Title: Endless Rain
Author: Mizery Rose

Summary: In an attempt to outrun himself, his past, and all that he feels are the sources of his troubles, a 19 year-old American boy moves across the ocean, and half-way across the world to a place he knows nothing about, and a place that knows nothing about him. This is his story.

Disclaimer (Claimer?): All the characters in this work come from my head, and any likenesses to real life people, or characters from other stories, are purely coincidental. This story carries a homosexual tone, and for those of you who enjoy catchy anime words, "yaoi". This story is rated PG-13 for content, i.e. references to homosexuality, drugs, drinking, etc., as well as language, i.e. cursing. The title is taken from X-Japan's "Endless Rain". Lovely song, by an exquisite group.
Author's notes: For those of you who don't know already, I love reviews. Also, for the record, I don't live in Japan, so I don't have much first-hand experience from the place. I do, however, know people who have lived and/or visited there, so I am trying to make sure everything is as correct as it can be. It also helps a bit that my dad was born there. The main character, who as-of-yet remains un-named, is fashioned mainly after me, or at least how I see myself (i.e. the me I wish I was). Oh yeah, and I love reviews. I tend to read the works of those who review my stuff (or at least I try to) so... Please review. Oh, and enjoy the story! ^-^

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Its rather pathetic, actually. It was friday night, a night for dates, parties, and drugs. Yet as the night life began to bloom throughout town, I was nowhere within it. Instead, I was sitting in a coffee house a few blocks from my apartment, absently reading a manga book as an untouched latte cooled on the table in front of me. Why I bothered with the latte and the book is beyond me. I don't really read mangas all that often, and I hate coffee. Even the smell of the stuff makes my stomach turn. Even still, there I was.

I felt eyes burning a hole into me and glanced up, catching some guy's stare. Dressed in a black turtle-neck and khakies, he looked about 14, but I figured he was probably older and the illusion was just because of his feminine appearence. Some might have had to do a double-take to make sure he was really a guy, but I had enough experience with cross-dressers and the like to tell the difference. Even with his longish hair, his appearence didn't phase me. I found myself thinking that he might be kind of cute if... but I caught myself, just giving him the finger before turning my gaze back to the manga in my hands.

To tell the truth, his staring didn't really phase me either. After all, I was somewhat of a sight. My pants were probably large enough to allow another person to fit inside, and the bottoms were ragged and ripped from dragging along the ground. The grey t-shirt I was wearing showed a Canadian flag, with the word "FUCKENEH" in bold print under it. Some were offended by the shirt, but I didn't care. I loved that shirt, and it was funny. I hadn't bothered with a jacket despite the bite in the wind, and my bracelets and rings were clearly showing. I had a habit of wearing just about every piece of jewelry I'd ever been given. It showed.

Personally, I didn't think my clothes were all that odd. But thats me. What people were probably shocked by were my bright green eyes and contrasting red hair. I don't mean natural brown-ish red either, I mean fire engine red. Currently it was a ways past my shoulders, held out of my face by a pair of silver-rimmed reading glasses that I never bothered to actually read with. With my hair pushed back, my earings were visible as well. They alone weren't all that bad, but I guess it just added to my bad-ass appearance. Basically, I looked like the type of person who would blow up your car if you pissed me of. Which, I thought grinning to myself, I probably would.

Anyways, the point is that I got stared at. A lot. It used to bother me, but I've kind of got used to being stared at for my appearence. I'm pretty much the type of person that mothers warn their kids to stay away from. With good reasoning, in their minds. After all, I'm not one of the prudest people you'll ever meet, and I can be a rightious prick if anyone crosses my path at the wrong time. Other than that though, I'm not a complete rotten apple. I can be a pretty soft guy, and the rough exterior is basically to keep me from getting myself hurt. Not that it ever works anyways. Even now I could feel myself slipping into another trap of the soul as I stole a cautious glance towards the staring boy.

"BLOODY HELL!!" My cell phone rang, scaring the daylights out of me. That wasn't why I yelled though. When the phone had rang, I had thrown my manga down, and it had knocked over my untouched coffee, spilling it all over me. Just my luck, it was still hot enough to burn a bit, and besides, I liked those pants. I cursed the luck and quickly stood, working to rid my pants of the horrid liquid. Luckily, the parachute-like fabric repelled the stuff enough that I was able to sop it off with my napkin without any great damage having been done.

It was only then that I chanced a glance around the place. I froze. Everyone was staring at me. Not just the few curious stares that I was bound to get anywhere I went, but outright staring and pointing, with a few stifled whispers. Someone was even laughing! My anger overcame my embarrassment for the time being, and I turned, finding the boy who had been staring earlier to be the source of the laughter.

"Whats so bloody funny!?" I demanded, it immediately afterwards registered in my mind that the boy most likely had no clue what I had said. His momentarily confused look seemed to confirm my suspicions and I muttered the saying from my shirt as I turned and walked out the doors of the shop into the cold. "Fuckin' A..." I just wanted to get away from that place, and that boy. I shook my head, trying to rid him from my mind. I had enough to deal with as it was without wasting my time thinking about some jackass, even if he was kind of cute. Ack. I needed to stop that.

As soon as I reached the apartment, I stepped inside and locked the door behind me, shedding my shoes and slipping on a pair of house slippers. At least that was one local custom I was able to keep up with; sort of. I went to my room and closed the door, pressing the play button on my stereo with nearly the same motion. I immediately sunk into my bed, clothing and all. Juka's voice serenaded me with a lullaby as I drifted off, leaving my troubles in the real world for the time being.

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Author's End-notes: Yes, this is the first chapter. Yes, I will actually continue this story. But... Is it just me, or is this chapter just a little short? I have more written that I was originally going to add, but I think this is a good chapter break. Anyways, I'm kind of nervous, so tell me what you think, ne?