Himawari: WOW! Thanks soooo much everyone! Those reviews helped me soooo much. I love you all! THANKS AGAIN! and this was slightly edited recently,and on to the next chapter!
IMPORTANT! sorta... just for your information this takes place about two to three weeks after last chapter... Miaka's graduation comes up soon! kk, read on my friends!
Rejection and acceptance
Hotohori didn't move, he couldn't move. He just sat with his brown eyes locked on his hands, currently gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles had drained of all color. He was certain his face looked remarkably similar and also knew that he just couldn't bring himself to tear his hands away. If he let go of the leather encased wheel, he'd have to get out of the car. And if Hotohori got out of the black car, he'd have to face THEM. He couldn't do this!
A slender hand gently closed over one of his own, jerking Hotohori from his brooding thoughts. He lifted his brown eyes to the face of his recent room-mate, long-timebest friend, and his one and only lover. Nuriko's deep, beautiful violet eyes held the same fear he was feeling, but it was overpowered by concern and silent support for Hotohori, and Hotohori's mood immediately lightened... if only in the smallest measurement.
He reminded himself he wasn't alone in this. Nuriko would be with him... even if his parents turned forever from their son... Nuriko would be with him. And that thought was enough to give Hotohori the strength he needed to step out of the car.
Nuriko, his hair pulled back in the ever-present braid, stood close to Hotohori, offering his love and silent support that the tall brunette desperately needed right now. Together they approached the door of Hotohori's parent's house. When they hesitated on the porch, Nuriko took a shaky breath and placed a firm hand on Hotohori's shoulder, gaining his lover's attention.
"Ready?" he whispered gently, knowing only too well what this would be doing to Hotohori's nerves. He'd had to go through a similar conversation with his parents after he'd discovered his... odd interests in men. They had eventually accepted him, however reluctantly, but he had no idea how Hotohori's parents would react.
Hotohori smiled weakly, his beautiful face bereft of it's usual confidence and strength. The usual light in his eyes was replaced by fear and sadness, making him appear uncharacteristically exhausted.
Hotohori squeezed Nuriko's hand briefly and nodded before turning to the door... and ringing the bell. There was no turning back now.
----with Miaka----
"All right, for the last time... you're 100 percent certain about this..." Miaka's counselor asked her... yet again.
Miaka couldn't blame her, choosing to switch colleges after you'd already chosen one was not something to be taken lightly and done on a whim. You had to be sure that you wanted to move before the counselor could do anything for you.
"Yes Ms. Kusanagi, I'm certain," Miaka affirmed, keeping her expression serious. "They have accepted me already... all I need from you miss is the transferrance of my transcript."
"All right then, dear. I'll have it taken care of by graduation next week," Ms. Kusanagi smiled as she tucked Miaka's transfer forms into a folder.
"Thank you so much miss," Miaka said, beaming a smile as she bowed and headed back to class. She felt so much better knowing that she would be spending her college years near Tasuki.
The two friends had grown closer over the past couple of weeks... going to movies and hanging out with her friends... Miaka had even asked Tasuki to escort her to prom, and didn't miss the way he had so willingly agreed. It had been... fun! Miaka felt herself finally starting to loosen up again, even though the wound to her heart was still pretty fresh.
Tasuki helped out in that area too. Every time Miaka went somewhere that Tasuki figured she may run into to Taka, he went with her to make sure it didn't happen. And every night Miaka felt lonely or sad, Tasuki would stay with her... with her mother's knowledge of course.
Miaka was so grateful forTasuki's support and protection, and for the first time in a while... she was looking forward to her graduation.
----with Hotohori----
"Y-you... WHAT?" Hotohori's father exploded, launching to his feet from the couch where Hotohori's mother sat in shock.
"I'm in love with Nuriko," Hotohori responded, trying to keep his voice from trembling. "We're moving in together... I thought, that the two of you deserved to know..."
"Hotohori..." his mother's voice was barely audible. "Oh, dear, I-"
"QUIET!" his father bellowed, silencing the woman still seated beside him. His red face and rage filled eyes turned back to Hotohori and Nuriko as they sat quietly, expecting the worst.
"Get out," his voice was a hiss that managed to escape through clenched teeth. When Hotohori didn't move at first,the mangrabbed Nuriko by the arm and hauled the purple haired boy to the door.
"GET OUT! HOW DARE YOU HAVE EVER MADE YOURSELF WELCOME IN THIS HOUSE! GET OUT!" the man bellowed, dragging the frightened Nuriko along. Hotohori and his mother leapt to their feet, Hotohori automatically moving to remove Nuriko from his father's grasp. His father flung Nuriko out onto the porch, where the purple-haired boy barely managed to keep his footing, before the man turned to Hotohori.
"You son of a bitch!" he hissed in his son's face, his eyes burning with rage, betrayal, and disgust. "You are dead to this household! Get out, and never show your face hear again!"
"F-f-father, I-I," Hotohori stammered, but was caught off gaurd by his father grabbing his long brown hair, and flinging Hotohori out on the porch. Nuriko kept his lover from tripping and steadied him as Hotohori stared horrified at his father.
They got a brief glimpse of his father's disgusted face and his mother's pleading and horrified look before the door was slammed in their faces.
Tears streamed unheeded down Hotohori's face, his whole body shaking with emotion.
"Hotohori," Nuriko breathed, unable to imagine the pain his love must have been feeling. Hotohori's blank gaze turned to look at Nuriko, before he collapsed against his lover's chest.
----a few hours later in Hotohori's house----
Hotohori slowly opened his eyes, flinching when they were assaulted by light. It took him a moment to adjust, before he noticed Nuriko gazing down at him with concern and pain etched in his violet eyes. Hotohori noticed how much like an angel Nuriko looked at that moment... the light pooling behind his head, gracing his fair features with an almost other-worldly glow.
"Hotohori?" Nuriko checked, making sure his lover had come back to concioussness. Hotohori almost smiled, but then the memories of his recent confrontation with his parents rushed back to him, and he started crying almost immediately.
Nuriko menuevered Hotohoi so that he was sitting up with his head on Nuriko's shoulder. Nuriko did his best to confort his disstressed lover, but knew there was little he could do at this time.
When Hotohori's cries began to die down... Nuriko had an idea. What Hotohori need right now was not his love, but love from a different source.
"Hori, love," Nuriko started. "Come on... we need to go somewhere."
Hotohori looked up into Nuriko's eyes, suprise written on his tear-stained face.
"Now?" he checked, his voice cracking slightly. The sound seemed to resolve whatever decision Nuriko had just made.
"Now," he said firmly, but gently as he led Hotohori out to the car.
They rode in silence for a while, neither man really willing to talk about the rejection Hotohori had faced. Nuriko looked over at his dejected lover and sighed. He could only hope that the acceptance Hotohori needed, would be provided once they'd reached their destination.
"Nuriko, why did you bring me here?" Hotohori asked as he looked up at the house of Nuriko's parents. His lover rang the door bell and then hooked his arm with Hotohori's.
"Just trust me," Nuriko said, tipping up to place a kiss on Hotohori's cheek. There were footsteps from beyond the oak door, and then a small, but beautiful woman answered the door.
"Yes?" she checked... but then her familiarly violet eyes grew big with recognition. "OH! Nuriko, you're home!"
The woman threw open the door and flung her arms around her son's neck. Nuriko gladly returned the hug, smiling broadly.
"OH, and Hotohori dear! Nuriko told us the news... It's good to see you dear!" Nuriko's mother then proceeded to throw her arms around Hotohori and kiss him several times on the cheek. All the while, Nuriko stood back, grinning in triumph as Hotohori's face lightened slightly.
Nuriko's mother lead them inside where Hotohori recieved a warm welcome from Nuriko's father and older sister. Hotohori smiled weakly at Nuriko, letting his lover know that he truely appreciated this.
Nuriko smiled, his plan creating the desired effect of showing Hotohori that he still belonged to a family... and one that would always love him... no matter what. The lose of his parents support would still hurt Hotohori for a long, long time to come... but at least Nuriko knew there were ways he could alieviate that pain... if even for a moment.
----a few weeks later----
Miaka hugged her mother again, promising for the thousandth time to write a letter every week and to call if she needed anything... anything at all! Her mother managed to smile, but tears were continuously streaming down her face. Miaka hugged her brother as well as Tasuki said his goodbye's to her mother, promising the woman that he would keep her daughter safe and out of harm's way.
"Take care of her for us, k Tasuki?" Keisuke, Miaka's brother, said as he shook Tasuki's hand.
"You can coun' on it," Tasuki said grinning.
Miaka's mother gathered her into a final, tearful hug before finally allowing Tasuki to load her daughter into the car. Miaka waved out the window until her brother and mother were lost completely to her sight. Smiling broadly, she sat back in her seat.
"Excited, darlin'?" Tasuki asked, grinning his fanged smile as his golden eyes watched the road. Miaka laughed, a sound that always made Tasuki's own smile widen, and turned her brown eyes on her fire-haired 'protector.'
"Absolutely," Miaka grinned, meaning it completely for the first time ina month.
Himawari: So? What'd you think? Oh there's more to come... DUH! Like you couldn't guess that... I mean I haven't even gotten them together yet ;)! please review and many many thanks to those of you who left me suggestions... I hope I did your ideas justice! thanks everyone!