Shoon's Greatest Pride: a Heisei Kumi fanfic (9/9)
Author: ryosukekoibito
Pairing: none
Rating: R
Warnings: Drug use, Homelessness, Violence
Genre: Slice of life/Coming of age
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone.
Summary: The first time Shoon had seen Hikaru, he hadn't thought the kid could be saved. That didn't keep him from trying.
A/N: So here's some more Heisei Kumi fic! This one starts in November of 1997, and follows the boys, but more specifically Shoon and Hikaru's relationship, over almost nine years. You do not need to have read any of the other stories in this AU to read this one, as it introduces the world through Shoon's eyes. If you'd like to read the other stories in this AU, please check out my masterlist! All Heisei Kumi fics have 平成組 next to their titles, to mark them as part of the AU! I'm pretty excited about this fic, and I hope you all like it!
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Kenichi called Shoon back a few days later to inform him that the kids that had attacked them had been members of a rival group, part of a neighboring kumi called the Wakaba. The information didn’t shed much light on the why of the incident, but it was good to put a name to their attackers. In the following weeks Shoon implemented a new fight training regimen into their day to day routines. It started immediately after they finished their study sessions, Hikaru making a remark during one of the first fight practices about them training their minds and bodies equally that made Shoon smile. The boys all seemed to agree on the importance of these sessions, but none of the others were as enthusiastic as Hikaru.
While Taiyo and Yabu approached the sparring practices with caution, Hikaru lept at the chance, always willing to try something new, coming at Shoon with everything he had every time they sparred. It was fun, working with Hikaru, and they made each other better, Hikaru’s determination and obvious enjoyment of it all infectious. Hikaru was the hardest working of all of them, ready to keep going long after Shoon had thrown in the towel for the day, and he quickly filled out, his whole body a tight ball of muscle. Hikaru was a fast learner, and a fantastic strategist, able to think a few moves ahead when meanwhile Yabu and Taiyo could barely muster up the will to actually punch and kick at Shoon.
When not at home sparring or studying or playing around Yabu, Taiyo, and Hikaru had taken to hanging out at the underling housing, Shoon learning over dinner conversations that they had befriended one of the boys, a kid around their own age named Inoo Kei. They talked often about Inoo and his companion, a fierce boy they called ‘The Dragon’, telling Shoon and all about their friend enthusiastically, talking about how he and this dragon boy had established themselves as the toughest boys in the underlings. It wasn’t until Yabu’s fourteenth birthday however, that Shoon met Inoo and his companion. Yabu had asked if he could please please invite Inoo to celebrate, Shoon agreeing readily, much to the other kids’ excitement.
Shoon wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but when two skinny, dirty kids in thin clothes, their lips blue from the cold, walked through their door, his protective instincts kicked in, getting the kids warmer clothes at once, feeding them a proper meal, and by the end of the night he found himself offering the two of them a place to stay in their home, unable to find it in himself to send those boys back out into the cold January night. Inoo, the larger of the two, accepted his offer at once, thanking Shoon profusely for his hospitality, but the smaller, younger one-the one that the other kids called The Dragon, and Inoo had introduced simply as Dai-chan-took a bit of coaxing, his young eyes wary.
Over the years they gained more boys, their home filling up with an array of personalities, and as time passed, and their family grew, Shoon began to rely on Hikaru more and more. Hikaru was growing and maturing, becoming one of their strongest fighters, as well as someone the rest of the boys loved. Everyone wanted to be around Hikaru, he had an energy that radiated from his sharp wit and bright, intelligent eyes that drew everyone in. Hikaru was someone they all respected, and it was fantastic to watch him grow, both physically and mentally. He was reliable, and with each passing year Shoon found himself growing to trust Hikaru with things he wouldn’t have thought a few years prior, that he’d ever trust him with.
It was in the early summer of their fifth year as members of the Kitagawa Group, and Shoon had come back late from one of his biweekly tattooing sessions, the rest of the boys already in bed by the time he went to care for the fresh ink. He had set up shop in the kitchen by the sink, and he had managed to get the bandages off, but the attempts to wash his back were going poorly, his muscles sore from the needles, burning when he’d contort his body to try and reach it with his hands. He was so concentrated on his task that he didn’t hear Hikaru approaching, nearly jumping out of his skin when the younger teen said
“Need a hand, Mayo?” Hikaru was smiling bemusedly at him, and Shoon knew he had to look ridiculous, with his arms contorted the way he did, water and soap flung all around him. He felt a smile break out on his own face as his eyes met Hikaru’s own, and he nodded, Hikaru going to the sink and washing his hands. Shoon pulled out one of the chairs from the kitchen table, offering up his thanks as he felt Hikaru’s hands on his back, doing the job he’d been trying to do for him. They were silent for a few moments, Hikaru lathering his back in soap, the bubbles and water running down his skin and settling at the waistband of his jeans, absorbing into the fabric. But then, Hikaru asked
“Does it hurt?”
“Kinda. I mean, it's not like getting a blade to the arm or something...but it lasts longer and is more drawn out than a blade to the arm.” Shoon said, glancing over at Hikaru, trying to gauge his expression, to see if he’d explained it well. Hikaru nodded, looking thoughtful as he began to clean off the soap from Shoon’s back, and there was another lapse of silence before Hikaru asked
“What would you think about me maybe getting a tattoo?” Shoon blinked in surprise at the question, straightening up and turning around to look at Hikaru properly.
“You want to get one?” He asked, caught completely off guard by the question. Hikaru had never shown any interest in any sort of tattoo work before now; he’d never commented on Shoon or Daiki’s tattoos-at least, not without any sort of prompting. Shoon’s surprise seemed to make Hikaru feel rather self conscious, his cheeks tinting pink, and he glanced down for a moment, before he nodded, then shrugged.
“I’ve been thinking about it.” Shoon nodded, wondering what would be the best way to handle this conversation.
“What would you get? Do you know what you think you would want, if that’s what you decide you want to do?” Hikaru’s cheeks grew even redder at the questions, and he admitted quietly
“I don’t know.” He didn’t know. Shoon was confused now. Hikaru was claiming to want a tattoo, but to not even know what he wanted a tattoo of? It wasn’t like Hikaru to be so...spontaneous? Reckless? The second word was harsher, but perhaps more accurate. Shoon didn’t understand, something felt off, and while he wanted to support Hikaru, he couldn’t help but ask, his bewilderment clear in his tone
“But...why do you want one then? If you don’t even know what you’d get a tattoo of?”
“Because...I want to get one over these.” Hikaru said, extending his right arm fully, so that Shoon could get a good look at it. Over the years they had faded, but the scars, the little discolored pock marks left from his heroin addiction were still very visible, the trail of them running along his vein the first thing Shoon’s eyes went to when he looked at it. “I want to cover them up and make them go away. The other boys, and people I don’t know give me looks, and that would be fine if they were scars from something I was proud of, like a battle or something, but…” His words were coming slowly, falling from his lips carefully, like he was weighing them before he said them.
“But the thing is...I’m not proud. I don’t like the reminder there-all the time whenever I look down-of the awful things I used to do. Of what my parents did to me. I don’t want to be reminded of my addiction every waking moment of my life. I hate them.” He took a deep breath, pulling his arm in close to his chest, shielding the scars from Shoon’s eyes. “So I had been thinking that maybe, maybe I could get a tattoo, and cover the scars up.” He looked back up at Shoon, very serious. “I’m not trying to forget what I did, or what you did for me. But...I don’t want to be judged as something I’m not anymore.”
Shoon was floored, completely blindsided by Hikaru’s request, and his confession. He’d had no idea Hikaru had been feeling judged or self conscious about his scars. He’d never seen any behavior from the other boys that would suggest that was the case inside the house, but what he’d seen didn’t really matter, he realized almost as fast as the thought registered. What mattered was how Hikaru was feeling. And Hikaru had decided a long time ago that he’d wanted to put the drugs in his past. Now he just wanted to feel like he wasn’t being judged for his past mistakes. Shoon nodded.
“Hikaru, if you’d like I can talk to my tattoo artist, and we can get the marks all covered up.” He offered. “But, I want you to be positive in your decision first. Once you get the tattoos, you won’t be able to change your mind. You’ll be stuck with them, and probably in this lifestyle, forever.” He smiled a small smile. “I just don’t want you to regret it. But if you decide that you definitely want tattoos, then I support your decision one hundred percent. Okay?” Hikaru nodded, letting out a breath.
“Thanks Mayo.” His voice was quiet, and Shoon just nodded back. They didn’t talk about the concept of Hikaru getting tattooed again, the two of them working together to get Shoon’s tattoo taken care of before going their separate ways for the night. And indeed in the days to follow Hikaru didn’t bring it up, Shoon’s mind quickly becoming focused on other things; the Wakaba were growing more active. And when Takaki-their newest member of the household-asked to take in another child, all thoughts of his late night talk with Hikaru fled his mind. It wasn’t until that new child-a tiny boy named Chinen Yuri-started asking questions about Hikaru’s scars, that Shoon was reminded of their conversation.
And almost as if in response to Shoon’s thoughts, the following day after the study session had finished up Hikaru sat down at the kitchen table with Shoon, telling him in the buzz of afternoon snack time
“Mayo, I have to talk to you.” Shoon’s mind had still been on the study session they’d just completed, and getting to know Chinen, and the determination in Hikaru’s tone took him by surprise. He was even more surprised when Hikaru laid his right arm out on the table palm up, displaying his scars, and saying "I really want to do it. I want the tattoos. I'm sure of it." Shoon looked over the little scars, considering all that had gone into Hikaru’s decision, and he nodded. If this was what Hikaru wanted, Shoon would do everything he could to make it happen. But this was not a good time, and he said
"We'll discuss this in detail tonight, after dinner." Hikaru nodded in agreement, a huge smile on his face, and just seeing how excited Hikaru was about the whole thing made Shoon excited. This would be good. That night they sat down in his office and called his tattoo artist, explaining the situation and working the logistics out with him, and it was decided that Shoon would just bring Hikaru in with him to his next tattooing session, the first tuesday of August, and they’d do Hikaru’s arm then. Those eleven days went by fast paced in the whirl of everyday life, and it felt like he’d been snuck up on when the day came for Hikaru to get his tattoo.
They left right after lunch, and Shoon had been nervous about the whole process, but Hikaru seemed calm, chatting and joking with Shoon the whole way to their destination, only falling silent once they’d entered the shop. Hikaru got his done first, done the western way with a machine, it was much faster than Shoon’s sessions, the artist freehanding thick black lines artfully up Hikaru’s arm and shoulder. Hikaru bit his lip a bit, but he gave no other indications that he was in any pain, and when the tattoo was finished, and he got a chance to see himself and his new reflection for the first time he broke out in a smile. Then it was time for Shoon to get into the tattooist’s chair, and he laid on his stomach, chatting with Hikaru as the hours passed, and the sun gave way to night.
It wasn’t until after they’d left the shop that Hikaru said, breaking a lull in the conversation
“Thanks Mayo.” Shoon looked over at Hikaru, and he found himself truly observing and contemplating the fifteen year old kid walking next to him. Hikaru was nearly completely unrecognizable in contrast to his seven year old self. He had evolved from the scrawny, sickly, addiction riddled boy-the boy high on heroin and half conscious, with vomit on his worn jacket and the ends of his sneakers, left for dead in the cold of winter-to this teen. This confident, strong, healthy teen with bright eyes and an even brighter smile. This teen with a sharp wit and the ability to inspire others to want to try harder, to want to do better, and it was flooring just how far Hikaru had come. And Shoon found himself replying, the words rising out of him a truth that was undeniable
“I’m immensely proud of you, you know.” A blush tinted Hikaru’s cheeks pink at the words, and he ducked his head, nodding. Shoon smiled, reaching up and giving Hikaru a pat on the back as they rounded the last corner, their home coming into view. And as they went in, and he watched as the other boys all flocked to Hikaru, he didn’t think he’d ever be more proud of anything.
A/N: And it's over! I had a lot of fun writing it, and I hope you had fun reading it! Thank you all for taking time out of your lives to read this little story, and an even bigger thanks to everyone that took the extra time to comment! It means a lot to me! I have another multi-chap in the works, but it's still too early to really get into what it's about, or start posting yet, so until then I'm going to try and post some drabbles I've written, and I'll try to keep up my weekly schedule, but I am starting to get close to using all of my preprepared content, so if I do run out please bear with me! I'm doing my best to finish this new story! I'm pretty excited about it. I hope this last chapter finds you well. Thanks for everything.