Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, all credit goes to Takaya Natsuki. This story is written just for fun, no money made.
Warning: No lemon ahead.
For want of a horse
Chapter 29 – Taking flight
%%%%%
"Congratulations, Haru-chan!", his mother chirped and grabbed his arm excitedly, eyes shining with proud tears and lips fighting desperately to keep the wide grin in a socially acceptable demure smile. Appearance was everything, after all.
"Thanks, mom", he answered and grinned widely, exchanging a friendly knock on the shoulder from Momiji in acceptance and acknowledgment of the work both had put into their grades.
"We did it, Haru", the rabbit said.
"We did it", Haru echoed and after a moment of silent pondering of the past years, they whooped and high-fived.
"I can't believe it! No more school!", Momiji cried excitedly and jumped at Touru, who had walked up to them to congratulate them as well, only stop when Kyou knocked the excited Rabbit down not so softly with a glare, hissing at him to NOT hug a girl HERE.
Haru smiled at the lot of them. The whole family had gathered – anyone that counted as family in his opinion anyway – to celebrate and congratulate. It was nice. And comforting.
He looked to the floor for a moment. It would be better, if Rin was there, but she was engaged in her end of term papers and couldn't leave Tokyo now. She had made it up beforehand, spending so much time by his side, that he had almost felt as if she had never left to Tokyo in the first place.
And there was always the future he very much hoped they would have.
Everything was worth this lookout. A graduation party without her was a piece of cake, if he would hopefully join her in Tokyo shortly after.
He caught Yuki's inquiring gaze and smiled.
"Congratulations, Haru, on surviving school". Yuki smiled in his shy and timid way.
"Thanks. I can't believe it's done". Yuki nodded in understanding, remembering very much his own graduation a single year earlier.
"Where do you go from here?", Yuki asked and tilted his head slightly. Haru sighed.
"I'd say the main aim is clear, the only variable remaining is how to get there". Yuki nodded again in understanding.
"So Akito hasn't given his permission yet?"
"No. Not yet". Haru let his gaze wonder among the crowd, his family, his class mates and a lot of people he didn't know. "I'm to meet him this evening". He saw Yuki tense beside him.
"Tonight? That's… really soon. Did he call you?".
"No, I asked for an appointment". Yuki stared at him in disbelieve.
"You did what?".
"I asked for an appointment. I won't wait for Akito to call me. That would give… him…", he almost called her just that. Her, only remembering in the very last moment that Yuki didn't know about Akito being female. "It would give him more power over the situation by controlling it. I won't give him that", Haru answered calmly, making Yuki grin.
"That sounds so utterly Rin", he said.
"It is", Haru said grinning.
"You have a lot of courage. I wouldn't want to face that situation alone", Yuki said admiringly, flustering Haru.
"I'm not courageous. I'm really not. It's just, that there's a lot worth fighting for in it for me. And if that means fighting with god himself… I'll do it". For a moment Haru's eyes shone with all the love he felt for Rin and Yuki smiled a real smile at seeing his brotherly friend so happy.
"I admire you for that. Do you want me to come with you? I'll wait outside the house though", Yuki said simply and Haru smiled.
"Wish me luck. Good luck can never be wrong".
"Good luck, Haru". Yuki leaned against the outside wall of the mainhouse, closing his eyes and trying very much to appear nonchalant, while preparing to either congratulate his friend a second time today or help him pick up the pieces of his broken heart.
He would never know what exactly Haru said to Akito or how the talk went. The only thing that counted was the result. And it took Yuki the whole of a second to guess the outcome of the discussion, when he saw Haru's wide smile.
He didn't even manage to say his Congratulations again, before the Ox caught him in a tight embrace and his shoulders started to shake and Haru sniffed, releasing the tension he had hid so well, while Yuki provided the strength he right now desperately needed.
"Congratulations", Yuki finally whispered, tightening his hold on the ox, when his shoulders started to shake and sniffs turned to sobs of true release.
"Don't forget to brush your teeth every day, Haru! And don't leave everything lying around. You're no child anymore!", his mother rattled down, following him closely as he packed the last of his bags into the trunk of Hatori's car.
"I won't mom. Since you so eloquently put it, I'm not a child anymore". He smiled at his mother.
"I know. I know", she whispered softly, the tears spilling over her eyelids for the up tenth time today.
"Mom, don't worry. I'll be fine, I'll be good and I'm certainly not alone. I'm only moving to Tokyo, not to another country", he said softly in a calming way, catching his mother's hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Will you call us?", she asked.
"Yes, of course", he answered.
"Regularly!", she exclaimed with a slight warning undertone, making him grin again.
"I promise". He smiled at his mother, who leaned slowly against her husband, when he walked up to her and put a reassuring arm around her shoulders. When he looked back over his shoulder slightly, he met Rin's gaze and slowly reached for her hand.
"Do your best, Haru", his father simply said and Haru nodded, but felt a sudden anxiety hit him. Taking flight he was. Taking flight into a life he very much wanted, leaving a lot of bad things behind. But leaving behind a lot of good things as well. His parents had always been the steady ground he walked on, in some ways. Leaving his haven made him edgy in a way and he knew Rin understood his feelings, when she squeezed his hand.
"It will be okay, Haru. Don't worry", she whispered and he squeezed her hand in answer and understanding.
"I'll give my very best", Haru finally said, even though his voice was a little rasping. His father smiled understandingly and nodded at him in acknowledgement.
"Isuzu-chan, can we talk for a moment?", Haru's mother asked suddenly and turned around, walking back into the house. Rin shared a looked with Haru and followed her quickly. She understood the anxiety of a mother, letting go of her only precious son, who was about to start his journey into his own life. It was the equivalent of Akito's relationship with the juunishi. Only their goddess didn't appreciate her juunishis taking flight.
"Isuzu-chan, I know this is probably weird, but I most ask this of you". She took a deep breath and Rin nodded in understanding of what was to come. "Can you… can you promise to protect my son's happiness to the best you can?". Rin smiled at the words, so motherly and caring. Haru's mother was truly a magnificent being.
"I'll always give my very best when it comes to Haru", she answered slowly. "I've done some mistakes in the past, hurting him with what I thought was best at that time. However I came around. We both came around and in the end came out stronger and wiser than we were before. Before this all happened, I think there might have been a chance, that we would have failed in the long run. Now, we both now our limits, our strength, our basis and what we need to work on, both as a couple and as individuals. Now, I can answer you, that, Yes, I'll promise to protect you son's happiness to the best I can". Rin smiled and met her eyes in a steady gaze. Slowly, ever so slowly, Haru's mother put her arms around Rin and enveloped her in a motherly embrace.
"Thank you", she simply said.
"I can't believe, they arranged this, just like that. They don't even know me!", Haru said and shook his head again, trying to wrap his head around the fact that Rin's friends had popped up with the idea of throwing him a welcoming party and celebrating the end of the semester.
"That's the way they are", Rin said and winked at him. Over the time, her study circle had evolved from study buddies to comrades, to friends. And she was looking forward to introducing Haru to her friends.
Haru looked down at the floor for a moment. They had gotten his stuff unpacked only yesterday. Yesterday he had registered his permanent stay here in Tokyo. Yesterday he had started his new life. He inhaled deeply, trying to decipher what he felt. Good? Yes, good definitely. Happy? Yes, happy as well. Curious. Afraid? A little. Overwhelmed? Definitely. It was a little much in such short order to take in.
He was looking forward to meeting her friends. Although this Ryu being there put some damper on his good mood. But still, he was mostly looking forward to some quiet days with Rin. To relax. To adjust.
To make Tokyo feel like home.
The doorbell rang and Rin went to open the door, giving him a reassuring caress and a quick kiss, before she let her friends descent on him with their friendly curiosity.
The evening had went well. Very well indeed and Haru relaxed, stretching slowly against the pillows of the couch, smiling in contentment.
Against his initial expectation he quickly realized that he liked Ryu. He was a nice guy, a few years older than him, a little taller, a little on the lanky side. But he had a quick wit, a nice sense of humor and friendly grey eyes and an accepting heart and Haru understood right then, that he –even though Ryu himself might not be aware of it, hell, even Rin might not be aware of it!- had played a major part in making Rin adjust to this new life of hers and opening her mind and heart again to trust of strangers. He had taught her about unexpected friendliness and real acceptance.
Haru's reluctance had quickly changed to real appreciation of Ryu's quiet support and wasn't all that surprised to find himself opening up quickly to the grey eyed boy. Apparently the sympathy was likewise, because their talk soon felt more like old friends remembering than practical strangers getting to know each other.
Rin looked over at them, understanding how Haru's feelings had changed from hostility to acceptance under the gentle nudging of Ryu's presence during the evening. It was good for Haru, this lesson, she decided. Haru, while not as jaded as she had been, had the typical juunishi rejection of strangers as well. This would help him in the long run. She nodded to herself, turning to Yumi and Mariko again.
"You know, I envy you", Ryu suddenly said and Haru looked at him.
"Because I have Rin?". It was meant as a tease and so Haru was slightly surprised to have the older boy just smile and nod in affirmation.
"Yes. I do have a bit of a crush on her", he said.
"I can't blame you for that. She IS a keeper", Haru answered softly, trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible. He didn't want to offend the young man, who had clearly the potential to become a great friend with time.
"I know", Ryu answered simply. "And I know that she was never for me. You two are made for each other. Easy to see", Ryu said and smiled at him. Haru wondered about this, because all in all Rin and him hadn't all that much displayed their relationship throughout the evening. "You complete her in many ways. And she completes you just as much. It is a perfect match, made in heaven".
"Even though our god will never approve", Haru mumbled more to himself, but not quiet enough and Ryu gave him a funny look. "Never mind!".
"I hope to find that someday. To share with someone what you have", Ryu said softly and lifted his glass to him. Haru answered the same way and said:
"Well, maybe not exactly the same, but I'm sure there's someone out there for you, who's your perfect fit".
"Oh! A toast!", Yumi cried and jumped up, making everyone laugh, but still lifting their glasses. "To friends and freedom for the next 3 month!", Yumi said. "And to Haru, who has joined our forces against ignorance and educational deniers!". Everyone laughed.
"To us! May our forces stand strong against the drowning flood of facts and medical abbreviations".
"To fun and laughter. May we never run out of it", Jiro said.
"And may the laughter never be directed on us", Hitoshi added.
"And to love! May established relationships only grow stronger and may those of us who are yet to find that special someone won't have to wait too long", Ryu joined in the fun.
"To the future, then!", Rin added softly and lifted her glass to Haru, meeting his eyes over the rim of her glass, they both sharing a smile.
"To the future", Haru echoed and drowned his glass in synch with the others.
And even though this was just a small step on a long way, they knew whatever came their way, they would figure it out.
They were worth it.
%%%%%
The End
%%%%%
AN: So, this is it. The End. Done. Finished.
I realize, there are still a lot of plots unclosed, but I like it that way and the ending I had planned originally didn't work out all that well for me.
This is good. There is room for growth into a future they can both cherish and that's what I wanted: A development from teenager to adults, who can see past initial reactions.
I hope you enjoyed the story and a final comment is always welcomed! I thank everyone of you who stayed with the story.
Now, this is Goodbye for Fruits Basket as far as I am concerned. I'm sadly not into this fandom anymore, and I feel a tad bit sad, because I really liked Haru and Rin.
Maybe I'll upload a few one-shots I've written years ago about this pairing, maybe I won't. Right now, I'll go and enjoy a glass of wine.
Cheers! And take care, everyone!
Joey
