Written

Hearts
By Meghan Morris1

Main Characters:
Getsuyama, Takuni
Matsuryu, Seichiiro
Kazetachi, Shindo

1
Need a Japanese penname… maybe.
Chapter 1A

(A man crouches next to a bookshelf shelving books. His hair is layered into tufts,
bleached to a near white with dark tips. Grey eyes look rather dreamily out of black-
framed lenses. He wears what looks to be a uniform, a light blue polo shirt with tan pants
and a belt. A nametag on the right side of his chest proclaims his name to be Getsuyama
written with the characters for moon and mountain.)

Shindo: Getsuyama, come over here, I want you to meet someone.

Takuni: (pushing his glasses higher on his nose) Yes, sir! (Puts down stack of books he
was shelving and finds his way through the maze of bookshelves)

(Owner -Shindo- stands in the front of the shop with another man. The man is a few
inches taller than the owner, thereby about a half-foot taller than Takuni who was about
5’8”. The man’s dusty brown hair was cut short and rather messy and he wore a green
turtleneck, which covered him from just below his chin to his wrists, hanging loosely
about his hips, and black slacks, the green of the sweater matched his green eyes which
glinted brightly at Takuni despite the trace of dark circles under them. Shindo himself is
around 6’ tall, with swept back black hair only a thin lock daring to come down in a
comma across his forehead. His eyes are sharp and his mouth is always turned down in
some sort of a scowl a set of spectacles, small and round, balance upon his nose. He
wears a long sleeved dress shirt with an embroidered vest over it; plain black dress pants
complete the outfit.)

Shindo: (Gesturing to the man next to him) Getsuyama, this is Seichiiro Matsuryu.
Matsuryu this is Takuni Getsuyama.

Seichiiro: It’s a pleasure to meet you Takuni-ku- (Pauses for a moment then flashes a
grin) Takun.

Takuni: (Blushes despite himself, slightly dazzled by the man’s bright smile)

Seichiiro: Shin-tan here was telling me all about you.

Takuni: Shin-tan?

Seichiiro: I guess that’s Kazetachi-san to you.

Takuni: (bows) It’s a pleasure, Matsuryu-san.

Seichiiro: Seichiiro

Takuni: Seichiiro-san
Seichiiro: (Sighs)
Shindo: Matsuryu will be dropping by every once in a while. Just make sure he doesn’t
stay too long unless he has a notepad and a pencil with him.

Takuni: ?

Shindo: Matsuryu is famous for trying to ditch work. (Sees Takuni is still confused)
Matsuryu is a writer, Getsuyama.

Takuni: Oh!

Seichiiro: (Sweat drop) Ah…

Takuni: (Pausing for a moment to search his memory) But we don’t have any books by a
Matsuryu, Seichiiro.

Seichiiro: (Holding up a hand to forestall Shindo’s answer.) Try by my penname, Draco

Pine2.

Takuni: (Eyes widening) You’re Draco Pine, the famous science fiction fantasy writer?!

Seichiiro: (blushing slightly but still smiling) Yeah. Just don’t spread it around, eh? I
rather like where I live now and I don’t want to move again.

Takuni: Ah… Right.

Shindo: Boys…

Seichiiro & Takuni: (simultaneously) (Guilty look than look at one another.) Sorry, I
have to get back to work. It was a pleasure to meet you.

(Moment of silence)

Seichiiro: (Bursts out laughing) I like you Takun. (Pats shoulder)

Takuni: (Blushes and then goes back to work)

Shindo: (Gives Seichiiro a suspicious and slightly worried look, which Seichiiro doesn’t
catch.)

Seichiiro: (looks over at Shindo when Takuni is finally out of sight, smiles, and leaves
out of the front door.

2
Need a better alias. Look up kanji for Seichiiro.
Chapter 1B

Seichiiro: (Sneaking up on Takuni while he is shelving books) Boo! (Pounces)

Takuni: (Yelps and flips Seichiiro over his shoulder to land hard on his back in front of
Takuni, sending the papers he was holding flying.)

Seichiiro: (Laying on his back blinks a couple of times in surprise before blowing of the
page that had landed across his mouth) …ow…

Takuni: Oh my god, are you all right?! I am so sorry!

Seichiiro: (sitting up and brushing himself off, grinning) It’s all right, it’s all right, no
worries. (looks at the scattered papers) Though this may be a little difficult…

Takuni: Here, let me help. (Begins picking up papers, notices they are all handwritten.) A
first draft? (Holds stack of papers to Seichiiro)

Seichiiro: (Smiles) No, a final draft.

Takuni: (Craning his neck to get another look at the papers) But they’re still
handwritten...

Shindo: (from behind Takuni., taking the papers from Seichiiro)) Our writer here won’t
go anywhere near computers. I’ve had to type up his final drafts since I became his editor
out of high school. At least his handwriting has gotten better. (Raises an eyebrow at
Seichiiro)

Seichiiro: (looking up at Shindo defiantly) I don’t see how you trust those things. (Stands
up and gives Takuni a hand up.)

Takuni: (Stands with Seichiiro’s help, but feels that Seichiiro hold his hand a little longer
than necessary before dropping it. Blushes slightly)

Seichiiro: Putting that aside, where did you learn to do that! That was an amazing throw!

Takuni: (Blushes and scratches the back of his head)

Shindo: Getsuyama has been the regional Aikido champion since high school.

Seichiiro: Really? That’s amazing Takun!

Takuni: (Blushes deeper)

Shindo: (Looking at the papers) By the way, isn’t this the chapter that was due last week?
Seichiiro: (Guiltily) Gotta go! (Leaves)

Shindo: (Shaking his head) Really. You know, it’s different. Seichiiro-san would never
risk dodging work and coming here before, now he comes near daily. (Rolls his eyes with
an exasperated sigh and walks away scowling)

Takuni: (thinking) Is it because of me?

Note: Need to figure out a name for the bookstore.

Chapter 23

(Montage of scenes of Seichiiro with Takuni; walking him home; talking to him at work;
getting chased off by Shindo; ect.)

(Takuni is working at the register when Shindo calls him over, holding three bento
wrapped in colored clothes)

Shindo: Getsuyama, would you take these over to Seichiiro-san’s house? I know he
doesn’t have any good food over there and he’s going to be stuck there for the rest of the
day. His address is on the paper on the top. (Hands over the bento)

Takuni: All right. (Thinks to himself) Three bento?

* * *

(Takuni stands in the shadow of a large apartment complex)

Takuni: (Reading off the paper) 623 E. Seiryu Street apartment 201…

Takuni: (In front of door) So this is where Seichiiro-san lives. (Knocks)

Seichiiro: (Answers the door, a small boy with black bowl cut hair on his shoulders and a
girl with long brown hair of the same size hanging from his arm, Seichiiro himself looks
exhausted) Yes? (Brightens when he sees Takuni) Takun! What are you doing here?

Takuni: (With an odd look on his face, somewhere between surprise and betrayal) H-
here, Kazetachi-san sent this. (Shoves the bento into Seichiiro’s arms, turning his face
away but not soon enough for Seichiiro to miss the tears in his eyes)

Seichiiro: (worried) Takun? What’s wron-?

Takuni: (Sobbed out, interrupting) Don’t call me that! (Turns and runs down the stairs)

Seichiiro: (Unable to follow due to the kids calling for lunch)

Chapter 3

3
Do I really want to make this a separate chapter? It’s short, but it’s really important…
Shindo: (Watching from behind counter as Takuni hides from Seichiiro in the maze of
bookshelves.) (Remembering something that happened a week or so ago, just a couple of
days after Seichiiro met Takuni)

(Flashback)

(Seichiiro sits on a couch facing Shindo who reclines in an armchair. He is sitting with
his elbows braced against his knees, his hands clasped in front of his face, head bowed as
if in deep thought. A woman offers him a glass of wine. He glances up, the shadows
under his eyes deeper than usual, his smile only a shadow of his usual grin, as he accepts
the glass.)

Seichiiro: (Taking a small sip of the wine, then staring through the liquid, his eyes
showing that his thoughts were obviously elsewhere. He comes back to glance up at
where Shindo is looking at him, waiting for him to say something) I, I know you won’t
believe me Shindo, but this isn’t like anything I’ve ever felt before. Even when I was
with Hana-chan-

Shindo: (Snorts in desertion)

Seichiiro: (Continues) I didn’t feel this way. (He looks down, clenching at the knit
sweater at his chest with one hand) When he’s not near I feel like my heart is being
ripped out, and when he’s next to me I feel like I can fly. If he simply told me to I would
cut off my hands without a second thought.

Sana: (Sits on the arm of the couch, her black hair draping across her shoulders, looking
worried)

Shindo: (Looking even more worried knowing that, for Seichiiro, having his hands cut
off was tantamount to being killed) Are you sure Seichiiro?

Seichiiro: (Looks up at him and nods, then looks down again.) But I’m sure Takun is
straight, I’m afraid to make any move that would prove me right. I don’t want to have to
move away again… (his eyes fill with tears, but he dashes them away with his free hand)
I should go, drinking always makes me say too much. (He stands, placing his near
untouched glass on the table) I didn’t mean to make you listen to me. (Leaves against
Sana’s protest)

(End Flashback)

Shindo: (examines Seichiiro’s face. He looks as if he hasn’t slept in days, his face is
slightly flushed and he looks feverish) (looks rather worried and starts to ask if he is
alright, but Seichiiro leaves before he can say anything)
* * *

(Takuni waits in front of the shop, the morning is grey and overcast, it looks like it should
rain soon. Takuni glances up at the sky and then at his watch. Shindo enters the scene
looking rather harried, not his usual cool self.)

Takuni: Something wrong Kazetachi-san?

Shindo: Seichiiro-san is a bit under the weather, I got him to his bed and made him stay
there. I was just finding a replacement babysitter for my kids.

Takuni: Kids…?

Shindo: (raises an eyebrow) I didn’t tell you? I have twins, a boy and a girl. (Pulls a
picture of him, his wife Sana, and a small boy and girl)

Takuni: (Recognizes the boy and the girl as being the same as the ones at Seichiiro’s
house and realizes his mistake.) Kazetachi-san…

Shindo: (Unlocking the door) Yes, Getsuyama? (Realizes from Takuni’s tone of voice
what the problem has been for the past few days)

Takuni: I believe I’ll be needing today off.

Shindo: (with an odd look in his eye) It’ll be coming out of your paycheck…

Takuni: Alright. (Turns to walk away)

Shindo: (Stopping him) Wait, Getsuyama. Are you forgetting something?

Takuni: (Turns around) ?

Shindo: (Dangles a key from his hand, the tag hanging from the keychain reading
“Seichiiro”)

* * *

(Takuni kneels next to a bed, gently placing a cool cloth on Seichiiro’s forehead.
Seichiiro’s fingers twitch but he otherwise does not react. He lies on the bed, a comforter
pulled up to his armpits, wearing a thin pale version of his usual turtleneck. His face is
blazing hot and flushed, his eyes moving beneath his forehead in fevered dreams. The
dark circles under them were testament to his lack of sleep before this. He moaned
quietly in his sleep and Takuni squeezed his hand beneath both of his.)

Seichiiro: (Mumbles something in his sleep)

Takuni: Hm? (Leans over to put his ear near Seichiiro’s mouth, putting his hand down in
the process)
Seichiiro: Takun…

Takuni: ! (Leans back in surprise only to move back when Seichiiro seems to continue.)

Seichiiro: … love.. you…

Takuni: (Leans back blushing, his eyes filling with tears) Seichiiro-san… (Leans down
again and gently presses his lips to Seichiiro’s a teardrop falling on Seichiiro’s cheek.)

Seichiiro: (Weakly, -Takuni draws back in surprise- his eyes slightly open) This has to be
a dream. (Seichiiro’s tear joins Takuni’s4) Takun would never kiss me, he hates me! (The
last is moaned out with a heartbreaking despair, he would have sobbed it out had his
voice been stronger. He shuts his eyes against the tears, throwing his arm over his face
and turning his head away.)

Takuni: Oh, Seichiiro. I’m so, so sorry. (Takes the hand that is crossed against Seichiiro’s
chest and kisses his knuckles) I’m really here, it’s not a dream.

Seichiiro: (Slowly turns his head back to him, blinking through tears. Reaches out
hesitantly to touch Takuni’s cheek)

Takuni: (Smiles sweetly, putting his free hand atop Seichiiro’s, pressing the feverishly
warm hand closer to his cheek)

Seichiiro: Takun…? (Sits up facing Takuni)

Takuni: (Smiles and nods)

Seichiiro: (Brings his face close, his warm breath mingling with Takuni’s. He pauses for
a moment, unsure.)

Takuni: (Blinks his assent into the emerald eyes that meet his, their green made intense)

Seichiiro: (Grins then gently kisses Takuni, his hand moving down from his cheek to his
waist deepening the kiss. After a few long moments he reluctantly breaks the kiss off,
collapsing back into the sheets, eyes closed, breathing a little heavy)

Takuni: (rather worried) Seichiiro-san?

Seichiiro: (Cracking open one eye) Nothing, nothing. I think my fever just went up
though. (chuckles)

Takuni: (Blushes deeply but joins him, laughing)

Seichiiro: (Squeezing Takuni’s hand) So why the change of heart? I thought you hated
4
Yes I know this doesn’t work in normal physics. Shut up.
me.

Takuni: What are you saying. I’ve always liked you, ever since I met you!

Seichiiro: (Blushing slightly at that confession) Then why were you avoiding me?

Takuni: (looking away) I had thought that Kazetachi-san’s kids were yours and you were
married and just leading me on!

Seichiiro: (Bursts out laughing.) Takun, I hate women. I couldn’t kiss one, much less
have children with one. I like Shin-tan’s Sana well enough, but only as a friend and only
because she’s nearly one of the guys.

Takuni: (Pouting) Well, how was I supposed to know that?

Seichiiro: (Sees that Takuni’s feeling were hurt and kisses the back of his hand) I’m sorry
Takun. Unless you had spoken of it to either Shin-tan or myself you couldn’t have. (Tugs
at the hand he still holds) Come down here you, I want to kiss you but I can’t seem to sit
up again.

Takuni: (Smiles and leans down, about to kiss Seichiiro)

Seichiiro: (Using the hand around Takuni’s waist and the one around Takuni’s other hand
he levers Takuni up and onto the bed, mostly on top of Seichiiro. He completes the kiss,
grinning.)

Takuni: !!! (Caught off guard. Tries to get up but is kept down by Seichiiro’s strong arm
across his back and waist. He marvels at Seichiiro’s strength, even weak from fever)

Seichiiro: Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’, not going to do anything to you, just stay here,
please?

Takuni: (Relents to Seichiiro’s pleading eyes, and relaxes. He shifts to one side, leaning
on one elbow his hand resting on his cheek. The other hand gently strokes Seichiiro’s
messy brown hair.)

Seichiiro: (Closes his eyes and smiles. He soon falls asleep, the smile still on his lips.)

End of Volume 1

Author’s Notes:

-That should be enough for one volume, right? It’s nine pages total so…
 -Explanation of Naming: So you noticed that Shindo calls Takuni Getsuyama,
Takuni calls Shindo Kazetachi-san, and Seichiiro calls Takuni Takun and Shindo Shin-
tan. The first two are ways you would usually see people calling names in Japan; the last
name with an honorific such as –san, or just the last name. Seichiiro is very disrespectful,
but that his part of his character, he gives nicknames to his friends, much like a high
school girl.

-You were right Tabby, It does read like a dating RPG, even with special scenes
attached.

-Ideas for the name of the bookstore are welcome!