Poston

Chapter five : True Feelings

"I want to know what the fuck is going on."

As soon as Satoshi's father appeared, the party was over. Everybody could see the furious look in his eyes as soon as he walked through the barrack door, and within a few minutes everybody but the Ohno's and the Ninomiya's were left in the barrack. What was happiness at his return soon turned into terror and worry.

Now, Satoshi and Nino sat on their knees on the hard wooden floor with their sisters and their parents sitting in front of them, with Satoshi's father right in the middle.

"Anata," Mrs. Ohno said calmly. "I don't understand. Why are you so angry?"

Mr. Ohno's eyes were fixed, unblinking, on his son who now had his head down and cowering in fear. "Tell your mother what you did, Satoshi," Mr. Ohno said, his words like vipers that sent shivers down both Satoshi's and Nino's backs.

"Umm..." Satoshi started, playing with his fingers to keep him distracted. Nino wanted nothing more than to hold Satoshi's hands and to assure him everything would be fine. But he felt miserable because he knew doing so would just make everything worse. So Nino spoke instead so Satoshi didn't have to.

"I kissed Satoshi."

The women unfroze and stared at them in shock. "What?!" they asked looking back and forth between the two of them. "You two did what?"

Nino braved himself to look up at the scary man in front of him. "Satoshi did not initiate anything. It was my doing, so do not get mad at him for the things I did."

"Don't you dare lie to me," Mr. Ohno said. "I saw what you two were doing. If you think you can get away with trying to cover up my son putting his mouth on you first then you are mistaken! God only knows what other sinful things you two have done!"

"Frankly that's none of your business."

"My family is my business!"

"Papa, please—" Satoshi began.

"You keep your filthy mouth shut, boy!"

"Don't talk to him like that!" Nino snapped before he could stop himself.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SPEAK!" Mr. Ohno yelled at him. He looked at his wife. "You allowed our son to partake in such sinful behavior? I'm gone for only a few months and you let him get out of control?!"

Nino was very close to yelling again but froze when he felt warmth engulf his hand to stop him. Nino looked over and saw Satoshi staring at him, his eyes practically begging him to calm down and stop. Nino could also see that Satoshi was very close to crying, and it took everything Nino had to keep his own hands still.

"I want you both out of his barrack. Now."

Nino tore his eyes away from Satoshi to look at the older man. "Excuse me?"

"You two are not allowed in this barrack," Mr. Ohno repeated.

"Anata," Mrs. Ohno said, trying to stay calm. "That's impossible! We can't leave them out there! It's cold out! And besides, if any of us are found outside of our barracks then we're arrested. And if you lock the door on them, then you can get in trouble as well and be sent away again!"

Mr. Ohno was very close to exploding again, but he managed to stay calm and say in his most hateful voice, "Then you two can sleep by yourselves in the corner over there. I don't want you fags anywhere near my family."

--

That night was perhaps one of the longest nights of Nino's life. He and Satoshi took one futon away from Nino's mother and sister so they could sleep in their designated corner of the room by themselves. When Nino was sure Mr. Ohno wasn't listening, he bowed his head to his mother and sister. "I am so... so sorry," he said. "I've shamed you both for my actions."

"Kazunari, pull your head up," his mother ordered sternly. Timidly, Nino did so, only to find his mother smiling at him. "I don't give a damn what anyone calls you or says to you. You are my son, and you always will be. If you like men instead of women, then okay. Don't ever be sorry for loving somebody because you think you've shamed me. You would disappoint me more if you married a beautiful girl just because you felt like that was what you felt like you had to do."

"Besides," Natsumi smirked. "I've known you were gay for years."

Satoshi, on the other hand, didn't really have an opportunity to talk to his mother and sister, and Nino was sure that it probably broke his heart. They didn't speak to each other the entire night. Instead, they just lay side by side, facing each other, and Satoshi allowed Nino to wipe away any tears that fell during the night.

When they woke up the next morning, they stayed just as silent as they got dressed and ready to go to breakfast. But as they were leaving, Mr. Ohno stopped them. "You are not walking with us," he informed them. "I will not have this family looked down upon because of you. If it were up to me, you would not even be in this barrack. You are no longer allowed to sit or speak to us in public. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir, Mr. Hitler," Nino said, not even bothering to lower his tone.

Mr. Ohno took a deep breath and acted like he wanted to say something angry, but instead he just turned on his heels and left the barrack with the rest of the family. As soon as the barrack door was closed, Nino took his shoe and threw it after him. The shoe made a loud BANG! against the door, but it was nothing compared to Nino's frustration. "Son of a—" he began. "We can't even walk outside without him being so fucking paranoid?! It's not like we're going to be making out on the way to breakfast! Calling us fags and filthy and sinful. Well you know what, I can see God punishing one of us but I don't think it's going to be me you f—"

"I'm sorry."

Nino froze and turned around to see Satoshi standing there, his head hanging down staring at his feet as he held his hands tightly together. "I'm sorry, Nino."

Nino honestly wanted to hit him. "What are you sorry for?" he asked, trying to stay calm.

Satoshi glanced up. "I'm... I'm sorry for this situation. I caused it. It's all my fault because—"

"Do you love me?"

The older man's head snapped up to stare at Nino. But even Nino himself was surprised at the question. "Eh?" Satoshi asked barely above a whisper.

Nino took a deep breath. "It's a simple question, Satoshi," he said, feeling his confidence falter. "Do you love me? Because if you don't, then this entire mess—"

"I do," Satoshi said. Nino lost any train of thought then and found no words to respond with. "I love you, Kazunari. I've tried to deny it since I got here, but I do. And if you'll still take me, I'm willing to lose my relationship with my father if it means I can finally be who I can be with you."

Nino listened to his words in shock. He had never really heard Satoshi say so much, and for him to be as serious as he was meant that he really did want this. He loved Nino. It made any chance of complete thoughts leave his head, and for a while Nino couldn't think or breathe.

Satoshi loved him. Satoshi loved him.

"Kazu? Are you alright?"

Nino looked back at him and found the very thing he was looking for in Satoshi's eyes.

Peace.

Nino punched Satoshi's arm and wanted to cry. "If you love me," he said. "Then don't even think about apologizing for anything!"

All the tension in the air seemed to disappear as the two laughed at how nervous they had both been. Satoshi wound his arms around Nino's waist and held him close. Nino could feel Satoshi's breathe on his cheek, and it made him blush. Then he felt Satoshi plant a small kiss on Nino's cheek. "I love you, Kazunari."

Nino looked up at him and smiled. "I love you, Satoshi." Then, they both gently leaned forward and caught each other's lips in a passionate kiss.