Whoa...Backdated quite a ways - like, before the retreat thing Rated R for Kaido's past encounters with Inui...and slight language warning
One Kaido Kaoru was sitting at a table at the local coffee shop, blowing on his coffee to cool it as his fellow teacher Ibu Shinji walks in the door and sees him. Shinji headed over to his table and stood next to it. “Kaido-san…” He trailed off, a little uncomfortable.
"Hi...have a seat, Ibu-san.” Kaido invited Shinji to join him at the table. Shinji took a seat and started staring at his hands.
"So...I have no idea how to start this, Kaido-san.” Shinji told him.
"Don't be nervous." Kaido told him, deciding to take the initiative. "First, I'm sorry for....well, being a bit of an ass.” Kaido apologized.
Shinji tried to smile. "I understand, Kaido-san. I'm engaged to your ex, and you didn't really have an idea he was there...I think that's enough of an excuse to be shocked."
Kaido sighed. "Shocked isn't the word." He started. "I guess I can tell you what happened between us though."
"I'm sorry...if I had known that I'd make you feel that way...I don't know." Shinji sighed as well, still nervous with this whole situation.
"It's alright. I'm glad you're happy. Everyone deserves that." Kaido told him, trying to reassure the other man.
"Only if it won't be uncomfortable for you, Kaido-san. It's been difficult enough for you, I think." Shinji smiled softly. "Yes, but not at the expense of someone else’s feelings."
"Don't worry about it, Ibu-san." Kaido smiled back. "And as long as you promise not repeat this back to anyone...and this includes Inui." Kaido asked, not exactly comfortable with it, but he was thinking of Shinji’s safety.
"I promise...unless something you tell me makes me have to fear for my safety or something." Shinji gave him a sickly grin. "I'm loyal, not stupid."
"Well, I don't know how well you'll take this then, but," Kaido sighed, and took a deep breath before he began his story. “I was in my second year of college, having not yet decided on a major, but seriously considering teaching as a career. I met him in one of my classes, and he....kind of stalked me for the rest of the day." Shinji nodded and encouraged him to go on. "Well, later, he finally asked me out, and....since I had nothing better to do, I went out with him that night."
"Nothing better to do? An interesting reason for dating someone." Shinji propped his head on his hands. "Continue, please, Kaido-san."
"Well, I was single and didn't know many people anyway." Kaido blushed. "Well, anyway.....We dated for a while. And....a few weeks after we started dating, we started....well, it was mostly groping, as I didn't feel up for any more than that at the time. I wasn’t exactly comfortable with, well, physically expressing anything." Kaido admitted.
"Mmmhmmm...." Shinji looked expectantly at him.
"Well, one night.....he wasn't satisfied with that…"
Shinji paled a little and bit his lip. "Kaido-san...are you trying to say....?" He couldn’t bring himself to say what he was thinking.
"It didn't get that far, but I regret letting it get as far as it did." Kaido told him, glad he didn’t have to outright say that Inui almost raped him.
"I...I see." Shinji looked down at his lap. "I...I'm sorry, Kaido-san...I." He wasn’t quite sure what to say.
Kaido coughed. "It's alright....I'm alright now. I’m pretty much over it. I found a nice girl a few years ago, and we're happy and we have a two-year old son. I'm glad you can find something in him that makes you happy, the way that I couldn't."
Shinji twisted his ring on his finger as he chose his words. "I'm happy for you, then. I'm glad that you're happy. I'm...sorry that you had to talk about that...I can tell it wasn't pleasant for you." He sighed. "If it makes you feel any better--and I don't know if it will or not, but I have to say it--I have never felt coerced or threatened with him. I...I don't know." Shinji looked at him and smiled.
"Well, that's good." Kaido said, wondering where this conversation was going to head now.
“Yes. I guess it is." Shinji was still staring at his hands awkwardly.
“Well, I'm sure he's waiting for you.” Kaido offered him a kind smile and drained his coffee. "And Kaori-chan is waiting for me."
"Yes...he is. And I'm sure she is, too." Shinji smiled back at him. "Thank you for telling me, Kaido-san. I…" He sighed, trailing off for a moment. "Believe it or not, I want to like you, and I guess I'm just sort of happy that you could trust me with this. I...I won't tell 'haru about our talk."
"Well, I just felt that maybe you should know. We were both young and stupid though, and no offense, but...He comes across as a creep sometimes. And...yes, I hope we can be friends."
Shinji laughed. "I guess I can't deny that, really...but I love him all the same." Shinji smiled that smile that’s reserved for when a person talks about their true love. "I hope so too...at least, not hating each other at work is good enough for now...it's going to be a little...rough, I think." He admitted, knowing he’s caught in the middle between two exes.
Kaido nodded. "Well, as long as you understand my feelings towards your...fiancé. I may be able to forgive him some day....but....right now, I’m just not ready to yet, even though I know it’s been years."
"I understand." Shinji smiled and stood. "I think I've taken up enough of your time this afternoon, Kaido-san. Thank you for talking to me." He bowed slightly to Kaido.
"It's alright. And I should get home myself." Kaido stood up as well. "I'll see you at work."
"Yes, I'll see you there." Shinji bowed again and left the shop, Kaido following a few moments later after throwing his trash away. Kaido watched Ibu-san walk down the road a ways, then turned and left in the direction of his own home.