Isolated Admiration: Shameful Crush Sequel

Prologue: Close to Graduation

After the night of Hokuto pushing his nephew away, he realized he was stupid for doing it. What he didn't realize was that he would have to face a lot of trial and error when trying to repair his nephew's broken heart. A few weeks before the close of Minami's high school years, Hokuto tried to be selfless and help Minami get through the rest of his school days. Inside, he warred with the emotions that were present every time he saw Minami enter the same room as him. Too soon, he had noticed Minami not coming home anymore. He worried that Minami had found someone new so quick, but inside the pain was tearing at his heart. Then one night some people brought Minami home from a bar just down the street.

Chapter One: Dr. Umeda to the Rescue

Umeda was laying on the sofa in the family room of their house, watching the soccer finals on the television. After a couple minutes he heard the buzzer go off for the front door. He stood hoping that maybe it would be Minami returning after abandoning him for so long. When he opened the door, it was Minami; but not the vision he had hoped to see. Two men were holding Minami over their shoulders, with one of Minami's hands in theirs. Hokuto looked at the men, "What happened?" The men looked at the boy then Hokuto, "He passed out from drinking too much. We went through his things to find out where he lives." Hokuto nodded then wrapped his arms around Minami's waist and the men let all his weight fall on Hokuto. "He shouldn't be drinking at such a young age; he must have faced some troubles here, huh?" Hokuto looked at the men and a guilty look took over his face. The men clapped him on the back and laughed, "It's okay, everyone does something they regret son. The road to redemption is paved with humility." Then the men turned and walked back in the direction which the came and were soon covered by the darkness.

Hokuto hoisted Minami to lie on his shoulder then turned and closed the door behind him. He walked up the stairs slowly, thinking about what the old men had told him about forgiveness. He sighed, I can't hope to be forgiven, he thought as he laid his nephew down on his bed. He laid down next to Minami and stroked his cheek slowly, admiring his courage to handle his emotions. Then he laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes, falling into a deep comfortable sleep. As Hokuto slept, his dreams pondered what would've happened if he hadn't hurt Minami. Throughout the whole night he tossed and turned, only when he remembered Minami was on the bed with him did he wake. He woke and looked at the empty space beside him. He sat up abruptly then scanned his room for Minami, not seeing him he stood and walked out into the hall. On his way down the stairs he noticed Minami in the kitchen. He smiled watching him eat, "Hello Minami, sleep well?" Minami didn't look up from his food, but nodded his head some. When he finished he started to wash his bowl in the sink, looking out at the yard. "Uncle? Maybe you're right. Maybe I am too stupid to realize the full extent of our families prejudice to a relationship like we had." He began to sob, "..But I do understand that you are the only one who seems to truly understand me. Who truly knows the reason why I kept up the representation of the play boy." He turned and faced his uncle, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Hokuto couldn't stop himself, he was licking Minami's tears away before he could stop himself. When he stepped back the only difference was the shock that showed on his nephew's face. "Hok-Hokuto?" Minami started a fresh set of tears, as if that one tiny action confirmed what he had been wondering all along. He wrapped his arms around Hokuto and smiled softly, until his uncle pulled away. "Minami, we can't.. It's just not possible right now." He looked into his nephews pleading eyes and something broke in him. He began to walk away, but Minami hugged him from behind, "Please," he begged his uncle. Hokuto turned around in Minami's arms then kissed his forehead. "If I submit to you now, you may regret it in the end Minami. If you'll wait a little while longer and promise there is absolutely no one better for you… I might consider our feelings for each other." His nephew shook his head violently, "No uncle, I want you NOW! Why can't you see that every time we're next to each other that there's some kind of invisible string that draws us closer together??" Hokuto thought on that for a moment then smiled down at his nephew, "The fated lover sting story?" Hokuto chuckled softly, "The one about two souls that when fated to be together are held together by an invisible string that resides on the ring finger. That joins those two souls for all eternity?" Minami nodded slowly, "Y…yes," he looked up at his uncle with slightly off-focused eyes. "Minami, that's just a legend… A tale only a child would believe."

Chapter End.

A/N: I hope you're enjoying the sequel so far. I promise if you look for the clues you will find out the ending. Heh, Thanks!