Title: Love Stays Strong
Pairing: Akame
Genre: Angst, Drama
Summary: Jin finally came back, with Reo excitedly opening the door for him who then told him that they had a visitor for dinner. How will Jin react to Kame being around? Will he try to push him away or just be civil for once? Read for more~
Disclaimer: Characters don't belong to me. They never will.
A\N: All the love to my dearest beta-reader,
_miyabi !!~ Thank you once again! xD
Chapter 7
--------- ` ----------
Reo opened the door and as expected grinning happily at Jin, there stood Jin holding a shopping bag on his lap, straddling it close looking so exhausted, “Onii-chan, are you alright? You look really tired.” Reo asked, so worried at his brother’s current pale condition that he stepped out of the door as it closes after him, inspecting him more closely.
Jin shook his head, not wanting to further worry Reo, “I’m just tired from all that traveling. I just need some rest and I’ll be alright. Shall we go in, Reo? I’m hungry.” He said pointing towards the door.
Reo nodded, placing his fingers on the door knob, ready to turn it into a circular motion when he stopped suddenly, turning to face his brother again don't know how Jin would react to what he was about to say, “Onii-chan, we … we have a visitor. Please don’t make this difficult for me and just be civil this time round. I want us to have a peaceful yet a warm dinner together. Is that too much to ask, onii-chan?” Reo noticed that Jin had started to become uncomfortable, and by the look of his expression, he knew his brother would try to be peaceful for his sake. Or better, Jin did not want Kame's work to go to waste.
Biting his lip, Jin hurriedly said, “Whatever, just quickly get in!” Reo opened the door wide, and was about to give a helping hand to his brother when Jin snapped, “Don’t bother. I can go in by myself, Reo.” Jin rolls himself into the house. He was not sure of why he snapped. Was it that he can feel the appearance of Kame?
Reo sighed, grabbing the shopping bag from Jin’s side without any permission granted as he waited for Jin to enter, locking the door after them. “Give it back, Reo.” Jin glared, earning another sigh from Reo two rows in a day, “Easy on it. This is precious.”
What is it with this attitude, Onii-chan? I just hope you don’t hurt Kazuya-kun’s feeling. That is all I ask for.
Pretending that he wasn’t hurt by Jin’s sharp words earlier, Reo immediately went into the kitchen, half-dragging a very anxious Kame, his hands on the latter’s shoulders, “Come, and let’s enjoy this wonderful feast!” Reo ushered Kame to the seat, helping his brother soon after.
“Itadakimasu!” Reo stated, he was about to tuck in to his food when he realized the two still had not made any move, “Onii-chan, Kazuya-kun cooked the dinner for us. You should be thankful rather than sitting there dumbfounded. You’re making him feel uncomfortable, don’t you know that?” Reo said directly towards Jin as his tone sounded light and playful.
Kame shifted in his seat, he didn’t want to say it out loud but what Reo said was true, he was starting to feel uncomfortable being around Jin. This was not the Jin he loved, he was still the same person he fell in love with, but he had changed a lot after the accident. Jin was trying to push him away and was forcing him to fall out of love with him. That's what exactly what Jin wanted.
Kame could not give up.
Ignoring his brother’s words, Jin merely gave a small nod as he picked up the chopsticks, bringing the bowl closer as he slowly chew on the plain white rice, not bothering to take any side dishes.
Looking at this situation, Kame gathered his courage, placing some tempura and mixed vegetable onto Jin’s bowl, “Jin, it’s your favorite. Eat more.” He looked at Jin nervously, waiting for his reaction.
Jin wanted so much to be his mean side but for now, he just couldn’t. Jin mouthed a very soft ‘thank you’ as he too slowly starts eating the food Kame had prepared.
Kame had been the one cooking for both of them when they were still lovers back then; he really is a great cook. Jin really admired that quality in Kame. He would really make a good wife. But since that accident, he had not tasted his cooking and he missed it so much. Sometimes he even preferred his boyfriend’s cooking than his mother’s, both were equally delicious but with a different feeling.
Jin felt loved when Kame cooked for him and right now, he feels the love again. He didn’t want to push aside this feeling. Let it stay for just a short moment.
--------- ` ----------
Time passed by quickly, dinner throughout was filled with an awkward amount of silence, with Kame continuously putting more stuff on Jin’s bowl. No words were conversed among them. Kame kept stealing glances at his beloved who knew but didn’t return the gaze, staring at his bowl of rice all the time. Kame still couldn't stop trying harder and harder.
Reo stretched out his arms in total satisfaction as he praised the excellent chef of the day, “Dinner was really delicious. Kazuya-kun, without doubt you’re a great cook. Baka Onii-chan was lucky enough to have had tasted your specialties, too bad he didn’t treasure you when he should.” Reo grins, thanking Kame dearly.
Jin hit Reo hard on the head earning a soft cry from the younger man, as he glared deadly at him, “Shut up! What do you think you’re saying? Can you not be a busy body, Reo? It’s really irritating!” Jin shouted, and could not make any eye contact with Kame still.
“What was the hit for, Onii-chan? It hurts, okay?!” Reo shouted as he rubbed his head in utter pain, somehow hoping it would go away.
Kame looked at the two brothers, the tension seems high and he was the cause of it, he thought guiltily. Maybe it’s better if he leaves, he was not wanted here anyway, Reo probably wouldn’t mind him staying but Jin would, he could feel it.
I’m not stupid. Your torturous silence proved everything, Jin. Why don’t you just say it to my face? You’re hurting me more by giving me the silence treatment. It really hurts. Don’t you know that? You probably don’t. “I’m sorry. Maybe I should just go home now. It’s ... it’s really getting late. I better make a move or else it will get darker and …” Kame ranted, getting up on his feet to leave only to be stopped by Reo.
Reo flashed out a cheeky smile hoping with perhaps lighten up the mood a little, ushering Kame to the sofa in the living room and made him to seat down. “There is still dessert! Don’t worry about going home in the dark, Kazuya-kun! You can stay here for the night … in onii-chan’s room.” Reo winked, not afraid of his brother’s reaction at all, he was prepared for it. He tried his best not to mouth the word 'baby' to mock Jin and Kame and their love relationship.
After all this was one of his steps to bring them back together, hopefully they would sort it out when they’re having their own private time. Reo didn’t know what would be the outcome but at least he tried, he too would not give up without a fight.
Jin once again gave Reo a death glare to which he retorted with a shrug, “What, onii-chan? It’s really going to be dark soon. Do you really want your Kazuya to be walking home all alone, huh?” Reo in return shot his brother a glare of his own, with the ‘Don’t you dare leave Kame alone’ look as he turned to the direction of the kitchen, to bring his ‘supposed’ dessert as promised.
With shaky clasping hands, Kame waited like an obedient kid on the sofa, hoping that Reo would come back soon to reduce his misery in this silence. It was really tormenting having Jin so near him but at the same time, he could no longer act the same way like he used to.
That really hurts.
--------- ` ----------
After 5 minutes of waiting, hearing absolutely nothing of his younger brother, Jin knew they were being tricked of, forcing him to make a decision own his own in this situation. He knew he had to say something or else they would have just waste their precious moments staring into thin air.
His would-be decision was not as suggested by Reo but a very direct decision that would probably hurt Kame more than he already is.
“Here is the dessert! Sorry for making you wait for so long!” Reo interrupted, the moment Jin wanted to say those cruel words but couldn’t anymore as he felt his courage being wavered away as the thought of having to hurt Kame slowly washed away from his inner mind.
Jin followed Reo’s movement, placing two plates of tiramisu cheese cake on the coffee table, a tiny spoon on the side. “You made this, Reo?” Jin asked in awe, immediately taking a spoonful of his favorite cake, not waiting for Reo’s invitation to do so.
“Of course I didn’t, I bought this from the cafeteria shop nearby.” Reo simply said.
On the other hand, Kame was already holding his plate of cake, fiddling with his spoon and staring at the piece of beauty in front of him. Jin was pretending as if he knew nothing, consuming the cake as it had always been his favorite but for Kame, this cake symbolizes their memories - once upon a sweet memory that had been locked in both of their hearts.
Is there really a key to unlock it?
--------- ` ----------
~`Flashback`~
“Jin, mou … I don’t want to eat it. Don’t force me, please?” Kame pleaded with a cute irresistible look, desperately placing both of his palms onto his mouth, shaking his head at the same time, trying to push the spoon away from successfully entering his mouth. He never had a sweet-tooth.
However, Jin cared no less of his boyfriend’s actions, instead he kept poking the spoon towards Kazuya’s mouth, urging for him to open it wide and eat the content.
“Kame, try it. This is really nice. I’m telling you no lie. Please, Kazu-chan? For my sake, eat this, alright?” Jin persuaded, not giving it up till Kame tried at least a spoonful of what he is feeding him.
“Jin, I don’t wa…” Akanishi Jin took that chance to feed his boyfriend, inserting the spoon to his mouth almost immediately and when he was done, he clapped his hands in total victory.
“J... ngh... in…” Kame glared, trying to swallow the sweetened delicacy that had been purposefully stuffed by his beloved.
“How is it?” Jin asked, with a hopeful expression, “The cheese cake is really nice, right? It’s sweet, creamy and very cheesy!” Jin exclaimed excitedly as he himself tasted another spoonful of the cake.
“Delicious!!!! Kazu, this is really delicious!” Kame chuckled at his beloved’s cute actions, eyes tightly closed, savoring the delicacy seriously.
Flashing out a bright smile, Kame whispered, “Hmm, it’s delicious.”
Jin’s eyes widened in excitement as he shrieked loudly, “Really? You really mean it? Really as in really, Kazu-chan?” Seeing as Kame nodded his head happily, Jin sweetly asked his lover while holding the spoon to his mouth, “Do you want more, Kazu-dear?”
It’s not a big deal, Jin. You bought this from your favorite cake shop but it sounds as if you made this. Jin, you’re too cute for words.
“If only you feed me.” Kame replied cheekily, earning a wide grin from his lover as he felt the round metal spoon onto his mouth, enjoying every moment of the wonderful taste as he heard Jin whispered in a loving yet protective tone, “No one else except me can feed you, Kazuya.”
--------- ` ----------
Hot tears were cluttering in his brown beautiful eyes as Kame abruptly placed the plate back onto the coffee table, causing a loud thud by the effect, earning the attention of the other two men in the living room as well.
Someone save me from this misery.
“Gomenasai, I really need to go.” Kame whispered, not even bothering to take a glance at the shocked men, as he quickly grabbed his jacket, making his way towards the entrance door immediately.
“Kazuya-kun! You really should stay overnight. It’s really dark out there.” Reo said in no time but Kame had already speedily passed by him and out the door Kame went.
Kame turned as he shook his head in refusal, “There is no need. Thank you, Reo for the kind gesture but I’ve gotten used to it - living alone by myself. Don’t worry, I’ll reach home safely. It’s really okay.” Kame quickly slips on his shoes, hoping to get out of this place as soon as possible.
Reo glanced at his brother who was busy staring at the piece of cheese cake, as if escaping from the high emotions they’re in right now. Nudging Jin slightly, he whispered, “Onii-chan.”
However, Jin remained in that position; refusing to say or do anything to reduce the tension in this room with Reo looking at Kame’s hurt expression helplessly.
“Good night, Jin.” Kame bite on his lips, he did not want Jin to see him break down.
--------- ` ----------
Kame walked out of the house without taking a glance back, his pace fell slower after taking several few steps, stopping immediately as he felt warm tears cluttering in his eyes, wiping it furiously hoping that those tears would go away but they didn’t. His tears continue to fall endlessly.
Tears naturally flow from his beautiful eyes, as Kame squat down on the ground due to the overwhelming emotions, hiding his head in his lap as he cried. He had promised to be strong but he himself is weak without Jin, for Kame had underestimated himself when he is actually very vulnerable deep inside.
Kame bit his lip as he forced himself to stop crying, taking out his hand phone from his pocket, and dialed a number he knew - Nakamaru.
“Nakamaru, I want to go home. It hurts being here. I don’t want to stay here any longer. Please, Nakamaru. Please …” Kame cried out loud sobbing as he let himself go. All the emotions he had held back in search of his own strength, their strength in their love.
Now Kame was for sure, he no longer wants any part of this pain.
Jin's soft and sweet figure was softly shedding and now Kame is faced with Jin now, a changed Jin with so much pain and hurt. All he wanted was Jin, but now he wasn't sure if he still wanted the Jin he saw today.
Take the pain away.
Please, Jin.
--------- ` ----------
A\N: Though the ending is quite sad for this chapter, I hope I manage to lift a smile on your face. I'm referring to the fluff flashback, that scene is considered fluff, right? Hmm, I don't want to say this but I hope you will prepare some tissue in the next chapter or so coz it will get more angsty. To me at least, writing chapter 8 made me cry but that's bcoz I'm quite the emotional person so yeah, just to let you know. I've included some flashbacks in Chapter 8 too so wait ya for the next chapter? Hope you like this chapter as well. Comments are much love and they make me so happy!