Disclaimer: Takaya Natsuki is the rightful owner. I'm merely borrowing her creations for my own diabolical ideals. No, really.

A/N: Head was buzzing with . . . ideas. Could almost not decide how to take things. Waaaahhhh, stayed up till past five in the morn' to write this! Am so gonna take a super long nappy time because of this monster! Don't worry . . . I went to bed before getting up and submitting this onto the website. Ah, I gotta say I like the weekends. XD

Life's Many Indulgences
Chapter 23: You Can

"The rain falls on my windows and the coldness runs through my soul. And the rain falls. Oh the rain falls. I don't want to be alone~"

"What are you singing, Kimi?" Naohito asked, one eyebrow slightly twitching in irritation. "And so early in the morning, too. We're gonna have our meeting soon."

It was well before the time school was to begin. Nearly two hours at the most, since the student council members had to do planning and organizing before lectures were to be conducted. Yuki, being the student council president had to be the first one here, and in doing so, open the classroom door to wait for the others inside. Right now Kimi had arrived (tailed by Kakeru) only minutes after Naohito had made his appearance.

She ignored him and continued on. "I wish that I could photoshop all our bad memories. Because the flashback, oh the flashbacks won't leave me alone~"

"Kimi, please," Yuki finally said when he, too, could not take any more of it.

"Lighten up, will ya? I was just singing one of my new favorite songs of all time. Ever heard of Utada Hikaru?"

. . . Although little did she notice she was singing in broken English.

"Who's that?" Naohito asked in a bluntly matter-of-fact tone.

Kimi gasped, eyes widening in disbelief. "Did I just hear correctly! Nao, you've never heard of her!" Naohito nodded in response. "Say, Yuki, you've heard of her, right?" Yuki also nodded in regard to her question. "So Yuki's heard of her, but you haven't, Nao? Don't your sisters listen to her music?"

"Probably. I just never pay attention to their interests."

"Why not? Sisters can be and usually are interesting people."

"I'd like to say there are some truth to your words, but there are none so don't speak utter nonsense, Kimi."

"Drop it, you two. The others are coming now and we need to get things done before school begins," Yuki said, cutting both Kimi and Naohito short (from arguing probably).

As the meeting drone on there was one single thought within Yuki's mind, and it was irritating the heck out of him. Having not seen Kyo since the incident in the principal's office, Yuki was now wondering what he was going to say and do once he ran into him again. Were they still going to stay as a couple? Or have Yuki's worse fears been confirmed?

However, there was no curving around it. If Kyo did not meet him at school today he made up his mind to go to his home to settle the matter later.

"You know, Yuki, as much as you don't want to acknowledge the fact you and Mizunashi are half siblings, think of what this will mean to him if you do not let him go."

Yuki stayed huddled under his blanket, wanting to hide more than anything else. Everything seemed too unbelievable. Everything seemed unacceptable. "But, mother, I've liked him for a very long time now. It hurts more than I can say . . ."

Mrs. Usuda sighed, a worn smile coming to her lips as she did so. "For the sake of you both, please, let him go, Yuki."

The earnest tone in his mother's voice rang out to Yuki's heart - he felt he could almost not refuse her.

"I'm trying to figure out what's going to be best for me and Mizunashi, but . . . but I don't want to lose him, mother."

"What makes you think he won't leave you simply because you refuse to let him go?" Mrs. Usuda asked. It dawned on her that perhaps he was told this more than once, but repeating something worthwhile thrice over was always better in the long run. "It would hurt more if it was done forcefully, wouldn't it?"

At hearing this Yuki fell silent . . .

XOXOXOXOXOX

. . . It was a shaky end to their conversation.

"Well, I suppose Ritsu and I will be going now. Thank you for letting us stay here for the time being - it's been quite fun."

"I am very sorry for causing you all so much trouble! I promise to be good on my next visit here!" Ritsu nearly shouted, eyes ready to leak tears. "I am deeply sorry for cutting that boy on the face with a kitchen knife! The memory of it still haunts me! If you see him tell him I said I am very, very sorry! I will make it up to him somehow!"

Mr. Mizunashi sweat dropped, but nodded his head nonetheless. "Yes, I will tell him, Ritsu."

"Thank you very much, brother!"

Shigure gave one final wave goodbye before he and Ritsu went out the door and towards his car. It wasn't his intention to intrude on his eldest brother for so long, but seeing as things were developing quite nicely in their home, he couldn't resist the ensuing drama that was unfolding. It was things like this he fed off of, and things like this that fueled him with his novels. But more so than anything he hoped everything was going to be all right for his little nephew. Yes, more so than anything.

"Hey, Shigure," Ritsu prodded.

"Yes, Ritsu?"

"Can we come back to brother's place again in the near future?" he asked. "I enjoyed staying at his home. It feels really cozy somehow."

Shigure chuckled. It wasn't surprising to hear his second eldest brother asking such a question. "I can see why you're saying this. Our own house is a bit gloomy without mother and father around, don't you think?"

Shigure would have lived on his own if it were possible, but since Ritsu was not the type of person who'd like to be alone, Shigure had no choice but to stay by his side. Kyo was out of the question, since he is married and has children. Shigure, on the other hand, was merely a small time romance novelist who spent most of his days lazing away at home, and enjoying the kicks he gets from torturing his editor with deliberately planned tardiness (in which were a complete lie, for he usually finishes them in time) with his documents.

"But at least I still have you." Ritsu smiled to himself, probably relishing the thought of it.

"And I also still have you, Ritsu. Now don't buck underneath your own two feet if things get a bit hectic back at home, okay?"

"Huh?"

"Ritsu, what I mean is you need to man up some. You're nearing thirty so doesn't it seem a bit silly to still be acting like a small boy?" Ritsu frowned upon hearing this, and Shigure could see he was getting upset but it was about time he said something. "You can do it."

"I don't intentionally mean to be this way! I'm so sorry!"

"Stop apologizing."

"I am very sorry! I won't do it again!"

Shigure sweat dropped. This was going to take quite a while, but surely, definitely, Ritsu can change.

XOXOXOXOXOX

"Ah, shit!" Kyo could see a long trail of females tailing him from behind, and it took all his energy to escape them. "Why the hell does this has to happen now!"

"Kyo, why are you running from us?"

"We want to help you with your love troubles!"

"Tell us who she is and we will make amends!"

"Yeah right," Kyo muttered under his breath, "more like mangle him to death if they find

out who it is."

Just as Yuki was walking out of the student council room, he noticed a long dust trail of smoke slowly dissipating in front of him. This was indeed an ominous sign, and he craned his head to the side to see a flash of red hair in the far distance. It was most likely none other than Mizunashi Kyo.

"He sure runs fast, doesn't he?" Naohito made note. "Wish I could run just as fast."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment, Nao?" Yuki asked, one eyebrow slightly quirking up.

"You're going to talk to him today, aren't you?"

Yuki stiffened for a second, but soon recovered and nodded his head. "Yeah. I'm not going to wait anymore. This anxiety is . . ."

"Eating away at you, maybe?"

"I . . . I suppose."

"You don't have to lie, Yuki, after have revealed so much to me already. Rest assured I won't spread word of this to anyone else, and it wasn't in my intention to meddle in your business. Yet," Naohito placed a hand on the center of Yuki's back, "it seemed like you needed a bit of encouragement, so I thought I'd speak up."

"In situations such as these, how can you stay so calm?"

Naohito shrugged. "Try being around my chaotic sisters for a while and maybe you'll learn the magic trick for it."

Yuki laughed then, trying to imagine how it "would" be like to have a bunch of loud, nosy (dramatic) sisters walking down the wrong side of the fence.

§MEANWHILE, KYO . . .§

"Dammit, why won't they freaking let up! Do girls nowadays really have all this energy to burn!"

Kyo had been running for a good 7 minutes now non-stop and he was getting dead tired, for he was nearly at his limit when it came to running. If he stopped now though, he'd surely get mobbed by these fanatical females whom who call themselves his 'fans'. When it seemed like all was going to go down to hell, a unsuspecting hand reached out for the red-head and pulled him to the sanctity of an empty (class)room.

"Ssshhhhh," someone whispered from right behind him. "Be quiet for a moment or else they might hear you."

"Yu-Yuki?" Kyo turned.

The sudden eye contact immediately made the gray-haired teen look away. For some odd reason he was feeling ashamed; he and Kyo had never done a single thing considered to be indecent, but having gone out on a date and being so close to one another then . . .

"I didn't expect you to--"

Yuki clamped a hand over Kyo's mouth when he could hear the sound of female voices near their hideout.

"I swore he went this way."

"I don't see him anywhere."

"Maybe he's gone down to the gym and is hiding in there somewhere. Let's go check there first."

"Okay! Let's go, girls!"

Once the commotion outside died down, did Yuki finally move his hand away. "Sorry."

"You've saved me from a bind once again, much like you did that other time. This is almost like déjà vu."

"I want to talk to you about something. All I ask is for you to answer me truthfully no matter how painful you think it will be for me, okay?" When Kyo did not consent to it, Yuki asked again, but more firmly this time. "Answer truthfully, understand? I don't want to be misguided any longer."

"What do you mean by misguided?"

"We are half-siblings, and," he paused, because it was beginning to feel very painful to even say, "and . . ."

"Are you all right?" Kyo asked.

"We can't be together anymore. There, I said it."

This was all too simplistic. Was it really going to be poof, up in smoke with only these words, Yuki wondered. What was Kyo going to say in response?

"Well, I never did really feel very strongly for you in the first place. It'd be stupid for me to say this isn't turning me into a jerk, but in a way, you telling me we can't be together anymore is sort of a relief to hear . . . Whether we are blood-related or not."

Yuki suddenly broke down then, because hearing the real truth was a bit mortifying. It would hurt, he knew, but he didn't think it would hurt so bad to the point where he had to shed tears. How embarrassing.

"Ah, geeze, I didn't mean to make you cry." (A/N: Haha, Kyo can be such a JERK! :wink: :wink:)

He fiercely wiped at his eyes with his uniform shirt sleeve, trying to dry them but to no avail. The tears would not stop coming down his cheeks. His eyes began to burn when he was beginning to rub at them a little too hard, and Kyo noticed this.

"Hey, hey, don't swell your eyes up from doing that!" Kyo reached for Yuki's arm. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

"As your half-brother I should understand the responsibilities of my actions. What we did together was wrong, and what we have done together cannot be undone. I've soiled you."

"Okay, you're starting to sound too much like a girl. Quit scaring me, will you?"

Something snapped . . . Like a tea kettle having built up too much pressure under the heat of a fire.

"I like you, Kyo! I will say it as many times as it takes until you believe me! I like you so much! People around me tell me to let you go, because having to forcefully do it will hurt! I know it will and does! But I like you so much that I can't, Kyo! I just can't!"

All of it; everything. Every word he said only minutes ago have gone down the drain. He was back at square one, back to the part where he knew he shouldn't be.

Kyo was confused. He answered truthfully and this was the result of all his words? Yuki looked so steely-eyed only moments ago, as if he was showing he could handle anything - having a complete meltdown now was not something he thought he'd ever see the other teen dropping towards.

"I believe you, you big crybaby." Somehow, the intense sobbing added with the unbearable atmosphere was making it all too much. Kyo was nearly ready to burst himself. "Stop crying, will you? If you don't stop, then . . ." One single tear streaked down the side of his cheek, and soon afterwards, many more joined it. "I don't want to end on bad terms. I can't return your feelings the way you want me to. I thought I could if I tried . . . I really did."

Things. Circumstances. In an ever-changing world, how was one supposed to adapt?

One year later . . .

§GRADUATION CEREMONY§

"Usuda Yuki."

A round of applause erupted from the crowd.

Motoko, the once former Yuki fan club president diligently clapped alongside many other people. She and the others never did get around to helping their beloved prince, but it was the thought that counts, they had all agreed. Something was not quite the same the day Mizunashi Kyo had returned. Motoko knew nothing of the situation, but surely it was nothing too serious.

"Mizunashi Kyo."

Tooru happily cheered from her seat, being seated next to her two friends Saki and Arisa. Shigure and Ritsu were also present, greatly showing their appreciation for their beloved nephew. Mr. and Mrs. Mizunashi were there too, and they couldn't be any more prouder of their son. He was graduating and guaranteed admittance to a wonderful college (which he studied his ass off for).

The ceremony in itself was brief, and every graduating student was relieved and saddened at the same time that their high school life was going to be over. They were all going to enter into college soon, and having already gone through tough entrance exams, the ending results were quite satisfactory for most, but not for all.

"We're finally officially no longer high school students, Yuki," Kyo said, grinning.

"Yeah, I know," Yuki replied, feeling quite breathless. "Ah, we're going to be adults soon."

"My mom's going to cook up some amazing dishes tonight in celebration. If it isn't going to be too much trouble, do you think you can come over?"

Yuki smiled. "I'm sure I can, Kyo."

No matter what the future holds. Just like at that time, I'm sure Kyo and I can get through any trial, as tough or unrelenting as they can be. Heck, I've gone through many ordeals I'd rather not re-count.

"Sweet!"

No matter what happens from here on out, I will work hard to strive for my goals. The crying me from that day understood something the stupid me from years ago would have never understood. That even though one bond disappears, a better, newer one will always surface. Yuki did not let up, and as compensation to him, I shall do the exact same.

We are brothers.

The End

"A/N: HOLY MOLY, I have finally completed this story! How was the ending? XD Was it bad? Good? Okay? The ending is probably not what most of you expected or wanted, but I feel satisfied with the way it is. I know I won't be able to please everyone, and there is so much I can really do as a single person. I feel Kyo and Yuki have finally let bygones be bygones, as you can see at their graduation ceremony. They both sounded completely on terms with one another at the end, right?

As for the one year lapse, I'll let you all ponder on how things went. But, I am hoping you all think things have ended well. Thank you for reading this till the end (that is if you have)! I didn't get many reviews, but that doesn't matter. I like this story a whole lot, and perhaps some of you guys out there do, too!

Now I gotta chug along to my other (neglected) Furuba story. M-rated, but if you can handle the big "M" then please do go take a peek? "Peering In From the Outside", here I come! XD Am going to be super delayed on it, just like this one. Just gotta take it off HIATUS status, haha. XD

Peace. :3