Songs For Daddy: Chapter 42- Forgiven (part 2)
Link to part 1.
“You’ve been raising her by yourself, forcing you to change who you are and how you behave for her sake,” Saburo pointed out in a calm voice, “I should have helped you learn how to be a father without destroying the man you were.”
“I’ve figured it out.” Hiruma assured the man, despite being shaken and weary. Saburo was right, too right.
“After six years of hiding and losing your daughter twice.” Saburo observed dryly. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with that….”
“There’s nothing that can be done now, is there?” Hiruma muttered after some thought.
“Not entirely.” Saburo corrected him. “I can still make up for lost time and lack of action, just a little.”
Hiruma only raised an eyebrow at the man.
“Haruka and I, after Chizue’s death, forgave you for what happened.” Saburo explained. “Never once did we blame you for our daughter’s foolishness. Even if Haruka has lost part of her mind, in her heart she already forgave you.”
“…I’m forgiven?” Hiruma had always thought that Saburo Teru, like his wife, held Chizue’s death against him.
“Will you forgive her?” Saburo asked. “Chizue for all she’s done to you.”
Oka’s words echoed quietly in his mind.
Forgive.
“I-” Hiruma began and cut himself off. He wasn’t ready to forgive Chizue for all the shit he’d been through.
“Please let go and forgive,” Saburo advised him, “so you can start healing.”
That had been what Yukimitsu had been trying to get him to do, Hiruma realized, was come here and heal.
“I’m not ready.” Hiruma answered lamely.
“Aren’t you about to remarry?” Saburo asked, his words startling Hiruma. “I don’t think your new wife will want you carrying that burden with you.”
“Don’t you-!” Hiruma hated being told what to do as much as he hated having Anezaki drug into things, but Saburo wasn’t finished.
“All Chizue wanted, Yoichi-kun, was to make you happy.” Saburo almost pleaded. “She wanted you to be happy with Emiko; can you forgive her for giving you that?”
Chizue was simply standing there, staring at down at him with a frown. Hiruma looked at her for a moment and realized that, he could forgive her. It would hurt and the scars on his heart and soul would always stay but his desire to move forward was stronger than any fear of pain. He was done living with regrets, so he let go of his anger, his grief, and forgave Chizue.
Just as suddenly as Chizue was there, she was gone, a small ‘thank you’ whispering in the air.
Hiruma didn’t realize it but he was crying, mourning really. Mourning the death of his first wife, since he’d never bothered in the six years afterwards. He mourned Saburo Haruka’s lost mind, and he mourned all the lost time he could have had with Saburo Teru.
“Here’s some water.” Saburo offered Hiruma a glass and the sniffling quarterback took it.
“Yukimitsu Manabu came and visited you, didn’t he?” Hiruma had realized that there was no way in fucking hell this wasn’t a set up.
“He didn’t but a nice young lady by the name of Anezaki Mamori did.” Saburo answered. “She even brought Emiko with her and I got to hear all about how good a Mom she was.”
Hiruma didn’t exactly have a come back to that.
“You have my blessing to marry her, if that matters to you.” Saburo added.
“Everyone in the whole fucking world must be under the impression I’m going to marry her next week.” Hiruma growled.
“Next week might be a little soon, but I think it should be done before the year is out.” Saburo confessed. “You’re long overdue for some real happiness.”
“I am happy.” Hiruma corrected Saburo quickly.
“Not as happy as a man who’s getting some action in bed is.” Saburo smirked when Hiruma blushed. “And don’t think I don’t know what I’m talking about, I am a married man.”
“Shut up!”
“You’re my only son, Youichi, and I will do my fatherly duty of tormenting you.” Saburo was grinning.
“You are a perverted old man.” Hiruma hissed.
“And you are a perverted and sexual frustrated young man.” Saburo mockingly-hissed back.
“Screw you!”
“I’d rather you not, never did like anal.”
“Gah!”
After that conversation turned sufficiently awkward, Oka came in and gave Hiruma an excuse to escape. She also gave him a very creepy, knowing smile. Once out of the hospital, Hiruma made his way to Takekura’s office to deal with his best friend.
Takekura had told him plainly that he expected him in at work tomorrow and that the coach was banning him from games until the Rice Bowl. Mostly because Hiruma was coming off being sick and being hurt and the quarterback wasn’t as young has he used to be. It was going to take him most of that time to really get back into playing shape.
“My return game is going to be the last game of the season?” Hiruma almost snorted at this.
“I want to actually win this Rice Bowl, so yes it will be.” Takekura answered. “I already arranged tickets for Mamori and Emiko, any more complaints?”
“Where are they?” Hiruma asked.
“Your favorite spot, 50 yard line, 6 rows back.” Takekura smirked.
“You are really hard to get mad at.” Hiruma observed, looking very annoyed.
“I consider that a talent of mine.” Takekura chuckled. “So do you and Mamori have a date yet?”
“I don’t have a fucking ring, dipshit.” Hiruma growled back. “I’m not going to marry someone I haven’t proposed to.”
“Want me to take you ring shopping then?” Takekura offered seriously.
“Fuck no!”
“Okay, be safe going home.” Takekura wished his friend as Hiruma stormed out of the room.
“Is there a particular reason you decided to heckle him?” Juumonji asked as he watched Hiruma leave and slam the door behind him.
“Because if I don’t heckle him, I’m not going to get any results from him.” Takekura answered.
“Ah.”
Hiruma got home to be greeted by Emiko wearing his old high school jersey. She seemed to be very proud of the fact she was wearing it. With a smile, Hiruma picked her up and gave her a kiss on the forehead, very happy to home with Emiko.
“Papa,” Emiko began, “here!” In her hand was a little red toy ring with a red fake jewel on it. Hiruma took it from Emiko, puzzled.
“What’s this for?” Hiruma asked.
“Proposing to Mom.” Emiko answered. “You need a ring, right?”
“Uh, yes.” Hiruma confessed. “A fancy ring.”
“That’s a fancy ring!” Emiko smiled. See? She did a good thing!
Hiruma faintly wondered how offended Anezaki was going to be if he actually did propose with a child’s toy Emiko got from god-only-knows-where. With a shake of his head, he thought better. He wasn’t in a hurry to get married again; he would like to try living together as a family a bit longer. Though perhaps, he was ready to start talking about it and thinking about it seriously.
“Ah, welcome home Youichi.” Anezaki greeted him when she came into the hallway. She’d been cooking again, wearing that pink Rocket Bear apron too. Her face was lit up with a sincere smile that just made her look even more beautiful.
“It’s good to be home.” Hiruma smiled back an equally sincere smile. Mamori came up to him and gave him a light peck on his cheek that resulted in an adorable blush. Emiko giggled happily to voice her approval.
“Did you get everything on your list done today?” Mamori asked as Youichi set Emiko down. Both adults watched the little girl scamper off into the living room where her toys were scattered across the floor.
“Not everything.” Youichi smirked at her suggestively.
“Oh?” Mamori only raised an eyebrow at him.
Wordlessly, Youichi pushed a condom packet into Mamori’s hand. He was blushing a lot more now; a bit afraid at how she would react to the notion of sex. Mamori only looked down at the little blue packet for a minute, not recognizing it right away. When she did she blushed too.
“But Emiko-!” Mamori protested in a small whisper.
“My old man’s coming by later to take her out to see that dragon play she was babbling about last week.” Youichi explained. “We’ll have the evening to ourselves.”
“You planned this.” Mamori accused him.
“Of course.” Youichi smirked. “Would I possibly do it any other way?”
“I don’t mind but-” Mamori stopped herself.
“But?” Youichi frowned. What could the catch possibly be?
“-My mother said she wanted marriage details by tomorrow.” Anezaki answered lamely.
“…I’m not objecting to getting married in the long run,” Hiruma explained, “but in the short run I’m not quite ready….” Thoughts of Chizue hung in the silence.
“I’ll pass that onto her then.” Anezaki decided. “I don’t think I’m ready either and I know Emiko isn’t.”
“Even if she thinks it’s the best idea in the world.” Hiruma snickered at his daughter’s expense. It wasn’t something he got to do often.
“I think it is.” Mamori remarked thoughtfully as she walked back into the kitchen, leaving a stunned Youichi behind.
“Papa, what was that thing you gave Mom?”
_=_=_=_=_
And poor Hiruma has to deal with his nosy child and a pervy father-in-law! Yes folks, Chizue is officially gone now! Yay~!
“You’ve been raising her by yourself, forcing you to change who you are and how you behave for her sake,” Saburo pointed out in a calm voice, “I should have helped you learn how to be a father without destroying the man you were.”
“I’ve figured it out.” Hiruma assured the man, despite being shaken and weary. Saburo was right, too right.
“After six years of hiding and losing your daughter twice.” Saburo observed dryly. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with that….”
“There’s nothing that can be done now, is there?” Hiruma muttered after some thought.
“Not entirely.” Saburo corrected him. “I can still make up for lost time and lack of action, just a little.”
Hiruma only raised an eyebrow at the man.
“Haruka and I, after Chizue’s death, forgave you for what happened.” Saburo explained. “Never once did we blame you for our daughter’s foolishness. Even if Haruka has lost part of her mind, in her heart she already forgave you.”
“…I’m forgiven?” Hiruma had always thought that Saburo Teru, like his wife, held Chizue’s death against him.
“Will you forgive her?” Saburo asked. “Chizue for all she’s done to you.”
Oka’s words echoed quietly in his mind.
Forgive.
“I-” Hiruma began and cut himself off. He wasn’t ready to forgive Chizue for all the shit he’d been through.
“Please let go and forgive,” Saburo advised him, “so you can start healing.”
That had been what Yukimitsu had been trying to get him to do, Hiruma realized, was come here and heal.
“I’m not ready.” Hiruma answered lamely.
“Aren’t you about to remarry?” Saburo asked, his words startling Hiruma. “I don’t think your new wife will want you carrying that burden with you.”
“Don’t you-!” Hiruma hated being told what to do as much as he hated having Anezaki drug into things, but Saburo wasn’t finished.
“All Chizue wanted, Yoichi-kun, was to make you happy.” Saburo almost pleaded. “She wanted you to be happy with Emiko; can you forgive her for giving you that?”
Chizue was simply standing there, staring at down at him with a frown. Hiruma looked at her for a moment and realized that, he could forgive her. It would hurt and the scars on his heart and soul would always stay but his desire to move forward was stronger than any fear of pain. He was done living with regrets, so he let go of his anger, his grief, and forgave Chizue.
Just as suddenly as Chizue was there, she was gone, a small ‘thank you’ whispering in the air.
Hiruma didn’t realize it but he was crying, mourning really. Mourning the death of his first wife, since he’d never bothered in the six years afterwards. He mourned Saburo Haruka’s lost mind, and he mourned all the lost time he could have had with Saburo Teru.
“Here’s some water.” Saburo offered Hiruma a glass and the sniffling quarterback took it.
“Yukimitsu Manabu came and visited you, didn’t he?” Hiruma had realized that there was no way in fucking hell this wasn’t a set up.
“He didn’t but a nice young lady by the name of Anezaki Mamori did.” Saburo answered. “She even brought Emiko with her and I got to hear all about how good a Mom she was.”
Hiruma didn’t exactly have a come back to that.
“You have my blessing to marry her, if that matters to you.” Saburo added.
“Everyone in the whole fucking world must be under the impression I’m going to marry her next week.” Hiruma growled.
“Next week might be a little soon, but I think it should be done before the year is out.” Saburo confessed. “You’re long overdue for some real happiness.”
“I am happy.” Hiruma corrected Saburo quickly.
“Not as happy as a man who’s getting some action in bed is.” Saburo smirked when Hiruma blushed. “And don’t think I don’t know what I’m talking about, I am a married man.”
“Shut up!”
“You’re my only son, Youichi, and I will do my fatherly duty of tormenting you.” Saburo was grinning.
“You are a perverted old man.” Hiruma hissed.
“And you are a perverted and sexual frustrated young man.” Saburo mockingly-hissed back.
“Screw you!”
“I’d rather you not, never did like anal.”
“Gah!”
After that conversation turned sufficiently awkward, Oka came in and gave Hiruma an excuse to escape. She also gave him a very creepy, knowing smile. Once out of the hospital, Hiruma made his way to Takekura’s office to deal with his best friend.
Takekura had told him plainly that he expected him in at work tomorrow and that the coach was banning him from games until the Rice Bowl. Mostly because Hiruma was coming off being sick and being hurt and the quarterback wasn’t as young has he used to be. It was going to take him most of that time to really get back into playing shape.
“My return game is going to be the last game of the season?” Hiruma almost snorted at this.
“I want to actually win this Rice Bowl, so yes it will be.” Takekura answered. “I already arranged tickets for Mamori and Emiko, any more complaints?”
“Where are they?” Hiruma asked.
“Your favorite spot, 50 yard line, 6 rows back.” Takekura smirked.
“You are really hard to get mad at.” Hiruma observed, looking very annoyed.
“I consider that a talent of mine.” Takekura chuckled. “So do you and Mamori have a date yet?”
“I don’t have a fucking ring, dipshit.” Hiruma growled back. “I’m not going to marry someone I haven’t proposed to.”
“Want me to take you ring shopping then?” Takekura offered seriously.
“Fuck no!”
“Okay, be safe going home.” Takekura wished his friend as Hiruma stormed out of the room.
“Is there a particular reason you decided to heckle him?” Juumonji asked as he watched Hiruma leave and slam the door behind him.
“Because if I don’t heckle him, I’m not going to get any results from him.” Takekura answered.
“Ah.”
Hiruma got home to be greeted by Emiko wearing his old high school jersey. She seemed to be very proud of the fact she was wearing it. With a smile, Hiruma picked her up and gave her a kiss on the forehead, very happy to home with Emiko.
“Papa,” Emiko began, “here!” In her hand was a little red toy ring with a red fake jewel on it. Hiruma took it from Emiko, puzzled.
“What’s this for?” Hiruma asked.
“Proposing to Mom.” Emiko answered. “You need a ring, right?”
“Uh, yes.” Hiruma confessed. “A fancy ring.”
“That’s a fancy ring!” Emiko smiled. See? She did a good thing!
Hiruma faintly wondered how offended Anezaki was going to be if he actually did propose with a child’s toy Emiko got from god-only-knows-where. With a shake of his head, he thought better. He wasn’t in a hurry to get married again; he would like to try living together as a family a bit longer. Though perhaps, he was ready to start talking about it and thinking about it seriously.
“Ah, welcome home Youichi.” Anezaki greeted him when she came into the hallway. She’d been cooking again, wearing that pink Rocket Bear apron too. Her face was lit up with a sincere smile that just made her look even more beautiful.
“It’s good to be home.” Hiruma smiled back an equally sincere smile. Mamori came up to him and gave him a light peck on his cheek that resulted in an adorable blush. Emiko giggled happily to voice her approval.
“Did you get everything on your list done today?” Mamori asked as Youichi set Emiko down. Both adults watched the little girl scamper off into the living room where her toys were scattered across the floor.
“Not everything.” Youichi smirked at her suggestively.
“Oh?” Mamori only raised an eyebrow at him.
Wordlessly, Youichi pushed a condom packet into Mamori’s hand. He was blushing a lot more now; a bit afraid at how she would react to the notion of sex. Mamori only looked down at the little blue packet for a minute, not recognizing it right away. When she did she blushed too.
“But Emiko-!” Mamori protested in a small whisper.
“My old man’s coming by later to take her out to see that dragon play she was babbling about last week.” Youichi explained. “We’ll have the evening to ourselves.”
“You planned this.” Mamori accused him.
“Of course.” Youichi smirked. “Would I possibly do it any other way?”
“I don’t mind but-” Mamori stopped herself.
“But?” Youichi frowned. What could the catch possibly be?
“-My mother said she wanted marriage details by tomorrow.” Anezaki answered lamely.
“…I’m not objecting to getting married in the long run,” Hiruma explained, “but in the short run I’m not quite ready….” Thoughts of Chizue hung in the silence.
“I’ll pass that onto her then.” Anezaki decided. “I don’t think I’m ready either and I know Emiko isn’t.”
“Even if she thinks it’s the best idea in the world.” Hiruma snickered at his daughter’s expense. It wasn’t something he got to do often.
“I think it is.” Mamori remarked thoughtfully as she walked back into the kitchen, leaving a stunned Youichi behind.
“Papa, what was that thing you gave Mom?”
_=_=_=_=_
And poor Hiruma has to deal with his nosy child and a pervy father-in-law! Yes folks, Chizue is officially gone now! Yay~!