It's Rose again! After a long absence I have for you Chapter 4, the short and last installment of Targeting the Heart. I hope you enjoy it!
Please rate and review, you can't imagine how much I appreciate knowing my work is...uh, appreciated!
Chapter 4
Of course, when Miyagi got home, the light was on. He fumbled with the apartment key, only to find that the kid had forgotten to lock the door, as usual. He had no concept of the outside world, that kid. That fact alone made Miyagi feel all the more responsible for him. He entered his home to find Shinobu in the kitchen, chopping away at something. Take a guess, Miyagi thought, rounding the corner and walking over to his young lover, The boy didn't look up, just continued chopping the cabbage that was in front of him. Miyagi noticed the bandaged finger on his left hand, but didn't call attention to it. He was used to Shinobu's accidents in the kitchen by now. He suddenly didn't know what to say to the kid, as if everything had changed when he had walked in to find Shinobu doing a seemingly normal household chore. He knew better, though. Shinobu cooked, particularly cabbage dishes, compulsively when he was nervous or upset about something. This time was no different.
The older man walked up behind him and kissed him on the back of the head gently, not sure how to start. Shinobu was shaking, wiping his eyes with his sleeve as he continued to chop sporadically. Miyagi whispered a soothing "shh" in his ear, letting his hands wander up the boy's back in a calming wave. The boy caved, turning around completely and folding into Miyagi's arms, just crying. He cried at every little thing. Part of the old man loved that. Miyagi stood there, letting the boy ruin his shirt, and waited for him to calm down a little.
"What is it this time?" The older man asked, needing to know exactly what about the situation that they had gotten themselves into was upsetting him so much. Shinobu didn't even look up, just pressed his face against Miyagi's chest and babbled.
"He doesn't want me to stay with you," the kid ranted, barely forming words between hysterical hics. "He says I'm too reliant on you, that I can't make it in the real world. He's going to set up board meetings for me and omiais! I don't want-" The words were cut off as Shinobu tried to take a breath but choked a little on his tears. The boy certainly could rant when he was upset. Miyagi just held onto him for the moment, not sure how else to calm him. He himself was disturbed at the prospect of this methodical, planned future. And omiais? Where did the director get the idea that the boy was ready for a marriage interview? Especially if he wasn't convinced the boy could make it alone. And why hadn't he mentioned any of this to the professor during their meeting? No, that was obvious. By the director's standards it was none of Miyagi's business. After all, he had no place in Shinobu's life. Anger swelled up inside of him, but quickly turned remorseful as he felt the tugging weight of the boy against his chest. Why had he not thought of the troubles the director could be giving the boy sooner? Miyagi mentally kicked himself. Of all people he should have been aware of that. He was, of course, married to the boy's sister for god knows how long. In fact, his father in law's control had more than influenced their marriage. He had even planned the wedding, almost every last detail of it. In fact, Miyagi had almost been relieved at the amount of responsibility his father in law had saved him over the years. How could he not take the same sort of controlling interest in the life of his most precious youngest son?
"Stop it, Shinobu." He said sternly, pushing the boy back from him so that he was forced to look him in the eye. The boy actually stopped crying for a brief moment, shocked.
"Wh-" he started, but was cut off almost immediately.
"You are not controlled by anyone. Not your father, not your sister, not even me. What you choose to do with your life is your choice. If you choose to follow in his footsteps and take over the University then that is your business. If you choose to attend an omiai then that is your business." He faltered for a second at the hurt look Shinobu was wearing, taking into effect the full meaning behind his words. He didn't like them. It wasn't for his sake that they needed to be said, though. "This also means," he added, turning his head away for a moment, but bringing his face back to the boy's quickly, "that if you choose to love me no one else has a say in it. And I will support you in whatever you endeavor to achieve, whether I like it or not."
The hands dropped from his chest and suddenly the weight that he felt had been pulling on him made the older man feel horribly empty. The boy's hand covered his mouth as he spoke, as if he didn't want to be heard, and his eyes stared blankly away from his lover.
"I don't have a choice in whether or not to love you. Don't you get it by now?" The boy started to sob again, his own arms curling around his small body as if he was trying to hold himself. Miyagi's eyes widened, his heart feeling as if it had just shattered inside of him. "I can't help but love you, and I don't want anyone to try and take that away. I don't want to lose you, not because of anyone!"
And suddenly Miyagi's heart was whole again, not because he realized his misunderstanding, but because the boy was again in his arms, standing on his toes to kiss the older man gently. It was an innocent kiss, but it was desperate. Miyagi took the boy's tear stained face in his hands and kissed him back, gently wiping the salt water from the boy's soft cheeks. He smiled with crinkled eyes. This ridiculous dance of emotion they put each other through would never end.
"What?" Shinobu asked tearily about his smile. The sight made him chuckle lightly.
"You're an idiot if you think any of that is going to separate us." Shinobu pushed him away, suddenly his energy returning to him.
"Baka Miyagi! Old man! Don't call me an idiot! I'm seriously worried here!" The older man laughed and subdued the boy with a kiss, this time lingering and exhausting all of his anger through his lips.
"I know. That's probably why I love you so much." He kissed the boy again before he could protest, easing all of his pains through touch. He knew that there would be problems with his father, but that was all for another day. In Miyagi's eyes, what they had gotten away with thus far was a miracle, and a victory if ever he could claim one. All other debacles they would deal with as they came. One day, he knew, they would probably be outted to the kid's old man. Maybe even by their own choice. Still,it was a worry for another day.
There was progression. That was all that mattered. The night passed, and they slept in Miyagi's bed, together, as one. A week went by, and boxes were finally put into the correct spots. Keys were given back to the landlord. Things were, to them, official. A newlywed life was started for the two of them as time passed. Although nothing between them was outwardly spoken, there was a distinct change in the way Shinobu was handling himself. There was even a distinct change in the way Miyagi was looking at him. Although he had thought his love for the young one could not have been furthered, he began to prove himself wrong. As was expected, time brought with it challenges, however these challenges were faced with solutions that the two sought out together. A new dynamic to their relationship was taking shape, one that lacked the former insecurities and troubles that had plagued the couple in the beginning.
And somewhere along the way Miyagi stopped looking at Shinobu as the boy who shadowed him with love and instead saw him as man.