Graduation

From the album : Vitamin C

A Koko wa Greenwood fic by Yen. All characters are owned by Yukie Nasu.

Notes: MAJOR KUDOS TO Mel for helping me write this. Sounding board and idea generator (Mel: *protests* I just sit on the rock of angst and comment!)

“So what do you think you’ll be doing when we graduate from university?” The sudden break of the silence in the room startled Shinobu who stared up at the bunk above him with mild surprise.

He lifted his shoulders in a shrug beneath his covers, aware that his roommate would not be able to see it. “Probably running the family corporation. My father belongs to the traditional camp of throwing you in the deep end and watching you swim.”

A sleepy voice answered from above, its owner unaware of the undercurrent of regret in his voice. “Running the temple I guess. I am the heir.” Unless I want to break my family’s heart. The unspoken words hovered in the dark atmosphere of the room, understood by the two occupants of the room.

“Sempai! Stop taking my food!” Suka glared indignantly at his neighbour who stared guilelessly back, all the while holding his food away from the sneaky thief.

Suka snorted. “Who else?” Unaware of Shinobu slipping pieces off Suka’s plate while the junior was distracted.

Mitsuru grinned and shrugged. “I have no idea. But since you’re unwilling to share with your own senior I guess I’ll have to make do on my own.”

Watching said senior with suspicion, Suka lowered his own tray back to the table and nodded firmly. “Good. Keep it that way.”

And switched his gaze back to a half empty plate. Ignoring Suka’s squawks, Mitsuru doubled over in laughter and grinned at Shinobu who unbent enough to half-smile in return.

Mitsuru closed the door and locked the door to their apartment for the last time. Turning back to his friend, he smiled quietly. “Looks like that’s it. Final rent’s been paid and our things have been cleared out. So I guess this is goodbye.”

Shinobu leaned against the wall and lit his cigarette and breathed in deeply. “Looks like it.”

Mitsuru shook his head and ambled over to lean against the same wall, his hands in his pocket. “So you’ll be heading to US?”

“Yup.” Shinobu took a long drag on his cigarette and watched the smoke float lazily above his head. “My father’s operations there are expanding and he wants me to oversee it.”

“So, your family’s expecting you back?” Mitsuru nodded his head and tilted his head back against the wall to stare up at the cracked ceiling. “My train leaves in about 3 hours time so I have some time to spare. They’ll be expecting me at about 8 in the evening.”

Mitsuru was ready to reply with an immediate ‘sure’ before something caught him.

Pausing, he said slowly, “I... think so. It’s hard to tell you know. I’ve spent so long running away from their love it’s hard to actually willingly accept it. I’m trying though.

Shinobu shrugged. “That’s what matters. So you going to take over the temple?”

Mitsuru studied the ceiling as if it held the answers to all the questions in the universe. “I guess I will. I’ve been trained for it and I don’t really mind it.” A short laugh broke through his thoughts. “Not like I haven’t had enough experience, what with all the happenings in Greenwood.”

Involuntarily, their lips tilted up at the corners as they considered their old alma mater. They stayed in comfortable silence for a while before Mitsuru lifted his case.

“Ah heck it.” Mitsuru grabbed Shinobu in a rough hug before quickly setting him back down, half afraid of the response. “You take care of yourself and be sure to call me when you come back.”

Shinobu smiled and tilted his fingers in a gesture of farewell. “Trust me, I may be able to take care of myself but I don’t think I want to end up like a Shoji screen if I don’t call you.”

Grabbing his bags, he turned away from his roommate, his schoolmate, his friend and headed determinedly to the exit.

“Till we meet again.” Muttered Shinobu as he watched his friend left, and hefting his own bags, followed after.