...FALLING FOR MY ANIKI chapter 6...
Title: Falling for My Aniki
Pairing: TaNaka
Genre: Romance (with a splash of Drama, Crack and Action)
Rating: PG-15 … it’s totally safe!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don’t own any of the JE boys in this fic. *sniffs*
Summary: Koki just graduated from college and in his hopes of finding a good job that would take him to his dream of becoming Japan’s number 1, stumbles to a group of yakuzas instead. His monotonous life takes a new turn as he meets his new boss. Meanwhile, Maru is the only heir to one of Japan’s most powerful yakuza clans. He keeps running away from his family until Koki, the new member of the mob, comes and gets assigned to be his personal bodyguard. Now, stubborn Maru meets his match… a more stubborn Koki.
Author’s Notes: This fic is dedicated to snow_guardian… I owe this plot to you hunny… Thanks for letting me write this. Hope you like it!
PROLOGUE | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5
Yuichi scrunched up his nose, his pillow somehow felt weird… it seemed to be rising and falling steadily. He forced his eyes to open and greet the sunlight but instead he was looking up to a patch of skin. He blinked and soon enough he realized that it was indeed a patch of skin as he was comfortably nuzzled under Koki’s neck. Yuichi after all, is a self-proclaimed guy who is restless in sleep and wakes up topsy-turvy in bed. But, to clearly fall off and land on his friend was a very embarrassing way to start the morning.
He bit his lip and held his breath as he slowly tried to detach his innocent arm around Koki’s waist. He denied strongly to himself how his arm got there. He propped up on his other elbow as he cautiously sat up, so very careful not to wake the younger man up. As soon as he managed to keep a safer distance, he sat back on the bed and sighed, hoping and praying at the very back of his mind that Koki didn’t notice him there. When there was no indication that Koki would awaken, Yuichi finally stood up and tiptoed his way out of the room, shaking his head as he left. He shouldn’t be thinking of the reason why Koki was smiling in his sleep.
~**~
It was already 8 in the morning when Koki opened his eyes again. There was no Yuichi on his chest. And no sign of Yuichi in the room either. ‘It must have been a weird dream’, he thought to himself. He sighed, whether it was that of disappointment or relief, he would not dare choose any of it. He made slow movements of fixing his futon and the bed as he heard Yuichi and Juri laughing from the area of the kitchen. ‘A dream… definitely a dream.’ He convinced himself one last time.
A few minutes later Koki made his way to the kitchen as sounds of eating utensils resonated in the whole house.
“Ohayou!!!” Juri greeted cheerfully at Koki who was still in quite a daze.
Koki smiled at his little brother and settled on the far end of the table. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Ah… Yuichi-niichan made omurice.” The little boy chirped as he placed the dishes on the table.
Koki only nodded, finding it hard to look at Yuichi after his weird dream. Yuichi didn’t talk much either. Moving around in circles as he cleaned the pans and cooking utensils he just used. Juri looked at Koki then to Yuichi then back to Koki.
“Niichan, did something happen?”
“Hah?” Koki cocked an eyebrow at the sudden question. Juri is a very observant kid and twice more curious. “Nothing… none at all. Why?”
“You seem to be disturbed. I thought something must have happened.”
Koki smiled and shuffled Juri’s hair. “You’re thinking too much, young man.” He grinned hoping that his cute little brother would buy it.
Juri looked skeptic but asked nothing more. “I’ll call Papa so we can eat now.” He announced after he placed the last plate on its spot.
When Juri had left, the room fell silent until Koki’s sigh broke it.
“What’s bugging you?” Yuichi finally spoke. He sat right next to Koki as he placed his arms on the table and looked questioningly at the bald man.
Instinctively, Koki leaned back as if the other was to attack him and that earned him a pout. “Nothing too big. I just remembered my weird dream.” Koki smiled awkwardly looking away.
Yuichi blinked then nodded, he didn’t want to know whatever Koki’s ‘weird dream’ was. He had a weird, not to mention a very embarrassing morning himself. That alone was enough.
“Ja, you should get ready. We’re leaving after breakfast.” Koki announced and Yuichi’s face turned sour in an instant.
“So soon?”
“I promised your father that I’ll bring you back before the week ends.”
“The week ends tomorrow.” Yuichi almost whined.
“BEFORE the week ends.” Koki emphasized with wide eyes.
“Party-pooper…” Yuichi frowned.
Just then, the two other Tanakas entered the kitchen and sat on their respective places. “You can come back again next time.” Koki’s father encouraged.
“Pops, stop giving him such ideas.”
“I would love too!!!” Yuichi’s reply was as fast as lightning.
“Yatta!” Juri exclaimed raising a hand up and did a high five with Yuichi.
Koki just rolled his eyes and shook his head. The young master easily got that comfortable with his family.
~**~
The two young men walked towards the park. Yuichi had insisted that they take the train instead of a cab on their way back. As they strolled the side walks, a tall man holding a skateboard came running from the park to their direction.
“Koki!!!” the man shouted as he approached and Koki immediately stopped on his tracks when he heard his name. He cocked his head to look at the man who called his name out.
“I knew that bouzu head was you.” The tall man laughed loudly when he finally walked up to them.
“Taguchi!!!” Koki exclaimed, finally recognizing the guy. “Ow, man… you’re still a big bum?” Koki grinned lightly punching the other on the arm.
“No… no. I’m on a date.” He laughed lightly and blushed. “Your guy?” He asked back as he looked at Yuichi from head to toe. Both men blushed but Koki smacked the tall man quickly.
“He’s my friend.” He answered as casual as he can, trying not get any more awkward than it already was. “Yuichi, this is Taguchi Junnosuke, my classmate from senior high.”
“Hi. You can call me Junno.” He smiled brightly and bowed slightly to the Yuichi.
“Hi. I’m Yuichi.” Yuichi smiled back and bowed.
Shortly, another man jogged up their way and stood next to Junno. He handed a bottle of cold drink to him before looking at them and a smile formed in his lips.
“Ueda?” this time, Koki recognized him first.
“Hisashiburi, Koki-kun.” He bowed a little before leaning into Junno’s side.
“Ehhh???” Koki turned back to face Junno. “He’s the one you’re dating?”
Junno answered with a wide grin and the smaller man blushed.
“Aah!!! I knew it… I knew it, I knew it.” Koki ran his hand through his fuzzy head. “You two were way too touchy back then.”
“I wasn’t! Junno was…” Ueda chuckled.
“Uepi?” Junno faked a frown.
Koki was already trying not to laugh and so were the other two and Yuichi felt a little discomfort with the unfamiliarity.
“Ahh~ Ueda, this is Yuichi. Yuichi, this Ueda. I bet you two would get along. He’s just as prissy as you Ueda-hime.” Koki chuckled and so did Junno and both earned death glares making them shut up in a flash.
“Are you two in a hurry? Why don’t we all eat lunch together? It’s been a long time, ne, Koki?” Junno suggested and Koki looked at Yuichi. When the older man nodded Koki finally agreed.
“I know a good ramen shop just in the vicinity of this area.” Yuichi announced as they were walking, looking around at restaurants.
“You do?” Koki sounded unsure.
“I happen to work there before, just so you know.” Yuichi answered back and Junno looked at Koki teasingly. The bald man just stuck his tongue out like a kid.
After a passing a few more food shops and game centers, Yuichi entered a ramen shop and picked a table at the corner of the establishment. They sat around the square table and not long after, a skinny young man about Yuichi’s age approached the four men.
“May I take your orders?”
Yuichi looked up with a confident smile. “The usual specialty, Koyama-kun.”
“Maru???” The waiter almost squealed.
“Yo!” Yuichi greeted back.
“You know him?” Koki asked again.
“I told you, I worked here.” Yuichi smirked then looked back at Koyama. “It’s been a while. How is everyone?”
“It’s just me and my sisters today. Otouchan and Okachan will spend the weekend in Kanagawa.” He smiled as he called for his sister and handed her the notepad and pen giving a few orders before he pulled a nearby chair and sat beside Yuichi. Koki scrutinized him from his seat.
“Anou…” Yuichi started looking at his companions, “This is Koyama, their family owns this ramen shop and I have worked for them before as assistant cook-slash-waiter-slash-cashier-slash-dishwasher…” Yuichi laughed as he recalled and then had Koyama laughing too. He cleared his throat as he continued, “This is Koki, and Ueda-kun and Taguchi-kun.” He introduced them one by one and bowed at each other.
Soon enough, Koyama’s sister comes back with 4 bowls of steaming hot ramen served in front of them.
“Ja, this is the shop’s specialty. It’s one of the best in town.” Yuichi said proudly and Koyama smiled at him.
Koki didn’t like that exchange even one bit. He looked at Koyama who had been talking animatedly with Yuichi as if they were friends for so long; though all he could hear were stuff about cooking and well, food. He then decided that this man irks him, his talkativeness and cheerfulness. He found it annoying but it was a different kind of annoyance, not like the one Koki gets when Junno used to crack non-sense jokes. This Koyama was funny, and he can talk spontaneously with Yuichi. That was annoying.
He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt Junno bumping his knee beneath the table. He glared at his old friend. “What?” he asked above a whisper.
“He’s not your guy, huh?” Junno chuckled, “You look like you want to pull Koyama-kun away from him.”
Koki doesn’t know how to respond to that, he was just thinking about doing that.
“That’s the way to go slowpoke.” Junno teased.
“Thanks.” Koki retorted turning his attention on his ramen, picking up the pork slices and chewing on them noisily to block the sounds of their laughter. When he finished up his ramen, he smirked. He stretched his hand out and started picking the pork slices on Yuichi’s untouched ramen.
“Oi!!!” Yuichi swatted his hand away and pouted at him. Koki grinned.
“Ah, Koki-kun, should I get you another bowl?” Koyama asked expectantly.
“No, no. It’s okay. I just thought he forgot about his food.”
With that, Yuichi started eating and didn’t notice Ueda and Junno exchanging knowing looks.
After the hearty meal, all five men bid their goodbyes. Ueda and Junno left first saying they still had things to do. They took Koki’s number and went ahead of them.
Before they could step out of the shop, Koyama gave something to Yuichi.
“No, Koyama-kun… Seriously?” Yuichi can’t even blink, his eyes were glued on the cookbook in his hand.
“I’m serious. I have mastered everything in there anyway so… I know you’d make good use of that.”
“Aaaaah~ Thank you!!!” Yuichi smiled sincerely and gave Koyama a warm hug and the other hugged back.
Koki huffed and looked away. Yuichi waved goodbye and nudged Koki to do the same. As they walked to train station, Koki didn’t make efforts talking to Yuichi who was still anxious with his new prized possession. He made stealing glances and sighed endlessly.
Suddenly, Yuichi stopped walking. “Wait here.” He instructed Koki and entered a garments store.
Koki just nodded and stood by the entrance of the store. He put his hands in his pockets as he waited for the older man. His thoughts wandered with all the things they did and couldn’t help but smile. But more importantly he asked himself why he was suddenly so annoyed at the fact that Yuichi was kind to someone who wasn’t him? He frowned for he never felt such a mix of emotions before. He couldn’t figure it out at all.
Shortly, Yuichi stepped out of the shop and walked up to Koki with his cheeky smile. “Here.” He shot his hand out and handed a paperbag to Koki.
“What’s this?” Koki took it hesitantly.
“Open it and see.”
Koki opened it carefully and pulled the content out to reveal a black and red cap. “For me?” he couldn’t believe it. Did he just receive a gift from Yuichi?
Yuichi nodded and smiled, “You like it?”
“Definitely!” he quickly tore the tag and wore the new cap. “Thank you.”
Another smile for an answer. And they continued to the train station.
“What for?” Koki suddenly asked. They were at the train platform already, waiting for their ride.
“Huh?”
“This cap…”
‘Oh… To thank you…” Yuichi looked at him and Koki gathered all his guts to not look away. “Thank you for yesterday and today… and the good times. I sincerely appreciate what you’ve done. If you could live like that everyday, I wouldn’t ask for more.”
Koki broke a smile, and stopped the urge to hug the other. “I am happy to see you smile.” And before he could think twice about them, the words came out.
Yuichi looked down, to hide the blush he knew was there but Koki saw it anyway. The train finally arrived and they found a comfortable place to sit onto. The train was nearly empty considering it was just past noon.
The sun was shining brightly and Yuichi yawned feeling sleepy. Koki’s arm began moving involuntarily as he moved to take Yuichi’s head to lean on his shoulder. Yuichi made no protest as his sleepiness started overtaking him. He raised a dainty hand mid-air, shielding his eyes from the bright sun. That didn’t escape Koki’s eyes either. He took off his cap and placed it on Yuichi. “Sweet dreams, Aniki. I’ll wake you on our stop.” Koki whispered and Yuichi could only mumble in return.
A/N: hahahaha… I updated earlier than usual… Coz Graduation Day is up on Friday and rehearsal is up on Wednesday so this is my only time this week. This chap’s a little longer than the usual too. But I am quite satisfied with how I did it. Hope you liked it… (^_^)