anakiddwrites

Shu's big sister asks Mika a favor and a special family guest makes a dramatic entrance.

The days of December were running fast in the Itsuki’s household, slipping between Christmas shopping, decorations and preparations for the festive date. Mika was surprised with the eagerness and excitement that he didn’t witness in the previous two years living there but… watching Shu full of energy bickering with his siblings, fixing ornaments to the point they would be perfectly set and even humming Christmas songs when no one was around, it was easy to feel a totally different energy from before.

And that was especially true when Mika’s eyes would meet Shu’s, just for the pink haired boy to turn around flustered and pretend he wasn’t staring lovingly at his boyfriend every time he was on sight.

No sickness, no struggles and no shadows tainting their holidays for the first time since they became Valkyrie. This realization was enough to drive Mika to grateful tears while looking out to the pure white streets through the window. It was even hard to believe it was real, after the pitch black darkness they faced until finally finding the light in each other.

“Dreams can be granted… stars can be caught.” Mika sighed softly, remembering his own words from Repayment Fest. An ending that turned into a new beginning. “Hah, I sure can be dramatic too… Oshi-san’s rubbin’ off me.... wah!!?”

Mika blinked, picking up a small notebook from his pocket and noting some few words and scribbles on the pages.

“Thorny path… then a rose garden… feathers... mhmh, sounds nice… whehe, Producer-san’s idea of keeping a notebook at hand in case I had some inspiration worked in the end… I doubted it would even happen, but since she gifted me such a nice thing I promised I’d try… ~♪”

Mika smiled at the little notebook still practically new, hoping he would be able to fill many pages with his own expressions for the whole upcoming year. A little step, but sure it was motivating to look at the first lines on paper.

“Weheh… everyone’s supportin’ me… I’ll do my best ~ ♪”

“Ka~ge~hi~ra~kun~ ♪” The canary voice calling Mika’s name brought him back from his musings. He turned back to meet Shu’s older sister looking at him with a large smile.

“Could you give me a hand, if you are free now?” She batted eyelashes, getting closer to the boy. She always had exhaled high energy, but usually more serious than the hummingbird the holidays brought up within her. Just like the other Itsuki's, the mood of this year’s Christmas touched her too.

“Sure thin’, Sara-onee-sama ♪” Mika answered promptly, always happy to be useful to any member of Shu’s family, who treated him as their own kin since day one. “What do ya need fer me?”

“I need you to change clothes to something warm ~ we’re going shopping for a special occasion! You do have five minutes!”

Sara didn’t waste time in taking Mika out of the house, heading to the shopping district without fully explaining their goal. Instead she focused on casually commenting on Mika’s skincare improvement, how his sleeves could use an adjustment and his nails were in urgent need of polishing.

“Hhehe ~yer right, Onee-sama ♪” Mika didn’t mind the dynamic at all, since her energy was quite similar to Shu’s. Fashionable and pretty as him as well, gathering looks from all sides while walking by the street like it was her own runaway.

… perhaps even more fashionable and elegant, but Mika would credit it to her role as oldest sister. It was amusing to think Shu would be able to reach it and beyond with time.

“... well, at least your necklace is stunning ♪”(1) She added with a grin, noticing the flushed cheeks of the young boy. “You and Shu had a good eye for this match.”

“A-ah…” Mika clutched the key necklace, suddenly self-conscious. No one had said anytime directly about them holding hands and matching jewels… but maybe it was painfully obvious?

"It's ok.” She giggled, pulling him closer and embracing him by the arm. “I didn’t mean to tease you, I’ll let that to Grandpa. Sorry to break it to you, but Onii-sama and I weren’t really surprised when you two came back even closer than the usual for the Holidays. How to say… more like the ‘ah, finally’ feeling, you see? Fufufu!”

“Nnnnhhaaaaa… Onee-sama…” Mika hid his face on hands, completely embarrassed. He knew he should have seen this moment coming… however, something else caught his attention once he registered her words. “W-wait, Grandfather, ya said???!!”

“Indeed ♪ He’s coming back home from the hospital, the doctors were impressed with his recovery… they don’t know how stubborn he can be!” She winked, dark blue eyes showing genuine relief. Even trying to play it lightly, it was a blessing to have the old man Itsuki in such good shape after some scary moments.

“Aaah, I’m so glad!! This is really a blessed Christmas…” Mika wouldn’t even try to hide his emotions, tearing up immediately. He treasured that man as the grandfather he never had and Shu would be so happy too. “Oshi-san’s know already?”

“Onii-sama might be telling him today. And that’s why we are here!” She pointed at the market ahead, already overflowing with people doing Christmas shopping. “We’ll have a special dinner to celebrate Grandpa’s return… it’s still the 20th, but you know how he loves a party, let alone two in one week.”

“Gotcha! We gotta make a super cool dinner fer Grandfather ♪ I’m pumped up already, wehe ~”

“That’s the spirit, Kagehira-kun! We need to find a good piece of lamb for Mother to prepare as his favorite. And all the ingredients to side dishes and beverages too, so let’s not waste any second! Stay near Onee-san and everything will be fine ~”

She held his hand and offered a warm smile before they stepped in the market. Mika took a deep breath, the crowded place wasn’t inviting after all, but Onee-sama holding his hand was everything he needed to go through it safely.

“We won’t take long.” She said, placing a handkerchief to her nose. “Excuse me, but you know I have a keen sense of smell, which is both a blessing and a curse. This is not a perfume store, after all…”

Reliable as always, Sara already had a list of items prepared, so the mission would be fast. They only spent more time at the fish and meat section, choosing the best piece of lamb for the main dish.

“Kagehira-kun, you like Takoyaki, right?” She asked, eyeing the basket of fresh octopus labeled as Kansai.

“Wah? Ye, I do, Onee-sama! But why do ya ask?”

“Please add more 500g of these ones ♪” She nonchalantly pointed at the octopus, much to Mika’s surprise, triggering an anxious reaction. “It better be a genuine Kansai product, this lad here will know, hm!”

“Nhha?? O-Onee-sama, wait, that’s a hella expensive octopus and all!! T-tonight is Grandfather dinner, so why would ya…?”

“Why not? It's a family dinner and you never tried my own takoyaki. So Onee-sama here will prepare a special dish that everyone can enjoy, but specially for you ~ ♪”

“N-nha… but… i-is it okie…”

“Of course it is.” She placed a gentle hand on Mika’s shoulder, trying to reassure the embarrassed and nervous boy the best she could. “Let Onee-sama spoil you a bit, hm? You don’t get to say no to me. ♪”

Mika whined a bit more, but she patted his head and he had no chance but to admit defeat. Even though it was still embarrassing, like he was intruding something, he knew she wouldn’t change her mind easily. The Itsukis were sure on the stubborn side, as much as Kagehira himself.

“L-let me.. carry it…” He asked timidly, gathering some bags and looking at the floor, still red as a shrimp. “Hhggg… Is it really fine..”

“Kagehira-kun, you are part of the family, so you get to enjoy yourself with us ~ I’m sure Shu-kun would agree!” She said enthusiastically while holding his hand again to leave the market. “He better do, having such a caring boyfriend...! ♪ ♪ ♪ ”

“Nnnhhaaa….!!! T-this word!!! The b-word!!!!!!!!”

“... and we also abused your kindness towards our brother, conveniently throwing so many responsabilites over you...”

Mika was too flustered to realize she was muttering to herself, venting some of the guilt within her heart.

Even if they didn’t know what to do with Shu when he reached rock bottom… it had been way too easy to just let Kagehira carry all the heavy work for two years. The least to do now was compensate for it and fully welcome the caring boy who brought Shu back to their family, showering him with all the love as well.

“You better get used to it, Kagehira-kun… ~ ♪”

Once they returned from shopping, Mika just had time to have a quick shower before helping Shu and his brother with more preparations. While the boys were assigned to put up Christmas lights all across the house - repeating, all across the Itsuki household - Onee-sama and Mother were pumping the dinner exactly the way the matriarch would want for her dear old dad.

So many things to do paired with the joy in the air didn’t give room for Mika to overthink for a while, just enjoying the domestic warmth and Shu’s presence.

“Non! Brother, the lights are 0.04 centimeters off! I told you to move more to the right!!”

Very enthusiastic presence.

“Shu, do you wanna come up here and hang it by yourself? We’ve been at this wall for almost 20 minutes!”

“I’m coordinating the work. If you were better at following my directions, we would have everything done by now!”

“In your sweet dreams. It’s great like this, and soon I need to get ready to pick up Grandfather...”

“NOW LOOK AT THIS!”

Suddenly, the main door opened dramatically, interrupting the discussion, and an old man in a dark blue suit entered the room, taking off his sunglasses. One word echoed in unissone from each corner of the house.

“GRANDFATHER?”

“It’s been years since the last time this house was so noisy at the Holidays! Is it a Christmas miracle? Kakaka!”

“Father?” Itsuki’s mother came running from the kitchen, still wiping her hands from handling the lamb. “What are you doing here? We were supposed to pick you up at the hospital in about two hours? H-how did you even arrive here? Why didn’t you call? Did they discharge you earlier?”

“I was bored and fled.” He said with a straight face, making a peace sign and making the woman in front of him turn pale. “Please, I’m wasting time and losing all the family fun around here! Hospitals are especially excruciating in the holidays! Oh, do I smell lamb?”

“Father…” She could only reply in a monotone voice, staring at him while everyone else came close to witness the scene. “I’m very glad you are feeling well, but… oh, anyway. Yes, of course it’s lamb. Welcome back, dad.”

She finally smiled and the old man too, violet eyes sparkling like a child as he opened arms to hug her tight.

“My favorite daughter!! I knew you would spoil this old man! Kakakaka!”

“Grandfather…” Shu waited for the greeting to be over to speak up timidly, trying to fight the emotional tears already coming back. His hand looked for Mika’s and soon he felt the comforting squeeze keeping him together.

“Shu ~♪” The old man turned to the grandson with the most tender expression and soon moved to embrace the boy too, then Mika discreetly let go of Shu’s hand.

“Come here, my cute Shu! Ah, aren’t you the cutest as always? I missed you, it’s always so boring without you! And the cute Mademoiselle, how’s she going?”

“She’s resting in our room, since we are making a mess in the house…” Shu bundled himself in the hug that never failed to make him feel like a little boy again. “K-Kagehira is here t-too…”

“He better be, of course!” He patted Shu’s head and laughed again, now turning to Mika and watching Shu beckoning the timid boy closer, already reaching for his hand again. Even though Mika suddenly was nervous, unsure about what to do now. It was the first time meeting Grandfather again in a while and… under that specific circumstances... the ‘b-word’ was ringing in his brain again nonstop.

“Oh Shu, you have Mika-kun for yourself everyday, let me enjoy him a bit before calling him back!” The grandfather pouted like a child, catching Mika in a tight hug and even lifting him up, under surprised ‘nnnhaaas.’

“Oh my child, you are still so very light! Even an old man like me can carry you around! Well, it’s still better than before, so I’ll commend your evolution! Kakaka!” He put Mika back on the floor, winking. “Work on getting some muscle though, you gotta give Shu some sweat to carry you at the wedding night!”

At that moment, Kagehira Mika felt the floor disappear under his feet. And Itsuki Shu, too.

“GRANDFATHER!!!” The unissone voice echoed again, wide flustered eyes staring at him. Shu and Mika dragged hands on their faces, unable to move or react.

“Why are you booing me? I’m right!” The old man crossed arms, huffing. “Shu shall be ready to carry his beloved one for at least two lances of stairs, just like me and my dearest Yu…”

“Please.” Shu whined, still staring at the floor. “H-how did you even know…”

“Shu, please is my line. I lived four times more than you.” He rolled eyes, then smirked at the boys. “The end of this slowburn added at least 10 years to my life, I’m so very thankful! It’s the best Christmas ever!”

“Right, Grandpa, we get it!” Sara stepped forward and placed hands on the grandpa's shoulders, smiling largely and intensely friendly. “Now why don’t you go take a shower and wear some comfy clothes before you give Shu an heart attack? You were spared from spending Holidays at the hospital, don’t risk the same fate for him!”

“Kakaka! Shu-kun won’t have a heart attack just for that in front of his boyfriend, am I right?” That word alone was enough to make Mika release more muffled noises and turn Shu in a complete red lobster. Fortunately Sara dragged the old man upstairs before he had a chance to fire more shots at the young couple. Still, his laughs echoed in the hallways one last time.

“Ah, young love! ~ ♪ Wonderful to see, kakakaka!”

“Such a piece of work as always….” Shu grumbled, rubbing his temples and huffing. But his expression softened at looking at Mika and finding the boy fiddling with his sleeves nervously, shaking a bit.

“Come here.” Shu said gently, looking for Mika’s hand again, knowing they needed each other’s immediately. “Don’t mind him, he’s just teasing. He does it because he adores you too.”

“I w-wonder…” Mika mumbled, but soon felt Shu’s mom reassuring hand on his shoulder, offering him an apologetic smile and a cup of sweet lemonade.

“Sorry for that, sweetie. I figured something like this could happen and I planned to make him tone down before dinner, but Dad caught me off guard… as usual.” She sighed. “Try to decompress a little now, Sara will keep him checked.”

Mika swallowed the lemonade and tried to smile, comforted by the motherly warmth and the squeeze of Shu’s hand on his own.

“T-thank ya… I’m okie. I’m glad Grandfather’s full of energy an’all… ♪ It’s very like him ta do that, whehe… Oshi-san’s just like him, so ‘course I’m not mad.”

“W-what!? Me? How come? … You know what, nevermind…” Shu gave up on explanations due the looks he got from everyone in the room, including a grin from Mika. “Why don’t we go upstairs and start getting ready for dinner? I’m absolutely done with working on Christmas lights.”

“And I’m done with you working on Christmas lights, so yeah, agreed.” The older brother sighed in relief, nudging Shu and Mika off. “I’ll finish setting this up and call Dad to warn the old man is already here, so he can just come straight up home from work.”

“Hunf. I sure hope you finish it properly.” Shu still fired before leaving with Mika, holding his hand all the time and under the loving gaze of the boy. Mika could just look at him like that for hours, forgetting everything around them, even himself.

However, as soon as they reached the bedroom and Shu turned to Mika again, he was startled to see tears rolling from his partner’s cheeks.

“Kagehira?? Why are you crying???” He quickly closed the door behind them and gripped Mika by the shoulders. “Are you possibly feeling unwell??”

“A-ah…? Cryin’?” Mika blinked, looking surprised at touching his own face and feeling the tears. “Ah.. I didn’... even r-realize… a-ah?”

Mika hiccuped, suddenly unable to hold back more tears and sobs. Shu was confused, but his only instinct was to bring his beloved to his chest and hold him tight, petting his head in hopes to soothe him a little.

Mika just buried himself in Shu’s chest and embraced him tight. The heartbeats of his dear partner were comforting, but at same time the tears didn’t want to stop flowing.

Shu had the impression that such a cry was stuck in his throat for a long time. He just held Mika close in silence until the outburst calmed down, then delicately wiped his red face with a handkerchief. Mika took some deep breaths before being able to mutter something.

“S-sorry… O-Oshi-san…”

“No need to be sorry. Are you better…? Do you want some water?” Shu led him to sit on bed, where they could be more comfortable at least. Mika didn’t resist, still disorientated about his own sudden reaction.

“Hmhm…” Mika shook his head slowly. “L-later… D-dunno what came ‘ver me… I just… nnnha…. embarrassin’...” Mika looked down nervously, but Shu wrapping hands on his own again was a gesture soothing enough to cease some of his noises.

“Kagehira… it’s ok. Take your time.”

“Hmhm…” Mika nodded, rubbing his eyes and trying his hardest to somehow convey his feelings. But it was so, so hard. He really wasn’t like Shu, master of words and long speeches; the emotions just danced and exploded inside him like magma trapped in a volcano, and the cracks would just surface when it was too late.

So frustrating. Being human can be so frustrating.

Flashes of the day passed by Mika’s mind, just intensifying his frustration. It had been such a pleasant, happy day, a family day like he never had before and still his heart was insisting to behave like thorns were piercing it out of nowhere.

No, most likely it wasn’t out of nowhere, but a result of that very unfamiliar happiness cracking his fragile heart little by little, unable to deal with it all at once.

Mika’s eyes met his notebook on the bed and stared at it longly, remembering the scribbles from earlier. That path of thorns felt too close right now, even though he was surrounded by plenty of kind roses. He didn’t know what to do with all of this, but...

“Oshi-san… can we just stay a lil’ bit here…?” He whispered, and Shu didn’t need to be asked again. He nestled Kagehira as comfortably as possible, arms around his waist. Kagehira just fit perfectly in his arms, better than any doll, and it was enough to make his heart flutter.

Mika sighed deeply, feeling safe there even though his chest was still heavy. Slowly, he brought the notebook closer and opened it under the curious eyes of his Oshi-san.

“That’s the notebook the Producer gifted you, hm? I see you already starting using it… interesting sketch you have there. ♪” Shu smiled, genuinely interested in the content of that pages. Anything to help him understand Mika better was deeply welcomed.

“Hmh… It’s from this mornin’...” Mika replied timidly, holding back the urges to close it off and say it wasn’t anything important. Now Shu was his partner, not just his master… wouldn’t be fair to keep things from him.

“I was jus’... thinkin’bout stuff… that happened.. and is happenin’… I kno’ it silly but...”

“It’s your expression. Nothing silly about it, Kagehira. I fully support you doing this way if it’s working for you… and show me anything you feel like ♪” Shu smiled proud, running fingers by Mika’s hair.

The boy closed eyes and almost purred, feeling some emotional tears building up again, but soon Shu’s hand was gently wiping his face. Mika released a deep breath as response, feeling touched by the most tender of the roses. There it was, the kind of moment that reminded him of the blessing of being alive as a human.

“Oshi-san…”

“Hm…?”

“Ya’ve been human for longer than me… so maybe ya know…”

He closed the notebook and turned to Shu with big pleading eyes, calm but almost like a lost kid.

“Why bein’ happy hurts so bad sometimes…? Do the thorns… ever leave ya alone…?”

Shu widened eyes for a moment, but soon he brought Mika’s head to his chest again, sighing a bit and embracing him protectively.

“... some of them never go away. Others heal with time. Sometimes you find one so well hidden you didn’t know it was there and it hurts you again. But... that too shall pass. And you get more and more used to the touch of the roses, leaving the thorns in the back of your mind.” Shu lifted Mika’s chin, offering him the most kind smile and instantly mesmerizing the boy.

“So… it gotta be worth it, ne…?” Mika whispered, blushing and able to smile timidly, his heart now doing happier leaps. His gorgeous Oshi-san looking at him with so much love was almost overwhelming, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Shu could have started a speech about human nature and the ability of accepting love after years of loneliness. However, he just cradled Mika’s head and pulled him for a passionate kiss, taking their breath and thoughts away for a good while.

“You sure get used to it… Mika ~ ♪” He whispered among kisses, immediately feeling Mika’s hands wrapping around his neck and tugging at his hair. There was still time until dinner, after all.