Chapter 6: Takahiro

It hurts.

The thought had burned itself into Takahashi Misaki's mind.

It hurts…

Someone...anyone…

Help.

Each breath felt painful, and his head felt unbearably heavy as if someone were pressing down on it with great force - draining almost all of Misaki's strength as he struggled to stay conscious.

He couldn't open his eyes, much less move his body. If Misaki had any strength remaining in his body, he would've cried. He felt himself slowly drifting away, and a sudden terror ripped through him -

What if I don't wake back up?

Misaki began to panic and his breathing hitched, making it even more painful as he struggled for air as he breathed through his nose.

Against his will, he still felt himself become weaker and his frantic thoughts began to become fuzzy before he finally fell unconscious.

Somebody...help me.

Takahiro anxiously waited at Misaki's bed side, waiting for any movement or sign that his brother would wake up. He tapped his feet impatiently, fiddling awkwardly with his hands in the silence of the room.

When Takahiro had requested Misaki have his own room, Nowaki had been confused as to why he would ask to separate the two.

"Takahiro-san," Nowaki had said. "Wouldn't you much rather keep them together? I mean, they seem to be awfully close-"

"No." Takahiro had interrupted. "I mean...no...I, I think it would be much less stressful on Misaki if he were to be in a room by himself...like you said, we have no idea what's going to happen when he wakes up…"

The doctor had eyed him curiously. Takahiro could tell that he wasn't buying a word of what he was saying, but if he had any doubts, the doctor must've shrugged them off. With Aikawa's permission as well, he had had the nurses move Misaki to a new, more private room to stay in.

Misaki had been moved to the opposite end of the hall, though it was not as far away as Takahiro would've liked, the doctor had told him it was the only other room left open where Misaki would have privacy.

The small room, unlike the previous one, had a very large window that overlooked the hospital grounds. Mid morning sunlight was peeking into the room between the curtains, the soft light resting on Misaki's sleeping face.

In this state, the young boy almost looked child like. Takahiro smiled to himself, thinking of the countless mornings that he had woken Miskai up in the morning for school when he was a child.

"Nii-chan! Do I have to go to school today~?" he remembered Misaki asking.

"Well, of course you do, Misaki-kun!" he said.

"How else will you learn and go to college?"

Misaki pouted. "But school is hard, Nii-chan. You didn't go to college, so why do I have to then?!"

Takahiro's smile didn't waver.

"Because, Misaki-kun, I'd rather stay here and take care of you! Family needs to stick together, remember?"

Misaki had lowered his eyes down at the floor.

"...I guess. But...I wish Mom and Dad could've stuck with us, too."

Takahiro had frozen at Misaki's words. He had rested his hands on the small boy's shoulders and knelt down to meet his eyes with a grave expression.

"Misaki, we've talked about this. Mom and Dad can't come back, okay? So that means we have to stay together, no matter what. And that also means you have to live your life to the fullest like they would've wanted you to." He said. The little boy had nodded, tears in his eyes.

"Now, go get ready for school, Misaki-kun! You don't want to be late." he said.

Misaki nodded once more and rubbed his eyes. He rolled out of his bed and quickly began changing into his elementary school uniform.

"Don't worry, Nii-chan!" he said, placing his hands on his hips and puffing his chest out proudly. "I'll make sure to make you proud! Even if that means going to school even though I don't really wanna..."

Takahiro laughed as he stood up, making Misaki smile even wider. Genuine laughter was rare from his older brother.

Suddenly, Misaki had grabbed Takahiro's legs and hugged him tightly, his head barely reaching above his brother's legs, causing him to wobble slightly.

"Misaki-kun…?" he asked curiously.

"Don't worry, Nii-chan." Misaki mumbled into his brother.

"I'll make sure that I'll never do anything to make you sad again."

Takahiro was stunned at the words that came from the child as he pulled away from him.

Misaki scurried to the door of his bedroom and opened it before pausing to look back at Takahiro.

"Hey...Nii-chan...is it okay if I make you breakfast today…?"

Takahiro gently placed his hand atop his present brother's head.

"You sure have changed, huh…" he said to no one in particular.

Misaki remained asleep. Takahiro sighed, as if it would let out all of the frustrations and anxieties he had been through in the short time. He leaned back in his chair and began to think about when times had been so much simpler.

When he was just a simple man, with a simple girlfriend and a simple, loving family.

Until the night that changed everything, when his parents had been driving home on that rainy night and crashed. Both of them had died on impact, and in an instant, Takahiro and Misaki's lives had changed drastically. Takahiro had had to give up his dreams of going to Mitsuhashi University in order to take care of Misaki who, age eight at the time, would've been put into foster care or taken in by another family member.

Takahiro had then spent the next ten years taking care of his little brother, along with the support of his girlfriend at the time, Minami and-

He gasped slightly, clenching his fists at the thought.

And his best friend...Usami Akihiko, or as Takahiro called him, Usagi-san.

Akihiko had become Takahiro's friend in high school, and the two in no time had become very close. Akihiko was a smart, scholarly guy who seemed very reserved and intimidating when you first met him, but over time as Takahiro got to know him, he realized that Akihiko was actually very kind and compassionate. He almost always gave him hugs or touched his shoulder, and was always looking out for him or trying to buy him things he needed, since Akihiko himself came from a wealthy background.

He had always treated him, Takahiro realized, like a treasure.

Treasure me...he thought.

But, wouldn't that mean he…

No, no way! He just treasured our friendship, not me specifically...

He paused, suddenly remembering Aikawa's words

He was in love with you, you just never noticed…

"NO." Takahiro said out loud, a little louder than he had intended.

"No…" he said more quietly.

No, he was just close to me because we were such good friends.

Men can't fall in love with other men, men can't…

His eyes slid back over to Misaki.

His stomach clenched uneasily as he remembered the day Misaki had told him that he and Akihiko were together.

"Nii-chan, no, Takahiro...I...I'm in love with Usagi-san."

"What?" Takahiro had laughed. "What do you mean, you're in love with Usagi-san, Misaki-kun? I don't see a rabbit running around in here anywhere."**

He had continued to laugh until he had seen his brother's completely serious face. Slowly, he began to realize what his brother had meant.

"Wait...Usagi-san? He doesn't mean…" he looked at his best friend who, for the first time since he had known him, refused to meet his gaze.

"I'd say that I'm sorry, Takahiro, but I love Misaki, and to apologize for that would be like saying that I wished I didn't love him," he looked down at Misaki who was sitting on his left, with a look of complete adoration in his soft lavender eyes. "And I could never bring myself to say a lie so blatant or terrible as that."

Misaki's cheeks flamed at his comment, and they grew even hotter as Akihiko took his hand.

Takahiro had slowly began to process both the men's words, and the heavy meanings that they carried. All jokes and laughter had left his body, realizing that if his little brother were serious, that that would mean all of his hopes for him to get his own house, his own family - they would all be shattered.

"How long has this been going on?" he whispered, still in shock.

Misaki fidgeted uncomfortably where he sat, looking guilty and ashamed as he stared intently at his feet to avoid eye contact with his older brother. Out of the corner of his eye, Takahiro could've sworn he saw Akihiko give Misaki's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Misaki froze, before swallowing and meeting his brother's gaze.

"About four years, ever since I started school at Mitsuhashi University." he said clearly.

The three men were silent.

Takahiro's blood began to boil and anger filled his veins before he spoke again in a louder tone.

"So, what you're telling me, is that you've been lying to me for four years?" he asked, eyeing his little brother accusingly.

Misaki immediately shrank back at his brother's terrifying look before quickly nodding and hiding his face in his hands.

"I...I'm sorry, I didn't know how to tell you, I-" he stammered, but Takahiro wasn't listening.

He turned his attention to Akihiko who, unlike Misaki, didn't flinch at the man's gaze - he was far too used to looks of hatred and disgust from strangers and even family, that he easily kept a straight face.

Takahiro took it as a form of apathy, as if Akihiko didn't care about what he and Misaki had been doing - it set him off.

"And what about YOU!? Was everything you told me, about Misaki wanting independence, and not wanting to inconvenience me - were those all lies as well?!" he asked.

"Yes." Akihiko said simply, knowing that lying now was as pointless.

"We, well, mostly I lied so that Misaki could remain by my side." he bowed deeply. "I'm sorry for deceiving you, Takahiro."

"That's bullshit!" Takahiro yelled as he stood up, his knees hitting the glass coffee table between them and causing it to crash into Misaki and Akihiko's shins.

Misaki yelped in pain and grabbed his shins, and Akihiko too was momentarily stunned by the sudden pain. More concerned with Misaki's well being than his own, on instinct he took his hand and caressed the younger man's injured leg as if he could ease the pain.

This final display of affection set Takahiro's temper on fire.

"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" he roared, startling both men.

"Don't touch him, don't touch him! What the fuck have you done?! You've corrupted my brother, my brother - the one most important thing to me in the world!"

"And you've ruined him!" he snarled, walking around the coffee table and grasping the still stunned Akihiko by the front of his shirt, pulling him up so close to him that their noses were nearly touching.

Misaki was practically shaking in fear of the situation at hand as he weakly attempted to calm his brother down.

"N-nii-chan, I-"

"STAY OUT OF THIS." he yelled, causing Misaki to immediately shut down and tear up in frustration.

Akihiko grasped Takahiro's wrist, trying to ease his grip off of his shirt.

"Takahiro, be quiet or they'll hear you in the other room-"

"Why the hell should I care?!" he yelled, causing Misaki to cover his ears in fear of the loudness and venom in his beloved brother's voice.

"Usagi-san…" he whimpered.

Akihiko's eyes instantly darkened at the sound of his nickname in such a scared and pathetic tone.

He grasped Takahiro's wrist tighter.

"Now listen here, Takahiro. You can yell at me all you want, but don't you dare direct your anger at Misaki or where your own child in the other room could hear you yelling." he said in a cold tone, looking his best friend in the eyes wearing an equally intimidating expression.

"I won't allow it, and I don't know what I'll do." Akihiko's gaze never wavered.

Takahiro was shocked at his friend's words and the scary and serious look Akihiko was giving him. His shock quickly dissipated as a new fury built inside him.

"How dare you," Takahiro began, releasing Akihiko.

Akihiko stumbled backwards slightly, and Misaki quickly stood up to help steady him.

"How dare you be the one to ridicule me?!" he hissed.

Misaki and Akihiko froze, waiting for what Takahiro had to say as he stood menacingly as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

Takahiro waited, listening for any movement from Aikawa or Minami in the kitchen. When there was none, he spoke in a husky whisper.

"How dare you tell me I'm wrong?! How can I even calm down?! I just found out now that my best friend and my brother are in love? And all because of my decision to let Misaki stay with you…" his hands began to tremble slightly and he adjusted his glasses before continuing.

"All because...because of you...you…" he looked at Akihiko with a look of utter betrayal in his eyes.

"You, what kind of friend are you, anyways?"

Akihiko tensed, yet his face remained blank and void of emotion.

"Takahiro, I know what this whole ordeal must look like," he said carefully, trying not to provoke the man again. "but I never had any bad intentions in mind-"

"Oh, you liar." he spat, glaring at Akihiko.

He quickly shut his mouth, unsure of what would set him off and what wouldn't. He figured his best option would be to remain silent.

Suddenly, he felt a slight tug on his long sleeved shirt from behind.

Looking over his shoulder, he saw Misaki timidly looking up at him, one hand tightly grasping the cuff of his sleeve. He looked up at him, his large green eyes rimmed with red as if he were trying his best not to cry.

"I...I think it's my turn to talk, Usagi-san." he said as he slowly stood up from the couch, releasing the sleeve of Akihiko's shirt. "I'll do my best."

His voice was scratchy, as if it were taking all of his will to keep the sob from rising in his throat - crying was usually what Misaki did when he got upset, but it frustrated him to no end that no one took him as seriously when he cried.

Right now, he needed to get through to Takahiro. If he was going to do that, he needed to get him to take him as seriously as possible - every word that he was about to say counted. He wasn't going to let his emotions get the better of him, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let his Usagi-san get yelled at and chastised alone.

Akihiko nodded in understanding and let Misaki stand in front of him. He knew that with Misaki's pride, and the fact he never wanted to cause trouble for others, that this was what he needed to do.

He was willing to do whatever it was to help his lover, even if that meant stepping aside for him.

Misaki trembled slightly as he faced his brother who, now, was looking at him angrily - giving him a look that resembled one he vaguely from his childhood. Takahiro would give him this same look whenever he had done something he shouldn't have, like when he wasted too much food when experimenting with his cooking or when he had spent money on manga that was meant to buy lunch items at school.

Misaki shook his head.

I'm not a little kid anymore he thought.

I have to show Nii-chan I mean business! I can't let him look down on me!

"Nii-chan, please calm down and listen to me, please?" he asked timidly.

Misaki paused before continuing, his brother's demeanor didn't change.

"Nii-chan, what is it that you want to hear? What will make you feel better?" he asked.

The tension in the room was so tense it felt tangible as Takahiro collected his thoughts. He let out a shaky breath and licked his lips before answering.

"What I want," he said, looking at his brother with a pitifully sad expression. "What I want is for this to not be true. Please, just fess up. This is a big joke, right? Haha, well, if it is you can stop pretending now, Misaki-kun."

Akihiko looked at the ground, his long silvery bangs covered his eyes and the grave expression they held. Misaki, however, gave his brother a sad smile.

"I'm sorry Nii-chan, but I can't make you feel better."

"Because this isn't a joke, by any means. And it never will be." Misaki said firmly.

Akihiko peeked from under his bangs and caught sight of Takahiro's expression.

His fury seemed to have reached its peak as he began to walk towards Misaki.

"N-nii-chan…?" Misaki asked.

Takahiro replied by savagely grabbing the younger boy's wrist and yanking.

All three men had began to shout at each other as Misaki struggled to escape his grasp, and this was at about the same time, Takahiro remembered, that Minami, Aikawa and Mahiro had entered the room.

Takahiro twitched and lightly touched the cheek that Misaki had slapped. In all his life, Takahiro could never remember a time Misaki had shown any form of violence whatsoever, whether it be towards himself or others.

When Misaki had slapped him, however, he had been so shocked that he didn't know how to react.

He clearly remembered what had happened after he had left - when he thought that he had slammed the door on his friendship and relationship with his brother at the time.

When he had stormed out of the room, Minami and Mahiro were close behind. Minami struggled to keep up with her husband's long strides while keeping a firm hold on her child.

They were silent as they made their way out of the condominium, Mahiro's cries pierced Takahiro's ears as he struggled to think about what had happened. Minami remained silent.

People gave the trio odd looks as they exited the building and headed in the direction of where Takahiro had parked their car. Takahiro wasn't sure what expression he was making, but whatever it was, as soon as people saw him coming they quickly moved out of his way.

Minami gave awkward smiles and silent bows of apologies to everyone who had the displeasure of crossing them, though she wasn't so convincing as Mahiro screamed and writhed in her arms.

"WHY DID WE LEAVE MI-CHAN! I MISS MI-CHAN AND UNAGI!" the toddler screamed over and over, his face began to turn a bright red as tears streamed down his face.

"Shhh, it's okay Mahiro-kun, it's okay. Please, stop yelling." Minami said weakly, trying to soothe her child as his small fists hit her back and head.

Minami sighed in relief when the family had finally reached their car. Takahiro got into the driver's seat and Minami got into the passenger seat as she rocked Mahiro in an attempt to sooth him.

Takahiro gripped the steering wheel tightly and stared straight ahead, but didn't but the keys in the ignition. He drummed his fingertips against the wheel and let out an exasperated sigh.

Minami watched her husband with concern - she had never seen Takahiro get angry, let alone explode in a rage like he had only minutes before.

They sat there for several minutes in silence. Mahiro had finally calmed down and was now sleeping in his mother's arms. She waited a few more minutes before she began questioning her husband.

"Takahiro...what happened in there?" she whispered, not wanting to stir her sleeping son.

"What happened…?" he asked. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he began to chuckle. He looked over at her smiling, but with eyes that were not smiling at all.

"Well, the future that I had helped set for my brother has just been shattered before my eyes. And you know what else?!" he slapped his hands against the wheel as if he was trying to keep himself from bursting out laughing.

"It's all my fault, because I sent my brother to a house with a man who turned him gay!" Takahiro covered his mouth to muffle his laughter as Minami's blood ran cold.

"...so what you're saying is...Misaki-kun...is he…"

"Gay?" Takahiro laughed. "Looks like it! Hilarious, isn't it?"

Minami's expression went from shock to anger as she glared at her husband next to her.

"Really, Takahiro?" she said, making him stop cold.

"What?" he looked at her with an expressionless gaze.

"I mean," she began, gently rocking her son to keep him asleep. "Did you really blow up like that back there, just because Misaki-kun came out?"

He gaped at her.

"Minami, don't you understand? I want Misaki to have a nice, happy, normal, family of his own. But if he's gay, then there's no way he'll ever be able to have that! He'll be outcast from society, he can't get married, for God's sake he won't even be able to have his own children." Takahiro rambled.

Anger welled in Minami's chest as she looked at her husband.

"Well, did you talk to Misaki-kun about it? Did you tell him how you feel or even ask him how he feels?!" she asked, feeling just about fed up with everything that was happening that day already.

Takahiro blinked.

"...sort of? I guess...I mean, I think I said how I felt at some point, but I never really dug much deeper with it since I'm pretty sure he'll just grow out of this little phase soon enough." Takahiro rambled.

"Are you an idiot!?" Minami shouted, startling Takahiro and suprising herself as she covered her mouth. Mahiro screwed up his face and shifted slightly in her arms, but remained asleep.

"Really, Takahiro." she whispered more quietly this time. "You couldn't take a few minutes to let Misaki-kun explain himself? And what about Usami-san?! I thought you two were best friends! From what I've heard about him from Aikawa-san, he seems like such a respectable, charming man. What did he have to say on the matter?"

Takahiro was taken aback by his wife's sudden verbal attacks, and the fact that she didn't seem to be taking his side.

"Well...I, I don't really remember too well," Takahiro blushed a deep shade of red as his wife looked at him as if he were the biggest imbecile on the planet.

"I-I know he said something like he loved Misaki-kun, and Misaki-kun said stuff about loving him back…" Takahiro began to sweat at his wife's piercing gaze. He struggled to fix his obvious mistake in his choice of words, but each one seemed to just bury him deeper and deeper.

"I mean, I think all we'd have to do is find Misaki-kun a nice girl, and then everything should be fine, right…?" he asked timidly.

His wife just seemed to get even angrier.

"Oh, for God's sake, Takahiro! Let your own brother love who he loves, why don't you?!" Minami snapped, wrinkling her nose at him.

"Honestly, dear, is it really worth losing a friend and a brother over? Ridiculous." She shook her head at him, her long hair tickling the top of Mahiro's head.

"Oh, so you're taking their side, I see?" he said angrily. "So, it looks like my own wife won't even back me up."

He tossed his head to the side with a 'hmph'. Minami's own anger began to rise as she sighed in frustration at her own husband's immaturity.

"Look, let's leave this alone for now, alright? We can talk about it later when you're thinking clearly." she said, rubbing her forehead.

Takahiro nodded, and after Minami had put Mahiro safely into his car seat behind them, he put the key into the ignition.

The family pulled out of the parking lot and made their way back to their home, the sun setting behind them as they drove away, causing a soft glow to illuminate the condominium they left behind them.

Takahiro sighed and took off his glasses, pushing his overgrown bangs out of his eyes as he remembered the not-so-fond memories. He took a small cloth from his pocket and cleaned his already spotless glasses, his thoughts buzzing around in his head like a bad song.

He looked down at his little brother in his pitiful state. Replacing his glasses, he watched his brother's chest rise and fall as he took peaceful breaths, looking much more relaxed and calm then the last time he had seen him.

Yet, even though he was with his brother right now, he hadn't spoken to him since that time - he had had his cell and home phone numbers changed so that they wouldn't contact him. After a while, he hated to admit - he had started to regret his decision to change them.

He had brushed off this feeling with the excuse that he missed the spare time that he got when Misaki would watch Mahiro, but deep down he knew the real reason.

He missed his brother.

Looking at him now, he felt bitter that it had taken a serious accident for them to be able to see each other again. He gently brushed Misaki's long, thick bangs out of his eyes. Takahiro couldn't wait to see those familiar green irises again.

Though at first, when he had gotten the call that his brother had been in a car accident, his blood had run cold. His legs shook shakily as he remembered the terrified thoughts that had run throughout his head.

What if Misaki had died? What if he would have suffered the same fate as their late parents had - being victims to a dark, rainy night? What if, like their parents, Misaki would have died without Takahiro ever getting to say goodbye?

The thought itself scared Takahiro to his core. Shaking his head, he tried to get a grip on his emotions.

Misaki was going to live. And, if fate would have it, he would be able to get his brother back to how he was before. Misaki would live with him and Minami, even though Misaki and Mahiro would probably have to share a room.

Then, there was also the issue of Misaki's schooling and job to be considered, but Takahiro just pushed those doubts into the recesses of his mind. Honestly, he was too exhausted to think about nearly anything anymore at the moment.

It felt as if the whole world had begun to balance itself atop his shoulders. His anxiety had gotten worse recently and he was more irritable than not. He scratched his chin, feeling the slight stubble that had grown in the past few days. He looked at his reflection in the glass of the window.

He seemed much older. Lines crinkled around his almond-shaped eyes and his eyes seemed glassy and distant. His clothes were disheveled and he was in great need of a nice, hot shower, but he didn't have the motivation to take one. He was just so stressed that nothing really seemed to matter to him anymore.

He touched the glass, his reflection mirroring his movements. He looked at himself closer.

Geez, what's been going on recently?

He sighed deeply, and suddenly stiffened at the small sound of movement coming from Misaki's bed.

He slowly turned back around. His heart nearly stopped as he saw his younger brother begin to stir.

Misaki's eyes slowly opened. He blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the light. Takahiro didn't move.

Misaki yawned and rubbed his eye, gently sitting up and twitching in pain from his broken ribs.

He slowly looked around at his surroundings and immediately noticed Takahiro sitting in the chair next to his bed side.

"Nii-chan?" he asked, his voice hoarse from lack of use.

Takahiro's breath caught in his throat.

"Yes, Misaki-kun?" he said quietly.

Misaki looked at him with an extremely puzzled expression. His next question was nearly a whisper.

"Where am I?"

** "Usagi" translates to rabbit (just in case if you didn't know) so that's why Takahiro thought Misaki was talking about a rabbit in the house (honhonhon I'm so clever but not really).

HELLO EVERYONE I AM SO SUPER SORRY THIS IS A WEEK LATE.

I've been super busy and stressed lately, please forgive me ^^"

Anyways...

I really wanted to attempt to show Takahiro's side since I felt bad about making him into a huge asshole, but then again...I don't think I really accomplished anything...or made him look any better...

Oh well. I wanted to put in more horrible things for him to say but, it physically hurts me to write mean things ;A; (especially homophobic things...I'M A PANSY).

I also had Misaki finally wake up, yay! (Allison was probably going to kill me if I put it off any longer, though...)

I hope everyone is doing alright! And I hope I'll be able to update quicker...

-OopsIThoughtICouldFlyy

P.S. THE YOKOZAWA MOVIE AND LOVE STAGE! ANIME ARE COMING OUT IN 2014. REJOICE. 'TIS TIME FOR CELEBRATION!