Up in Smoke: A Heisei Kumi fanfic (36/36)
Author: ryosukekoibito
Pairing: Hikato, Chiitaro, Ariyama
Rating: R/NC-17
Warnings: Graphic Violence, Minor Character Death, Strong Language, Explicit Sex, Major Character Death, Murder
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 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35
Keito pursed his lips in concentration, eyes flicking over Yuto’s scarred, tattooed chest, the sweat on their bodies glistening, the summer sun painting them orange and gold to match the sky as it set between the city buildings. He threw a punch with his tattooed arm, and Yuto dodged it, kicking out with startling speed and knocking Keito’s legs out from under him. Keito fell to the pavement of the alley, his bare chest heaving, and he blinked up at Yuto, Yuto beaming as he looked down at him, the words falling light and proud from his lips as he offered Keito a hand
“Got you.” Keito couldn’t help but smile back, genuinely impressed with the way Yuto had managed to knock him off of his feet, and he reached up for Yuto’s proffered hand, taking it and letting Yuto jerk him to his feet as he said
“Yeah. You’re whupping my ass.” It was almost true. The first two weeks or so after the war with the Wakaba had ended had been consumed with funerals and healing from both physical and mental wounds. And while the mental healing would take much longer, both Yuto and Keito’s physical health were good enough to get back to sparring after that two or so week time. And so they had. Yuto in particular was very enthusiastic about it all, and he would drag Keito out into the alley at minimum once a day to throw fists and circle each other, their bodies growing tan in the summer sun.
Before he’d been shot Yuto had almost always beaten Keito. He had years of experience on his side, and Keito was clumsier, less precise. But now Yuto was learning how to deal with his new weak leg, and he was slower, rougher, and he was still building up his muscle, still working on his mobility. Only ten days ago Keito had him beat in every spar they had, but Yuto was working his ass off and it was striking just how far he had come in such a short time. Keito had been afraid before that Yuto wouldn’t be able to fight again, due to his leg. But now he felt sure that it was only a matter of time. He knew that the next fight he was in Yuto would be there. It was only a matter of when the next threat came.
At Keito’s words Yuto’s lips curled into a pleased little smirk, and he ran a hand through his sweaty hair, eyes squinting a little in the setting sun as he asked
“You up for another go?” Keito thought about it for a moment. Hikaru had gone out, and Keito was very excited for his boyfriend’s return. Inoo and Yamada were out too, their housemates off on a patrol of the territory that the kumi had acquired after the war; the old Wakaba territory. It had doubled the size of their land, and they all took turns patrolling it and checking in on the underlings twice a day. Everyone except Yabu, who while much better was still not up for quite that much strenuous activity. All of them were expected back by dinner time, and as such it shouldn’t be long before they showed up. He could spar with Yuto until then, he figured. And so he nodded, taking one last heaving breath of the warm evening air, and he put his fists up.
Yuto’s smile grew, and he matched Keito’s stance, face becoming determined, his brow furrowing, lips pursing as he stepped to the side, punching out, Keito dodging it and moving quickly with a punch of his own. It was nice to spar, nice to just lose himself in the dance of the fight and forget for a little while about all of the terrible things that had happened over the past five months. Nice to let it be over, and just live for a few moments. They didn’t have a lot to be happy about, but the war seemed to be over, peace had settled in after Ichinojo had been killed, and they were all trying hard to rebuild, to work toward something like happiness again. They would never be as they had been before, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be happy. It would just take work and time.
A big step toward that happiness was happening today, and Keito knew that he wasn’t the only one that was excited. It had taken weeks of surgeries, and skin grafts, and physical therapy, but Takaki was finally being released from the hospital today. He was finally coming home. Everyone was excited about it. They’d all woken up with a lightness in their chests and a buzz in their veins that felt so good after so much sadness and anger and death. The anticipation was infectious, and the whole house felt more alive than it had felt in months, and Keito could barely wait for Hikaru to come home, because he would be bringing Takaki back with him.
That excitement renewed him with energy as the sun set and the sky grew dark, street lamps flickering to life all along the alleyway, illuminating them in warm yellow light. It wasn’t long after that when from behind him, out of the darkness there was a shout, and Keito immediately turned away from Yuto, putting his friend behind him and facing the voice in the night. He pulled his Sig Sauer from his jean’s waistband in one fluid motion, pointing it out into the dark street, his heart stuttering in his chest in panic, eyes searching. But then there was a long string of curses, and he realized he recognized that voice, and he lowered the gun, as Inoo and Yamada strolled into view.
Keito took a few deep breaths, his eyes fluttering shut as he tried to get his pounding heart under control. He put the gun away, and Yuto ran a comforting hand over his shoulder, moving to stand beside him instead of behind him, and the taller man waved at their housemates, calling out to them as they walked up
“How was everything? All of the brats still alive?” By that point the other two were nearly within conversational distance, and Yamada visibly snorted, one hand hooked into the strap on his sword, and he shook his head at Yuto’s wording. Keito raked his eyes over them as they walked up, looking for any signs of injury. But they were holding themselves naturally, and there weren’t any new injuries on the skin he could see. No new fear in their eyes. Nothing except Inoo watching him a tad reproachfully, his eyes on the grip of Keito’s Sig Sauer pressed against the small of his back from where it poked out of the top of his waistband.
“Everything went fine.” Yamada assured them both, and Keito nodded, willing to wait for dinner for a detailed report, like usual. But Yuto frowned a little, and Yamada seemed to understand that he was going to need to give a better answer than that before Yuto would be satisfied. And so he began to rattle off updates about the boys Yuto always asked about.
“No underlings died. No one should by now, everyone that still has lasting injuries are quite stable.” That reminder was given with a pointed look, and Yuto had the grace to look a little sheepish. “Igari Soya was out and walking. He wanted to know when you’d be back by. He wants to compare bullet wounds again; he seems to think you two have a special connection because you were shot in more or less the same spot. Shintaro and Juri were both out of bed and were fiercely beating Jesse and Kouchi at poker when he poked our heads into their apartment.” Yamada paused, obviously trying to think about who else Yuto usually asked about, and it was just as Yuto opened his mouth that Inoo jumped in, counting on his fingers as he spoke.
“Both Genta and Matsukura Kaito had their bandages changed this morning, and honestly I think they really don’t even need them any more. They should be all healed up within a week or so. Iwahashi Genki’s wounds are fully scarred over now. He still cried when I asked him about them, but he’ll get used to his new reflection. I think once Yabu’s up for it he should talk to the boy. Takahashi Kaito on the contrary seems very optimistic about his three fingered hand… Oh, and the infection in Nakamura Reia’s thigh is practically gone.” Yuto nodded, his shoulders visibly relaxing as Inoo finished, and Keito felt a small smile creep onto his face. Yuto was always so concerned about the underling boys. It was sweet.
“Hokuto gave me a report listing updates about all of the injured boys’ conditions as well. I’m going to give it to the Kumi-cho as soon as I see him.” Inoo said, holding up a folder full of papers, and he glanced toward the red door of their home, asking “Is he back yet? Is Takaki home?” His voice was light and casual, no trace of any heightened emotions, and Keito watched him closely. He was still trying to figure Inoo out. Trying to figure out what Inoo and Takaki’s relationship really was. But he couldn’t pin it down. He shook his head though, telling them
“Not yet. But Daiki started cooking dinner a while ago, so hopefully that will be done soon, and then as soon as Takaki and the Kumi-cho come home we can eat.” They all started toward the front steps, Keito and Yuto both leaning down to scoop their discarded tee shirts from the dark pavement, and as they clambered up the steps Keito asked “How was the Wakaba territory?”
“The same.” Yamada responded. “The edges of the former Wakaba territory still need to be reminded that they belong to the Kitagawa Group now, but nothing to really get worried about.” Keito nodded, the conversation dying as they moved over the threshold, Keito’s stomach growling instantly as he was hit with the rich smells of the meal Daiki had cooking over on the stove. They filed inside, and they were greeted with the sight of Chinen and Yabu lounging together on the couch in the living room, with what looked to be a lazy game of go fish in progress. Everyone turned to look at them when the group came in, and Daiki beamed, walking over to his husband, pulling him in for a kiss while Yabu said in a jokingly unenthusiastic tone
“Oh, it’s just you.” Next to him Chinen treated them to a rare smile, and Inoo snorted, rolling his eyes, humoring the older man. Yabu was still weak from the muscle deterioration that had occurred during his coma, but he’d started coming downstairs during the day to sit on the couch with them and eat meals at the table instead of in bed. He and Chinen had been spending a lot of time together, Chinen really seeming to have taken to Yabu when-once he was well enough to get out of Takaki’s bed, and back to his own-he had offered that they officially switch rooms, allowing Chinen to stay in the room he’d been sleeping in, instead of forcing him to return to the one he’d shared with Ryutaro.
All of them that were well enough had helped facilitate the move, and it had been an emotional day, Keito himself packing away all of Chinen’s pictures of Ryutaro in a box along with Ryu’s little knick knacks and miscellany, a lump in his throat and tears running down his cheeks throughout. All of Ryutaro’s things were now in boxes in Chinen’s new closet, sitting and waiting for the day that he was ready to go through them. Yabu seemed to be handling the room change well, and Chinen seemed to have had some weight taken off of his shoulders now that there was no fear of having to go back to sleep in that bed he had once shared with his deceased boyfriend. It was a good change. Another step toward an eventual happiness.
They all dispersed once inside the house, Inoo throwing himself onto the couch next to Yabu, leaving his folder on the coffee table, while the Ariokas retreated into the kitchen, Yamada taking his sword from where it hung on his shoulder and leaving it instead draped over his dining chair, while Daiki ran an appreciative hand over his back. Yuto glanced over at Keito and gestured up the stairs, saying
“I’m going to take a quick shower before the Kumi-cho and Takaki arrive.” Keito nodded, wiping at his own sweaty brow with his wadded up tee shirt and conceding that that was a great idea, watching as Yuto climbed the stairs, his weak leg obviously a little stiff, a small unevenness in his step. Once Yuto had made it to the top and turned out of sight Keito went over to Hikaru’s office door and pushed it open, walking through the room, his eyes deliberately avoiding the desk on his way to the bedroom. It didn’t seem to matter however, as his stomach did a little unpleasant flip inside of him anyway, just knowing what was there.
They’d lost about a third of their underlings in that last fight, and the list of the dead Hikaru had kept on his desk had grown so long it occupied two pages. He didn’t move it however, just kept it lying there, the names in neat rows. Looking at it made Keito’s stomach turn and his eyes burn, and seeing Ryutaro’s name written there in Hikaru’s shaking handwriting sandwiched between Takahashi Fu and Nakamura Kaito always made Keito’s breath catch in his throat. He hated the thing, but Hikaru had told him once that it helped him. Helped him remember the consequences. Helped him to not forget the boys they’d lost. Keito didn’t really understand it, but he figured that if it was helping Hikaru then he could put up with it.
Still, he felt better once he was in their bedroom with the door shut, separating him from that awful list. He sighed, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, and he took his handgun from his waistband, placing it on the bedside table before crossing over to the adjoining bathroom, slipping out of his clothes and turning on the shower, the hot water pulling a sigh of relief from his lips when he stepped in, and he just stood under the spray for a moment, feeling the warmth from the water relax his muscles. He watched the water trace patterns over his tattooed arm for a moment, loving the look of the ink under the shining drops, before he ran his hands over his scalp, feeling his bristlingly short hair, and the scars where he’d had to get stitches after the last fight of the war.
He missed his long hair. They’d had to cut it off for the stitches, and while Hikaru assured him that he was still sexy, Keito couldn’t help but feel that it was just another reminder of what had happened, and he was looking forward to the day it was long enough to be thrown up into a ponytail again. He showered quickly, and once he had finished he threw on some sweatpants and a tank top. It was a Monday, and he didn’t have any debts to collect, what with Takaki coming home that night. It was just as he was leaving the bedroom, going to rejoin the group out in the living spaces-he could maybe help Daiki set the table or place a bet on the winner of that card game happening on the couch-when he heard the sound of the front door opening, and he darted for the office door.
He wrenched it open to see Hikaru standing there, his hand still on the doorknob, as he stood aside, Takaki walking in. There were happy shouts of welcome, and everyone got to their feet, Keito moving closer, eyes on Takaki, looking him over. They had all been to see him in the hospital, of course, but he had almost always been in bed then, and the bed with all of the tubes he was hooked up to, as well as that hospital gown, always seemed to make him look worse than he really was. Takaki was in jeans and a henley now, and he had bandages peeking out from under his collar and sleeves, but he was smiling, and happiness swooped high in Keito’s chest at the sight of him.
They all clamored for hugs, and as Keito moved closer Yuto called out from the top of the stairs, his hair dripping from his own shower, his clothes sticking to wet skin, as though he’d hopped out and hadn’t bothered drying himself off in his haste to get presentable. Takaki laughed, and waved, and Keito felt the sudden urge to cry, his relief and joy so much as to be almost painful. He stepped close to Hikaru content to wait his turn, and his boyfriend pulled him into his side, as the others still came over to Takaki for hugs, exclaiming about how good he looked and how glad they were to see him. No one had even bothered to shut the front door; it still stood open, letting in a warm breeze.
Hikaru ran his arm over Keito’s shoulders, and Keito reached up, lacing their fingers together and holding on, and Hikaru-in a rare moment of affection-placed a kiss on Keito’s temple, and Keito tried to choke out an apology through the lump in his throat, but Hikaru shook his head, and he said quietly
“I know. I know how you feel.” There was a pause, both of them watching as Yabu and Takaki hugged. Neither of them had seen the other in months. “I feel it too. It’s good.” Hikaru said, his voice barely a whisper, and Keito nodded, eyes still on Yabu and Takaki. There was a small silence between them, and then Hikaru said, voice low, just for Keito’s ears, but sure. “I love you.”
Keito found himself frozen, his whole world the low, sweet affection in the syllables as they'd rolled off Hikaru's tongue. The warmth of Hikaru's body up against his. And Keito had known. He'd known that Hikaru loved him. But in all of the time they'd been together Hikaru had never said it. Not until today. Not until now. He felt Hikaru's arm shift on his shoulders, and he looked over at Hikaru's face, eyes catching on the barely present blush dusting his cheeks and arching over the bridge of his nose, Keito's chest aching, heart leaping. It could only have been a moment or two, the other members of their house still engrossed in greeting Takaki, and it took Keito a few seconds to find his voice before he said
"I know, you know." He could see Hikaru's eyebrows raise just a little in surprise, and Keito could hear his emotions getting the best of him, as he breathed out, just barely a whisper "I love you too." A sweet little smile broke out on Hikaru's face at that, and he looked down, his lashes brushing his cheeks as his blush deepened ever so slightly, and he nodded a little.Keito nodded back, unable to speak, tears fully running down his cheeks now. But then Yuto finally reached the bottom of the stairs, and he was yelling that Yabu needed to let him and Keito have a turn. And Yabu was grumbling good naturedly back, and everyone was smiling. Keito blinked away his tears enough to look around at all of them, and something settled inside of him, and he knew that it was good. That this was home again. And he smiled.
A/N: It's over! I have been writing this fic for almost three years. I know it's been a long time, and if you made it to the end I really appreciate it! A very special thank you to butterfly5286, kei_tea, and gothunia, who have been amazingly supportive and patient with me. You three have really made this a lovely experience for me, and I know I haven't been consistent, but you put up with it, and were always kind, and enthusiastic, and for that I really am grateful. I think this is going to be my last kumi fic from Keito's POV, and I have always considered his story in this AU to be the main one. So in a sense this is the end. I hope it has been worth it.
As for any future projects, I do have one completed oneshot that I will be posting in the coming weeks. It does take place within the kumi AU, but it's very different from any of my other ones, and it takes place in late February of 2007, right before Shoon dissapears. It's called The Sea Kumi, so if that's something you're interested in, keep your eyes peeled! Outside of that I do have plans for other fics, but with my new very hectic work schedule it is going to be slow moving. Thank you for everything!