Since the last one took forever, this one took almost no time at all! Enjoy!

Part Six - Coming Out : Part I - Fai POV

I had never come out to anyone before. I had never needed to. Everyone just sort of knew that I wasn't straight based on the way I acted. Everyone, that is, except for my parents.

They were oblivious to that sort of thing. They thought the whole world was full of straight people and they were utterly and genuinely shocked any time they heard otherwise.

For example, when I was about seven, one of our neighbors divorced his wife because he finally decided he couldn't take her anymore. Not as a person, but as a woman. He liked men. She was furious, and so were my parents. This was the first time I had heard about these kinds of things. I never really understood what they had against homosexuals, but they certainly did not like them.

As fate would have it, it was when I was seven years old that I decided that I was homosexual. And before the divorce of my neighbors, I was ready to tell my parents, thinking that they would just say, "Okay," and we would get on with our lives.

Nope. I had to hold my tongue, and hold in my feelings until I was three times that age. But today I was going to let my feelings out, let myself out, and let them know.

I had written to my parents a month before to tell them that I was visiting for Christmas and that I was bringing a "special friend". When the reply came, expressing their excitement and asking what I meant by "special friend", I neglected to give them a straight answer and just told them that they would see on Christmas. I wouldn't tell them I was gay through a letter.

We expected to spend three days in Valeria, my home country, arriving on the 23rd and leaving on the 26th. Kurogane and I had put our money together to buy ourselves train tickets.

All the while, I was worrying to myself about what they would say, what I would say, and what I would do when they reacted. Kurogane could tell that I was anxious, but I lied and said I wasn't.

We packed the day before our train was to leave and prepared ourselves for the overnight train ride. We didn't have enough money to purchase any extras or treats for our train ride, so we just got the minimal package. Three meals per day, and a cot, pillow, and a blanket at night. For me, that was enough. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy any of the luxuries even if I was able to afford them. I was too scared. And once again, Kurogane could tell.

"If there's something you need to get off your chest, now's the time to do it, before we get there." he told me, looking at me in my seat.

I had already told him the stories about my parents and their homophobic ways. There wasn't really much more to say, other than reiterating the fact that I was afraid of what would happen to me.

"I… I don't know what they're going to say. I can't help but think that they'll hate me. And never want to see me again."

"Just don't worry about it," he told me, kissing me on the forehead. I brought myself closer to him, and he put his arm around me.

Though Kurogane wasn't so good with words, he was excellent when it came to making me feel better through his actions. Maybe it was just because I craved proximity to Kurogane, or maybe it was because he actually preferred speaking through his actions.

That night, we never slept on our individual cots. Kurogane took both blankets and pillows, and put me on his lap. One blanket for him, one for me. One hand for Kurogane's pecs, one for my side. And that is how we slept.

We had almost arrived when I woke up, still on top of Kurogane. Usually, sleep subdued any ill-feelings or anxieties that I had, but this time, they were doubled. Once I realized just how much closer I was to telling my parents about my sexuality, I began to shake in Kurogane's lap.

"Cold?"

I nodded, lying again.

He brought me closer to him and rubbed me up and down on my side to try and create some friction heat. Truth was, I was not cold, and I thought I was going to start sweating soon. But we were almost off the train so I just bared it for a few minutes.

A taxi took us to my parents' house. It was a fairly small house, since it was just the two of them, and formerly me, and they didn't need a whole lot of room. But despite that, they had set out different areas for my "special friend" and I.

"Now, Kuro-puu," I said as we carried our luggage to my parents' door. "Remember to watch what you say around my parents, okay?"

"What are you talking about? And I won't have to watch anything if you would quit calling me that."

"Kuro-puu, you know you swear like a sailor. Please be careful around my parents!"

"Hey, if you're going to keep calling me that, then I'll say whatever the hell I want, dammit!"

I knew he didn't really mean that. He had more respect for others than what he said suggested.

"You want them to like you, don't you? You have to make a good first impression!"

"Tch, I know that. But can you at least use my real name when you introduce me?"

"Fai!" my mother exclaimed from inside when I knocked on the door.

She didn't know it was me. She had only heard a knock. That gave me an idea.

"Where are you going?" Kurogane asked me as I dashed away from the door. I heard it open.

"Fai! Fai? You're not my Fai. Where is Fai?" I heard my mother say to Kurogane.

"Get your butt over here!" Kurogane yelled in the direction I had run.

Giggling from my little prank, I ran over to hug my mommy, who, relieved, warmly received me. My father stepped into view not long after and we all three hugged together as a family.

"We've missed you, Fai!"

"Oh, mom, dad, this is Kuro-puu!" I introduced him, knowing he was probably feeling a little awkward not being a part of anything.

"Dammit, that is not my name!" Kuro-puu yelled at me. "I told you to use my name!"

"And I told you not swear, Kuro-puu!" I whispered to him, even though everyone could hear me.

"Is this your "special friend", son?" my mother asked.

"Yes, mommy!"

"And my name is Kurogane. Kurogane Suwa." Kuro-puu said, bowing to each of my parents.

"He's such a gentleman!" mommy said.

"He sure is, son! You two must be pretty close friends!"

"Yes, daddy! We're very close!"

"I'm glad you've got a good friend, son. Now, let's get you two out of the cold and let me show you each to your rooms. Your mother is just finishing dinner."

My space was my old room. It was just as I had left it almost three and a half years ago when I had to leave for college. I missed my old room, my old bed, and all my old toys I had to leave behind. I got a little too comfortable as my father showed Kurogane to his room, the guest room, and I almost fell asleep. What woke me up was something I had meant to tell my parents about Kurogane.

"Mom? Dad? Can you come here for a second?"

They promptly came into my room.

"Ah, I miss that. You calling us for things. What is it, Fai, dear?"

"Just something I need you to keep in mind while Kurogane is here. Can you please not talk about… parents? I know his father isn't around anymore, and I'm not sure about his mother, but just as a precaution, could you please not ask him about his parents? I don't want things to get awkward, you know."

"Oh, most certainly, son!" my mom said. "Thank you for telling us. I was just about to ask him what his parents were like!"

"Then he told us just in time. Thanks for the heads up, son."

My parents left my room, and not soon after, dinner was ready. We talked about anything and everything, (except, of course, for parents) from what we were doing at college to how we liked our eggs. My mother planned on making a big, yummy Christmas breakfast. Another subject was a little more personal.

"So, son, you got a girl yet?" my dad asked me.

"No, dad," I laughed. "Not yet."

Kurogane looked up from his porkchop at me for a split second. We had already gone over when I was going to come out to my parents. Tomorrow. Over Christmas Eve dinner, just in case they were not accepting, at least I wouldn't be ruining their Christmas Day.

"What about you, Kurogane?" my dad asked him. "I know the girls must be all over you like bees on honey!"

I had never really thought about that. Did girls like Kurogane? I had never heard of a case where one did.

"I don't have a girlfriend," he answered truthfully.

"You must want one, though. I mean, who would be able to resist those muscles of yours?"

That was a little awkward for me to hear my mother say. I could tell my father didn't really like hearing her say that either, especially considering the fact that, while he wasn't fat, he wasn't very muscular either, even though he had been trying for years.

"Don't pester him about it!" my dad said. "He's probably focusing on his studies like a smart boy!"

"Yes, Kuro-puu is very smart!"

Kurogane took a very vicious bite of his porkchop at the nickname. I laughed, as did my parents.

That night, I got all cozy and snuggled up in my old bed. I missed it a lot, but now, something else was missing. Every night for the past few months, I had been sleeping with Kurogane by my side, wrapped up in his arms or on his chest, with his heartbeat sending me to sleep. It was odd, sleeping alone once again, but I knew I couldn't sleep with Kurogane in the room, or give him a good night kiss as I had become accustomed, for fear that my parents might see.

Ah, my parents. They really did love me. And I hoped with all my heart they still would when I told them tomorrow about me. I hoped that they would accept their son. Their gay son.

Is the suspense eating away at your very soul? If so, I am sorry for your loss, but you'll just have to wait a couple more days! But luckily, not very many days.