[Fic] SD Spin-off: Holly Jolly Christmas Part 2
Kame watched as more pictures flitted by: a young Jin tugging on his mother’s skirt to get her attention, Hitoshi rocking him to sleep as a young boy, Jin at three years old playing with a football, precious photos of Jin curled up around Reio or playing with his brother, Jin playing with what were no doubt some precious jewels under the careful watch of his father, and a photo of Jin on his first day of kindergarten in front of the school he at which he taught.
Within twenty minutes he had already fallen back on that old habit of his, unable to keep himself from smacking his leg and practically jumping with laughs.
“I just want to pinch your cheeks, I really do. Jin won’t you gain more weight so I can do that?” Kame laughed at a particular picture. In it a five year old Jin’s face was smeared with something bright pink and he looked almost ill.
“Jin was pouty because we all wouldn’t let him have more than one scoop of ice cream. So in the middle of the night he snuck down to the kitchen and ate a whole tub by himself. Naomi found him curled up on the kitchen floor like this, with a huge tummy and of course a stomachache to accompany it.” Hiromi explained.
“Strawberry?” Kame looked to Jin with bright eyes and a huge smile.
“Of course.” Jin smiled lightly, briefly thinking that if it made Kame smile like that he could bear with it.
“Oh you’ll love this Kame.” Hiromi exclaimed upon the next photo. “You remember the petting zoo incident, don’t you dear?”
Hitoshi was already chuckling. “How could I forget that?”
“No!” Jin buried his face in his hands, which served to only encourage Kame to prompt the story.
“We both happened to have a day off, one of the first in a few weeks, Jin was six and Reio was four so we decided to take them to the petting zoo. Everything was going well, Jin didn’t even cry upon sight of the rabbits.” Everyone in the room chuckled a bit. “But you know how goats will eat just about anything? One took a fancy to Jin’s shoelaces and chased him around. He was crying and crying because it kept trying to eat his shoes and shoelaces until a staff member stopped the goat with some treats.”
Kame grabbed Jin’s arm for support, otherwise he would have been on the floor laughing. “J-Jiin, why did you never tell me this story before?” He asked between gasps.
“Because you’d react like this.” Jin pouted. Kame leaned further in to him, wrapping his arm around Jin’s waist now that he didn’t need support to stay upright. “Don’t look like that.” He muffled his slowly dying laughter in Jin’s shoulder and Jin was once against placated.
“Here, this one is after Jin’s first football game.” Hiromi pointed out a picture of a slightly muddy and scraped up, but overjoyed Jin flashing a peace sign in his football kit. “He was about five here.”
“You look so happy.” Kame marveled, never having gotten to see Jin playing football before.
Now that the pictures had taken a slightly better turn, Jin rest his head on Kame’s shoulder, looking at the pictures and trying to remember each moment. There was another picture that Kame cooed at: A three year old Jin holding a bottle for baby Reio and helping to feed him. “You’re such a cute older brother.”
Jin blushed and wondered just who had made this album and why it was so illogically put together. He then remembered that his mother had done it and wasn’t completely surprised. He nearly groaned at the next picture that popped up, knowing a story would come with it.
Kame blinked, unsure of just why Jin was worried. He had seen the picture briefly in the living room, having spotted it as they were moving to the dining room for dinner, and he hadn’t been able to admire it. Jin stood, holding his high school graduation certificate, looking young and handsome while beaming with obvious pride. He stood on the stage, obviously posing for the perfect photo opportunity.
“You looked so handsome, even back then.” He whispered into Jin’s ear.
Jin blushed lightly and looked away while Reio finally caught a glimpse of the picture they were viewing.
Reio laughed. “You wouldn’t know it by that picture of course, but two seconds after that Jin tripped down the stairs.”
Kame laughed. “You tripped during the ceremony, oh Jin!”
“No I did not trip during the ceremony, I’m not holding everyone’s papers, it was after. The photographer just said that he wanted to get a picture of me on the stage.” Jin pouted. “It’s not that funny Kame!”
The next picture was very similar, it also took up a full page, but Jin was obviously older and he no longer wore his black high school uniform but instead a sleek and expensive black suit. The smile on his face was even brighter than the one before, obviously a result of graduating university with top honors.
“His graduation from university, right?” Kame asked.
“Yes, how did you know?” Hiromi beamed.
“He’s wearing a different suit from the one he has in his apartment from his graduation from law school.” Kame explained. He trailed a finger over the picture on the next page, almost the same picture but with his parents and Reio by his sides.
“We were so proud of him.” Hitoshi murmured lowly.
“Until afterwards. Jin tripped on his way to the car to go out for dinner.” Reio moved forward and flipped the page. “I took this one.”
“Reio!” Jin complained. “Stop doing this!”
“You did it to me when I brought Mayu home for the first time, consider it pay back.” Reio smirked.
Kame giggled and pulled Jin a bit closer. “You’ve always been so clumsy haven’t you?”
In the picture Jin was practically flying through the air, face panicked as he headed face first towards the asphalt.
“Ah, this one was during college! I played on the football team.” Jin explained, the next photo that of Jin charging forward with the football, taken from in front of Jin.
“I took that picture, it’s a great picture ne.” Reio explained but then he glared at Jin. “Regrettably right after that picture we both had to go to the hospital.”
“You’re never going to let that go, are you? You’re the only who got in front of me to take a picture during practice!” Jin exclaimed.
“Did you both get badly hurt?” Kame asked with concern, imagining Jin in a hospital bed with a broken arm.
“Minor concussions, for both of us. It wasn’t anything too bad.” Jin answered.
“Ah!” Hiromi exclaimed. “I have a great idea, why don’t I let you watch some home videos? There’s the cutest one of Jin at his first swimming lesson. Poor thing freaked out and thought he was drowning when he was only in about 15 centimeters of water. When we told him to just stand up he was so embarrassed.”
--
Hitoshi and Hiromi walked both couples to the front door couples.
“Oh I’m so glad I was able to see all four of you.” She was tightly hugging Mayu. “We’re home until the second week of January, when we leave for the Congo, but please come visit us anytime! Reio come give mummy a hug before you both leave.”
Reio smiled and hugged her. “We’ll definitely come visit during the first few days of the New Year, don’t worry. We should get going, it’s late and Mayu has work in the morning.”
“Alright, I’ll see you soon Reio.” Jin hugged both of them.
“It was great meeting you both.” Kame smiled.
“Alright, now it’s time for your hug.” Reio laughed and pulled Kame in for a surprise hug. “Make sure my brother doesn’t do anything embarrassing at your parents’ home for me. I can’t have him making a bad name for himself!”
“It was great to meet you.” Mayu gave him a short hug. “Wait, Reio! We never gave your parents the gift!”
“We completely forgot!” Hitoshi immediately ran into the other room while Naomi brought out the couples’ presents to their parents.
Hiromi smiled when Hitoshi returned with four wrapped gifts.
“Mum, this is from Kame and me.” Jin held out the box for his parents.
“Thanks sweeties.” Hiromi pulled each down to her level and kissed their foreheads before taking the present. “May I open it?”
“Of course.” Jin answered brightly.
“Oh the box you used is absolutely gorgeous, the designs are absolutely marvelous… and our favorite chocolates! You always know just what to give us. And the box will go perfectly in the study.” Hiromi exclaimed.
Reio handed a similarly sized gift to his father, this time an ornately carved box of a dark red wood contained the Crunky bars. “It’s perfect Reio, Mayu. It’s perfect for the living room. Now here you are, a gift for each of you.”
Kame blinked in shock when a delicately wrapped box was placed in his hands. “You really didn’t need to get me a gift!”
“I really wanted to!” Hiromi assured him. “You’re such a darling and I would have felt horrible if I hadn’t. Open them at home, alright? I don’t want to keep you four out any longer.”
“We’ll be leaving for then, thank you for the great night.” Reio smiled before kissing his mother and hugging his father in thanks. “Good night.”
“Thank you, you really didn’t have to! And thank you for having me, have a good night.” Mayu answered sweetly, hugging both before she and Reio left.
“We need to get going too. I need to head in to the office with Reio again sometime tomorrow to start taking a look at all the information for the end of the fourth quarter. Thank you so much for having us, I loved seeing you both.” Jin kissed his mother’s cheek and hugged her before going to say something to his father.
“Ne, Kame can I have your number?” Hiromi asked, sending Jin careful looks to make sure he wasn’t listening. “This way we can send each other pictures and talk!”
“Of course.” Kame smiled and pulled his phone from his pocket where Hiromi quickly entered her number.
“It was great having you over.” Hiromi hugged him tightly and refused to let go for a few minutes. “I’m really happy to have met you, and I’m so glad Jin has you. He’s always been such a shy boy at heart, I was afraid he’d never want to bring anyone home. Please feel free to visit us whenever we’re home.”
“Thank you.” Kame whispered. “I’m happy to have been here.”
“Mum let go of Kame.” Jin sighed.
“But he’s just so adorable, and fashionable. I don’t want to let him go!” Hiromi pouted.
“I think Jin just wants me all to himself.” Kame joked. “But I guess we should get going.”
Hiromi finally released Kame and allowed him to say good bye to her husband.
“Thank you for coming for dinner on such short notice, we loved having you.” Hitoshi smiled warmly and gave him a firm hug. “Please give my regards to your family and make sure Jin doesn’t do anything too humiliating.”
“Thank you so much for inviting me at such short notice. I’ll watch after Jin, but don’t worry my parents are pretty easy going.” Kame smiled.
“We’ll see you before we leave again?” Hitoshi prompted.
“Sure, I’ll come back to visit with Jin soon.” Kame smiled.
“Alright, let’s get going.” Jin directed Kame out the doors.
Once the door closed behind them Kame paused and pulled Jin down for a sweet and tender kiss. Once he drew away he wrapped an arm around Jin’s waist and leaned into him as they walked towards the car. Jin smiled but shivered lightly when Kame’s placed affectionate kisses along his jaw and neck.
“What’s gotten in to you?” Jin murmured as he fished his car keys from his pocket. “Normally I’m the affectionate one…”
“I just feel even closer to you now.” Kame murmured into Jin’s ear, pausing to stand by the car with Jin.
Jin leaned down and kissed Kame. “Come on, let’s go back to my place. And I feel closer to you too. I could have done without you learning all those stories…”
Kame began to giggle lightly as he sat down in the passenger seat. “But it’s just all so cute, and those videos. You were cuter as a child than all of my students… and I can’t believe a bunny was able to make you run away crying.” He hit his knee a few times as he tried to control his laughter but failed.
“Just wait until it’s your turn, jerk.” Jin pouted. “On New Years I’m going to get your parents to show me pictures from your childhood.”
Kame frowned but signed. “It’s only fair, isn’t it?”
Jin tilted his head lightly before leaning over and kissing the corner of Kame’s mouth, feeling his lips curl up in a smile. He swiped his thumb over the hand in his own, not quite sure when he had reached over but not caring in the least, before he started the car to go home.
At least the night was a huge success, but Kame still worried about New Years’ Day. While not as outwardly affectionate and forward, his family was much more hectic. He only prayed Jin wouldn’t feel uncomfortable in the new environment, because he knew when that happened Jin would lock up and be hard to draw back out again. He looked over and spotted the content smile on his face though and assured himself that everything would be alright.
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*konbini- I don't think I really need to put this in here, but just in case: convenience store.
*otoshidama - gifts given to children on New Year’s Day in Japan, in decorated envelopes called otoshidama-bukuro (similar to the red envelopes used in many East Asian cultures for special holidays etc). Inside is put money for the receiving child, normally new bills, and the amount varies usually by age, wealth, and location.
* crostini, bruschetta, polenta rounds - all three are Italian appetizers basically consisting of a topping (caramelized onions, roasted peppers, herbs, etc etc) served on a bread of some form (or toasted polenta in the case of polenta rounds). Someone who knows more about them will probably kick me for this basic description >.>