krystalkatzficz | Keep the faith part 75

“I can’t…I can’t do this…Let’s go home…” Nino whispered as he looked around the car park. His skin was shivery and his teeth were starting to chatter. His breath caught in his throat and he was positive that his skin was becoming clammy from the thought that through the woods was his old group. They hadn’t parted on bad terms. In fact, the last time he had been physically here it had been the same as every other meeting. He hadn’t been all that interested in being there but eventually he hadn’t bothered just saying to himself that he would go next time but never did. He hadn’t even spoken to Noaki; Jun had done that for him.

“We can do that if that’s what you really want Kazu…” Jun breathed reaching out and taking his hands in his own bringing them up to his mouth so he could kiss his palms in the way that he had always done when he was nervous and Nino had to admit that it was working on his heart “…But…This was your idea and I think that you really want to do this…You want to make things right don’t you?”

“Y-Yes…” He breathed slowly through his nose looking down at the two chains that were around his neck and the one that was around Jun’s. His grandfather’s stone was there proudly nestled against Jun’s t-shirt where it had been since he had given it to him and he gave a nod slowly pulling his hands free and opening the latch on the car door. It opened with a pop and he stepped out onto the crunchy gravel and woodchips his heart hammering against his ribs as he looked around breathing in the sweet, woody scent that was so familiar to him and yet so nostalgic. He had missed it more than he could ever have imagined and he could picture the forms of his grandparents making their way hand in hand through the woods to the meeting place. He gave a shaking breath and smiled after the mental image blinking away the tears before his own hand was taken and Jun was leading him through woods.

Twigs cracked under his feet and he realised just how much he had missed this. With each step, each rustle of branches, and leaves he could feel his heart growing more and more comfortable. He could his grandpa asking him what kind of tree or plant that they were and his grandma telling him about the birds that were roosting in the trees. It wasn't painful to remember those times now and he allowed himself a little smile reciting the names of the trees. He could also remember him and Jun sneaking off into the forest and making out. The trees thinned out as they came to the clearing. It was a warm night but there was still a fire lit casting a cheery orange glow around the clearing. There were only a few people mingling around some he recognised and some he didn’t but in the centre of it all was Noaki. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with his own necklace of stones around his neck. He looked up as they approached and Nino realised that there were one or two grey hairs decorating his temples now and that the faint indication of crow’s feet had formed in the corners of each of his eyes and around his mouth.

“Long time no see…” He smiled as they got closer and Nino swallowed bile from the back of his throat before opening and closing his mouth trying hard to get the words out. Noaki cocked his head to one side and then opened up his arms and Nino stepped forward and filled them his face pressing into his chest as he finally whispered;

“I’m sorry…”

“I know, it's okay…Welcome back Nino it's been a long time but I knew that Jun would bring you back to us when you were ready..." Noaki breathed into his ear before turning and smiling at Jun "And welcome back Jun…We’ve missed you both…”

TBC
A/N: I hope that this is okay ^_^