Final Chapter (Ver.2): Curtain Call

"It was your hands that I wanted to holdIt was those hands that seemed to convey anything and everything from how they gripped mine It's not anybody else, it has to be youI thought that I always wanted to be by yourside"キラメキ by wacci

❥

The calendar pages flipped relentlessly. Days blurred into weeks, weeks into months. The initial shock of loss had softened, replaced by a dull ache that lingered in the hearts of many. Life, however, had a way of continuing, and people slowly began to re-embrace their daily routines. Naoya was no exception. Naoya's busy schedule with his boygroup took him on tours abroad.

One day, Naoya's mother came up to him with a specific request. "Nishigaki-kun's mother contacted me," she explained, "She needs help managing his apartment for a while, as she can't be there until next week. "Since it's been six months, Nao, perhaps it's time to go through Nishigaki-kun's things and your brother's belongings as well." She continued gently.

With a heavy heart, Naoya entered the apartment. Friends from the apartment next door, Takuya and Sho's former neighbors, had arrived to help him sort through their belongings. Without much conversation, Naoya found himself drawn to the bedroom, taking charge of sorting through their belongings over there. A faint trace of a familiar scent lingered in the air, a reminder of the couple's presence. A wave of emotions threatened to overwhelm him, a battle between the joy of remembering Sho and Takuya's life together and the pain of their absence. Memories flooded back.

"...And then there's the autonomy he grants you. He genuinely believes in you. It's all about providing fertile ground for your skills to blossom. Takuya-kun wears his emotions close to the chest, his actions speak louder than words." Sho shared openly.

"You've always held a special place in my heart, little boy," Takuya reached out to gently tousle Naoya's hair.

"Sho's usually pretty private about this bedroom," Takuya said thoughtfully. "So him letting you in here says a lot. Guess you must hold a special place in his heart, just like you do in mine." Takuya smiled warmly at Naoya.

Naoya inhaled deeply, his gaze sweeping across the room as he meticulously arranged a stack of unopened Lego boxes. A glint in the corner caught his attention - a crumpled piece of paper. He walked over and picked up a crumpled piece of paper. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized it as a draft of his brother's wedding vows. The paper only had a few sentences scrawled on it, fueling his thoughts about the struggle his brother might have faced while trying to write heartfelt vows for his wedding day.

Naoya's eyes scanned the words on the page, absorbing each sentence with full attention.

"Sho, you know," the note began, "every moment spent living with you, and finally marrying you, has filled my life with joy. If it were possible, I would even want to share our final moments together. In another lifetime, I hope you'll find me again and love me once more because I will love you all over again. Forever and always. Kusakawa Takuya."

A sound that surprised even himself bubbled up from Naoya's chest - a chuckle. It was a sound absent from his life since his brother's passing, a sound usually reserved for the stage, a sound that reminded him of happier times. The smile faltered, replaced by a long, heavy exhale that spoke of the burden he carried. "So, you're happy wherever you are now, Taku-nii," he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes welled up, tears brimming and spilling over, tracing a silent path down his cheeks. He cried silently, his body racked with soft sobs, allowing himself to experience the raw vulnerability of his grief.

A jarring ring shattered the dream, pulling Naoya back to consciousness with a gasp. He jolted upright, his heart pounding in his chest. Disoriented, his eyes darted around the room until they landed on the familiar surroundings of his bedroom. The phone continued to ring insistently, but Naoya made no move to answer it. The emotional intensity lingered - his cheeks were streaked with dried tears, his pillow damp, and his eyes felt heavy and puffy.

The persistent ringing of his phone finally snapped Naoya out of his daze. He answered without bothering to check the caller ID. "Hello?" his voice gruff with sleep and a hint of annoyance.

The voice on the other end of the line demanded, "Nao, where are you?"

Naoya frowned, "Who is this?"

"Huh?" A confused sound came from the phone. "I'm Takuya! What do you mean 'who is this'?" The sound of Takuya's voice, clear as day.

Naoya's mind raced with suspicion. He hesitantly lifted the phone and checked the caller ID. There, staring back at him, was his brother's name. He glanced at the phone's date display, a jolt running through him as it matched the day he was supposed to meet Takuya and Sho at the airport. Disbelief and a spark of hope battled within him. "Taku-nii?" He stammered.

"Yeah, it's me! What's going on with you? You didn't forget to pick us up at the airport, did you? Are you still at home?" Takuya questioned, frustrated.

Naoya shook his head, trying to clear the fog of sleep from his mind. "I just... I just woke up," he mumbled. He could hear the sounds of Takuya talking to Sho in hushed tones.

"Alright, Nao," Takuya announced, "we've decided to take a taxi back to the apartment."

Panic surged through Naoya. "No, Taku-nii, please wait!" he pleaded. "Don't take a taxi back by yourselves. Is there a place nearby where you can grab a bite or do some shopping for the next thirty minutes? I'll be there as soon as possible."

Takuya hesitated for a moment, the sound of his breath traveling through the phone line. Finally, he spoke up, "Nao, listen," he began, "you just woke up a while ago, right? Maybe it's not the best idea to drive."

"I'll be out the door the second we end this call."

Takuya sighed softly. "Okay, then," he agreed. "Just drive safely, we're not in any rush."

The call ended, and Naoya pushed himself out of bed. The dream's intensity left him disoriented, fragments of the emotional rollercoaster still swirling within him. Yet, a single thought cut through the confusion - Takuya was alive.

♡

Sho and Takuya exchanged a stunned look as Naoya's car came to a stop. They couldn't help but notice his red and swollen eyes. However, a smile, though slightly strained, appeared on Naoya's face as he approached them. "Hey there," he greeted them. "Thanks for waiting. Did you have a good trip?"

Takuya sent a quick glance at Sho, a silent request to handle the initial conversation. He knew that if he spoke first, he wouldn't be able to resist asking Naoya about what had happened, something he perhaps wasn't ready to discuss yet.

Sho noticed Takuya's subtle gesture and took the initiative. "Our trip to Dalat was lovely, Naoya-kun," Sho replied with a smile. "Thank you for coming to get us. Has your week been really busy?"

"Not really," Naoya admitted as he handed the car key back to his brother and took a suitcase from Sho to help her load them into the trunk. "I just slept for a long time and had a nightmare."

Sho and Naoya worked together, loading the suitcases into the car trunk. Meanwhile, Takuya hopped into the driver's seat and waited for them to finish.

"Oh, a bad dream? That can really mess with your sleep." Sho commented. "I actually thought you might be tired from crying - your eyes are a bit puffy."

Leaning against the car after shutting the trunk, Naoya let out a shaky breath. He forced a smile as he turned towards Sho, but his voice trembled slightly as he admitted, "I had a really upsetting dream last night. In the dream, you and Taku-nii came back from Dalat, but everything went wrong. The plane crashed... and I lost you both."

Sho offered Naoya a warm smile. "Dreams can be strange things, can't they?" he said gently. "There are a lot of different meanings people give to dreams like that. But for me, what matters most is the emotion behind it. The fact that you cried for us in your dream, Naoya-kun, tells me how much you cherish us. It means the world to me that you care so deeply. Thank you for feeling that way about us."

Naoya shook his head, his eyes softening slightly. "You guys are truly special, not just to me, but to everyone who's come across your paths." He confessed, his voice dropping a notch lower.

Once they finished talking, Sho and Naoya got into the car. Naoya offered Sho the front passenger seat.

"So," Takuya began. He glanced at Naoya through the rearview mirror as he started the car. "Let's hear more about you, Nao. What happened? Why were you crying?"

Naoya's eyes widened slightly in surprise at Takuya's question. He forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Hesitantly, he decided to confide in his brother. "The reason I was crying was because of you guys."

Takuya remained silent, giving Naoya all the time he needed to gather his thoughts and speak when he was ready. Earlier, Takuya couldn't help but overhear snippets of the conversation between Sho and Naoya. This gave him some insight into Naoya's feeling.

Naoya hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I guess... I just missed having you guys around," he confessed. "It made me realize how much you both mean to me. I just wanted to tell you that I hope you have a long and happy life together."

A tender smile played on Takuya's lips as he listened intently, though he didn't say a word. Naoya quieted down and turned towards Sho. Catching Takuya's smile, Sho nodded slightly, understanding of the emotions that didn't need words.

Once they arrived at the apartment, Sho wasted no time unpacking some of the souvenirs he'd brought back. He carefully selected them for his parents-in-law and another one for Naoya. "This is a little something for Mama and Papa," he said to Naoya, arranging the souvenirs on top of the dining table. "And this one is for you, Naoya-kun."

"Thanks for everything, guys," Naoya said, glancing at his watch. "I hate to leave so soon, but I think I better get going. Actually, a friend is supposed to pick me up here shortly."

"Sure," Sho replied. "Just let Takuya-kun know you're about to head out, and I'll take care of wrapping those presents for you in the meantime."

Naoya peeked into the bedroom, finding Takuya sorting through their luggage. He spotted a pile of unworn clothes and couldn't resist a playful jab. "Whoa, looks like most of your clothes stayed in the suitcase."

Takuya glanced up as he noticed Naoya in the doorway. "Oh," he said. "You see, I mentioned before that Sho and I preferred to relax in the hotel room most of the time during our trip. That naturally meant we were often... not fully dressed."

Naoya's grin widened. Witnessing the obvious love and affection between Sho and Takuya brought him total joy now. While he'd admit to feeling a touch of jealousy before, fearing he'd lost his brother to Sho, his perspective had shifted. He realized how much he cherished them both. These displays of love were heartwarming, and he wouldn't mind to see them every day.

With a content sigh, Naoya spoke up, "I should probably get going now."

Takuya stopped unpacking and and walked towards Naoya. He reached out and gently mussed his hair. With a soft smile, he said, "Nao, don't waste your energy worrying about me. I'm a big boy. The only time you need to be concerned is if I'm ever alone, without Sho by my side. Because you see, as long as I'm with him, good times or bad, whether I live or die, being with Sho brings me happiness."

Naoya's breath hitched slightly as Takuya spoke. The memory of his nightmare returned in a rush of fear, but he quickly pushed it away. This, the reality in front of him, was the best turn of events he could have hoped for.

♡

Takuya's gaze lingered on Sho as he unpacked their souvenirs, a fond smile spreading across his face. The apartment felt quiet after Naoya had left. "You look so focused doing it. You're adorable." He teased.

"Oh come on," Sho tried to deflect the compliment. Sho's cheeks flushed a light pink as Takuya complimented him. "Speaking of Naoya-kun, there's something I think we should keep to ourselves. Our flight actually had a bit of a technical problem, but everything turned out okay. There's no point in worrying him about it now, right?"

The airplane ride was bumpier than Takuya had anticipated. Strong turbulence shook the aircraft, made Takuya tense up. He could hear the worried murmurs of other passengers. However, Sho remained calm and collected. He reassured Takuya and suggested he get some sleep. When Takuya woke up, they were already preparing to land at their destination.

"The truth is," Takuya began, his voice soft, "during the turbulence, I thought for a moment that maybe... maybe if that was the last time I saw you, Sho, I wouldn't have any regrets. If that had been our last moment together, I would have been grateful to spend it by your side."

Sho's eyes softened as he nodded. "Actually, Takuya-kun," he admitted hesitantly. "The only thing I prayed for that time was a chance to find you and fall in love with you, hope that you would recognize me and choose me all over again."

Sho noticed a tear glistening in Takuya's eye, and his heart ached for him. He quickly changed the subject. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves, alright? We just went through some turbulence, that's all. The important thing is that we're safe, and we have so much life to live together. There are people who love us, Takuya-kun, and they want us to be happy. Let's live a long and fulfilling life together, for them and for ourselves."

Takuya suddenly leaped from the sofa and wrapped his arms around him from behind. Sho yelped in surprise, momentarily startled by the unexpected hug. "Eh? Takuya-kun?" he stammered, unsure of how to react. "What's this about? Did my words make you happy?"

"You're really cute, Sho, you know that?" Takuya chuckled as he squeezed Sho tighter.

"Cute? Really? I don't think so." Sho he mumbled, slightly embarrassed. "If you're not letting go anytime soon, at least let me get some work done first. These souvenirs aren't going to sort themselves, you know!"

Takuya's grip on Sho tightened, "Those souvenirs can wait a few minutes, can't they?"

"Please, Takuya-kun," Sho pleaded, holding back his smile.

"No!"

"Why?"

"Just No!"

"Seriously, give me a good reason, then."

"Huh? Why should I?"

Their playful teasing became a cherished part of their daily routine, a source of joy that lasted for many years.

But life wasn't always sunshine and rainbows for Sho and Takuya. It was filled with the simple joys and challenges of everyday living. There were playful moments of teasing, of course, but also times when they had to work through disagreements. Yet, through those experiences, their love deepened.

They were each other's constant companions, a safe harbor to return to, no matter the storm. Years might turn to decades, seasons may change, they would face whatever future unfolded, hand in hand, hearts beating as one. They had found a reason to savor every breath, every laugh, every quiet moment, until their very last breaths faded.

ʚ end ɞ