fic for wooden_buttons (1/2)
Title: Under the Cherry Trees
By: queen_kat_tun
Pairing: Akame
Word count: 17, 208
Rating: NC-17
Genre/Warnings: AU. Fluff, Romance
Notes: This fic is for wooden_buttons. I hope you’ll like this. :)
Anyway, certain circumstances have been manipulated for this fic (i.e. Sakura trees in bloom during January). Hyperrealism is a genre of painting and sculpture resembling a high-resolution photograph and the title is taken from Motojirō Kajii’s Under the Cherry Trees.
Lastly, thank you to my betas, you know who you are. You girls did an awesome job! ♥♥♥ If there are still errors present, I take the blame. Also, thank you J for the summary.
Summary: Kame plans what is supposed to be a relaxing holiday visiting his family; however, events unfold which fill his mind with feelings that he just can’t understand.
_____
New York, USA
Flash.
Kame keeps his finger on the shutter release button, the rest supporting the body of his camera and lens, as he continues on taking pictures of the model, who will be the cover girl for next month's issue.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
He stops, straightens up then reviews the images he has taken. When he sees three out of what seems like fifty pictures that are worth gracing the cover of the magazine, he tells her it's a wrap. She agrees, does her stuff then bids Kame and his crew goodbye. The clacking of her high-heeled shoes seem to be the only noise that bounces off the walls of his studio.
Kame takes a seat, sticks the memory card into the card reader and waits for his computer to download the images. He reaches for the pack of cigarettes on the side, places one between his lips, and then lights it before focusing his attention to editing the pictures. He breathes out the smoke and stares at the screen, scrutinizing every detail of the image - the graceful flow of her curls, the expression of her eyes, and even the silhouette of her hips and long legs.
It takes him three hours to edit the three pictures - an hour for each because he's OCD like that - before he finally calls it a day. He saves the edited images and turns his computer off, leaning his back on his seat and heaving out a heavy sigh. The back of his neck is aching and he’s convinced that he needs a break. He loves his work, he really does, but sometimes, work can be a bitch that gives him the urge to shove something up its ass, if it has one.
"Taguchi," he calls out his assistant who's busy playing a game on his laptop where plants kill zombies with an orange traffic cone for a hat.
"Yes, Kame-chan?"
Kame rolls his eyes at the nickname but lets go of the issue, even if it's only reluctantly. "I need you to look-over the pictures. Tell me if they need more editing," he tells him.
"And if they don't?" Taguchi asks, looking at Kame through the corners of his eyes and whines, 'Damn zombies!' when one of his sunflowers gets uprooted, mangled then dies.
"Then send them to Nakamaru and tell him to submit them to Ueda," Kame answers; referring to the two other Japanese men who work for the magazine company he's taking photos for. "Ueda needs them before the end of this week."
"Right," Taguchi agrees, nods, then suddenly screeches in glee when he finally reaches the next level and earns himself a corn canon. Kame eyes his assistant and frowns when he sees an overjoyed Taguchi. He really needs a break.
Japan, he thinks, will be a very good place as it has been two years since he last went to visit his own country.
He loves Japan and he kind of hates the fact that he’d left his country for his career. New York, in all honesty, offers bigger opportunities for photographers like him and he has always been known to take every chance he gets. There are times that he feels like regretting his decision, especially when work gets too demanding, but in the end he knows he really doesn't. He's made it big in the art of photography and he loves it. It has always been his dream to be able to do something he really loves, something that has to do with him - like fashion and photography. His work is something he really is proud of and he knows that the fulfillment his work gives him would be long-lived.
When he reaches home, he removes his shoes, peels off his clothes and heads straight to the shower. He's only in his white bathrobe when he decides to use his laptop to book himself a flight to Japan and back. He plans his itinerary and thinks it's a good idea to stay at his parents’ house in Tokyo, spend some time with his niece and then go out to capture beautiful sceneries in Japan before his three-week break is over.
With that in mind, he surfs the net, his fingers dance on the keyboard as he searches for a place he could go to and see. The clicking sound softly echoes in his ears before he finds something he thinks is interesting. His eyes focus on the image of a reconstructed castle located on top of a hill, and the word Hamamatsu-jo slips past his lips.
_____
Tokyo, Japan
Kame arranges the aviators perched on the bridge of his nose as the sun shines down on him. A curse escapes his mouth when women of all ages bump into him and his luggage, shrieking Akanishi-san. Kame ignores them. Instead, he watches out for a vacant airport taxi he can ride in. He hasn't told his family that he's in Japan and doesn't intend to do so. His lips curve into a smile when an image of his excited niece, squealing and grinning, comes to his mind.
Kame is next in line so he gets into the taxi in front of him, settles his luggage by his side and tells his parents' home address to the driver before closing his eyes and leaning his head back on the seat. The car’s comfortable and quiet except for the lively music playing.
Ready to bang with me?
Kame shakes his head to the lines he manages to catch, amused with the song - lyrics and rhythm more than anything else. He sneaks a peek outside his window, only to realize that Japan has changed when they pass by huge modernized neon-coloured buildings, women in high heels and skimpy clothes when it's only forty-two minutes past two in the afternoon. He closes his eyes again when they enter a busy road and silently wishes that the driver has powers to rush him out of Tokyo’s traffic.
The ride lasts for an hour and a half, and the next thing he knows is that they've reached his parents' home. He doesn’t think it has changed much then he pays his fare. He walks to the door, letting go of his small luggage to gently rap his knuckles against the wooden frame. Anticipation creeps up on him and Kame realizes that he's never been this excited to be with his family again.
"Chuchu-nii!!!" a young girl squeals when the door opens. She is standing by the genkan smiling cheekily at Kame with her eyes as bright as the sun. She manages to hurl her small frame from the small space after her favourite uncle has removed his shoes and changes into a random pair of house slippers.
With her short hands clinging to his neck, Kame finally lets go and drops his Louis Vuitton Keepall 45 in Monogram Revelation leather to hold his four-and-a-half-year-old niece in his arms, hugging the small figure he misses so much - bright smiles, girly squeaks, baby fat, and all. She's adorable and she drops kisses all over his face and he chuckles. She clings tightly to him and Kame has to turn so he could face his brother, mouthing his thanks when he sees him taking hold of his belongings. As they made their way to the living room, his niece questions him non-stop about aeroplanes and Disney.
He receives a warm welcome from his family that seems to be complete, probably just because it's a Sunday. Yūichirō, Kōji and Yuya are the loud ones and continue to be, completely ignoring the little girl in Kame's arms who is frowning at her father and uncles, her chubby index finger pressed against her lips. When everyone has settled down, they ask him about work, his crew, and New York. Kame answers all of their inquiries, saying that everything and everyone is doing well and that New York isn't new but it's still where the infamous Statue of Liberty is. His brothers cringe at his lame joke, his mother and sister-in-law giggles, his niece crawls onto his lap and his father suddenly asks about him having a girlfriend. Kame only blinks and stares at his father for a whole minute.
"Dad," he says when his brain had caught up, "I'm still waiting for the right one."
His brothers throw jokes at him about ‘Fate is shit’ and that Kame's only ‘uncertain with his sexuality that's why he doesn't have a girlfriend’. Kame just shrugs and plays with his niece's small hands.
The little girl turns and faces him with a wide grin plastered on her face. She shifts, cups Kame's face in her small hands and whispers, "Don't worry, chuchu-nii, I love you and we'll always be together." She reaches for Kame's hand and hooks her pinky with her uncle. "See? It's a pinky promise!"
Kame nods and laughs along with his brothers but hugs the small figure of his niece closer to him until she's whining and saying 'can't breathe 'nymore, 'cle Kazu!'. He sees his father smiling at them and shaking his head. Kame knows it's worth coming home when he glances at his mother smiling sweetly at him and his niece busy blowing raspberries on him.
They eat a sumptuous dinner when the clock hits six and Kame decides to go clubbing once the night deepens as he is aware of the fact that he won't be able to sleep any time soon. Jet lag = 1 Kame = 0.
_____
Red Magnitude, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
The club is full and roaring with life, even though midnight is still a good thirty minutes away. Laser lights illuminate the dance floor and there's a sea of people swaying and gyrating their hips to the music with heavy pulsing bass and cruddy lyrics but Jin couldn't care less because he likes it. He likes watching them from behind the bar and he likes seeing people letting go of their puppet-like personas even if it's only for a few hours and lose themselves as the evening rolls on.
The smell of smoke and alcohol is heavy inside his club but it never did faze his customers - men and women alike. He glances at the DJ booth and smirks at Koki. He knows that Koki gets the hint when the man holds up his middle finger to the crowd, shakes his ass, then turns up the volume and Bass Go Boom rocks the house.
Life is fun when colourful lights, loud music, and alcohol takes over.
"I'd like to have a beer, please."
Jin shifts his eyes to the counter and sees a man already seated on one of the bar stools. Attractive is the first word that comes to Jin's mind when his eyes fall on the figure in front of him. The man is lean, fair under the harsh strobe lights, and he has something in him that Jin cannot find the words to describe. His hair sports a dark colour and is styled with a fringe. His clothes are like those Jin sees in men's fashion magazines - fancy and expensive, but it's the man's eyes and lips that get his full interest. They seem to have a story that has yet to be told. And no, he isn't checking the guy out. Jin notices that the man's nose has that adorable little crook and he wonders if it's because he's hit the wall face first and damaged his nose in return or caused by an accident that's related to sports, like baseball maybe.
Fine, he is indeed checking the guy out.
"I am sure that staring at your male customers who asks for beer is not included in your job description," Kame says to the bartender who has his hair all tied up to the back of his head and dressed in fashionable clothes, only if it's Eminem that the guy's trying to pull off.
The snarky remark makes Jin want to raise an eyebrow so he does as he shuffles on his feet to get the man what he wants. He takes hold of a cold Kirin from the chiller while thinking that the other seems more of a gin-tonic guy instead of a beer-chugging, sex-deprived, attractive, young ass.
"You new here?" Jin asks as he places the beer in front of the man. He doesn't mind talking to strangers if it gets him loyal customers but there's something in this particular person that draws him to the man, something that makes him want to know about his life. Maybe it's because he doesn't give off the vibe of a usual customer or maybe it's in the way the man's fingers curl into the body of the can - with finesse; classy and nothing like that of those hoes.
"Not really," Kame answers, hooks his fingers on the tab and pops the can open. The smell of malt invades his nostrils, tempting and seductive, so much so that Kame just has to give in and drink. The liquid is unexpectedly soothing. "But it's been a while since I've been here in Japan though."
"Why is that?"
"What?"
Kame has to ask in a loud voice when the deafening music seems to do more damage to his ears than what he'd expected. He could hear a man rapping along with the music and Kame decides that noise pollution is what the club aims for.
"I said," Jin leans his body halfway over the counter and almost yells, "Why.is.that? Don't you live anywhere near here?"
Kame shakes his head and looks at the bartender. "New York," he says. "I work and live there. I'm only here for a vacation."
Kame hears the man say ‘God bless, America!’ while imitating the Statue of Liberty. His shoulders shake as he laughs at the man. Giving the bartender a look, Kame is left to think that the guy must be another Japanese male who is fascinated by the west, dreams of marrying a blue or green-eyed blonde and give his daughter a foreign-sounding name like Tiara.
Jin says something about America being a great place when the other falls silent whose warm yet sharp brown eyes peer at him as he speaks. "It's a multi-layered culture with great diversity. It's where art and music from all over the world come together, blend, and create several cultures within a culture. I think that no other place in the world has that characteristic or is capable of having that attribute."
Kame would have said something about America being the biggest superficial place in the entire world, where fundamentalists can reach the point of absurdity just to make others see their point, where there's a constant battle against racism and so on. He would love to contradict what other people assume to be a perfect place to live in, but he knows that the American culture is indeed rich in diversity so he finds himself agreeing with the bartender.
"I knew that you would agree!"
Kame raises a brow in amusement. "You speak the language very well," he couldn't help but take notice of the almost-perfect enunciation of the English words.
Jin scans the man’s face and chuckles. "Hmm... Just so you know, I took an English language course when I was younger. I get to practice it every day too since everyone in my family knows English and some of my friends are American."
"I see..." Kame nods his head. "Have you been to America?"
"Quite a lot of times, yes." Jin answers and reaches for a glass to wipe dry. "I've been to different cities but I think I love LA best."
"Did you go as a tourist? Or is it anything that's work-related?"
"Both. I always visit the US for exhibits," Jin replies. "Paintings and sometimes, for sculptures," he adds when he sees that inquiring look on the man's face.
Kame nods his head again. "You know," he starts to say, "we can meet up if ever you decide to visit the US again. There are always art exhibits in New York. I'm not saying that LA is near New York, no, but I'm sure we can make arrangements."
"We'll see," Jin says, indirectly agreeing with the suggestion. "But if that would be the case, then would you mind telling me your name?"
"Kamenashi Kazuya," he answers suddenly taking interest in playing with the can in his hands. He briefly contemplates whether the man knows him or not and settles for the latter when the man repeats his name nonchalantly, probably trying to get the hang of how it rolls out of his lips. "Kame works fine with me," he says with a small smile on his lips.
"Kame it is then," Jin smiles and holds out a hand to Kame. "I'm Jin," he says and the warmth of their palms seem to electrify him but he doesn't pull his hand away because, strangely enough, it feels pleasant and comfortable.
Kame chuckles when Jin doesn't let go of his hand for a full minute. "Hey," he says, a teasing smile lifting one side of his lips. "Can you get me another beer?" Kame grips the hand holding his gently but a bit tighter. "I wonder if you always shake hands like this with your customers."
"Oh, sorry!" Jin finally lets go and finds himself a bit embarrassed when he meets Kazuya's eyes. They are bright and dancing with mischief and Jin thinks it's the most beautiful pair of eyes he had seen tonight.
"Beer?"
"Beer... right."
Kame laughs to himself and watches the bartender turn away from him only to pull out different bottles and mix all of them in a shaker before pouring it in a glass. He only stares when Jin hands him the drink. "
Lovejuice," Jin informs, composed and cool once again. "It's on the house."
"Thanks." Kame takes hold of the glass and swallows its contents.
It doesn't take long for Kame to get tipsy. He has had three cans of beer and lovejuice in between and his mind is already getting hazy. From where he is seated, he follows the bartender with his eyes and sees him chatting up two foreign ladies by the bar counter, one of them a redhead and the other a blonde. They are laughing about whatever it is that Jin's saying, their eyes narrowing as their cheeks lift up. Jin's eyes are mischievous, naughty even, as his fingers brushed the skin of the blonde woman's hand. Kame wonders why he's watching Jin flirt. Maybe it's because Jin reminds him of himself and how he manages to get women and a few men to sleep with, not that he's implying that Jin would spend the night with the foreign women.
Shrugging, Kame reaches for his last glass of lovejuice, shoves the drink down his throat and then gets out of his seat. He saunters to where the bartender is and wonders when he sees that Jin is alone.
"Where are the ladies?"
Jin gazes at the man who is now flustered and flushed. "They went back to their group."
"Your charm didn't work?" Kame punctuates his sentence with a small laugh.
Jin only smirks at the man. "I don't need any charm to get who I want," he confidently says. He chuckles when he sees Kame smirk. "What?"
"It's a shame you were rejected,"
"Just so you know, no one rejected me," the amusement in Jin's voice shows as he speaks and gives Kame a confident smirk who just raises a brow at him. "I didn't even ask either of them for a date."
Jin then silently scolds himself because he finds the man sexually alluring, he cannot take his eyes off him as he stares at Kame who licks his lower lip at that exact time. He reciprocates the act without realizing what he's done and bites his lip when he finally does.
"You know, it's funny how the taste of your lovejuice seems to have stuck on my lips," Kame tells Jin before his tongue swipes down again on his lower lip. "It's good. But I think it's too sweet for me," he continues and is unaware that he's lured Jin in one way or another. If he is sober enough, Kame would try his best to convince himself that he isn't trying to flirt with the man silently blame Jin for having a pair of sexy eyes, chiseled jaws, and full lips. The broad shoulders and the sexy protrusions of Jin's clavicles are not making it easy for him either.
"Here," Kame says, finally having the will to resist asking for Jin's number, as he hands Jin the money he's fished out from his pocket. Jin manages to check in to the cash register and gives Kame his change. "Thanks for keeping me company." He puts all of his change in the tip box and shoulders his way into the mob, heading for the exit.
Jin watches the figure disappear and when Kame is no longer in sight, the phone in his pocket vibrates. He takes it out and answers with a lazy hello.
"You have to be home in time for Reio's Coming-of-Age ceremony."
_____
Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
It is the 2nd Monday of January and the morning is chilly.
The Hamamatsu-jo buzzes with more life than usual today. The younger women are dressed in their most beautiful furisode and zori sandals while the men are obliged to wear their traditional dark kimono with hakama. It has been the Akanishi family's tradition to hold the Coming-of-Age ceremony in the Hamamatsu-jo.
Living in an old castle is no big deal, Jin used to tell himself. It was one of his ancestors who had taken a fancy in owning one and bought the Hamamatsu-jo even before it'd been declared as a historical site by the Japanese government. Hamamatsu-jo has two separate parts. The area where the historical artifacts are present, which is open for public viewing, and the area that remains private, where the family spends their time although they rarely, if not anymore, stay in the castle because his parents think that it's impractical and that Tokyo has access to everything the family needs. The family only gathers in the castle when there's something they have to celebrate.
As per family tradition, the Akanishi family is required to wear their traditional dress for the Coming-of-Age ceremony that is being held at the castle ground. Jin doesn't go for anything fancy, just something that he'll be comfortable to walk around with. The speaker's voice echoes aloud but he doesn't understand anything of what is being said because his mind is occupied with brushes, colours, and mediums for his brother's coming-of-age portrait. His fingers itch as his mind wanders off to different ideas inside his head and ponders hard for a place in the castle grounds where he can comfortably work to preserve reality onto canvas.
When he hears loud applause from the crowd, he takes a look and sees his brother receiving a small gift for officially becoming a legitimate adult. He smiles and remembers his own Coming-of-Age ceremony and how he had celebrated it with a few close friends and family. Reio hasn't asked for anything grand but Jin is sure that, just like before, there would be an abundant supply of food and wine in the Hamamatsu-jo tonight.
Like any other celebration, people start to leave after the congratulatory event takes place and when the castle falls quiet, someone gently taps him on the shoulder.
"Jin."
Jin knows it's his brother so he turns and sees Reio looking happy. He congratulates him and tells him to grab something to eat before they start with the session. He is sure that Reio knows they will take hours before he finalizes his concept on a canvas.
"Thank you for doing this for me," Reio says gratefully.
Jin answers with a gentle smile. He thinks that Reio's hakama will be a good contrast to the trees and sunset and he will make sure that Reio will have the shrill colours of the afternoon sky for a background even if that means he'll have to stall away.
_____
Kame stays at his parents’ home for the rest of the week and leaves on a Monday afternoon for Shizuoka. He makes sure that his cameras are in his bag -- a Canon 1Ds Mark III and a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1. He fishes out the Canon SLR and arranges its settings. When the train moves, he makes sure that he captures the beautiful images of structures and landscapes in full colour, classic, and sepia.
It takes him two hours before he gets off the Shizuoka station. He breathes in the air and hurries out to ride a cab. He still has yet to see the Hamamatsu-jo but before that, he needs to find a hotel where he'll spend the entire week.
He settles for a hotel which is only thirty minutes away from the Castle of Hamamatsu. He sets down his bag of clothes on the bed, takes his valuables with him and decides to go out with a map in hand, heading off to the Hamamatsu Castle Park after he's done.
_____
Kame is greeted by the sight of pink petals against the long stretch and the warm orange of sunset. He misses waking up and looking forward to the Hanami, searching for a good spot where he would be able to watch cherry blossoms slowly falling as the wind blows. Even if New York has adapted the Cherry Blossom Festival, it didn't feel genuine enough and the Sakura trees in the foreign soil are lackluster compared to the ones in Japan, he thinks, as a single petal drops on his outstretched hands. Without wasting another second, he starts to abuse the shutter on his camera as he captures image after image of the sturdy trees and its delicate flowers; they are beautiful even if they only last for a short time. When he turns, he catches a glimpse of the Castle that is adjacent to the garden and takes pictures of it before he walks through the range of Sakura trees. The castle itself will have to wait.
He finds a bench somewhere in the middle of the park and sits there, enjoying the gentle breeze as he takes more pictures of the trees and pathway, of birds and the sky. He sees a young lady in her pink furisode, her hair is kept nicely in place and adorned with a simple flower hair ornament as she walks through the trees. He takes a picture of her just because.
When the quiet and stillness of the park gets on his nerves, he yawns and tilts his head back with closed eyes. It's only a few seconds before he opens them again and pinches his eyebrows when he catches sight of two men; one appears to be painting the younger as he is seated and his hands appear to be holding a brush and a palette, while the younger of the two seems to be looking at the sun, behind him is the castle and he are standing next to the trunk, under the cloud of pink, satin-like, textured blossoms.
He gets up slowly and sneaks his way around the trees, careful enough not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere between the painter and the subject. He doesn't know what draws him to the painter but he uses his camera to steal a part of the man's soul. When he plays the images, he realizes that it's the same man he met at that club in Roppongi.
Jin.
Kame focuses his eyes on the man's face and grows certain that it is Jin, with his curls down like dark waterfalls on the sides of his face. He silently wishes that time would freeze because Jin looks ethereal like that.
_____
Six hours have passed and Jin still works in the silence of the garden. He is sure that the patience of his brother would snap soon if the painting session takes much longer. When he is certain that he's captured the scene in his mind, he finally tells Reio to go back to the castle. He tries to freeze the image of the setting sun on the mountains and the proper blending of oranges against the different shades of blue, white, and grey of the sky in his mind while Reio loudly exclaims his relief, thanking him one more time before running to the gates that lead directly to the castle grounds. It doesn't take long for Jin before his brush moves smoothly and swiftly again on the canvas where the sun should be, dabbing a warm colour of orange against white cloth.
"So that's why you visit the US for art exhibits."
Kame finally comes out from behind a tree and he grins when Jin's calm expression changes to that of surprised. He clicks on the button of his camera and makes sure that he catches that look on Jin's face, as if he's not snapped photos of Jin earlier.
Jin shakes his head with a helpless smile on his face. "Stop that," he scolds in a friendly manner. "You're making me feel embarrassed."
Kame grins as he let his camera lie against his chest, the strap hanging around his neck. "Is he your brother?" he asks Jin when he finally stops beside the painter, referring to the young man he saw not long ago.
"Yeah," Jin answers. "Today's his Coming-of-Age ceremony."
Kame nods, stares at the painting, and sees that it's only halfway done but he can see that Jin is a zealous painter because the images are lucid and the splashes of colour are intense, especially on the human features the painting has.
"Say, what brings you here?" Jin dips the brush in thinner and wipes it dry with a rag, glancing at Kame just for a bit before picking up more of his things.
"Well, I went to see the Hamamatsu-jo," Kame says, watching Jin take care of his things. "Are you done painting?"
Jin shakes his head as he puts his brushes in a case. "I'll have to continue tomorrow or some other time since it's going to get dark soon. I'm already done with Reio anyway so I only need to attend to the minor details," he says. "So, why Hamamatsu-jo?" "I don't know."
Kame shrugs and stews for a minute. "I think it's beautiful; a nice subject for landscape photography. Maybe I can do a photo book for Japanese Castles. Besides, I haven't seen it yet so I decided to take a look before I die, I guess," he nonchalantly says and he hears Jin break into a chuckle. He ignores Jin and stares at the painting again. He appreciates beauty when he sees one and he can clearly see that Jin's art can be considered as one.
"Do you put your paintings in exhibits?"
Jin glances at Kame whose brown eyes are thinly veiled with more curiosity than doubt and an idea pops in his head. His fingers curl on the sides and he gently removes the canvas from the easel, handing it to Kame, making the man responsible for the frame. "Bring this for me and I just might answer your question." With the canvas in Kame's hesitant hold, he picks up the easel and slings his bag where he keeps his materials for painting on his shoulder before walking ahead.
"I can't believe that you are so demanding to someone whom you just met," Kame says with a derisive snort but tries to catch up with Jin towards the gate. He takes extra care to not smudge the paint.
"Be glad that I'm giving you the chance to see the castle for free." Jin tries his best to sound smug. "And you get a personal tour from me." He wriggles his eyebrows at Kame and laughs when he sees Kame roll his eyes and heave an exasperated sigh.
"It's not like you're an important person around here." Kame gives a facial expression of mocking scorn.
"I may not be," Jin grins, turning a bit to face the younger man. "But I'm sure that there's a reason why we met. It's fate."
"What's fate got to do with this?" Kame asks; amusement clearly evident in his voice.
"Well, we meet people because we are destined to meet them.” Jin answers simply. “Besides, do you seriously think that this is just pure coincidence? We met at the club and without telling each other our plans, you end up finding me here."
"It's not like I was trying to," Kame answers dryly. "And if that's what fate is to you, then I guess you are destined to meet those ladies at the bar. And all of your other customers, too."
"Whatever you say, dude," Jin replies then taps on the edge of the canvas in Kame's hold. "Destiny or not, you came just at the right time, Kame."
Jin chuckles as he continues to walk and Kame wonders if it's worth tripping Jin on the stairs that lead to the castle just because. But when he catches a glimpse of the sides of the easel, he decides that there is always a next time.
_____
Jin ends up introducing Kame to his family at dinner that night because his father, who made a vague sound in his throat to catch their attention, has seen him and Kame entering the private part of the Hamamatsu-jo. Jin briefly tells his father that Kame's a friend and his father took the liberty of inviting Kame over for dinner. He disappears into the main hall when Jin agrees. With his father gone, Jin makes Kame wait outside the room where he keeps his paintings and even if he wanted to see more of Jin's paintings, Kame remains where he is and just leans on the wall, tapping his foot softly against the wooden flooring. His eyes marvel at the insides of the castle; from stone walls to chandeliers, from varnished wood to expensive vases.
"Like what you see?"
"Yeah." Kame nods his head at Jin.
_____
When Jin and Kame enter the dining hall, a sound echoes and Jin sees his mother's drinking glass toppling over. She appears to be gaping wide-eyed at the person who walks beside her son.
"Mum?" Jin keeps his eyes on his mom. "Are you alright?" he asks as he gestures for Kame to take the seat next to him.
"Kamenashi-kun!" Mrs. Akanishi exclaims, her eyes sparkling when Kame bows and smiles at her. "Ah, I am so glad to know that you and my Jin are friends!"
"It's nice to meet you, too, Akanishi-san," Kame says politely.
"The articles I've read don't lie. You are good-looking indeed, Kamenashi-kun," she continues and Kame smiles, embarrassed. "Oh, don't be shy, dear child! Jin." She averts her gaze from the young man and turns to her son who seems to be scrutinizing the food laid out on the table, probably thinking of what he should eat first. Jin has always had a healthy appetite.
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you tell me that you know Kamenashi-kun? You know how much I love his photo books about fashion, right? Especially the one he did for Monique Lhuillier," she tells Jin, accusing her eldest son with her eyes. "It's a shame you've kept this a secret from me."
"Monique who?" Jin then frowns, poking the ebi nigiri sushi in front of him with his chopsticks.
"Monique Lhuillier. How dare you not know her?" Her eyes squint as she glares at her son and Kame finds the situation awkward but funny at the same time.
"Lu-lyeh what? Your obsession with the Korean language is fine, but please stop talking in French, Mum," Jin tells his mother, the frown on his forehead slowly disappearing. "And for the record, I just met him last week in Magnitude and I didn't know he was that Kamenashi Kazuya. I'll get your photo books signed by him if you want." He turns to face Kame who's sipping his iced tea. "Since we are friends, you'll sign them, right, Kame?"
Kame nods, wiping his lips with the table napkin Jin handed to him. "If that's what your mum wants-"
"Oh, I'd love that!" Mrs. Akanishi clasps her hands in front of her chest, smiling widely at Kame. Kame thinks it's polite to smile just as wide, so he does.
Jin laughs a little but stops when he feels Kame kicking his shin under the table. Still chuckling, Jin starts serving Kame food while his mother rambles something about Kamenashi Kazuya and brilliant photography and the next thing Jin knows is that his mother is telling, rather ordering, Kame to fetch his belongings from the hotel and stay in one of the guest rooms inside the castle instead. Reio and his father continue eating their food, talking about Reio and his studies in between, successfully ignoring the only female in the room.
"Thank you, Akanishi-san," Jin hears Kame say after he's finished his food. "But it's fine, really. I've already settled my things and the hotel's not that far from here. I can visit you tomorrow if you want."
"But I insist," Jin hears his mother reply. He purses his lips to hide a smirk when he takes note of the stubbornness in her voice.
Jin finds entertainment in watching Kame adamantly refuse the offer and putting pieces of grilled meat in his mouth. He tries to hide a snicker when Kame shamelessly fails and gives up trying because his mother has resorted to blackmailing Kame by personally choosing and arranging the futon in the guest room after dinner.
"If you're worried because of...well, for any reason that I cannot think of, then please don't," Jin remembers his utterly persistent mother tell Kame. "Jin can sleep in the guest room with you and keep you company. After all, you are friends and you are also our guest, Kame-chan."
How his mother ended up calling Kame Kame-chan remains a mystery to Jin.
_____
Kame spends the next day with Jin's family, talking and having tea at the tea house near the castle. Jin's mother tells him about the Akanishi family and the castle and Kame finds himself amused as he listens to her, sometimes to Jin or his father. They ask him about New York and his clients and Kame tells them he works for both famous and non-famous people who seek for his craft. When they ask him about what he misses most when he's in New York, he answers them with 'my mum, my dad, and sushi.' Jin laughs at him and he innocently smiles at Jin's parents while Jin tries to hide his wincing as Kame grinds his sharp knuckles against the bones of Jin's pelvis. Hard.
When dusk falls, Kame volunteers to help Jin's mother in preparing the food and serving dinner.
_____
Kame is unaware that Jin plans to take him to the castle museum where katanas and armours are put on display, so he was a bit surprised when, after he's done bathing and putting on his pajamas, Jin comes and drags him out of the room and they end up on the other side of the castle where the public go.
Inside the hall, his eyes widen when he sees authentic samurai swords and battle armours made from bamboo, cloth, and metal. There is also an old scroll hanging on the wall where the Bushidō code is written. Jin then excuses himself and goes outside the room to call his club manager to tell him that he'll be away for a while.
Kame walks around the room and inspects the weapons that the samurais used during their time. He takes hold of a katana, feeling its weight and drawing it out of its leather sheath without Jin's knowledge. He brings the weapon up and lets the light shine upon its blade. The smooth metal glistens in silence, tempting him to touch it, to feel it.
He slowly traces the sharp edge, trying his best not to cut himself as his fingers glide along the curve. He couldn't feel any jagged edge as his skin and flesh mold against the cold metal. From the way the katana shines under the light, he knows the blade is kept well-oiled, powdered, polished, and aired from time to time. It must be a special piece, if not the most special, in the collection.
"Kame!" Jin's voice is loud and it echoes cacophonously inside the room. "What are you doing?!"
Kame is caught off-guard and the resulting jolt makes him press his index finger a bit too hard into the sharp edge of the sword. A bead of crimson forms on his finger and slowly takes the shape of a single teardrop then flows in a thin line on his finger. He wrinkles his nose when he sees the wound he's accidentally created. The cut must be at least a good one inch. He pulls out his handkerchief not to wipe the blood on his finger but the blood that has tainted the once stain-free weapon.
Jin finds himself cursing as he hurries to Kame' side and without uttering another word, he snatches the cloth a bit harshly from Kame's hand. He occupies himself with the task of wrapping the clean side of the cloth around Kame's wounded finger and securing it with a square knot. "What are you? A klutz?" he snarls at the younger man, anger and worry burning in his eyes. "I remember telling you to feel free to look at them, not touch them!"
"I didn't me-"
"Of all the katanas in here, you have to pick up this one!" Jin points at the weapon lying on the shelf, still unsheathed but no longer stained. "And just so you know, Kame, that one is always kept at its best; cleaned and sharpened regularly. Be thankful you didn't cut your entire finger off!"
Even though Jin's voice has gone down a notch lower, Kame still hears repressed anger in the other's tone. "Sorry," he bows his head, thinking that apologizing is probably the best thing to do in times like this. He doesn't miss the glower in Jin's eyes though. "I didn't really mean to touch any of it but-"
Jin inhales and exhales, trying to fight off the anger and frustration he's feeling inside as he heaves out a heavy sigh. He grabs Kame by the wrist and drags the man with him again. Kame stumbles on his feet but tries not to trip and fall as Jin leads them back to the guest room. Jin is the one who slides the shoji of their room open and leads them to the bathroom without uttering anything. They stop in front of the sink where Kame watches Jin remove the cloth as gently as he could from the wound, as if Kame's like fragile glass that with a single wrong move, he would break. Kame thinks that the gentleness that suddenly takes over must have been because Jin's a painter.
"Let me clean your wound for you," Jin says in a calm tone as he lets water run down on Kame's finger, washing it thoroughly with mild soap. "It's my fault for leaving you alone there."
"May I remind you that I'm not a three-year old kid who needs supervi-"
"If you weren't, you would have left the katana alone on its shelf," Jin snaps as he rinses the wound off of soap lather.
"Look, Jin-"
"Shaddap." Jin dismisses the topic and fumbles inside the medicine cabinet behind him. "We have to make sure that your wound won't get infected."
"Listen Jin, it's not like this is a big deal. I'm not going to die from it." Kame watches Jin reaching for a small first-aid kit, getting out an antiseptic and a piece of cotton ball. "I'm fine, really," he says and retreats his hand away from Jin.
"Stop being stubborn and let me put the band-aid on your wound." Jin says firmly and impatiently waits for Kame to hold out his injured hand to him.
Kame just watches as Jin pours antiseptic in the cotton.
"Give me your hand, Kamenashi."
Kame reluctantly gives in and Jin gently dabs the cotton on the wound. He grimaces when he feels a faint sting coming from his wound but allows Jin to wrap a purple-coloured band-aid on his finger. If he's in a different situation, he would have been horrified by the colour. Purple isn't his thing but he settles on the idea that the cute little skull prints on the band-aid are there to console him.
"Hey, are you mad?" he asks when Jin lets go of his hand.
"Why would I be?"
"You are, aren't you?"
"Jin...?"
"Yeah," Jin finally admits and lets his features mellow gradually. "I was."
"Sorry," Kame says in a low voice. "I know how much you treasure your hand since you're a painter. But don't you think that it's entirely your fault? You shouldn't have barged in yelling Kame as if the castle's catching fire." He lets out a small chuckle and sighs in relief when Jin finally gives him a smile.
"It's not because I'm a painter that I treasure my hand," Jin says in a soft, gentle tone. "It's because my hands are a part of me. And since I'm the one responsible for you while you're here, in a way, you are a part of me."
Kame isn't one to assume things, but the words Jin used feel like they meant more than what they really should.
"We should go to sleep," Jin tells the younger man and slips out of the bathroom, leaving Kame behind.
_____
"Instead of spacing out, why don't you tell me where you're taking me today?" Kame says when the first thing he sees in the morning is Jin lying on his own futon with his blanket strewn on the floor, right leg over left and staring absentmindedly at the ceiling.
Jin turns his head to his left, his cheek pressing against the pillow and sees an awake Kame looking at him. Kame's hair is all over his face and it reminds him of a young lion. But he thinks Kame looks adorable swimming in the middle of padded mattresses and quilts with his brown eyes still trying to fight off sleep.
"Good morning to you too, Kame-chan," he greets the younger man as if nothing happened last night.
"Don't start, Jin" Kame grumbles, hating the nickname his assistant has brilliantly thought of sharing to a magazine. "It's still too early for me to start butchering you up."
"Woke up at the wrong side of the bed- err, futon, Kame-chan?" Jin teases and Kame's pillow comes flying straight at his face.
"Get up and take me somewhere worth seeing."
Jin removes the pillow from his face. "Oi, Kamenashi, I refuse to be someone whom you can just order around."
"Stick to that 'you are a part of me' thing, Akanishi and get your ass out of that futon." Kame says and gets up, heading straight to the bathroom.
"How's the wound?" Jin hollers when he hears the bathroom door closing.
Kame opens the door again and answers in a loud voice, "If it kills me then I'll gladly be the ghost of your Christmas past, present, and future." He closes the door firmly, locks it again and stares at the band-aid on his finger. He hears Jin's laughter coming from outside the room and Kame just shakes his head as he fills the traditional wooden ofuro with warm water.
_____
When they reach the ruins of Futamata, there is nothing much to look at except for old castle walls and the view of the area surrounding it along the Tenryu river. A loud speaker plays the story of the castle on repeat to dramatic music and Jin tells Kame about the many battles that have been won and lost over it between the great Ieyasu Tokugawa and Shingen Takeda. Kame listens as Jin tells him a detailed version of what was once a five-minute lesson in his History class. He is amazed at how Jin seems to be well-versed in history and wonders if all painters are like him - detailed, focused, and educated.
"Why do you know all this?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
"Research," Jin answers. He doesn't tell Kame that he has had Japanese history as bedtime stories. It comes naturally when your family owns a castle that has seen Japan in its old glory.
"Hey Jin, I'm just curious…" Kame wonders aloud once they're back inside the comfort of Jin's car.
"About?"
"Well, as you may now know, I'm a professional photographer." He fiddles with his camera and snaps another photo of Jin.
Jin has learned to ignore it since he thinks that Kame finds him to be an interesting subject.
"What about you, Jin? What do you do for a living?" Jin glances at Kame, smiles, before he sets his eyes on the road again. "I own the club where we met."
"So that's why you drink with your customers, huh?"
Jin just answers Kame with a sneer.
Something catches Kame’s attention so he rolls down the window on his side and twists in his seat. He puts his camera out, peers into the viewfinder and takes a photo of a single Sakura tree that's on top of a hill. He smiles satisfyingly when he's captured the image of petals floating in the air.
"Careful, Kame," Jin says a bit more affectionately than intended. Kame is a stranger and he should remain as one. Kame should but Jin realizes that Kame's like more of a long-lost friend to him. Someone special.
Kame slips back inside the car and takes a picture of a frowning Jin. "I'm always careful," he says.
Jin takes a left turn before he faces Kame and puts a finger on his lips. "You'll never know. Besides, you've just showed me how careful you are last night with that accident with the katana." When Kame frowns like a petulant child, he gives a victorious grin and decides to flick the tip of Kame's nose.
Kame fires him a death glare.
_____
They spend the following days touring around Hamamatsu and Kame feels like a student while Jin has taken the role of being his teacher. Kame enjoys every minute he spends with Jin because Jin is fun, sensible, and a reliable tour guide. Jin likes talking about his hobbies and interests and Kame also finds out that he enjoys talking about himself. Their topic varies; from soccer to clubs, to women and music to adorable dogs. In the past few days he's spent with Jin, Kame learns a lot about Jin’s passions and dreams. It felt normal to talk to Jin about those kinds of things. His drive for life is something Kame thinks to be one of the most interesting traits Jin has. At one point, Jin asks him about his family and Kame knows Jin's taken an interest in him when Jin tells him he wants to see a video of young Kame playing baseball on the field and asking him to meet his niece if ever time permits. Kame agrees but tells Jin that he's getting sidetracked and reminds him that he should get back on his job of touring him around. Kame shows Jin a picture of him and his niece and Jin flails at how cute she and Kame are. In the end, Jin gets to keep the photograph. "Souvenir," he says.
_____
There's a soft, high-pitched, traditional kind of music as they walk through the cavern. Kame takes a picture of stalagmites and stalactites formed from the limestone which are illuminated with bright colourful lights. The abundant supply of water in the cavern and the sound that it gives off adds a wonderful atmosphere that truly belongs in the distant past. He would've lost himself in those gentle dripping and rushing sound of water only if it isn't for Jin singing a random American song beside him.
He frowns and elbows Jin in the side, the bone of his elbow grazing against Jin's rib. "Stop that," he mouths.
Jin removes the earphone in his left ear. "Stop what?"
"You're ruining my trip by singing what you're singing," he says, finding it annoying to hear an upbeat song clashing with the harmonious sound of string instruments.
"But it's a nice song," Jin tries to defend himself. He knows Kame likes to focus on his every trip but he also knows that he likes it when he gets Kame's attention all to himself. He doesn't know why but he really likes it when Kame only sees him, only talks to him.
With that thought in mind, Jin leans in to Kame and hums a tune. "...I see you all over me," he sings in Kame's ear just to spite the younger man. "In my head, you fulfill my fantasy. In my head, you'll be screaming ohhhh~"
Kame groans in annoyance and smirks when he comes out successful as Jin trips over his leg. He then hurries when he catches sight of what is said to be the most spectacular sight in the cavern and takes a photo of a large waterfall that plunges down into the depths of the caverns from the ceiling while he hears Jin faintly whining behind him. He thinks this is a trip to remember; only he isn't sure if it's because of the waterfall that is illuminated with a soft, golden light or because of something else.
_____
"Jin."
"Hmm?"
"Can we go to the beach tomorrow?" Kame asks as Jin is preparing their lunch. "I'd like to take pictures of the sea before I go back to New York."
Jin hears that familiar sizzle of meat when he puts the piece of unagi on the grill, basting the laid out pieces with sauce made from eel trimmings, soy sauce, sugar, and sake. "Of course," he answers. "There's this really nice beach not too far from here. It's quiet aside from the sound of waves crashing to the shore and the wind. I used to go there when I was younger," he tells Kame, flashes of his childhood days spending his time on the beach brought a smile to his face. It's really nice; white fine sand, crystal clear water - just like the ones you see in Okinawa."
"Really?" Kame's voice reveals his excitement. “We have to go there!”
"Sure. Oh, but you should know that you can't go deep because of the undertow," Jin says before he glances at Kame. "Wait, are you going there for a swim?"
"No." Kame shakes his head and smiles at Jin. "I just want to see the beach. I missed it. And surfing. New York, if not whole of the American continent, is fast-paced so I rarely get to take breaks from work."
"I see...Well, we can play the guitar, take photos and drink beer if you want," Jin tells Kame as he turns the unagis to grill their other side. "When are you going back to New York?" he dares to ask while ignoring that cold feeling that seems to have a good grip on his heart. He doesn't know if he's supposed to feel something like that but he does and that's when he realizes that he's let Kame worm his way into his heart.
"My flight is on Monday so we have to be back in Tokyo by Friday night."
"Any particular reason why Friday night?"
"That's because I promised my niece that we would go shopping before I leave. I think Saturday's a good day to do just that. I can spend the weekend with my family."
"Right," Jin agrees but his real thoughts pass behind his eyes like dark, lonely shadows. He uses his own chopstick to fish out the unagis from the grill and place some on Kame's plate, adding some spices before picking up a piece.
"Here, try this."
Kame raises a brow, but opens his mouth and lets Jin feed him.
"Is it good?"
Kame nods his head. Jin smiles and starts to eat, giving Kame pieces of food from time to time.
The gesture continues and Kame falls into the tender state of comfort as he watches Jin eat heartily, and a warm fuzzy feeling stirs inside him, settling in his gut. Kame becomes confused and apprehensive but his heart does a back flip when his eyes meet Jin's because the expression in them has changed and Kame catches a whole new sight of Jin's soul.
_____
They make it to the beach just before sundown.
Kame immediately marvels at the sight of the shore and the endless sea, making nostalgia rush through him, slithering its way into his veins. The beach brought him happy memories and he feels like a child again, excited and giddy, and so he darts out toward where the waves die down on the fine grains of white sand, leaving Jin behind him and taking pictures of everything he could see.
Jin settles, watching Kame while he's seated in the sand, a pack of beer and Calbi chips lying next to him. In his eyes, Kame is unrestricted, so carefree, and he likes it because he catches a glimpse of who Kame really is, of how Kame lived life during his younger years. He concludes Kame's had a happy childhood when he sees him burying his feet in the sand and smiling widely from a distance. The wind blows strongly and he sees Kame gathering all of his hair and securing it with a band at the back of his head. Jin has to remind himself that Kame’s not a girl even if he now looks like one.
"Jin!" Kame turns back to look at the man. "This is wonderful!" He then toes off his footwear, throwing it aside before he goes running barefooted into the water, leaving his camera in a safe area.
"Don't go too deep!" Jin shouts, reminding Kame that the current is treacherous.
"The water feels good! You have to try it!" Kame yells back instead, flashing Jin a wide smile before he carefully but excitedly trudges deeper to the sea. He only stops when the water reaches half of his thighs and he marvels at the view of the changing colours in the sky.
Jin walks to the shore, closer to the water, closer to Kame and when he sees him, Jin thinks he's forgotten how to breathe because Kazuya is raw and exquisite and beautiful against the streaks of violets, pinks, and reds of the horizon and the vast expanse of the glistering sea.
Kame feels Jin staring so he cocks his head a little to the side and gazes at Jin with gentle eyes. "Come closer," he says and watches Jin thread his way to him. "Beautiful isn't it?" he asks in a low voice when he feels Jin standing next to him. He looks at the view ahead of them and feels his heart lighten at the picturesque scene.
"It is," Jin answers softly and he knows he's not referring to the ocean or to the clouds because it's only Kame whom he sees.
_____
They played soccer on the beach and laid in the sand until there was only the two of them left when night begins to fall, draping over them like an invisible curtain, embracing them in that familiar cold darkness. Unable to think of anything else to do, Kame thought it a nice idea to ask Jin to play him a song as they drink and Jin complies with his request.
Sitting next to each other Kame takes notice of how long and delicate Jin's fingers are against the chrome of the strings and the lacquered finish of the wood. He realizes as he listens to Jin sing the last few notes of Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven, that Jin is very skilled in playing the guitar and has an amazing voice. There's something in the way Jin croons and strums his guitar that calms him but he shifts and empties his drink because he feels his throat drying up when he stares at Jin. His mind tells him that Jin is nice and talented and beautiful and maybe, they can be something else.
And then it hits Kame.
He likes Jin. He fucking likes Jin - Jin who makes him feel different emotions all at the same time; happy and annoyed, childlike and crazy, nervous and calm. When he's with Jin, he is aware of that rumble of emotions going on inside of him that confuses him even if it somewhat, somehow feels alright.
"Hey Kame, do you want to go home now?" Jin asks suddenly. When Kame doesn’t respond, he peers at Kame through his lashes and sees Kame looking at him, seemingly lost inside his head.
"Kame?”
"H-huh?" Kame stutters and blinks.
Jin sighs. "I asked if you wanted to go home now."
"But you promised three songs, Jin," Kame suddenly remembers, trying to ignore the thoughts that are circling inside his head.
"But it's already cold and dark..."
"So?" Kame frowns. "You told me you're afraid of ghosts, but it's not like we're going to see any in here." Kame gestures to the bright lamp posts that are set up around the place. "They've invested too much on those pretty lights, you see? Let them serve their purpose while you entertain me."
Jin fakes an exasperated sigh but places his hands and fingers again on the guitar. "Last one, okay?"
"Two."
"It's unfair that you get everything you want," Jin tells the younger, his smile failing his attempt at trying to come out annoyed. "One."
"But-"
"Kame." Jin's voice is firm.
"Fine." Kame makes a face.
When Jin laughs at him, Kame grows resolute that he would prefer hearing it over the sound of waves lapping on the shore, for Jin's laughter is like the sonorous pealing of the bells - full, rich, genuine.
"Want to hear a ballad that I wrote?"
"You wrote?" Kame reiterates. "You know Jin, for someone who's supposed to be just mixing drinks in a noisy club, you're multi-talented."
"I have lots of secrets under my sleeve." Jin beams then takes a swig of his beer.
"And that includes songwriting?"
"Well, it's been in the list of my hobbies since I turned twenty." Jin breaks into a wide grin. "But anyway, tell me what you think about it when I'm done, okay?" he tells Kame who just nods, a perfectly trimmed brow falling into its proper place in Kame's face. Kame falls quiet as the strings of Jin's guitar accompany the wind once again.
Suki toka kirai toka, kantan na kotoba ja tsutaeru koto ga dekinai
Ichinen ni ichido no tokubetsu na kono hi wo
Nando demo, itsumademo
Ichiban chikakude mujaki na egao, kawaranai shikusa
Hitotsu hitotsu, subete ga takaramono
There's something inside Kame that blooms and grows like a flower in spring as Jin sings, his voice echoing softly in his ears. There's deep affection and passion, but what puzzles him is the sense of loneliness that lingers as each word spills out of Jin’s lips. It makes something inside of him ache. He looks at Jin and sees him with his eyes closed, lips parted as his voice continues to flow smoothly, haunting, overwhelming and scaring him all at the same time because it's as if Jin is trying to reach inside his heart; waiting for him to get the tune, rhythm and the melody of Jin's own.
Anata to tomo ni ikiteru
Suteki na egao de, mune hatte, te wo tsunaide
Yorisotte aruiteka, sonna mirai wo matteru
Kyou mo arigatou
As the notes die down, Kame feels that Jin has exposed his heart out all for him to see. There’s still that tranquil expression Jin has on his face as his fingers played the strings; slow and barely strumming, but there are those little sounds that keep on cooing to his ears. He stares and stares some more and the next thing he knows, he's lost and there's that feeling inside of him that means so much more… probably something deeper than like.
The sound of guitar is gone now, Kame once again becomes aware, and Jin is looking at him because he leaned closer to Jin, his thumb softly grazing Jin's lips. He feels scorched whenever Jin's breath brushes the skin of his palm. Immediately, he draws away and tries to come up with an explanation, but he fails. He fails so badly that he only ends up swallowing thickly and falls into keen eye contact with Jin whose eyes are warm and gentle and soulful against his. He didn't even notice when Jin had put his guitar down.
Jin leans closer to Kame and it takes Kame aback.
Kame tries to find his voice because he feels he should apologize or just say something but his breathing hitches because Jin is closing the distance between them, crushing their lips together before he could even formulate the right words to say.
His heart is racing inside his chest and he could hear it louder than the angry chaos of the waves but he responds. Their kiss starts off slowly, from a gentle pressing of their lips, nipping on the soft skin and just enjoying the moment before their kiss intensifies into hungry, yearning open-mouthed kisses. It’s as if their souls have met through it and he is surprised at how intense and fervid it feels. The kiss keeps on going and going, another shiver running down his spine when Jin slips his tongue past his lips again, coaxing him, tracing the insides of his mouth, tasting him. He pulls Jin closer to him, molds his hands on Jin's nape, buries one deep into Jin’s silky tresses and Kame knows he's drowning in the undertow but he doesn't let go.
_____
Part 2
By: queen_kat_tun
Pairing: Akame
Word count: 17, 208
Rating: NC-17
Genre/Warnings: AU. Fluff, Romance
Notes: This fic is for wooden_buttons. I hope you’ll like this. :)
Anyway, certain circumstances have been manipulated for this fic (i.e. Sakura trees in bloom during January). Hyperrealism is a genre of painting and sculpture resembling a high-resolution photograph and the title is taken from Motojirō Kajii’s Under the Cherry Trees.
Lastly, thank you to my betas, you know who you are. You girls did an awesome job! ♥♥♥ If there are still errors present, I take the blame. Also, thank you J for the summary.
Summary: Kame plans what is supposed to be a relaxing holiday visiting his family; however, events unfold which fill his mind with feelings that he just can’t understand.
_____
New York, USA
Flash.
Kame keeps his finger on the shutter release button, the rest supporting the body of his camera and lens, as he continues on taking pictures of the model, who will be the cover girl for next month's issue.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
He stops, straightens up then reviews the images he has taken. When he sees three out of what seems like fifty pictures that are worth gracing the cover of the magazine, he tells her it's a wrap. She agrees, does her stuff then bids Kame and his crew goodbye. The clacking of her high-heeled shoes seem to be the only noise that bounces off the walls of his studio.
Kame takes a seat, sticks the memory card into the card reader and waits for his computer to download the images. He reaches for the pack of cigarettes on the side, places one between his lips, and then lights it before focusing his attention to editing the pictures. He breathes out the smoke and stares at the screen, scrutinizing every detail of the image - the graceful flow of her curls, the expression of her eyes, and even the silhouette of her hips and long legs.
It takes him three hours to edit the three pictures - an hour for each because he's OCD like that - before he finally calls it a day. He saves the edited images and turns his computer off, leaning his back on his seat and heaving out a heavy sigh. The back of his neck is aching and he’s convinced that he needs a break. He loves his work, he really does, but sometimes, work can be a bitch that gives him the urge to shove something up its ass, if it has one.
"Taguchi," he calls out his assistant who's busy playing a game on his laptop where plants kill zombies with an orange traffic cone for a hat.
"Yes, Kame-chan?"
Kame rolls his eyes at the nickname but lets go of the issue, even if it's only reluctantly. "I need you to look-over the pictures. Tell me if they need more editing," he tells him.
"And if they don't?" Taguchi asks, looking at Kame through the corners of his eyes and whines, 'Damn zombies!' when one of his sunflowers gets uprooted, mangled then dies.
"Then send them to Nakamaru and tell him to submit them to Ueda," Kame answers; referring to the two other Japanese men who work for the magazine company he's taking photos for. "Ueda needs them before the end of this week."
"Right," Taguchi agrees, nods, then suddenly screeches in glee when he finally reaches the next level and earns himself a corn canon. Kame eyes his assistant and frowns when he sees an overjoyed Taguchi. He really needs a break.
Japan, he thinks, will be a very good place as it has been two years since he last went to visit his own country.
He loves Japan and he kind of hates the fact that he’d left his country for his career. New York, in all honesty, offers bigger opportunities for photographers like him and he has always been known to take every chance he gets. There are times that he feels like regretting his decision, especially when work gets too demanding, but in the end he knows he really doesn't. He's made it big in the art of photography and he loves it. It has always been his dream to be able to do something he really loves, something that has to do with him - like fashion and photography. His work is something he really is proud of and he knows that the fulfillment his work gives him would be long-lived.
When he reaches home, he removes his shoes, peels off his clothes and heads straight to the shower. He's only in his white bathrobe when he decides to use his laptop to book himself a flight to Japan and back. He plans his itinerary and thinks it's a good idea to stay at his parents’ house in Tokyo, spend some time with his niece and then go out to capture beautiful sceneries in Japan before his three-week break is over.
With that in mind, he surfs the net, his fingers dance on the keyboard as he searches for a place he could go to and see. The clicking sound softly echoes in his ears before he finds something he thinks is interesting. His eyes focus on the image of a reconstructed castle located on top of a hill, and the word Hamamatsu-jo slips past his lips.
_____
Tokyo, Japan
Kame arranges the aviators perched on the bridge of his nose as the sun shines down on him. A curse escapes his mouth when women of all ages bump into him and his luggage, shrieking Akanishi-san. Kame ignores them. Instead, he watches out for a vacant airport taxi he can ride in. He hasn't told his family that he's in Japan and doesn't intend to do so. His lips curve into a smile when an image of his excited niece, squealing and grinning, comes to his mind.
Kame is next in line so he gets into the taxi in front of him, settles his luggage by his side and tells his parents' home address to the driver before closing his eyes and leaning his head back on the seat. The car’s comfortable and quiet except for the lively music playing.
Ready to bang with me?
Kame shakes his head to the lines he manages to catch, amused with the song - lyrics and rhythm more than anything else. He sneaks a peek outside his window, only to realize that Japan has changed when they pass by huge modernized neon-coloured buildings, women in high heels and skimpy clothes when it's only forty-two minutes past two in the afternoon. He closes his eyes again when they enter a busy road and silently wishes that the driver has powers to rush him out of Tokyo’s traffic.
The ride lasts for an hour and a half, and the next thing he knows is that they've reached his parents' home. He doesn’t think it has changed much then he pays his fare. He walks to the door, letting go of his small luggage to gently rap his knuckles against the wooden frame. Anticipation creeps up on him and Kame realizes that he's never been this excited to be with his family again.
"Chuchu-nii!!!" a young girl squeals when the door opens. She is standing by the genkan smiling cheekily at Kame with her eyes as bright as the sun. She manages to hurl her small frame from the small space after her favourite uncle has removed his shoes and changes into a random pair of house slippers.
With her short hands clinging to his neck, Kame finally lets go and drops his Louis Vuitton Keepall 45 in Monogram Revelation leather to hold his four-and-a-half-year-old niece in his arms, hugging the small figure he misses so much - bright smiles, girly squeaks, baby fat, and all. She's adorable and she drops kisses all over his face and he chuckles. She clings tightly to him and Kame has to turn so he could face his brother, mouthing his thanks when he sees him taking hold of his belongings. As they made their way to the living room, his niece questions him non-stop about aeroplanes and Disney.
He receives a warm welcome from his family that seems to be complete, probably just because it's a Sunday. Yūichirō, Kōji and Yuya are the loud ones and continue to be, completely ignoring the little girl in Kame's arms who is frowning at her father and uncles, her chubby index finger pressed against her lips. When everyone has settled down, they ask him about work, his crew, and New York. Kame answers all of their inquiries, saying that everything and everyone is doing well and that New York isn't new but it's still where the infamous Statue of Liberty is. His brothers cringe at his lame joke, his mother and sister-in-law giggles, his niece crawls onto his lap and his father suddenly asks about him having a girlfriend. Kame only blinks and stares at his father for a whole minute.
"Dad," he says when his brain had caught up, "I'm still waiting for the right one."
His brothers throw jokes at him about ‘Fate is shit’ and that Kame's only ‘uncertain with his sexuality that's why he doesn't have a girlfriend’. Kame just shrugs and plays with his niece's small hands.
The little girl turns and faces him with a wide grin plastered on her face. She shifts, cups Kame's face in her small hands and whispers, "Don't worry, chuchu-nii, I love you and we'll always be together." She reaches for Kame's hand and hooks her pinky with her uncle. "See? It's a pinky promise!"
Kame nods and laughs along with his brothers but hugs the small figure of his niece closer to him until she's whining and saying 'can't breathe 'nymore, 'cle Kazu!'. He sees his father smiling at them and shaking his head. Kame knows it's worth coming home when he glances at his mother smiling sweetly at him and his niece busy blowing raspberries on him.
They eat a sumptuous dinner when the clock hits six and Kame decides to go clubbing once the night deepens as he is aware of the fact that he won't be able to sleep any time soon. Jet lag = 1 Kame = 0.
_____
Red Magnitude, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
The club is full and roaring with life, even though midnight is still a good thirty minutes away. Laser lights illuminate the dance floor and there's a sea of people swaying and gyrating their hips to the music with heavy pulsing bass and cruddy lyrics but Jin couldn't care less because he likes it. He likes watching them from behind the bar and he likes seeing people letting go of their puppet-like personas even if it's only for a few hours and lose themselves as the evening rolls on.
The smell of smoke and alcohol is heavy inside his club but it never did faze his customers - men and women alike. He glances at the DJ booth and smirks at Koki. He knows that Koki gets the hint when the man holds up his middle finger to the crowd, shakes his ass, then turns up the volume and Bass Go Boom rocks the house.
Life is fun when colourful lights, loud music, and alcohol takes over.
"I'd like to have a beer, please."
Jin shifts his eyes to the counter and sees a man already seated on one of the bar stools. Attractive is the first word that comes to Jin's mind when his eyes fall on the figure in front of him. The man is lean, fair under the harsh strobe lights, and he has something in him that Jin cannot find the words to describe. His hair sports a dark colour and is styled with a fringe. His clothes are like those Jin sees in men's fashion magazines - fancy and expensive, but it's the man's eyes and lips that get his full interest. They seem to have a story that has yet to be told. And no, he isn't checking the guy out. Jin notices that the man's nose has that adorable little crook and he wonders if it's because he's hit the wall face first and damaged his nose in return or caused by an accident that's related to sports, like baseball maybe.
Fine, he is indeed checking the guy out.
"I am sure that staring at your male customers who asks for beer is not included in your job description," Kame says to the bartender who has his hair all tied up to the back of his head and dressed in fashionable clothes, only if it's Eminem that the guy's trying to pull off.
The snarky remark makes Jin want to raise an eyebrow so he does as he shuffles on his feet to get the man what he wants. He takes hold of a cold Kirin from the chiller while thinking that the other seems more of a gin-tonic guy instead of a beer-chugging, sex-deprived, attractive, young ass.
"You new here?" Jin asks as he places the beer in front of the man. He doesn't mind talking to strangers if it gets him loyal customers but there's something in this particular person that draws him to the man, something that makes him want to know about his life. Maybe it's because he doesn't give off the vibe of a usual customer or maybe it's in the way the man's fingers curl into the body of the can - with finesse; classy and nothing like that of those hoes.
"Not really," Kame answers, hooks his fingers on the tab and pops the can open. The smell of malt invades his nostrils, tempting and seductive, so much so that Kame just has to give in and drink. The liquid is unexpectedly soothing. "But it's been a while since I've been here in Japan though."
"Why is that?"
"What?"
Kame has to ask in a loud voice when the deafening music seems to do more damage to his ears than what he'd expected. He could hear a man rapping along with the music and Kame decides that noise pollution is what the club aims for.
"I said," Jin leans his body halfway over the counter and almost yells, "Why.is.that? Don't you live anywhere near here?"
Kame shakes his head and looks at the bartender. "New York," he says. "I work and live there. I'm only here for a vacation."
Kame hears the man say ‘God bless, America!’ while imitating the Statue of Liberty. His shoulders shake as he laughs at the man. Giving the bartender a look, Kame is left to think that the guy must be another Japanese male who is fascinated by the west, dreams of marrying a blue or green-eyed blonde and give his daughter a foreign-sounding name like Tiara.
Jin says something about America being a great place when the other falls silent whose warm yet sharp brown eyes peer at him as he speaks. "It's a multi-layered culture with great diversity. It's where art and music from all over the world come together, blend, and create several cultures within a culture. I think that no other place in the world has that characteristic or is capable of having that attribute."
Kame would have said something about America being the biggest superficial place in the entire world, where fundamentalists can reach the point of absurdity just to make others see their point, where there's a constant battle against racism and so on. He would love to contradict what other people assume to be a perfect place to live in, but he knows that the American culture is indeed rich in diversity so he finds himself agreeing with the bartender.
"I knew that you would agree!"
Kame raises a brow in amusement. "You speak the language very well," he couldn't help but take notice of the almost-perfect enunciation of the English words.
Jin scans the man’s face and chuckles. "Hmm... Just so you know, I took an English language course when I was younger. I get to practice it every day too since everyone in my family knows English and some of my friends are American."
"I see..." Kame nods his head. "Have you been to America?"
"Quite a lot of times, yes." Jin answers and reaches for a glass to wipe dry. "I've been to different cities but I think I love LA best."
"Did you go as a tourist? Or is it anything that's work-related?"
"Both. I always visit the US for exhibits," Jin replies. "Paintings and sometimes, for sculptures," he adds when he sees that inquiring look on the man's face.
Kame nods his head again. "You know," he starts to say, "we can meet up if ever you decide to visit the US again. There are always art exhibits in New York. I'm not saying that LA is near New York, no, but I'm sure we can make arrangements."
"We'll see," Jin says, indirectly agreeing with the suggestion. "But if that would be the case, then would you mind telling me your name?"
"Kamenashi Kazuya," he answers suddenly taking interest in playing with the can in his hands. He briefly contemplates whether the man knows him or not and settles for the latter when the man repeats his name nonchalantly, probably trying to get the hang of how it rolls out of his lips. "Kame works fine with me," he says with a small smile on his lips.
"Kame it is then," Jin smiles and holds out a hand to Kame. "I'm Jin," he says and the warmth of their palms seem to electrify him but he doesn't pull his hand away because, strangely enough, it feels pleasant and comfortable.
Kame chuckles when Jin doesn't let go of his hand for a full minute. "Hey," he says, a teasing smile lifting one side of his lips. "Can you get me another beer?" Kame grips the hand holding his gently but a bit tighter. "I wonder if you always shake hands like this with your customers."
"Oh, sorry!" Jin finally lets go and finds himself a bit embarrassed when he meets Kazuya's eyes. They are bright and dancing with mischief and Jin thinks it's the most beautiful pair of eyes he had seen tonight.
"Beer?"
"Beer... right."
Kame laughs to himself and watches the bartender turn away from him only to pull out different bottles and mix all of them in a shaker before pouring it in a glass. He only stares when Jin hands him the drink. "
Lovejuice," Jin informs, composed and cool once again. "It's on the house."
"Thanks." Kame takes hold of the glass and swallows its contents.
It doesn't take long for Kame to get tipsy. He has had three cans of beer and lovejuice in between and his mind is already getting hazy. From where he is seated, he follows the bartender with his eyes and sees him chatting up two foreign ladies by the bar counter, one of them a redhead and the other a blonde. They are laughing about whatever it is that Jin's saying, their eyes narrowing as their cheeks lift up. Jin's eyes are mischievous, naughty even, as his fingers brushed the skin of the blonde woman's hand. Kame wonders why he's watching Jin flirt. Maybe it's because Jin reminds him of himself and how he manages to get women and a few men to sleep with, not that he's implying that Jin would spend the night with the foreign women.
Shrugging, Kame reaches for his last glass of lovejuice, shoves the drink down his throat and then gets out of his seat. He saunters to where the bartender is and wonders when he sees that Jin is alone.
"Where are the ladies?"
Jin gazes at the man who is now flustered and flushed. "They went back to their group."
"Your charm didn't work?" Kame punctuates his sentence with a small laugh.
Jin only smirks at the man. "I don't need any charm to get who I want," he confidently says. He chuckles when he sees Kame smirk. "What?"
"It's a shame you were rejected,"
"Just so you know, no one rejected me," the amusement in Jin's voice shows as he speaks and gives Kame a confident smirk who just raises a brow at him. "I didn't even ask either of them for a date."
Jin then silently scolds himself because he finds the man sexually alluring, he cannot take his eyes off him as he stares at Kame who licks his lower lip at that exact time. He reciprocates the act without realizing what he's done and bites his lip when he finally does.
"You know, it's funny how the taste of your lovejuice seems to have stuck on my lips," Kame tells Jin before his tongue swipes down again on his lower lip. "It's good. But I think it's too sweet for me," he continues and is unaware that he's lured Jin in one way or another. If he is sober enough, Kame would try his best to convince himself that he isn't trying to flirt with the man silently blame Jin for having a pair of sexy eyes, chiseled jaws, and full lips. The broad shoulders and the sexy protrusions of Jin's clavicles are not making it easy for him either.
"Here," Kame says, finally having the will to resist asking for Jin's number, as he hands Jin the money he's fished out from his pocket. Jin manages to check in to the cash register and gives Kame his change. "Thanks for keeping me company." He puts all of his change in the tip box and shoulders his way into the mob, heading for the exit.
Jin watches the figure disappear and when Kame is no longer in sight, the phone in his pocket vibrates. He takes it out and answers with a lazy hello.
"You have to be home in time for Reio's Coming-of-Age ceremony."
_____
Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
It is the 2nd Monday of January and the morning is chilly.
The Hamamatsu-jo buzzes with more life than usual today. The younger women are dressed in their most beautiful furisode and zori sandals while the men are obliged to wear their traditional dark kimono with hakama. It has been the Akanishi family's tradition to hold the Coming-of-Age ceremony in the Hamamatsu-jo.
Living in an old castle is no big deal, Jin used to tell himself. It was one of his ancestors who had taken a fancy in owning one and bought the Hamamatsu-jo even before it'd been declared as a historical site by the Japanese government. Hamamatsu-jo has two separate parts. The area where the historical artifacts are present, which is open for public viewing, and the area that remains private, where the family spends their time although they rarely, if not anymore, stay in the castle because his parents think that it's impractical and that Tokyo has access to everything the family needs. The family only gathers in the castle when there's something they have to celebrate.
As per family tradition, the Akanishi family is required to wear their traditional dress for the Coming-of-Age ceremony that is being held at the castle ground. Jin doesn't go for anything fancy, just something that he'll be comfortable to walk around with. The speaker's voice echoes aloud but he doesn't understand anything of what is being said because his mind is occupied with brushes, colours, and mediums for his brother's coming-of-age portrait. His fingers itch as his mind wanders off to different ideas inside his head and ponders hard for a place in the castle grounds where he can comfortably work to preserve reality onto canvas.
When he hears loud applause from the crowd, he takes a look and sees his brother receiving a small gift for officially becoming a legitimate adult. He smiles and remembers his own Coming-of-Age ceremony and how he had celebrated it with a few close friends and family. Reio hasn't asked for anything grand but Jin is sure that, just like before, there would be an abundant supply of food and wine in the Hamamatsu-jo tonight.
Like any other celebration, people start to leave after the congratulatory event takes place and when the castle falls quiet, someone gently taps him on the shoulder.
"Jin."
Jin knows it's his brother so he turns and sees Reio looking happy. He congratulates him and tells him to grab something to eat before they start with the session. He is sure that Reio knows they will take hours before he finalizes his concept on a canvas.
"Thank you for doing this for me," Reio says gratefully.
Jin answers with a gentle smile. He thinks that Reio's hakama will be a good contrast to the trees and sunset and he will make sure that Reio will have the shrill colours of the afternoon sky for a background even if that means he'll have to stall away.
_____
Kame stays at his parents’ home for the rest of the week and leaves on a Monday afternoon for Shizuoka. He makes sure that his cameras are in his bag -- a Canon 1Ds Mark III and a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1. He fishes out the Canon SLR and arranges its settings. When the train moves, he makes sure that he captures the beautiful images of structures and landscapes in full colour, classic, and sepia.
It takes him two hours before he gets off the Shizuoka station. He breathes in the air and hurries out to ride a cab. He still has yet to see the Hamamatsu-jo but before that, he needs to find a hotel where he'll spend the entire week.
He settles for a hotel which is only thirty minutes away from the Castle of Hamamatsu. He sets down his bag of clothes on the bed, takes his valuables with him and decides to go out with a map in hand, heading off to the Hamamatsu Castle Park after he's done.
_____
Kame is greeted by the sight of pink petals against the long stretch and the warm orange of sunset. He misses waking up and looking forward to the Hanami, searching for a good spot where he would be able to watch cherry blossoms slowly falling as the wind blows. Even if New York has adapted the Cherry Blossom Festival, it didn't feel genuine enough and the Sakura trees in the foreign soil are lackluster compared to the ones in Japan, he thinks, as a single petal drops on his outstretched hands. Without wasting another second, he starts to abuse the shutter on his camera as he captures image after image of the sturdy trees and its delicate flowers; they are beautiful even if they only last for a short time. When he turns, he catches a glimpse of the Castle that is adjacent to the garden and takes pictures of it before he walks through the range of Sakura trees. The castle itself will have to wait.
He finds a bench somewhere in the middle of the park and sits there, enjoying the gentle breeze as he takes more pictures of the trees and pathway, of birds and the sky. He sees a young lady in her pink furisode, her hair is kept nicely in place and adorned with a simple flower hair ornament as she walks through the trees. He takes a picture of her just because.
When the quiet and stillness of the park gets on his nerves, he yawns and tilts his head back with closed eyes. It's only a few seconds before he opens them again and pinches his eyebrows when he catches sight of two men; one appears to be painting the younger as he is seated and his hands appear to be holding a brush and a palette, while the younger of the two seems to be looking at the sun, behind him is the castle and he are standing next to the trunk, under the cloud of pink, satin-like, textured blossoms.
He gets up slowly and sneaks his way around the trees, careful enough not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere between the painter and the subject. He doesn't know what draws him to the painter but he uses his camera to steal a part of the man's soul. When he plays the images, he realizes that it's the same man he met at that club in Roppongi.
Jin.
Kame focuses his eyes on the man's face and grows certain that it is Jin, with his curls down like dark waterfalls on the sides of his face. He silently wishes that time would freeze because Jin looks ethereal like that.
_____
Six hours have passed and Jin still works in the silence of the garden. He is sure that the patience of his brother would snap soon if the painting session takes much longer. When he is certain that he's captured the scene in his mind, he finally tells Reio to go back to the castle. He tries to freeze the image of the setting sun on the mountains and the proper blending of oranges against the different shades of blue, white, and grey of the sky in his mind while Reio loudly exclaims his relief, thanking him one more time before running to the gates that lead directly to the castle grounds. It doesn't take long for Jin before his brush moves smoothly and swiftly again on the canvas where the sun should be, dabbing a warm colour of orange against white cloth.
"So that's why you visit the US for art exhibits."
Kame finally comes out from behind a tree and he grins when Jin's calm expression changes to that of surprised. He clicks on the button of his camera and makes sure that he catches that look on Jin's face, as if he's not snapped photos of Jin earlier.
Jin shakes his head with a helpless smile on his face. "Stop that," he scolds in a friendly manner. "You're making me feel embarrassed."
Kame grins as he let his camera lie against his chest, the strap hanging around his neck. "Is he your brother?" he asks Jin when he finally stops beside the painter, referring to the young man he saw not long ago.
"Yeah," Jin answers. "Today's his Coming-of-Age ceremony."
Kame nods, stares at the painting, and sees that it's only halfway done but he can see that Jin is a zealous painter because the images are lucid and the splashes of colour are intense, especially on the human features the painting has.
"Say, what brings you here?" Jin dips the brush in thinner and wipes it dry with a rag, glancing at Kame just for a bit before picking up more of his things.
"Well, I went to see the Hamamatsu-jo," Kame says, watching Jin take care of his things. "Are you done painting?"
Jin shakes his head as he puts his brushes in a case. "I'll have to continue tomorrow or some other time since it's going to get dark soon. I'm already done with Reio anyway so I only need to attend to the minor details," he says. "So, why Hamamatsu-jo?" "I don't know."
Kame shrugs and stews for a minute. "I think it's beautiful; a nice subject for landscape photography. Maybe I can do a photo book for Japanese Castles. Besides, I haven't seen it yet so I decided to take a look before I die, I guess," he nonchalantly says and he hears Jin break into a chuckle. He ignores Jin and stares at the painting again. He appreciates beauty when he sees one and he can clearly see that Jin's art can be considered as one.
"Do you put your paintings in exhibits?"
Jin glances at Kame whose brown eyes are thinly veiled with more curiosity than doubt and an idea pops in his head. His fingers curl on the sides and he gently removes the canvas from the easel, handing it to Kame, making the man responsible for the frame. "Bring this for me and I just might answer your question." With the canvas in Kame's hesitant hold, he picks up the easel and slings his bag where he keeps his materials for painting on his shoulder before walking ahead.
"I can't believe that you are so demanding to someone whom you just met," Kame says with a derisive snort but tries to catch up with Jin towards the gate. He takes extra care to not smudge the paint.
"Be glad that I'm giving you the chance to see the castle for free." Jin tries his best to sound smug. "And you get a personal tour from me." He wriggles his eyebrows at Kame and laughs when he sees Kame roll his eyes and heave an exasperated sigh.
"It's not like you're an important person around here." Kame gives a facial expression of mocking scorn.
"I may not be," Jin grins, turning a bit to face the younger man. "But I'm sure that there's a reason why we met. It's fate."
"What's fate got to do with this?" Kame asks; amusement clearly evident in his voice.
"Well, we meet people because we are destined to meet them.” Jin answers simply. “Besides, do you seriously think that this is just pure coincidence? We met at the club and without telling each other our plans, you end up finding me here."
"It's not like I was trying to," Kame answers dryly. "And if that's what fate is to you, then I guess you are destined to meet those ladies at the bar. And all of your other customers, too."
"Whatever you say, dude," Jin replies then taps on the edge of the canvas in Kame's hold. "Destiny or not, you came just at the right time, Kame."
Jin chuckles as he continues to walk and Kame wonders if it's worth tripping Jin on the stairs that lead to the castle just because. But when he catches a glimpse of the sides of the easel, he decides that there is always a next time.
_____
Jin ends up introducing Kame to his family at dinner that night because his father, who made a vague sound in his throat to catch their attention, has seen him and Kame entering the private part of the Hamamatsu-jo. Jin briefly tells his father that Kame's a friend and his father took the liberty of inviting Kame over for dinner. He disappears into the main hall when Jin agrees. With his father gone, Jin makes Kame wait outside the room where he keeps his paintings and even if he wanted to see more of Jin's paintings, Kame remains where he is and just leans on the wall, tapping his foot softly against the wooden flooring. His eyes marvel at the insides of the castle; from stone walls to chandeliers, from varnished wood to expensive vases.
"Like what you see?"
"Yeah." Kame nods his head at Jin.
_____
When Jin and Kame enter the dining hall, a sound echoes and Jin sees his mother's drinking glass toppling over. She appears to be gaping wide-eyed at the person who walks beside her son.
"Mum?" Jin keeps his eyes on his mom. "Are you alright?" he asks as he gestures for Kame to take the seat next to him.
"Kamenashi-kun!" Mrs. Akanishi exclaims, her eyes sparkling when Kame bows and smiles at her. "Ah, I am so glad to know that you and my Jin are friends!"
"It's nice to meet you, too, Akanishi-san," Kame says politely.
"The articles I've read don't lie. You are good-looking indeed, Kamenashi-kun," she continues and Kame smiles, embarrassed. "Oh, don't be shy, dear child! Jin." She averts her gaze from the young man and turns to her son who seems to be scrutinizing the food laid out on the table, probably thinking of what he should eat first. Jin has always had a healthy appetite.
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you tell me that you know Kamenashi-kun? You know how much I love his photo books about fashion, right? Especially the one he did for Monique Lhuillier," she tells Jin, accusing her eldest son with her eyes. "It's a shame you've kept this a secret from me."
"Monique who?" Jin then frowns, poking the ebi nigiri sushi in front of him with his chopsticks.
"Monique Lhuillier. How dare you not know her?" Her eyes squint as she glares at her son and Kame finds the situation awkward but funny at the same time.
"Lu-lyeh what? Your obsession with the Korean language is fine, but please stop talking in French, Mum," Jin tells his mother, the frown on his forehead slowly disappearing. "And for the record, I just met him last week in Magnitude and I didn't know he was that Kamenashi Kazuya. I'll get your photo books signed by him if you want." He turns to face Kame who's sipping his iced tea. "Since we are friends, you'll sign them, right, Kame?"
Kame nods, wiping his lips with the table napkin Jin handed to him. "If that's what your mum wants-"
"Oh, I'd love that!" Mrs. Akanishi clasps her hands in front of her chest, smiling widely at Kame. Kame thinks it's polite to smile just as wide, so he does.
Jin laughs a little but stops when he feels Kame kicking his shin under the table. Still chuckling, Jin starts serving Kame food while his mother rambles something about Kamenashi Kazuya and brilliant photography and the next thing Jin knows is that his mother is telling, rather ordering, Kame to fetch his belongings from the hotel and stay in one of the guest rooms inside the castle instead. Reio and his father continue eating their food, talking about Reio and his studies in between, successfully ignoring the only female in the room.
"Thank you, Akanishi-san," Jin hears Kame say after he's finished his food. "But it's fine, really. I've already settled my things and the hotel's not that far from here. I can visit you tomorrow if you want."
"But I insist," Jin hears his mother reply. He purses his lips to hide a smirk when he takes note of the stubbornness in her voice.
Jin finds entertainment in watching Kame adamantly refuse the offer and putting pieces of grilled meat in his mouth. He tries to hide a snicker when Kame shamelessly fails and gives up trying because his mother has resorted to blackmailing Kame by personally choosing and arranging the futon in the guest room after dinner.
"If you're worried because of...well, for any reason that I cannot think of, then please don't," Jin remembers his utterly persistent mother tell Kame. "Jin can sleep in the guest room with you and keep you company. After all, you are friends and you are also our guest, Kame-chan."
How his mother ended up calling Kame Kame-chan remains a mystery to Jin.
_____
Kame spends the next day with Jin's family, talking and having tea at the tea house near the castle. Jin's mother tells him about the Akanishi family and the castle and Kame finds himself amused as he listens to her, sometimes to Jin or his father. They ask him about New York and his clients and Kame tells them he works for both famous and non-famous people who seek for his craft. When they ask him about what he misses most when he's in New York, he answers them with 'my mum, my dad, and sushi.' Jin laughs at him and he innocently smiles at Jin's parents while Jin tries to hide his wincing as Kame grinds his sharp knuckles against the bones of Jin's pelvis. Hard.
When dusk falls, Kame volunteers to help Jin's mother in preparing the food and serving dinner.
_____
Kame is unaware that Jin plans to take him to the castle museum where katanas and armours are put on display, so he was a bit surprised when, after he's done bathing and putting on his pajamas, Jin comes and drags him out of the room and they end up on the other side of the castle where the public go.
Inside the hall, his eyes widen when he sees authentic samurai swords and battle armours made from bamboo, cloth, and metal. There is also an old scroll hanging on the wall where the Bushidō code is written. Jin then excuses himself and goes outside the room to call his club manager to tell him that he'll be away for a while.
Kame walks around the room and inspects the weapons that the samurais used during their time. He takes hold of a katana, feeling its weight and drawing it out of its leather sheath without Jin's knowledge. He brings the weapon up and lets the light shine upon its blade. The smooth metal glistens in silence, tempting him to touch it, to feel it.
He slowly traces the sharp edge, trying his best not to cut himself as his fingers glide along the curve. He couldn't feel any jagged edge as his skin and flesh mold against the cold metal. From the way the katana shines under the light, he knows the blade is kept well-oiled, powdered, polished, and aired from time to time. It must be a special piece, if not the most special, in the collection.
"Kame!" Jin's voice is loud and it echoes cacophonously inside the room. "What are you doing?!"
Kame is caught off-guard and the resulting jolt makes him press his index finger a bit too hard into the sharp edge of the sword. A bead of crimson forms on his finger and slowly takes the shape of a single teardrop then flows in a thin line on his finger. He wrinkles his nose when he sees the wound he's accidentally created. The cut must be at least a good one inch. He pulls out his handkerchief not to wipe the blood on his finger but the blood that has tainted the once stain-free weapon.
Jin finds himself cursing as he hurries to Kame' side and without uttering another word, he snatches the cloth a bit harshly from Kame's hand. He occupies himself with the task of wrapping the clean side of the cloth around Kame's wounded finger and securing it with a square knot. "What are you? A klutz?" he snarls at the younger man, anger and worry burning in his eyes. "I remember telling you to feel free to look at them, not touch them!"
"I didn't me-"
"Of all the katanas in here, you have to pick up this one!" Jin points at the weapon lying on the shelf, still unsheathed but no longer stained. "And just so you know, Kame, that one is always kept at its best; cleaned and sharpened regularly. Be thankful you didn't cut your entire finger off!"
Even though Jin's voice has gone down a notch lower, Kame still hears repressed anger in the other's tone. "Sorry," he bows his head, thinking that apologizing is probably the best thing to do in times like this. He doesn't miss the glower in Jin's eyes though. "I didn't really mean to touch any of it but-"
Jin inhales and exhales, trying to fight off the anger and frustration he's feeling inside as he heaves out a heavy sigh. He grabs Kame by the wrist and drags the man with him again. Kame stumbles on his feet but tries not to trip and fall as Jin leads them back to the guest room. Jin is the one who slides the shoji of their room open and leads them to the bathroom without uttering anything. They stop in front of the sink where Kame watches Jin remove the cloth as gently as he could from the wound, as if Kame's like fragile glass that with a single wrong move, he would break. Kame thinks that the gentleness that suddenly takes over must have been because Jin's a painter.
"Let me clean your wound for you," Jin says in a calm tone as he lets water run down on Kame's finger, washing it thoroughly with mild soap. "It's my fault for leaving you alone there."
"May I remind you that I'm not a three-year old kid who needs supervi-"
"If you weren't, you would have left the katana alone on its shelf," Jin snaps as he rinses the wound off of soap lather.
"Look, Jin-"
"Shaddap." Jin dismisses the topic and fumbles inside the medicine cabinet behind him. "We have to make sure that your wound won't get infected."
"Listen Jin, it's not like this is a big deal. I'm not going to die from it." Kame watches Jin reaching for a small first-aid kit, getting out an antiseptic and a piece of cotton ball. "I'm fine, really," he says and retreats his hand away from Jin.
"Stop being stubborn and let me put the band-aid on your wound." Jin says firmly and impatiently waits for Kame to hold out his injured hand to him.
Kame just watches as Jin pours antiseptic in the cotton.
"Give me your hand, Kamenashi."
Kame reluctantly gives in and Jin gently dabs the cotton on the wound. He grimaces when he feels a faint sting coming from his wound but allows Jin to wrap a purple-coloured band-aid on his finger. If he's in a different situation, he would have been horrified by the colour. Purple isn't his thing but he settles on the idea that the cute little skull prints on the band-aid are there to console him.
"Hey, are you mad?" he asks when Jin lets go of his hand.
"Why would I be?"
"You are, aren't you?"
"Jin...?"
"Yeah," Jin finally admits and lets his features mellow gradually. "I was."
"Sorry," Kame says in a low voice. "I know how much you treasure your hand since you're a painter. But don't you think that it's entirely your fault? You shouldn't have barged in yelling Kame as if the castle's catching fire." He lets out a small chuckle and sighs in relief when Jin finally gives him a smile.
"It's not because I'm a painter that I treasure my hand," Jin says in a soft, gentle tone. "It's because my hands are a part of me. And since I'm the one responsible for you while you're here, in a way, you are a part of me."
Kame isn't one to assume things, but the words Jin used feel like they meant more than what they really should.
"We should go to sleep," Jin tells the younger man and slips out of the bathroom, leaving Kame behind.
_____
"Instead of spacing out, why don't you tell me where you're taking me today?" Kame says when the first thing he sees in the morning is Jin lying on his own futon with his blanket strewn on the floor, right leg over left and staring absentmindedly at the ceiling.
Jin turns his head to his left, his cheek pressing against the pillow and sees an awake Kame looking at him. Kame's hair is all over his face and it reminds him of a young lion. But he thinks Kame looks adorable swimming in the middle of padded mattresses and quilts with his brown eyes still trying to fight off sleep.
"Good morning to you too, Kame-chan," he greets the younger man as if nothing happened last night.
"Don't start, Jin" Kame grumbles, hating the nickname his assistant has brilliantly thought of sharing to a magazine. "It's still too early for me to start butchering you up."
"Woke up at the wrong side of the bed- err, futon, Kame-chan?" Jin teases and Kame's pillow comes flying straight at his face.
"Get up and take me somewhere worth seeing."
Jin removes the pillow from his face. "Oi, Kamenashi, I refuse to be someone whom you can just order around."
"Stick to that 'you are a part of me' thing, Akanishi and get your ass out of that futon." Kame says and gets up, heading straight to the bathroom.
"How's the wound?" Jin hollers when he hears the bathroom door closing.
Kame opens the door again and answers in a loud voice, "If it kills me then I'll gladly be the ghost of your Christmas past, present, and future." He closes the door firmly, locks it again and stares at the band-aid on his finger. He hears Jin's laughter coming from outside the room and Kame just shakes his head as he fills the traditional wooden ofuro with warm water.
_____
When they reach the ruins of Futamata, there is nothing much to look at except for old castle walls and the view of the area surrounding it along the Tenryu river. A loud speaker plays the story of the castle on repeat to dramatic music and Jin tells Kame about the many battles that have been won and lost over it between the great Ieyasu Tokugawa and Shingen Takeda. Kame listens as Jin tells him a detailed version of what was once a five-minute lesson in his History class. He is amazed at how Jin seems to be well-versed in history and wonders if all painters are like him - detailed, focused, and educated.
"Why do you know all this?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
"Research," Jin answers. He doesn't tell Kame that he has had Japanese history as bedtime stories. It comes naturally when your family owns a castle that has seen Japan in its old glory.
"Hey Jin, I'm just curious…" Kame wonders aloud once they're back inside the comfort of Jin's car.
"About?"
"Well, as you may now know, I'm a professional photographer." He fiddles with his camera and snaps another photo of Jin.
Jin has learned to ignore it since he thinks that Kame finds him to be an interesting subject.
"What about you, Jin? What do you do for a living?" Jin glances at Kame, smiles, before he sets his eyes on the road again. "I own the club where we met."
"So that's why you drink with your customers, huh?"
Jin just answers Kame with a sneer.
Something catches Kame’s attention so he rolls down the window on his side and twists in his seat. He puts his camera out, peers into the viewfinder and takes a photo of a single Sakura tree that's on top of a hill. He smiles satisfyingly when he's captured the image of petals floating in the air.
"Careful, Kame," Jin says a bit more affectionately than intended. Kame is a stranger and he should remain as one. Kame should but Jin realizes that Kame's like more of a long-lost friend to him. Someone special.
Kame slips back inside the car and takes a picture of a frowning Jin. "I'm always careful," he says.
Jin takes a left turn before he faces Kame and puts a finger on his lips. "You'll never know. Besides, you've just showed me how careful you are last night with that accident with the katana." When Kame frowns like a petulant child, he gives a victorious grin and decides to flick the tip of Kame's nose.
Kame fires him a death glare.
_____
They spend the following days touring around Hamamatsu and Kame feels like a student while Jin has taken the role of being his teacher. Kame enjoys every minute he spends with Jin because Jin is fun, sensible, and a reliable tour guide. Jin likes talking about his hobbies and interests and Kame also finds out that he enjoys talking about himself. Their topic varies; from soccer to clubs, to women and music to adorable dogs. In the past few days he's spent with Jin, Kame learns a lot about Jin’s passions and dreams. It felt normal to talk to Jin about those kinds of things. His drive for life is something Kame thinks to be one of the most interesting traits Jin has. At one point, Jin asks him about his family and Kame knows Jin's taken an interest in him when Jin tells him he wants to see a video of young Kame playing baseball on the field and asking him to meet his niece if ever time permits. Kame agrees but tells Jin that he's getting sidetracked and reminds him that he should get back on his job of touring him around. Kame shows Jin a picture of him and his niece and Jin flails at how cute she and Kame are. In the end, Jin gets to keep the photograph. "Souvenir," he says.
_____
There's a soft, high-pitched, traditional kind of music as they walk through the cavern. Kame takes a picture of stalagmites and stalactites formed from the limestone which are illuminated with bright colourful lights. The abundant supply of water in the cavern and the sound that it gives off adds a wonderful atmosphere that truly belongs in the distant past. He would've lost himself in those gentle dripping and rushing sound of water only if it isn't for Jin singing a random American song beside him.
He frowns and elbows Jin in the side, the bone of his elbow grazing against Jin's rib. "Stop that," he mouths.
Jin removes the earphone in his left ear. "Stop what?"
"You're ruining my trip by singing what you're singing," he says, finding it annoying to hear an upbeat song clashing with the harmonious sound of string instruments.
"But it's a nice song," Jin tries to defend himself. He knows Kame likes to focus on his every trip but he also knows that he likes it when he gets Kame's attention all to himself. He doesn't know why but he really likes it when Kame only sees him, only talks to him.
With that thought in mind, Jin leans in to Kame and hums a tune. "...I see you all over me," he sings in Kame's ear just to spite the younger man. "In my head, you fulfill my fantasy. In my head, you'll be screaming ohhhh~"
Kame groans in annoyance and smirks when he comes out successful as Jin trips over his leg. He then hurries when he catches sight of what is said to be the most spectacular sight in the cavern and takes a photo of a large waterfall that plunges down into the depths of the caverns from the ceiling while he hears Jin faintly whining behind him. He thinks this is a trip to remember; only he isn't sure if it's because of the waterfall that is illuminated with a soft, golden light or because of something else.
_____
"Jin."
"Hmm?"
"Can we go to the beach tomorrow?" Kame asks as Jin is preparing their lunch. "I'd like to take pictures of the sea before I go back to New York."
Jin hears that familiar sizzle of meat when he puts the piece of unagi on the grill, basting the laid out pieces with sauce made from eel trimmings, soy sauce, sugar, and sake. "Of course," he answers. "There's this really nice beach not too far from here. It's quiet aside from the sound of waves crashing to the shore and the wind. I used to go there when I was younger," he tells Kame, flashes of his childhood days spending his time on the beach brought a smile to his face. It's really nice; white fine sand, crystal clear water - just like the ones you see in Okinawa."
"Really?" Kame's voice reveals his excitement. “We have to go there!”
"Sure. Oh, but you should know that you can't go deep because of the undertow," Jin says before he glances at Kame. "Wait, are you going there for a swim?"
"No." Kame shakes his head and smiles at Jin. "I just want to see the beach. I missed it. And surfing. New York, if not whole of the American continent, is fast-paced so I rarely get to take breaks from work."
"I see...Well, we can play the guitar, take photos and drink beer if you want," Jin tells Kame as he turns the unagis to grill their other side. "When are you going back to New York?" he dares to ask while ignoring that cold feeling that seems to have a good grip on his heart. He doesn't know if he's supposed to feel something like that but he does and that's when he realizes that he's let Kame worm his way into his heart.
"My flight is on Monday so we have to be back in Tokyo by Friday night."
"Any particular reason why Friday night?"
"That's because I promised my niece that we would go shopping before I leave. I think Saturday's a good day to do just that. I can spend the weekend with my family."
"Right," Jin agrees but his real thoughts pass behind his eyes like dark, lonely shadows. He uses his own chopstick to fish out the unagis from the grill and place some on Kame's plate, adding some spices before picking up a piece.
"Here, try this."
Kame raises a brow, but opens his mouth and lets Jin feed him.
"Is it good?"
Kame nods his head. Jin smiles and starts to eat, giving Kame pieces of food from time to time.
The gesture continues and Kame falls into the tender state of comfort as he watches Jin eat heartily, and a warm fuzzy feeling stirs inside him, settling in his gut. Kame becomes confused and apprehensive but his heart does a back flip when his eyes meet Jin's because the expression in them has changed and Kame catches a whole new sight of Jin's soul.
_____
They make it to the beach just before sundown.
Kame immediately marvels at the sight of the shore and the endless sea, making nostalgia rush through him, slithering its way into his veins. The beach brought him happy memories and he feels like a child again, excited and giddy, and so he darts out toward where the waves die down on the fine grains of white sand, leaving Jin behind him and taking pictures of everything he could see.
Jin settles, watching Kame while he's seated in the sand, a pack of beer and Calbi chips lying next to him. In his eyes, Kame is unrestricted, so carefree, and he likes it because he catches a glimpse of who Kame really is, of how Kame lived life during his younger years. He concludes Kame's had a happy childhood when he sees him burying his feet in the sand and smiling widely from a distance. The wind blows strongly and he sees Kame gathering all of his hair and securing it with a band at the back of his head. Jin has to remind himself that Kame’s not a girl even if he now looks like one.
"Jin!" Kame turns back to look at the man. "This is wonderful!" He then toes off his footwear, throwing it aside before he goes running barefooted into the water, leaving his camera in a safe area.
"Don't go too deep!" Jin shouts, reminding Kame that the current is treacherous.
"The water feels good! You have to try it!" Kame yells back instead, flashing Jin a wide smile before he carefully but excitedly trudges deeper to the sea. He only stops when the water reaches half of his thighs and he marvels at the view of the changing colours in the sky.
Jin walks to the shore, closer to the water, closer to Kame and when he sees him, Jin thinks he's forgotten how to breathe because Kazuya is raw and exquisite and beautiful against the streaks of violets, pinks, and reds of the horizon and the vast expanse of the glistering sea.
Kame feels Jin staring so he cocks his head a little to the side and gazes at Jin with gentle eyes. "Come closer," he says and watches Jin thread his way to him. "Beautiful isn't it?" he asks in a low voice when he feels Jin standing next to him. He looks at the view ahead of them and feels his heart lighten at the picturesque scene.
"It is," Jin answers softly and he knows he's not referring to the ocean or to the clouds because it's only Kame whom he sees.
_____
They played soccer on the beach and laid in the sand until there was only the two of them left when night begins to fall, draping over them like an invisible curtain, embracing them in that familiar cold darkness. Unable to think of anything else to do, Kame thought it a nice idea to ask Jin to play him a song as they drink and Jin complies with his request.
Sitting next to each other Kame takes notice of how long and delicate Jin's fingers are against the chrome of the strings and the lacquered finish of the wood. He realizes as he listens to Jin sing the last few notes of Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven, that Jin is very skilled in playing the guitar and has an amazing voice. There's something in the way Jin croons and strums his guitar that calms him but he shifts and empties his drink because he feels his throat drying up when he stares at Jin. His mind tells him that Jin is nice and talented and beautiful and maybe, they can be something else.
And then it hits Kame.
He likes Jin. He fucking likes Jin - Jin who makes him feel different emotions all at the same time; happy and annoyed, childlike and crazy, nervous and calm. When he's with Jin, he is aware of that rumble of emotions going on inside of him that confuses him even if it somewhat, somehow feels alright.
"Hey Kame, do you want to go home now?" Jin asks suddenly. When Kame doesn’t respond, he peers at Kame through his lashes and sees Kame looking at him, seemingly lost inside his head.
"Kame?”
"H-huh?" Kame stutters and blinks.
Jin sighs. "I asked if you wanted to go home now."
"But you promised three songs, Jin," Kame suddenly remembers, trying to ignore the thoughts that are circling inside his head.
"But it's already cold and dark..."
"So?" Kame frowns. "You told me you're afraid of ghosts, but it's not like we're going to see any in here." Kame gestures to the bright lamp posts that are set up around the place. "They've invested too much on those pretty lights, you see? Let them serve their purpose while you entertain me."
Jin fakes an exasperated sigh but places his hands and fingers again on the guitar. "Last one, okay?"
"Two."
"It's unfair that you get everything you want," Jin tells the younger, his smile failing his attempt at trying to come out annoyed. "One."
"But-"
"Kame." Jin's voice is firm.
"Fine." Kame makes a face.
When Jin laughs at him, Kame grows resolute that he would prefer hearing it over the sound of waves lapping on the shore, for Jin's laughter is like the sonorous pealing of the bells - full, rich, genuine.
"Want to hear a ballad that I wrote?"
"You wrote?" Kame reiterates. "You know Jin, for someone who's supposed to be just mixing drinks in a noisy club, you're multi-talented."
"I have lots of secrets under my sleeve." Jin beams then takes a swig of his beer.
"And that includes songwriting?"
"Well, it's been in the list of my hobbies since I turned twenty." Jin breaks into a wide grin. "But anyway, tell me what you think about it when I'm done, okay?" he tells Kame who just nods, a perfectly trimmed brow falling into its proper place in Kame's face. Kame falls quiet as the strings of Jin's guitar accompany the wind once again.
Suki toka kirai toka, kantan na kotoba ja tsutaeru koto ga dekinai
Ichinen ni ichido no tokubetsu na kono hi wo
Nando demo, itsumademo
Ichiban chikakude mujaki na egao, kawaranai shikusa
Hitotsu hitotsu, subete ga takaramono
There's something inside Kame that blooms and grows like a flower in spring as Jin sings, his voice echoing softly in his ears. There's deep affection and passion, but what puzzles him is the sense of loneliness that lingers as each word spills out of Jin’s lips. It makes something inside of him ache. He looks at Jin and sees him with his eyes closed, lips parted as his voice continues to flow smoothly, haunting, overwhelming and scaring him all at the same time because it's as if Jin is trying to reach inside his heart; waiting for him to get the tune, rhythm and the melody of Jin's own.
Anata to tomo ni ikiteru
Suteki na egao de, mune hatte, te wo tsunaide
Yorisotte aruiteka, sonna mirai wo matteru
Kyou mo arigatou
As the notes die down, Kame feels that Jin has exposed his heart out all for him to see. There’s still that tranquil expression Jin has on his face as his fingers played the strings; slow and barely strumming, but there are those little sounds that keep on cooing to his ears. He stares and stares some more and the next thing he knows, he's lost and there's that feeling inside of him that means so much more… probably something deeper than like.
The sound of guitar is gone now, Kame once again becomes aware, and Jin is looking at him because he leaned closer to Jin, his thumb softly grazing Jin's lips. He feels scorched whenever Jin's breath brushes the skin of his palm. Immediately, he draws away and tries to come up with an explanation, but he fails. He fails so badly that he only ends up swallowing thickly and falls into keen eye contact with Jin whose eyes are warm and gentle and soulful against his. He didn't even notice when Jin had put his guitar down.
Jin leans closer to Kame and it takes Kame aback.
Kame tries to find his voice because he feels he should apologize or just say something but his breathing hitches because Jin is closing the distance between them, crushing their lips together before he could even formulate the right words to say.
His heart is racing inside his chest and he could hear it louder than the angry chaos of the waves but he responds. Their kiss starts off slowly, from a gentle pressing of their lips, nipping on the soft skin and just enjoying the moment before their kiss intensifies into hungry, yearning open-mouthed kisses. It’s as if their souls have met through it and he is surprised at how intense and fervid it feels. The kiss keeps on going and going, another shiver running down his spine when Jin slips his tongue past his lips again, coaxing him, tracing the insides of his mouth, tasting him. He pulls Jin closer to him, molds his hands on Jin's nape, buries one deep into Jin’s silky tresses and Kame knows he's drowning in the undertow but he doesn't let go.
_____
Part 2