Paint Love

Zihao Yamamoto Banana Fish Original Character

[huaxai]

Reunions

[huaxai]

nightruled‌:

Yue couldn’t believe it was really Zihao, after all this time. When Eiji had told him about the artwork, and showed it to him, Yue was so stunned, he burst into tears right there, much to Eiji’s confusion. Zihao was here, and remembered him.

Would he recognize him now? Yue trailed him for days, but he didn’t expect to be caught, so when Zihao knocked on the window he retreated further in, shuddering. He should have told the driver to go, speed away.

Instead he rolled down the window, bracing himself. “Zihao?”

To be perfectly honest he hadn’t fully remembered who Yue was the first time he had seen a picture of him, there was an inkling of familiarity in the back of his mind one that was almost maddening... but his mother had been so insistent that his childhood friend had died with his mother that it didn’t make any sense for him to be in alive and in New York. 

However now that he was seeing him in person and hearing the sound of his voice, there was no denying exactly who he was. His breath caught in his throat as he heard the other say his name, tears almost immediately welling up. He forced the shaky breath as he stared at the other for a long moment taking every detail he possibly could and committing it to memory. 

“Y-yu-Yu..” the nickname slipped out before he could stop it. He forced a deep breath as he quickly went around to the other side of the car and opened it up so he could slide inside, not caring that he hadn’t been invited in. The moment he was inside he immediately wrapped his arms around Yue and pulling him in close. 

“S-she told me you were dead.. .I never thought I would see you again.. oh YuYu..” 

[huaxai]

loveyakusoku‌:

Eiji doesn’t let go of Zihao’s hand even as he sits down, always keep that point in contact with the other man. Thumb rubs gentle circles in an attempt to comfort him, but Eiji is just as worried as Zihao. It’s so rare to see his usually level headed friend so out of sorts this way, so whatever has happened is surely serious. “It’s okay,” Eiji says, trying to keep his voice calm. “Just tell me when you’re ready.” 

Eiji on the other hand…was not ready for the news. Arranged marriage? Was that even legal anymore? Just how were they planning on just marrying their only son off like this! Eiji blinks at Zihao’s outburst, and honestly he can’t even blame him. Eiji himself is still trying hard to wrap his mind around it. 

“Can…….?” EIji begins delicately, but he can’t even formulate a real question. It keeps changing every time he tries to get a word out. Can they do this? Can you change their mind? Can they not understand that they can’t make you do what they want? 

Eiji holds onto Zihao’s hand with both of his own now, biting his inner lip as he thinks. “I’m guessing you’ve already told them that you hate the idea.” 

Can I tell them I hate it too? 

Eiji shakes his head and sits up, eyes narrowed. “Where did this come from anyways? Who even thinks about arranged marriages anymore?!” 

Zihao stayed quiet for a really long time, staring down at their hands as he squeezed just a little bit tighter. He was at a loss what to do, and though he had the smallest of ideas, he wasn’t entirely sure he could ask it of Eiji. The other was a good person and this definitely wasn’t his problem.. and yet he was so desperate to find a way to put a stop to his parents plan that he wasn’t sure if he could stop himself from asking. 

“Yeah.. but they won’t listen.. they are convinced that this will be good for me.” he mumbled softly, he didn’t understand why his parents seemed to think that. Though he was entirely sure it quite possibly had something to do with the fact their own marriage had been an arranged one and maybe since it had worked out so well.. no none of that mattered, he should be allowed to make his own choices. 

“They told me last night, but apparently they’ve been thinking about this for awhile.” He was only seventeen years old, he shouldn’t have to be looking for a wife so soon, a fact that his parents were apparently ignoring for the time being. “They are worried about me never being able to find someone..” he knew it was because he hadn’t had a girlfriend yet, despite being almost done with high school. 

“But.. I was thinking.. if I could maybe convince them that i’m in a relationship.. then maybe they won’t make me do this..it would buy me a little more time..” he wanted to finish the thought, to ask Eiji to pretend to date him for a little while.. but he couldn’t bring himself to ask the question, so instead he forced a deep breath as he sat back in the booth some and stared up at the ceiling. 

[huaxai]

loveyakusoku‌:

@huaxai​ || I’ve Been Home All This Time || Fake Dating AU 

It started with a simple text message from Zihao. That wasn’t abnormal at all. Eiji and Zihao texted pretty much everyday at most hours even when they’re probably aren’t suppose to, but there’s no helping that at all. What made Eiji pause about this one particular text however was the eerie use of punctuation. 

Zihao [14:34 ] Can we please talk soon? It’s important. 

Eiji readily agrees, shooting back a text to meet at some cafe they regularly go to. He begins to wonder what has gotten his best friend so anxious and worried that a simple phone call can’t cover. 

When Eiji sees him at the cafe, he can’t help but rush over.  He reaches out for Zihao’s hands and holds them up with his. His eyes scan his familiar and soft face, one hand checking him over. “Zihao, is everything alright?” 

Zihao didn’t know what he was going to do, to be completely honest he was surprised that his parents had even suggested such a thing like arranged marriage. It seemed so.. archaic, it wasn’t even something he realized that people still did until his parents sat him down the night before and explained that they were beginning to search for Zihao a suitable bride. The claimed it was for his own good, but he didn’t see how that could possibly be the case. 

So of course the first person he reached out to was his best friend, he didn’t know who else to turn to at this point. He hadn’t slept at all the night before, all he could do was lay in his bed and desperately try to figure out someway to get out of this. It didn’t hit him until about three in the morning a possible idea, though it was borderline crazy. Even with the idea, he wasn’t entirely sure he was going to follow through on it, but he needed someone to talk to about it. 

He had gotten to the cafe early, sitting there and staring at the hot chocolate he had ordered. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he had missed Eiji come in, it wasn’t until his hands were being scooped up that he finally snapped out of his thoughts. Blinking once or twice he finally looked up, he wanted to smile but he couldn’t quite bring himself to do it. 

“Eiji.. I.. no, not really.. I don’t know what i’m going to do..” he mumbled softly, he knew that was vague and only gave the other more questions, but he really didn’t know how to phrase any of this. He took a deep breath, letting his eyes slip closed for a moment. “My parents.. they’ve lost their minds.” he grumbled, “Apparently they are going to.. start looking for me a bride, they want me to have an arranged marriage.” he finally forced out. 

“Eiji.. I don’t know what i’m going to do! I can’t marry someone I don’t know!” 

[huaxai]

loveyakusoku‌:

@huaxai​ || Just a Visit 

The only advantage that Eiji has about being left behind in Ash’s operations is that he’s rarely seen or remembered much. He still runs the risk of being recognized of course, but thats why he always sits in the most hidden table at the cafe he meets Zihao. He knows his friend is noticing these things more and more, and he’s sure his parents are beyond offended for Eiji rejecting their dinner invitations so many times. But Eiji just can’t risk putting any of them in danger by going to their home. He could be followed, and even going back to the hideout unseen was challenge enough. 

Eiji sees Zihao enter the cafe, and he has to half stand and wave to get his attention. “Zihao, over here!” 

It had been so nice to have his childhood friend in the same city as him again. When he first moved to New York he thought that there was really a chance that he would never get to see Eiji again, and that was a thought that nearly broke the young boy’s heart. Though by some stroke of fate Eiji found himself on an extended stay in New York, and Zihao was nothing short of grateful. However he did take notice to the fact that Eiji had managed to get himself mixed up in a questionable crowd. He was worried of course, but Eiji seemed rather convinced that everything would be find and that he had nothing to worry about. 

As he stepped into the cafe he began to look around, managing to easily spot the other. He smiled and made is way over to the borderline hidden booth and pulled the older boy into a hug. “Eiji! It’s so good to see you.” he smiled softly pulling away from the hug after a moment to slide into the bench. 

“How have you been? How is that.. american of yours that you are so fond of?” 

[huaxai]

loveyakusoku‌:

@huaxai (Cont)

Eiji didn’t understand how Zihao’s parents kept forcing him to eat the veggies. He clearly doesn’t like them, but his mom keeps insisting and even his dad was beginning to lose his patience. Eiji actually didn’t mind any type of veggie at all, having the odd inclination of eating them before anything else on his plate. He waits for the right moment when both Yamamoto’s have their backs turned. When it happens, Eiji moves. He nudges to Zihao, and quickly reaches for the broccoli with his chopsticks without a word. 

Zihao understand whats happening obviously, and keeps as silent as the grave as Eiji gets through the food. When he’s all done Zihao thanks him, and Eiji nods hurriedly with his cheeks full of the vegetable, trying to chew and shallow as fast as possible. By the time Yamamoto-san turns around, Zihao’s plate is clean and Eiji is uncomfortably full. 

Yamamoto-san is obviously surprised, and she looks suspiciously between EIji and Zihao. “You ate the vegetables, Zihao?” She asks, as if she can’t really believe it. 

The little boy was so grateful that he had insisted that Eiji stay over for dinner, he hadn’t asked the older boy to eat his vegetables of course. Though it was clear the other had decided to take it upon himself to finish them up for Zihao. He watched as the other seemed to devour every last bite in no time at all, any fear that they might get caught was quickly silenced at the speed the other appeared to shove the broccoli into his mouth. 

The moment it was all gone, he had readjusted himself and waited for his parents to notice that he had managed to finish all of his food. He smiled sweetly up at them, doing his best to not let his mother figure out what had just happened only moments before. “Yes Mommy!” He chimed happily. “they were groooosss” he added for extra believability. 

“Can Eiji-san and i go play now?” he batted his bright lashes up at his mother, and eventually the woman gave in, though still not fully believing it had been her son who had eaten his food. 

“Alright, go play.” 

The small boy smiled brightly as he scooted down from his chair and quickly moved over to Eiji, tugging on his sleeve. “come on! Let’s go plaaaay!” 

[huaxai]

*Little Eiji takes the vegetables that Little Zihao doesn't like from his plate and eats them for him*

The softest gasp escaped when the older boy reached across the table when his parents weren’t looking to take all of the vegetables that he was practically refusing to eat. Zihao could be quite stubborn when he wanted to be when it came to eating his veggies, always putting them off till the very last second. Though as he watched the older boy munch away, leaving just the smallest amount of rice on his own plate he couldn’t help but smile brightly. 

“T-thank you..” he whispered, ensuring that his parents didn’t hear him. 

[huaxai]

Reunions

@nightruled II Plotted Starter II Verse: Never Let Me Go

Zihao hated New York, in all honesty he wished he could just go home to Japan. He had been about to start his year of high school when his father had gotten the promotion that would move their entire family to the united states. He of course had protested it, but it hadn’t done any good and for the second time in his life he was forced to move to a whole new country without much say in the matter. The school he as made to attend was something out of a horror movie in the young man’s eyes, the kids were horrid and the teachers weren’t much better. 

The only saving grace was that his childhood friend Eiji Okumura had come to visit and ended up having an extended stay in the city. Though he didn’t know the full details of why Eiji was staying, he knew it did have something to do with an american boy. Zihao was happy for him, even if he was a little worried that his best friend might end up getting hurt. It was selfish of him to want Eiji to stay in town for as long as possible, and somewhere deep down he knew that.. and yet the thought couldn’t be helped. 

ZIhao had been on the way home from a visit with Eiji, they had met at a nice cafe and had lunch. The other telling him all about his new friends, though he of course noticed that there were times that Eiji didn’t seem to be telling the whole truth about everything that was going on in his life, but Zihao didn’t push. He was just happy to see Eiji smiling again, it was something he hadn’t seen in far too long. 

He hadn’t made it a couple of steps out of the cafe when he spotted a familiar looking car, one that had been following him for what felt like days now. His brows furrowed as he walked past it, wondering if he was just imagining things or not. Though there was feeling in his gut that told him that it wasn’t just an overactive imagination. If he had any common sense, he would go to the police about it, or tell his parents.. or even Eiji, and yet he had kept the information to himself. 

It was with this thought that he finally worked the courage to turn right back around and make his way over to the nice car. With a deep breath he knocked on the window of the backseat, able to make out a distinct outline of someone sitting there. “Hello? I was just wondering how long you plan on following me? I mean.. if you want something from me you can just ask.. did one of the kids at the school put you up to this?”