Home is where the heart is (4/?)

A Koko wa Greenwood fanfic by Jop & Yen

Characters belong to Yukie Nasu and in no way belong to me. So please don't sue. No money, no money. :)

Warnings: That same foul word appears again. *grimaces* Be warned... -___-

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And so he left, one fine and sunny day; slipped out of the door, out of Greenwood and out of our lives. I don't recall anything significant that happened that day, only enough to remember being late for school and frantically searching for my homework. Shinobu had mentioned something about rising early to do some research in the library, so I didn't take much note of his absence. We met again during lunch break, and while I did notice that he was a bit out of sorts, I assumed it was but some of the stress that he was feeling in recent weeks given all the commitment that was placed on him, so took nothing of it. It was then a few students in my band section dropped by our table and so I took a raincheck on our lunch and hurried way to practice a bit with them before the actual rehearsal. Whether he tried to tell me something right before I departed, I didn't notice.

I didn't think enough of my friend to even inquire.

And so I blame myself.

Mitsuru put down Shinobu's journal and walked to the window, staring out through the planes of glass and taking note of the rivulets running down its side. Rain streaked it now, cleansing it and washing it anew. Would that all their troubles be just as transitory and easily dispersed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * *

/bastard/

/bastard/

/bastard/

The word kept echoing back to Shinobu as he strode down the rain-swept streets of Shibuya, its simple message giving him no respite. He didn't feel hurt... or what he assumed hurt to feel like. After all, he had heard it on enough occasions hurled from family, acquaintances and friends. It was just a word like any other, breath on lips and powerless on him simply because it was just that - a mere word. Unless he wanted it to, it could not hurt him.

But then, hearing it again for the first time since he had some to Greenwood, coming from his best friend no less had... made him uncomfortable. Uncomfortable enough to notice a quiet ache deep inside him that was becoming harder and harder to ignore. An ache that had deepened when he had passed the infirmary after school one day and had seen Kazuhiro give a red-faced Hasukawa a brotherly noogie when no one was looking.

For some strange reason, he had instinctively thought of Akira, but all he'd been able to come up with was his brother's back, face hidden and turned away.

The chill wind howled through the streets, breaking the boy's reverie. He shook his head, finally noticing the rain drops that were sneaking their way under his umbrella and wetting his person. Getting wet, distracted on a rapidly emptying street with an emptier stomach was simply not like him. These kind of foolish things were better left to other people... like Hasukawa for instance.

He sniffed. As if searching for new accomodation for the night and skipping school was something he would do as well. Dimly he wondered what his father would think if he ever found out that his scion was wandering out on the streets, but shoved that out of his mind. Knowing the elder Tezuka, puzzlement would be the first reaction followed by disapproval. While Shinobu was certain that his father was proud of him, understanding had never been a facet of their relationship.

Looking around, he stopped by a promising hotel that he knew belonged to his father's rival. He hesitated for a moment, mind juggling the options of defying his father but no matter how wilful he felt at the moment, he would not disappoint his father in his actions. Or his name. Turning around, he stepped off the curb, surprising another figure that had been trying to walk around him past the hotel.

Exhaling sharply from the sudden coliision, he turned, eyes already frosting over, only to feel them widen in surprise at the familiar face.

"Shinobu?" Sho's eyes flew open, wide in recognition.

* * *

The Izumiya restaurant was rapidly filling up with the dinner crowd but as busy as they were, the waiter knew better than to disturb the pair that was seated by the corner booth, except to ensure that the teacups were constantly filled with green tea. He kept his comments to himself, even as the two took no notice of him, one looked out through the window, and the other staring at the tea cup he clutched.

Awkward silence. They had never been the best of friends, and probably would not have even known each other if not for Mitsuru. The many times that Shinobu had visited the Ikedas, he had been with his roommate, and the latter had always tried to find reasons not to linger too long in the temple, leaving little opportunity for Shinobu and Sho to interact. So to find themselves sitting opposite each other, drinking tea, was awkward at best.

Finally, just as Sho was about to despair at the possibility of ever making normal conversation and fabricate an excuse to go, a quiet question broke through the heady silence.

Sho dropped back into his seat again. "Excuse me, Tezuka-san, what did you say?"

"I said, what do you think of your aniki?"

* * *

/ I don't understand, Mitsuru. Nor do I understand his family. How can anyone reject the Ikedas, year after year, day after day? And how can anyone keep taking that kind of rejection and return it unwaveringly with love?

I just don't understand.

Maybe, one day, someone can explain it to me. /

Sho frowned as he considered the question. "Personally, I think he's an idiot." His arms crossed even as he huffed in annoyance when he thought of his brother. Something must have shown on Shinobu's face as the boy went on. "What? You don't believe me? But it's true, as much as I love him, it still doesn't stop him from being a prize idiot sometimes."

And the boy went on. On and on about his brother, eyes shining; alternating between pride and sorrow. Hands gesticulating occasionally to emphasize a point and voice brimming with passion. There was occasional recrimination, more than enough confusion, but through the torrent of words and emotions, the most predominant thread was love and understanding. Through it filtered things which Shinobu instinctively known the boy had never told another.

Shinobu felt a sudden urge to help, to put things to right in a business that was not his own, but he knew it was likely not Sho's intention. All he wanted at the moment was a listening ear, one who he suspected could understand.

Like a brother.

The ache struck again, deeper and sharper this time. It was at that moment when Sho stopped and navigated the conversation to safer waters. Shinobu blinked at the perceptiveness and kind consideration, even as Sho politely lowered his eyes and looked away as if nothing had happened. Sometimes it was so hard to remember that Masato Ikeda was just as old as Mitsuru and himself were; in the same grade and different only in the schools that they were enrolled in.

The moon was already waxing high in the sky by the time they left the restaurant. Hands in pockets, Sho stood outside the door beside Shinobu. One gaze flicked down at the bags in Shinobu's hands, and the next at the face of his brother's roommate. Given his background, the next words out of his mouth were inevitable.

"Do you need a place to stay?"

"No, thank you," Shinobu declined firmly even as he started away. "I have made other plans." Ordinarily, Sho would have backed off and left it at that, but there was a blankness in the boy's gaze that gave him pause. He chewed his lip. Something was not right.

"Chotto!" A hand descended on Shinobu's arm. Surprised, the boy stared down at the hand before following it up to the determined eyes of its owner.

"Are you sure, Shinobu?"

Shinobu's mouth opened in an automatic confirmation only to stop short at the intensity of Sho's dark brown eyes.

"Why is it so important to you what I do?" Shinobu finally asked.

Sho shrugged. "Because you are aniki's friend and it's getting late." He looked around, eyeing the darkened wet streets dubiously. "It's no hour to be looking for accomodation."

Shinobu stared at him for long moments before finally murmuring, "I do not want to be a bother."

Sho smiled, aware of his victory. "You won't be," he assured the boy confidently. And led the way down the streets of Tokyo and back home, a silent Shinobu following. Finally, the pair stood at the gate to Mitsuru's home and both stared into the garden, one glad to be home and the other, uncertain.

"Well, we're here." Sho announced cheerfully and unnecessarily, swinging the door open and holding it there for the other boy to enter. "You'll probably have Mitsuru's room; just let me ask kaasan about some clean futon spreads."

"But just for the night," murmured Shinobu eyeing the doors of Kouryu Temple, even as he stepped through the portal, bags in hand.

~~~~~ tsu du ku / end of chapter 4 ~~~~~

Note:

(1) aniki - older brother

(2) Izumiya restaurant, on a side note, is an actual Japanese resturant located right besides the San Francisco Kinokuniya branch which i happened to drop by with Yen during our travels to america. I was decidedly fond of eating at the place (had dinner there 2 days in a row) so I thought I'd write it into the story. ^^

comments? Please send them over, kudasai! ^_^

HTMLing done by Jop, 2000.