Sakura Michi - Chapter 24 Part 2 -
Title: Even Cherry Blossom Paths Can Lead Astray
Pairing: KoKame, KameDa (one-sided), JinDa, MaruDa friendship
Rating: 14-A
Genre: romance, drama, angst? No idea XD
Disclaimer: I don’t own them! I wish I did, but I never will (tear)
Warning: alcohol abuse, some “language,” smut
Summary: Kame and Ueda have been going steady since shortly after Jin left for L.A. and Kame finally decided to confess… but what happens when the little things start pushing the two apart? Will they be able to bridge the growing gap, and when Kame decides to take things into his own hands, how does it bode for his lover?
Chapter 24 Part 2
- Ueda’s P.o.V -
“Tatchan? You done getting changed? I’m really hungry…”
I glance up from where I was just picking up my shirt. “Huh? I’ll just be another minute,” I give him a nod as I stuff my hand-wraps in their pouch, seeing him come into the change-room. But he kind of stops, frozen-seeming and gets this funny look on his face, like he’s almost embarrassed or… “Jin?”
He glances away, licking his lips nervously. “N-nothing. I’ll just wait for you out--”
I walk up to him, tilting my head. “You’re acting funny. What, did I scare you earlier? You were surprised, I could tell,” I smirk, remembering his shell-shocked look after I’d finished my warm-up punches. By the time I’d finished sparring practice, he looked a little awed.
He shakes his head slightly, turning his face almost reluctantly back to me, and his eyes flicker down and back up, the blush on his cheeks rapidly spreading. “It’s not that… just… get changed and--”
A cold drop of water trickles from my hair down my collarbone and I shiver, brushing it away. His eyes follow the movement and his eyes linger a little longer this time.
Oh, so that’s how it is.
“I-I’ll meet you in a few then, I’m almost done here,” I mutter, backing away and giving him space. I tug my shirt on and try not to blush too obviously when I realize my jeans were undone and hanging really low on my hips. Zipping up my pants, I glance back to see a slightly predatory look on Jin’s face that makes me shiver again. I shake my head, turning away again and towel some of the excess moisture from my hair. Where’d I put that hair treatment again…? Right, the side pocket. Don’t look back. Just don’t look back. Don’t look-
“You shouldn’t just leave your hair wet like that; you’ll catch cold,” Jin says softly, coming nearer and sounding a little more composed.
“I’ll be fine; it’s short enough it doesn’t take long to dry,” I say, rubbing some treatment cream in it. I do not want to have to sit through another scolding about dry hair and split ends from my stylist, thanks.
“I’m not taking care of you if you get sick,” Jin taunts. “I’ll leave it to Maru, if you’re gonna ignore me.”
I shudder. I don’t think I could handle any more mothering from Maru… still, whatever. “I’ll be fine,” I insist. I’m gonna feel really stupid if I catch cold later. “Let’s just get going, ne? I’m really hungry too.”
“Food? Finally, food is good…”
…Why does it sound like he’s trying to convince himself of that? I watch him bounce out of the room and shake my head. I must just be imagining things. I grab my bag and follow him out to the car.
“So, where to?” he asks eagerly.
“Umm… I kind of feel like okonomiyaki…” I haven’t had okonomiyaki in a while…
“Okay! Ne, there’s this one place I always go to with Pi and Ryo-chan-it’s Ryo-chan’s favourite. If an Osakan likes it, it must be the best, right?”
I smile. “Sure, let’s go there. You’re driving anyway.”
He starts the car and I toss my bag in the back. When he doesn’t pull out of the parking spot right away, I give him a look. He senses it and glances at me. “Ne, Tatchan…”
“Hmm?”
“You looked really good, earlier. I hope you stick with your boxing.”
How does this idiot manage to make me blush every time? “Baka, of course I’ll stick with it! I love boxing…” I look out the window but not before glancing to his face-just in time to see a small smile tug at his lips.
“Good! Ja, okonomiyaki, here we come!”
I snort. “Baka.”
“Eh? What’s this?” he looks at the money in his hand with confusion.
“You’re always driving me around-it’s gas money.”
“Why’re you giving me gas money? I don’t need it--”
“It’s money you’re saving me: just take it!”
He blinks, looking confused, but pockets it. “Thanks…”
We stand a little awkwardly for a minute. Then: “Wanna come in for a coffee?”
He laughs, and it sounds a little off. “You mean, ‘You’re sleeping over tonight, right?’”
I turn away with a shrug. God damnit, why does his every word have to be followed by a blush? What am I, some virgin high-schooler? “Either way,” I mumble.
His hand lands lightly on my shoulder. “Then sure--to both,” he murmurs softly. He glances sideways at me and I try to look nonchalant. “Come on, it’s cold out here,” he tugs my arm, leading me toward the apartment building.
“Yeah, yeah,” I try not to sound too eager, following him inside. I also pointedly ignore how fast my heart’s suddenly beating, and how nice the warmth of his hand feels.
“You know…” Jin is staring pensively at his cup of tea-we decided it was too late for coffee-as if all the answers to life’s mysteries might be found in the leaf-dust at the bottom.
“Yeah?” I test the temperature and, deeming it drinkable, take a small sip.
“Somehow, tea always tastes better when you make it… coffee too…”
I blink blankly, look up at him and voice the most eloquent question that comes to mind: “Huh?”
He frowns as if the answers he’s found in the greenish tea puzzle him all the more-well, we don’t call him ‘Bakanishi’ for nothing-and elaborates, “Maybe it’s the tea you use, or how you make it, or your water, or something but I always enjoy my tea when you make it here.”
I snort. “Sure it’s the tea?”
He looks at me, innocently confused. “What?”
I shake my head and can’t stop the tiny smile. “Nothing, it’s nothing. You staying over again?”
“If you’ll let me?”
I shrug, pretending I don’t really care. “If you want to.”
He’s back to staring into his tea, but he has this goofy, tender smile on his face that’s just-I don’t even know, but it makes me want to remember it forever. “Okay,” he whispers, and there’s something in his voice that makes my heart soar all over again. Jeez, I really need to quit with the shoujo manga. I swear, it’s making me girlier or something.
“I’ll go get the futon out, then,” I say, standing.
“Need any help?”
I shake my head. “No, I’ll be fine,” but taking it out, it smells musty from the cupboard. When was the last time I aired it out, again? “Uh… Jin? I’m not sure you wanna sleep on this; it needs airing really badly.”
“Hmm?” I hear the scrape of his chair and he’s at the door to the kitchen, tea still between his palms. “Don’t worry about it; I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“But aren’t you always saying it’s too short?”
“Are you that desperate for me to sleep with you?”
I blush again. Damnit. “Well, it beats sleeping on a musty futon or a too-small couch?”
He smiles and it’s almost a smirk and definitely triumphant-just a little. “Sure does. But how do you know I won’t take advantage of you in your sleep? You looked really sexy boxing today-you never know what might happen.”
“You won’t do anything,” I say confidently, not letting his teasing get to me.
“Oh? You sure? Maybe I won’t be able to control myse--”
“On pain of being castrated with a dull spoon, you will control yourself,” I say with a bright, innocent smile, trying to ignore the nagging voice that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he couldn’t control himself and we did in fact allow something to happen.
But his face blanches and he swallows deeply before murmuring demurely into his teacup, “Yes, Dictator-sama.”
I chuckle. “I’ll go make sure the bed’s decent. You need a shower? I had one earlier, but…”
He considers it, then grimaces. “Yeah, I should. I’ll go get my bag from my car.”
“I can’t believe you carry a spare set of clothes round just like Ka-like you’re my lover or something.”
His face adopts a slightly awkward smile. “Just wishful thinking, I guess. I’ll be right back.”
Hearing the strain in his voice, I regret making the joke at all. Ugh. I’m a mess. What the Hell is even going on here?
On to | Chapter 25 |