fic: Of books and tales - part 2
Jin was actually becoming a quick reader.
His mother, father and brother were starting to worry for his sudden impulse on reading books, locking his door so that no one could disturb him. His friends had ceased to pay much attention to him, abandoning him now that he didn’t seem to mind. Only Pi and Ryo stayed by his side, but even they were starting to become distant and irrelevant to him.
There was only one thing in his mind anymore, one obsession that was out of his hands.
The beautiful shop assistant Kamenashi Kazuya.
He slept with the old leather covered book under his pillow and visited the shop almost daily on his way back from his job at the local restaurant. Sometimes he even brought some order-outs with him and talked Kame over into sitting down and eating them with him, discussing about the books he read.
Jin didn’t really like books. He didn’t really care about them. But if reading them meant he could ask Kame questions and have something to talk about with him, he would do it. He did it to build a friendship between the two of them.
Kame was actually a quite withdrawn person, keeping a lot of things to himself. Despite his social and strong attitude, he didn’t seem to have any human contacts aside from himself and Ueda. Jin liked trying to lure him out of the shop to go and do something with him but the boy always refused strongly.
It was always the same.
Jin would ask Kame to go out for coffee with him. He would refuse. Jin would ask him to visit his workplace sometime. He refused. He would ask him if he had anything he wanted to do outside the shop. Kame would refuse.
Refusing was a skill Kame seemed to master well. Sometimes Jin wondered if he should just force him out of the shop against his free will and take him to someplace nice, but he didn’t dare. Kame’s anger seemed to last long.
The way Kame could control him even though he didn’t often even seem to try was nerving for Jin.
He had always been the one in control, the one who was corrupted and ruined by the way he could get everything, but with Kame it had been different since the very beginning.
Kame said no. That was something that drew Jin in. Kame said no to him, but he only managed to say yes. The sides were reversed.
And how his heart always started beating faster, how all the feelings took over him as he thought of the younger man. Everything that had been suppressed for his entire life started to bloom. Kame whacked some moral into his skull and Jin listened. He felt like he grew as a person with him.
Sanity had left him, that was something Jin was sure of. It had slowly disappeared with time. It had been two years since Jin had bought his first book from Kame and the situation hadn’t changed. He was now twenty-three years old and his mother was anxious to start looking for a wife for him and complained how he hadn’t brought any girls over in years, but Jin just shrugged him off and headed towards the bookstore.
“Wife, huh,” Kame said as he slipped between the bookshelves, having a lot easier time than Jin with it thanks to his different physique. “Maybe that could help you. Although I do think that you’re quite a hopeless case.”
“Hopeless, what do you mean!” Jin snapped back. “What about you, you should be twenty now and I bet you haven’t even seen a girl in years!”
“Here,” Kame said, shoving a book in Jin’s hands and ruffling his hair with a smirk on his face. “And I’m not planning on getting married and there’s no one to force me.”
“Why?” Jin whined as they started heading towards a small round table and two chairs in the back of the shop where they usually sat down to spend time when they weren’t going through different books. “Why the hell would you not want to get married? Or even date? You’re young and you’ve grown to be quite good-looking too, I’m sure you could swoon yourself a whole harem!”
“I don’t play with people,” Kame answered seriously. “And I can’t.”
“Why?” Jin demanded to know, breathing in Kame’s neck as they made their way through a narrow passage through the shelves. “Do you have a problem or something? They do have pills for that, you know!”
Kame’s face flushed and he pushed Jin away with his hand on Jin’s face. “I don’t have a problem like that! God, what is it with you, this is exactly why you don’t have a girlfriend! You worry about your friends’ problems down there, huh?”
“Just yours since it came up in the conversation right now-“
“It didn’t come up, you brought it up!” Kame snapped back and crashed to the armchair. “And you can stop worrying about that since it isn’t true!”
“Uh huh, really…” Jin snorted and smirked as he slammed his hands on Kame’s thighs, making him jump. “I don’t see why else. You do know that you can talk to me, I talk to you about everything all the time too…”
Kame tensed up as Jin’s hands moved upwards and he pressed his lips to a straight line. “Jin. I. Don’t. Have. A. Problem. There. Get it? Take your hands off!” he said and took a hold of Jin’s wrists, shooting him with his nastiest ‘if-you-dare’ looks.
Of course that tactic was the worst when used with Jin. He had always had a knack for trying to get things that were harder to get and, well… refusing to give it to him always made him just want it more. He leaned down to kiss Kame’s neck impulsively, making the younger one yelp in anger and frustration.
“Jin, get off! I’m going to kick you where it hurts, you can count on that!” he warned and tried to turn his face away, managing to wrestle Jin’s hands off from his thighs.
Jin’s answer was a sharp bite at Kame’s jugular.
Kame kicked his crotch as hard as he could with his knee and Jin let go with a loud and pained cry, collapsing over Kame and curling up, wailing in pain. Kame panted. For some time there was silence.
“…You might’ve already noticed that I don’t have a problem like that. So get off,” Kame panted after a while and pushed Jin back on his feet before crossing his legs.
“…You really don’t have a problem there,” Jin answered dumbly. Kame’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Then why?” he demanded to know again. “You seem lonely to me. You’re outgoing, funny, strong, handsome and in a damn good age to be going out. Why?”
“Because I’m in debt,” Kame simply answered, looking up at Jin whose eyebrows rose.
“Then why do you work in here?”
Kame’s lips twisted into a half smile and he took a deep breath, eyes unfocused. “You don’t get it.”
Jin kneeled down and Kame’s eyes focused on him and followed him warily again as he came closer and took a gentle hold of Kame’s wrists.
“Jin, what are you doing?” he asked sharply but Jin pulled him downwards into a soft kiss.
Jin pulled a little too hard and Kame collapsed over him, accidentally breaking the kiss. They lied there on the floor and Jin could feel his heartbeat in his throat and Kame with his opened legs sitting over him, breathing heavily.
He didn’t bother answering as he wrapped his hands around the other one’s neck again, pulling him down to another kiss, hands running through his soft hair. Kame was awkward and stiff over him, shivering delightedly as he ran his hand up his shirt to caress his back.
“…I’m really glad you don’t have a problem there,” he said as they broke the kiss and Kame punched him in the face, making him bellow out of the pain and cover his face with his arms while wailing miserably.
“Say even one more word about it and I swear you’ll start having problems that can’t be fixed with pills down there,” Kame threatened as he slowly raised Jin’s shirt, making him gasp sharply as the cool air hit his bare skin.
And hell he was glad Kame didn’t have any issues concerning his lower areas as he flipped him over and straddled him against the floor, guiding his legs to wrap around his hips.
***
“Marry me.”
“You’re out of your mind,” Kame declared and smashed a book at his forehead, slipping quickly through the bookshelves, refusing to look at him. “You’ve finally lost it for good.”
“You’re getting engaged with me, whether you like it or not!” Jin yelled loudly as he followed, accidentally tripping several books to the floor on his way while trying to keep up with the younger one, stumbling on his way. “Akanishi Kazuya-“
“I am not changing my name. And I am not getting engaged with you,” Kame snapped at him. “Gosh, stop being such a child and start using common sense! You can’t just barge into here and propose! You haven’t even thought of any of the consequences!”
“I don’t care about the consequences. I’m getting engaged with you and that’s final. And then we’ll be happy and together and it’ll be final,” Jin continued to argue loudly as he grasped a hold of Kame’s wrist, pushing him against a shelf. Kame tried to kick him but he raised his own knee between Kame’s legs threateningly. “Don’t you dare.”
“Listen Jin. I have a say in this and I am not going with this impulse of yours. I am not getting engaged. I am not even thinking about getting married. Hell, we had sex just yesterday and now you want to get engaged?! What’s wrong with you!?” Kame said, starting to raise his voice as well, looking at Jin angrily as he tried to fight his wrists loose. Jin shook his head.
“No, you don’t have a say in this. We’re getting engaged and that’s final, you’ll learn to live with the idea. Three, two, one!” Jin said and kissed the muffling Kame on the lips dominatingly, pulling away quickly. “Zero! Silence counts as a ‘yes’!”
“You didn’t even give me a chance to--!” Kame gasped furiously but Jin kissed him again, starting to fight with Kame’s left hand, forcing his ring finger straight.
“Oh, no you won’t -! “ Kame growled angrily, trying to fight Jin’s hands away with his free hand but failing as he forced the ring in Kame’s finger roughly. Kame could’ve sworn he had just bruised his finger. Then Jin put his hand in a fist and kissed the ring with a smug smirk on his face.
“Congratula-“
He ended up with a fist in the face and hissed, eyes watering. Kame pulled the ring from his finger and Jin wailed.
“Come on, Kame, can you imagine how hard it was to put on you! I will put it back if I have to but I’m sure we can avoid unnecessary bruises if you just put it in there voluntarily!” he complained loudly, wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Jin, you can’t just barge into here and force me to get engaged with you! Stop being a child!” Kame shot back at him and put the ring in his hand. “I am not going along with your ideas if their quality is this. Hell, at this point I’d be ready to move onto the ‘we’re dating’ part but you can not just force me to get engaged with you!”
“Oh yes I can! We’re getting engaged, you didn’t complain when you had the chance -!”
“When did I have a chance?!”
“-and now it’s too late! You can’t back down from your decisions, Kame, it’s not fair for the other party! We’re engaged and that’s final! And we’re happy! Let’s celebrate!” Jin continued with a cheerful tone, purring to Kame’s ear and pulling at the lobe with his teeth gently as he forced the ring to Kame’s finger again. Kame fought against him and he pushed him harder against the shelf, kissing his neck.
The bookshelf fell backwards and Kame cried out in surprise.
The curtains of the shop got ripped and a horrific scream cut the air, Kame trashing under him. Jin stared at him in shock and tried to hold him still but Kame started screaming louder.
Ueda crashed in, looked at the curtains, cursed and went to close them, careful not to step in the light himself. He turned to Jin and pulled him off of Kame.
Kame was slightly transparent. He was sickly pale and sweaty, although the screaming had stopped and he didn’t seem to be in pain anymore, just gasping for air breathlessly and trembling weakly as Ueda helped him to sit up.
“Out,” Ueda ordered and pointed at the door. Jin blinked. He had no idea what was going on.
“What - “
“Old paper shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight! The text fades!” Ueda snapped at him. “OUT!”
And Jin ran, the words ringing in his head. It didn’t make sense.
Why didn’t it make sense?
***
It took Jin a week to get the courage to return to the bookstore.
He was afraid he’d get yelled at and thrown out again. He was afraid that Kame wouldn’t be there anymore, that he would’ve faded away completely. He was afraid Kame would hate him.
When he stepped in, Kame was sitting at the service desk. He was looking better and Jin stepped hesitantly closer.
“Stop being so wary, it doesn’t suit you,” Kame mocked him. Jin noticed the ring in his finger and gulped.
“…Are you alright?” he asked as he rushed over, starting to touch Kame’s face, neck, shoulders and other body parts in slight panic but Kame removed his hands and pulled him into a tight hug.
“I’m fine, just a bit more translucent. It’s hardly noticeable,” Kame answered as he ran his fingers through Jin’s hair comfortingly and kissed his temple. “I’m sorry I caused that commotion.”
“I was the one who pushed the shelf over and ripped the curtains,” Jin argued, nuzzling to Kame’s neck. “I don’t know what I did, but I hurt you.”
Kame sighed deeply, patting his back. He took the ring from his finger and offered it to Jin.
“You need to think it over more, Jin. It’s not that simple,” he said as he put the ring in Jin’s hand and closed it. “I can’t go out. I can’t be anywhere else but in a dark room, only dim light is allowed and even with that I slowly fade away. It might take years or tens of years, I don’t know.”
“I don’t want to think it over, I want you,” Jin argued again, taking a strong hold of Kame’s wrists. “I said we’re getting engaged and we’ll be happy. And I stand for that. I don’t care if you’re a bit translucent, I don’t care if you can’t go out. And I like you even in dim lighting. I’ve decided, Kame,” he continued and forced the ring back in Kame’s finger. “Don’t even dare to try to make me hesitate.”
“Jin, I’m not completely humane,” Kame said strongly. Jin kissed his lips to silence further words.
“For me, you never really were. You’re Kame,” he said and Kame sighed again in an annoyed manner. Jin kissed his cheek with affection. “You owe it to me, Kame. I want it, I want you.”
“…You’re in love with someone stored in the pages of a book. You’re in love with a book, Jin.”
“It’s a good book,” Jin said, pushing Kame down against the table, climbing on top of him. “And it feels soft and humane under me.”
“Stupid.”
“You do, even if you are a bit translucent. I wonder if I can see-“ Jin started with excitement and was cut off by Kame’s sigh and a muttered ‘hopeless’ as he removed Kame’s shirt and kissed his stomach.
Ueda shook his head and walked away before the young men caught the sight of him, walking to his darkened room, sitting on his bed and staring at the book on his table.
“But it will be Kame who’ll be left heartbroken,” he sighed to himself. “Since he’ll just age and wither away as well, right Ryo?”
He smiled to himself, depressed as he took the book in his small hands and looked at the curtains in his windows silently.
He smiled to himself as he opened them.