Title: Ice Castle
Part: 3/?
Author: Jchan aka Juno
Genre: yaoi
Pairing: FujiKo
Rating: I have no idea... can anyone tell me?
Archive: SD Fic ML
Email: RayYozora@hotmail.com
Warning: OOC, AU fic


Kogure told Kenji about the invitation to Sunday dinner when he took his break from skating. He crossed his legs and leaned back in the bleacher-type chair, sipping his coffee, and without hesitation answered, "Tell your mother-in-law I'd be happy to come."
He was both surprised and happy. It had been months since either family had invited guests to their home.
"Now I have a favor to ask." He pulled a videotape from his pocket. "This is a rough run-through of the numbers I'll be performing in the new show. I'll be happy to pay you for your time. I need you to watch the tape while I skate, making sure I'm doing everything in the proper sequence. Could you do that for me?"
"Of course I'll do it, Kenji," he replied eagerly. "And I'd never allow you to pay me for it."
"Yes!" he shouted as a double-up fist shot into the air, much like he'd seen Hanamichi do when something was going his way. "I'll pick one of those portable TV-VCR units this afternoon."
"Great. I'm happy to help." He had a sudden flash of an idea and spoke before he had a chance to think it through. "Kenji, do you have plans for this evening?"
He looked puzzled. "No. Why?"
At once, he felt brazen and ridiculous. "Never mind."
"Oh, no, you don't! You're not getting off that easy. Why did you want to know about my plans for this evening?" He crossed his arms and waited.
"Well," he began slowly, wishing he'd kept his mouth shut, "I was thinking, if you don't have any plans, maybe you'd like to come over for hot dogs." He really felt foolish inviting Prince Charming for hot dogs.
"I'll be there," he agreed without hesitation. "What time? I'll need the address."
His quick answer caught him off-guard. "Oh, six, seven... whatever works for you," he mumbled incoherently.
A sly smile crept across his face. "Good! Hot dogs are my favorite food!"

When Hanamichi got home from school, he took one look at the immaculate house and asked, "Who's coming?"
He greeted him with a sideways smile. "You're right; someone is coming for supper tonight. Now put your books away."
Hanamichi's brows furrowed. "Does that mean we aren't gonna have hot dogs? Remember, Uncle, Thursday is hot dog night."
Before he could answer, Haruko grabbed her brother's hand and blurted out, "I got a secret, Hanamcihi. Wanna hear it? Prince Charming is gonna eat hot dogs with us."
"Uncle?" Hanamichi ran to his uncle and threw both arms around his waist. "Really? Is Haruko telling the truth?"
"Would you like that, Hanamichi?"
His eyes sparkled. "Yeah. He's really coming?"
"Yes, he is. Would you like to help me build a nice big fire in the fireplace? We'll roast our hot dogs there."
The look on Hanamichi's face caused a tightness around his uncle's heart. Was he making a mistake allowing Kenji into their lives? He'd be in Kansas City such a short time. He couldn't stand the thought that Hanamichi becoming attached to this man, only to lose him like he had his parents. But that was different; Kenji was only a friend, a short-term friend.

Fujima Kenji stepped onto Kogure's front porch right at six o' clock. He hadn't been specific about the time, and he hoped he wasn't pushing it by showing up so early. He'd been excited about the invitation all day, since he'd left Kogure at the rink nearly twelve hours earlier. He'd even stopped at the florist on the way to their house and picked out a colorful bunch of flowers. He couldn't remember the last time he bought flowers for anyone, other than his mother, and he usually wired those.
No more angry words had passed between Kenji and Kogure since that early morning at the rink when they'd discussed Ayako's and Takenori's marriage. Although the subject had never come up again, it hung heavily between them like an unseen veil. He hoped he'd think of the flowers as a peace offering, but he'd never suggest it to him. His words had etched themselves indelibly on his being. He'd never forget them.

Kogure checked the house one final time, with an inquisitive little Haruko at his heels. Everything was in its place. The porch! He hadn't swept the front porch! "Hanamichi," he ordered as he straightened the coffee table's magazine for the third time, "bring me the broom."
He did as he was told. He smiled at his nephew, adjusted his glasses, grabbed the broom, and rushed out the door, only to find his expected guest standing on the porch, one hand reaching for the doorbell, the other holding a bouquet of flowers. The startled look that crossed his face was quickly replaced with a broad smile. "Sorry; you surprised me."
He extended the flowers awkwardly. "For you," he said with a smile that reminded him of the way Hanamichi smiled when he wanted to gain favor. The flowers remained suspended in midair; the intended recipient not quite sure what to do about them.
"Wanna trade?" Kenji reached his free hand toward the broom handle, which he was holding onto for support.
"I...uh...was going to sweep the porch before you came. You know...leaves. Leaves have blown...up here." He knew he sounded like a bumbling idiot. What was wrong with him?
"You don't have to do that for me. I really don't mind stepping over a few leaves," he teased.
The blush returned. It seemed to appear often since Fujima Kenji had skated into his life.
"Here. You take the flowers. I'll take the broom and sweep the porch for my supper. Fair trade?"
He relinquished the broom handle and accepted the bouquet. "Thanks-- for the flowers. And, sure, sweep if you want." He added, "But it's really not necessary. Honest!"
Kogure and the children stood in the doorway and watched as he deftly swished the broom to and fro across the concrete porch. The flowers smelled sweet as he held them to his face and rubbed the velvety softness of their petals across his lips. No one had brought him flowers since Ayako and Takenori had died.
"There." He leaned the broom against the brick wall. "All finished! That better pass inspection, Mr. Kiminobu; I'm hungry for those hot dogs."
He hadn't noticed, until now, how deep his dimples were. And he liked them. They fit him and his personality.
He followed him and the children into the house, then looked around, taking in everything in the living room. "It's just like I thought it would be. Cozy, cheerful, and warm."
Hanamichi tugged at his hand. "Come on, Kenji. Uncle doesn't let us play in this room."
Kenji pointed an accusing finger at Kogure. "That so, Uncle? You won't let us play in this room? Why not?"
" 'Cause we're messy," Haruko volunteered as she pulled a naked Barbie doll out from under the edge of the chintz sofa.
Kenji laughed as he lowered himself onto one knee and checked out Haruko's unclothed Barbie. "Okay, now that you children have thoroughly embarrassed your uncle, how about showing me your rooms?"
He swept Haruko up in his arms and placed her on his broad shoulders as the little girl squealed with glee and hollered, "Whee!"
Kenji turned to the younger boy who was watching his sister with rapt attention. "Lead the way, Hanamichi."
Hanamichi looked at his uncle for approval, then ran toward his room, followed by Kenji with Haruko wiggling on his shoulders and Kogure following close behind in a haze of emotions.
After the tour of all of the rooms in the house, including the basement, which Kogure hadn't cleaned, their guest plopped himself down in the middle of the family room. He pulled Hanamichi down with him, playfully pinning the boy to the floor.
"Help me, Haruko," Hanamichi called his sister as he struggled to get free.
A giddy Haruko rushed toward the dueling duo and threw herself into the midst. Kenji pulled her into the fracas as Haruko's and Hanamichi's laughter filled the room and Kogure looked on, his heart bursting with emotion as he viewed the scene. It was difficult to hold back tears of joy he was experiencing. But, he knew he had no choice. None of them would have understood, and at this point, neither did he.
"Kenji, wanna see my baseballs? They're in my closet," Hanamichi asked when he was too tired to wrestle anymore and needed a way to quit and still save face.Kenji looked pleased. "Sure. Can Haruko come too? Is she allowed in your territory?" he asked as he once again hoisted the little girl to his shoulders.
Hanamichi grinned impishly. "Okay. Just this one time."
Kenji lifted his face toward Haruko's. "You won't bother any of Hanamichi's stuff, will you?"
Haruko answered by running her fingers through Kenji's beautiful brown hair.
"Haruko! Stop!" her uncle cautioned.
But Kenji and the two children didn't hear; they were headed for Hanamichi's room and the baseballs.

Hanamichi's room was as neat as a magazine photo. It was obvious his uncle's cleaning hand had been there. Kenji thought of his own room when he was Hanamichi's age, he sweatdropped. His mother decided a child's room had no place on the second floor with the other perfectly kept bedrooms. She'd hired carpenters to close in the attic area and create a bedroom for her only son when he became old enough to 'make a mess,' as she called it. And once he moved into it, his mother had avoided his room. The cleaning woman knew more about its contents than she did.
"Kenji, do you want to see my Bobby Richardson ball?"
Hanamichi's words brought Kenji back to reality. He sat on the boy's bed with Haruko still firmly planted on his shoulders as Hanamichi proudly held a marred baseball in his hands. He took it and examined it carefully. "It's signed!"
"Uh-huh. My dad bought it from a guy 'cause he knew I'd wanna keep it. He told me all about Bobby Richardson."
The skater gave Hanamichi his full attention as the boy pulled baseball after baseball from a box in his closet. Most of the balls had no momentary value, but they'd been signed by Hanamichi's B-ball coaches and friends who played ball with Hanamichi. He was as proud as if they'd been signed by Mickey Mantle himself. Kenji handled each one as if they were special.
He took a quick glance around the room and noticed a basketball lying on the ground. "You play basketball?" he asked, startling Hanamichi, who smiled and picked the ball up. "Yep, loved playing it ever since I was four." he said, Haruko tried to reach the ball, but to no avail. "Heh, even Haruko liked playing it with me."
A wonderful aroma drifted through the house. Hanamichi placed the basketball down and led Kenji into the family room in time to see Kogure place a tray of steaming hot nachos in the center of the coffee table. "Thought these might tide you over till the fire gets going well enough to roast our hot dogs. And," he added as he offered a box of matches to their guest, "you are appointed chief fire-builder, and Hanamichi will help you."
Kenji lifted Haruko from his shoulders and lowered her onto the sofa, then retrieved the badly abused barbie from the floor and placed it in the little girl's lap. She hugged the doll tightly to her breast. He turned to Kogure with an amused glimmer. "Do all of you like collecting things?"
Before he could answer, Haruko did! "Yeah! I have a lot of Barbies and Uncle gots lots of figurines." Turning to her uncle, she added. "Uncle, show Kenji YOUR toys."
Her uncle adjusted his glasses.
"Kogure, is that right?" Kenji taunted as he sauntered slowly toward the bespectacled uncle. "Do you really have a figurine collection?"
"Show him, Uncle," his niece insisted as she swung the Barbie in wide circles by her long, matted hair.
"Yes, Uncle! Show me!" Kenji mimicked in a high-pitched falsetto voice as he tilted his head toward the young man.
Kogure lowered his head shyly, annoyed with Haruko for revealing his secret. "Okay, maybe after supper. Right now, you three need to get that fire going."
"Promise? After supper you'll show me your toys?" Kenji kidded as the children giggled.
"After supper, I promise," he said, symbolically crossing his heart. "Now, get that fire going."
While they worked at building the fire, he made several trips to the kitchen, bringing in trays loaded with hot dogs, buns, mustard, relish, catsup, chopped onions, grated cheese, and other goodies. The final tray held a big pot of homemade baked beans. The wonderful scent of bacon-embellished beans in an open pot quickly drew Kenji's attention from the full-blown fire he'd prepared for the hot dog cooking. Two exuberant children jumped on his lap. Their uncle moved to push them off, saying, "Hey, kids. Leave Kenji alone. Come on now! Get off his lap!" He tugged and pulled on Haruko, who clung to Kenji's neck and wouldn't let go.
Kenji gently but firmly took hold of Kogure's wrists and puled them away from the little girl who clung to him. "Kogure! It's okay. Really. I like it!" He pulled Haruko onto his lap and circled his strong arms about her. She instantly stopped struggling and leaned her head against his chest, one small hand tristing a lock of his hair.
He pulled her closer to him. "You know, Kogure, I never understood why my friends envied me for NOT having any brothers or sisters. My life was pretty lonely. I'd have given anything to have a brother or sister to fight with. I missed so much and I always wondered why my parents never had any more children. Sometimes I thought it was because I was so bad." His slight laugh had a melancholy sound. "Maybe I was too much trouble for them." He rubbed his cheek across the top of Haruko's head and sniffed the leftover fragrance of the baby's shampoo. "They don't know what they missed."
Kogure smiled and pulled Hanamichi onto his lap. The four of them sat quietly gazing into the warm glow of the fire. Kenji gently slid his free arm around Kogure's shoulder and found himself feeling very comfortable.
He stiffened at the touch of his arm, but only for a moment. Nobody had been that close in four years. How he missed the strength, the security, and the true love of a person. He relaxed and found himself magnetically drawn to his nearness.
The fire snapped, sparks sizzled, and the room filled with a cozy warmth, but its origin was not the blazing logs; it was generated by the foursome on the sofa. It penetrated their minds, hearts, and bodies as they enjoyed one another's company. Kogure found himself enjoying the closeness a little too much, and it frightened him. He wanted to press himself into Kenji's arm, to rest his head on his shoulder, to feel his breath on his hair.
But there was no place in his life for a three-week fling.
And he knew there was no place in Kenji's life for a man or woman with a ready-made family, not that he'd be interested in him. What did he have that he could find in any state? Besides, Kenji might not even swing that way. No, he was nothing in his world. How could he even think there might be anything between them?
"Kogure!"
"Umm--what?" he adjusted his glasses. He'd been caught daydreaming.
"Can we eat now?" Hanamichi shook his uncle, Kogure blinked and took off his glasses. He cleaned the lens and laughed, putting them back on. "Sure, eat your fill."
Hanamichi smiled and jumped off Kogure, Kogure pulled three hot dog holders from a long box and handed one to Hanamichi, one to Kenji, and kept one for himself.
"Where's mine?" Haruko asked, her lower lip curling downward.
Kenji jumped in. "Oh, Haruko. I wanted to cook yours with mine. Please? Won't you let me?"
Haruko's disappointment disappeared, and she lifted two arms and encircled them about Kenji's neck. "I want my hot dog cooked with yours," she told him with a winning smile that would melt a snowman.
"Uncle, I'll cook yours with mine," Hanamichi volunteered with authority as he poked two hot dogs onto the long spike.
"Good idea," Kenji agreed as he slid his free arm around Hanamichi's shoulder and gave him a wink. "We will cook the hot dogs; you prepare the buns. Right Hanamichi?"
"Right," Hanamichi replied in a voice much lower than his usual one. Kogure was surprised to see the young boy mimicking their guest. His nephew was growing up.
The hot dogs vanished quickly as the foursome laughed their way through supper. Kogure was amazed at the amount of food the children consumed and concluded it must be due to the joyful atmosphere created by Kenji's presence.
"Anyone for dessert?" he asked after the hot dog mess had been banished to the kitchen. "Fresh apple pie with cinnamon and topped with scoops of French vanilla ice cream?"
Kenji, Haruko and Hanamichi all shouted "Yes!" at once.
When it was served, Kenji took one bite and frowned.
"What's wrong? Isn't the pie okay?" He'd been so complimentary about his cooking so far; what could be wrong?
He took another bite and closed his eyes. "Ummmm."
"What?" He couldn't imagine what was wrong; the pie tasted fine to him.
His eyes opened slowly, as if he were in deep thought. "I was trying to remember if I'd ever eaten any pie that was better than this pie. And you know what? I haven't!"
A pink flush rose across his face as Kogure smiled.
"This is fantastic," he added as he took another bite. "Did you really bake this, Kogure? From scratch? You're sure it's not from Perkins?"
He was both speechless and flattered by his compliment.
"Uncle made this pie. I saw him," Haruko said with her mouthful of ice cream.
"Haruko," her uncle corrected as she applied a napkin to his niece's delicate face. "How many times have I told you not to talk with your mouth full?"
The little girl swallowed hard and pointed a finger to Kenji. "He talked with his mouth full, too. I saw him."
Now it was Kenji's turn to blush. "Caught me!"
After supper, Kogure settled the children in front of the tv to watch a new Tom and Jerry videotape that had come in the afternoon mail. Kenji watched as he moved about the room tidying up and rearranging pillows. When he caught his attention, he motioned for him to join him on the couch by patting the cushion next to him. The four of them watched and laughed as the cartoon characters, Tom and Jerry, performed their antics.
"Bedtime!" Kogure announced when the tape ended.
"Aw, Uncle, do we have to?" He expected rebellion; they'd been having such a good time with Kenji.
"Tell you what," Kenji proposed as he pulled them both onti his lap. "If it's okay with your uncle, after you get ready for bed, I'll tell you a story."
Two children hurried off to don their pajamas as their bewildered uncle looked on.
"Hope that it's okay with you," Kenji apologized.
A grateful smile curled across his lips. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Two pajama-clad children leaped into Kenji's lap and struggled to who can hug him the tightest as Kenji buried his face first in one neck and then the other, giggling and laughing along with them.
"Which book do you want?" Kogure asked as he scanned the shelves that contained the vast assortment of children's books reserved for bedtime reading. " We have quite a selection."
His gray eyes twinkled. "Don't need one; thank you."
His answer surprised him. He'd promised them a bedtime story. Was he going to renege and disappoint them after such a lovely evening?Okay, you guys. Settle down. Time for our story." His voice was gentle yet firm as he opened his arms to them.
Two wiry children stopped them wiggling and seated themselves, Hanamichi on one thigh, Haruko on the other. His long arms encircled them, holding them securely. "You have to promise that as soon as the story is finished, you'll go to bed without a word. Okay?"
Two heads nodded in agreement.
"Now, what shall it be, 'Little Red Riding Hood'?
"Yes!" Haruko clapped her little hands as she wiggled on Kenji's lap. "I love 'Little Red Riding Hood.' Will you tell us about the wolf, Kenji?"
Kenji looked at Hanamichi. ""Red Riding Hood' okay, fella?"
Hanamichi grinned. "Yeah. Haruko likes it. It's okay."
Kenji kissed each child atop the head and began his story. "There once was a beautiful little girl with dark flowing hair..."
The children sat motionless as kenji told the story of the little girl, her grandmother, and the wolf. He included parts of the story Kogure had never heard before, and he fould himself as enthralled as the children. When the story ended, Kenji again kissed each child on top of the head, then lifted them both in his arms and carried them to their rooms. Kogure followed silently, not wanting to break the spell.
Haruko was first to be placed in bed. As Kenji gently lay her on the Barbie sheets and covered her with the bright pink comforter, she pulled his face down to hers and gave him a forceful kiss on his lips and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back and whispered. "Good night, Haruko."
"I didn't get to drink milk," the girl protested.
Kenji looked uneasy.
"If you'll put Hanamichi to bed, I'll make the milk for Haruko," Kogure volunteered quickly, coming to his rescue.
"You got it," He replied as he hurried off with Hanamichi in his arms, apparently grateful for the reprieve.
Haruko drifted off to sleep, exhausted and happy, almost as soon as she said "Thank you." Kogure moved to the family room and settled himself in the corner of the couch, his knees drawn up beneath his chin. When Kenji joined him, he was smiling.
"What?" His smile intrigued him.
"What what?" he said as he sat down close behind him, crowding him into the corner a bit.
"You were smiling; I wondered why. That's all."
He locked his hands behind his head and rested them against the sofa's soft back. "Didn't realize I was smiling. Guess it was just a smile of contentment. I never had an evening like this when I was growing uo. Your kids are lucky."
They sat gazing into the fire as the flames furled and twirled and popped and crackled, spitting sparks wildly against the screen.
"It's hedge," Kogure said matter-of-factly.
"Hedge?" he repeated.
"Hedge pop and crackles like that then spits sparks everywhere, but I like it." He gazed into the fire, enjoying the erratic behavior of the burning hedge wood. Eventually, he lifted his eyes to meet his quizzically. "I have a question. How did you know the story of 'Little Red Riding Hood'? Tonight I heard parts of that story I've never heard before. I was impressed. So were the children."
He winced. "It was okay? They weren't disappointed?"
He touched the tip of his nose with his fingertip. "You told it so well, I've decided I'll never tell in again. I could never do it the way you did."
He let out a sigh. "Okay, I'll let you in on my secret. I've never read 'Little Red Riding Hood' and my mother never read storybooks to me when I was a kid."
"But-- how? How did you tell it like that?"
He angled his head towards hers and confessed, "I skated the part of the wolf!"
Apparently, he realized he was laughing at his method of storytelling, not at him, and joined in his laughter.
Kenji skated as the wolf conjured up hysterical images. He slid his arm across the sofa back and squeezed his shoulder.
"I've had a great evening, but we both have to get up early. I'd better be going."
He rose to his feet and walked him to the door. Although he found himself wanting to ask him to stay longer, he resisted the temptation and thanked him for the flowers, now nestled in a crystal vase in the center of the coffee table. As the door closed behind Kenji, Kogure leaned against it and sighed deeply. What a wonderful day this has been.



Gomen, Minna! I had a hard time deciding what to write! I'm also so sorry 'cause it's shorter than my usual... Hope you didn't mind. I made the characters act like when my little sis and other bro acted when they were younger, and I am NOT going to make a HaruFuji or FujiHaru, that's how my little sis acted when a friend of mine visited. ^^ Oh yeah, I'm already starting at that Ko-seme fic you want Kimi, gomen Oniichan. NYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!