Three years
Title: Three Years
Author: aishayue
Pairing: Akame, slight PiKame
Genre: romance/fluff
Summary: Jin realized how mistaken he was and how much hurt he had caused.
A.N: the first plan was to make an angst, but, haha…I don’t know how it turned out to be like that.
--
Kame pushed himself through the crowd and finally got to sneak himself to the bar. He heaved as he started to look around searching for a particular someone. The club was full and there were lots of foreigners, mostly westerns. Kame finally spotted a familiar face. It was Yamapi who seemed to be so annoyed among those, who Kame guessed, Jin’s American friends. He recognized the big guy whose name was Josh, if he wasn’t mistaken.
Kame took few more steps closer to where the group where when he finally saw the person he was searching for.
Jin was in the middle of the dance floor, grinding his body against a blonde girl who seemed to don’t mind the closeness of their bodies. On the contrary, she seemed to enjoy it, a lot. For a moment, Kame stood there, admiring the fluidity of his ex-bandmate’s movements. Jin wasn’t a born dancer. He usually messed up his parts, but his body had music in it. It naturally moved in sync with every tune and every beat. Kame shook his head remembering why he was there. He pursed his lips and walked towards the group.
Josh was talking with Lizzy and Joey about his last rap composition when he saw a certain someone approaching them. He raised his brows and openly looked at Kame who stopped just a meter from him.
The others followed his gaze and everyone found themselves staring in surprised at no other than Kamenashi Kazuya.
Yamapi stood up, boredom and annoyance were forgotten when he saw his young friend there. It was rare to see Kame going into place like that.
“Kazuya?” He mumbled, still in disbelief. That was when Jin suddenly appeared, all sweaty and flushed from too much dancing.
His eyes harden when he saw Kame there, standing, facing them.
“What are you doing here?” He asked after gulping down the drink that Dominic gave him.
Kame’s eyes glared icily at Jin as the conversation he had with Johnny that morning came rushing to his mind. He bit his lip.
“Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you.” Kame’s voice came cold. “Alone” he added when his gaze landed on Jin’s friends.
Josh smirked. He never liked that Kamenashi coz he seemed to have a certain control over Jin. He was glad that his friend had finally left the band.
“You can talk here. We are Jin’s friends, after all.” Josh commented which made Pi flinch in disgust. He should have called Ryo first before accepting Jin’s invitation. He never liked hanging out with Jin’s ‘other’ friends. The girls were actually sweet and he knew Joey and Dominic, but he would never understand why Jin had Josh for a friend. (A.N.: these thoughts were actually mine, I don’t know how Pi really sees Jin’s friends).
“Let’s talk here.” Jin stated and sat comfortably on the couch. He picked up the glass of beer that was on the table and smugly waited for Kame to speak.
Kame clenched his fist.
“Stop creating scandal after scandal. You promised you’d stay out of trouble! Then what the hell did you do last night?” Kame stated, trying to speak calmly, though he was mad inside.
Josh laughed at that. “I think what Jin does is none of your business.” He commented, but Kame just ignored him, his eyes were still fixed on the man who used to be his best friend, the man he used to love. A familiar pain clenched his heart as he studied Jin’s face. He used to know Jin more than anyone, and maybe he still did, but somehow, the one in front of him felt like a stranger.
Jin pursed his lips trying to remember what he did.
“Oh…that…” he mumbled. Well, he recalled his manager’ little lecture to him that morning about the news of him being spotted with two highschoolers entering a love hotel. He had to explain his furious manager that they were actually two 24-years old women who just crossed dressed as highschoolers for the night.
Jin furrowed his brows as he looked at Kame who had an unreadable expression on his face. He stood up and faced the younger one; annoyance, bewilderment and other feelings ran through his being and he collected them into one: anger.
“What about it?” he spat.
“At least I am living the way I wanted! Unlike you!” He scoffed. Words left his mouth like a streaming river.
“At least I’m not fake like you who always try to be perfect!” Jin crossed his arms on his chest and was amused when he saw Kame’s cold expression crumble a bit. So he continued, wanting to see more on that face.
“You are so pathetic Kamenashi. You think you are a perfect idol?” Jin laughed “More than a perfect idol, you are a perfect toy, always doing what he is told. Have a life Kamenashi or you are going to end up alone. The moment your star fades, you’d be thrown like a trash.”
Kame was trying hard to keep his cool. His lips formed a thin line as he forced his tears back. He would never ever cry in front of Jin or his friends. He still had his pride. He didn’t want to be the laughing stock of Jin’s friends.
Jin continued, failing to notice Kame’s reddening eyes, the wetness that was there. He was too concentrated on wanting to see Kame’s perfect mask crumble.
“Don’t try to control me the way you do with KAT-TUN. I’m not in the band anymore, and as you see, I’m doing great without you. So, Kamenashi, fuck off.” He finished expecting Kame to finally spat at him, but he was shocked when the fist that landed on his face was no other than of his best friend.
Jin stumbled back and stared shocked at now furious Yamapi.
“I wonder when you’ve become a total conceited asshole, Jin. Is this the way you treat someone who truly cares for you?” Yamapi hissed. “You are my best friend and I love you, but Kazuya is also so dear to me.”
Jin looked up and felt small under the reproaching gaze of his very own best friend.
“There was a time when you tried your best to teach me how to understand and read Kazuya. I think I learnt pretty well. But you…” Pi looked down at him and with a sad voice he continued “…it seems that you have forgotten how kind and selfless he is. You really disappointed me.” With that, Yamapi walked away and followed Kame who already ran out of that place.
The people in the club gaped, confused about what just happened. Joey, who had more presence of mind, raised his hand.
“Okay, people. The rehearsal is done. That was a scene of Yamashita’s next drama. He asked Jin and Kamenashi to help him.” He explained. The crowd just shrugged and continued their own businesses. It didn’t matter if they didn’t believe in what he said. The most important thing was to get Jin out of that place.
“Shit!” Jin cursed as he exited the club asking to be alone. He held his aching jaw. He sat on the first bench and he closed his eyes. The image of the hurt expression on Kame’s face and the angry one of Yamapi kept rewinding on his mind.
“I wonder when you’ve become a total conceited asshole, Jin.”
“Shit!Shit!Shit!” Jin groaned as the event of the night came crushing down on him. Every single word his best friend uttered had hit him directly and it hurt. He just wanted to see Kame reacting to him, he never wanted to humiliate him.
--
Yamapi sighed when he finally reached Kame a few blocks away from the club. The younger one had his back on him, but Pi could tell that Kame knew that he was there.
“Kazuya?” he called out as he walked closer and found himself turning Kame to face him. The expression on the other one’s face was enough to break his heart. Kame was trying so hard not to cry, but he couldn’t control the slight shaking of his body.
Kame bit his lips. He hated being weak. He tried to smile. “I guess I have to work harder”
Yamapi’s heart sunk seeing the heartbreaking image of a smiling Kame while huge tears were falling down his cheeks.
“Kazuya…” He pulled Kame into a tight embrace. Kame stilled, then a second later, he clutched unto the older man’s shirt.
“Pi…I…I don’t know what to do anymore…I can’t…I…” Kame’s voice broke into light and silent sobs.
“Then don’t do anything anymore…let go. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself more.”
Pi just held the younger one until he calmed down. It was time for Kame to let go, he thought.
Three years ago, Yamapi had accidentally overheard Kame and Johnny talking.
“Kazuya…don’t do anything anymore. Let him fly with his own wings…”
--
Ryo glanced at his whining friend.
“Jin…I would have done the same thing that Pi did…or I might have kicked you until you woke up and got back your senses.” He commented after the other one told him about what happened last night.
Jin looked down. The scene he saw between Kame and Pi and the unclear conversation he managed to hear made him all anxious.
“Seriously Jin?”
“I hate it…” Jin started. “I hate seeing Kazu trying to be ridiculously perfect. I…I hated the fact that he has changed so much. Being so obedient like a puppy.”
Ryo sighed for the nth time. “No, it’s not only because of that and you know it.”
Jin looked away making Ryo roll his eyes.
“Look, if you want to know something, should you go and ask your ex-bandmates?”
The one who changed is you, Jin. Ryo thought while looking at his sulking friend.
--
Jin knew he should ask Maru instead of Koki, but he was aware that only Koki would shove everything to him in the crude and most honest way possible.
Koki focused his attention to his ex-bandmate with distrust. He never hated Jin like some people believed, but he was neither close to him.
“Akanishi…there was a time when all you needed to do was look at Kame-chan to know what was happening and to know how much he was hurting inside. I wonder if it’s Kame who changed or you.” There was mocking tone in Koki’s answer.
Jin gritted his teeth. He wondered why everyone seemed to consider him as the one who had changed. Okay, he admitted, he had changed in a way, but he was still true to himself, unlike someone else.
“Look, I have to go.” Koki walked pass him.
“And yeah, just to inform you, you are the one who forced Kame-chan to be a perfect and obedient idol.” Koki added without looking back at him. Jin felt cold and abruptly turned around to ask more, but Koki was already far away.
What the fuck did he mean by that?
When he was about to walk to his own assigned changing room, he saw Yamapi and Kame together. They seemed to be in a serious conversation or better say argument. Jin silently went closer, making sure the other two wouldn’t notice him. So he listened and he tensed up when he heard his name.
Yamapi shook his head.
“Kazuya! Why? Stop taking all the responsibilities!” But Kame only smiled at him making him more frustrated.
“Look, Jin is my best friend and I do understand how much you want him to succeed. But Kazuya…not on your expenses. Please, listen to me for once.” Pi held his friend by the shoulders and looked at him with pleading eyes.
“Though I care for him, I don’t think he deserves all your sacrifices for him. Just the way he treated you the other time…” Pi sighed “Why are you keeping up with this? I know the deal you made with Johnny-san but isn’t this too much?”
Just then they heard a vase falling. They both turned around and were shocked to see Jin there with a dark and furious aura. He seemed to be mad.
“Jin…” Kame whispered and the minute later his ex-bandmate pushed Yamapi aside and gripped Kame’s wrist.
“Deal? What deal?” he asked with gritted teeth, obviously trying to control his anger.
“I don’t know what you are talking about” Kame murmured looking away just to wince in pain when Jin’s hold around his wrist tighten.
“Don’t try to fool me, I heard you and Pi quite clearly.”
Yamapi shoved Jin away from Kame who held his already freed wrist in pain. Upon seeing the red marks of Jin’s fingers on Kame’s skin, he cursed and turned around to look at his best friend with anger and almost disgust.
“What the fuck you think you were doing?” he shouted.
“I…”” Jin couldn’t utter a word. When he saw Kame’s wrist, he felt guilty. He didn’t mean to hurt the younger one.
“You really want to know what was the deal?” Pi stepped forward.
“Pi…don’t” Kame tried to stop his friend, but Yamapi seemed determined to say it.
“Jin, do you really want to know why Kazuy has always tried to perfect everything that was given to him? Trying to do whatever the management tells him? Do you really want to know?”
Jin gulped and saw Kame trying to stop his best friend from talking any further.
“You always complained about this Kazuya. You said you hated this obedient puppy, you said you wanted back the old one…but do you know that you are the only one to be blamed?”
Jin almost chocked on his own saliva.
“Do you have any idea how much Kazuya has gone through so just you don’t have to take responsibilities for every mistakes and shit you make?”
“What…what are you saying?”
“The first time you were sent to LA, Kazuya begged Johnny to take you back which he did…in exchange…Kazuya had to take responsibility of your future actions. The more you disobey, the more he must obey, and the more you mess up and do shit, the more Kazuya must try to be perfect and to be candid in front of the public.”
Jin gaped looking at Kazuya who had his head down. Unbearable guilt invaded him. Everything making sense to him. Those times he got involved into some scandals, Johnny never called him, instead, it was always Kazuya who was summoned to the patron’s office.
You are the one who forced Kame-chan to be a perfect and obedient idol. Koki’s words resounded in his head and it made Jin want to cry. He walked forward, towards the youngest one who kept his head down. Yamapi stepped aside and hoped that Jin would finally wake up and see the real Kame he lost sight of for a long, long time.
“Kame…Kazu?” Jin whispered as he was in front of the guy. Kame looked up and Jin felt like being swallowed by those hurting, clear, brown eyes. Jin tried to reach Kame’s hand, but the other one flinched away and it broke his heart even more. He stared at the young man and for the first time in a long while, he could finally see his beloved friend. The one he had longed to see all those years. If Yamapi was saying were true, then maybe, maybe, it wasn’t Kazuya who changed. It was him. He became blind and couldn’t see his most treasured one. He lost sight of the things that bonded them together.
“Is it true?” Jin’s voice trembled, instead of answering, Kame stepped back before turning around and dashed away. Jin was about to chase after him, but a hand stopped him. It was Yamapi who shook his head.
“Leave him for now.”
Jin faced his best friend with hurt and accusing eyes.
“Why? Why didn’t you tell me?” he uttered almost desperately.
“Because Kazuya begged me not to.”
Jin clenched his fists, his eyes watering, his heart aching in a way it hadn’t for a long time.
“All these years…all these fucking years when I kept hating him, when I kept asking back my old Kazuya…all these time, you were aware of the real reason, yet you kept quiet? Why didn’t you tell me?” He burst out.
“Are you perhaps blaming me for hurting Kazuya?” Yamapi snarled. “Jin, you were the one who knew him more than anyone…it’s not my fault if you’d turn into the almighty you and lost sight of the real him! Why don’t you try to examine yourself and your actions more! Stop being the conceited you and try more to look around you!” He and Jin rarely fight, and that was the first time they had an argument after only God knew since when.
Yamapi sighed in disbelief as he saw the grief that was now hovering over his best friend’s face.
“Jin…all these years, Kazuya has worked for the both of you. Despite your cold and indifferent attitude towards him, he kept on shouldering you. And even after what you did to him the other night, he still decided to make it up for you. I’m still amazed about the fact that Kazuya has kept covering you.” With that, Yamapi left. He did his part, now it was Jin’s turn to fix everything, if there was still something left to fix.
--
Kame tried to slam the door close when he saw that it was Jin who was outside his place, but the other one was able to hold the door and to force himself in.
“What the hell are you doing here, Akanishi?” it seemed that it was his turn to ask that question.
“I think I uttered that line some nights ago…” Jin joked. He grinned sheepishly though inside he was nervous and didn’t really know why he was there. After some sleepless nights thinking, he just found himself standing in front of Kame’s apartment.
Kame frown trying to understand what Jin needed from him. Pi was right. He should have given up on Jin way back and maybe spared himself more pain.
“Look” he started with a sigh. He was tired and talking with the older one might drain him.
“I have no time to play around with you, so please, whatever you have to say, just say it and leave.”
What happened next stunned him to the point that he forgot everything.
Jin dropped on his knees and looked up at Kame, staring at him with sincere eyes.
“I’m sorry…” he whispered and Kame just stared down on him dumbfounded.
“I know…no matter how many times I say sorry, it won’t be enough to undo the pain I caused you.” Jin bit his lips and looked down. He didn’t know what to do. After what Yamapi revealed him, he went directly to Johnny and when the old man told him made his ground crash, realizing how mistaken he had been. Then he asked the old man that whatever he’d do in the future, he’d take the consequences, thus, officially ending the deal between Johnny and Kame.
“I…I’m sorry…I…hated knowing that you have changed and I…I didn’t even know that I was the one who unknowingly pushed you to give up your own independence.
“You’re the one who stopped seeing me, Jin. I haven’t changed, it’s you who stopped looking at me.” There was no anger or accusation in Kame’s voice. There was only sadness which hurt Jin more realizing that Kame was right. Jin stood up, and though he wanted to reach out for the other man, he restrained himself, afraid that Kame might flinch away like he did at the Jimusho.
“Then…why did you continue covering me? You could have just let me be…”
“Because I promised.”
Jin blinked not understanding what Kame was talking about.
“Back then, we promised that we’ll make it to the top together…” Kame paused. “And then I promised you that you will always have me backing you up. That I will do everything to help you conquer your dreams. You dreamt big time Jin, and I wanted to be there to help you…” Kame smiled and Jin felt like being transported back to the past when a seventeen year old Kame was smiling at the nineteen-year-old him, hands open wide, telling him that he’d be the wind beneath Jin’s wings.
Jin closed his eyes and without hesitation, he pulled Kame into his arms, embracing him with gentleness. He had to finally admit that missed Kazuya.
“Will you ever forgive me for going astray?” he whispered.
Kame didn’t answer or return the embrace. He stood there unfazed, but deep inside, there was a part of him who had longed for that moment.
Jin broke the hug, but didn’t let go of Kame.
“Kazu...will you give me a chance to make it all up?” Jin looked into Kame’s eyes and wondered how he forgot how much the man meant to him.
Kame sighed and closed his eyes. But when he looked up at Jin again, he was smiling and his eyes were shining.
“Then you must try to work harder these upcoming three years. You have to stay away from troubles. And you have to ask for forgiveness every single day starting now and for the next three years…you have to bear with my constant nagging for three years and…”
Jin laughed amused.
“And I forgot how mean and sadistic you could get.”
“I’m serious Jin.” Kame commented which made Jin smile more.
“I wouldn’t mind growing old with you and I would gladly welcome your constant nagging everyday…”
Kame stumbled back glaring at Jin with wide and stunned eyes making the latter smirk.
“You wanted the real Jin to come back…and here I am…” Jin stepped closer, almost hovering over the smaller frame.
“But it seems that you also forgot how much the old Jinjin loved biting your pouty lips.” With that he leaned closer and as to really mean what he just said, he bit Kame’s lower lip.
“I’m sorry for making you suffer” he whispered before finally devouring those rosy, soft lips.
Kame wondered if Jin had always been a good kisser.
--
The end(O0O) somehow this fic turned out to be nonsense! *bows* just wanted to have a little break from the multichapters I’m working on… XD