need to go shopping some day!” Chu chuckled a bit, “Y-yeah, may-maybe someday.”

Another tall girl grabbed Chu tightly and hugged him, “Oh sweetie, you’re just so precious! Just SO precious. Like a little kitten or a puppy!” Another girl grabbed Chu, “It’s no wonder why Kio talks about you all of the time.”

“A-all the time?” Chu blushed, “All the time. He talks about you every chance he gets. I think he has a crush on you.” She winked at Chu.

“A-a… Cr-crush?”

The blush in Chu’s face grew rapidly as the girls continued to gush about how cute he was and how much Aki actually spoke about him.

“Umm… umm… I-if you excuse me… I… I need to use the restroom.” Chu pulled himself out of their grasp, and ran out of the room, he heard a trail of unhappy “Aww’s…” echoing out into the hall and fading into the loud music as he left.

He was happy to be out of their grasp, he didn’t like that the girls didn’t respect his personal space. He wandered around the crowded home, noticing some couples that were make out in the corners, there was a lot of drinking going on, the lights were all dimmed, and the music was blasting so loud that the house felt like it was shaking.

“Aki… M-might have a crush on me?” He muttered to himself, walking down the crowded hall anxiously rubbing the back of his neck. Timidly wandering through the crowd, “S-sorry…” he’d mutter every time he bumped into someone. he scanned the sea of people frantically looking for a friendly face. He hoped that he would find Kouyou first, that way he'd have his "wing-man" to keep an eye on him.

After aimlessly walking around for several minutes, he found Aki dancing in a large crowd of people.

Chu watched Aki move. His motions were so fluid, so natural. He watched Aki’s body curve, twist, move, jump, and punch. He saw his clothing cling to his strong shape. He watched Aki’s wavy brown and blonde hair wisp and dance around his handsome face, his sapphire eyes gleam in the dim light, and that perfectly perfect smile of his melted Chu’s heart.

Even though he promised himself that he wouldn’t fall for Aki, it was very hard to ignore his perfect physique and face.

Chu watched him dance from around the corner, almost in the trance.

“Aki, you’re so handsome.” Chu whispered to himself, peeking further around the corner shyly his heart fluttering in his chest.

[Akio Tokuhana]

When he attended a party, Akio always went in style. His hair was chunky and messy in the intentional manner, not the just woke up and didn't bother to style it manner. It flared and feathered out slightly, but never looked out of his control. He was wearing make-up on his eyes, eye liner and light eye shadow in a shade of gray below perfectly manicured eyebrows. His nails were painted black, cut perfectly straight and even.

His clothing was just as extravagant as the rest of him. He wore a purple tank top, peacock feathers dyed to match hung across his chest, dangling in a perfect row. A sleeveless purple jacket fell past his waist, trimmed and lined in black with matching lapels. Purple and black feathers fell across the bottom of the coat. His arms were ornamented with wrappings and ribbon around his biceps and wrists. It was all blacks and purples. On his legs were black shorts, chained to a pair of purple pant legs that started just above his knee. They fell past the top of the high black boots on his feet. He wore a chain necklace with a silver cross falling between his collarbones. It matched the silver chains on his wrists and the silver rings on his fingers. It was no wonder he took the day off work to prepare for parties. It usually took him that long to get ready.

He was glad to escort Chu to the party, and when Anna wandered up to start talking with Chu, and was slightly saddened by the idea that he was being recruited for a dance. It usually happened this way, he'd show up and be dragged onto the dance floor by some attractive boy or girl, whether or not they knew his sexual preference never seemed to matter. Not that Akio liked dancing, it usually turned into others begging for him to show off his Muay Thai drills. And he always did end up showing off.

Now, he was the center of attention, surrounded by friend and stranger alike as they stared in awe at his form. No one else was dancing as he thrust fist and leg through the air. His legs were strong and led him through many graceful and difficult maneuvers. He didn't wear out easily, but he did finally decide he should find Chu, after all, the other young man didn't know anyone else here. He ended the drill he was running through to the down beat of the song and stood. He had impeccable rhythm, as well as extensive skill in martial arts. He smiled at his on lookers and excused himself.

"Alright, that's enough for now. I'm worn out! No no, no more dancing. Maybe later. Yes yes, I'll save a dance for you, if you're still sober." He said the last to a girl who had clearly come to the party with more clothing than she was dressed in now, and a lot less alcohol in her system. She laughed as he wandered away, searching the room for Chu first, then beginning to head back through the door. He blinked as he rounded the corner and saw Chu standing there. He was taken aback for a second, then smiled.

"Good. I found you. I was very worried you'd be difficult to find in the crowd. There are a lot of people here. I am very sorry I got pulled away." He grinned and looked up as Anna came around the corner, her brown hair pulled back into a tight braid. She was well dressed as well, but easily upstaged by Akio's outlandish outfit. She jumped at him and he caught her, smiling as he set her back down.

"Kio! Are you gathering a crowd and forgetting about your friends again? I had to keep the poor boy company when you rushed away to show off!" She smiled at Chu, having been one of the girls to invade Chu's personal space, and the one to suggest Akio had a crush. She winked at Chu and finally released her hold on Akio's neck.

"I can't help that I'm popular, Anna. Thank you for taking care of Chu for me. Ah! Chu, this is Anna. She's one of my very close friends"

Anna giggled. It was obvious she'd already had a bit to drink. "We've met!" Akio nodded his approval and moved closer to Chu, standing near him in an obviously protective manner, almost as if he dared anyone to come closer. "Would you like to get a drink, Chu?" He had to lean a little closer to avoid shouting as he asked the question. Though, maybe he'd moved in a little closer than he had to.

[Kouyou Ichiki]

Kouyou arrived at the party a little later than anticipated. It had been a while since he had gotten dressed up for anything, and was a little out of practice in the art of makeup. But he was an artist, and would be damned if his body wasn't any less of a canvas than the papers he used.

Hair had been gelled to perfection, the bangs left to hug his forehead while the rest was spiked in chaotic order. The foundation he chose was a shade lighter than his own skin tone, giving him a pale soft complexion. He had chosen black shadow to top his eyelids, wrapping just beneath the eye without wrapping all the way under. It blended into a vivid red that reached up to the arch of hi eyebrows and towards his temple. His lighter skin tone allowing for his choice of eye shadow to stand out rather well.

His next obstacle leading up to his tardy arrival was what to wear. He had momentarily contemplated, as funny as he thought it might be, to wear his Hakama. However the thought of wearing his Geta all night was a deterrent enough not to. He wore a black t-shirt with the design of a cat body holding a throwing star in one paw and a katana in the other. It's body started right beneath the shirt collar, meant to give the impression that the wearers head was attached to the cats body. He wore that beneath a decorated vest, it was mostly black with dark reds patterned into it, it had two zippers in the front the outer of which was for decoration. It hung down past his waist to about mid thigh. He wore plain black shorts that stopped just above the knee with calf high boots, that looked far more that study enough to hurt. Which he would guarantee you they would.

When he was finally put together, he looked at his clock and rushed out of his dormitory. He reached the party nearly an hour after he had planned to. Entering the crowded home he began to look for Chu, to which seemed hopeless between the sheer number of people coupled with the fact he couldn't see over anyones head. Of all the Japanese traits he could inherit, his diminutive height was one he could live without. His head began to bob in time to the music as he wove through people trying to find his frail friend, the music wasn't bad and the overall feel of the party was good.

After several minuets of searching, and pushing past the mostly intoxicated crowd, he found his quarry standing against a wall. He was talking to another who was dressed in purple and black, and from the distance he was at it was either a really tall woman or a very pretty man. Knowing he would find out soon enough he moved toward the pair, and hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself in the process. Coming within feet of them the duo turned his way and began walking, Koyou put on a wide smile as his eyes met Chus'.

He had to raise his voice as he came to stop in front of them "Sorly I'm late Chu. I seemed to have forgotten how to make up my mind while getting ready."

[Layton "Chu" Lewis]

Chu withdrew behind the corner as Aki approached the door, he momentarily felt the need to run and hide himself. How could Aki be friends with someone like him? All of the people who surrounded Aki were perfect, charming, beautiful, and smart... all things that he wasn't. Why wasn't Aki embarrassed to be seen with him? If Chu had Aki's smarts and good-looks, he wouldn't be caught dead with someone that looked lanky and ugly like him, and he'd be too embarrassed to introduce him to friends. He bit his lip, picked up his feet to runaway and just as he turned, there was Aki.

Chu's nerves were slightly soothed by Aki's gentle smile. Then Anna showed up, he chewed on his own lip. He couldn't stop thinking about what she told him, I think he has a crush on you. Those words rattled his eardrums. There was no way, no chance in hell that she could be telling the truth, right?

Aki was too perfect to ever like him.

His eyes glanced down toward the floor rubbing the back of his neck, Chu knew that he just didn't fit in with this crowd either. He stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only one looking around like a deer in headlights. Again, that same feeling rose into his stomach he just wanted to hide from all of this chaos. People yelling over the loud music, a few small fights and arguments breaking out among the drunks, the music so loud it was making his ear-drums vibrate. Anxiety was in his eyes as he kept glancing around, trying to find somewhere quite to go to.

But, then Aki stepped closer. Aki's strong body shielding him from the chaos. An instant sense of relief crossed his face as Aki protected him. For only a few precious moments, he felt truly serene and safe; for a moment, he didn't hear the loud music or arguments, he could just hear Aki. Would you like to get a drink, Chu? His gentle voice was a clear and pure as a wind chime. A softness entered his face, and he couldn't help must smile a little and nod his head.

"Yes, please." He answered.

Just for those few moments, everything felt perfect.

Then a sound interrupted his serenity, it was Kou!

"Kou!" Chu said surprised, he'd completely forgotten that he even invited him.

"A-Aki... t-this is Kouyou Ichiki, Kou this is Akio Tokuhana." Chu went towards Kou and gave him a hug, as he briefly embraced him he spoke to Kou, "Thank god you're here... I... I was... I was falling in lo-... I mean... Aki and I we connected and it... it... I can't explain it..." Chu pulled away from him, and stood in between Aki and Kou, "Aki... and I.. were gonna go get a drink..."

In a friendly fashion, Chu held on to Kou's wrist, grateful that his wing-man was there to try and stop his feelings for Aki grow anymore "Would you mind leading the way Aki? I don't know where the kitchen is..."