Gathering the Falling Stars

hey everyone for the last 2 chapters ive only got 1 review and while im happy with any review it would be nice to hear from more people

please please please please

A/N/

knits alot - ya we didnt realize until i was editing it that it was very confusing but i hope this is a better chapter!

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Chapter 10


Junko settles into the seat, pulling his belt across him and buckling it. He sighs, knowing he'll have to do some serious talking to Hoshi later on, but ready nonetheless. Hoshi drives down the road.

"Same place?" He gently takes Junko's hand into his own.

Junko shakes his head.

"No. Post office. It's just up the road from the pizza parlour, though." Hoshi nods as he stops at a red light.

"So whats wrong Junko? Your brother may be young but his mind is that of an 18 year old." Junko's mind slipped back into it's normal Self-deprecating mode.

He sighed again.

"It doesn't matter. I should have protected him better. I...one of his friends came to me recently and told me the...things he did. The reason he always had money. You know, I hadn't even noticed until then?" Junko dropped his face into his hands miserably.

Hoshi looked at him. He would have to talk to Jacklon about his new pet.

"He made sure you didnt find out." Junko shook his head, not lifting it, his voice muffled in his hands.

"A proper brother would have seen the signs."

"A proper brother shouldnt have to be a bread winner of his whole family." Hoshi gently rubs his thigh.

Junko fell listlessly back against the seat, his eyes slipping closed for a moment.

"I can't keep doing this." He stated flatly. "It's like I have to choose either to be a good brother, or to keep the five of us fed. It's..." Junko paused before saying something he'd never said before. "It just not fair..." he whispered.

Hoshi felt his heart breaking for his sweet angel. He gently took Junko's hand as he kissed the back of it.

"Dont worry everything will get better i promise." Junko smiled wanly.

"I hope so." Hoshi pulls up in front of the post office.

He leaned over and kissed his lips softly.

"Be Good." Junko grinned, and even chuckled a little as he got out of the car.

"I always am." Hoshi smiles and waves as he takes off.

He sighed heavily as he pulled out his phone and made a few calls. Junko quickly unlocks and opens the office portion of the post office, getting ready for a long, uneventful day. A few hours pass as Junko's cell phone begins to ring. The number that showed up was unknown to him. Junko stares at the phone for several moments before deciding to answer it, reasoning that it might be Youji using an odd phone.

"Er. Hello?" he answers awkwardly.

"Yes is this Junko Collins?" a female voice was on the line.

Junko froze, his fingers tightening on the phone as he wondered who on earth would have this number. He swore as his grip pressed one of the side buttons and the phone beeped loudly in his ear.

"Y-yes, er. T-this is him. He. I'm Junko."

"Hello there this is Miss Himoru Vice Principal at Hiroki and Kaouri's school. I was wondering if maybe you could come in and speak to me about the twins grades?" Junko's heart plummeted.

"A-are they having p-problems?" he asked nervously.

"Well their grades are lower than they should be to go on to the next grade and they were cited several times for fighting with each other. This would be so much better spoke of in person can you come in?" Junko bit his lip.

"I'm working at the moment and I'm afraid I have an e-e-engagement tonight. Might I come by in the morning?"

"Im sorry but it has to be today... is there someone who can come in your place then? Or someone to bring you here?"

"Um. C-could I call you back? Your number's in my phone now and it won't be a moment..."

"Alright then." Junko quickly hung up the phone, dialling Hoshi's number and waiting impatiently for him to pick up.

"Hoshi... hey Junko. Arent you still at work?" Junko blurted out what had happened in what seemed like a single breath, his worry and confusion coloring his tone unmistakeably.

"Ok ok ok ok calm down plum. I'll go and talk to this Miss Himoru." Junko stopped abruptly.

"Y-....you will?"

"Ya i got nothing better to do. Besides i have my own reason for going." Junko felt a warm rush of grattitude for his lover and vowed to do something special for him tonight.

If only he could figure out what...

"Thank you so much, Hoshi." He said quietly.

"No problem. Love ya." Hoshi hangs up as he was still in the car.

He drove towards the school as he pulled up in front of the empty school. He thought it was quite odd that a vice principal wanted to talk to a guardian without the children present. Inside was a large wooden partition, behind which sat a plump, unhappy looking woman in her mid forties. She glanced up when Hoshi pulled up, her lips pursing together in perpetual disapproval. Hoshi looks at the woman and silently puked at the sight of the woman.

"Mr. Collins?" the woman sneered as Hoshi glares.

"No im here on his behalf." The sound of a door opening near the partition is heard.

"Ah you must be a friend of Junko's." Hoshi turns and instantly feels his guard go right up.

The woman standing in front of him was a 5'8 slinky woman with the perfect hourglass shape. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a messy bun complimenting her soft red power suit that ended in a skirt and matching pumps. Hoshi instantly hated her.

"Im Hoshi. Junko is my... close friend." Miss Himoru looks at Hoshi with a disapproving eye.

He was a player. Point Blank. He was a robe wearing, pipe smoking, bunny hopping player.

"Come in." Hoshi steps in with her. An hour passes of Miss Himoru going on and on about nonsence which made Hoshi believe this bitch had a motive for trying to get his Junko into this office. Soon Miss Himoru stood up and extended her hand towards Hoshi. "Well Mr...Hoshi... i am safe to assume you will tell Junko what we have talked about." Hoshi nods as he stands up.

He stepped out without a word. Miss Himoru watches the guy before a very ugly sneer moves over her normally pretty face. This guy was WAY too close to her Junko. She had watched Junko struggle to bring those bratty twin devils to this school and instantly marked him as hers in her own mind. She was going to make sure this Hoshi wasnt going to stand in her way. After no word for over an hour, Junko's nerves got the better of him and he made good use of the speed-dial to call Hoshi.

"Hey Junko... have you ever met this Miss Himoru?" Junko blinked at the phone for a moment before responding.

"Er. N-not personally. I've seen her before, but we've never spoken until she called. Why? Is there something really wrong? She said the mo-er. Twins' grades were low..." Junko finally paused for a breath.

"I got the feeling she was making that part up. Mostly she talked about how the twins are a monsters. And what she does as vice principal." Junko growled.

No one but himself and Youji were allowed to refer to the twins like that. Mostly because the two of them meant it affectionately.

"Did she actually say that?!" He asked in stunned outrage.

"She didnt say it outright but she danced around it like a well trained monkey." Junko made a disgusted house.

"What the hell did she want then? She wanted me to leave work to come see her, it better have been important." Hoshi sighs deeply.

"I think shes interested in you." The green-haired man fought the urge to gag.

"Oh, yuck. She's like...just...no." He wrinkled his nose.

"Why?"

"Maybe because your sexy. I find you very tastey myself." Junko blushed.

"Oh. Well...er." He paused as he assimilated this new information. "But that's so inconsiderate!" He blurted suddenly. "She wanted me to leave work for that?! She knows how hard it is for me to take care of the kids- all of their teachers do!" He growled, before calming. "Well...perhaps not. She hasn't been working there all that long..."

"Well then now that that is fixed do you have a lunch break coming?" his voice was almost leading.

Junko's bad mood seemed to evaporate at the thought of having lunch with Hoshi.

"I do. Why?"

"Be outside in 5." Hoshi hangs up and drives towards the post office.

Junko huffs as he hangs up the phone. He rushes to lock up and fix his fly-away hair before glancing outside to make sure Hoshi's there. Hoshi pulls up in front of the officeas he adjusts his hair. Junko glances around before coming up to Hoshi's car, leaning into the open window on the passenger's side.

"Hey, stranger. You lookin' for a good time?" He asks with a wicked grin.

Hoshi chuckles.

"With you... anytime. Get in." He opens the door for him.

Junko slips in, buckling his belt and feeling his heart race. He's never been this open with anyone before and it feels so...freeing to him. Hoshi leaned over and kissed Junko softly before sitting back.

"Any place around here to get a quick bite?" Junko shrugs.

"Pizza up the road, Italian two blocks over. There's also a little mom'n'pop type place back toward the highway." Hoshi nods.

"Pizza's fine." Hoshi drives toward the pizza shop.

He pulled up and turned off the car.

"So how is work?"

"Boring." came the reply as Junko jumped from the car.

He was thinking about that annoying woman, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that he could attribute most of what was annoying him to her just not knowing any better. He sighed. Hoshi followed his lover inside before sitting down pulling Junko into the seat right next to him. Junko grinned, but shifted away a bit. He still wasn't quite sure of this experiment of theirs becoming public knowledge. Hoshi put his arm around the back of the chair.

"So Junko... tell me you wanted to talk before our date right?" Junko felt lead settle in his gut.

He had wanted to talk to Hoshi...But he wondered now if his reaction was simply afterglow....he swallowed.

"It...er. It wasn't important."

"Come on Junko. I never offer to talk to people often so i would take this oppertunity."

"I just..er. It's...about tonight." He said finally, quietly.

"Go ahead." Hoshi gently rubbed the back of his neck as he waved the waitress off.

Junko looked down at his clasped hands and kept his voice quiet.

"I just...I mean we both know this might not...probably won't...work out. I don't want you to...Well. I don't want you to think that you have to...do this. I mean...like it will change my decision. If you're uncomfortable with it or just want to wait until someone you lo-...er. Care for. Someone you care for comes along..." Hoshi looks at Junko before he gently cups his cheek.

"I care for you Junko. I care for you a lot. It's true that being bottom to anyone doesnt really make me happy but... for you i want to help you." Hoshi gently rests his forehead to Junko's.

The thought of pulling away, surprisingly, doesn't even occur to Junko as he reaches up to run his fingertips over Hoshi's lips- so close to his own. Hoshi looks at him before he gently brushed their lips.

"Junko... to show how much you mean to me... i give you permission to ask anything about me that you wish to know. My past, my family anything. The second we leave here i dont think i could talk of it." Junko blinks and chooses his words carefully.

"How did you find me? I mean...why me?" Hoshi smiles.

"I saw you walk out of a music store and i guess you just intriged me. Youji filled me on all your problems." Junko nods, and reaches up to run his finger very carefully over the string on his eyepatch.

"And this?" Hoshi's eye widen as he silently beat himself up.

He knew that would be one of the questions his angel would ask. Hoshi took a deep breath as he rested his hand on Junko's on his cheek.

"To explain this you would have to know what led up to it. Just... let me get through it before you ask questions or faint." He gently gripped Junko's hand. "When i was about Youji's age... my mother became my manager... you see i was just starting on my rockstar career. That CD you bought was my last CD. Gathering the Falling Stars was my bands name. For 6 years i rocked and enjoyed the fruits of being of star. The downsides... my mother kept trying to steal my money so i... in nice terms... i divorced her. During my last show a crazed fan was drinking pretty hard... and when he went to cheer his glass bottle flew out of his sweaty hands and hit the stage. A piece of glass flew up and wedged itself into my eye permanantly blinding me. That piece of glass ended my career and my public life. I have been a hermit ever since... that is until i met you." Hoshi took a deep breath feeling oddly better after telling what happened.

Junko blinked in shock, his heart filling with someting warm and worrying.

"I...god, Hoshi." He runs his fingers over Hoshi's cheek under the eyepatch, knowing such a thing must have hurt, but suspecting the betrayal of his mother hurt the man much more.

Hoshi looks at him slowly before gently removing the eyepatch showing the pure white eye the with scar. He was no longer afraid to show off his secret. Junko gasps, but not in pity or horror. His heart aches in pain for Hoshi and he leans forward unthinkingly, placing a chaste kiss over the man's damaged eyelid. Hoshi blushes softly which was new to him. He was deeply touched by the gesture. He gently pulled his patch back on before he leaned down claiming Junko's lips deeply. Junko can't resist the kiss, smiling into it. When he pulls away, he runs his fingers soothingly down Hoshi's throat.

"You blushed." He said with a small smile.

Hoshi gulps as he pulled Junko over.

"You tell anyone and ill deny it." Junko goes easily, wrapping Hoshi in his arms in an uncharacteristically dominant gesture.

"I woulnd't dare." he promised.

Hoshi smiles and kisses him deeply as the waitress comes over again. Hoshi quickly orders a small pizza for them.

"So now you kinda have an idea of how i can afford a lot of things." Junko grins.

"Yeah. You can buy lunch." He wolfs down a couple breadsticks from the baske the waitress brought with a wink.

Hoshi rolls his eyes as he pets his hair.

"It means you guys will be taken care of." Junko blinks.

"Er...you don't have to...I mean." He takes a deep breath.

"We aren't your responsibility, Hoshi. I don't want you feeling obligated..." Hoshi holds him close.

"You are my responsibility. Your my lover." Hoshi kisses his cheek as the waitress comes with their hot pizza.

"I can't depend on that. I mean what happens if this...experiment is a flop? I can't expect you to take care of a family that's not your own." Hoshi still didnt like that he was calling what they had an experiment.

"I will still take care of you for my brother's sake then." Junko shakes his head, determined to be practical about this.

"And if they don't work out? I just...I can't let myself depend on anyone but me. I can't trust anyone else." Junko's entire being seems to shrink into itself, as though he's not truly aware of what he's saying. "They all....all of them. They're gone." his voice is quiet and his eyes unfocussed." Hoshi grabbed Junko's arms.

"Junko snap out of it." Junko blinked slowly, shaking his head as his eyes reluctantly focus on Hoshi.

"I....I-I-I'm sorry. I j-j-j-just....I..." Junko's mortification is apparent on his face.

He couldn't believe he'd lost it in front of Hoshi. He bows his head, covering his face in shame. Hoshi pulls him close.

"This is exactly why you need me."

"But I can't..." Junko said quietly, hiding his face against Hoshi's throat. "I'm....God, Hoshi. I'm so afraid of...of needing anything. Anyone..." Hoshi kisses him deeply as he holds him tight.

He poured his love into the kiss. Junko seems to relax as the waitress returns with their pizza. She looks worriedly at Hoshi. She's known Junko since he started working there and she'd never seen him like this. She mouths to him

"Is he okay?" Hoshi nods slowly breaking the kiss.

Junko ran his fingers through Junko's hair. She seems satisfied with that and shrugs, setting the pizza down on the table and returning to her work. Junko pulls away, serruptitiously flicking away a single stray tear before taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry..."

"Dont worry i'll still take care of you." Hoshi takes a piece and eats it.

Junko sighs, but nods, taking his own slice and biting into it. After a few pieces Hoshi looks at him. He still wanted to take care of his sweet Junko. He decided that he had made the right choice for Junko.

"Come on Junko lets get you back to work." Junko nods, taking a swig of water to clean his mouth and popping in a piece of gum on the way to the door.

He holds the pack out to Hoshi, offering a piece. Hoshi leaned down and captures Junko's lips gently taking the gum from Junko's mouth. Junko decides now is as good a time as any to find out if he could ever be in control. He presses Hoshi back into a small alcove. He pulls the former rocker's wrists above his head and pins him to the wall as he kisses him with a rough but loving passion. Hoshi gasps and leans back with him as he lets Junko have his control. He added his own passion to the kiss while bystanders observed. Junko completely ignores their gawkers, everyone too stunned to even say anything as he leans in to nip at Hoshi's ear, whispering.

"I can't wait to get you naked tonight..." Hoshi shuddered as he licked his lips.

"Ah... niether can i..." in truth he was terrified.

Junko transferred Hoshi's wrists into one of his hands, the other coming down to tenderly run over Hoshi's cheek.

"If it gets to be too much...we'll switch, okay? No pressure." Hoshi took a deep breath and nodded.

"Thanks Junko."

"Anything." Junko responded quietly, releasing Hoshi and leading him out the door past a still-speechless crowd.

Hoshi follows him fast before pushing Junko into his car. His lips capture Junko's as he presses him nearly into the backseat. Junko can't hold back a slight moan as he returns the kiss enthusiastically, his legs slipping apart and allowing Hoshi to settle between them. Hoshi pressed into him while his tongue plundered Junko's mouth ruthlessly. He was so turned on by Junko taking some control. Junko pulled away finally, huffing, his cheeks flushed.

"I'm going- ah- going to be late, Hoshi." Hoshi breathes hard before he helpping Junko back into his seat.

"Your fault my little angel." Junko just grins as he buckles up.

Hoshi drives back to the post office.

"Call me when you finish up and ill pick you for our date. There will be no need for you to change." Junko nods as he opens the door, pausing before getting out.

He turns and presses a quick kiss to Hoshi's cheek, blushing as he does so.

"I'll see you then." Hoshi smiles and kisses his cheek.

"See ya then." Junko returns to work with a spring in his step, looking forward to his date.

*~*~*~*~*~*~End of Chapter 10*~*~*~*~*~*~