[Fic] Shattered Impression
A/N: For those who want to see what I pictured when writing about the antique doll: http://www.teaching-in-japan.com/images/japanese-doll-2.jpg
“Jin, will you stop freaking out already? I can feel you shaking. It’s just dinner.”
“It’s not just dinner, Kazu! It’s dinner with your parents! And they will know about us! And-“
“We will tell them after dinner then, how does that sound?”
“Aren’t you nervous at all?!”
“Of course I am! But honestly I’m more nervous about my brothers’ reactions than my parents. But there is no point in freaking out over it. Worrying won’t change the outcome, whatever it may be.”
Jin just groaned.
They had been together for nearly ten months now, and Kazuya had finally told Jin that he was ready to tell his family about their relationship. At first, Jin was happy about it, but after he had had some time to think it over, Jin was becoming increasingly paranoid about the encounter.
He knew Kazuya’s parents had at least an acceptable opinion of him, but that could change completely when they found out that he was Kazuya’s boyfriend. It wasn’t exactly unheard of for Jin to do something, well, stupid; and he was terrified that Kazuya’s parents would single out every single one of his flaws as reasons why he wasn’t good enough to be with their son. He was even more afraid that they would be right.
Jin was nervous about Kazuya’s older brothers’ reactions as well. Yuya already knew, due to accidentally walking in on them once when they were making out-that had been embarrassing- but luckily Kazuya had convinced his brother -or threatened him- to keep his mouth shut about it. But Koji and Yuichiro, two very protective older brothers of both of the younger, well, if they didn’t like it, Jin didn’t want to know what they would do to him.
“Jin, please stop thinking so much. Your brain’s going to implode.” Kame gave Jin’s hand a squeeze, trying to distract him from over-thinking this situation and subsequently freaking out again. “My niece will be there tonight. You like Mieko-chan right?”
That was true. Jin was quite fond of little Mieko-chan, Kazuya’s little 4 year old niece who already called him ‘Uncle Jin.’ If only Kazuya’s parents would accept him as easily as she did… what if they got really angry? What should he do? What if Kazuya listened to them and realised that he could really do much better than Jin?! What if-
“Damn it Akanishi I swear if you don’t calm down I’m going to break up with you here and now.”
Hearing his next thought actually voiced from his boyfriend’s own mouth, Jin unwittingly gave Kazuya a wide-eyed, pitiful, heartbroken look , as if afraid he might actually do it.
Fortunately, Kame was accustomed to Jin’s thought processes. “Baka.” He said, giving Jin a quick peck. “You know I’m only joking baby. Please calm down okay?” he squeezed his hand again. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”
Jin nodded hesitantly, giving Kazuya’s hand an answering squeeze. “You better be.” It was the third of March, and all of Kazuya’s close relatives would be getting together for dinner to celebrate the Hinamatsuri holiday, so Jin had to make a good impression.
He took a deep breath as Kazuya’s house came into view, startled at how the same house that had practically been his second home for several years now suddenly appeared so unfamiliar and hostile.
“Your imagination’s going rampant again. I can tell.”
“Sorry.” Jin said, shaking his head to clear it and trying to breath properly. I can do this. I can do this. I know Kazuya’s parents, and his brothers like me. I can do this.
Their hands broke apart when Kazuya opened the front door, stepping aside to let Jin in. Jin quickly took off his shoes and stepped into the pair of slippers that could practically be called his own since he used them so often, and walked into the kitchen, where Kazuya’s mother was preparing dinner.
“Ah good evening Jin-kun!” she greeted him with a big smile. “I’m so glad you could come to dinner tonight dear. How have you been?”
Oh my gosh I can’t do this. Jin opened his mouth but nothing came out, and he briefly considered running away and never returning when he felt Kazuya pinch the back of his arm. “Ah!-I’ve been well Kamenashi-san! Thank you for asking.” He gave her a big smile which morphed into a deep glare at Kazuya once she had turned her back to them. He pouted and rubbed his arm soothingly.
Kame ignored him. “Can we help you with anything Kaasan?”
Jin figured that was probably a hint. “Yes, may we help you with anything, Kamenashi-san?” Big smile, willing spirit to help, keep going Akanishi. You can do this.
“Well, now that you mention it, I could use some help cutting up these vegetables for the stir fry. My wrist begins to hurt after a while.” Kazuya’s mother said, wiping her hands on her apron.
“I can help with that!” Jin replied, eager to assist in some way, and walked quickly toward the counter where Kazuya’s mother had been chopping some carrots.
“Why thank you Jin-kun. I wish my sons were always so eager to help out.”
Jin gave her a bright smile and washed his hands before beginning to chop up the carrots, feeling encouraged after Kazuya gave him a reassuring wink.
“Unca Kazuuuu!” an excited high pitched voice shouted excitedly at them, and Kame turned around and grunted as a small force slammed into him.
“Hi there, Mieko-chan!” he exclaimed, lifting the four year old up into his arms. “How are you sweetie?”
Jin scolded himself at the slight bit of childish anger that ran through him when Mieko-chan said ‘Kazu.’ That was his name for Kazuya and his alone, even if it was only his four year old niece.
“Look Unca Kazu! I have a doll!” she held up the rag doll that was clutched in her grasp. “Her name’s Kyoko-chan!”
“Why she’s very pretty isn’t she!” Kazuya exclaimed, glancing at the doll.
Mieko-chan nodded adamantly. “Un. Baasan has a doll too Unca Kazu! She’s even prettier than Kyoko-chan! But Baasan won’t let me play with pwetty doll Unca Kazu…” she pouted.
“That doll is not a toy for you to play with Mieko-chan. Don’t make me tell you again.” Kame’s mother said, her voice growing deadly serious in a matter of seconds.
Kame winced at the tone of his mother’s voice. She was very protective of that doll. She had bought it a couple of weeks ago, an antique fragile glass doll that she had very prominently displayed in their living room. In a way it actually was for Mieko-chan. Every year when the Hinamatsuri festival came, Kame’s mother was always a little disappointed that she did not have any daughters to put up dolls for; so when this year came around, she bought that one special antique doll, claiming that Mieko-chan was close enough to a daughter for her to buy it.
“Come see her Unca Kazu! Come see!” Kame didn’t feel up to pointing out to Mieko-chan that he had seen it, many times, since his mother was so proud of it, and so let himself be led into the other room. He had yet to greet Yuichiro and his wife anyway.
“Kazuya?!” Jin called out to him, slightly panicking when he saw that Kazuya was leaving him, in the kitchen, with his mother.
“I’ll be right back, Jin.” Kame said as reassuringly as he could as Mieko-chan pulled on his arm insistently toward the living room.
Jin turned back to his carrots. You’ll be fine. He’ll be right back. You’ve talked to his mother before. It’ll be okay.
“So Jin-kun, how have things been going with you lately? Seeing any nice girls yet?”
All right. So it wouldn’t be okay. “Uh… Well…” Deep breath. “Um…” Say something clever. “Ahh…uhh…” His chopping became faster and faster in his nervousness. Where the heck is Kazuya?! “Eto…” More chopping. Damn it Akanishi say actual words! “Ano…” Chop. Chop. Chop-
Ow…
Oh no... Jin glanced down at the cutting board just as a thick, dark, red drop of blood oozed down a new deep slice in his left index finger. And continued to ooze.
He dropped the knife and groaned, clasping his finger with his other hand. “Itai…” he winced, stepping back from the counter.
“What’s the matter Jin-ku-Oh my goodness!” Kazuya’s mother exclaimed when she saw the deep gash in his finger.
“I’m so sorry!” Jin’s mind raced as he just realised he had sliced his finger like an idiot and bled all over the food they were supposed to eat like an even bigger idiot and-
“Ouch!”
-and just stomped on his boyfriend’s mother’s toe…
Just kill me now. “Gomenasai! I’m so sorry Kamenashi-san!” Jin exclaimed, belatedly realising he was trailing more blood all over the kitchen in his attempts to apologise.
“It’s okay, Jin-kun. Calm down.”
“Jin?” Kazuya. Thank. You. God. “What happened?” Kame said as he stepped into the kitchen.
Jin threw him a desperate look. This must be what people feel when they’re drowning… he mused.
Kame’s eyes widened when he saw blood. “Jin! Are you okay? What happened?!” Kame was instantly by his friend’s side, pressing a cloth to the wound and lifting it up.
“Just a little cutting accident. Nothing to worry about.” His mother assured, quickly dealing with the now bloody and ruined carrots. “Go take him into the bathroom and find him a bandage, Kazuya. I’ll manage with dinner from here.”
Kame nodded and guided Jin into the bathroom, sitting him down on the toilet seat, fumbling in the cabinet for a bandage. “Since when did you become so careless with knives? You could’ve cut your finger off!” he admonished.
“Since someone decided to leave me alone with his mother when that certain someone knew I was already very nervous.” Jin grumbled, clearly upset by the situation.
“That’s no excuse for not paying attention to what you were doing!” he knelt down in front of Jin and lifted the injured finger, pulling the cloth away. “This might sting a little.” He said as he spread some disinfectant on the cut, trying to be gentle.
Jin winced a little at the sting but didn’t say anything, and just watched as Kazuya wrapped a bandage around the wound.
“Mind telling me why my mother was limping slightly when we left?”
Jin groaned. “Kazu, I don’t think I can do this.” He cried desperately, burying his face in his hands. “We haven’t even made it to dinner yet and I’m sure I’ve already convinced your mother that I’m a complete moron…”
Kame sighed, giving the injured finger a small kiss. “I’m sure you’ve done no such thing.”
“You weren’t there.” Jin insists.
Kame sighs again, then stands up. “Come with me.”
He led Jin upstairs to his bedroom, closing the door behind them, then maneuvered Jin to sit on the bed, kneeling down in front of him. “Jin, you really need to calm down. The only reason these things are happening is because you’re so nervous.”
“I can’t help it! This is your family and I don’t want to screw anything up but I know I probably will and-“
He was cut off by Kazuya’s mouth placed firmly over his own, a method that had proved very successful in the past for shutting Jin up; causing him to moan in both surprise and delight and groaning in protest when he pulled away. “So what if the worst happens? Say that my whole family takes the news terribly and they don’t want us to be together, what then?”
Jin looked down at the floor, not sure what to reply.
“It doesn’t matter baka! I’m with you because I want to be, and I’m not going to change my mind!”
Jin smiled, a little touched by Kazuya’s convinced tone of voice. He grabbed Kazuya’s wrist and pulled him to sit beside him on the bed. “But I know your family is important to you, and I just want to make a good impression.”
“They’ve known you for years, Jin. Their opinions of you are firmly established I’m sure.”
Jin looked mildly horrified by this.
Kame chuckled, then pulled Jin’s head forward to rest on his shoulder. “Baka.” He said, kissing Jin’s temple. “My family is important to me though; tonight is important. I’ve put off telling them about this for so long, afraid that it might cause strife among a family that might not be together as much anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Jin asked curiously. Was Kazuya having family problems?
“Koji’s moving out.” Kame answered softly. “And I probably will before too long as well. Yuichiro’s already married and I don’t get to see him as much anymore, soon it’ll be the same with Koji and then my own parents and…” he sighed. “I want to tell them before that all happens, and give you a chance to really become part of the family too, even if there is a risk of them not taking the news very well.” He patted Jin’s knee. “So that’s why you need to calm down, and try to enjoy tonight rather than fear all possible situations that might go wrong.”
Jin watched Kazuya carefully as he talked. He was speaking so calmly about his brother moving out, about their family slowly drifting apart from each other, but Jin could see the inner depression inside his boyfriend. Kazuya loved his family, and would do anything for them, and Jin knew the reason it had taken so long for Kazuya to gather the courage to tell them about their relationship was the fear of alienating them even the slightest bit.
Jin knew that Kazuya was a terrific son and brother, he always helped his parents out whenever he could, was the perfect older brother for Yuya, and loved his older brothers dearly. Jin couldn’t even remember the last time he had seen Kazuya be in any serious fight or disagreement with any member of his family. This evening needed to go well, for both their sakes.
“I will try to be a little more relaxed, Kazu, okay?” Jin said softly, wrapping his arms around Kazuya’s waist.
“Thank you, I really appreciate that. It will be okay Jin. Don’t worry.” Then Kame smirked. “Would you like me to help you relax a little? I’m sure I could calm you down.” He whispered suggestively.
Jin’s eyes widened. “Here?! In your house?! With your parents and brothers and niece downstairs?!”
“They won’t miss us.” Kame responded with a sly grin, leaning in to press his lips to Jin’s.
Jin’s next protest died the minute Kazuya kissed him, and it suddenly did not seem like such a big deal that all of his boyfriend’s family was right downstairs. He kissed back eagerly, quickly taking control and gently pushed Kazuya down on his back on the bed. He settled himself by Kazuya’s side, one arm settled on Kazuya’s hip and propping himself up with the other.
Kazuya tilted his head so Jin could have better access to kiss him, moaning when he felt Jin’s tongue shyly asking for entrance. Kame slowly opened his mouth and groaned when Jin quickly entered, kisses turning more passionate by the second.
So far, a couple rather heavy make out sessions had been the extent of their physical relationship, but with every passing day their desire for closeness came closer to overcoming their tendency toward shyness.
Jin grinned when he heard Kazuya’s slight yelp of surprise when his hand slipped underneath his shirt and began fondling his nipples. This probably was not the ideal situation for taking a step further in their relationship, but Jin was past the point of rational thinking by now.
He broke away from Kazuya's mouth and shifted his position to hover above him, only to kiss his neck hungrily, unable to get enough of the boy he treasured. He soon felt Kazuya’s hand inside his own shirt, fingertips tracing all over his body, causing him to shiver. He nudged Kazuya’s legs apart slightly and slid a leg in between them, rocking gently against Kazuya’s hip and thigh.
He pushed Kazuya’s shirt up to his armpits, unable to make himself break away from his boyfriend long enough to pull it off completely, and he soon felt his own shirt riding up on his back as well. Jin’s hand slithered down Kazuya’s chest, playing with his navel briefly, before teasing the waistband of Kazuya’s jeans. Their mouths met again eagerly, and Jin’s finger was fumbling with the button on his boyfriend’s pants when a sudden knocking from some direction that Jin couldn’t quite decipher at the moment interrupted them.
“Kazuya, Yuichiro was wondering if…” a male voice, that was all Jin’s brain could establish.
Kazuya roughly pushed Jin off of him, and Jin, not having enough time or coordination to catch his balance, tumbled rather dramatically off the bed.
“I knew it!” Koji, Jin belatedly realised, shouted at them. “I knew that you two had something going on! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” He sounds mad. That’s awesome.
“Nii-chan, calm down.”
“I will not! How do you expect me to remain calm after seeing this?!” he turned to Jin, pointing a finger. “You…”
So this is how I’m going to die.
“Nii-chan calm down! Leave Jin alone.” Kame walked up to Koji and pushed his arms down. “He didn’t force me into anything.”
Koji didn’t seem to hear him. “You!” he continued to focus on Jin. “Just what were planning on doing to my little brother just now?”
What does he think I am, stupid? No way in hell am I going to answer that. “Ano…”
“How long has this been going on?!”
“T-ten months.” Kame stated.
“Ten months?!”
“Koji!” Kame forced his brother’s attention away from Jin. “Will you please calm down so I can talk to you about this?”
Koji merely stared at him, but didn’t yell.
Kame took a deep breath. “Yes. Jin and I are together. No he did not and never has made me do anything I didn’t want to. And no I haven’t told mom and dad yet.”
“Well you better! Because if you don’t then I sure as heck will!”
“We’re going to tell them tonight, Nii-chan. Please don’t make tonight harder than it already has to be.”
Koji ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Ugh I can’t believe this. I knew I should have confronted you about this before. I just knew there had to be something going on between the two of you.”
Jin swallowed, cautiously making his way to Kazuya’s side, watching Koji as if he were a wild animal that could attack at any time.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner…” Kame said softly.
“You didn’t tell me at all, Kazuya.” Koji corrected. “I had to walk in on you two going at it before you admitted it.”
“Ugh we weren’t ‘going at it’ Koji. You’re overreacting.”
We probably would’ve if he hadn’t walked in.
“It doesn’t matter Kazuya. This isn’t good. I don’t like this one bit.”
Kame’s eyes widened, hearing the words he feared the most that would come from his brothers. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“I mean I don’t think you two should be together.”
Jin’s heart raced, and he broke a sweat. No, please. Please don’t take him away from me…
“Why?” Kame answered. “Don’t you want me to be happy?”
“It’s not about that, Kazuya. I don’t think either of you understand the consequences this relationship could bring you, and both your families.” He sighed again. “The both of you are becoming popular idols in a very well-known talent agency; if this gets out-“
“It won’t! We are being careful!”
“Even if it doesn’t get out, do you realise how hard it will be on the two of you? To hide your relationship from the world? You will face not only the normal problems a couple has to deal with but many more on top of it. It would be better to end this now while it’s still early and not have your hearts completely devastated later on.”
“But, Nii-chan-”
“I’m serious. I really don’t like this, Kazuya. You both are too young to really understand what this means for both of your futures.”
“No.”
Kame and Koji turned to look at Jin, startled by his sudden comment.
“You’re wrong Koji. We do understand. It will be hard, but not as hard as being apart would be.” Jin moved to stand in front of Kazuya, looking straight at Koji. “I really do care about your brother, more than you can imagine. I am not going to let anybody take him away from me. I don’t care what the situation of how hard it gets, as long as he still wants me, I won’t leave him.”
Jin and Koji stared at each other for several moments, as if daring the other to make a move.
“I really do respect and admire you, Koji, as I would my own brother. I don’t want to argue with you, but I will not let you take Kazuya away from me.”
“No one’s taking me away, baka.” Kame said softly from behind him, putting a hand on his arm.
Koji sighed again, and looked at Kazuya. “You really care about this idiot?” he said, not totally without affection.
Kame smiled and held Jin’s arm tightly. “Very much.”
Koji grinned slightly, then looked back at Jin. “For your information Akanishi, I never once said I would make you two separate, or that I would take Kazuya away, I merely said I don’t like this situation.” He looked back at Kame. “And I don’t.” he turned back to Jin. “However, I am aware of how stubborn both of you can be, so it looks like I’ll have to let you learn from your own mistakes. I care about both of you, that is why I am warning you. I only want to save you pain and heartbreak.”
Jin felt Kazuya’s arm wrap around his waist, and he was grateful for the contact, knowing Kazuya was doing his best to reassure him that he wasn’t doubting their decision.
“Well, I did what I could. Just enjoy it while you can okay? And don’t you dare mess with my brother when you are anywhere near this vicinity, Akanishi.” He said seriously, before giving them both a slight smile.
Jin gave him a small smile, then turned to Kazuya. “Man, dealing with Yuya was so much simpler.”
“Yuya knows?!”
Damn it. “Uh…”
“That little brat knew all this time and didn’t even tell me?!”
“Nii-chan calm down!”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“I already threatened him if he told anyone. He can’t have two of his older brothers trying to kill him for opposite reasons! He can’t win.”
Koji grumbled a little. “Fine. But I will find a way to get even with him for this.”
“Thank you, Nii-chan.”
Koji shook his head, then looked back up at Kame. “Oh, by the way, I did come up here for a reason. Yuichiro would like to know if you could look after Mieko-chan, Kazuya. Apparently she is extremely hyper and is wearing them out when they would like to catch up with mom and dad.”
Kame glanced at Jin, raising his eyebrow in question. Jin nodded. “Sure, we can do that.”
“Great. Now go downstairs. In front of me, where I can see you.”
“Yeah Yeah.” Kame said, chuckling slightly. “And Nii-chan?”
Koji raised an eyebrow.
“Thanks.”
Koji grunted. “Whatever. I still don’t like it. Get downstairs.”
Kame quickly made his way with Jin downstairs and into the living room, where Mieko-chan was playing with her many toys. He had been hoping Koji would react a little better, but he supposed it could’ve been much worse. Koji would not be approving of his relationship, but would let them be. I guess that’s the best I can hope for right now. Kame sincerely hoped the rest of his family would be a little more encouraging.
“Unca Kazu! Wook what I made!” Mieko-chan shrieked as she saw them enter the room, gesturing to a rather tall stack of building blocks in the middle of the room.
“That’s very good, Mieko-chan!” Kame praised, picking up his niece.
Jin glanced toward the front of the room when he noticed the latest new addition to the decour. An old style, fragile-looking glass doll was resting on a cushion on top of a shelf, appearing as though it were staring at the entire room. It creeped Jin out slightly.
“I see you’ve noticed it.” Kazuya’s voice whispered from beside him.
“Yeah it’s… a little freaky looking.” Jin answered, eyes not leaving the doll.
Kame laughed. “It’s a normal old style doll Jin. Don’t be so dramatic.”
“And your mother’s really attached to this thing huh?”
“Very. So help me keep Mieko-chan away from it.”
“Why does she even have it out if she’s so paranoid about it getting smashed?”
“To show it off to everyone I suppose. And it is Hinamatsuri after all. It would be bad luck to take it down. Besides, she’s used to having a house full of uninterested boys, not excited little girls.”
Jin nodded absentmindedly, eyes still attempting to escape the doll’s stare.
“Kazuya!” Kame’s mother exclaimed from behind them as she entered the room. “Yuichiro has been asking for you! He wants to see you.”
“Ah, but what about Mieko?”
“Could you watch her Jin-kun?”
“Yes I can. No problem.” Jin replied quickly and appeared confident, but in reality he was anxious about being away from Kazuya again. He glanced in the little girl’s direction just as she charged through her tower of blocks, apparently finding it extremely hilarious.
“There you see? Jin will watch her. Now come and visit with your brother and sister-in-law.” His mother said again and walked back toward the kitchen.
“Well…” Kame did want to see his brother, but felt hesitant about leaving Jin alone.
“I’ll be okay, Kazu.” He leaned to whisper in his ear. “Just, hurry back okay baby?”
Kame smiled and winked at him, before trotting off quickly into the kitchen.
“Unca Jin!” a little voice cried from somewhere behind him.
“Yes, Mieko-chan?”
“Will you pwease let me pway with the pwetty doll?” her eyes became wide and pleading. Jin realised he was dealing with an expert in the field of ‘cute.’
“Ah, I’m sorry Mieko-chan, that doll is not for playing with.”
Mieko pouted. “But Baasan said it was for me…”
“It’s for good luck for you. We need to leave it there, and not let anything happen to it, to help you have good luck in your future.”
The little girl continued to pout, and Jin had no doubt that if she had the choice, she would trade an hour with that doll for a life full of misfortune in a heartbeat. He smiled, amused by her determination.
“How about we play with other dolls instead ne?”
The little girl continued to pout, but began to play with her other dolls anyway, excited that she had someone to play with now.
Jin however, quickly got bored of the little girl’s four year old doll world fantasies, and pouted slightly himself when Mieko discarded all of his suggestions. His ideas were way better.
He leaned against the sofa and played with his phone while Mieko-chan played, scattering toys all over the room. He was slightly miffed that he and Kazuya had been interrupted earlier. It had been a while since he had last gotten to make out with his boyfriend, and Jin found himself craving for Kazuya’s kisses again. And maybe, maybe a little more than kisses. He pictured Kazuya topless underneath him, kissing him and panting and moaning and-
Boink.
Unrestrained giggles were heard from the other side of the room as Jin glared at the bouncy ball that had just bounced off his skull. “Very funny, Mieko-chan.”
Mieko-chan obviously considered it very funny, as she continued to giggle excitedly, and Jin couldn’t help but think that Kazuya would’ve made some joke about how hollow his head sounded.
Jin couldn’t help but smile a little at how cute she was as he tossed the ball back to her. This was one of the reasons why he loved children so much. Maybe he and Kazuya could adopt children someday…
And keep trying to make them as well. Jin thought with a smirk, settling back against the sofa and going back to his little Kazuya-centered fantasy. Topless Kazuya didn’t seem like enough anymore.
Jin cleared his throat and shifted his position, deciding these may not be the most appropriate thoughts when looking after a child, when he glanced in Mieko-chan’s direction-
-And his eyes widened in horror.
Time seemed to move in slow motion as Jin saw the bouncy ball leave Mieko’s hand and float across the room, aimed straight for Kame’s mother’s doll.
Oh No. No. No…
Jin could hear the music from the American movie Psycho play in his head as he saw the ball strike the cushion the doll was seated on, and he tried quickly to stand as the doll swayed back and forth on the upset cushion, feeling like he was running in quick sand as the doll slowly toppled over the side…
Jin dove forward in a desperate attempt to reach the doll, wanting to scream at how he couldn’t seem to make himself move fast enough, and closing his eyes out of panic as he landed on his stomach with his arms stretched out…
Mieko-chan’s renewed giggling persuaded him to pry open his eyes, heaving a deep sigh of relief when he saw the doll safely seated in his outstretched palms. That. Was. Close.
He stood up and very carefully reset the doll into its former position, Mieko-chan applauding and commanding him to ‘do it again!’ from somewhere behind him. He needed Kazuya.
“Jin?”
Jin turned around, overjoyed to see his boyfriend standing there, apparently after having read his mind.
“Are you all right? You look, weird… What happened?”
“Kazu!” Jin nearly ran to him. “I can’t do it anymore Kazu, the pressure is just too much!”
Kame raised an eyebrow, then glanced at his niece, who was back to innocently playing with her toys again. “Okay… Well I came to tell you both that dinner is ready. Are you ready to eat, Mieko-chan?”
The little girl looked up excitedly. “Un, I can’t wait for Baasan’s cooking!”
“Well go find mommy or daddy to help you get washed up and then we can eat okay?”
The little girl nodded excitedly and toddled off into the kitchen to find her parents.
Kame turned back to Jin. “Did something happen, Jin?”
Jin sighed, and rested his head on Kazuya’s shoulder. “Something almost happened. I wish I never knew how much that thing meant to your mother. I was sure something would happen to it, and it would be my fault undoubtedly.”
Kame chuckled. “Idiot. Have more faith in yourself. Come on, let’s go eat. We’ll both need our strength for when we drop the bomb after dinner.”
“Yeah, okay.”
<><><><><><><>
“So tell us Akanishi-kun, do you have a girlfriend yet? I’ll bet all the girls fawn over you all the time.”
Jin tightened his grip on his chopsticks. He knew Kame’s mother was only teasing him, asking him these rather personal questions to assure him they considered him almost part of the family, but he honestly did not know how to react.
Dinner had gone smoothly up till this point, most of the conversation being filled by Yuichiro and his wife and Kazuya’s parents, but now, they seemed to want to focus on their other guest.
“Uh, well…” Jin stuttered out, giving Kazuya a very brief ‘what do I do?!’ glance.
He saw Koji staring at them with a serious expression on his face, and Yuya seemed to be trying to hold back a giggle. Yuichiro was looking at them with an ignorant oblivious smile.
“Don’t be shy, Jin-kun. You can tell us.” She gave him what Jin was sure was meant to be a reassuring smile, but it only frightened him all the more. He felt Kazuya’s hand clasp his under the table and squeeze his own.
“Kaasan, I don’t think Jin is comfortable with talking about that yet.”
Kame’s mother smiled apologetically at him. “Very well then. But when you are ready be sure to bring her over so we can meet her ne?”
Jin sighed, obviously relieved, and nodded.
“That reminds me Kazuya, Yamagawa-san has been asking me if I could set you up with her daughter. She’s a real cute little thing and to be honest quite smitten with you by the way her mother talks.”
Kame’s eyes widened and his face coloured slightly, and he noticed Jin making a fist with his free hand, causing his injured finger to bleed again under the bandage, and squeezing his own hand even tighter. “Ah I-I really would really rather not, Kaasan.”
“Eh? But why not? She’s really a very sweet girl, Kazuya. And so polite and well-mannered.”
Jin looked down at the table after hearing that. Of course the girl would be polite and well-mannered. She wouldn’t be clumsy and step on a boyfriend’s mother’s toe, or cut herself and bleed all over a boyfriend’s kitchen. She would babysit a niece and make sure nothing valuable was broken…
“I’m sorry, Kaasan, but I’m really not interested.”’
Kame’s mother seemed genuinely baffled by Kazuya’s repeated refusal. “I don’t understand, son. Why not?”
Kame glared at Yuya who was covering his mouth to keep himself from laughing, and carefully avoided Koji’s intense stare from across the table.
“Why is it you won’t even give this girl a chance, Kazuya?” Kame’s father voiced suddenly, also sounding quite puzzled. “Even if you decide not to pursue a relationship with her, it would not hurt to at least make an effort.”
“Yeah, Kazuya. You don’t want to end up all alone forever, like Koji probably will…” Yuichiro quipped, earning a elbow in the ribs from his brother.
“I want an aunt Unca Kazu!” Mieko-chan decided to pipe in her opinion into the conversation. Yuya suppressed more giggles.
Kame squeezed Jin’s hand again and gave him a brief glance. This is it. It’s now or never.
“Well, actually I uh…” he took a deep breath. “I’m already seeing someone.”
Four blank stares, one intense stare, one highly amused stare, and one fearful stare met Kazuya’s statement. Mieko-chan was uninterested again as she was playing with a toy at the table.
“I was going to tell you all later tonight but, I don’t think it can wait any longer.” He squeezed Jin’s hand again. “I’m actually in a relationship… with Jin.”
Kame’s statement was answered with more blank stares, and he felt his palms starting to sweat. “You’re with Akanishi-kun?” his father questioned.
Kame nodded.
“Jin-kun?” his mother asked, seemingly quite taken aback.
“Yes.”
The room was silent except for Mieko’s quiet playing, interrupted only when Yuichiro asked his wife if he could take her out of the room. There was a high possibility there would be shouting soon and he didn’t want his daughter in the middle of that.
“Jin-kun?”
Kame didn’t think it was necessary to answer that again, and looked over at Jin. Jin wasn’t looking up, he seemed more than terrified of the reactions they were going to get, and his grip on Kame’s hand was as strong as a vice.
Kame looked at his father when he heard him sigh. “I was wondering if friendship was really all there was between the two of you, but I figured I was imagining things. Kazuya, are you sure this is what you want? This will bring you nothing but hardships later in life…”
“Yes, Kazuya you must try to think of your future. Of the careers you are both trying to build. I understand this might seem like an easy decision now but-“
“It’s not like that!” Kame exclaimed, already upset. “I know it won’t be easy! We both know! We’re not going into this blindly!”
“Kazuya you’re only nineteen, so much can change over time…”
“I am aware of that. I know I’m still young, we both are, but I know that I love Jin and will stick by him through anything. I am not denying that things will be difficult. I know they will be. I know we will fight, and have rough times, and I am aware that we will have problems that I am probably too young to understand or know about yet, but regardless, Jin is the only one I want to be with.”
“We just want you to reconsider before you make any rash decisions…”
“We’ve been together for almost a year, Kaasan. Our decision has been made.”
“A year is a very short time Kazuy-“
“I know it is.” Couldn’t they see that in a way he was agreeing with them?
“Ano…” Jin said finally after remaining silent through the entire conversation. “I know that this is a lot to take in right now, and we are both aware that what you are telling us now is true, but I want you to know that I really do care about your son, and am ready to face those hard times with him.” He looked over at Kame. “He’s the most important person in the world to me, please at least give us a chance to prove our relationship.”
“You’re prepared to give up a life full of adoring female fans for him?” Kame’s father said with a serious expression on his face. “People throwing themselves at you heedlessly for your looks, fame, and money? You will be perfectly prepared to cast that all aside and remain faithful to him?”
Jin stared at him blankly. “Yes. Of course. I love him.”
But the looks he was receiving did not seem to take his statement seriously.
“I do! I really do!” he glanced around the table. “Doesn’t anyone believe me? I really do love him!”
“I’m sure you believe that Jin-kun, but-“
“I do!” Jin insisted, but everyone still appeared doubtful.
“Look Kazuya,” his father said, “You’re almost an adult, and we have warned you about the possible consequences of this decision. We won’t tell you who to be with, but please at least think about what we have said.”
Kame nodded mutely, thoroughly upset by the way this conversation had gone. He stood up abruptly from the table and left the room, wanting to be alone. He heard Jin calling his name but ignored it, not wanting to talk with anyone right now.
“Kazuya.” It was Yuichiro’s voice, his older brother grabbing his arm gently to stop him.
“Please, Nii-chan, I don’t want to talk…”
“I know. I understand. I just want to say that mom and dad are right about the hardships this will bring you-“
Kame sniffed and tugged at his arm, “No more, please…”
“But.” Yuichiro tried again, lowering his voice. “I believe that that boy in there really loves you, so if you want to take on the future with him, I say go for it.”
Kame sniffed and looked at his brother, giving him a grateful smile. “Thank you Nii-chan.” Yuichiro ruffled his hair and left him, and Kame collapsed on the couch and stared at the wall. I should have known they wouldn’t like it…
His gaze wandered and landed on that annoying doll, a doll that appeared to be staring at him. Kaasan probably wants another granddaughter, that’s why she doesn’t want me with Jin… Dang this thing is creepy. “What are you staring at?” he challenged.
“Eh? Nothing.”
Kame started at the sound of his boyfriend’s voice. “Oh, not you. I was talking… to the doll.”
Jin raised an eyebrow. “Okay… Um, look I know you said you wanted to be alone and I’m sorry I followed you but I-“
“Jin.”
“Huh?”
“Come here.” Kame said, patting the spot next to him.
Jin did as he was told, quickly seating himself next to Kazuya, and remained quiet. He desperately wanted to hold Kazuya, especially after what had been said in there, but he kept to himself, waiting for Kazuya to make the first move.
“Ugh!” Kame stood up suddenly, hands fisting in his hair in frustration. “I mean it’s not like I expected a ‘this is great Kazuya we’re so glad you’re with Jin’ but still why all the discouragement?!”
Jin stayed silent, watching Kame pace back and forth, letting him vent.
“I mean I know we’re young and haven’t been together very long but we’re not stupid, you know?”
More pacing.
“And for them to dare question your feelings about me like that… that was just… just…”
“Kazuya look ou-“
“Whoa!” Kame lost his balance when stepping on one of Mieko-chan’s plethora of toys, tripped and fell over to one side- on his mother’s antique fragile doll.
“Kazu!”
Jin ran over to help his boyfriend up. “Are you okay?”
Kame sprung up as fast as he could, ignoring Jin’s question, and gasped in horror at what he saw on the floor. “Damn it no!”
There was a thick, long, crooked crack right in the middle of the dolls face.
“Well… maybe your mother won’t notice it.” Jin tried to help the situation to not look so dire.
At that second the crack thickened and a large chunk of the dolls fragile glass face fell in.
Kame groaned.
“Okay yeah she will probably notice now...”
“She’s going to kill me… Ah Jin I am doomed to a life full of strife with my family…”
Jin was about to try to encourage Kazuya when a loud wail from behind them startled him.
“Waaaah! Baasan! Pwetty doll is bwoken!” Mieko cried out, giant tears running down her cheeks.
Kame’s mother was instantly in the room, and gasped in horror when she saw the damage to her precious doll. “No! Not my doll! No! No!” she bent down to pick it up, devastated at the doll’s now ruined face.
Kame unconsciously clutched at Jin’s shirt. He felt horrible. He knew how much that doll meant to his mother. He never meant to harm it; it had been an accident… he didn’t want to disappoint his parents even more today. They were already disappointed at his choice of a boyfriend, now this…
“How did this happen?!” Kame’s mother exclaimed, her face desperate for answers, probably to fixate on the person to blame.
Kame took a deep breath. “Kaasan I-“
“Sumimasen!” Jin interrupted, and bowed deeply. “I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing and tripped on one of Mieko-chan’s toys. I should have been more careful and stayed away from the doll. Especially when I knew how much it meant to you. I promise to repay you for any damage I caused. I am very sorry!”
Kame stared at him in shock, barely registering the mumbles and comments from the rest of his family who had now joined in on the incident. His eyes were solely on Jin…
Estimates were given on the damage, -Yuya’s were by far the highest- and attempts were made to calm down Mieko-chan, who was indignant about the fact that ‘Unca Jin’ had played with her doll and broke it when she was supposed to.
“I’m deeply sorry, Kamenashi-san.” Jin apologised again.
She merely sighed. “It can’t be helped now, I’m sure you didn’t mean it, Akanishi-kun.”
“Jin…” Kame said from beside him, and Jin shook his head, signaling for him to keep quiet.
“Akanishi didn’t do it.”
The room suddenly became quiet, when Koji spoke again. “I saw it happen. Kazuya was the one who tripped and broke the doll. Akanishi was nowhere near it.”
Several questioning gazes focused on Jin for a moment, before realisation settled in. Jin was taking the blame for Kazuya.
Koji walked up to Jin and patted his shoulder. “I may have been wrong about you, Jin-kun.” He said, before walking out of the room.
Jin was still staring in shock when Kame’s father patted his shoulder as well. “Welcome to the family, son.” was all he said, before helping his wife pick up the doll and trying to calm her down.
Yuichiro ruffled Jin’s hair before informing his mother that he knew a good antique doll repair specialist.
Mieko-chan was still upset, and Yuya was now getting scolded over some kind of report card incident, with a suspiciously smug looking Koji watching from behind them.
Jin shyly turned to look at Kazuya, who was staring at him with a sappy expression on his face. “Cut it out.” He said, blushing slightly.
“I thought you were afraid of my parents thinking you were a clumsy idiot?”
Jin shrugged. “I am a clumsy idiot.”
“And were afraid that you really would break that doll?”
“It was going to get broken some way or another.”
“And wanted to make a good impression?”
“Their opinion of me isn’t going to change.”
Kame glanced around at his family, all talking and chatting among themselves like normal. “I beg to differ.” He said, turning back to Jin.
Jin just shrugged again.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Kame said softly.
“I know.”
Kame took Jin’s hand in his and pulled him upstairs, knowing they wouldn’t be interrupted this time.
Jin hugged him when they entered Kame’s room, burying his face in his neck. “I love you. I really do.” He said softly, really wanting to make sure that Kazuya knew that.
Kame wrapped his arms tightly around him in return, feeling ridiculously happy all of a sudden, leaning in to press their mouths together. “I know you do. I love you too.”
Their lips met, and both grinned into the kiss as they heard Mieko-chan still strongly exclaiming her displeasure from downstairs.
<<>>
A/N: With each fic I write they somehow get longer and longer.
Yes, I gave Kame's niece yet another name. He seriously needs to tell us what it is.
Hope you guys enjoyed it. Comments= warm fuzzy feelings.