title: [pending]
genre: angst/romance
rating: R, bordering on NC-17
summary: Traumatic experiences can drive a man to the edge of insanity. So can love, such as that of Rukawa Kaede and Sendoh Akira - especially when it is under heavy strain from Rukawa's *overly* homophobic father. Are they strong enough to fight for their love?
notes: I kept complaining to Isys how I was scaring myself and totally freaking out when I wrote this fic. It is totally not like me to write something like this - I have never written anything that can even come close to within a mile of this fic. Sooo... forgive me if it's not all that good. It's sort of a "first time" fic...
STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY.
CHAPTER ONE: UNACCEPTANCE
CRASH!!!
The porcelain vase whizzed by, missing my cheek by mere inches, and shattered as it smashed against the wall behind me. Still, I did my best not to flinch.
Apparently, that was not the reaction my father wanted.
This time, a medal flew directly at my forehead. I raised my arm to partially protect me.
A large, red spot (which would later on be a black-and-blue bruise) immediately blossomed, an alarming contrast to my pale skin.
Kinda reminds me of the little gangwar that broke out in the gym 2 years ago.
I lowered my arm, determined to put up a brave front until the own fear of the enraged man infront of me would subside, or at least until his anger would calm a little -- his fear abating was a little too much to ask, I knew. If truth be told, I was shaking inside.
Never, ever before in my life have I been so scared.
I was painfully aware of Akira sitting quietly in my room. I imagined him wincing with every resounding crash that abounded. He was waiting for me, I knew, to trudge back up and collapse in fear and exhaustion. If I did, he'd catch me, stroke my hair, and hold me close while whispering that everything would be alright.
Bull. Nothing would ever be alright as long as my father was like this.
This lapse in concentration cost me dearly. A particularly heavy plate soared at me and hit my temple.
That was the last thing I knew before I blacked out.
~~~~~~~
Suddenly, it was quiet. I could no longer hear anything coming from downstairs.
Cautiously, I crept out of Kaede's room and peered down between the railings of the banister.
What I saw shocked me.
Kaede lay motionless on the floor, his eyes closed. A small trickle of blood ran down from his temple into his hair.
Without thinking, I raced down the stairs.
I dropped down beside Kaede and raised his body off the floor, cradling him against my chest. I ran my fingers through soft ebony tresses and rocked to and fro, willing him to wake up.
"Get out."
Defiantly, I glared up into hard, blue eyes and stayed where I was.
"Get out. Or else, I won't hesitate to harm you."
There was a resolute stubbornness in his voice that was very much like Kaede's.
But I most certainly was not about to heed the command of this man who wanted to take my Kaede away from me.
"No," I whispered. "I won't."
The next thing I knew, leather had struck my shoulder so fiercely. I bit my lip, forcing a cry of pain back down my throat.
I bent low over Kaede so that he wouldn't be hurt any more by this belt-wielding madman.
Bad move. The belt lashed at my back. I could've sworn my back was bleeding. Then I opened my eyes, hoping to see Kaede looking at me with that uncharacteristic fear in his eyes... only to be greeted by his deathly pale face, whiter than usual because of the steady loss of blood. So, maybe bending over wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Another hit. This time, contact was somewhere at my lower vack. I couldn't stiffle a cry.
A harsh cackle followed. "I warned you, boy. Now, get out of my house."
I made to stand, bracing my arms to carry Kaede.
But before I could get up entirely, the man whipped his belt at any part of Kaede that was unprotected.
A strangled cry pushed past my lips and out into the open. Still, the father paid no heed and started to relentlessly hit my beloved. He was so engrossed in this brutality that he didn't notice as I lunged toward him, outrage driving my sanity over the edge to the point that I no longer had control of my body or its actions.
I punched every part of him that my fist could make contact with, not caring what I would look like after this violent brawl, or what Kaede would think should he wake up and see this.
Kaede...
I stood up suddenly, leavin his father writhing in pain on the floor with blood pouring freely from his nose and mouth.
I pressed my cheek to Kaede's, and I realized I was crying.
~tsuzuku~
How'd you like it, minna? Please review, tell me if I should continue or not!! And tell me if you think I should add a prologue... I've been contemplating about that...