Up in Smoke: A Heisei Kumi fanfic (22/36)
Author: ryosukekoibito
Pairing: Hikato, Chiitaro, Ariyama
Rating: R/NC-17
Warnings: Graphic Violence, Minor Character Death, Strong Language, Explicit Sex, Major Character Death
Genre: Slice of life/Angst
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone.
Summary: After months of peace an attack leaves the Heisei Kumi reeling, and when an old enemy returns to the area reclaiming that peace starts to feel impossible.
A/N: The next installment in my Heisei Kumi AU, this one starts in the last days of December 2016 and continues on into 2017. 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!
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21
Over the next few days Keito kept expecting some sort of confrontation from Takaki. He kept expecting the older man to drag him somewhere quiet and explain away everything Keito had seen, or at the very least threaten him that he'd better keep his mouth shut. But Takaki did neither of those things, the only indication that their little exchange in the hall had happened the delicate necklace that he had taken to wearing-not around his neck, but wrapped around his wrist, the tiny glass bottle dangling down just a little. Keito wasn’t sure if the older man had ever thanked Inoo for the gift; whenever he went to visit his housemate Inoo didn’t bring it up, and Keito felt too guilty to say anything.
No one else seemed to know anything about the confusing situation between Takaki, Chinen, and Inoo, everyone focused on healing their own injuries or too wrapped up in their grieving to be very aware of the people around them. Keito could feel a fatigue inside of himself, one that made it hard to feel the need to expend any energy worrying about something that ultimately wouldn’t end up with anyone dead, when so much of their lives had been consumed by death. He was miserable with his grief, absolutely sick of feeling sick of missing Ryutaro, and it hung over the whole house, toxic and distracting.
It was about a week after the funeral when Keito woke up to Hikaru pulling out of his arms. Hikaru had been even more busy than usual, having taken over Yabu’s duties-mostly financial-as the older man had yet to wake. It was noticeably tiring, Keito wishing Hikaru could just take a little more time for himself, and he automatically reached out, grabbing Hikaru’s left hand and holding on, still not truly awake as he said
“Stay.” Hikaru chuckled at that, and the sound of laughter was so unexpected that it was what got Keito to open his eyes, looking up to see Hikaru sitting, glancing down at him, a warm affectionate smile on his face. When Keito’s eyes met his own Hikaru leaned down, pressing his lips to Keito’s, and Keito melted into it, something electric running down his spine and pooling in his tummy. When Hikaru pulled away Keito whined, reaching out with his other hand and bringing Hikaru back, Hikaru practically falling on top of him as he pressed his lips to Keito’s again. It was only after this kiss broke that Hikaru said, his voice soft
“Good morning.” Keito smiled a little, Hikaru’s inexplicable good mood infectious, and he ran a hand through his hair, before reaching up and running that same hand down Hikaru’s right arm, fingers tracing the lines of the older man’s tattoos on its way down. “I didn’t mean to wake you, I wanted to try and let you sleep in.” Hikaru told him. “Go back to sleep.” Hikaru moved to go and get out of bed, and Keito sat up, not wanting Hikaru to leave.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“I have an appointment I have to make it to this morning, I need to get ready to go.” Hikaru informed him, his official business tone sneaking into his voice, and Keito felt a little disappointed. With the surprisingly sweet way Hikaru had woken him up he’d rather hoped today would turn out to be a little different. Better than the last week. He’d wanted to spend the morning in bed with Hikaru, with lots of kissing and maybe some sex or something else nice and sweet. Something to take their minds off the war for a few hours.
“How urgent is it?” He found himself asking, and Hikaru’s mouth curved in a bemused grin, his eyebrows raising questioningly at Keito’s query.
“I have to go.” He said, but his voice was a little teasing, and Keito perked up at the tone, and he knew that if he played his cards right he could get Hikaru to stay a little bit longer.
“Do you think you have time for a blowjob?” Keito asked, trying to sound just the right side of flirty. Trying to keep the mood light, and push aside his depression and grief for a few minutes. Hikaru laughed again, a smile spreading across his face, and he turned back around leaning across the mattress to kiss Keito, one hand pressing him gently back so that he was lying propped up against his pillow.
“Sure.” He said, one hand already fiddling with the waistband on Keito’s pajama pants, and Keito tried to explain to him that no, Keito was the one that was offering to give the blowjob, but Hikaru just pressed a kiss to his tummy and shook his head, fingers inside Keito’s pants. It didn’t take long for Keito’s indignance to melt into muffled gasps. After he was done Keito tried to reciprocate but Hikaru insisted that no, he didn’t have time, just pressing a kiss to Keito’s cheek and rushing out the door. Keito watched him go, rather disappointed despite just how relaxed he was after he’d come, his body having melted into the mattress. He’d have to really make it up to Hikaru once the older man finally came home.
He laid around for a good twenty minutes or so before finally deciding that he needed to get up. He took a quick shower and changed, and he was glad that he had when he stepped out of Hikaru’s quarters to hear a knock on the door. The Ariokas were downstairs as well, the two of them freezing in place in the kitchen. Keito’s heart leapt in his throat, and he pulled his gun from his jeans waistband, cocking it and making his way across the living room, his hand gripping the doorknob as a second knock rang through the room. In one fluid motion Keito whisked the door open, heart pounding in his ears, his gun raised up in front of himself, pointed at their visitor.
It was a man in a suit, someone Keito vaguely recognized, and the man froze at the sight of him, eyes wide as he stared down the barrel of Keito’s gun.
“Young Master! I am so sorry, I don’t mean any harm!” The man’s voice was high with fear, and Keito realized he was wearing their group crest on his lapel. He lowered his gun, decocking it and muttering an apology, rather embarrassed for frightening this guy. “I was sent to deliver these for the Oyabun.” The man told him, extending his arms. He had a small box in one hand and a bottle of whisky in another. Keito felt a wash of relief. His father had sent him a present was all. He thanked the man and took the items, the guy scurrying away as Keito shut the door. Yamada and Daiki were right behind him, eyes wide and shoulders tense, and Keito told them
“It’s just a delivery from my dad.” It wasn’t until he opened up the box to find a nice new leather wallet and a card wishing him a happy birthday that he realized why his father was sending him anything. It was his birthday. He was twenty-four. Suddenly Hikaru’s insistence that Keito be the one on the receiving end of the blowjob that morning made a little more sense. The year was flashing by in between all of the bloodshed, life continuing on at a faster pace than he’d realized. He sat in the living room, immediately taking his wallet out of his pocket to switch out the contents into the new one, while the Ariokas cooked breakfast.
They seemed to be particularly enveloped in each other this morning, the two of them murmuring to each other and giggling, hands wandering a little more than Keito felt up for, mostly just reminding him that Hikaru wasn’t here to do that with, and so he snagged plates for Inoo and Yuto and carried his breakfast upstairs to eat with his injured housemates. He found them sitting together in Inoo and Takaki’s shared bedroom, Inoo sitting propped up by some pillows in his bed, blinking blearily as if having just woken up, Yuto on a chair next to him, chattering away, chipper. When Inoo caught sight of Keito he smiled, reaching out for a plate, and Keito passed the food out, sitting down at the foot of Inoo’s bed and listening to Yuto ramble.
He ended up spending the rest of the morning hanging out with Inoo and Yuto, the three of them all sitting around Inoo’s bed, playing card games and a couple of rounds of chess, talking and joking, and placing bets for hours. It was fun, just hanging out, the three of them not often spending time together as a trio. Inoo was looking pretty good, all things considered. He’d been awake for a little over a week, and he was getting out of bed on occasion, still rather weak on his feet but able to walk short distances. He had lost a lot of weight while he’d been unconscious, but he acted like he felt just fine, not allowing anyone to fuss over him except Daiki, who simply could not be deterred.
It was twenty minutes into a poker game, Inoo in the middle of telling a story about something stupid Daiki had said a few days ago, all smiles and giggles when Takaki came in, the older man wearing nothing but a towel slung around his hips, his hair wet from the shower, Inoo’s necklace wrapped around his wrist. Keito tensed up automatically, his eyes darting to Inoo’s face. Inoo didn’t even blink, his eyes barely flicking up to register Takaki, his story not slowing down in the slightest, and Keito didn’t really know what to think. Takaki shuffled over to his dresser, dropping the towel and digging through his drawers for some clean clothes, and there was this tension in the room that Keito couldn’t quite tell if Inoo was aware of at all.
The awkwardness reached new heights when just as Takaki got some pants on Chinen peeked in, stepping fully inside the room when he saw that Takaki was there. Inoo just continued with his story, but Keito really wasn’t listening, distracted by Chinen’s damp hair and the way the clothes he was wearing hung off of his body, much too big for him. Chinen crossed the room, Takaki tugging a shirt down over his stomach just before Chinen reached him, his arms open and waiting for Chinen to fall into. Takaki leaned down, bending his knees to better cradle their tiny housemate, his movements careful as if Chinen was fragile and could break.
It was heart wrenchingly sweet, and Keito bit at his lip nervously, unable to keep from watching Inoo as the two left together. Inoo’s face was unreadable. Ketio didn’t know what to think about the whole situation, but he didn’t think it was his place to ask. Didn’t think he’d get any answers even if he did, so he kept his mouth shut. Despite Inoo’s lack of reaction to being faced with Takaki-someone he maybe was in love with, who had maybe dumped him, or maybe never loved him or maybe none of those things; something that the more Keito thought about it the more it made his head hurt-something in the atmosphere had changed, and Keito was rather relieved when through the open bedroom door he heard someone calling his name.
It was Hikaru standing at the bottom of the stairs, and Keito was happy to see him, a warmth spreading through his chest. Hikaru was just so devastatingly handsome, his eyes on Keito’s face, an energy to him like he was lit up from the inside, something bright and excited. He looked fucking happy. Keito was overcome with a rush of affection, struck with just how long it had been since he’d seen Hikaru looking this full of life, and he raced down the stairs, nearly tripping in his haste, leaning in before Hikaru could stop him and pressing a quick kiss to his boyfriend’s lips.
They didn’t really act like they were together in public spaces, Hikaru acutely aware that them getting to stay together hinged on his ability to separate his feelings about Keito from his position as their leader. He had explained to Keito a long time ago that he didn’t think it would be good to act too affectionately when there was the chance of someone else seeing them. Which Keito understood and respected most of the time. It wasn’t all that hard, usually, keeping his hands to himself. But sometimes, times like right then, he couldn’t help it. And so he stepped back, expecting to get a stern look or a small head shake showing Hikaru’s disappointment, but instead Hikaru blushed a little pink, one side of his mouth quirking up as he lost hold of the smile he was trying to fight.
“Today’s my birthday you know.” Keito said, trying to justify himself on reflex. Hikaru nodded, taking his hand.
“I know. I have a present for you.” Keito blinked in surprise, Hikaru twining their fingers together as he said “I’ll show you, c’mon.” He turned, Keito following him as Hikaru led Keito back to his bedroom, Keito trying to think of what the present could possibly be. But then Hikaru pushed Keito down onto his bed, Keito sitting on the edge, Hikaru kissing him as Keito’s hands flew back to prop himself up, and Keito thought he had an idea. Hikaru stepped back, running one hand through Keito’s long hair, murmuring for him to stay there before going to the buttons of his shirt, slowly undoing them, gradually exposing the hard lines of his stomach and chest. Something inside of Keito’s stomach quivered in anticipation, but he stayed put as Hikaru’s fingers danced over the buttonholes, just watching appreciatively as Hikaru dropped the shirt to the floor and turned around.
Keito gasped, freezing in shock. Hikaru’s back was covered in fresh ink, black lines arching over pink tender skin, traveling across scarred muscle. The tattoo was huge, running from his shoulders down his back, Hikaru pulling his pants down so Keito could see that it went all the way down over his ass, ending just under his buttcheeks. It was just the linework, Keito knowing that in the months to come the piece would be gradually colored, bright and stunning against Hikaru’s warm skin. It was striking, detailed and beautiful, and Keito leaned in, eyes raking over Hikaru’s body.
The main image was one of a tiger, standing fierce and proud, mouth open in a roar. Lotus flowers framed the beast, looking delicate and beautiful next to the powerful image of the large cat. The thick stripes of Hikaru’s arm tattoos wove through everything, integrated flawlessly into the new piece, coming up over his back and continuing into the tiger’s coat to give the tiger it’s stripes, connecting it all together, the heavy black stripes stark against the fine lines of the rest of the tattoo. Keito reached out, wanting to touch but knowing that it would hurt Hikaru, and so he let his fingers hover just above the skin, following the lines. After a long silence Hikaru spoke
“I’d been planning this for a while, and I wanted it to be a surprise. I just...I thought you might like it. You’re being really quiet back there. What do you think?” Keito reached out, taking Hikaru’s left hand in his own and giving it a tight squeeze, struggling to find words for a moment before eventually saying
“Hikaru, it’s amazing.” Hikaru squeezed his hand back, bowing his head but not turning around, letting Keito look for as long as he pleased, until Keito couldn’t stand not kissing him any longer and he tugged him around, reaching out gently and placing a long kiss on Hikaru’s lips, his boyfriend leaning into the kiss, cupping Keito’s face, as Keito felt a swell of emotion wash over him, and when the kiss broke he wished he could throw his arms over Hikaru’s shoulders and hold him. Instead he pressed their foreheads together, Hikaru looking into his eyes for a moment, absolutely gorgeous as he said
“Happy Birthday.” Keito felt he could almost cry with how happy he was in that moment, and he fought back the welling of tears in his eyes, instead telling Hikaru
“I love you.” As soon as the words left his lips Hikaru’s lips were there, tasting them, the kiss fierce, Keito pressing in close, kissing every inch of Hikaru he could, wanting to express just how he was feeling, not trusting his words to do it for him. He trailed the kisses down over Hikaru’s chest and stomach, before falling to his knees, and finally giving that blowjob he’d offered Hikaru that morning, loving watching Hikaru fall apart under his touch. God, he was beautiful. He was perfect, and he was all Keito’s. It was almost too much to bear. It was the biggest miracle to ever happen to him. And Keito loved him so much he could barely stand it.
That night he fell asleep on his back, Hikaru’s naked body draped over his chest so he wouldn’t lay on his tender skin, Hikaru’s face tucked into his neck. Keito ran his hands through Hikaru’s hair, unable to keep the smile off his face. He felt better than he had in a very long time. This had been an amazing day. This was one of the best days of his life, and he wasn’t going to let the backdrop of war ruin it. The next day things were just a little bit better, Keito able to think about Hikaru and smile, despite everything. Keito stuck in a haze of happiness of his own manufacture. He was drowning in gratitude and love for Hikaru, and he knew the feeling wouldn’t last but he clung to it. He clung to it, desperately drawing the feeling out. It worked for six days, until he woke up one morning and Chinen was missing, and reality crashed down on him.
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