Hangovers
Title: Hangovers
Pairing: Akame
Genre: General
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Good-byes are best served over breakfast of scrambled eggs and scrambled hearts.
Note: First posted on December 22, 2008 for cirasuke_isean
"Oh. Kame.”
“Oh. Ryo.” He stared at Nishikido: bag at one hand and baseball cap on, “You’re going home already?”
Nishikido nodded, his hand still covering the doorknob. In front of him is Kamenashi with his shades on and stifling a yawn.
“Nonsense. You’re eating breakfast first.”
Kamenashi tucked the silver key in his back pocket and walked passed through Nishikido by the door. His nose wrinkled upon stepping inside the apartment. There were about four dozen empty beer cans lying around the whole floor area, few shot glasses atop the coffee table in the middle of the room, wine bottles, some empty, some half-full, standing beside the shot glasses and the four ashtrays around the whole apartment, spilling out nicotine butts. A lone dog, Pin, was sleeping beside a beer can and an empty potato chip bag. The whole place reeked off of roasted peanuts, vomits and over-ripped durian. “Had a nice night, huh.”
Nishikido just followed Kamenashi with his gaze. The guy went straight to the kitchen, kicking some beer cans in the process, placed the white grocery bag by the counter, dropped his bag in the floor and took his shades off.
“It’s just you and Pi?” He said while opening the cabinet, and looked inside it for a moment before taking out a Lysol and started spraying around the place.
Nishikido glanced at the snoring, half-naked guy in the couch. “The others went home around four.”
Kamenashi smiled. “You’re heading to Osaka?” He threw the empty Lysol in the trash bin and opened the refrigerator. His eyes widened upon seeing a stashed frozen bunch of sausages behind a pack of beer.
“Sunday. Family day.”
“Just eat first. I bet you feel like shit. I’ll be done in just a bit.”
Nishikido’s forehead was furrowed for a moment, one hand still on the knob, the other carrying a blue duffel bag. He closed his eyes, “Sounds splendid, Mother.”
Kamenashi laughed, “Good boy.” He whipped a couple of eggs in a stainless bowl while he tried to reach for the salt at the end of the counter. Nishikido shifted his weight, “Do you need help?”
“Nah. Just sit down. I had my own share of rowdy nights. And I bet last night was especially memorable for you guys.”
“Wish you were here though.” He leaned against the door, sweats forming at the sides of his face.
Kamenashi smiled again, “Sorry. Work. You know me.” He hurried to the counter and took some lettuce from the grocery bag…
“Urk.” Ryo slapped his hand over his mouth, his bag dropping at his sides.
Kamenashi snapped his head towards him, “Bathroom.” He pointed a door at the end of the hallway. And Nishikido run, hands still clamped over his mouth.
Kamenashi shook his head and smiled at flushing sound heard from the bathroom. After a few moments, he then turned his attention to the lettuce and hummed the first melody that came to mind as he chopped the veggies...
“Wha-huh?” Yamashita sat up, suddenly, a couple of throw pillows falling down the floor. “Wha-happened? Huh?”
“Morning, Pi.” Kamenashi said, as he started frying some eggs. A soft whimper was heard, Pin was awakened by Yamashita. The dog barked thrice before retreating to his dog house by the balcony, tail wagging the beer cans away.
“Kame? Huh. What’re you doing here?” Yamashita leaned back at the couch, one hand scratching the back of his head, the other wiping some dry saliva off his chin.
“Breakfast.”
“Ryo’s gone?”
“Bathroom. Hangover.”
“Ah.” He stood up, slowly, grabbed a black shirt lying by his foot and put it on. He stretched a little. “Need help?”
“I can manage.” Kamenashi glanced at him, and smiled. Yamashita looked at Kamenashi: hair pulled up in messy pony, his face has still traces of some make-up. His gaze lowered: a leather carry-all bag, lying in the floor and resting against the counter’s lower cabinet, open and some clothes peeking out.
“Hey. Did you just come straight from a shoot?”
Kamenashi nodded. He threw some coffee beans in the coffeemaker and peeked at the rice cooker beside it. “Oh good. There’s still some rice left.”
Yamashita walked towards the kitchen and stood behind him, “Did you get some sleep?”
“Yeah.”
“How many?”
Kamenashi stopped moving, and swallowed. “Uhm. An hour? Maybe two?” His voice trailed into a mere whisper.
“Damn it, Kame. Then what the hell are you doing here?”
“Cooking you, drunkards, some decent breakfast.” He faced Yamashita, and punched the other lightly in the arm.
Yamashita just stared at him, eye brows raised. Kamenashi sighed, “I’ll be leaving for a film location this afternoon…. I’ll be there till Wednesday.” Kamenashi bit his lower lip for a second and it was replaced all too suddenly by a smile, a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. He dumped the rice in the frying pan.
“Oh.” Yamashita mindlessly snatched the beer cans on the table, threw them over the overflowing bin, dumped the dirty plates and glasses on the sink and grabbed a washcloth and wiped the table. He sat down in the table and rested his head by the palm of his hand. “Does he-?”
Kamenashi licked his lips, “-No. Not yet.”
The bathroom door opened, revealing Nishikido, one hand massaging his temples, the other clutching his shirt. He opened one eye, “Hey. Pi. You’re up.”
“Hangover?”
“Terrible. Why do I have to finish up all the hard ones? I’ll kill Yuu when I see him, the bastard.” He slumped down in the chair across Yamashita.
“Ryo, your alcohol level stinks.”
“Shut up.”
The two laughed for a while and they ended up watching Kamenashi in the kitchen in silence, save for the medley of knife chopping, oil sizzling and Kamenashi’s humming.
“Morning.” All three heads tuned towards the open bedroom door. Akanishi leaned against the doorframe, scratching his nose and still wearing yesterday’s shirt and jeans. “I feel like shit.”
“Hey.” Yamashita and Nishikido greeted him. Kamenashi spared him a glance, “Morning.” The guy staggered towards the cooking Kamenashi. “Kame? Breakfast?” Akanishi yawned.
“Yeah. What time is your meeting with… them?” Kamenashi asked as he turned off the stove.
“Eleven.”
“Okay. You’ll make it. Eat first.”
Akanishi ruffled Kamenashi’s hair. “I’ll miss this.” Kamenashi smiled to himself and reached out for the plates.
“Hey. What’re still doing here? Don’t you have to be in Osaka?” Akanishi grabbed a pitcher and poured himself a glass. He leaned his lower back against the counter.
“Kame’s breakfasts are legendary.”
“Flattery won’t get you a bigger portion, Ryo.” And Kamenashi placed the breakfast before the two and Akanishi sat beside Nishikido. A unison Itadakimasu was uttered before the whole apartment was engulfed with the echoes of chopsticks and ceramic bowls clicking.
Kamenashi, who sat in front of Akanishi, looked at the three. “I think I still have some painkillers in my bag. Do you guys need it?”
Nishikido and Yamashita raised their left hands, their mouths full. Yamapi swallowed, hard, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. “I have to study. I have an exam tomorrow. Commerce, stupid commerce series.”
“I’ll get it. Just eat there, you can’t take it with an empty stomach.” He stood up and went to his bag and took out a green zipped bag.
“Here.” He handed the two some pills and the two quickly gulped the pills down.
Kamenashi laughed as he sat down. He took out three capsule bottles of varying sizes and colors from the zipped bag and opened the first one. He was about to pop a pill in his mouth when Akanishi slammed down his hands on the table.
“Vitamins and sappuri won’t keep you alive.”
Akanishi stared down in his plate.
“I will eat, Jin. I’m just taking these now.” Kamenashi stared at Akanishi and waited for the other guy to raise his head. And he did. They looked at each other for a second before Akanishi, eyes darting and fingers tapping, pushed his empty plate in front of Kamenashi.
“I’m taking a shower.”
Akanishi briskly walked in his room, came out after a minute, a towel and bathrobe on his shoulder and slammed the bathroom door closed.
Kamenashi pressed his lips tight, as he reached for some rice and dumped it in his plate. He played with the sausage with his chopsticks.
“He’s a bit stressed out, Kame. And he’s worried about you and the group. You know with all this shit.” Yamashita decided to end the silence over the table.
“He doesn’t want to go.” He continued.
Kamenashi just nodded, his eyes fixed on the scrambled egg and lettuce.
“He regrets it. I mean c’mon, we all had our own crazy moments. And it’s just stupid. Really stupid. And god, of all the other times they could’ve possibly snapped and send someone else across the world - but no. It was in his stupid case that the stupid, stupid upstairs snapped.” Yamashita’s hands were playing with his chopsticks, his tongue clicking.
“Shut up, Pi.” Ryo carefully set his chopstick over his bowl.
“He needs this, guys.” Kamenashi tried to smile and looked at them at the eyes.
Yamashita sighed and pushed his empty plate away. “A break, yes, but an indefinite one?” He grimaced, “Bullshit, I tell you.”
“I said shut up, Pi.” Ryo stood up, cocked his head at one side then rubbed his stomach. “The pills kicking in, I’m feeling a bit better.” He glanced at Kamenashi, a small smile on his face. “Thanks, Kame but I really have to go now.” He grabbed his duffel bag from the floor and stared at the sulking Yamashita. Nishikido sighed as he put back his baseball cap on.
“We’ve been through this for over a month already, Pi. He did some shit, he gets some shit back. But… he’ll come back.” Ryo said his last sentence with his eyes on Kamenashi, who nodded in response with closed eyes.
“Of course, Ryo. Of course.”
Nishikido bit his lower lip as he nodded in agreement then clapped his hands together, “Well, I should be heading home now.” He blinked. “Are you coming, Pi? - Oh stop whining already.” Nishikido tapped his right foot, his grip in the sling of his bag tightened. Yamashita snapped his head at him and mumbled something under his breath as he stood up.
“Thank you for the meal, Kame. I have to go home too. Stupid commerce exam.” He smiled, grabbed his jacket in the couch’s armrest, “Let’s grab a dinner this week, okay?” and ruffled Kamenashi’s hair. “And tell Jin I’ll fetch him in Tuesday.”
“I’ll tell him.” Kamenashi stood up and turned to Nishikido who had been taping his foot endlessly. “How about you Ryo? Aren’t you going to say anything to Jin?”
Nishikido shook his head. “I’ll be sleeping over here tomorrow night anyways.” Kamenashi and Yamashita looked at each other and they broke into smiles.
“Oh Ryo, you sleazy sentimental scumbag. Bye, Kame.” Yamashita laughed as he lead the way out of the apartment. Nishikido waved a little to Kamenashi as he followed Yamashita out. Before the door was closed Kamenashi heard Nishikido exclaimed, “What? You can come over too if you want.”
Kamenashi lingered by the foyer for a good minute before he went to the living room and started picking up the beer cans.
Akanishi stepped out of the bathroom eventually, bathrobe clad and hair dripping wet. “They left?”
Kamenashi nodded as he continued washing the dishes. Akanishi just stood there by the table, drying his hair with his towel as he continued watching the other guy clean up last night’s mess.
“Jin.” Akanishi snapped out of his thoughts. “It’s ten already.” Kamenashi reminded without looking back at him. Akanishi then wordlessly went to his room and closed the door shut.
Akanishi found Kamenashi slumped down in the couch, watching a morning drama by the time he stepped out of his room, styled and fully-dressed for the day. He neared the couch. He shifted his weight, held his breath before placing a hand over the other guy’s head. “Did the shoot just pack up?”
Kamenashi slowly turned his head towards him, and smiled before nodding his head. He then sat up to make room for Akanishi, he grabbed a pillow in the process and hugged it. “You should have gone straight home.” Akanishi sat beside him and stared at the TV. A salary man, whose actor Kamenashi worked with before, is being scolded by an aristocratic older woman…
Kamenashi drew his knees together and hugged the pillow tighter. “I’ll be leaving for a film location today.”
Akanishi didn’t say anything, he just turned to his side to glance at Kamenashi, whose eyes were fixed on the salary man walking out of the office. “I’ll be there till Wednesday.” Akanishi has to strain his ear just to pick up what the other said. And when he did, he felt his hand grew numb.
“What time will you leave?”
“This afternoon. Oh I’m sorry, Jin. The director just mentioned it last night.” Kamenashi whispered, his fingers tracing the design of the pillow.
Akanishi sat there still. “It’s alright. You guys will be there in January right?”
“December, maybe.” Kamenashi then looked at him, eyes a bit glassy. “I really wanted to see you off. But Yamapi and Ryo, and your mom and even the others will be there I bet. Too crowded.” He tried let out a laugh but it sounded like a whimper instead.
Akanishi then bended forward and covered his face with his hands. “God. I hate this. I’m sorry, Kame.”
Kamenashi did not say anything and just watched as the salary man hugged his wife. The only sounds in the apartment were the clock ticking and the salary man’s confession of unfaithfulness to his wife.
“It’s ten-thirty already. You should hurry up.” Kamenashi placed a hand over Akanishi’s knee.
The other just nodded and stood up. He grabbed his coat by the rack and dumped his keys, wallet and phone in its pockets. Kamenashi followed him by the door steps. “Can I stay here, Jin? I‘ll just take a quick nap. I’m too tired to drive back home.”
Akanishi played with the keys in his pockets. “Won’t she be waiting?”
“She knows I’m here.”
“Of course, she knows.” He scratched his nose with the back of his hand and sniffed. “You can stay here as long as you want.” Akanishi glanced at the dog house by the balcony. “Visit Pin sometimes.” Akanishi was fidgeting his feet, eyes darting. He felt a little hot around his eyes.
Kamenashi pressed his lips together and reached for the unturned collar of Akanishi’s coat and flattened it down. “I will, Jin. I will.”
Akanishi just stood there, not showing any sign of moving anytime soon. “I’ll talk to them. I’ll beg them that half a year is enough.” He fisted his hands at his sides, he bit the insides of his cheeks, his eyes fixed on Kamenashi, who only nodded in response and whose closed eyes were quivering.
“I-I have to go.” Akanishi turned back to him and reached for the door knob, only to stop midway to face Kamenashi again and hugged him with one arm, his other hand still at his sides, fisted tightly, shaking slightly. “I’ll call before I board.” He whispered. Kamenashi fisted Akanishi’s shirt, and rested his head in the crook of his neck. Tired, just too tired. He allowed a few tears to fall. “I’ll be waiting then.” He swallowed hard.
Akanishi sniffed and tightened his embrace before letting go of the other. He reached the other’s hand instead and squeezed it. “Bye.” And he was out of the door. Kamenashi just stood there and tried to, as much as he can, take in Akanishi’s scent that lingered in the foyer.
He then finally walked towards the living room and watched the TV for sometime before shutting it off. It seems the wife forgave the unfaithful salary man.
He cocked his head at one side, staring at the couch and then he bit his lower lip before smiling. He walked towards the bedroom… he decided to sleep in Akanishi’s bed instead.
Pairing: Akame
Genre: General
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Good-byes are best served over breakfast of scrambled eggs and scrambled hearts.
Note: First posted on December 22, 2008 for cirasuke_isean
"Oh. Kame.”
“Oh. Ryo.” He stared at Nishikido: bag at one hand and baseball cap on, “You’re going home already?”
Nishikido nodded, his hand still covering the doorknob. In front of him is Kamenashi with his shades on and stifling a yawn.
“Nonsense. You’re eating breakfast first.”
Kamenashi tucked the silver key in his back pocket and walked passed through Nishikido by the door. His nose wrinkled upon stepping inside the apartment. There were about four dozen empty beer cans lying around the whole floor area, few shot glasses atop the coffee table in the middle of the room, wine bottles, some empty, some half-full, standing beside the shot glasses and the four ashtrays around the whole apartment, spilling out nicotine butts. A lone dog, Pin, was sleeping beside a beer can and an empty potato chip bag. The whole place reeked off of roasted peanuts, vomits and over-ripped durian. “Had a nice night, huh.”
Nishikido just followed Kamenashi with his gaze. The guy went straight to the kitchen, kicking some beer cans in the process, placed the white grocery bag by the counter, dropped his bag in the floor and took his shades off.
“It’s just you and Pi?” He said while opening the cabinet, and looked inside it for a moment before taking out a Lysol and started spraying around the place.
Nishikido glanced at the snoring, half-naked guy in the couch. “The others went home around four.”
Kamenashi smiled. “You’re heading to Osaka?” He threw the empty Lysol in the trash bin and opened the refrigerator. His eyes widened upon seeing a stashed frozen bunch of sausages behind a pack of beer.
“Sunday. Family day.”
“Just eat first. I bet you feel like shit. I’ll be done in just a bit.”
Nishikido’s forehead was furrowed for a moment, one hand still on the knob, the other carrying a blue duffel bag. He closed his eyes, “Sounds splendid, Mother.”
Kamenashi laughed, “Good boy.” He whipped a couple of eggs in a stainless bowl while he tried to reach for the salt at the end of the counter. Nishikido shifted his weight, “Do you need help?”
“Nah. Just sit down. I had my own share of rowdy nights. And I bet last night was especially memorable for you guys.”
“Wish you were here though.” He leaned against the door, sweats forming at the sides of his face.
Kamenashi smiled again, “Sorry. Work. You know me.” He hurried to the counter and took some lettuce from the grocery bag…
“Urk.” Ryo slapped his hand over his mouth, his bag dropping at his sides.
Kamenashi snapped his head towards him, “Bathroom.” He pointed a door at the end of the hallway. And Nishikido run, hands still clamped over his mouth.
Kamenashi shook his head and smiled at flushing sound heard from the bathroom. After a few moments, he then turned his attention to the lettuce and hummed the first melody that came to mind as he chopped the veggies...
“Wha-huh?” Yamashita sat up, suddenly, a couple of throw pillows falling down the floor. “Wha-happened? Huh?”
“Morning, Pi.” Kamenashi said, as he started frying some eggs. A soft whimper was heard, Pin was awakened by Yamashita. The dog barked thrice before retreating to his dog house by the balcony, tail wagging the beer cans away.
“Kame? Huh. What’re you doing here?” Yamashita leaned back at the couch, one hand scratching the back of his head, the other wiping some dry saliva off his chin.
“Breakfast.”
“Ryo’s gone?”
“Bathroom. Hangover.”
“Ah.” He stood up, slowly, grabbed a black shirt lying by his foot and put it on. He stretched a little. “Need help?”
“I can manage.” Kamenashi glanced at him, and smiled. Yamashita looked at Kamenashi: hair pulled up in messy pony, his face has still traces of some make-up. His gaze lowered: a leather carry-all bag, lying in the floor and resting against the counter’s lower cabinet, open and some clothes peeking out.
“Hey. Did you just come straight from a shoot?”
Kamenashi nodded. He threw some coffee beans in the coffeemaker and peeked at the rice cooker beside it. “Oh good. There’s still some rice left.”
Yamashita walked towards the kitchen and stood behind him, “Did you get some sleep?”
“Yeah.”
“How many?”
Kamenashi stopped moving, and swallowed. “Uhm. An hour? Maybe two?” His voice trailed into a mere whisper.
“Damn it, Kame. Then what the hell are you doing here?”
“Cooking you, drunkards, some decent breakfast.” He faced Yamashita, and punched the other lightly in the arm.
Yamashita just stared at him, eye brows raised. Kamenashi sighed, “I’ll be leaving for a film location this afternoon…. I’ll be there till Wednesday.” Kamenashi bit his lower lip for a second and it was replaced all too suddenly by a smile, a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. He dumped the rice in the frying pan.
“Oh.” Yamashita mindlessly snatched the beer cans on the table, threw them over the overflowing bin, dumped the dirty plates and glasses on the sink and grabbed a washcloth and wiped the table. He sat down in the table and rested his head by the palm of his hand. “Does he-?”
Kamenashi licked his lips, “-No. Not yet.”
The bathroom door opened, revealing Nishikido, one hand massaging his temples, the other clutching his shirt. He opened one eye, “Hey. Pi. You’re up.”
“Hangover?”
“Terrible. Why do I have to finish up all the hard ones? I’ll kill Yuu when I see him, the bastard.” He slumped down in the chair across Yamashita.
“Ryo, your alcohol level stinks.”
“Shut up.”
The two laughed for a while and they ended up watching Kamenashi in the kitchen in silence, save for the medley of knife chopping, oil sizzling and Kamenashi’s humming.
“Morning.” All three heads tuned towards the open bedroom door. Akanishi leaned against the doorframe, scratching his nose and still wearing yesterday’s shirt and jeans. “I feel like shit.”
“Hey.” Yamashita and Nishikido greeted him. Kamenashi spared him a glance, “Morning.” The guy staggered towards the cooking Kamenashi. “Kame? Breakfast?” Akanishi yawned.
“Yeah. What time is your meeting with… them?” Kamenashi asked as he turned off the stove.
“Eleven.”
“Okay. You’ll make it. Eat first.”
Akanishi ruffled Kamenashi’s hair. “I’ll miss this.” Kamenashi smiled to himself and reached out for the plates.
“Hey. What’re still doing here? Don’t you have to be in Osaka?” Akanishi grabbed a pitcher and poured himself a glass. He leaned his lower back against the counter.
“Kame’s breakfasts are legendary.”
“Flattery won’t get you a bigger portion, Ryo.” And Kamenashi placed the breakfast before the two and Akanishi sat beside Nishikido. A unison Itadakimasu was uttered before the whole apartment was engulfed with the echoes of chopsticks and ceramic bowls clicking.
Kamenashi, who sat in front of Akanishi, looked at the three. “I think I still have some painkillers in my bag. Do you guys need it?”
Nishikido and Yamashita raised their left hands, their mouths full. Yamapi swallowed, hard, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. “I have to study. I have an exam tomorrow. Commerce, stupid commerce series.”
“I’ll get it. Just eat there, you can’t take it with an empty stomach.” He stood up and went to his bag and took out a green zipped bag.
“Here.” He handed the two some pills and the two quickly gulped the pills down.
Kamenashi laughed as he sat down. He took out three capsule bottles of varying sizes and colors from the zipped bag and opened the first one. He was about to pop a pill in his mouth when Akanishi slammed down his hands on the table.
“Vitamins and sappuri won’t keep you alive.”
Akanishi stared down in his plate.
“I will eat, Jin. I’m just taking these now.” Kamenashi stared at Akanishi and waited for the other guy to raise his head. And he did. They looked at each other for a second before Akanishi, eyes darting and fingers tapping, pushed his empty plate in front of Kamenashi.
“I’m taking a shower.”
Akanishi briskly walked in his room, came out after a minute, a towel and bathrobe on his shoulder and slammed the bathroom door closed.
Kamenashi pressed his lips tight, as he reached for some rice and dumped it in his plate. He played with the sausage with his chopsticks.
“He’s a bit stressed out, Kame. And he’s worried about you and the group. You know with all this shit.” Yamashita decided to end the silence over the table.
“He doesn’t want to go.” He continued.
Kamenashi just nodded, his eyes fixed on the scrambled egg and lettuce.
“He regrets it. I mean c’mon, we all had our own crazy moments. And it’s just stupid. Really stupid. And god, of all the other times they could’ve possibly snapped and send someone else across the world - but no. It was in his stupid case that the stupid, stupid upstairs snapped.” Yamashita’s hands were playing with his chopsticks, his tongue clicking.
“Shut up, Pi.” Ryo carefully set his chopstick over his bowl.
“He needs this, guys.” Kamenashi tried to smile and looked at them at the eyes.
Yamashita sighed and pushed his empty plate away. “A break, yes, but an indefinite one?” He grimaced, “Bullshit, I tell you.”
“I said shut up, Pi.” Ryo stood up, cocked his head at one side then rubbed his stomach. “The pills kicking in, I’m feeling a bit better.” He glanced at Kamenashi, a small smile on his face. “Thanks, Kame but I really have to go now.” He grabbed his duffel bag from the floor and stared at the sulking Yamashita. Nishikido sighed as he put back his baseball cap on.
“We’ve been through this for over a month already, Pi. He did some shit, he gets some shit back. But… he’ll come back.” Ryo said his last sentence with his eyes on Kamenashi, who nodded in response with closed eyes.
“Of course, Ryo. Of course.”
Nishikido bit his lower lip as he nodded in agreement then clapped his hands together, “Well, I should be heading home now.” He blinked. “Are you coming, Pi? - Oh stop whining already.” Nishikido tapped his right foot, his grip in the sling of his bag tightened. Yamashita snapped his head at him and mumbled something under his breath as he stood up.
“Thank you for the meal, Kame. I have to go home too. Stupid commerce exam.” He smiled, grabbed his jacket in the couch’s armrest, “Let’s grab a dinner this week, okay?” and ruffled Kamenashi’s hair. “And tell Jin I’ll fetch him in Tuesday.”
“I’ll tell him.” Kamenashi stood up and turned to Nishikido who had been taping his foot endlessly. “How about you Ryo? Aren’t you going to say anything to Jin?”
Nishikido shook his head. “I’ll be sleeping over here tomorrow night anyways.” Kamenashi and Yamashita looked at each other and they broke into smiles.
“Oh Ryo, you sleazy sentimental scumbag. Bye, Kame.” Yamashita laughed as he lead the way out of the apartment. Nishikido waved a little to Kamenashi as he followed Yamashita out. Before the door was closed Kamenashi heard Nishikido exclaimed, “What? You can come over too if you want.”
Kamenashi lingered by the foyer for a good minute before he went to the living room and started picking up the beer cans.
Akanishi stepped out of the bathroom eventually, bathrobe clad and hair dripping wet. “They left?”
Kamenashi nodded as he continued washing the dishes. Akanishi just stood there by the table, drying his hair with his towel as he continued watching the other guy clean up last night’s mess.
“Jin.” Akanishi snapped out of his thoughts. “It’s ten already.” Kamenashi reminded without looking back at him. Akanishi then wordlessly went to his room and closed the door shut.
Akanishi found Kamenashi slumped down in the couch, watching a morning drama by the time he stepped out of his room, styled and fully-dressed for the day. He neared the couch. He shifted his weight, held his breath before placing a hand over the other guy’s head. “Did the shoot just pack up?”
Kamenashi slowly turned his head towards him, and smiled before nodding his head. He then sat up to make room for Akanishi, he grabbed a pillow in the process and hugged it. “You should have gone straight home.” Akanishi sat beside him and stared at the TV. A salary man, whose actor Kamenashi worked with before, is being scolded by an aristocratic older woman…
Kamenashi drew his knees together and hugged the pillow tighter. “I’ll be leaving for a film location today.”
Akanishi didn’t say anything, he just turned to his side to glance at Kamenashi, whose eyes were fixed on the salary man walking out of the office. “I’ll be there till Wednesday.” Akanishi has to strain his ear just to pick up what the other said. And when he did, he felt his hand grew numb.
“What time will you leave?”
“This afternoon. Oh I’m sorry, Jin. The director just mentioned it last night.” Kamenashi whispered, his fingers tracing the design of the pillow.
Akanishi sat there still. “It’s alright. You guys will be there in January right?”
“December, maybe.” Kamenashi then looked at him, eyes a bit glassy. “I really wanted to see you off. But Yamapi and Ryo, and your mom and even the others will be there I bet. Too crowded.” He tried let out a laugh but it sounded like a whimper instead.
Akanishi then bended forward and covered his face with his hands. “God. I hate this. I’m sorry, Kame.”
Kamenashi did not say anything and just watched as the salary man hugged his wife. The only sounds in the apartment were the clock ticking and the salary man’s confession of unfaithfulness to his wife.
“It’s ten-thirty already. You should hurry up.” Kamenashi placed a hand over Akanishi’s knee.
The other just nodded and stood up. He grabbed his coat by the rack and dumped his keys, wallet and phone in its pockets. Kamenashi followed him by the door steps. “Can I stay here, Jin? I‘ll just take a quick nap. I’m too tired to drive back home.”
Akanishi played with the keys in his pockets. “Won’t she be waiting?”
“She knows I’m here.”
“Of course, she knows.” He scratched his nose with the back of his hand and sniffed. “You can stay here as long as you want.” Akanishi glanced at the dog house by the balcony. “Visit Pin sometimes.” Akanishi was fidgeting his feet, eyes darting. He felt a little hot around his eyes.
Kamenashi pressed his lips together and reached for the unturned collar of Akanishi’s coat and flattened it down. “I will, Jin. I will.”
Akanishi just stood there, not showing any sign of moving anytime soon. “I’ll talk to them. I’ll beg them that half a year is enough.” He fisted his hands at his sides, he bit the insides of his cheeks, his eyes fixed on Kamenashi, who only nodded in response and whose closed eyes were quivering.
“I-I have to go.” Akanishi turned back to him and reached for the door knob, only to stop midway to face Kamenashi again and hugged him with one arm, his other hand still at his sides, fisted tightly, shaking slightly. “I’ll call before I board.” He whispered. Kamenashi fisted Akanishi’s shirt, and rested his head in the crook of his neck. Tired, just too tired. He allowed a few tears to fall. “I’ll be waiting then.” He swallowed hard.
Akanishi sniffed and tightened his embrace before letting go of the other. He reached the other’s hand instead and squeezed it. “Bye.” And he was out of the door. Kamenashi just stood there and tried to, as much as he can, take in Akanishi’s scent that lingered in the foyer.
He then finally walked towards the living room and watched the TV for sometime before shutting it off. It seems the wife forgave the unfaithful salary man.
He cocked his head at one side, staring at the couch and then he bit his lower lip before smiling. He walked towards the bedroom… he decided to sleep in Akanishi’s bed instead.