Brotherly love. part 4 ^-^ By: megan Smiling happily, two beautiful men entered their quiet house and walked into the kitchen together. They each placed a package onto the table before greeting their children. One package was small while the other was no bigger than a bread box.
“How did the two of you get along with each other today?” questioned Tomite as he removed his coat and Tamahome walked from the hallway.
Tomite and Hikitsu caught a glance from each other as their two boys glanced in each others direction, avoiding the question.
“Well, I hope you will learn to be friends soon anyway.”
“Perhaps.” responded Nakago while smiling at Hikitsu’s lovely face.
“We are sorry that we took so long.” the older man began and looked to Tomite to finish.
“Yes. Tama-chan, we are sorry for not telling you earlier, happy birthday.”
Tamahome’s eyes grew large at the words. He felt the return of his icy tears but painfully held back. The boy covered his eyes, swallowed hard, and sighed.
“Tama-chan?!” Tomite waked to the boy and tenderly embraced him. “Is something wrong?”
“....No Tomite-san. It’s just that, my father used to...”
“Cry if you want to. It’s alright.” he hugged tighter. “But, if you would prefer, we have a present for you.”
With a loud, hard slam at the back door, Tattara entered and surprised the group of beauties. He raised his eyebrows in response to the scene of Tomite and Tamahome hugging while Hikitsu and Nakago watched.
“Hi.....what’s up?”
“Hello Tattara-kun. I didn’t know that you were here.”
“Well, you could have guessed by the cactus. It’s for Tama.” he began while turning towards the boy. “I hope you like it, Tamahome.”
“.....Thank you, Tattara-san.”
Releasing his grip on Tamahome, Tomite walked to the kitchen and grabbed the two packages that he and Hikitsu had brought in
“Would you like us to sing to you first Tama-chan?” he chuckled with a sweet smile.
“Sure he would!” exclaimed Tattara before Tamahome could abject.
Jumping, the plant loving man threw one long arm around Tomite’s shoulders. The two men softly and beautifully sang the “happy birthday to you” song to an extremely blushy boy.
“Thank...you.” Tamahome squeaked.
He looked over his shoulder to Nakago who still sat upon the counter. The older boy had a mixed expression of entertainment and “disturbedness” in his features and he shared with Hikitsu.
Tamahome carefully pulled smooth black paper from the presents that Tomite had handed him.
From Tomite, Tamahome received a soft pair of fingerless gloves similar to those of Nakago’s only a bit longer. From Hikitsu, he received an awesome, black trench coat with brass snaps.
He gazed awfully at his wonderful presents and thanked his parents and uncle in turn.
“You’ve made me feel better.” he whispered with a permanent blush. “Thank you.”
“Our pleasure.” smiled Tomite kindly.
The blue haired man smiled into his first son’s eyes and repeated, “Our pleasure.”
“Yes.” Hikitsu added “And I’m sorry to go so soon after coming home but,...”
The tall man walked over to Nakago who sat smiling on the counter and finished.
“I promised. Nakago-chan,” he began, brushing hair from in front of his eye. “You look good. Are you ready to go?”
“Just a minute.” Nakago blushed with a pleased smile on his face. “I need my coat.”
The blond jumped down from his seat and pulled his black trench coat over his shoulders as Tattara, sweeping hair from his face, smiled and spoke.
“I should be off too. Happy birthday Tamahome.” he called happily with a wave good-bye.
Smiling towards the silvery haired man with the eye patch, Nakago said, “Let’s go.” and walked away.
“See you later guys.” a soft voice called to the two who now sat alone.
“Well, that’s that, Tama.”
“I don’t understand Tomite-san.”
“Well, when Hikitsu and I first got married,” Tomite began with his arm tenderly placed around the boy’s waist, “....We wanted someone to love as well as each other. We didn’t want to get sick of one another so, we adopted Nakago. Nakago and Hikitsu didn’t get along with each other at first because they were so similar.”
“How could that prevent them from becoming close?”
“Let’s just say that they both had bad attitudes.”
The dark haired man took a moment to sigh and think, before he continued. He tossed words around in his head fitting them together to make a perfect sentence.
“Anyway.” he began again. “Nakago was 13 at the time we adopted him and from what we were told at the orphanage, he had a pretty rough childhood. Dreams of the abuse that he had suffered used to wake him every night in a cold sweat. One night, when it was pretty late, Nakago ran outside in the freezing rain and wind, and sat under that huge willow. He just sat, in that same spot, all night long while we believed him to be warm and asleep in his bed. We don’t even know, to this day, what was going through his mind at the time.
“That morning, Hikitsu found him. Tears covered his powder white face and he burned with a horrible fever. Hikitsu carried Nakago into the house in a fit of panic. He slept next to him in his bed for three months before he got well again. He almost died from the fever, Tama-chan, if it wouldn’t have been for Hikitsu feeding him, nursing him back to health.”
Tamahome leaned on Tomite’s shoulder and closed his eyes in the man’s arms. He could feel Tomite stroking his pony tail and snuggled closer to the older man as though to say, “It’s okay now. Don’t hurt anymore.”
Tamahome felt as though he knew Nakago differently now. He wanted to see him again, he wanted that cute evil guy to be, well, cute and evil to him some more.
“That’s how they became close Tama.” Tomite smiled. “That’s how they grew to love each other so much. I think though, that Nakago,....well, he loves Hikitsu in a different sort of way now and has ever since. Almost the way I love him.”
“Oh my.” Tamahome thought. “That’s a little strange.”
Tomite released his boy from his tight grip and looked him in the eyes.
“You’re my child in this relationship you know.” the two smiled sweetly as he continued. “How ‘bout if we go skating tonight. Do you want to?”
“..That sounds like fun.” Tamahome whispered and grabbed his new coat before the two were off.
Nakago, believing that he and Hikitsu would enjoy a night alone and, Tomite and Tamahome, unknowing that they would soon be someone’s company.
The evening wind was cool and wonderful. The grass smelled fresh and everything seemed to be much cleaner than before it had rained. Tamahome stuffed his new gloves, along with his hands, in his pockets and enjoyed the walk.
The boy’s wrist watch read 6:00 pm when he and his parent reached the large building that read simply, “Skate Temple.”
“The name’s a little stupid.” he thought to himself but, “Oh well.”
“You do skate,....ne Tamahome?” Tomite asked, pushing open a heavy glass door.
“I wouldn’t have come if I couldn’t.” The boy answered laughing. “And, it’s a little late to ask.”
Inside of the “Temple” smoke whirled and talking from hundreds of people mixed together to create one huge blob of noise.
“Let’s get skates.” Tomite yelled to be heard over the blob. “What size do you need?”
He placed the needed amount of yen onto the counter top where he grabbed two pairs of the wheeled shoes. One, a sort of silver color while the other pair were red.
“Hey Tama, come on! Put your shoes on and let’s get into the rink, K?” Tomite took Tamahome’s soft hand into his own and walked on in search of a bench or table to sit on. Tamahome’s cheeks burned a pastel pink as he held tightly to the other long fingered hand. He was pleased to be with Tomite, about to enjoy himself with the man, and no one else. The thought cleared his mind and allowed him to, for once, truly be happy.
The two walked together for a short while before Tomite halted and turned to his son.
“Uh, Tamahome-chan,” he began while pulling a long package wrapped in green tissue out of his coat pocket. “Listen I....I have something else to give you for your birthday.”
The older man handed Tamahome the package carefully.
“Open it before we put our skates on.”
“Tomite-san, you have already done so much for me today....”
“No! Open it. I want you to have this.” Tomite gave a tiny but sweet smile. “It’s still your birthday.”
Taking the present, Tamahome turned to Tomite and looked deeply into his eyes. The boy slowly pulled the tissue off to reveal to him, a fine, smooth pair of gold tipped nun-chucks. He held them tightly in his hands and swallowed hard to remove the lump that was forming in his throat.
“Don’t thank me again Tama-chan. There’s no need.” Tomite rubbed Tamahome’s soft blue hair. “And don’t cry. I’m glad that you like them. They’re to go with your gloves.”
The boy couldn’t help the huge, tearful smile that then splashed across his face.
“I....I.....” he began, looking to Tomite and doing his best not to throw himself at the man and cry violently. “I see a bench.”
The young boy walked over to the empty bench and sat to tie his roller skates next to his older friend.
“Do they fit Tama?” Tomite asked, standing with the boy.
“They feel good to me.”
“Okay good. Why don’t you go........and I will....be right...back.”
Tomite’s eyes suddenly seemed wide and puzzled. He stood staring to a far left wall of the skating alley, not moving at all when he spoke. Worriedly, Tamahome skated closer to his parent and took his arm for balance.
“What’s wrong Tomite-san? What is it?”
“Oh, nothing Tama.” he began, smiling and looking into the boy’s questioning, violet colored eyes. “Go on. I’ll come in a sec. Don’t look so worried all of the time. Enjoy yourself. I want you to feel at home with me.” he began to whisper and hold warm shoulders. “I know that this is your first day with me and I want you to know that from now and to the rest of your life, I’m here and I care. I don’t need to know you thoroughly before I know that.”
“Me neither.” Tamahome smiled into his eyes. “I can tell that you care about me. You’re the first since father and I love you for it. I don’t need more than a day either.”
“Good. Let’s enjoy ourselves then, shall we?”
After another quick but loving embrace, Tamahome flew away on his skates and into the large mass of people while Tomite brought his eyes again to his left.
“Why do you frown so my love?” asked the tall man who stopped himself from rolling by grabbing Tomite’s lips in his own.
“What are you doing here Hikitsu-sama?!”
“Where exactly did you think we would go?”
“You mean that this is the only place the two of you enjoy?” Tomite asked chuckling slightly and wrapping his arms around his lover’s neck.
“No silly. It brings back memories for Nakago and myself. We used to come here all of the time, you know that.”
“Yes. And pray tell, where is Nakago-chan right now?”
Leaning over to again kiss Tomite’s irresistibly glossy mouth, Hikitsu quietly responded.
“In the rink, of course.” And so he was.
The hard circular floor over flowed with people both laughing and crying. The air was stuffy and unpleasant. Tamahome threw himself against an outer wall and watched to people fly around. He found the atmosphere rather horrible but did his best to ignore. The boy rested his head in the fold of his arms and awaited Tomite’s return before skating.
Smiling largely with deeply pink lips, a strange person of some sort jumped from the rink and rested beside him.
The person, who Tamahome believed to be a boy after looking away from the pretty face, tossed back a large grayish black pony tail that sat atop his head. Two small hunks of hair fell at the person’s ears, creating what looked like long sideburns.
A strong “Hello” came from the silky, beautiful lips, convincing Tamahome that the gorgeous face he now stood staring into, definitely belonged to a boy. The boy smiled briefly at Tamahome then pulled his eyes away as a head of gold tied back in a small braid passed.
“Senpai!” he squeaked throwing himself forward and rolling.
With a hungry look in his eyes, the boy wrapped long legs around the back of the golden haired boy, glomping and kissing him.
Tamahome froze as he watched the scene intently and long enough to see the blond turn around.
Piercing blue eyes, so familiar to him, pulled the boy’s attention away from everything else. Tamahome could see nothing but luminous blue.
“What are you doing here?” inquired the boy rolling closer with arms around the legs of the pretty, long haired glomper.
“Getting ready to skate! You?” Tamahome snapped, rolling his eyes to the ceiling.
“I wasn’t aware that you could skate.”
“There are many things about me that you ‘are not aware’ of.”
“The same goes for you, my brother.”
Tamahome could feel his heart race as he frowned at the two evil looking boys, smiling oh so evily away.
“Who is your friend, Nakago-kun?”
“Tomo-chan, this is my new brother, Tamahome. Hardly my ‘friend.’ ”
“Good. Nice to meet you....Tamahome.”
The boy known as Tomo, jumped from Nakago’s strong back and spoke in a soft, cool and almost choking kind of voice.
“He has very pretty eyes. Wouldn’t you agree, Nakago-kun?”
“I have always thought so. Very nice completion too I dare say.”
“Yes, and his mouth.......yummy...is the word, ne?”
Tamahome’s face burned with blushes at Nakago’s words. He cared nothing for what that Tomo had to say but, did he really mean it? Did they really mean what they said or were they only making fun of him? Did Nakago truly like his eyes? And all this time, it was he who thought of Nakago in that very way.
A thick lump formed in the center of his throat, as though he held his heart in his mouth, as the two boys laughed at him.
“Shut up already.” he said softly, cutting the two short of laughter. “.......Leave me alone.”
“Fine by me.” chimed Tomo skating away while gripping Nakago’s hand.
“We didn’t mean anything Tamahome. You know that don’t you? Tomo is just very open and.......well, Tomo is Tomo. You would just have to know him.”
“I don’t really care, what he thought or said or meant.”
“Oh?” Nakago tipped Tamahome’s chin and gazed closely. “Well then, I didn’t mean anything, except that you have beautiful eyes.” He smiled wickedly and dropped Tamahome’s chin, skating away.
A heavy tug on the back of the boy’s trench coat pulled him around to face the lovely golden eyes of Tomo who seemed slightly perturbed. The suddenness of the other boy’s arrival so surprised Tamahome that he barely had time to blush at Nakago’s last words.
“Listen you,” Tomo began angrily, “Nakago-sama belongs to me! I just want you to know. Don’t even think about going after him! I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“Well then shouldn’t you be warning your ‘Nakago-sama’ about his belonging to you instead of me?”
“You had just better keep away! Do you understand?”
“Tomo is it? Listen, I have no interest in a shonen-ai relationship at the moment. I’m not at all interested in Nakago so, you can just go away and play.”
“Do you mean that?” Tomo questioned, smiling and loosening his grip on Tamahome’s collar.
“.......Yes. I do.”
“Good! Well then, I will be going.” The long haired boy ran away on his wheels calling behind, “To think, I got the impression that you two had a thing! Brothers, imagine that!”

“Why? Why....” Tamahome wondered, “Why did he look at me so? Why did he comment on my eyes and then make sure that I knew he meant it? Why did that boy think us.......a thing?”
He didn’t understand, not at all, and his own horrible words ate away at his soul. His own lie. He had said that Nakago didn’t interest him. Nakago was the most interesting person that he knew! But, Tamahome wouldn’t openly admit it to himself. He was interested in the bishonen, he was terribly obsessed, already.
“I can’t understand,” he thought, “How I can feel this way. Maybe it’s just a first day thing....like, like.....”
Tamahome knew what he was thinking, knew what he meant but refused to admit. He blatantly refused to admit that perhaps what he was feeling was, love at first sight.
“Impossible.” He whispered aloud, watching the blond skate side by side with his friend and wave as they passed.
“What’s impossible Tamakins?” asked the friendly voice of Tomite who returned to Tamahome with smiling, pleased looking lips. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“You seem a little down. Are you?”
“No. I’m fine, really. Let’s go.......do something, can we? I mean, I don’t feel much like skating anymore.”
“Tamahome?! You want to leave? Did you know that Nakago-chan and Hikitsu-sama are here?”
“Yes. That’s why I want to go.”
Tomite’s eyes saddened as he brought them to the floor. “ I don’t understand Tama, what’s wrong with them?”
“Nothing really. Don’t be upset. I just, well, don’t get along well with.....Nakago. And I barely know Hikitsu-san.”
“Well then, take this opportunity to get the know them.”
Tamahome looked down to his shoes and then back to the now smiling face of his Tomite-san. “I can’t” he thought to himself sadly. Only the last thing that he wanted to do was hurt or disappoint the only person that he cared about, that is, openly anyway.
“Please?” asked the sweet voice, “Please?”
“Sure. I’ll just....get to know them.” he answered with a faint smile. After all, what was he afraid of? Did he really want to run away and make everyone think something was wrong? “Yes and no.” he said aloud as he and Tomite rolled into the crowd.

* End of Part 4

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