Broken Inside Part 3

Taka's secret was out there for the entire school to see now. He had hoped that it wouldn't go any further than the others who had been at the sleepover. Monday morning had been the same as usual and it wasn't until lunch that anything happened. He had been on his way outside to look for a quiet place to eat when he heard someone calling his name.

He had honestly thought for a minute that Akira was going to apologize again and that would be the end of things. Instead of breaking up with him quietly Akira had kissed him in the middle of the hallway. Not just any kiss either, but a kiss that had left Taka weak in the knees and gasping for breath. Several students had stopped to gape at the sight of one of the soccer teams star players practically molesting another student.

It wasn't until a teacher had come along and threatened them with detention that Akira pulled away. He took Taka by the hand and led him to the lunchroom, were they sat with many of Akira's teammates. This was the first time that Taka had actually been inside the large and overcrowded room. He tried sitting quietly eating his lunch but everyone kept talking to him, trying to make him part of the discussion.

Not having ever played soccer or really any sport Taka was lost most of the time. When they started talking about movies though he was finally able to join freely. A group of them were planning to go to the theater that weekend to see a new movie and invited Taka to join them.

"Seriously Tomo?" Akira asked, irritated. "If you want somebody to go with you fine, ask Kouyou or something."

"What's the matter Akira, jealous?" Tomo had teased.

"Of you? No way. You're ugly as shit and smell twice as bad."

"Yeah, okay. I've been close enough to you after practice and games to know how bad you smell."

"Mine washes away in the shower. Yours just kinda lingers and follows you around like a fog though," Akira laughed.

"Sorry Taka, I'm gonna have to beat the hell outta your boyfriend here. Sure you be with a guy who doesn't know when to shut his mouth?"

"Better that than a troll like you."

"Seriously Taka, what do you see in this guy?"

"What the hell Tomo? Every girl I ever dated you had tried to steal away from me. Now I'm with Taka and you're going to flirt with him?"

"Well he is pretty damned cute," Tomo teased.

"Enough," Kouyou said as he noticed the blush spreading on Taka's face. "Both of you sit your asses down and eat before the bell rings. I don't want to hear any complaints about being hungry at practice this afternoon."

"You're adding another practice?" Akira moaned as he sat back down.

"Yes. Every day after school until the championship games are over."

"Every day?" Tomo whined.

"Until the end. This is the farthest we've made it and I want our team to go all the way. So we're doing double practices every day."

"Double?" the whole team cried.

"Suck it up boys," Kouyou said in a tone that said not to complain.

The rest of the lunch period passed quickly and Akira walked Taka to class. There was another, briefer but no less intense kiss, before Akira raced away as the bell rang. Taka walked into the classroom and sat at his desk not daring to make eye contact with anyone. Halfway through the period the teacher was writing instructions on the board and Shion, the girl in front of Taka, caught his gaze and smiled, giving him a thumbs up. He smiled back and she giggled a little before turning back to the face the teacher.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that the students here knew he was gay. Yuu was on the baseball team and it didn't seem like anybody really gave him a hard time about being gay. The entire soccer team had seemed fine with the idea of he and Akira being together. There had been a little good natured teasing but it was just that, teasing amongst friends.

After school got out that day Akira had dragged him along to watch the team practice. Taka couldn't see what the big deal was as the boys kicked and chased after the balls they had on the field. He lost interest pretty quickly and considered leaving but as he picked up his bag Akira glanced his way. When the taller boy smiled and waved at him Taka returned the smile and pulled out his reading assignment.

When the pactice was over Akira made his way to where Taka was sitting and collapsed next to him. He flung an arm over his eyes in a show of exhaustion and breathed heavily. Taka put away the paper he had been writing and took in the sweat streaks covering Akira's shirt.

"Um, Tomo was right. You do stink after practice," Taka mumbled.

"That's not surprising since Kouyou had us running every drill there is. He's going to kill us before the next game," Akira replied.

"When is your next game anyhow? I thought that I heard somebody say the season was over."

"Regular season is over. We're in the running for the championship though so as long as we keep winning we have a few more matches left. We play again this Saturday though. You want to come and watch it? You could cheer for me."

"I've never actually watched a game before."

"Seriously? Never? That's it, you have to come. Tell your folks you'll be gone all day and meet us here around eight in the morning."

"I live with my aunt," Taka said quietly.

"Well tell her then. Everybody meets here at the school and a lot of people follow the bus to the game. I've gotta ride the bus with the team but I'll talk to my mom and see if she'll take you."

"Your mother?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Um, did you tell her about," he trailed off, unsure how to finish.

"Not yet. But I will tonight. As soon as I get home, promise."

"And you think she'll be okay with this? With you being gay?" Taka asked in disbelief.

"Why wouldn't she be? She's always saying that all she wants for us is that we're happy."

"Yeah, my parents used to say that. They didn't mean it."

"Then they suck. Is that why you live with your aunt?"

"Pretty much."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Akira asked as he put an arm around Taka's shoulders.

"Not much to tell. They refused to accept that I was gay and kicked me out. My aunt came and got me and here I am."

"My mom's more like your aunt than your parents. She'll be okay with it Taka."

"If you say so."

"Just wait and see. I'll call you after I talk to her and I bet she's going to want you and your aunt to come over for dinner," he said as he leaned over and kissed Taka on the forehead.

"A-Akira?" a girl's voice interupted the moment.

"Shit," Akira swore.

"What's wrong?" Taka asked half afraid.

"That's Miko. My mom isn't the only one I forgot to talk to. Just give me a minute okay?" he said as he stood.

"Sure."

Akira took Miko by the arm and led her a short distance away from where he had been sitting. Taka could see hurt, confusion, and anger cross her face as they talked. She looked at Taka several times while Akira spoke to her, each time with more hatred in her eyes. Taka started gathering the rest of his things and shoving them hastily back into his bag. He had a feeling that this wasn't going to end well and he wanted to get away from the school before that happened.

"Hey, Takanori," Yuu said as he sat down next to the smaller boy.

"Um, hey Yuu. I was just," he gestured towards his bag lamely.

"Leaving huh? Can't say that I blame you with Miko about to explode."

"I need to get home anyways, it's getting kinda late."

"Yeah, I heard Kouyou was making the team run all kinds of drills today. So it's true then?"

"What's true?" Taka asked completely confused.

"I've been hearing a rumor around school that you and Akira are together now. Since I've known Akira forever and he's never once hinted that he was into guys I didn't believe it. I didn't think you were but then again we've only met a couple of times."

"Um," Taka stalled.

Both boys turned as they heard a slap and saw Miko storming away as Akira rubbed the side of his face. He shook his head to clear it and turned to grin bashfully at Taka.

"That could have been a lot worse," Yuu decided.

"It could have?"

"Yeah. Miko and Akira were dating and I guess she just found out the rumor was true too."

"Oh, um."

"That about says it all. Well now that I know for sure I need to take off. I'm meeting Yutaka after his finishes some research paper in the library. Hey, go easy on Akira alright? He's kind of a dork sometimes but he's got a really good heart."

"Thanks."

Yuu waved as he walked back towards the school building. Taka watched as Akira gathered up his sports stuff and talked to a couple of other players doing the same. He smiled to himself as he thought about Yuu's parting words. Forgetting to tell his mother and girlfriend that he had been pretty dorky on Akira's part. But the grin on his face when he helped Taka up and the warmth of his hug made it clear that he was a big hearted dork.

When Taka got home that night his aunt was already there for once. He sat at the table and pulled out his homework while she made dinner. As they ate he told his aunt about Akira and being invited to the game that weekend. Before she had a chance to answer him the phone rang and he excused himself to get it.

A very excited Akira was on the other end and as promised he had spoken to his mother as soon as he got home. Taka was surprised that his mother had, as predicted by Akira, not cared that he now had a boyfriend. Taka and his aunt were invited, which in Akira's words meant ordered, to come for dinner the next night. Taka told his aunt about their plans and she agreed.
For the rest of the evening Taka felt nervous about meeting Akira's mother and sister the following day. When he and Ando had together they had kept it a secret from their families. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to act since he had never done a meet-the-family before.
After his aunt had gone to sleep that night Taka gave in to the urge and pulled out the razor. The cool metal of the blade and the warm wetness of his blood soothed him like nothing else ever had. At some point in the night he cleaned up and covered the new lines on his leg. He slipped into pajamas and curled up in bed falling into a deep crimson colored dream.

When Taka and his aunt arrived for dinner the next night all his anxiety returned. Akira greeted them, stealing a quick kiss. He introduced Taka and his aunt to his mother and sister and they sat in the living room talking about general things until the meal was ready. Over dinner they discussed the upcoming game that weekend. It was agreed that Taka would ride with Akira's family and they would drop him off at home after the game.

Taka found himself relaxing as they had dessert in the living room and Akira held his hand. He almost choked when Akira's mother joked that she wouldn't have to worry about him coming to her and saying he had gotten Taka pregnant. His sister had joined in the teasing until Akira had blushed fiercly and admitted he was still a virgin. That had been met with a moment of silence before everybody had started laughing.

Things fell into a comfortable pattern after that. Taka would stay after school doing his homework during practices and afterwards Akira would walk him home. On the weekends he would go to the school and ride with Akira's family to the games.

When the team won the championship game there was a huge celebration that followed. Taka called his aunt to give her the news and let her know he would be late. She sounded a bit distracted but said to have a good time and they would talk when he got home. He tried not to let his worry show but his high spirits kept crashing down.

Akira walked him to the door and kissed him breathless as always before saying goodnight. Taka immediately noticed that all lights except the kitchen were off. He found his aunt there with her head in her hands, crying. Something had to be very wrong for her to cry, she was the strongest person he knew.

"Auntie? What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling beside her.

"Oh Taka," she cried and wrapped her arms around him. "It's your father. He's in the hospital."

"That's too bad," he said stiffly.

"It's his heart. They don't know if he's going to make it, hun."

"I'm sorry, Auntie," he tried to feel something other than apathy for the man who had raised then discarded him.

"He wants to see you."

"I'm dead to him. That was the last thing he said to me six months ago. While I was in the hospital myself after Ando was murdered."

"Taka, this might be the only chance you have to make peace with him."

"Or this might be his last chance to tell me what a perverted piece of filth I am. How sorry he is that he had to be stuck with trash like me for a son. That he never wanted me in the first place and my mother should have gotten the abortion like he told her to."

"Taka? Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"Because he's your brother, Auntie. Because I didn't want anybody to know how much my own father hated me," he said as he brushed away tears of frustration.

"Sweetie, I'm sorry," she hugged him close. "You aren't any of those things, no matter what he said. You are one of the kindest, most lovable people I've ever known. I have been so blessed to have you in my life and I love having you live here with me. Forget what my idiot of a brother said to you. Just be you and be happy and things will work out.
"I have to go see him unfortunately. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone though. Why don't I call Akira's mom in the morning and see if you can stay with them until I get home?"

"I can stay by myself, Auntie. I'm not a kid."

"Taka, you're not quite fifteen yet. If it was only going to be overnight or maybe a weekend it would be one thing. This might be a week, maybe longer."

"Alright, Auntie."

That night Taka took out the razor once again and bled until his tears ran dry. The next morning his aunt made the call and dropped him off on her way out of town. Akira helped him unpack his things into the dresser in the guest room in between stealing kisses.
Taka's aunt called him that night after she had seen his father. She called again a week later to let him know that the funeral was being set up and she would be home a day or two afterwards. He wasn't sure how he should feel about his fathers death so he settled for feeling nothing at all.