Title: Aftershocks
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: I wish the boys were mine, but they're not! I borrowed the characters from Takanaga-sensei
Warning: Language
Chapter 3
A few weeks passed and the two men were slowly getting used to the changes in their relationship. Today they were getting ready to meet Kanako to help her move to her new school. They were going more for moral support and to satisfy their curiosity about the school and where she'd be living. Since she'd be staying in the dorms, she didn't need anything other than clothes and a few personal items. Morinaga was looking forward to the trip. He liked and cared a lot for Kanako; she was just like a little sister.
"Hurry up Morinaga or we'll be late!" Souichi was stomping around the apartment, getting ready.
"Almost done," the younger man called out. He came into the living room, pulling on a jacket as he went. "Let's go, um, what are you looking for?" The older man was hunting through the desk for something.
"I bought Kanako a 'good luck at the new school' present and I can't find it!"
Morinaga chuckled under his breath, bent over, picked the box up off the coffee table and handed it to Souichi, "You mean this?" 'That's so cute!' he thought, 'I just love you,' came next, and then Souichi slapped him upside his head as he took the box. "Hey! What was that for? How mean!"
"You were having weird thoughts again! I can tell just by looking at you and we don't have time!" Souichi stomped to the door to leave. "C'mon, we've got to pick up Kanako."
'At least he didn't put much force behind it,' Tetsuhiro thought with a little smile. He hurried to catch up and snaked an arm around Souichi's waist. Tatsumi froze as Morinaga whispered in his ear, "If we had time would you…?" Tetsuhiro heard a low "maybe" before Souichi wriggled out of his arms and almost ran to the waiting taxi.
"Isn't the campus beautiful?" Kanako was so excited. She was starting a new adventure at a new school far from Nagoya. 'No more being compared to my brothers!' She glanced at the two men walking behind her. They were both gorgeous and she noticed how they were attracting attention. She found it amazing how two such complete opposites could get along so well.
'I guess it's true that opposites attract,' she thought shaking her head over the fact that her brother had a male lover. She didn't think she'd ever get used to the idea. However she adored Morinaga and actually thought he was too good for her bad-tempered brother.
"Let's go check out the cafeteria Kanako," Souichi called. "I could use a coffee. You've been dragging us all over campus, we need a break."
"Nii-san, you're getting old!" Kanako shook her head as Morinaga laughed.
"Then I guess we both are, 'cause I'm tired too," he called.
"Ok…the library's in the same building so I'll show it to you next." She turned around and headed back to the main quad while the two men followed behind.
Souichi groaned, "I won't be able to move after today."
The younger man smiled, "Moving to a new place and a new school doesn't happen every day. No wonder she's so excited. We'll be able to recover a bit since tomorrow's Sunday."
Souichi grinned while he watched the excited girl, "True, I'm glad we came today."
Morinaga sighed while watching his beloved. Souichi seldom smiled so openly and Tetsuhiro could never get enough of it. 'Damn, now I want to touch him! I know I can't…how frustrating.'
Souichi caught his eye, picked up on his mood, and frowned. "Mo-ri-na-ga don't make me kick you! Not here!"
"I know, I know!" Tetsuhiro moved a little away from his cranky lover. "I'm behaving…."
"Yeah, right," Souichi glared. "Keep it up."
After the three got something to drink, Morinaga and Kanako found a place to sit while Souichi went to the wash room. Kanako seemed a little nervous and after checking to see where her brother had gone she cleared her throat and asked, "Morinaga-san, is everything alright between you two now?"
Morinaga almost choked on his coffee at the sudden question, "Where did that come from?" he replied.
Kanako just gave him a look and then said, "You know I'm not stupid. You guys are so transparent! How do expect to fool people when you act so intimate towards each other?"
Morinaga could just stare. "Intimate? What do you mean? We haven't done anything. Ha,ha…ha…." he trailed off.
'He's not even aware of it!' she smiled at the older man. "It's nothing huge; just you keep forgetting and calling him by his first name. Nii-san leaned over once and whispered something in your ear. You ran you're hand down his back when you were pointing out one of the buildings and he didn't hit you. It's been stuff like that all day."
Morinaga started blushing and looked down at his coffee cup, "Oh."
"You know," Kanako continued, "at first I was shocked when I realized Nii-san was gay; I just couldn't wrap my head around it. But once I got to know you, I could understand what he saw in you and I definitely don't have a problem with it anymore. I just think of you as another brother."
"Wait a minute Kanako," Morinaga interrupted, frowning. "You've got you're facts a little off. Your brother isn't gay. When you first became suspicious, we weren't involved that way."
"Yeah, right; that's what Kurokawa said and I didn't believe him either. Why pretend? It's so obvious you love him."
"True, I do love him and have for over five years now." Morinaga went on, "But when you saw me kissing Souichi that time he wasn't aware of what I was doing and if he'd known, he would have kicked me down the stairs! At the time he was dead drunk or I wouldn't have tried anything. Our relationship didn't start changing until about a year ago and even then I wouldn't have called us lovers."
"So what's your relationship now?" Kanako leaned forward totally enthralled. Morinaga smiled at her curiosity.
"He's finally accepted my feelings and assured me he wants us to be together, but he still hasn't told me he loves me. Considering his orientation and how far he's come, I can be patient and wait for that."
"He hasn't told you he loves you!? That ninny! What's taking so long?"
"He has a lot to come to terms with. Getting around your sexuality isn't an easy thing. He isn't gay; this isn't natural or normal for him. And yet he still thinks enough of me to come this far! I can wait for the rest. I know one day he'll be able to admit it; I have faith."
Kanako sighed, "I love my brother so much and I want him to be happy. I want you to be happy too and I can see how good you two are for each other. Now that I'm out of the way I hope he'll move forward."
"Huh?" Morinaga was confused. "What do you mean Kanako-chan? Where does your being out of the way or not come into it?"
"You know our mother died when Tomoe and I were little?" she smiled sadly. "Daddy was traveling all over for his work so Nii-san took over raising us. He had the occasional girlfriend from time to time but they never lasted. As soon as the girls realized that we came first for him, they'd dump him. By his junior year he didn't try dating anymore he just concentrated on us and his studies. At the time I didn't realize just how much we interfered. Now thinking back it just makes me sad."
Morinaga felt the tears at the back of his eyes, 'I'm too sentimental,' he thought. "Kanako don't even for a second feel guilty about what happened! Sempai loves you two so much; he would never regret his choices. He's always lived his life the way he wanted and I don't think he has any regrets, so don't you have any either!"
He chuckled and looked around to see where Souichi was, "However, I am terribly glad things turned out that way 'cause it gave me a chance!" his eyes twinkled with mischief. Kanako laughed.
"After the stalker incident I knew he was in good hands with you! To me you really have become a member of our family. Just don't let him bully you too much; I know how selfish he can be."
"I won't," Morinaga replied. "I'm not a complete pushover."
Both men were quiet on the train ride home. Morinaga was mulling over what Kanako had told him and Souichi was remembering what he'd overheard. He was coming back from the wash room when he noticed the other two deep in conversation. He had gotten almost to them when he heard what they were talking about. They never saw him coming and still didn't notice when he ducked behind a column nearby so he could listen in.
"…That ninny! What's taking so long?"
"He has a lot to come to terms with. Getting past your sexuality isn't an easy thing. He isn't gay; this isn't natural or normal for him! And yet he still thinks enough of me to come this far! I can wait for the rest. I know one day he'll be able to admit it; I have faith."
'WTF! Why is he discussing this with her of all people! ?' Souichi thought furiously. Then he caught the next bit and his anger left him.
"I love my brother so much and I want him to be happy. I want you to be happy too and I can see how good you two are for each other. Now that I'm out of the way I hope he'll move forward."
"Huh?" Morinaga was confused. So was her brother, 'Why does she want to be out of the way? That doesn't make sense.'
"You know our mother died when Tomoe and I were little?" she smiled sadly. "Daddy was traveling all over for his work so Nii-san took over raising us. He had the occasional girlfriend from time to time but they never lasted. As soon as the girls realized that we came first for him, they'd dump him. By his junior year he didn't try dating anymore he just concentrated on us and his studies. At the time I didn't realize just how much we interfered. Now thinking back it just makes me sad."
"Shit,' Souichi thought. 'Morinaga will start crying now.'
"Kanako don't even for a second feel guilty about what happened! Sempai loves you two so much; he would never regret his choices. He's always lived his life the way he wanted and I don't think he has any regrets, so don't you have any either! However, I am terribly glad things turned out that way 'cause it gave me a chance!" his eyes twinkled with mischief.
'WHAT!?' Souichi's mouth dropped open.
Kanako laughed, "After the stalker incident I knew he was in good hands with you! To me you really have become a member of our family. Just don't let him bully you too much; I know how selfish he can be."
'Shit! What does she mean by selfish!' Souichi glared.
"I won't," Morinaga replied. "I'm not a complete pushover."
Souichi was ticked off by the whole episode. 'How could Morinaga say all that stuff? The nerve of that guy telling her we have that kind of relationship! Of course we do have that kind of relationship now, but that really is beside the point.' He also wasn't too happy with his sister either, 'I can't believe Kanako! I didn't know she felt like that. I never once regretted raising those two! They are the best part of my life.'
He looked over at Morinaga who was gazing out the window and in a world of his own; 'He looks worn out. I hope he doesn't start thinking weird things after his talk with Kanako. If he starts crying, I'll deck him!' as Souichi looked at the younger man it suddenly dawned on him that Morinaga was also part of "the best part" of his life. The realization made him dizzy. He thought he was going nuts but it was nevertheless true.
Morinaga heard Souichi gasp and glanced over at him. He was pale and staring at Tetsuhiro as if he'd seen a ghost. "Are you ok?" he asked his lover.
All Souichi could do was nod and look into the others emerald green eyes, 'Were they always so green?' he wondered. Morinaga reached out for the other man and covered his clenched hand with his own.
"You're sure?" His voice was low and his eyes held in them all the love he felt for this beautiful man sitting beside him. All Souichi could do was gaze back at him and try to come to terms with his feelings. Neither of them noticed the other passengers who were staring and whispering about the two young men holding hands in the back of the train car.
"Souichi…." his voice trailed off as his sempai interlaced his fingers with Morinaga's. Suddenly Souichi's eyes focused on the man beside him.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just tired."
"Well why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you when we get home."
Souichi nodded and let his eyes close. In minutes he'd drifted off; however never once for the rest of the ride back did he let go of Morinaga's hand.