Haruka's Fanfiction

This story is not canon. It is based in one of my wife’s and my RPG worlds, this one being set in a family neighborhood. The households are usually large, and are made up of some of our favorite fandoms.

Info/warnings here: http://asylums.insanejournal.com/sakuracourt/profile
Earlier chapters here: http://canadian-haruka.insanejournal.com/tag/sakura+court


Sakura Court – Part 10

By Haruka (haruka@ymail.com)

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“Blah blah blah and I can’t believe that blah blah blah and I don’t NEED this right now blah blah –!“

That’s all I was hearing as I stared out the passenger-side window of our car. My mother and I were on our way to murder – uh, pick up – my little brother, Hiroki. Kaasan was pretty incensed that my fifteen-year-old sibling had taken off without warning, prompting police involvement and a lot of panicking. He had no problem yelling at his only other available son about it all the way there.

“He’s an actor, for crying out loud! How does he expect to keep his appointments when he runs away? And all this over some RODENT?!”

“He WAS at work before he did this. That’s where he met the ‘rodent,’” I pointed out, earning a dirty look from my mother.

“I’m aware of that, Yuuta, thank you,” he snapped, then shook his head. “I’m supposed to be getting ready for my tour, I can’t deal with this right now.”

My mother’s ability to deal with anything personal had slowly been slipping away ever since my father left us. Hiroki and I considered our acting and music careers to be a blessing in more ways than one; they kept us busy and often, away from home. Kaasan’s own music career was flourishing as well, but the public didn’t see how he frequently broke down at home. He tried to be a good mother, and I knew he loved us, but I was starting to suspect that he wished we’d hurry and grow up so he could focus on his own life.

It wasn’t a very nice way to be living for any of us. I’m ashamed to admit that Hiroki and I were a little relieved that Kaasan would be leaving on that three-month tour soon.

I said very little for the rest of the trip and eventually Kaasan quit ranting, too. He was maintaining a tight-lipped silence when we pulled into my uncle’s driveway.

Aunt Jabi greeted us warmly at the door, hugging us both. “Yuuta, you’re so tall and beautiful!” she exclaimed. “You and Hiroki both sprouted up like crazy since we last saw you!”

We heard that a lot, especially from people who knew who our mother was. I guess it’s amusing when someone who is just under 5/4" ends up with one son who is 5’10” and another just over 5'11”.

But then, our father was tall … best not to think about him, though.

“Kimeru,” Uncle Kouga came in and hugged his brother, then me.

“It’s good to see you both,” Kaasan said, then sighed, “I’m just sorry about the circumstances and that Hiroki has involved you in this.”

“It’s all right, we’re glad he felt he could come here,” Aunt Jabi said. “Come in and sit down.” She went to the foot of the stairs. “Hiroki!” she called up. “Your mother and Yuuta are here!”

We went into the living room and Hiroki joined us a couple of minutes later, looking uneasy. “Hi Kaasan,” he said quietly.

Our mother went over and hugged him, then shook him. “How could you do this to me, Hiroki?! Didn’t you realize I would think the worst? You’re a public figure – anything could have happened to you!”

“I know, I’m sorry,” he said in a subdued voice. “I just wanted to keep Squirkers so badly and I panicked.”

Kaasan looked exasperated. “You’re old enough to realize that we can’t get everything we want, and you know pets aren’t allowed in our apartment.”

“But we could move HERE!” my brother said hopefully. “There are houses available!”

“Hiroki, stop it! I’m about to leave in less than a week to go on tour for three months! I can’t be taking on a major move right now and that’s final. Now go get that guinea pig; we’ll have to take it to the animal shelter on our way home.”

Hiroki’s mouth fell open. “No!” he protested. “They’ll end up putting him to sleep there, I won’t do it!”

Kaasan slapped my brother across the face. We all froze in shock, including the two of them. Finally, Hiroki’s face crumpled and he started to run from the room but I caught him and pulled him against me. He buried his face in my shoulder and I held him.

“Hiroki –“ Kaasan began, then put a hand over his mouth like he was going to cry, too.

“Kime, come with me,” Uncle Kouga took him gently by the shoulders and steered him out of the room. I stroked Hiroki’s hair softly and crooned to him, trying to be strong and supportive while feeling sick inside.

“Come on, let’s sit down.” I brought Hiroki to the sofa and sat with him. “You okay?”

He wiped his eyes and nodded. “Kaasan never slapped us before,” he said softly. “Was I so wrong, Yuuta? Wanting to save Squirker’s life?”

“No, but Kaasan’s right about the apartment and the tour. There just isn’t time to buy a place and move in the week he’ll be here – he’s got rehearsals and you and I are working, too.”

“Then Squirkers is doomed.” Hiroki sighed miserably.

Aunt Jabi rubbed his head affectionately. “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll find a way to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Jabi?” Uncle Kouga poked his head into in the room. “Could you come here, please?”

We watched her go and I gave my brother’s shoulder a squeeze. “You can trust Aunt Jabi and Uncle Kouga.”

He nodded and glanced nervously toward the doorway again.

It took several minutes before the adults came back. The first thing that Kaasan did was to come over and hug Hiroki tightly.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve been so stressed lately, but I took it out on you.”

“I’m sorry, too, for defying you and running away,” Hiroki said. “I just can’t stand to think that Squirkers will be killed.”

“Don’t worry,” Uncle Kouga told him. “We’ve come up with a solution.”

“Really?” He looked around at all three of them hopefully.

Kaasan faced us both seriously. “How would you two feel about moving in with your Aunt and Uncle while I’m on tour?”

We exchanged a look, then turned back to the adults. “We’d be here for three months?” I asked.

Aunt Jabi nodded. “And after that, your mother can see about moving you all into your own home in the neighbourhood.”

“But … Squirkers?” Hiroki asked worriedly.

“You can keep him,” Uncle Kouga assured him. “But he’s your responsibility.”

A wide grin spread across my brother’s face. It was wonderful to see.

I was happy, too. As fun as being two teenagers on our own for three months might sound, I’d been worried about it. As the older brother, Hiroki would be in my care, and while he was (usually) pretty responsible, I wasn’t ready to be the head of a household. Besides, I loved my aunt, uncle, and cousins, and I’d be closer to work as well.

And my brother would have his guinea pig. As long as he kept it off of my bed, all would be well.

Yuuta

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End of Part 10

(2009)

No characters here are mine. Celebrities here are for fictional purposes only and none of the events within ever happened.

This fic is not to be re-posted.