Chapter Four - Revealed Feelings?
The first thing Misaki saw the light creeping into the living room and the numbness of his feet. He rolled from his back to his side, the first thing he saw was the author typing at top speed with coffee next to his side. His dark under circles and deceived hair didn't go unnoticed by Misaki.
"Was he up all night?" The boy attempted to get up only to feel the pain in his legs catch up, the boy held his breathe until three, two ,one-
"OWWWW! It hurts so fucking much!" The skater screamed, ignoring the annoyed look on Usagi's face.
"About time you're up, now I can interrogate you,' the man didn't look away form his laptop as Misaki continued to scream and moan at the blisters that decorated his feet and ankles.
Misaki stopped screaming to look at the author, the brunette raised his eyebrows, "Interrogate?"'
Usagi nodded his head, pointing to the chair across from him.
Misaki sweat-dropped at trying to move. The boy laughed nervously, "Uh can I just talk from here? I kinda can't wa- Hey! W-What are you doing?"
Usagi picked up the boy with ease in a bridal style carry, he gently placed the skater on the chair avoiding letting his feet touch the ground too harshly.
"If you corperate, I'll rub your legs for twenty minutes deal?"
Misaki wanted to yell at the man, curse at the man or even hop out fo the apartment if ti meant being away form the pervert Takahiro called his friend, but the aching pain in legs made him nod in agreement. The pain in his legs hurt more than hurting his pride.
"Now we can start, how old where you when you started skating?" Misaki blinked in confusion, then he remembered.
"Oh right, the book …"
"Eh ... I was about six years old? I had my first competition when I was around eight years old." Usagi typed on his laptop momentarily.
he looked up from his laptop, "Has being a professional athlete affected your social and personal life?"
Misaki looked at down at his lap, remaining silent for a moment, "I have very few friends, because I'm always in practice … or recovering from practice. I consider my brother my best friend. In exchange for several titles I have no social life."
"I see, and no girlfriend?" Misaki's face turned bright red, Usagi would have laughed if he was not so interested in the answer.
"Ehh ... I'veneverhadagirlfriend." The boy said, quickly.
"Come again?" Usagi was enjoying embarrassing the boy, it was just too easy for him.
"I NEVER HAD A GIRLFRIEND! HAPPY NOW?! Misaki yelled, crossing his arms trying to look assertive, but he looked more like a stubborn child to the author.
Usagi just typed everything down, ignoring the death glare the boy was giving him, "Even your brother had girlfriends at your age."
Misaki slammed his fists on the table sitting in between the two, if looks could kill the author would be a dead man by now, "My brother isn't a professional athlete! I only an open window of opportunity before it closes and I cant compete anymore, besides I have no interest in girls!"
"Boys?"
The teenager blinked in confusion.
Usagi waited patiently for the boys brain to figure out what he just asked him. The older man smirked as he saw the skaters face turn into several different shades red.
"I AM NOT GAY! I am just committed to my career!"
"You are very good at not falling on the ice, but lying isn't one of your talents, especially when talking about your 'diet', how 'not tired' you are, or when you are in such pain you can't even walk to bed without help,' The author calmly observed, for once Misaki made no attempt to rebuttal the man.
"Which I'm not too surprised at, your brother can be oblivious at times, but still he was the first one to really break the wall I had created …"
Usagi trailed off, stuck in his memory.
Misaki looked at him curiously, even though he wasn't the brightest light in the pack he could tell on earth thing …
"Usami-San ... you like my brother, more than just as friend ... don't you? …"
The boy was surprised to see the author chuckle slightly, "You're smarter than I give you credit for, ice brat."
"Ehh, you do know my brother has a girlfriend, right?"
"I understand, but still being his friend is enough for me. When I heard him talk about how amazing his little world champion brother was, I was amazed at how dedicated he was to you,' Green eyes grew as the teen heard the last sentence about his brother.
'Though I will admit, I was almost losing respect from him when he told me he approved of your cortisone shots, even if it meant his brother not being in a stage of constant pain."
"I see ...' Misaki felt himself actually feeling bad for he man in front of him, he knew about sacrifice, but a long time crush? Even he couldn't imagine it, 'So .. how long is this writing session gong to be?"
Usagi raised an eyebrow before moving his eyes to Misaki's feet, the white bandages were now turning dirty again from the blisters and open sores.
'Just relax for today, it is your brothers birthday after all."
Usagi had to almost bite his lip not to laugh at the boy's expression, "Shit! I completely forgot! I'm the worst brother ever!"
"Calm down, silver medal. I bought liquor and your brother said he wants you and me there, I doubt he will hate you for not getting a present," Misaki looked at the ground, not looking up. He looked more like a statue than a teenage boy.
'And before we leave, you will eat. I don't want you fainting in the middle of the party. And I think you will still be less than 110 pounds at the end of the day."
The boy didn't respond back. The Skater was leaning over his chair, he had fallen back asleep.
The author signed, he closed his laptop saving the file for now. He walked over to the boy easily picking the athlete up. Walking up the stairway, the man took the time to look at the boy more closely.
"When he is asleep and not acting like a brat, he is actually pretty cute. It's still hard to believe he and Takahiro are related."
Usagi walked to his room placing the boy on his bed and tucking him in while also placing a towel below the boys feet so his blood would not get all over his sheets. The author still cringed at the boys feet, no matter what his feelings towards the boy were, watching someone destroy their body for a lifelong dream was both beautiful, but tragic at the same time.
"Is winning a metal worth all of this? The boy is probably not even dumb, he practice's so much he has no time for school. Takakhiro is even allowing him to attend online school till the end of his senior because of his schedule."
Usagi sat on the edge of the bed, gently playing the boys lose hair, "Why does this boy make me feel worried about his every step? My childhood was not happy in the least, but at least I had one, this brat didn't even have that, even Hiroki had more time to himself then him."
The man fingers slowly went down to the boys lips, Usagi couldn't help but notice how soft they were, but he smirked slightly knowing that Misaki always wore chapstick and had three tubes of it on him at all times because apparently cold air and lips don't mix.
"He's the only other person besides Takahiro that me care about someone other then myself ... but why?"
The author was left there to ponder as he thought about preparing for an evening of celebration with Takahiro and Misaki.
- Five Hours Later - Takahashi Residence -
"Oh they should be here any minute!" Takahiro signed, arranging the table set for the night.
A woman's small laugh responded to the man's stress, "Honey, I'm sure it will be fine, and what are hiding your brother for? I don't even know his name."
"Haha! Well you see-' a knock interrupted the man's sentence.
'They're here!" Takahiro announced excited. His girlfriend only shook her head at the energetic man.
Takahiro opened the door to see his best friend and his little brother, both waiting outside the door, 'Ah! Welcome!"
"Happy Birthday!" Yelled both Misaki and Usagi. Takahiro motioned for them to come in, while also hiding Misaki slightly from his girlfriends view.
"Minami-Chan! Here they are!" Minami stepped noticing only Usagi was there, unaware that Misaki was behind the author.
"This is my best friend of ten years: Usami Akihiko!' Usagi nodded, giving a small bow, 'and this …"
Misaki stopped out from behind, as soon as Minami saw the boy, she knew who he was instantly.
"Oh! Takahashi Misaki!" She said in surprise.
"Takahiro-Kun, I had no idea you were related to a world class athlete!" She exclaimed in amazement. Misaki only scratched his head in awkwardness, he was used to his brothers female co-workers gushing over him.
"Ni-Chan, this woman may be the most calm out of the women I ever met that you knew either at school, or at work!" Misaki thought to himself.
"Yes! Haha!' Takahiro laughed, standing behind Misaki and placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, 'Been on the Japan National Figure Skating Team for almost six years now, been at two World Championships both silver, four Pacific Rim Championships three silver one gold, three Junior Grand Pix Championships two silver one bronze, two Grand Pix games both silver and won the Japan Cup last year!"
"Nii-Chan ..." Now it was Usagi's turn to be impressed.
"I knew he was in a lot of competitions, but not that many! What else do I not know about that brat?"
"Whoa! Misaki! I would love to see you skate sometime!" Minami stated, she could tell the boy didn't like being the center of his attention, but Takahiro managed to keep him in the spot light.
Takahiro nodded, walking over to his girlfriend and faced his friend and his little brother,"Before we celebrate we both have some good news to share!'
Takahiro turned to Minami, silently waiting for her approval, the woman smiled nodding gently.
'Minami and I are getting married!" Misaki and Usagi felt their eyes widen in shock. Neither moved for a second, Usagi was the first to move towards them. Misaki only stood with his head down.
Usagi hugged his 'friend' acting happy for the man he loved or so long, but one person in the room could tell it was an act …
SLAM!
"Misaki?" Takahiro asked, unsure of how to react to his brother. The three adults noticed the skater wasn't looking up and he looked shaken.
"Champagne,' the boy said with no tone in his voice, 'We are out of it, I'll go get more."
The boy turned to leave, "But Misaki you're underaged, they won't give it to you!"
Misaki turned to his brother, he made a grab for Usagi's arm, slightly surprising the man, "Then Usagi-San will come with me!"
The author was slightly surprised by the strength of the boy, "This brat I stronger than I give him credit for."
Without another word both had left the apartment, leaving behind a confused Takahiro and Minami in the House.
- Outside The Apartment -
The only sound that could be heard was a boy crying his eyes out, but not because of something that happened to him ...
"My brother acted like such a jerk! He broke your heart and ... and ...' the boy sobbed onto the sleeve of his Team Japan jacket, 'This is the first time I ever wanted to punch him!"
"Such dirty tears," Usagi signed.
"This kid is one of a kind."
Misaki faced the man again, failing to not cry even more, "I'm crying for you, you jerk! Once you start crying you can stop no matter what!"
Usagi only smiled a little bit walked towards the boy, "I see."
Misaki felt an arm extend around his waist and another wrapped around him, making the boy bend back slightly, "Usagi?"
Before Misaki could say another word he felt his lips connect with the warm lips of the author. Green eyes widened in shock and disbelief, as more tears fell down his face. Slowly he closed his eyes allowing whatever would happen with the kiss to happen.
The couple continued the kiss for a few seconds, before they separated. Usagi smiled at the boy below him, "Today, you are my gold medal, Takahiro is only silver to me."
Misaki felt his eyes stare at the man in shock, did his tutor, friend of his brother, the same man who demeaned him and his sport ... confess to loving him? Another man loving a man?
Silence fell onto both of them for a while, until Misaki felt something wet on his shoulders.
"Uh ... Usagi-San?"
"I have never shown anyone this side of me before, since the day I was born," Usagi only hugged the petite boy more. Misaki stood there only patting the man's back slightly.
Little did Misaki know, this night would change him more than he could imagine. Both stood outside for several minutes as the snow danced around the couple in a calming matter, buying champagne did not even cross either of their minds.
- One Week Later, Tokyo City Rink -
"Ok Misaki-Kun! Get some well needed rest tonight! Tomorrow is the Olympic try outs, it's a big day!" Yuna explained to her student. Misaki was currently removing the bobby pins and the hair tie from his hair, but he still listened to every word that came from his coach.
"Eh? But Sakamoto-Sensei, who else will be competing with me for a spot?"
The small Korean woman only responded with a force of her hand to the top of his head.
'Ow!" Misaki rubbed his head, tear dropping at the warmness of the hit.
"Don't get cocky! You may have gotten silver at worlds with five falls, but this is a once in life time opportunity, you may never be in the Olympics again! Now is not the time to take it easy, even if you have won Japanese skating nationals for several years! Understand?" Misaki only nodded in fear of receiving another blow to the head.
The woman's face went from fiery and annoyance to a happy and calm woman within a fraction of a second.
"Note to self, if you want to survive the Olympics don't piss off your coach with an anger complex!" The boy noted in his mind.
Yuna walked away to her office, leaving the boy to have a water break, and a few moments to recover from the 'pep talk".
"So you have won some gold, it's just gold that irrelevant to the rest of the world and on top of that, tomorrow is the day you become an Olympian," A smug voice observed.
Misaki looked up to see the grey haired man looking down at him with a small smirk.
Misaki glared slightly at the gold medal comment, deciding he was too tired not come up with any good comebacks,"Ehh no, tomorrow is the chance I get to be an Olympian,."
"Oh?' Usagi said, sitting next to the boy on the bench, 'Who might be going with you to Russia?"
Misaki stopped drinking water for a moment, reflecting on the other skaters he knew.
"Oh I know! Jun Shoji! He has always been second at the Japanese nationals, but never medaled at any international competitions, he was usually an alternative for me, or would be the second skater to come with me. He also won 7th place at the World Championships where I won silver.'
Misaki thought for second at other potential competitors, 'There is also Hiroshi … I don't remember his last name, he's a good skater, but he only won bronze metals at the Asia winter cup and Asia Figure Skating nationals. He has been to the grand pix, the world figure skating Championships and two Winter Olympic Games, but he never metaled in any of them. Apparently these Olympics will be his last and he'll retire at age 29. I hope I can compete for that long! … if my knee and feet don't fall apart first …"
Usagi nodded, listening to the boy ramble on about the trials tomorrow.
"I can which is more important to him, his brother or his sport. Then again I guess having passion for something is very relatable to my passion for writing. We were even the same age when discovered our passions."
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?!" The boy scolded the older man.
"Of course I am, I don't understand why you're making a big deal out of gliding on some ice, it should be easy shouldn't it?" Usagi said, with every intention to annoy the boy. He saw the boy's eyebrows glare at him hard, and flames of anger building in his eyes.
Misaki got up, taking off his blade guards and gliding back onto the ice, "Come on asshole Usagi! If skating is so easy why don't you come out?!"
"I don't have any skates," the author stated bluntly.
Misaki continued to skate around the rink, not taking his eyes off the man, "Just grab a rent pair from that box station over there!"
The teen pointed at the skate rent place next to some aisle seats.
Usagi only smirked at the boy, "Ok, I'll play your game."
Five minutes later -
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Misaki yelled from across the rink. Usagi walked over to the entrance, carefully stepping onto the ice. Misaki noticed the man stumbling slightly, which gave the boy some glee.
"Haha! Checkmate! How easy is this girly sport now?"
Only seconds later did Misaki eat his own words.
The author was only not slipping, but he was actually gliding... gliding!
The older man stopped dead in front of Misaki, only a foot apart from the boy, the man was enjoying the shock on Misaki face too much, "Oh, did I mention I grew up in England? Where ice skating is a very popular winter activity?"
Misaki felt his face pale in shock and astonishment.
"Nii-Chan! Your asshole friend pisses me off!"
"So what! You can fucking stay on your feet, I bet that is all you can- GAH! WHAT THE HELL?!' Without warning Misaki felt himself being lifted into the air, with the man's arms lifting the boy under his arms without a struggle.
'HEY! Put me down! This isn't pairs!"Usagi continued to skate around the arena, spinning the boy around slightly, while still being careful not to lose his grip.
"If only your fangirls could see you now, 'Usagi's smirk only grew bigger, 'Misaki Takahashi, the greatest figure skater in Japan, scared shitless from being picked off the ground by the great author Usami Akihiko."
Misaki felt himself being lowered down, only to suddenly feel both him and Usagi fall onto the ice as the author lost his grip on the boy.
Thankfully the fall wasn't too far from the ground, the boy felt himself land onto something soft, it smelled like cigarettes and expensive cologne.
It felt really safe and warm …
"Comfortable?" Green eyes opened, only to be met with violet eyes. The boy blushed bright red as reality came rushing back to him.
"S-sorry! Haha! You made your point!" The boy tried to get up only to feel the author wrap his arms firmly around the boy's waist.
"Uh ... Usagi-San?" The skater felt his face blister red and his heart beating so fast it might explode out of his chest. He felt Usagi feeling the curves of his ribcage and shoulder bones as if he was inspecting the boy with the precision of a doctor.
Misaki felt his himself being lifted off the ice into a sitting position, only to see his tutor looking disappointed at him, "You still aren't eating enough. You feel like walking skeleton.'
Misaki opened his mouth to talk only to have Usami beat him to it, 'And sorry, but your 'I'm too busy! I'm too tired to eat!" excuses are pathetic, even by your standards."
"I'll have a normal diet after the Olympics are over!" The teen shouted angrily.
The skater got up not bothering to help the author up, Usagi only sat on the ice glaring slightly at the naive boy.
"As far as stubbornness goes, he is worse than me at times" the man thought silently to himself as he got up.
Unknown to either of them, Yuna smiled at the pair from her office window. Her dark brown eyes glowed brighter at seeing the way they interacted with each other.
The woman took out her phone to see the home screen. On the screen was her son at his first nationals competition when he was only a small child ... several years before his death.
"Misaki ...' the woman breathed out, 'You and my son are more alike than you think."