Fic: Coming Home - For karrupin
Title: Coming Home
Author: Anonymous
Written for: karrupin
Pairing: Miyagi/Shinobu
Prompt Number: #30
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Miyagi and Shinobu visit Miyagi's home town.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction set in the Junjou Romantica universe, all recognisable characters and settings are the property of Shungiku Nakamura and associates. No money is made from this work.
Authors Notes: Well, this is really short, but I tried to include all your requests and I hope you enjoy it!
It was very quiet in the train, even the small children that were currently huddled together in the aisle, playing with something or other were unusually quiet. That suited Miyagi, who was reading a newly-published book by one of this year’s most prolific authors, just fine. As he turned a page, his eyes moved towards the wide windows, where the landscape rushed past them in a blur.
Shinobu’s eyes were staring out the windows as well, his gaze blank with a faraway look.
Not for the first time that day, Miyagi wondered what Shinobu was thinking.
Shinobu’s head suddenly whirled around, as one of the children released an excited giggle. Miyagi returned to his book and the familiarity of his eyes’ movement across the pages.
-
He still didn’t know how - and why - he’d agreed to this, but he had, and here they both were, on a platform in a city Miyagi hadn’t called home since he was twenty-one.
Shinobu had suggested it three months ago, suggested that they visit Miyagi’s hometown during the summer holidays, when they were in bed.
“Why would you want to go there?” Miyagi had asked, shifting back slightly to better see Shinobu’s face.
Shinobu had shrugged. “I’m curious. Besides, it’s an important part of your past and I want to see it.”
Miyagi had been silent for a short moment. “It’s not as important as you think. I grew up there and moved away as soon as I could. End of story.”
“You know it’s not that simple, don’t you?” Shinobu had said, giving Miyagi a level look. ”I want to see the place where you grew up, Miyagi.”
After a week of persuasion, Miyagi had finally given in and agreed. And besides, he’d felt strangely detached from the whole issue, so he was certain it wouldn’t hurt a thing to spend a few days there in the summer holidays.
Right now, though, Miyagi regretted ever making that decision. How many times had he stood at this very platform at the age of twelve, fifteen, twenty? Too many times to count.
They forced their way through the crowd, both of them dragging their trunks after them. It was a sunny day outside, luckily, and since their hotel was just a few minutes’ walk from the train station, they decided on walking instead of taking a cab.
“I want to see your old home first,” Shinobu said.
“All right.”
-
Their hotel room was comfortable, Miyagi decided, with their own very small kitchen, one bedroom and one living room. Shinobu was excited about the balcony outside their bedroom, though.
“Look at the beautiful scenery,” Shinobu whispered, amazement visible in his wide eyes. “I can’t understand how you could leave this and live in the infinite chaos of a big city.”
Miyagi smiled, wistfully. “I don’t either. But I’m glad I did.”
Turning around to face him, Shinobu said, “Why?” His eyes were steadfast, but penetrating, and Miyagi looked away without answering. He patted his jacket instead, looking for his loyal packet of cigarettes. Finding them, he lit one and took a long drag.
“I wanted more than what this town could give me.” It was true. It just wasn’t the whole truth.
In reality, Miyagi had wanted to escape. Escape his family, the dull, empty life, and the memories of his first love. He’d promised himself never to return. He’d just never anticipated that he would return with his new - probably permanent - lover, feeling satisfied with his life for once.
Shinobu was still looking at him with that gaze of his. Smiling, Miyagi bent down to brush a little kiss against Shinobu’s temple.
-
How weird, Miyagi thought, when his eyes landed on the house where he’d grown up. The house itself still looked the same, but the garden looked wild and unkempt. A sense of loss settled over him at that moment. His mother wouldn’t have let the garden come to such a state when they lived here, and it was sad to see how her great efforts and many hours had ended up wasted.
“It’s a nice house,” Shinobu commented from beside him. Miyagi couldn’t find it in himself to agree; it no longer was a nice house. It hadn’t been for many, many years.
“Where does your family live now?” Shinobu asked.
As Miyagi opened his mouth to answer, it suddenly occurred to him that he had never really spoken about his family with Shinobu.
Taking Shinobu’s hand in his, Miyagi smiled. “Let’s go somewhere else to talk.”
-
“So, tell me. Where is your family now?” Shinobu asked when they were seated on a bench in a park where Miyagi had spent many hours in the past. It had been his favourite hiding place, where he could empty his thoughts and stop worrying for a while.
Miyagi took a drag from his newly-lit cigarette. “They moved away two years after I left them,” Miyagi said, staring at the lake in front of him, feeling comforted by the familiar sounds surrounding them and gentle swaying of the water.
“Why did you ever leave?” Shinobu asked him. “What was it that you couldn’t find here?”
It was a good question ... the most important of all. Why had he left?
“There was nothing left here for me.”
“Oh.”
Miyagi cast a side-way glance at Shinobu. He looked confused, his brows furrowed and his eyes staring downcast. He looked up when Miyagi’s hand came to rest on his warm one.
“It was here that I decided to study literature. I’d always loved it, but had never considered it as a career option. I was sitting on this very bench, actually. I had just lost Sensei, and the desire to go away for a bit was all-consuming.” Miyagi took another drag of his cigarette. “What better way than to study in a good school? It was settled for me, then. I discussed it with an education guide at my high school, made all the arrangements and took the entrance exam for a university in Tokyo the next summer. I’m glad I did.”
Shinobu placed his head on Miyagi’s chest with a sigh. “I’m glad you did, too.”
Smiling, Miyagi draped an arm around shoulders and pulled him closer. They sat there for moments, listening to the sound of the other’s breathing.
Miyagi still had a lot to tell Shinobu, but that would come with time. And they had all the time they needed.
The End
Author: Anonymous
Written for: karrupin
Pairing: Miyagi/Shinobu
Prompt Number: #30
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Miyagi and Shinobu visit Miyagi's home town.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction set in the Junjou Romantica universe, all recognisable characters and settings are the property of Shungiku Nakamura and associates. No money is made from this work.
Authors Notes: Well, this is really short, but I tried to include all your requests and I hope you enjoy it!
It was very quiet in the train, even the small children that were currently huddled together in the aisle, playing with something or other were unusually quiet. That suited Miyagi, who was reading a newly-published book by one of this year’s most prolific authors, just fine. As he turned a page, his eyes moved towards the wide windows, where the landscape rushed past them in a blur.
Shinobu’s eyes were staring out the windows as well, his gaze blank with a faraway look.
Not for the first time that day, Miyagi wondered what Shinobu was thinking.
Shinobu’s head suddenly whirled around, as one of the children released an excited giggle. Miyagi returned to his book and the familiarity of his eyes’ movement across the pages.
-
He still didn’t know how - and why - he’d agreed to this, but he had, and here they both were, on a platform in a city Miyagi hadn’t called home since he was twenty-one.
Shinobu had suggested it three months ago, suggested that they visit Miyagi’s hometown during the summer holidays, when they were in bed.
“Why would you want to go there?” Miyagi had asked, shifting back slightly to better see Shinobu’s face.
Shinobu had shrugged. “I’m curious. Besides, it’s an important part of your past and I want to see it.”
Miyagi had been silent for a short moment. “It’s not as important as you think. I grew up there and moved away as soon as I could. End of story.”
“You know it’s not that simple, don’t you?” Shinobu had said, giving Miyagi a level look. ”I want to see the place where you grew up, Miyagi.”
After a week of persuasion, Miyagi had finally given in and agreed. And besides, he’d felt strangely detached from the whole issue, so he was certain it wouldn’t hurt a thing to spend a few days there in the summer holidays.
Right now, though, Miyagi regretted ever making that decision. How many times had he stood at this very platform at the age of twelve, fifteen, twenty? Too many times to count.
They forced their way through the crowd, both of them dragging their trunks after them. It was a sunny day outside, luckily, and since their hotel was just a few minutes’ walk from the train station, they decided on walking instead of taking a cab.
“I want to see your old home first,” Shinobu said.
“All right.”
-
Their hotel room was comfortable, Miyagi decided, with their own very small kitchen, one bedroom and one living room. Shinobu was excited about the balcony outside their bedroom, though.
“Look at the beautiful scenery,” Shinobu whispered, amazement visible in his wide eyes. “I can’t understand how you could leave this and live in the infinite chaos of a big city.”
Miyagi smiled, wistfully. “I don’t either. But I’m glad I did.”
Turning around to face him, Shinobu said, “Why?” His eyes were steadfast, but penetrating, and Miyagi looked away without answering. He patted his jacket instead, looking for his loyal packet of cigarettes. Finding them, he lit one and took a long drag.
“I wanted more than what this town could give me.” It was true. It just wasn’t the whole truth.
In reality, Miyagi had wanted to escape. Escape his family, the dull, empty life, and the memories of his first love. He’d promised himself never to return. He’d just never anticipated that he would return with his new - probably permanent - lover, feeling satisfied with his life for once.
Shinobu was still looking at him with that gaze of his. Smiling, Miyagi bent down to brush a little kiss against Shinobu’s temple.
-
How weird, Miyagi thought, when his eyes landed on the house where he’d grown up. The house itself still looked the same, but the garden looked wild and unkempt. A sense of loss settled over him at that moment. His mother wouldn’t have let the garden come to such a state when they lived here, and it was sad to see how her great efforts and many hours had ended up wasted.
“It’s a nice house,” Shinobu commented from beside him. Miyagi couldn’t find it in himself to agree; it no longer was a nice house. It hadn’t been for many, many years.
“Where does your family live now?” Shinobu asked.
As Miyagi opened his mouth to answer, it suddenly occurred to him that he had never really spoken about his family with Shinobu.
Taking Shinobu’s hand in his, Miyagi smiled. “Let’s go somewhere else to talk.”
-
“So, tell me. Where is your family now?” Shinobu asked when they were seated on a bench in a park where Miyagi had spent many hours in the past. It had been his favourite hiding place, where he could empty his thoughts and stop worrying for a while.
Miyagi took a drag from his newly-lit cigarette. “They moved away two years after I left them,” Miyagi said, staring at the lake in front of him, feeling comforted by the familiar sounds surrounding them and gentle swaying of the water.
“Why did you ever leave?” Shinobu asked him. “What was it that you couldn’t find here?”
It was a good question ... the most important of all. Why had he left?
“There was nothing left here for me.”
“Oh.”
Miyagi cast a side-way glance at Shinobu. He looked confused, his brows furrowed and his eyes staring downcast. He looked up when Miyagi’s hand came to rest on his warm one.
“It was here that I decided to study literature. I’d always loved it, but had never considered it as a career option. I was sitting on this very bench, actually. I had just lost Sensei, and the desire to go away for a bit was all-consuming.” Miyagi took another drag of his cigarette. “What better way than to study in a good school? It was settled for me, then. I discussed it with an education guide at my high school, made all the arrangements and took the entrance exam for a university in Tokyo the next summer. I’m glad I did.”
Shinobu placed his head on Miyagi’s chest with a sigh. “I’m glad you did, too.”
Smiling, Miyagi draped an arm around shoulders and pulled him closer. They sat there for moments, listening to the sound of the other’s breathing.
Miyagi still had a lot to tell Shinobu, but that would come with time. And they had all the time they needed.
The End