Fic: Raising Akame Chapter 7
Title: Raising Akame
Rating: PG 14
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies
Genre: AU Romance
Word Count: 900+
Summary: Jin was barely two years old and Kazuya was a day old when they first met. From that time on, their mothers knew there exist Akame and they must serve as Akame's guardians through the years.
A/N: A very short chapter. I'm really sorry.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
Raising Akame
Chapter 7: Twenty-two
“Jin-niichan!”
“Hey, Reio,” Jin greeted. “Where's oka-asan?”
“She's in the shower. She'll be out soon,” Reio answered.
Jin never thought there would come a time he would be delighted to hear his younger brother's voice. But the phone calls - hearing the voices of his family - are something he has learned to value in the two years he is in Los Angeles.
As always, Reio would incessantly ask him about America and Americans, particularly the blonde girls. And Reio would practice speaking English with Jin while Jin relishes being able to talk in his native tongue.
“So, are you coming home soon?” Reio asked.
“I might,” Jin answered, purposely being vague.
“Oh, by the way,” Reio said. “I saw Kazuya-chan the other day.”
Jin's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Kazuya. He has not heard anything about Kazuya since he left for LA. His mother never mentioned the younger man and he never had the courage to ask. “Yeah? How is he?” Jin asked, trying not to sound too excited.
“He's doing well,” Reio replied.
Jin smiled. He wanted to ask more. He wanted to know what hair color Kazuya has now. Or if he had grown some muscles. He wanted to know if Kazuya went to the university or junior college. He wanted know anything about Kazuya.
As if Reio read Jin's thoughts, he went on talking about Kazuya. “He's working in some restaurant. Says he plans to enroll in a cooking school or something...”
“Culinary school,” Jin interjected.
“Yeah...whatever,” Reio said. “And he's looking real good. His got his hair lightened and is now real long, right down below his shoulders,” Reio relates, even gesturing towards his collarbones as if Jin could see him. “He is slim as ever.”
Jin smiled, picturing Kazuya as his brother described.
“He's looks so good he's prettier than his girlfriend,” Reio added.
Girlfriend. The word hit Jin like a bullet piercing his heart. “Really?” he managed to utter, after a moment of stunned silence. He didn't really expect Kazuya to wait for him. Although he hoped.
“Yeah. And his girlfriend's really hot, if you know what I mean,” Reio continued, not noticing the change in the tone of his older brother's voice. “They've been together for almost a year, I heard.”
“Oh,” was all Jin could say. The bullet ricocheted. Before he could say anything else, he heard his mother's voice angrily scolding Reio.
“Jin-kun, honey. How are you?” Mrs. Akanishi asked, replacing her youngest son on the line. “Don't mind Reio. You know he is such storyteller.”
Jin smiled despite himself. “It's okay, oka-asan. It's good to hear Kazuya had moved on.” It was the first time he and his mother talked about Kazuya after he left.
“He hasn't,” Mrs. Akanishi replied and made a mental note to hit Reio on the head again later.
Jin chuckled. “It's okay, oka-asan. It's been two years.”
“Are you coming back home soon?” the woman asked, sounding hopeful.
Jin hesitated then said, “I'm afraid not. I decided I'll practice teaching here first.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Akanishi said, not hiding the disappointment in her voice.
Jin immediately changed the subject and went on to amuse his mother with stories of his life in L.A. The call went on for another few minutes. When Jin placed down the receiver, he paused and stared at the phone for a while.
He looked at the trashcan beside his desk and retrieved an envelope. It was a letter from a community school in L.A., inviting him to teach English for Asian migrants. He placed the envelope on his desk and took another envelope that had been lying there for a week. He opened it and took out its content. He could be in Japan by weekend. But he won't be.
He replaced the plane ticket back inside the envelope and pulled open the desk drawer. With a heavy heart, he pushed the envelope inside the far end of the drawer.
♥
Kazuya looked outside the car window, watching nothing in particular.
“Hey, Kame.”
“What?” Kazuya replied without bothering to look at Tanaka Koki. Koki, who was his friend in middle school, had moved in Tokyo after high school and they had resumed their friendship. Kazuya enjoys being with Koki. He had always been fun to hang around with. And he always drives. Kazuya prefers being a passenger. He doesn't like to drive. Not since that day his mother tricked him into driving for her.
Kazuya took a deep breath and frowned and forced himself not to think back on that day.
“How's Erika?” Koki asked.
Kazuya shrugged. “I don't know. We broke up,” he said flatly.
“So, Kazuya season is over, huh?” Koki said with a chuckle.
Kazuya finally turned to look at his friend. “What?”
“Kazuya season,” Koki said.
“What?” Kazuya asked again, extremely puzzled at Koki.
“You've had a girlfriend every year, Kazuya,” Koki started. “But before July, your relationships end.” Koki gave Kazuya a quick glance and noted that his friend was frowning. “And you'd get the blues the whole September then find yourself another girl by October.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Four years, Kazuya. Don't you think I've noticed?” Koki said, eyes on the road but smiling meaningfully. “Every year for four years, you're unattached from July to September. As if during those months, you're waiting for someone to come home to you.”
Kazuya fell quiet. He looked out the window again and drew a deep breath. He crossed his arms in front of him, pressing tightly against his chest. The air felt suddenly chilly.
Four years. He didn't think anyone would notice. He drew another deep breath and looked longingly at the sign they just passed by that says Narita Airport. Four years. Maybe he should stop waiting.
The End of Chapter 7
A/N: I know it was just supposed to be two years. But it's not. Not even four. I'm really sorry.
Chapter 8