Shifting Times | One-Shot Collection |

Forgiveness

Synopsis: It had been years since Mitsuzane had ever shown his true feelings around his older brother. Even as they attempted to repair their relationship, he still kept most of his feelings to himself. Unfortunately after a comment he receives, there's a question he needs answered and everything just starts spilling out after that.

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"Nii-san..."

"Nii-san...?"

"Nii-san?"

Takatora woke to something tapping him on the shoulder and his bed moving. He was still half-asleep as he cracked open his eyes to see the perpetrator. The person was very familiar, but also their presence was not expected in his room.

"Mitsuzane...?" Takatora rubbed his eyes and then stared at the younger boy in confusion.

"Nii-san... I'm sorry for waking you but I..." Mitsuzane looked away and then continued in a barely audible whisper, "Can I... stay with you tonight?"

That request was something Takatora hadn't heard in years. Back when Mitsuzane was a little kid and he was just barely a teenager was the last time he could ever recall his younger brother wanting to stay with him. Just what had brought this on all of a sudden?

"Why?" Takatora was a bit worried by just what could've cause Mitsuzane to need him this late at night.

Mitsuzane frowned and looked dejected, "I... sorry for bothering you I... I'll go..."

Takatora grabbed Mitsuzane by the wrist before he could retreat, "I didn't say you weren't welcome to stay. I just wanted to know why. You can stay."

"I... can?"

"Of course." Takatora shifted over and made more room for his brother.

Mitsuzane hesitantly crawled under the covers and laid beside him. They faced each other, but stayed in silence for a while. Takatora didn't want to push for an answer. Mitsuzane and him still had a very rocky relationship, though it was getting better over time. He didn't know how prying would be taken.

"Do you hate me, nii-san?"

"Why would I hate you?" That question just made him more worried. Had someone said something awful to Mitsuzane and made him relapse in the progress they had made?

Takatora had thought they got over the whole blame issue already. Mitsuzane was a kid. He hadn't known just what all those people had been doing to him until it was too late. He had been manipulated to be their pawn. And it was Takatora's own fault for not realizing Mitsuzane's feelings until it was all too late. How could anyone blame him for this?

"I caused you so much trouble... how can you forgive me for what I did?" Mitsuzane sounded close to tears.

"What brought those thoughts on now of all times?" Takatora asked, "I've told you before that I'm not mad. You didn't know better. I'll never hate you for what happened back then."

"I... I don't wanna talk about it... I'm sorry I'm bothering you, nii-san..."

Takatora sighed, "You're not bothering me at all, Mitsuzane. Do you want a hug?"

Mitsuzane hesitated, before he looked at Takatora through teary eyes and nodded. Takatora held open his arms and the younger boy quickly filled the gap. He clung to him tightly and the tears came. Takatora held him close and let him cry.

"I love you, Mitsuzane. That will never change. I'm sorry I wasn't a good enough brother to prevent you from suffering like this. If anything, you should be the one hating me."