[In his Care] The Epilogue ~part 2/2
Kame opened his eyes, a gasp escaping his lips and he blinkingly took in the sight of their bedroom ceiling. It was still dark. Quite a few hours had passed into the night since Jin had come home drunk and they had fallen asleep. Jin was still sleeping peacefully in his arms, but Kame had no more desire to cuddle. If he gave in now then Jin would only film him again and again and always get away with it and do god knows what else. He needed to make it very clear to Jin what boundaries Jin could not overstep and teach Jin that lesson by destroying the file. There was no such thing as talking like grown-ups with Jin.
Careful not to wake Jin, Kame slipped out from underneath his boyfriend and immediately started searching their room. There were many apartments on this floor that connected to this one, but Jin always hid the most valuable stuff in their bedroom, as if wanting to guard it even when sleeping. The USB had to be in this room.
Kame first went through the pockets of the clothes Jin had worn the previous day, careful not to wake Jin up as he stuck a hand into the pockets of the other man’s jeans. He only found the USB Jin had used in front of him, so that couldn’t be it. Where else could Jin be hiding that stick?
He roamed through practically the entire bedroom, finding quite a lot of questionable things, but no more USBs.
“Getting colder…oh, now slightly warmer…” Kame suddenly heard Jin say from the bed and spun around with an accusing look on his face.
“Where is it?” Kame demanded to know.
“If I hand it to you, will you promise not to destroy it?” Jin asked, practically begged as it was becoming his last option. “You can hold onto it as long as you don’t destroy it. Can’t we compromise on that?”
“No!” Kame insisted. Feeling like he had already had this argument once today.
“But why?” Jin asked.
“Because…I don’t like the thought of you watching that, it’s embarrassing.” Kame muttered, turning his back at Jin. The shock of catching Jin watching it the first time had been quite enough. He had been so angry he couldn’t even remember the video itself.
A smile spread onto Jin’s face and the older boy rose from the bed to circle arms around Kame from behind. “I see you like that all the time.” he murmured into Kame’s ear.
“That’s…” Kame started. “That’s different.”
“Don’t be shy.” Jin said. “We can watch it together.”
Kame smacked his hands off. “I meant what I said earlier and I hope you understand that means no more sex until that video is destroyed. You’ll never see me like that again if you don’t cough up that USB and fast!”
“That same threat again?” Jin said. “You know bribing me works a lot better than blackmailing me.”
Kame’s reality this night was taking a notably similar course as his dream, as Jin caught him by the waist, pulling him closer to meet his lips.
Kame resisted, of course, throwing in a few moves in defence and then a few in offence that allowed him to get Jin off his back for a while until Jin came back stronger, quickly turning the situation against Kame. Every technique he used, Jin countered.
Kame had hoped the difference between them had shrunk a little more, but he had to admit, maybe he wanted to lose.
Jin pinned him against the sheets. He still put up a fight, but Jin didn’t let himself be fooled. They both knew he was just standing on principle, pushing away something he deep down inside wanted. His stubborn nature just wouldn’t let him admit it. Luckily Jin was equally stubborn and had the advantage.
It was not the first time they had had angry sex and it wouldn’t be the last time. Usually Kame would be the one angry, but would always yield in the end. This time was no different.
His hands previously fighting Jin off slipped around Jin’s neck instead and his nails dug into the flesh of Jin’s back, making Jin bite back a cry.
He welcomed Jin’s tongue into his mouth for the first time that night, knowing it would make it in there anyway. He could still smell the alcohol on Jin.
Their kiss heated up and his breathing quickened, moaning into their kiss and the only reason Jin broke it was to hear him better. Jin always enjoyed making him extra loud when they ended up having sex despite fighting. It was Jin’s way of tormenting him as his was to make Jin sleep on the couch.
If there was a camera in the room, Kame didn’t even care at the moment. He would afterwards, of course. He would regret giving in too, but not enough to make him want to undo what they had done, which would add to his fury. Now all Kame could think of was how much he had missed this. Jin had been right about him in the office too. After all this fighting, keeping his distance to Jin or more like keeping Jin at a distance from him, had made him want some hot office sex. He liked it that whether he was wearing a skirt or pants he could draw Jin’s attention. Of course he had been teasing Jin.
Kame managed to turn them around on the bed using his thighs to knock Jin over and ended up on top of Jin, who instantly grabbed his hips, keeping them moving. But this way, Kame could draw out a few deep moans from Jin in return, thrusting down to meet Jin’s hips while holding the man down for a while until Jin flipped him onto his back again.
Jin had to have it his way and Kame enjoyed breaking Jin’s control at moments like these. It pushed Jin’s buttons and the other man wouldn’t be satisfied until he regained the upper hand, after which revenge would usually follow. Jin would push Kame to his limits in return, though Jin hadn’t seemed to figure out just yet that in doing so Jin usually ended up testing his own limits as well, and Kame wasn’t sure which one of them was louder tonight. He was sure, however, that he would definitely feel Jin all day tomorrow.
Kame had no energy left to fight by the time he sank into the sheets, sweat covering his entire body. Jin stayed inside him long after, chest rising and falling rapidly against his as they fought to catch their breath. Jin was enjoying this as long as he could and the moment Jin pulled out of him Kame had recovered enough to move and rolled onto his side, his back facing Jin, indicating they were still fighting. Only now Jin had managed to get under his skin and wouldn’t let it go to waste, lying down behind him.
Kame didn’t say a word. He felt furious, like he knew he would, and his face was flushing red. He jerked as Jin’s fingers touched his naked skin, fingertips running up and down his arm and the curve of his waist.
“Why can’t you give it a chance?” Jin asked. “It’s a video of me and you…” Jin added, kissing his shoulder.
“Making love…” There was another kiss. “Making moments like these eternal…”
“Go to sleep.” Kame replied simply.
“On the couch?”
“Just go to sleep.” Kame said. “Sleep off the rest of your hangover.”
“The sex made it all better.”
Kame groaned, not any less furious over his defeat tonight and Jin cuddled into Kame’s back, spooning him.
Kame wondered why Jin always got the best of him. No matter how much Jin pissed him off, no matter what stunts Jin pulled on him… A sane person would’ve walked out a long time ago, but he always ended up yielding and staying, sometimes pretending to be mad even though he had already long ago forgiven Jin but wasn’t ready to admit it yet.
Kame hugged Jin’s arm, not turning around because it would’ve given Jin too much ground and he was still set on making Jin sleep on the couch tomorrow if that USB wasn’t in his hands before nightfall.
The next morning Kame woke up to Jin kissing him. He let Jin for a while, snuggling back into the sheets then and he felt Jin climbing out of the bed. Jin’s footsteps headed for the door and moments later Kame could hear water running in the bathroom.
Collecting his clothes, Kame took the opportunity to continue his search, retracing back to where he had been when Jin had woken up.
“Let’s see now… He said this was cold, but this…” Kame mumbled for himself, looking around and suddenly there it was, hidden in plain sight on a shelf just like Kame had imagined Jin would try to hide it. It stuck out from behind a picture of his family. How hadn’t he come across it before? Had Jin used the picture to draw the attention from the USB resting innocently sheltered by it? This had to be it! He would destroy it immediately!
The splashing of water indicated Jin was still in the shower. Jin may have won last night, but the gang leader would feel so defeated when finding his destroyed USB stick. Simply deleting the file would be too nice, Kame would smash the whole thing into pieces and leave it for Jin to find where Jin had hid it, lying there in plain sight mocking Kame.
Kame looked around for Jin’s weapons, trying to decide the best way of crushing the stick in a way nothing could ever be retrieved from it again. Finding a weapon to his liking, Kame was all ready to give the stick a hard blow, but his hand stopped in mid-air.
He wondered if Jin would actually feel as defeated as his boyfriend would more likely feel sadden, returning to see the stick destroyed.
Kame shook his head. Jin had been the one at fault! Jin had filmed them without even asking him! He shouldn’t be thinking if Jin would get hurt as he rightfully undid that wrong doing.
Yet his hand sunk to his side and the weapon fell from his grip.
Maybe he should connect it to his computer and see if it even was the right file. Jin could’ve planted other USB sticks to fool him.
He opened his laptop on the bed, plugging in his earphones and minding the bedroom door all the time so Jin wouldn’t sneak up on him. Then he opened the file and indeed it was the video in question.
Well, at least Jin was right about it not being as bad as Kame had imagined…
His fury that day had made him think the most awful thoughts about the video, but the angle of the camera and the distance made it less clear. The audio was also not the best and you could barely make out most of the conversation.
I love…what you do to me in bed.
Oh no! The camera caught that part too!? At least he won that discussion with Jin, though little had he known Jin had pulled the felt down the next minute…and there it went down…
He could see Jin’s hand disappearing under the blanket with the other one. Thankfully the blanket shielded what the felt didn’t, but did he really sound like that? Kame’s face got red instantly and he hurried to close the video and take the USB stick out, hiding it.
Jin came out of the shower a second later in an annoyingly good mood that reminded Kame about Jin’s victory last night. Jin smiled to him sitting at the bed. His boyfriend was wearing only a towel wrapped around his hips and still dripping wet. Jin did it on purpose, Kame was sure.
“Mornin’~”
“Morning.” Kame replied from the bed, less chipper.
“You know, you have no choice but to make truce with me for now.” Jin said. “That is, if you want us to make a good impression on your family.”
Kame stood up, sending Jin a questioning look.
“The dinner tonight…” Jin added. “We’re going.”
Kame didn’t know what to say at first. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You might regret it.” Jin said, slipping into a shirt.
Kame couldn’t be angry with Jin anymore. It was truce.
He was relieved Jin had brought the subject up on his own. Kame had begun to feel like a broken record, asking Jin about when they would meet his family when the gangster avoided the whole subject and finally Kame had stopped asking so much. Though his family hadn’t and he had grown tired of being in between, making up excuses for Jin.
But the closer the evening came, the less relieved Kame was beginning to feel and soon he found himself a few blocks away from his old home.
“Please don’t mention anything about the gigs you went on before you started targeting only bad guys. No wait, don’t mention any gigs.” Kame said before they would get too close to the house.
“Alright.” Jin answered.
“Or anything about prisons or the codes there.”
“Check.”
“And talk normally! Don’t use gang slang!”
“Roger.”
“And don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“Got it.”
“And don’t mention anything about, you know, the master-boy toy thing.”
“Anything else?”
“Don’t call me Kazu-chan in front of my parents.”
“Why not?” Jin asked.
“I don’t think they would feel comfortable with that.” Kame said.
“You know, for ‘coming as myself’ I’m pretty much not coming as myself.” Jin joked and to his surprise it made Kame panic.
“I know, I’m sorry! But if worse comes to worst, you will never have to see them again and we’ll run before they call the cops!” Kame said as they stopped by the door and Jin realized Kame was more nervous than him. He knew this evening meant a lot to Kame. Two worlds Kame had been trying to live in at the same time, worlds Kame had tried to connect, were finally meeting tonight and if something went wrong Kame would be more hurt than Jin.
To Jin it was weird being in this position, in this reality again.
Kame’s mother answered the door, noticing her son first and greeting him with a sweet smile before turning towards him.
The first few seconds define how someone forms their opinion of you. He had roughly ten seconds to make a lasting first impression that would withstand what was to follow.
“Good evening, Mrs Kamenashi.” Jin spoke first, a delightful smile on his face, his tone warm and his posture good. He held her gaze as he handed her a colourful bouquet of flowers. “These are for you.”
It was text book mind games or would’ve been if players like him had had any sorts of guide books.
Kame’s parents had never seen him before apart from possibly on some prison photos. They wouldn’t know what to expect, but most likely expect someone showing up either dressed in sleazy yakuza like clothes, looking something like a pimp or your stereotypical gangster.
A suit would have been too formal and too stiff, not to mention would’ve conveyed the message of him obviously seeking for their approval and altering his looks for them. In other words showing up as someone he was not. Therefore Jin had chosen a pair of nice looking jeans with a simple white shirt and a jacket to go with that - one he hadn’t made together with Yamapi. This look didn’t make it easy to place any misleading or unwanted impressions on him and gave him the opportunity to manipulate.
“Please step inside.” the mother offered and replying with the expected ‘pardon my intrusion’, Jin did so. “These are lovely. I’ll put them in water.” the mother added and once she had disappeared Jin nudged Kame, who gave him a questioning look that then turned into something off a blush as Jin handed him a rose he had saved from the bouquet. Kame gave him a baffled look that said he couldn’t believe Jin would have the stomach to do something like that now.
“Come in, please.” the father suddenly appeared in the hall and Kame was quick to hide the flower behind his back.
They were lead into the living room, where they were served tea and sweets. The tension was obvious, as they all sat down together. Jin wasn’t so worried about Kame’s three brothers, but Kame’s father was watching him very carefully as if ready to catch him making a mistake.
“I want to thank you for inviting me to your home.” Jin said where he sat next to Kame on the couch. “It’s beautiful.”
Though he already knew how it looked. He had been there before. He had spent the night in Kame’s bed.
“Yes, it’s so good you could finally honor us with your presence.” the father answered and the tone in the man’s voice didn’t go pass Jin and noticeably no one else in the room either. Kame shifted position next to him.
Jin was not going to be scared off that easily. He knew the man had the upper hand, but he wasn’t going to lose his cool. “The pleasure is all mine and I apologize for not coming sooner.”
“I understand. You were busy breaking out of prison.” the father replied, another sharp comment. Jin noted how Kame’s two eldest brothers seemed to follow the conversation with amusement, probably eager to see how the ex-player would be able to talk his way out of this situation that players usually never had to face.
“Jin and the gangs have been helping detective Masa catch criminals too.” Kame cut in, ready to stand on Jin’s side. “But it involves going undercover so we don’t talk about it. Please keep it a secret.”
“Criminals catching criminals.” the father said. “Tell me, how does the police chief’s son turn to crime?”
Jin had expected this question. “I thought there was no other way to make this society rethink how to treat its castaway citizens than to make a radical stand against it by revolting and forming ideological groups to spread the message and force justice, which has yet to be served.”
Kame could only stare at Jin, his mouth hanging open. Huh? No, what the hell? What was Jin saying? Did Jin even understand what he had said?
“I’ve practiced with everyone back home.” Jin whispered to Kame.
“W-well, I suppose no society is perfect. Though I’ll have to say, Akanishi-san, when I first heard my son was…dating someone from prison I imagined you to be quite…different.” the mother said.
“Thank you, Mrs Kamenashi, I understand you have your reservations concerning me, but do please call me Jin.”
Kame shot Jin a look. Jin talked so strange. He sounded really polite.
“Jin then.” his mother said. “You seem like a very charming young man.”
His mother seemed quite taken by Jin and that’s when Kame realized why. The tone in Jin’s voice, the look in Jin’s eyes… Jin was using his most effective weapons and they were working. Jin sure knew how to charm. Kame was a bit relieved. Though he doubted any of that would work on his father. Kame wished his father would make an effort to get to know Jin and not keep bombarding Jin with difficult questions and snarky remarks.
“I believe we owe you Kazuya’s life.” the mother continued. “And I understand you’re always protecting him.”
“Ever since prison.” the father added and Jin felt Kame tense next to him at that.
Kame was still nervous, Jin could tell, especially as the subject had turned back to prison. He softly, almost unnoticeably took Kame’s hand on the couch next to him - a gesture Kame’s father wasn’t very pleased about and it hadn’t gone by Jin the number of times the man had shot long looks at their rings.
“It’s the least I can do, wouldn’t you agree?” Jin replied politely.
“Indeed.” the father agreed.
“Excuse me for a while. I have better check on dinner.” the mother said, as she got up and disappeared into the other room, and Jin guessed it was partly to escape the awkward atmosphere. He hadn’t expected anything less, but rather than feeling sorry for himself he worried about Kame. He would not give up. He would stay and fight. He owed Kame this. He owed Kame’s family this. He had caused Kame enough trouble already, avoiding this situation for a year. He was surprised the atmosphere wasn’t even worse and he had half-expected to be thrown out by now.
“While we wait for dinner, I’d like to show you some more of our house.” the father said then, getting up.
“I’d be delighted.” Jin replied, also getting up.
When Kame spurted to his feet as well, his father said rather sternly, “Go help your mother in the kitchen. Akanishi, you must know by now, Kazuya is an excellent cook.”
Jin gave a polite smile in response. “In fact I do.”
“Yes, I thought you would.” the father added and signalled for Jin to follow him out the room.
Koji grabbed Kame’s sleeve as he tried to follow too regardless of his father’s words.
“Don’t. He wants a word alone.”
“I can’t leave Jin alone with him!” Kame protested. “Do you think you could-”
“Would you really prefer having father say all the things he’s about to with all of us present?” Koji asked and Kame involuntarily gave up and headed for the kitchen.
“Nice study…” Jin said as Kame’s father shut the door to the room and Jin turned to face the man, well-aware of the situation he was in. “You’re going to tell me to stay the hell away from your son, aren’t you?”
“How do you see this ending?” the father asked. “Me accepting you? Us having family dinners together with your folks too? After everything you did?”
“I was hoping we could take one step at a time.” Jin replied. “And maybe talk for longer than 15 minutes before making any decisions.”
The father stepped closer. “Then let’s talk. Really talk.”
“I understand that you want to protect Kazuya.” Jin said. “So go ahead, shoot. Ask me any question you want.”
“Is he your woman?”
Jin hadn’t expected that question. “Excuse me?”
“My son.” the father said. “You obviously let him do the cooking. Does he clean too? Do your laundry? Play the woman in your so-called relationship?”
And more importantly was Kame the woman in bed? Obviously Kame had been labelled that in prison.
“My apologies, but I find that question to be intruding our privacy.” Jin answered politely.
“And I believe you’re looking for my approval in my house.” the father replied. “Drop the politeness, I said let’s talk for real. I want to see who you really are. Besides, you promised to answer any question.”
This guy didn’t play fairly.
“In a relationship between two guys there is no woman.” Jin answered. “Unless either one wants to be, of course…which isn’t the situation between us.”
“So what are you planning on doing about your future?” the father asked. “Do you intend to marry him? Adopt children?”
“Uh, we haven’t really discussed that.”
“I’m asking for your opinion and your intentions.”
Jin wondered why life had to be so planned out all the time. Why people felt certain goals were important to achieve in order to be able to say they had lived a good life. “I’m not the kind of person to lead a life people normally strive to do. I’m not the husband type and I’m definitely not the father type. I wasn’t even the dating type.”
Even with his swindling skills he wouldn’t be able to fool this man. This man knew what he was worth. Only honesty could give him even a remote chance in dating a son of this man.
“I never intended for things to go this way with Kazuya. I never intended to become a boyfriend, but he has a way of bringing out sides in me I didn’t even know I had.” Jin said. “My only intention now is to keep being happy with him. I’m satisfied just like that. I don’t need marriage to prove how I feel about him and I definitely shouldn’t be continuing on these genes considering all the things I’ve done in my life. But…should he want to marry or something…then I would be the only one to become your in-law.”
Clearly though, he was not going to get Kame’s hand in marriage so easily let alone the permission to refer to this man as his father-in-law or relative of any kind.
“You never considered giving up your current life style for Kazuya?”
Somehow Jin didn’t feel like that question was as much of a question as it was an accusation.
“Yes, I did consider it. I even tried to, but-”
“But you won’t. It would make his life a lot easier if you did, but instead you leave him no choice but to join yours.”
“I think we both know I’m in too deep to go back now.” Jin said. “I can’t change who I am. And Kazu-chan accepts that. He accepts me.”
“And now you want me to accept you too?”
“I tried to let him go once. It was the second biggest mistake in my life.” Jin said, as the biggest mistake had been the obvious and the reason he was so hated by this man. “I wanted him to have his life back, so he could get over his feelings for me and move on. I wanted him to be able to have everything he deserves and I knew I could never give him that. But he came back. He wouldn’t let me go. He has the right to decide for himself, and he did.”
“He is a confused young man who you confused!” his father retorted. “He’s never given anyone else a chance because of you! Why would you even think he knows what’s best for him?”
“I used to believe what you just said. Now I believe in him. He’s far more capable in finding his own way in life than people give him credit for.” Jin said. “I know you wish your son would’ve chosen anyone but me, but I will not go away. I love your son. I know I’ve caused him pain, but that’s all the more reason for me not to leave.”
“What exactly is it that you love about our Kazuya?” the father asked. “In fact, how does someone like you even become capable of love?”
“I love him for being the only one who really dared to resist me, stand up against me, and he did it all without raising his fist even once.” Jin said and what Kame’s father saw now surprised the older man. “He changed me. Because of him I’m capable of love. I hardly stood a chance in not falling in love with him.”
Jin didn’t break eye-contact with the father no matter how sharp looks he received.
“You should see him with us. He does what he loves, what he does best…helping people. He grew into our circle so naturally and the rest of my gang, the other gangs, our friends have all accepted him as one of us and none of us will let him get hurt. We will protect him.” Jin continued. “And nothing will make me let go of Kazu-chan. Even if you don’t approve we’ll still be together. Besides I don’t give up easily. I’m even more stubborn than you. I’ll stick around and eventually you might have no choice but to approve of me.”
The father sighed, leaning back onto table in the study. “You really love him then?”
Jin was a bit surprised by the question as well as the tone in the other man’s voice. “Yes…sir.”
“Let me be frank with you. I don’t like the way of life my son has chosen since he started to hang out with you. Even if he’s not doing bad things he’s still on the run from the law. And I’m still not convinced you’re good for him.” the father continued and heaved another deep sigh. “But…if you are good to him, then that should be what really matters.”
Jin realized he must’ve looked a little hopeful at the moment as a scorn immediately appeared on the other man’s face.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving you my approval.” the father said then. “You’ll have to do a lot better than this to get that. I will want to see you again, your gang and people you hang out with before I’m done considering your fate. However, it would mean a lot to Kazuya if I gave my blessing, so I’m going to be counting on you to look after him and I will wait for you to prove yourself to me and I hope you will, because I don’t believe you’re a bad person. My son knows better than that. God knows I’ve tried changing his mind about you on several occasions without luck, so I’m very well aware of the position I’m in. I can either give you a chance or in the worst case scenario lose my son over you, which is something I’m not prepared to do. He means too much to me to lose over the fact that he’s got a bad taste in companions.”
That made Jin smile a bit. At last they agreed on something.
“I think it’s time for dinner soon.” the father added, on his way to open the door when turning back to give Jin a look as if just realizing something. “This isn’t the first time you’re in my house, is it?”
Jin had hoped the father wouldn’t catch up on how familiar he was in the house. “That cost me a few points, didn’t it?”
Biting back a curse, the father opened the door, almost bumping into Kame on his way out.
“Erm, dinner is ready…” Kame said, as if been about to come and inform them of that instead of having tried to listen in on their conversation.
His father passed him and Kame entered the room instead, not noticing his father hadn’t gone far.
“What did he say?” Kazuya asked in a clearly anxious tone.
“I’m guessing you didn’t overhear much.” Jin said and Kame’s father didn’t like how close his son stopped in front of the gangster. Kazuya had a worried expression on his face, one that made Jin smile and the gangster trailed fingers down Kazuya’s hair as if he had done so countless of times before. “Relax. Nobody was pointing sharp objects at the other. He said he needs to keep an eye on me, but he’ll be counting on me to be a good boyfriend.”
Kazuya’s face immediately brightened and he threw arms around the gangster’s neck. “Oh god. Yes.” his son mumbled into the gangster’s shoulder and Akanishi’s arms fell so naturally around Kazuya’s waist.
He had never seen his son smile quite like that. It was so bright and warm. Was this how his son looked like in love? Kazuya’s eyes shone as he met Akanishi’s gaze and he hadn’t expected the infamous gang leader to ever make an expression as gentle as the one now on the gangster’s face.
“See, it’s better once you’ve actually met him once, isn’t it?” his eldest son said as he turned around.
“Don’t scare me like that.” the father scolded.
“I’m glad you decided to approve of him.”
“I did not approve of him.”
“Not yet, but you will.” the eldest son smiled. Their father was a gentle person, just like Kame had turned out to be. Jin would be accepted into their family, though it wouldn’t be any time soon. “You’re not hard-hearted enough to abandon Kazuya for the person he’s dating and you can’t have Kazuya without Akanishi Jin. You’ll come to terms with that eventually.”
“Let them know dinner is waiting for them.” the father added, casting one last look into the room before leaving for real this time.
“Oops.” Jin said and Kame glanced up at him.
“What?” Kame asked a little worried.
“I said ‘Kazu-chan’.” Jin confessed.
“Dinner’s ready.” Yojirou informed them and Kame let go off Jin in an instance, obviously scared who’d see them like this.
“O-okay!” Kame answered, about to follow his older brother when Jin caught his waist one more time. “Jin!” he hissed. “What are you doing?”
“Give me something to help me get through the rest of the night.” Jin said and Kame wanted to protest, but quickly came to the conclusion that obeying would be faster so their absence wouldn’t be noticed. He met Jin’s lips in a quick kiss. “Not so fast.” Jin protested, railing him in for a longer and definitely deeper kiss than the previous one. “Thanks.” Jin murmured as their lips parted and he let go off Kame’s waist.
Kame immediately hurried off towards the dining room.
Somehow the atmosphere felt slightly better during dinner. It wasn’t as heavy and awkward as in the beginning. There was no question his father still had it in for Jin, but the two must’ve vented a bit and gotten some stuff out of their systems.
“So, should I start calling you Akanishi-onii-san from now on?” Yuya laughed and the father soon realized everyone else in his family had already practically accepted the gangster. The brothers seemed to have done it long before dinner and the mother was falling under Akanishi’s spell.
Under the table Kame found Jin’s hand, mixing his fingers into Jin’s and trailing his fingertips over Jin’s hand as if to sign promising messages. Jin had been through a lot tonight. Kame was sure to remember all Jin had done for him and he wanted to relay that message to Jin now.
His father seemed all but pleased as Kame left that night with Jin instead of sleeping over in his old bed. Jin was naturally not invited to stay the night.
As terrifying as that experience had been, Kame couldn’t remember a time he had felt more at peace as when they headed home that night.
“Went pretty well, I think.” Kame said playfully, hand in Jin’s and he swung their hands back and forth. “They didn’t even call the cops. I think they might even be all right with seeing you a second time, though you should probably not bring TTUN with you just yet.”
There was a moment of silence between them until Jin spoke.
“You do realize I can’t introduce you to my family.” Jin said and Kame shot him a look, removing his gaze from Jin as Jin turned his head to look back at him.
“I know. I’m not asking you to.” Kame said, not seizing to walk. “It’s not like tonight was about deepening our relationship. My family was just worried, that’s all. And now that they’ve met you, you probably don’t have to see them for a while. Who knows, maybe not even for a year…”
Jin continued to watch Kame even though Kame wouldn’t return his gaze. Kame was still holding his hand, but not swinging it around anymore. “It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just not possible. My father’s the police chief. He can’t just sit down for dinner with criminals and that’s what we both are now even if we cross the law with good intentions it’s still crossing the law and he has responsibilities.”
“I know.” Kame repeated. “I’m not asking for more commitment.”
“But do you want it? Do you want to marry?” Jin asked and Kame stopped walking this time, the question taking him by surprise to say the least. A slight redness appeared on his face, as if Jin had just proposed.
“No.” he answered, but Jin wondered if there wasn’t a slight hesitation in his voice.
“Because you think I don’t want to?” Jin asked.
“What does it matter if we can’t anyway?” Kame countered. “Did my father put all these ideas into your head?”
“A little, but I can’t deny thoughts on the future haven’t crossed my mind before too.” Jin said.
“A-and?” Kame asked, a little hesitantly, looking away. “What did you say?”
‘How do you feel’ would’ve been the more accurate question. Kame desperately wanted to know what a commitment-phobic person like Jin could think about marriage and their future.
“I told him that as far as you’re concerned, he would never have any other in-laws besides me.” Jin said, continuing to walk and pulling Kame with him, who hurried up to his side.
“We don’t have to decide anything today. It’s not like we’re in a rush anywhere except from away from the police.” Kame said. “We can just take it one step at a time and see where we end up. Lots of things can change on the road.”
Jin smiled, synchronising their walking.
“Well, when my mother comes back to Japan the next time, we can see where we have ended up by then and maybe you can meet her.” Jin said. “My brother you’ve already met.”
Kame couldn’t deny he didn’t feel good when Jin said that. He felt closer to Jin than anyone, even Yamapi, though he was sure there were certain things Jin only told Yamapi like about the sex video clip Jin had been holding onto for a year. But that was all right. There should be certain things Jin only told Yamapi, because there were certain things Jin only told him.
That night, Kame waited for Jin on the bed.
Jin entered the bedroom clearly with the intention of not leaving it to sleep on the couch. After the hell Jin had been through that evening Jin had the means to continue on their truce.
Jin opened his mouth to state how he was sleeping there tonight and on top of it wanted some sort of a reward when his eyes fell to the object in Kame’s hands. The smug smile on Jin’s lips faded.
“You found the USB.” Jin said. “Congratulations. So I assume the file has been destroyed.”
“Did you make any copies?” Kame asked.
“No.”
“Don’t lie to me.” Kame warned.
“I didn’t make any copies.” Jin repeated.
There was a silence.
“I’m sorry.” Jin said then. “I shouldn’t have filmed us without your permission. It was wrong of me.”
“Yeah, it was.” Kame said, getting up and walking over to Jin. He handed the surprised Jin the USB. “If this file ends up in the wrong hands or if anyone else sees it besides you and me… This file is in your care now.”
Jin dumbfounded accepted the stick. “You didn’t destroy it?”
Kame gave him a look and returned to the bed.
“Why?”
“Because it seemed so important to you…” Kame answered. “And it was a moment we shared that was made eternal.” It had been a good moment too. Kame didn’t need the video to remember that night.
He wanted a future with Jin. If a stupid sex video file made Jin that happy, maybe Jin could just have it back.
“You watched it?” Jin asked, but Kame didn’t reply. Jin smiled as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “Thank you.”
Kame met his eyes.
This was actually a fight Jin hadn’t lost and yet he said, “I’ll make it up to you.”
“You better.” Kame scoffed. “You made me be your boy toy again for a week after we had broken out.”
“You were still so guilt-ridden I figured a little role play would help you get that out of your system.” Jin said and Kame just sulked some more. “Come here and I’ll make it up to you.”
Kame didn’t feel like giving in so easily, but it had been almost a week and that encounter last night hadn’t helped him in repressing his urges. Looking into Jin’s eyes those urges were no longer able or worth repressing anymore. A smile slowly spread over his lips, matching the one of Jin’s. Their fight was officially over.
“I want the file to get into the wrong hands as little as you do, Kazu-chan.” Jin assured, as Kame climbed over to him, letting him seal the younger boy’s lips for a while before Kame suddenly got out of bed. “What are you doing? Come back to bed.”
“In a minute.” Kame said, appearing to be searching for something. It took Jin a while to realize Kame was checking for cameras.
“There are no cameras here, Kazu-chan, I swear.” Jin laughed from the bed and Kame slowly walked back to him, stopping before him.
“If you ever film me again…” he warned, “without my permission.”
“Got it.” Jin smiled and Kame let Jin pull him down onto his lover’s lap. “Are you saying you might actually give me permission some night?”
A stern look was all Jin got in response before Kame kissed him.
Kame slowly gave into Jin and the wonderful sensation of being so close to Jin again, feeling the irritation leave his body.
Jin lay down on his back and Kame ended up on top of him, straddling his hips.
“I can bottom again.” Jin offered and Kame gave him a look. “Oh, don’t pretend you didn’t like it those nights. My hips can do wonders as bottom too.”
“Amateur.” Kame accused. “How long has it been since you last bottomed before with me? Let a professional ex-boy toy show you what being bottom is all about.”
Kame had way more experience than Jin in being bottom. That was one thing in bed even Jin could never beat him at.
~*~*~*~
The next morning was a beautiful day and they had missed a great deal of it when they finally rolled out of bed.
“Let’s go out.” Jin suggested as they were fresh from the shower, getting dressed.
“Where are we going?”
Kame should’ve known something was off, but sometimes days that will leave a mark in your life never come off as different from any other day until suddenly something happens. This day, the day that had started out normal, was to be the day they were arrested. They had barely made it a block outside their border when cops from all over jumped them, screaming “Akanashi and Kamenishi!”
On a normal day Jin and Kame would laugh whenever their infamous names got mixed up with one another’s, but this time Kame was far from amused. And the next thing Kame knew he was sitting in an interrogation room at the police station, handcuffed next to his boyfriend.
This was the first time they had gotten arrested together and what a stupid way of getting arrested it had been. They had risked getting arrested plenty of times in the past going on gigs, but this time they had simply gone outside the blocks to have fun and eat dinner somewhere. It was almost as if the cops had known they’d be out tonight.
Jin seemed calm, but Kame couldn’t help thinking of the mess they were in. Were they going to go back to prison again? Would the gangs help them? Would some of them get caught in the process of helping them?
He had expected Masa to walk in through the door when it finally opened, but froze at the sight of the moustached man that entered.
“Hey, dad.” Jin said as the police chief took a seat on the opposite side of the table, studying them both. “You wanted to see us, so here we are.”
Kame snapped his head into Jin’s direction. “Did you get us caught on purpose?”
He knew something had been off with Jin since getting out of bed.
“Last night I had dinner with Kazu’s family.” Jin continued with eyes still on his father. “Do you think we could get something to eat in here?”
A little while later they were freed from their handcuffs and eating takeaway food.
“So you arranged for yourselves to get caught?” the police chief asked, as if actually conducting a real investigation.
Jin shrugged. “This way it works out for all of us. I hope you know we’re not staying for long.”
“The rest of your gang’s coming to pick you up, I assume. But not before you’ve gotten the chance to introduce me to your boyfriend and your newest member…” the father guessed and Jin just smiled in return. The man turned towards Kame. “I know your history. I’ve been through your files. You don’t seem like the gangster type. How did you end up joining my son’s gang?”
Kame felt Jin’s eyes on him too.
How indeed? How had he climbed his way from one of the lowest positions in prison to one of the highest of ranks? Some liked to accuse him of having slept his way to the top, which Kame guessed in a manner of speaking could be true, but he had never asked to be promoted at any step of the way. Foolish as he was he had asked not to be on several occasions. Yet he had ended up as Akanishi Jin’s gang mate and more importantly boyfriend.
The day he had joined the five member gang had been, like today, just a normal day. He had just gotten used to life in the blocks when the day had come, not too long after they had broken out of prison…
…
“I-I warned you people would start confusing me as a Johnny if I wore this ring…” Kame said, rubbing the ring against his fingers, still feeling he should not be wearing it. Only Johnnys wore the skull symbols in this world and he wasn’t one of them. Despite knowing about his background as Jin’s infamous boy toy as well as infamous boyfriend, he was now beginning to be confused as a member of the Johnnys circle and as a member of Jin’s gang. Today again, he had heard people talking and knowing the gang had heard it too he wanted to set things straight. Things would only get worse from here on in. “It’s not all right unless I’m actually one of you.”
“Are you saying you’d like to join our gang?” Jin asked and Kame was startled, the ring half way off his finger.
“I have nothing to offer you or your gang.” That statement had been proven several times over. Kame hurried to add, “But since you’re letting me stay with you, I’ll cook, clean, do the laundry and…and go to the store and… Oh, and I’ll do the dishes too, of course. Then I’ll do what I can to distract or something…”
“I’m sure I could think of some other use of you than that.” Jin said.
“We’ve talked about this before, but we didn’t know until recently what you really wanted.” Ueda joined in. “The thought first came to us in Korea, but you seemed to want our kind of life less and less back there. This time, we wanted to wait and see if you would stay with us. You have, you fit in, so Jin thought we should ask the next time you gave us the opportunity.”
“Which you just did.” Maru added. “So why don’t you and we combine powers for good?”
Kame couldn’t reply. Jin had suggested that? They had talked about it already back in Korea? He had never known the five gangsters regarded him that highly. He had felt like a nuisance and different, but maybe he had never even made the effort to try and relate to them. Relating to someone like Koichi and Masa had been much easier for him.
“We could really use your area of expertise.” Junno said with a bright smile.
“My what?”
“Your computer skills, obviously.” Junno said.
“Oh.” Kame realized. “But I…I don’t know how much use my computer skills would be to you. If I screwed up again they could trace us back and then we’d all be in jail…again.”
“That wouldn’t matter.” Ueda said.
“Been there, done that.” Koki shrugged.
“B-but I don’t know how to be a gangster. I would probably just be in the way and get into trouble if I joined your gigs too much…” Kame protested.
“You’ve done fine so far.” Jin said and Kame met his eyes briefly.
“We’ll take care of you. We always take care of each other.” Junno assured him.
“You’ll learn, Kame-chan. That’s what we all did.” Koki said. “And now you’ve proven you’ve got what it takes too.”
“Jin also thought of a new name.” Ueda said.
“A new name?” Kame repeated. The gang was going to change their name for his sake? But the gang had already made a name out of their name.
“Honestly, AT-TUN sounded weird from the beginning.” Koki laughed.
“And Shirota keeps calling us the tuna or fish gang.” Junno grimaced.
“Well, what do you expect; we were just in high school when we made it up.” Ueda said.
“And we can’t just be ‘AT-TUN and Kame-chan’ for the rest of our lives.” Maru pointed out. “And you can’t just join AT-TUN even if people think you’re already married to Jin and are called Akanishi Kazuya. You deserve to be recognized for more than your relationship with Akanishi.”
“We love having you around, Kame-chan, but we shouldn’t have made you be with us like this.” Ueda said. “You should’ve been made into a member a long time ago.”
“Maybe even the leader.” Koki couldn’t help but comment and Jin sent him a look.
“When you were gone for a year we felt empty. If it’s not the six of us it will always feel like someone’s missing.” Junno said. “You have a place in our circle. If you didn’t, we wouldn’t have felt so betrayed when you chose to work with Masa over us. Then again, if we had made it clear to you, officially, of the position you were actually in all the time in Korea you would’ve worked with your circle instead.”
“You’ve been a member of our gang for a long time now.” Koki said. “Let’s make it official already.”
“This is your life. Your choice, just like it was ours once.” Ueda said.
“Just one word, and as our gang mate the doors of the circle will open for you.” Maru added. “Just say yes.”
“But beware because Jin won’t let you go once you’ve said yes. You know how no one escapes from Akanishi Jin.” Junno warned and Jin slapped the boy over the head.
Kame’s gaze travelled over them all, stopping at Jin, the leader…his leader? And before he even knew it he had already answered, “Yes.”
Smiles broke out over his new gang mates faces…
…
So this was his story. The story that had started in prison all those years ago, lasting till this very moment, and there were several things he had learned over that time and several mistakes he still repeated. He would still run off and do something stupid when he thought it was the right thing to do. He would still question his skills and compare himself to the other members of his gang and his circle every now and then. He would still have fights with Jin over stupid things and feel insecure sometimes. And yet somehow, Kame felt as if he had come a very long way. Maybe it wasn’t even true, but at least the most important thing he had learned was to accept himself just the way he was without hiding his weaknesses or his fears. Because he had seen even the former ruler of the prison, his former master and the gang leader of a respected circle have weaknesses and fears he had wanted to hide and repress. Even Jin could feel insecure and when realizing that, all of Kame’s fears and insecurities would fade and he would no longer feel the need to compare as in the end they were the same.
“I’ve been a member of this gang for almost a year.” Kame added then.
Next to him his leader harbored a smile, hearing that moment told in Kame’s words for the first time. Kame had never made them regret their choice that had been as obvious to them as when they had created the gang in the first place. Kame was hardworking and responsible, so much that sometimes TTUN listened to him over their real leader. Even as the youngest one with the least experience Kame had become something of an unofficial leader, caring for all of the members. But then there were times Kame truly acted his age and below it, a side Kame had begun to show more and more and Jin liked it because then Kame allowed him to care for Kame when Kame was behaving childishly.
Jin shot his watch a quick look. An hour had passed. “We’ve gotta go.”
The police chief laid his eyes upon his son, saying with a heavy heart, “You know I can’t just let you leave.”
Jin signaled for Kame to get up.
“That’s been taken care of for you.” Jin replied, getting up and grabbing Kame’s wrist firmly.
“I-It was nice to meet you…again.” Kame said, as he was dragged up to his feet, but before Jin’s father could get up too, a gas was released into the room, making his father pass out on the table and Kame had done so too hadn’t Jin covered his mouth and pulled him along out the door. The guards on the outside were knocked out too by the gas, indicating a fair amount of the police station if not the entire station was filling with this gas.
Jin headed for the nearest window possible, coming flying out to where four gangsters were waiting, and they panted for fresh air.
“You could’ve told me what you had planned!” Kame accused, as he managed to stop coughing.
“But then it wouldn’t have been a surprise.” Jin insisted.
“You all right? We used the same gas you did.” TTUN smiled to Kame.
“I’ll never live that down, will I?” Kame said.
“No, we’ll never live it down.” TTUN corrected. “We were the ones fainting.”
“And I’m really sor-” Kame started, when interrupted by the policemen who had not been knocked out by the gas.
“KAT-TUN!”
“They’re getting away!”
“After them!”
“Let’s go!” Jin said and the six of them spurted down the street into the narrow ones and over alleys.
Their name had never been so infamous, probably due to pulling stunts like gassing entire police stations and the fact that Masa’s ex-kouhai was the newest member had made the headlines inside the police circles.
They spurted over the border, practically flew in, all in a long line next to each other.
“Welcome back, Kame-chan.” Kusano greeted them, actually Kame, as they stopped to catch their breaths.
“Quite the entrance.” Ryo commented, coming out from a building nearby.
“That was cutting it a little close, wasn’t it?” Matsumoto added.
The six of them straightened themselves and turned around to look back at the cops stopping on the other side of the border. Two of them were supporting Jin’s father, who seemed to be making a fast recovery.
Jin’s father’s eyes were directed towards the leader first before they turned towards Kame and then back to Jin.
“Let’s do it again soon, dad!” Jin added as he turned to head further into their blocks, stopping momentarily as he saw who else had witnessed the show. Yamapi was standing a few feet away with a knowing smile on his lips.
“Shut up.” Jin said and Yamapi shrugged, not wiping that smile off, and Jin proceeded to ignore his annoying best friend and worst enemy and rival. His gang came up to walk beside him, creating together a long line again.
“Kame-chan’s family’s not going to be happy about the police station stunt.” Ueda said.
“You’re gonna lose points again, Akanishi!” Koki warned and Jin groaned.
Kame smiled next to Jin, playing with the skull ring that had never left his finger apart from on certain jobs in order to avoid revealing his identity as a gang member of the Johnnys’ circle. He kept it well, just as he did the golden ring on his pinky, which he refused to take off under any circumstances.
Kame had thought being made into a gang member would mean a big change in his life, but in reality nothing had really changed for him. He didn’t see himself as any different because he had a new title. None of the gangsters seemed to treat him any differently either. Yamapi still teased him, Kusano still chased him, TTUN still regarded him fondly, the majority of the circle still enjoyed getting to Jin through him and Kame loved his life.
He knew it wouldn’t always stay the same, he knew things always changed. Some days you’d be a boy toy, some days you’d be heartbroken and feel used, some days you’d experience a trauma, run away from love instead of towards it, some days love would find you and you’d end up becoming a gangster. Yes, things always changed, but he would make the best of his life every day. At least at this point, no matter what the future had in store for him, nothing could shock him anymore.
Little did Kamenashi Kazuya know the surprises still waiting for him in life. Little did anyone know.
The End