Standard disclaimer's reply.
A.L.E., this is for you...
Chapter 6: A Clean Slate
"Just because you saw Rukawa leaning over this Haruka girl it doesn't mean that he's kissing her!" Takoa riled at Hanamichi once he and Rukawa had arrived and been comfortably seated before the gleaming solid oak desk.
"Her name is Haruko, Jiya," Hanamichi corrected while glaring at Kaede who was seating stoically at the other chair. "Why didn't you tell me?" He hissed at him.
Kaede just shrugged apologetically, half amused at the predicament Hanamichi was into.
"Whatever!" Takoa retorted. "I did not help your mother raise you to be such an uncivilized urchin!"
"What was I suppose to do? Just walk up to them and ask?" Hanamichi countered sarcastically. "And besides, I was angry."
"Don't you take that tone with me, boy," Takoa warned his grandson. "Anger doesn't justify what you did! Kaede got home all black and blue! Didn't I tell you that your temper would be your downfall if you let it get the best of you?"
Hanamichi opened his mouth to speak but Kaede beat him to it saying in calm and diplomatic voice, "Jiya, what's done is done. And besides, he didn't walk away from me unscathed. I'm not completely stupid to just let him walk away."
"He almost took my nose off," Hanamichi seconded and Kaede rolled his eyes at the exaggeration.
Takoa sighed and looked at the two young men whose faces were still a bit tender from their previous fight. He was proud that by Nanami's second marriage he had gained another grandson. And Kaede's just as stubborn as Hanamichi. A whole lot of headache for Kai and Nanami, that's for sure. He just wished that he had another grandchild, a girl preferably. His eldest son in New York has a daughter but he can't see that little firecracker as often as he'd like. He just wishes that Nanami and Kai would just get on with it and get the job done. He took a deep breath, trying to find a way to keep these boys from each other's throats, and said, "Alright, I'll let this pass," Takoa began.
"But?" Hanamichi asked warily. "There's a 'but' there, I know."
"But you have got to promise me that to never, not in any circumstances you two find yourself in, to engage in any, and I repeat, any kind of fist fight without talking to each other about it first." Takoa said firmly, with a look that brooks no argument.
"Never?" Hanamichi echoed thoughtfully.
"Ever?" Kaede frowned and considered Hanamichi from his seat. "But what if he does something really stupid and it requires a sound thrashing?"
"Hey!" Hanamichi protested, taking offense.
"No negotiating, Kaede," Takoa said firmly as he steepled his fingers together. "Take it or leave it."
"Oh, what the heck, fine. I promise," Hanamichi said and threw up his hands in resignation.
"Kaede?" Takoa prompted.
"Okay, fine. Whatever," Kaede said and stuck out his hand to Hanamichi. Hanamichi took his hand and shook it firmly.
Takoa smiled to himself and knew then that a new bond will start between these boys, a bond that will strengthen through time and see them through the turbulence of life.
-----
Hanamichi was getting ready for bed in his new room. It was a bit cramped but he can try to live with it. He cranked Old Blue Eyes in his stereo and heard someone knocked on his door.
"Come in," he said as he turned down the covers and smoothed them out in a precise manner.
"Do you know that you are the neatest teenager in this side of Kanagawa?" Nanami asked him as she entered the room. Hanamichi just shrugged and smiled sheepishly at her, reminding her once again how her little boy was back then. But then again, Hanamichi is almost a man, a young man that she is proud to have raised. "Finally, a smile! I haven't seen one of those since I came back from New York."
"You were busy with other things since you came home from New York," Hanamichi pointed out as he tried to conceal the accusation in his tone.
"Other things mean Kaede and Kai?" Nanami asked as she sat down beside him and Hanamichi nodded slowly.
"I admit I was jealous of Kaede. I felt a little out of place when you started treating him as if your whole universe depended on it," Hanamichi said as articulately as he can. "I also got scared when you told me that you got married because it seemed to me that you forgot about dad."
"Pepper, I will never forget about your father," Nanami assured him and gathered his bulk in her arms. "He gave me you, didn't he? And you are the most precious gift that I received from him. You're my Pepper, the spice of my life, remember? Nobody can replace you in my life."
"Really?" he asked and looked at her dubiously.
"Really," Nanami affirmed. "You just have to share me with Kaede because he needs me, too. And, God willing, you'll have to share me with your future brother or sister."
"You're PREGNANT?!" Hanamichi cried out, torn between horror and amusement.
"Yes. I mean, no. Maybe, I don't know yet," Nanami answered, slightly blushing. "But I would like to have a daughter, a babay sister for you and Kaede."
After a stretch of silence, Hanamichi hugged his mother again and inhaled the scent that was hers alone. A scent that he would recognize anywhere and whispered, "I would like that, too."
-----
Meanwhile, Kaede was surfing the net in the other room when Kai knocked on his door and entered his usually cluttered and messy room.
"Oh, you're still up," Kai said and smiled uncertainly at his son. "The lights were out and I thought you were already asleep."
"It's still a bit early," Kaede said as he disconnected and faced his father. "Not yet past eleven."
"Isn't that a little late considering that it's a school night?" Kai said with a touch of reprimand in his voice and Kaede just arched his brows at him in askance. Then the dreaded silence descended upon father and son.
"Kaede, we need to talk," Kai said after a while.
"What about?" Kaede returned neutrally.
"I know I haven't been the greatest of father to you. To say that I've neglected you and left the caring to your nannies since your mother died is an understatement," Kai began.
"Damn right," Kaede muttered. "Your point is?"
"My point is, I'm sorry, I really am," Kai said sincerely. "Her death was so sudden and I didn't know how to handle my grief, let alone raising a two year old boy.
"I should've been there for you instead of busying myself with work. And when I realized my mistake, it was too late. You were already grown up and you don't need me anymore." Kai chuckled mirthlessly and ran a frustrated hand through his jet black hair.
"No, it isn't," Kaede said, breaking his silence. "I still have a lot of growing up to do. I still need guidance and maybe a little paternal discipline wouldn't hurt. Nee?"
Hopeful blue eyes met shy ones and that long ago bond between fathers that were severed by time began its mending. Kai held out his hand to Kaede and his son took it, clasping it firmly before Kai pulled him in a gruff embrace.
"I didn't know that a father and son talk was going on or I would've knocked," a teasing feminine voice sounded at the door followed by a mischievous snicker.
The two looked up and saw Nanami and Hanamichi by the bathroom door that connected the two rooms and broke off.
"Nami, how long have you been standing there?" Kai asked his wife.
"Long enough," came the flippant reply. "I was going to tuck Kaede to bed but it seems to me that you've beaten me to it." Nanami walked towards Kaede and gave him a good night kiss. "Night, sweetie. Pepper, go to bed. It's a school night and I don't want the two of you to be late tomorrow. Kaede, no more surfing, okay?"
"Oyasumi, Kaa-chan, Tou-chan," Kaede said and turned off his computer.
"'Night, Mom," Hanamichi said and kissed his mom and looked at Kai uncertainly. "I know that it's still a bit early in the game but when I get use to this arrangement, can I call you dad?"
Kai was surprised and smiled," Why not? As long as I can call you Pepper on occasion, of course."
"No problem," Hanamichi nodded and headed to his room.
Kaede was still awake after an hour since his parent left the room. He was staring at the darkened ceiling when he heard the bathroom door open.
"Psst! Kaede, are you sleeping?" Hanamichi whispered.
Kaede rolled his eyes and sat up. "What do you want?" he hissed back.
Hanamichi tiptoed and tripped on some garbage Kaede was propagating in his room and took a dive towards the smelly clothes and trash at the foot of Kaede's bed.
"You're a klutz, you know that?" Kaede whispered to him.
"What are you whispering for?" Hanamichi said and plopped on the bed. "Anyway, you really should clean your room. I think I saw maggots down there."
"What do you want?" Kaede asked the redhead again and regarded him with a glare.
"I want to apologize," Hanamichi said simply. "But don't mistake this for any thing else. I will still beat you for I am the basketball tensai insert the crazy laugh ."
Kaede just eyed him until his maniacal laughter died down. "Apology accepted." He said after a moment and added, "I want to apologize, too."
"For what?" Hanamichi asked.
"For losing my cool when I lost to you in that video game and for forgetting to tell you that I was about to go home," Kaede answered with a shrug.
"Oh, that. Yeah, sure. Apology accepted," Hanamichi said and silence followed.
Hanamichi was toying with the comforter and kept clearing his throat. He also kept opening his mouth as if trying to say something only to close it again.
"Spit it out, Pepper," Kaede burst out impatiently.
"You called me Pepper," Hanamichi said with childish delight.
"So?" Kaede said warily them added impatiently, "Just say whatever you want to say so you can haul your ass out of here and I can go back to sleep."
"Okay," Hanamichi said and took a deep breath as if mustering all his courage, he even closed his eyes tightly as blurted out his query. "Can I call you onii-chan?"
"No," Kaede answered flatly and glowered at him.
"How about 'Kaedenii-chan'?" Hanamichi tried again and received a dark look from the blue-eyed fox. "'Kitsunenii-chan?"
"Pepper!" Kaede almost shouted in exasperation.
"What? I've got to call you something. You are a good three month older than me," Hanamichi pointed out defensively.
"Three month is different than three years, aho!" Kaede all but snarled at him. "And Kaede will be fine."
"Kaede sounds boring," Hanamichi said and Kaede rolled his eyes. This is becoming a habit, he thought.
Just go back to your room and go to sleep," Kaede said and shut his night light off.
"Okay. But, uh, can you turn the light back on again?" Hanamichi asked and Kaede noticed a faint tremor in his voice.
"Why? Scared of the dark?" Kaede taunted.
"NO!" Hanamichi said, his voice slightly shrill and he cleared his throat. "I mean, no. I'm just a little claustrophobic when the lights are out."
Kaede snorted and flicked on the lights and turned to find Hanamichi a little pale, his amber eyes dilated in stark terror and it took all of his willpower not to laugh out loud.
Kaede watched Hanamichi make his way towards the bathroom and looked back at Kaede then at the mess in his room before shuddering dramatically.
"You really should clean your room, Kaede. Sooner or later, creepy crawlies will emerge from this wasteland you call your room," Hanamichi said and disappeared through the door, narrowly missing the pillow Kaede threw at him.
Three months later…
"Banzai!" Hanamichi hollered at the top of his lungs and splashed into the pool.
Kai and Nanami were celebrating their fourth month of wedded bliss and decided on a barbeque with their sons and Takoa by the pool.
So far, Kaede and Hanamichi are enjoying themselves playing Marco Polo and rough housing by the pool side.
"Pepper, Kaede, your kebabs are done!" Kai called out to the boys and planted a kiss in his wife's cheek. He was wearing a tall chef's hat and an apron that says, Kiss the Cook.
"Hey, that's mine!" Kaede protested. "Dad, Pepper slobbered on my seafood kebab!"
"I did not!" Hanamichi said. "I was just tasting it. IT needs a little more of that sweet sauce, I think." Then handed the half eaten kebab to a glowering Kaede.
"Dry off, boys, won't you?" Nanami fussed as she handed them some towels. "Now settle down. I've got an announcement to make."
"What announcement?" Hanamichi asked, his mouth still full of food.
""Pepper, don't talk when your moth is full," Nanami said automatically and looked at the rest to her audience, all smiles. "Remember that I went to the Doctor some time last week? Well he found out something."
"What did the doctor find, Kaa-chan?" Kaede asked, his ice blue eyes clouding with worry.
"We're pregnant!" Nanami shrieked her obvious delight as the men just gaped at him in shock.
"P-pregnant?" Kai stuttered in disbelief. We're pregnant?"
Nanami nodded and Kai let out a whoop of joy. "We're pregnant!" He announced as he jumped from his seat and danced a little jig that earned him weird looks from his family.
He cleared his throat and sat down once again and said in a clam and rational voice, "That's great news."
Hanamichi and Kaede just looked at each other as Takoa congratulated the couple and declaring that this new addition to the family be a girl then a smile broke free from their faces and understood whatever that had passed between them. After all, they are more than just rivals now. They have to think of the family ties that bound them together, making them brothers in their hearts..
Meanwhile on the other side of the globe…
"What trouble did you get yourself into now, young woman?" a beautiful blond American demanded her daughter who was sprawled at the couch, drunk with her Father's imported brandy.
"It's just a little misshap, Mother," the teenager said, the alcohol slurring her speech.
"Mishap? You call spending a night at the down town precinct a 'little mishap'?" Celeste Sakada asked, her voice ascending to a shrill. "Wait till your Father hears about this. You, young lady, are grounded. You will not use that ghastly little monster you call a motorbike for a…a month!"
"Shure, shure," the young woman nodded then paused, turning a little green then pressed her hand to her mouth.
Celeste's eyes widened then narrowed as the young woman retched all she ate that previous evening into the expensive Persian carpet that decorated the drawing room of their opulent New York town house.
"Forget about waiting for your Father's return," Celeste said as she helped her daughter upright herself and called the butler through the intercom from the wet bar. "As soon as you can stand on your own two feet, straight and sober, I'll arrange you a one way ticket to Japan, to your Grandfather."
"Wha?" Raeven Sakada stiffened as she heard the mention of the formidable head of the Sakada clan, Takoa and groaned finally, blissfully,passing out.
Author's Note:
Yes, I know that it's been six months since I had updated this fic and my apologies.
It's been a glorious adventure writing this story because all I wanted for these two is friendship…Now, a week from now, I will be uploading a story about a born hell raiser, not to mention a certifiable brat, and a young man on his way to redeeming himself from his past sins.
Now, imagine these two in the same room together where something other than anger permeates in the air…
Watch out for the first installment of Kanagawa in Love entitled "The Matchmaker's Perfect Match".