The Untouchable Forest

WARNING: THIS DREAM NOVEL HAS SUGGESTIVE SCENES ON IT. CONTINUE READING AT YOUR OWN RISK.

"Choutarou! Chou…"

The young lady stood for a long moment without being able to move. Her mind was fixed on the vision lying in front of her, and her body was stuck. She was feeling as if something just fell on her shoulders, and kept her from moving. How? Why?

"I'm… sorry."

It was the only thing she managed to say before running away from there.

"! Wait !"

But she didn't want to wait. She didn't want to listen to his explanations; she didn't want to know why. She just wanted… to be alone. Her legs, agile thanks to swimming, took her away, far away from the one she trusted until a few seconds ago. The young man's cries couldn't reach her now. It was over.

**********

A few days later…

"Oi, -chan, what's the matter?"

"Nothing at all, Keigo-kun. Nothing."

Atobe looked at the young girl suspiciously. He caught her chin and forced her to look at him.

"You know you can't hide anything from me. You know it, ah~n?"

sighed. She really wanted to talk about it, and Atobe was maybe the only one who could truly understand her.

They met several years ago. Atobe won a scholarship, allowing him to study overseas. And he ended in America, in 's class. Their friendship didn't start very well, but the young girl finally won the heart of the arrogant Japanese boy, and he managed to show his qualities to the young American. They shared a lot of interests, and their relation turned quickly into a real friendship, but never more. They were always together, and it was natural for Atobe – they were celebrating their 16th birthday – to invite her at home, in Japan. And it was during this trip that she met Him.

It was a so long time ago, thought. They had been so happy together. Why did he break everything, for that?

"Did you really understand well, ah~n?"

"I'm not stupid, Keigo! I know what I saw."

"And ore-sama knows that everything is not what it seems like. You experienced that, -chan."

After the flames of betrayal, the doubt, didn't know which one was the most painful. Did she really see what she thought she saw? How could Atobe be so frustrating?!? With one single sentence, he managed to break her resolution of not seeing Choutarou again.

Atobe was right though. Appearances were not always like they seemed to be.

**********

Three years before...

"So Atobe, did the American atmosphere make you less arrogant?"

"Did you see the Statue of Liberty?"

"You must speak English well now, right?"

was smiling, alone in a corner of the room. Atobe was giving a huge party, and he had invited all his old friends. These ones were asking him so many questions that had decided to let them be. She hated being under the spotlight, but she knew Atobe would remember her, soon or later.

"Anou… Sorry for bothering you, but…"

turned her eyes away from Atobe, and found herself in front of a blue shirt. Surprised, she lifted her head, and finally realised that the blue shirt was wore by someone tall. Very tall. And who possessed the most entrancing eyes she ever saw.

"Are you ?" The young boy asked.

"Y-yes."

His face lit up with a huge smile.

"I am Ootori Choutarou, yoroshiku," he continued. "Atobe-san told us a lot of things about you in his letters."

"Yoroshiku," answered with a smile. "I hope Keigo didn't say anything bad!"

"Oh no! It's quite the contrary!"

didn't believe in love at first sight. She had always thought that, if she had to love someone one day, it will be after months, maybe years after she has met "the" guy. So… why was she feeling so warm now?

In the eyes of the boy standing in front of her, she could see the incredulity facing something which both changed them.

But Choutarou had something sad in his look too. For him, was untouchable, because she belonged in Atobe's world. He had arrived earlier than the others and he had seen how his captain was acting with the young American girl. He had seen the touches discrete but tender, he had seen the looks and the smiles.

And now, his heart was painful. He was hurt because he believed in love at first sight, and he knew that he just lived once.

So, when Atobe called to introduce her to the team, Choutaro's smile was not as shiny, and his eyes were almost wet.

found him later in the night, sitting on the fountain, in Atobe's park. And she told him not to believe in appearances.

The next year, Atobe came back to Japan, and was with him. Her talents for painting allowed her to go to a prestigious Art School in Tokyo. And the "distance" relation she had with Choutarou became a "real" love affair. Well. Almost. And it was that "almost" which just broke them.

**********

"-chan…"

Choutarou didn't know what to do; he had to either say everything he had in his heart, or just take her in his arms. He has not seen her since that "incident". He tried, but he was always blocked by the wall called Atobe. The silver-haired boy would have done anything to explain, but now she was in front of him, he couldn't speak.

"I think it's normal after all," she said softly.

"Normal?" Choutarou asked, confused. "I don't understand… Listen, I…"

"No, you will listen!"

turned her back on him, and she let her eyes be lost in the sky while she was talking. "I should have known it could happen. I mean… We've been together for three years now and… I've always said no. You are a boy after all."

"Why are you talking about the fact that I'm a boy?" Choutarou was more and more confused. He didn't understand , or at least, he didn't want to understand her.

"Hormones!" sighed. "Everything is a matter of hormones with you. So, as I was not giving you what you wanted, you went looking elsewhere, and--"

Choutarou felt his blood running to his head. He caught the girl by her shoulder without waiting for her to stop speaking, and forced her to look at him. swallowed hard when she noticed the flame of anger in Choutarou's eyes.

"You're talking nonsense!" He exploded. "Don't disparage me! I can wait for you for the rest of my life if it means I'd be able to keep you!"

"Choutarou…"

The young boy's anger vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. If he let his girlfriend go, it was for taking her in his arms without hurting her anymore.

"You have always been the first to say I shouldn't believe everything I saw," he whispered. "You always told me to look twice before judging something… And you didn't even notice it was Shishido-san's girlfriend."

He didn't want to make fun of her, but he couldn't help but smile when he felt 's cheeks getting warm.

"I guess I have to apologize, Chou-chan…"

**********

"Is that ok?"

"What are you talking about Choutarou?"

had just moved in Tokyo. Atobe had offered her (but an offer from the prince meant a positive answer) to live at his house, until she got used with Japanese life.

"Well…" the young boy began while scratching his head. "I really don't mind at all, but you… I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with my age."

They had made their relationship official a few days ago. Although they have written to each other for several months after Atobe's party, they had just become a real couple.

"Listen to me, Chou-chan," had answered with a smile. "I am, what? Four months older than you? Is that so much for you?"

Choutarou had laughed. He had never really realized that, even if they were not born the same year, he was not very younger than her.

"Wait!" He beamed suddenly. "What did you call me?"

**********

Despite 's apologies a few days ago, Choutarou was becoming estranged from her. He had always been so nice and kind toward her, but a distance was now growing between them. knew she was going to lose him, so she had to do something. But each time she thought about it, her stomach was in knots and her hands were shaking. She couldn't do it alone.

"Is Ore-sama needed here?"

almost felt relieved. Atobe was the only person who could help her: first, he was a boy, so he would understand. And two, he was not very close to Choutarou, so he wouldn't relay what she would say, contrary to Shishido.

"Want a drink, Keigo-kun?"

"Ore-sama never refuses an invitation from a pretty girl."

And it was there, with his nose in a huge glass of peppermint cordial, that finally talked about why she was feeling weird. Atobe just listened to her for a while, and when she finished, he waited several seconds before giving an answer. " -chan. You're refusing something important to Ohtori. I know what you think about guys, particularly since what the other did to you. But you know that Ohtori is different, right?"

"He is…" whispered.

"Ootori is willing to wait for you his whole life, without touching another woman. He loves you enough for that."

"Why is he avoiding me then?"

Atobe smiled despite himself. In a certain way, he thought 's innocence was cute. But it was time for her to truly understand what reality was. She had to let herself go with the one she loved.

"Do you remember that drawing, during the exhibition in New York? The one picturing a forest."

nodded.

"And do you remember what you said to me then?"

"I told you that… I was frustrated," answered the girl, remembering. "Frustrated because I badly wanted to touch that forest, to smell the perfume of the trees, to feel the wind… But I couldn't, because it was only a drawing. "

Atobe got up, and whispered to 's ear. "For Ootori, you are the forest. But he doesn't know if he will be able to restrain himself from touching you."

**********

She only came back up to the surface in the last second, when her lungs were going to explode, and when she was feeling dizzy. But after a breath, she dived again. Again and again. When she was a child, she had wished many times to become a fish, and to be able to live in the ocean forever. It was her universe. Her own world. Nothing could follow her there; it was her shelter when she was lost.

In America, she didn't have her own swimming pool. So as often as she could, she went to the public one. But it was always full of people, and she couldn't swim as she wanted. And when she finally went to college, she had to accept not being able to go there anymore.

Atobe had a huge swimming pool in his manor. It was the first thing he had shown to her when they came back to Japan. When he had told her she could swim as much as she wanted, had almost died.

"Okay, one more length, and I go out," she told herself.

She threw her body forward, and felt the sensation of the water running on her skin. Almost regretful, she caught the ladder, and went out of the swimming pool.

"Chou-chan!" She beamed. "I didn't see you come in!"

She grabbed her towel quickly, wrapped herself in it and moved toward the boy. But she slowed down. Choutarou was… weird. His cheeks were burning, his hands were shaking, and he seemed like he was going to explode.

"Oi, Choutarou, are you alright?" asked.

"I… have to go," he answered in a whisper.

And quickly, he thought whereas he turned back. It was too hard. Seeing the one he loved, almost naked, offered to his eyes, and not be able to touch her skin which he knew was soft and sweet-smelling, it was torture. And if he didn't want his girlfriend to see his state, he had to fly away, and very quickly.

But before he could reach the door, two arms were wrapped around his waist, and a body was pressed against his. was still wet, and her cold body cooled down Choutarou a little.

"I would like to talk Choutarou. Please."

Talk. Talk again.

"No."

Choutarou's voice was cold. So cold and so unusual that let him go. Was it too late? Did she wait too long?

"I can't stay," Choutarou added softer. "I can't."

"Why?" asked.

She knew. Or at least, she thought she knew. She read into his boyfriend's eyes, and she saw there… some things. That was why she ran after him. She wanted to be sure, before...

As Choutarou didn't answer, she moved in front of him, and forced him to look in her eyes. The boy's cheeks were hot under her fingers, and his look… felt her body getting warm while she was melting in it.

He was not like the others. Not like Him. He wanted her, but he didn't want to possess her. He didn't want to take her, he wanted to make love to her.

But only when she decided to. was able to read all this in Choutarou's shiny and confused eyes.

Her body didn't think anymore when she caught the boy's hands and put them on her naked hips. And before he could protest, her lips were on his.

Hesitating at first, their kiss became more intense. Choutarou let his fingers running on 's back, and made her shivered.

She didn't want to wait anymore.

##########

October 5, 2006
Written and Translated to English by: Serena
Edited by: Rikapyon!