[Fic] Worth the Pain
Sequel to "Worth the Risk."
“Jin!” Kame shouted as he ran down the hall toward KAT-TUN’s dressing room. “Jin!” he shouted again as he poked his head through the doorway.
Jin was sitting on a sofa across the room with Ueda, both of them playing their guitars, Jin looking up when he heard Kame’s voice.
“JIN!!” Kame exclaimed yet again as he bounded into the room, heading straight for his best friend.
“Yes Kame, Jin is here, will you stop screaming at us now?” Koki said, trying his best to act offended. “You don’t even bother to greet the rest of us; everything always has to be about Jin doesn’t it?” he continued to pout.
Normally, this little act would persuade Kame to give Koki a little extra attention and they would tease each other for a while, but today, Kame completely ignored Koki as if he had not even heard him. “Jin! Jin! Jin!”
Jin’s full attention was on Kame. “Calm down Kazu, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing’s the matter, everything’s wonderful!” Kame was obviously trying to hold in his excitement.
“Mou Kame tell us already!” Taguchi whined, not without a giant excited smile.
Kame’s attention was solely on Jin. “We got it Jin! We got it!”
Jin slowly moved his guitar away, and slowly began to stand. “You mean…?”
Kame nodded, a giant smile on his face.
“We really…?”
Another nod, and some slight bouncing.
“Seriously?!”
“Gah would you two just use complete sentences already!” Koki whined.
Jin ignored him, staring at Kazuya. “You mean that we are…?”
Kame nodded furiously, almost bouncing from excitement. “Manager-san just told me. We’re Hayato and Ryu, Jin!”
Jin’s eyes widened, and a big grin formed on his face. “We made it? Both of us?! Really?! Ahh!!” Jin screamed excitedly.
Taguchi, Koki, Ueda, and Nakamaru all watched silently as Kame and Jin clasped each other’s arms and jumped up and down together excitedly, shouting with glee and obviously in their own little world.
“This is a real ‘dot dot dot’ moment. Do you have any idea how stupid you two look right now?” Koki finally said, chuckling a little.
Both a little startled at hearing a voice that belonged to someone other than the two of them, they glanced at Koki blankly, and then Jin stuck his tongue out at him.
“Shut up Koki! We’re allowed to be excited.” He turned his attention back to Kazuya. “We really made the drama Kazu! This is going to be so amazing! We’ll be great, I know it!” Jin said as he bounced some more.
“I know! I know! Manager-san said that rehearsals will begin next week. He said we’ll have our first scripts by tomorrow! I can’t wait Jin.”
Their excited chatter, -and more jumping- about ‘how incredibly amazing’ this drama was going to be was drowned out by the rest of the group as they went back to their former activities, used to the Akakame universe being present amidst their own.
<><><><><><><><>
It had been nearly three months since the ‘almost confession’, but Jin was still having problems moving on from it. It had taken several weeks before the mere sight of Kazuya had finally ceased to send a shooting pain through Jin’s heart, but nevertheless, he had done his very best to push aside his pain for his friend’s sake.
He acted just as energetic and chipper as usual when he was with Kazuya, and he found to his relief that after being around the younger one for a while, the forced smiles became genuine. Kazuya could always make him feel better, just by being around really.
He told himself that this pain would eventually fade away; that he just needed more time, but it was not showing any signs of fading yet, and Jin wasn’t sure how long he would be able to go without Kazuya noticing something odd about him.
Kazuya had brought up the subject of ‘that girl he liked’ a few weeks ago, asking if he’d finally told her how he felt. Jin had just shrugged it off, only saying that ‘it just didn’t work out.’ Luckily Kazuya hadn’t pushed it, but he did look genuinely sad for him.
‘I’m really sorry…’ he had said, and Jin had wanted to cry. If you only knew how I really felt baby, you’d be even sorrier then…
Kazuya had invited him over to his house that night, probably to try to cheer him up, and luckily they had been able to salvage some of that gloomy day.
Jin smiled at the memory.
Jin had suggested playing a favourite video game of his together, one of the ones he always defeated Kazuya in. He had been surprised when Kazuya had agreed with very little argument, as well as a small smug little smile that was gone so quickly Jin wasn’t really sure it had been there in the first place.
He was positive of it later however, when somehow, Kazuya defeated him every time in the game. What had he done, camped out all night and played this thing nonstop? Kazuya had positively sucked at this game before.
As a prize for defeating the now ex-champion Akanishi Jin, Kazuya had claimed his favourite bean bag chair that Jin always monopolized whenever he came over, and Jin had pouted over its loss. He liked that big, comfy, squishy chair, it was one of his favourite things at Kazuya’s house, aside from Kazuya himself of course.
“Mou… Kazu-chan… let me sit there already ne?” Jin whined again, giving Kazuya his best puppy pout.
Aware of Jin’s tactic, Kame avoided eye contact, and instead only smirked and stared at the television screen. “Beat me first, and then you can have it. Simple as that Jin-chan.”
“Mou………” he whined again.
“What are you, four Jin? Stop whining and defeat me if you want it so bad. Fight like a real man.”
And Jin tried, but amazingly, Kazuya bested him every time. Jin honestly couldn’t understand it. He was never going to get that chair… fairly anyway. “Please Kazu-chan…?” Another puppy pout.
“No.”
“Please…?” bigger pout.
“Nope.”
Jin let out a long, annoying whine, which only gained a chuckle out of the younger boy, before he teasingly settled himself more comfortably in the chair. Fine then, I can play dirty too. “You really won’t get out of that chair, will you?”
Kazuya shook his head stubbornly, still smirking.
“Then I guess I’ll just have to make you…”
That made Kazuya look at him curiously, but before he knew what was happening Jin had pounced on him and began tickling him furiously. “No! Jin! You cheater! Sto-ahh!” Kame’s attempts to make Jin stop were futile as he was mercilessly tickled, and soon gasping for breath from a lack of oxygen due to his laughter.
Jin smirked triumphantly as he heard Kazuya let out high piercing screams of laughter at pitches he hadn’t heard from him since before his voice had changed years ago. His hands slipped under Kazuya’s top and ran fleetingly all over his skin, making Kazuya toss and turn frantically in order to avoid more of the horrible tickling torture.
Kame tried a different tactic of escape and went on the offensive himself, running his fingertips over Jin’s collarbones, unprotected due to his lower cut top.
Jin let out a piercing shriek as he hadn’t expected Kazuya to fight back, and quickly grabbed a firm hold of Kazuya’s wrists in order to prevent any more touching of that area. “Why you dirty little…” he panted as he pinned the younger boy’s wrists above his head, safely away from the danger zone.
Kame giggled, finally free of the merciless tickling. “Serves you right, jerk.” He said with a smile, sticking his tongue out at his friend and giving a few half-hearted attempts at freeing himself.
Jin couldn’t help but laugh a little as well when he saw Kazuya’s bright smile. He was glad he could help bring out that look of joy to his friend’s face.
For a quick moment that seemed to last forever, they looked into each other’s mirth filled eyes and just gazed at each other, and suddenly, it wasn’t so funny anymore.
Jin’s eyes roamed over Kazuya’s face, and hesitated when his gaze landed on his lips, and he felt the incredible urge to lean forward those few inches and make them meet with his own…
Kame stared at Jin as well, his smile gone now, and his thoughts far from tickling the other boy. Oh how wonderful it would be if Jin were just a little bit closer…
A sudden thumping caused both boys to jump, killing the moment in an instant, and Jin quickly got off of the smaller boy as Kame’s brother Koji poked his head through the door.
“Oi! You two noisy boys! I am trying to study here and some people are trying to sleep!”
“Sorry Nii-chan.” Kame replied quickly. “We’ll be more quiet now.”
“Thank you. Goodnight boys.” Koji said as he slid the door closed and the room became quiet.
They both looked around the room awkwardly, not daring to look at each other, video games long forgotten.
“Eh… Should we go to bed do you think?” Kame asked.
Jin nodded slightly, and yawned. He really was rather sleepy, and he didn’t think he could handle too much more face to face interaction with Kazuya tonight.
They quickly changed and got ready for bed, Jin snuggling into Kazuya’s blankets and the younger boy turned out the light before settling beside him.
Jin couldn’t help but notice that the atmosphere around them was still quite tense. Did he give himself away back there? Did Kazuya figure out what he had been imagining in those few fleeting seconds? Jin shuddered at the thought, horrified as to what Kazuya might think of him if he knew. He tossed around the bed a little, his back to Kazuya, trying to find a comfortable position as he thought of more horrible consequences of that little moment.
Kazuya watched Jin toss and turn, inwardly worried. Just what had that look in Jin’s eyes been earlier? Certainly not disgust, affection maybe? They had always been close; it was most likely a brotherly affection that Jin felt for him…
Then why was Jin facing away from him? Whenever they had spent the night in the same bed before, they had been drawn closer to each other, almost like magnets, sleeping comfortably on each other’s shoulders or stomachs. But Jin was facing away from him now… Could he tell that Kame felt more for him than brotherly feelings in that gaze? Did he see Kame’s true feelings? Was he disgusted by sleeping next to him now?
The silence was only making things more awkward. Normally, they’d fill the room with suppressed giggling and excited whispers long into the night, but tonight…
“Jin…” Kame whispered, when Jin shook the bed with his restless tossing once again.
“Yeah?”
“I uh… you know I was asked to write a song right? For the Gokusen audition?”
“Yeah, I remember. You never would show me what you wrote though.” He added with a bit of a pout in his voice.
Kame chuckled. “Well then, would you like to hear it now?”
Jin’s eyes widened in excitement. He loved Kazuya’s music. “Yes.”
Kame turned Jin around to face him, and deciding to take a leap of faith, moved closer and tentatively rested his head on Jin’s shoulder, snuggling in slightly. “Okay. Don’t tease me if I’m a little off-key though. I haven’t warmed up and I need more practice.”
Jin tensed at the unexpected contact, but quickly relaxed. Kazuya often did this. “I promise I won’t.”
And Kazuya began to sing softly, beautiful words with a beautiful melody that warmed Jin’s heart. It was a song about friendship, about an unbreakable bond between two people who meant the world to each other. Jin felt his heartbeat increase as he wondered who Kazuya might have been thinking about when he wrote this.
The room was silent for a few moments after Kame finished, and he swallowed nervously when Jin didn’t say anything. “What do you think…?”
“It… it was beautiful.” Jin whispered sincerely, looking straight at Kazuya. “Really, really beautiful.”
Kame smiled at the praise, knowing that Jin really meant what he said. “It…” he swallowed. “It was written for… for you.” he whispered very softly, his heart now racing.
Jin smiled, a bright and beaming grin of pure joy and contentment. “For me?”
Kame nodded slightly.
Jin’s smile broadened, and he wrapped an arm around Kazuya’s waist, pulling him closer. “It was wonderful. Thank you Kazuya. I love it.”
Kazuya burrowed closer. “I’m glad.” And Jin could hear the smile in his voice.
“Goodnight, Kazu-chan.”
Kame took the opportunity to rest an arm over Jin’s chest, his head now buried in the crook of Jin’s neck. “Goodnight Jin.”
Yes, Jin thought. That night had been wonderful. He couldn’t help but hope that now that they would be working together on this drama that they’d be spending more nights together at each other’s houses.
He would get to spend virtually every waking hour with Kazuya because of this drama; they would have filming during the day and then KAT-TUN rehearsals afterward. And there were bound to be photo shoots together and other advertisements.
Jin had somewhat mixed feelings about this however. Although he was tremendously excited to spend so much time with Kazuya, he was also afraid that during all that time, he would do something utterly stupid and give away his real feelings for the boy.
Please don’t let that happen….
He had to be able to control his emotions, no matter how much it hurt him.
<><><><><><><>
Kame gave a sigh of relief when the director told them they could have a break. With the many strenuous Gokusen rehearsals, KAT-TUN practice after that, and Jin’s frequent visits, he was exhausted. He wanted to sleep so badly…
“Kazu!”
How on earth can he always be so energetic?
“Kazuuuuu-chan!”
“Yes, Jin?”
“Let’s go sit in the van okay? It’s cold out here, and I want to practice our lines.”
Kame mumbled something, slumping in his chair slightly, not really listening to Jin. Oh how he wished he was in his bed right now…
Jin pouted at Kame’s inactivity. They had been rehearsing outside for nearly an hour now, and it was cold! And Kame was just sitting there. Although he probably was tired; they didn’t have many sleeping hours lately because of their busy schedule. He would sleep better somewhere warmer though…
With a sly grin, Jin leaned in close to a very unsuspecting Kame, put his finger in his mouth to wet it, and slithered it into Kame’s ear, blowing into it as well.
“Ahh! What are you doing you moron?!” Kame screamed and Jin lost it laughing. Kame furiously tried to dry his abused ear as he glared at the older one. “That was disgusting!”
Jin continued to chuckle. “Serves you right for not paying attention to me!” he stuck out his tongue. “You will live. Now can we please go sit in the van? I’m cold!”
“You could’ve gone by yourself you know.” Kame grumbled as he stood up and began following Jin toward the van for the cast.
“That’s no fun. Besides, I knew you would be cold too, and you could get a better nap in the van as well. I know you must be tired…”
Kame smiled at Jin’s concern, and that much too familiar warm feeling spread throughout his body, making him shiver.
“Would you like my coat? It’s thicker than yours…”
“Eh?” Kame realised Jin must have mistaken his shiver to be due to the temperature. “Oh, no I’m okay. Thank you though.” He said with a shy smile. Dang it Jin, why do you always have to be so sweet to me?
“If you’re sure.” Jin says, still a bit uncertain.
“I’m sure.” Kame gave him another smile.
Kame had been hoping that as the months went by his feelings for Jin would go away, but Jin had complicated things by seeming to grow kinder and sweeter toward him with every passing day. Just how was he supposed to get over someone who behaved like that? Aside from still being a bit annoying and immature at times, Jin seemed perfect.
He had tried to ask Jin what had happened with the girl that he liked, since Jin hadn’t brought it up ever again, but Jin had only avoided the question and merely said ‘it just didn’t work out.’ He looked so pained about it that Kame couldn’t bring himself to push the subject any further. The girl must have turned him down after all then… Despite his feelings, Kame really wasn’t happy about that, not when it made Jin so sad.
He had done his best to distract Jin from that pain, like a good best friend should, and it had resulted in that small little moment- which could hardly even be called a moment- at his house that one night a few weeks ago. In the heat of the moment that day, for a second, just for a second, Kame had wondered if Jin would lean down to kiss him.
Of course nothing of the sort had happened, and Kame cursed his still too hopeful mindset. Thinking that way would only bring him more pain.
A cold wind was making him shiver for real by the time they reached the van, and Jin quickly opened the door and motioned for Kame to go in first. He climbed in and headed straight for the back of the van, crawling onto the back bench seat.
Jin slid the door shut and settled down on the small space that Kazuya had left, shivering slightly himself.
“I will be grateful when we can go home tonight. I am so tired…”
Kame merely mumbled in response, already beginning to doze a little. He felt Jin stand up and move closer to him, nudging him a little.
“How about a better pillow then your hands ne?”
Kame smiled and sat up, barely opening his eyes as Jin sat down in the newly vacated space before he lay his head back down on Jin’s lap, moaning contentedly when Jin’s hand ran through his hair, causing goose bumps to form all over his skin. Jin…
“You want to practice our lines?”
Not really. Ryu and Hayato’s interaction with each other was a bit, strained at the moment, and Kame did not feel like even pretend fighting with Jin right now. “Now? When you just provided me with such a warm comfy pillow?”
Jin merely chuckled and continued to stroke Kame’s hair, not bothering to reply.
With Jin’s body heat warming his body, and his caresses warming his heart, Kame quickly dozed off.
He didn’t know how long he had been asleep when the sound of the door van sliding open roused him. He cracked open an eye, seeing Teppei and Mokomichi climb into the van.
“There you two are! You’ve missed all the excitement!”
Jin apparently had been dozing as well, for he sounded sleepy when he replied. “What excitement?”
“Director-san wanted to begin filming, since he’s satisfied with the rehearsals, and a couple of the cameras aren’t working properly.” Teppei said, sitting down on the floor beside Jin.
“Eh? Can we go home then?” Jin answered, sounding slightly hopeful.
“No such luck.” Mokomichi grumbled. “But it will probably be a while before we get started again. We came to tell you so you guys could get a chance to get some quick shut eye.”
“Looks like Kame-chan’s already on that.” Teppei said with a smile, and Jin smiled back, running a hand through the reddish brown locks.
“He really needed it.” He said softly.
Teppei and Mokomichi looked at each other briefly. “Well, we just came to tell you that. We’ll come get you when we start up again okay?” Teppei said as he stood up. “Have a good nap! Sleep well Kame-chan.” He whispered in Kame’s direction.
Jin waved as they left the van, turning his attention back to the boy on his lap.
“Mou, now it’s freezing in here.” Kame mumbled, shifting on Jin’s lap.
“You’re awake?”
“How could I not be, they practically let a windstorm in here.” Kame grumbled and sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
Jin knew Kame was always a little grumpy after he woke up, especially when he was sleep deprived, but he couldn’t help but to find him a bit adorable at the moment. “Did you hear we get a slight break?”
Kame nodded, yawning, and then shivered again. “Those bakas...” he griped, still annoyed about the chilly air still present in the van.
“You want my coat?” Jin offered again.
Kame shook his head. “I have mine on already, it wouldn’t fit right.”
Jin smiled. “You’re not a very big guy Kazu.”
Kame glared at him.
“Sorry.” Jin chuckled.
Kame continued to glare.
Jin just smirked.
More glaring.
Another smirk.
Glare.
Jin stuck his tongue out and crossed his eyes.
That made Kame crack a smile, and they both laughed. Mood brightened somewhat, Kame stood up and plopped himself on Jin’s lap, fiddling with his hair. “You baka. How do you always manage to cheer me up?”
Jin chuckled some more, wrapping his arms lightly around Kazuya’s waist. “Because I am just too lovable and irresistible?”
You have no idea. “Hmm, that can’t be it.”
“Because I’m so charming?”
“No way.” Very much so.
“Because I’m so incredibly cute?”
“Heck no.” You’re adorable.
Jin pouted. “You’re so mean Kazu-chan.” And again stuck his tongue out- he’s really been doing a lot of that lately- before grinning again.
Kame laughed again, stopped fiddling with Jin’s hair and put his head down on Jin’s shoulder, yawning again. “Mou, I want to sleep some more.”
Jin’s arms tightened around him. “Go ahead. I’ll wake you later.”
“Will you sleep too then?”
Jin didn’t say anything for a moment. “I’m too wound up to sleep.” He said finally.
Kame was aware Jin had had trouble sleeping quite a bit lately. Jin had finally admitted it to him one day a couple of weeks ago when he had shown up to practice looking like death warmed over, and Kame had forced him to tell him what was wrong.
Jin did not give a reason as to why he hadn’t been sleeping, but Kame had a strong inkling to believe it had to do with this girl Jin liked. Kame too had trouble sleeping many nights, because he couldn’t get his thoughts away from Jin, and many times couldn’t stop his tears…
This was another reason Kame had frequently invited Jin over to his house lately; Jin seemed to sleep better when they were together.
If there was ever a time to bring up this subject again, Kame thought, there probably wouldn’t be a better opportunity. Jin needed to talk about it, even if it hurt him.
Kame took a deep breath. “Jin, why don’t you tell me about her?”
Jin tensed beneath him, and took several moments to respond. “I told you. It just didn’t work out.” He said softly.
“Did she reject you?” Kame asked gently. He began running his hands through Jin’s hair again, tucking a lock of it behind his ear as he snuggled closer to him.
“ She… Kazu, can we not talk about this?”
“I think you need to get it out. It’ll start the healing process.”
Jin sniffed slightly. “There will be no healing from this…” he barely audibly mumbled.
Kame felt his chest tighten, and tears form in his eyes, partly because his own heartbreak at hearing those words, and partly because Jin sounded so utterly heartbroken as well. He wrapped both arms around Jin’s neck, his head buried under Jin’s chin. “I’m so very, very sorry Jin…” Kame said, his voice shaking slightly.
Jin was alarmed at Kazuya’s reaction. He didn’t want Kazuya to get so upset over him. “Don’t get upset Kazu-chan, please? I’ll be okay.”
“No. You don’t deserve this. That stupid girl doesn’t know what she’s missing out on. To have such a wonderful person like you care about her, and she just turns you down…” Kame’s voice broke on the last word, unable to continue.
Jin held Kame tightly. “You really think I’m such a wonderful person?”
Kame nodded adamantly.
Jin smiled. “You’re a good friend Kazuya. I really mean it.” He ran a hand through Kame’s hair at the back of his neck. “The best friend I’ve ever had. I really...” he swallowed. “I really don’t know what I would do without you…” and without putting too much thought into it, he leaned down slightly and pressed a soft kiss onto Kame’s temple, then pressed the sides of their faces together, closing his eyes. I need you so much baby… If only you knew…
Kame’s heart was beating rapidly at the words Jin had uttered, and he couldn’t help but feel a swell of happiness form inside him at that small kiss. Jin rarely did that; maybe only a handful of times during their friendship. His arms tightened around Jin’s neck briefly, before he pulled back slightly to press their foreheads together. “You’re my best friend too Jin-kun.” He said with a smile that only brightened when he saw Jin’s happy expression. Am I finally helping him feel better? He thought hopefully.
Jin smiled as he stared into Kazuya’s eyes. There were slight traces of tears in them, but overall they had a joyful gleam to them. He chuckled. “Boy, are we sappy huh?”
“Right now, I don’t really care.” Kame stated, eyes not leaving Jin’s.
Jin gazed at him. “Then neither do I.” and the look in both their gazes changed into something deeper, showing feelings they had been trying to hide from each other for so long, and without thinking about it, Jin leaned forward and gently captured Kazuya’s lips with his own, eyes closing out of the sheer bliss of finally getting to feel him…
Kazuya’s eyes closed instinctively, and he clung tighter to Jin when their mouths met, mind unable to really process what was happening, acting purely by instinct.
Their kiss was tentative and gentle, a soft brushing of lips, being so careful as if it was their first time experiencing the sensation and not wanting to do it incorrectly.
It lasted only for a few moments however, before both their brains caught up with their actions and they both shyly pulled away, Kazuya burying his face in Jin’s neck again, unable to look at him.
But Jin only held him tighter, not wanting Kazuya to believe that what he had done had been a mistake. He rubbed his back soothingly, and built up the courage to place a couple gentle kisses on Kazuya’s forehead.
Kame’s heart was beating rapidly, his mind unable to process that this was actually happening. When he felt Jin’s gentle kisses on him again, he nearly whimpered in bliss. “Jin…?” was the only word he could form.
As an answer Jin merely lifted Kazuya’s chin and pressed their mouths together again, allowing this kiss to show a little more passion.
Kame moaned and kissed back eagerly, still not quite able to believe that this wasn’t a dream and was actually happening. He got lost in Jin’s kiss, in Jin’s scent, in Jin’s moans.
Finally, Kazuya broke the kiss, his overactive brain finally locating a reason as to why this shouldn’t be happening. What about that girl? Jin really liked her, he can’t just be over her already. Is…is Jin only looking for comfort? Were there no real feelings involved in this on his part at all? Kame didn’t want to believe that, he wanted the passion he felt in Jin’s kisses to be real, to be for him. He didn’t want to be a replacement.
“J-Jin.” He managed to voice out, trying to stop this before he just ended up sobbing. “Wh-what about that girl? This isn’t the right way to get over someone...” He clenched his fist trying to hold back the tears forming in his eyes.
Jin opened hazy eyes to look at Kame, seeming both confused and annoyed at the interruption. “There is no girl, Kazuya. There never was.” He leaned back in to kiss Kazuya’s neck and jaw, kissing like a starving man who was finally allowed to eat.
“What? What are you talking about Jin? You told me that-“
“I told you no such thing.” Jin said between kisses. “That was all Yamapi’s imagination.”
Kame was having trouble processing this. “But then why were you so… why did you…?”
“For heaven’s sake Kazu.” Jin lifted his gaze to look Kame straight in the eye. “You’re the ‘girl’ you moron! You’re the one I like okay?” Despite what they had been doing earlier, and the fact that Kazuya had not punched him and called him a disgusting pervert yet, Jin still felt incredibly nervous after finally voicing that out, still afraid that Kazuya could possibly reject him.
Kame did not say anything for a moment; he was too caught off guard by this new information. “You’re saying, that I am the one you liked? All this time?”
Jin nodded nervously, suddenly unable to look at Kazuya.
“You… like me?”
Another nod.
“In that way?”
Jin was now the one who hide his face in his friend’s neck. “Yes.” He mumbled.
And Kazuya beamed. “I can’t believe this.”
Jin dared to look up when he heard the smile in Kazuya’s voice, finally starting to hope that he would not be rejected. “You’re not mad then?”
Kazuya laughed heartily, and rubbed their noses together. “Quite the opposite Jin-chan.” He whispered before kissing him again. “Why didn’t you tell me all of this before?”
“I don’t know. I just couldn’t, you seemed so happy for me when you found out I liked a girl, and you never really showed any indication of liking me that way… I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.” He sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“How could I do that when Yamapi kept informing me about how broken up you were over some girl?!” Kame rubbed his forehead. “I wanted you to be happy.”
“I am happy. Now.” Jin smiled at him, leaning in for another kiss.
“So you called me a girl huh?” Kazuya chuckled when they broke apart.
“I didn’t! Pi just assumed it to be a girl! I never-“
Kame cut him off with another kiss. “Excuses excuses.” He mumbled against his lips.
<><><><><><><>
“And cut! Akanishi-kun, you really must try to stay serious for this scene. You are angry with Ryu, remember?”
“Yes, sir.” Jin replied, a silly grin still plastered on his face, as he and Kazuya shared another glance.
Kame rolled his eyes, though not without a small smile. This was now the third take for them trying to capture Hayato and Ryu’s ‘death glares’ towards each other, and every time they couldn’t control themselves from smiling at each other during it. They were both just so happy…
“Once again, take it from Kamenashi-kun’s entrance. And… action!”
Despite what had happened earlier and his inner joy because of it, Kame was determined to be professional and get this done right. His acting was just fine; he gave Hayato that look of pain and hurt mixed with anger and hatred, and then Jin would ruin it by breaking into a smile. Focus Jin! He did his best to communicate to the other.
Luckily, Jin kept his eyes icy and stoic this time, perfectly capturing a look of hurt mixed with anger and betrayal, and fortunately the director was satisfied with it. Jin could really be a good actor when he put his mind to it.
They walked side by side after filming had ended for the day, taking their time getting to the train station, not really caring that they were already running late for dance rehearsal. We’ll just say filming ran late or something…
“Hey Kazu?” Jin said softly as they sat down once they had boarded their train.
“Mmm?” The train was virtually empty, and Kame was grateful for that, for if anyone could see the sappy expressions that both he and Jin wore all over their faces, he was afraid they’d be all over the headlines tomorrow. We must be so obvious, really.
“I uh, I have something for you.” Jin said a little shyly, pulling something out of his bag.
Kame raised his eyebrows. A gift? “What is it?”
“I got it for you a while ago actually,” Jin said, scratching the back of his neck. “but we’ve both been really busy lately and the moment was never really right so…” he took a deep breath. “I’m giving it to you now. Consider it a response to the song you wrote.”
Kame’s curiosity grew as Jin gave him a small box, and his eyes widened as he opened it, staring at the contents.
Inside the box were two simple little silver rings, small ones, probably pinky rings, lying side by side in the cardboard. “Oh Jin…”
“Do you like them?”
Kame nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat, and picked them up and let them rest in his palm, watching the light glint off the sides of the bands.
Jin picked up one of the rings and lifted Kazuya’s free hand, his left one, and slipped the ring onto his pinky finger. “It kind of represents our bond ne? Our kizuna?”
Kame couldn’t bring himself to speak, feeling extraordinarily sentimental and emotional all of a sudden. Jin had gotten these for them before they were even a couple.
He looked up at Jin, who was looking decidedly shy, but happy, and lifted Jin’s right hand, slipping the other ring on his pinky finger. “Yes, our kizuna.”
Jin smiled and clasped their hands together, rings pressing against each other. They sat in silence for several minutes, content to just be near the other.
“Want to come to my house later?” Kame finally broke the silence, glancing at Jin. “We can play your very favourite video game…” Kame suggested with a smirk.
“Heck no, I’m not falling for that again. I honestly cannot believe how you got so good at that game so quickly.”
Kame looked down at his shoes. “Well, to be honest, I haven’t really been sleeping very well either lately, and playing those stupid games seemed like a better option than lying in bed and, thinking too much…”
Jin understood all too well, and was inwardly amused at the irony that he was indirectly the cause for Kazuya’s now amazing video game skills. “I suppose I should feel flattered.” He chuckled, then leaned in closer to whisper in Kame’s ear, “I’ll come to your house, but I think we can find something more interesting than video games to do, don’t you think?”
Kame looked away shyly. “Maybe.” He said softly, squeezing Jin’s hand tighter.
“So we’re like, boyfriends now, right?” Jin asked.
Kame chuckled. Jin was so cute. “I guess we are.” He leaned his head on Jin’s shoulder and yawned. He was so very, very happy. Those months of unrequited love and pain seemed so trivial now compared to what came out of it. As horrible as it had been. It had been worth it.
What do you know, Takki-senpai had been right. Kame made a mental note to thank him later on.
<><><><><><><>
“Kame-chan!”
Kame turned at the sound of Yamapi’s voice as the latter ran toward him in the hallway. “What did you do to Jin? He’s positively beaming lately! I thought that what’s-her-face chick turned him down? Did you fix it? What happened Kame what happened?!”
Kame was slightly impressed at how much information Yamapi seemed to be able to get out in one breath. “You’ll have to talk to Jin about it, Pi. Sorry.” He gave an apologetic smile, tucking a lock of hair behind his ear. “I’ll talk to you later okay?” and with that Kame turned around and bounded down the hallway, humming to himself.
Yamapi, stood their silently for a moment. Kame had a new ring, he observed, and his spirits seemed to have been raised as well. Something was going on here. Yamapi frowned, puzzled by the turn of events, but he soon shrugged it off; if his friends were happy, then so was he.
Takki and Tsubasa hid around the corner as Kame bounded into view up to Jin, both of them looking around quickly before stealing a brief kiss. The two older men smiled. After six years of meticulous planning and effort, finally they were seeing some results.
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A/N: I know they probably got their rings a little before Gokusen, but this is just how the story turned out. I'm sorry for any other timeline errors-- feel free to correct me.
So you guys got your sequel. How was it? Feel free to give contructive criticism if need be.