[Fic ] Ore-tachi ni Deatta no Wine :2010 Multi-chapter Contest Entry
Title: Ore-tachi ni Deatta no wine
Beta: None
Pairing: Akame,
Rating: Pg-13 to NC-17
Disclaimer: None of them belongs to me... don't own them
Genre: romance
Summary: Kamenashi Kazuya works at a wine bar where one night a customer comes and catches his attention. It was simply wine but that exact wine began tasting like love. Too bad it was one sided...or not?
Ore-tachi ni deatta no wine.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Ueda let out a sigh and then placed his glass on the counter and turned around to his other friends. Koki and Junno were the other two friends he and Kazuya had in common so they would spend time together on their time off but somehow the last 10 going-outs all ended up in the same way.
- I’m tired of it. How come he isn’t? Tat-chan mumbled, leaning back on the chair and sighing again.
- I’m surprised he can drink this much and still walk, Koki spoke out in a rather loud voice and then hit the table with his first, glaring at the young man who kept gulping glasses and glasses of alcohol.
- I’m surprised he is still suffering after the guy…, Ueda let out on a small voice, looking down.
- He is still in love with the guy?! Came the loud question from Junno that earned himself a smack over the head for his KY-ness and overwhelming stupidity by Koki.
- I think he still is, Ueda nodded. Every time a customer asks for that wine, he says there isn’t any left but when I leave for a meeting and leave him alone for a couple of days, that wine disappears and the money for it is there. He refuses to give it to others but drinks it himself. Not only that…,
Ueda stopped and pointed at the slim, beautiful figure of Kazuya that was leaning against the bar counter. Kazuya’s looks changed during the year that passed by. His brown hair was now orangeish, a bit longer than before. He had lost some weight and looked as if he wasn’t properly eating. His waist became slimmer, he was a bit taller and he looked even more beautiful than before. Now, guys would bluntly hit on him and sometimes even touch his bottom, but every time he would just answer with a smile and brush them off with his sexy moves. After Jin had fucked him twice and left him without a word, Kazuya realized that many people were after his body and began using it to his advantage. He never slept with anyone else than Jin but he would occasionally flirt with customers or people around him to get something he wanted. Like when he wasn’t allowed the use a restaurant’s toilet without eating there. Then he would just sweet talk the lady at the counter or the owner and he would be immediately allowed inside. Sometimes, he would even get a free meal where he’d go because the waiters would like him. In moments like this, like now when he was with his friends in his club, he would use his charm to make the bartender give him more drinks, free drinks sometimes. Well, at least his looks spared him a lot of money.
- He’s doing it again, Koki noticed. The bartender is telling him he had enough and Kame-chan is flirting…Ah! He got another drink! Fucker! That dude is touching Kame-chan! Koki wanted to stand up and go there but Ueda stopped him.
- Don’t worry, Koki. The guy is just being touchy feely. If he goes overboard, you know Kazuya would punch him. Like that last dude that slide his hand over his crotch and ended up with a broken nose.
- He what?!!
Koki almost shouted out loud since it was the first time he heard about a guy going that far with Kazuya. He knew that some guys would grope Kazuya, some would touch his bottom or his face, slide their hands over his chest or caress his face, but actually going as far as sliding their hands over his crotch…now that was being a complete pervert.
- Don’t worry. I think he’s just enjoying seeing people not failing his expectations. He is expecting them to hit on him so he knows how to protect himself. I know it might sound stupid…but at least this is one thing I am grateful to Jin for. It made Kazuya more aware of what people really think when they see him so now he is no longer a walking target.
- That just might be the only thing. How can Kazuya still love the dude? The guy just wanted to fuck him, he did and then left. How can anyone love a guy like that?!
- Well…Kazuya does otherwise he would be always drinking… Gin.
Ueda almost felt as if he was doing a pun as he pointed at the glass Kamenashi was holding in his hand.
- Besides the wine he drinks, the one that reminds him of Jin, every time we go out he drinks Gin. I can understand love, but Kazuya is too deep for me to understand him, Ueda confessed.
- I can understand, Junno nonchalantly stated, making both Koki and Ueda stare at him.
- Huh?
- He is in love, right? People in love tend to notice things about their loved one that others don’t. Like which is a real smile, which is fake, when they are happy or truly sad and so on. Kazuya probably saw the true Jin, the one hidden behind his mask and fell for that. When you get to know the real him, I suppose it’s hard to forget.
Koki smacked Junno once again over the head, making him pout and get silent again. Ueda, on the other hand, understood a bit. He had only seen Jin once but the only thing he noticed was the way he was holding the glass wine. Kazuya probably saw Jin smiling, pouting, frowning and so one and so forth during those almost two days they spent together. Kazuya got to see a Jin that left more of an impression that he had thought so he couldn’t forget.
Ueda sighed again and stood up and then walked all the way to the counter, taking Kazuya away by the collar and making him go outside. Since the bartender obviously fell for Kamenashi’s flirts, they didn’t even have to pay the drinks they had because that man was going to.
- You seriously gotta stop it! Ueda warned Kazuya as soon as they got out of the place.
- Stop what?! I’m just having a few drinks, Kamenashi replied really not understanding what his friend’s problem was.
- Kazuya!! Ueda shouted for the very first time and made the younger one flinch.
Even the bad looking, gangster like Koki took a step back as he heard the rough voice of their cute looking friend. Junno began tabbing something on his cellphone and he knew better than to mess with an angry Ueda.
- What?! Kazuya shouted back, getting rather angry.
- I get it. You love the guy and you suffer because he abandoned you! But this really isn’t the right way to drown your pain. You’re fucking up your life.
- You are exaggerating, Tat-chan. I’m just having some drinks and that’s it.
- You will turn into an alcoholic like this. And what’s worst is that if you continue like this you will get so wasted that one day someone will fucking rape you and you’ll feel even more like shit.
That one phrase seemed to have made an impact on Kazuya. His face turned completely pale as he heard about that and he immediately straightened his body, biting his lower lip as he was completely nervous.
- I don’t want to have sex with anyone …, Kazuya whispered, getting even more pale as he said that. I …
- I get it. You want Jin. I get it but this isn’t the right way to go about it. Do you want some stranger to fuck you on a dark alley and get you sick or even kill you someday?
Kazuya looked down at his feet and couldn’t even open his mouth. He knew his drinking was getting out of control but no one actually dared going that far with him so he never thought anyone would try and fuck him. Heck, why would he think that just because of some drinks, someone would wanna rape him? Sure, on every going out he’d end up in his room dead drunk but he was never assaulted like that. If he wanted anyone to rape him, then he wanted Jin to be the one.
- What can I do? I can’t have him. I don’t even know where to find him. If I had known I was just a fuck, I would have done something to make sure he’ll come back for more.
- Kazuya..
- No…listen. I would have allowed him to come to me just for a fuck. I would have known how to make him come back for more and eventually he would have fallen for me but he didn’t even give me a chance. He didn’t give me a chance to make him love me and that’s what bothers me the most.
Ueda found himself nodding. He could understand that. He could understand if that was what made Kazuya so attached to Jin.
- So if you had had the chance to make him love you and failed, you wouldn’t be suffering like this? Ueda asked just to make sure.
- Yes.
The serious tone Kazuya used although it was obvious he was a bit tipsy was more than enough to convince Ueda. Sure, no one really knew anything in particular about the one called Jin but maybe there have been a chance to get to him.
Ueda nodded again and pulled Kazuya into a cab and then took him home. It was already late and there was no place for conversations like that. Koki could only wonder what was going to happen from there on. It had been a year. A year since Kazuya was abandoned.
The morning came with a big headache. Kazuya was used to it so he went to the bathroom and took a shower, then put his uniform on and was ready to start his job. As he went downstairs he noticed the door was still closed and Ueda was sitting on the other side of the counter, looking all serious while staring at the bottle of Parson’s Flat Wine Shiraz Cabernet 2005.
Instinct made Kazuya run towards the counter and just take the bottle out of side, hiding it so no one could see it. He knew Ueda was his boss and he shouldn’t be doing something like that in front of him, but he didn’t care. That precise wine was the one that brought Jin into his life and it meant more than anyone could think.
- I’ll help you, Ueda spoke on a calm voice.
It made Kazuya shiver. He knew Tat-chan something could shout, sometimes would feel like hitting something and most of the time he would act cute and all, but when Ueda Tatsuya spoke so normally, so casually and yet so serious, it meant he was for real.
- Help me? Kazuya shuttered a bit, not sure what was going on.
- Jin. I’m gonna help you find Jin. I’m going to help you find him and make sure you get your chance to make him fall for you. Yet, if you fail, you’ll never get drunk again. I won’t allow it anymore. Deal?
The harsh tone and yet calming one made Kazuya blink a few times. Find Jin? Why now? Why after a year? And how could they find Jin? The only thing he knew about that man was his name and the way he looked but if he could change so much in a year, so could’ve Jin. It was just a name. A name so particular and uncommon but a name and that wasn’t good enough.
- Be serious, Tat-chan, you can’t.
- I can try. I know the man isn’t stupid and he does have knowledge about wine no matter how much you seem to have ignored that. He knows what wines all about and I’m willing to bet everything I have that he is somehow related to it. In other words, he continued just as he saw Kazuya was ready to contradict him.
- In other words…?
- In other words, if we succumb in the depths of the wine world, we should be able to find him. In other words, all we need to do if become even more knowledgeable about wine.
Kazuya listened carefully and tried to remember if Jin had ever said something about him being like that. He could only remember the way Jin hold his glass, the way he’s spin it around a bit and then gently smell it, not making it look slow or stupid. He remembered the way Jin could perfectly pull every wine he was asked for out and then he remembered the decantage. Kazuya quickly looked up at Ueda and licked his lower lip. Jin knew how to move the wine from its bottle and change its taste so…maybe he knew more.
- Ok, Kazuya bit his lower lip, willing to give it a try.
- Good! Now….
Kamenashi watched as Ueda crunched down and then placed something on the counter. As he saw the number of books placed on the wooden surface, Kazuya could only blink in disbelief and wonder if Tat-chan was planning on killing him or something of a sort.
Nonetheless, he did it. It was close to torture. Everyday, they were out. Out to find out about wines, to do tasting and then to note down their thoughts about them. They closed the wine shop and together began going from city to city, talking to people that knew more about wine than they did. It was hard work, really hard work. They had to be able to name wines just by smelling them but thankfully, Kazuya seemed to be a genius at it. His talent was immediately recognized by a wine critic and offered Kamenashi the chance to study even more. It was painful. Every morning, as Kazuya began a new lesson and practiced, he would always think that at some point he would see Jin. Ueda made sure Kazuya never missed on one single wine related gathering. All wine tasting, parties and so on and so forth were on their list and they joined all.
It was pretty strange how it all started as a way of finding Jin but somewhere along the way they encountered more people, make relations and advanced in the wine industry. It was even more impressive that it took them only three months to get there.
- This is a really big one, Kazuya muttered as he continuously walked from one end of the room to the other.
- It’s still a party. Even though the level is high, you do want to see if he’s there, right? Ueda ask almost chuckling, looking at the perfectly dressed Kamenashi Kazuya, wine critic in training, that was about to join his first high class party.
Kazuya nodded and followed Ueda inside the room. As always, he had that bottle of Parson’s Flat Wine Shiraz Cabernet 2005 ready. It was the wine that brought them together so he wanted to offer it to Jin, would they meet again. It wasn’t a different bottle. It was the same bottle from which he first offered Jin some of it, the same bottle from which he poured him some the second time as well. It was that wine, not just the name for it.
He walked inside the room and stopped for a second, trying to adjust to the glitter. It was so shinny and sparkling that it somehow gave him the goose bumps.
- He is really handsome, isn’t he? He heard a few girls talking behind him and turned around a bit.
He would have been surprised if it would have been him they were talking about. Even girls called him beautiful, not handsome, so the subject of their talk had to be someone else.
- I heard he’s changed a lot in the last year. He is more approachable now, another female voice joined.
- Those that mean we have a chance at him? one giggled.
- No, silly. He just smiles more now. When he looks at wines, he just smiles. Before it seemed like a job for him, but now he seems to love it, another voice explain.
- Well…I don’t really care if he loves his job or not. I just want him to do me once, another voice giggled and soon others followed. As his lover, he’d give me whatever I want.
Kazuya rolled his eyes and then looked around a bit. Of course in a world where they were so much money involved, people would get closer just for fun, the sex or the money itself. He just didn’t expect to heart it so clearly from a bunch of woman that looked so elegant and yet only thought about having a guy do them.
- I’d settle for a kiss. I bet he is the perfect lover…, one of them whispered embarrassed.
- Of course he is. He is Akanishi Jin, after all.
The name made Kazuya snap his head around, look straight towards those women’s direction and walk close to them. He couldn’t stop his feet. He just couldn’t. They moved by themselves and stopped only when he got in front of them.
- Excuse me…you mentioned Akanishi Jin.., he shyly began.
- Oh…, one woman giggled. So he has fans amongst the guys too. Well, I understand that dear but unfortunately you don’t have a chance.
As the lady said that, she pointed somewhere in the room and Kazuya immediately followed.
His heart stopped beating and his eyes didn’t blink anymore despite the torturing light invading them. There he was, the man that he fell for, the one that abandoned him and made him dwell in sufferance for a year and three months. He was there, with a woman at his arm, smiling as someone showed him a bottle of wine. Indeed, Jin looked happy. He looked happier than before, especially as far as wine went. He looked as if someone had given him the best present and the quickness with which he tasted the wine, made him look like a kid wanting to know how a candy tasted like.
Kazuya gulped once then found himself walking towards the exit. He went straight to the car he came with and took the bottle out, then walked back inside. Jin was shinning brighter than ever. He looked as if he was the center of everything and everyone was trying to please him. Jin looked so bright, that Kazuya feared getting close. It was obvious just by looking at him, that Jin had someone else and that there was no chance for Kazuya to be with him.
Kazuya realized that. One look was more than enough for him to know but he still wanted to give Jin that bottle of wine. It was theirs but as long as Kazuya was going to have it, he would never be ready to give up on his one-sided love. He began with small steps, but firm steps, and stopped only in front of the older one.
- Akanishi-sama, this is for you, he spoke calm and politely, offering the bottle of wine.
Jin flinched a bit as he noticed so it was. In front of him stood an even more beautiful Kamenashi Kazuya, with a more alluring aura, smiling and offering him wine. Akanishi shook his head a bit and then looked again but since it wasn’t a dream, Kazuya was still there. Jin could only take the bottle from the younger one’s hands. He took the bottle and wanted to say something, but no words came out. He then saw Kamenashi bowing and leaving. Only then did he snap out of it, apologized quickly and followed the younger one.
Kazuya ran. He ran all the way outside and stopped near the entrance door, leaning back on it. He felt like crying because he felt he was an idiot. He had feelings for a man that just went ahead and continued his life as if nothing happened. He had loved Jin and seeing Jin again only made him realize he was still in love. It wasn’t just his lingering resentment. It was love. Still love.
The few quick steps coming from inside made him turn around and look up. Jin was there, huffing, still holding the bottle of wine in his hands. Jin had ran after him and that made Kazuya more than happy.
- So it is you. Kamenashi Kazuya, Jin spoke softly.
Kazuya closed his eyes and allowed himself to be taken away by that beautiful voice. He could remember hearing it, the bit lower tuned and husky version of it, as he was embraced. He then opened his eyes and looked carefully at the older one. Just as handsome as before, even more imposing and arousing. The Jin he remembered.
- And you are Akanishi Jin. finally found out your full name, Kazuya tried to joke just so that he could hide his pain.
Jin really didn’t need him. Jin had moved on pretty fast, probably from the exact next day, so Kazuya could only blame himself from thinking someone else would fall in love that deep as he did. Kazuya might have been in love, he knew he still was and he still couldn’t understand why since he knew almost nothing about the man in front of him, but Jin wasn’t.
Jin only nodded upon hearing his full name and blushed a bit. He took that chance to look at the bottle of wine. He was shocked to see which wine it was so he quickly looked up.
- Is this…
- Yes, it’s the same wine. Parson’s Flat Wine Shiraz Cabernet 2005. The one that you first drank when you came to the wine shop.
Silence followed. Jin knew what he wanted to say but didn’t know how to put it. He took a deep breath and then looked up again, confident.
- Thank you, he spoke clearly, making Kazuya confused for a bit.
- You are welcomed, Kazuya softly replied, turning around, trying to stop himself from making a scene.
- Not for the wine! Jin spoke louder, making the younger one turn around again.
- I used you and I’m sorry for that but at the same time I’m thankful to you. You had no idea who I was and yet you were so loving, I’m happy I experienced that. Compared to all the people inside, you are the only one that never looked at me because of my money or position. My looks might have mattered, but I can’t blame you since I liked yours too. I learned a lot from that small amount of time. I really did..
- Akanishi…
- Just let me finish, please, Jin interrupted him. I’m not sorry I left, he honestly confessed. If I wouldn’t have, you would have been dragged into my world and eventually turned into something like them. I learned from what I did…, Jin spoke softer as he made a few steps closer to Kazuya. I learned how it feels to be truly loved so now I’m doing my best to find it in me to love. I want to love with all my heart.
Jin placed the bottle down and then set down on his knees, doing the deepest bow possible, showing just how much he regretted hurting the younger one.
- Jin…, Kazuya found himself being touched by what he heard. He could understand, in a world like that, people were indeed about money.
- Thank you. I really enjoyed it. I was happy then and …he wanted to go one but he was stopped.
- You hurt me, Kazuya replied. You just left and I felt like shit. I guess I acted like too much of a kid, huh? These sort of love stories don’t happen so…, Kazuya sighed and as he did so he felt really refreshed. I guess I was really lost in you. By giving it back, I hope to wake up.
- Kazuya….
Jin stood up but didn’t pick up the bottle. He looked at Kamenashi and saw the younger one smiling. Was it a real smile?
- I’m okay now, Kazuya said once more, surprised of how serious he sounded. By doing this, I too can move on, he said as he recalled the image of Jin and that woman inside. The wine, you can drink it and…
- I won’t, Jin stopped him. I found a better wine than this, Jin confessed with a bright smile. Ruffino Santedame Romitorio 2003, from Toscano, Italy. It’s a Sangiovese, red wine, perfect time to drink it. I’m sure you will like it, Jin smiled again. Actually, you will love it.
- Then someday I will give it a try, Kazuya promised, smiling this time more sincerely than before.
- As for this one…, Jin mentioned picking up the wine. This wine is ours, right? He waited for Kazuya to nod and then continued. Then, let’s keep it between us, he spoke next, picking the bottle with all his strength, smashing it into the wall.
The glass broke and the wine spread all over the floor. Both Jin and Kazuya watched as it slowly formed a small river and fell into the draining sewer. Both of them were smiling, although Kazuya’s still felt a bit of pain.
Ueda saw all that. He had been there since halfway and seriously felt the need to punch Akanishi Jin. Kazuya had worked really hard. He was going to become a wine critic and work harder just so that he could find Jin. It didn’t seem fair. Not only did his wings got cut halfway through it but Kazuya wasn’t actually given a chance. Akanishi Jin was selfish.
- Kazuya, Jin spoke again when the younger man turned around to leave.
- Yes?
- After you drink that wine, maybe you’ll come and tell me how it felt.., Jin smiled again, his smile looking just like one of a child’s.
- I’m not going to, Jin, Kazuya confessed. I’m not going to, Kazuya smiled and began walking away, still keeping his smile.
He had finally found closure and although the outcome was not the one he wanted, he could finally feel relieved.
- I hope you do…, Jin spoke to himself, crunching down a bit, looking at the small red river.
Ueda waited a bit and then walked out of the building and followed Kazuya. He got to see, once more, a different side to Kazuya. He was seeing a still smiling Kamenashi Kazuya although he knew well how broken the boy was, then looked back at Jin to see him smiling as well, although he had a rejected aura to himself.
As days went by, Kazuya really didn’t drink that wine. Ueda knew the stubborn Kamenashi Kazuya wasn’t going to drink it so he didn’t even try to ask him to. Kazuya seemed to have gone back to normal. It wasn’t the normal from before knowing Jin but a more normal Kazuya that the one that would get drunk and flirt with random people.
Kazuya went to sleep, like he began too, not getting drunk again, not crying again, not even when Ueda went to check on him for some muffled sobs.
Ueda sat down at the counter and pulled the bottle of wine out of the bag.
2003 Ruffino Santedame Romitorio, form the Ruffino SpA Winery. He opened the bottle and poured some into his glass, then tasted it. It had everything one could want from a wine. A perfect balance between all components. It had a strawberries and coffee notes, hazelnuts and mint chocolate. Layers of sweet dark fruit, mint, herbs and toasted oak flooded his mouth as he drank more of it. As he emptied the glass, Ueda put it down and remained silent.
Tears were falling down his cheeks and he could swear he didn’t get it anymore. It had everything. The strawberries Kazuya loved, the mocha, the coffee, chocolate, the unique alcoholic touch and note of cigars, everything he loved. It felt as if Kazuya’s taste and Jin’s mixed into one perfect combination.
Ueda tried whipping a few tears away but he couldn’t stop from shedding some more. It tasted like the two of them, it tasted like their story. Exactly like that.
Two big idiots…, Ueda sobbed a bit as he emptied the bottle inside the sink and then threw the bottle inside the garbage bin.
That wine… it tasted like love.
A/N: Someone mentioned something about a sequel. i don't really know how to put polls so i'll just put it like this:
if more than half of the people that read this want a sequel...i'll think of one.
until then..i still have a thank you fiction to complete.
please enjoy reading.
Beta: None
Pairing: Akame,
Rating: Pg-13 to NC-17
Disclaimer: None of them belongs to me... don't own them
Genre: romance
Summary: Kamenashi Kazuya works at a wine bar where one night a customer comes and catches his attention. It was simply wine but that exact wine began tasting like love. Too bad it was one sided...or not?
Ore-tachi ni deatta no wine.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Ueda let out a sigh and then placed his glass on the counter and turned around to his other friends. Koki and Junno were the other two friends he and Kazuya had in common so they would spend time together on their time off but somehow the last 10 going-outs all ended up in the same way.
- I’m tired of it. How come he isn’t? Tat-chan mumbled, leaning back on the chair and sighing again.
- I’m surprised he can drink this much and still walk, Koki spoke out in a rather loud voice and then hit the table with his first, glaring at the young man who kept gulping glasses and glasses of alcohol.
- I’m surprised he is still suffering after the guy…, Ueda let out on a small voice, looking down.
- He is still in love with the guy?! Came the loud question from Junno that earned himself a smack over the head for his KY-ness and overwhelming stupidity by Koki.
- I think he still is, Ueda nodded. Every time a customer asks for that wine, he says there isn’t any left but when I leave for a meeting and leave him alone for a couple of days, that wine disappears and the money for it is there. He refuses to give it to others but drinks it himself. Not only that…,
Ueda stopped and pointed at the slim, beautiful figure of Kazuya that was leaning against the bar counter. Kazuya’s looks changed during the year that passed by. His brown hair was now orangeish, a bit longer than before. He had lost some weight and looked as if he wasn’t properly eating. His waist became slimmer, he was a bit taller and he looked even more beautiful than before. Now, guys would bluntly hit on him and sometimes even touch his bottom, but every time he would just answer with a smile and brush them off with his sexy moves. After Jin had fucked him twice and left him without a word, Kazuya realized that many people were after his body and began using it to his advantage. He never slept with anyone else than Jin but he would occasionally flirt with customers or people around him to get something he wanted. Like when he wasn’t allowed the use a restaurant’s toilet without eating there. Then he would just sweet talk the lady at the counter or the owner and he would be immediately allowed inside. Sometimes, he would even get a free meal where he’d go because the waiters would like him. In moments like this, like now when he was with his friends in his club, he would use his charm to make the bartender give him more drinks, free drinks sometimes. Well, at least his looks spared him a lot of money.
- He’s doing it again, Koki noticed. The bartender is telling him he had enough and Kame-chan is flirting…Ah! He got another drink! Fucker! That dude is touching Kame-chan! Koki wanted to stand up and go there but Ueda stopped him.
- Don’t worry, Koki. The guy is just being touchy feely. If he goes overboard, you know Kazuya would punch him. Like that last dude that slide his hand over his crotch and ended up with a broken nose.
- He what?!!
Koki almost shouted out loud since it was the first time he heard about a guy going that far with Kazuya. He knew that some guys would grope Kazuya, some would touch his bottom or his face, slide their hands over his chest or caress his face, but actually going as far as sliding their hands over his crotch…now that was being a complete pervert.
- Don’t worry. I think he’s just enjoying seeing people not failing his expectations. He is expecting them to hit on him so he knows how to protect himself. I know it might sound stupid…but at least this is one thing I am grateful to Jin for. It made Kazuya more aware of what people really think when they see him so now he is no longer a walking target.
- That just might be the only thing. How can Kazuya still love the dude? The guy just wanted to fuck him, he did and then left. How can anyone love a guy like that?!
- Well…Kazuya does otherwise he would be always drinking… Gin.
Ueda almost felt as if he was doing a pun as he pointed at the glass Kamenashi was holding in his hand.
- Besides the wine he drinks, the one that reminds him of Jin, every time we go out he drinks Gin. I can understand love, but Kazuya is too deep for me to understand him, Ueda confessed.
- I can understand, Junno nonchalantly stated, making both Koki and Ueda stare at him.
- Huh?
- He is in love, right? People in love tend to notice things about their loved one that others don’t. Like which is a real smile, which is fake, when they are happy or truly sad and so on. Kazuya probably saw the true Jin, the one hidden behind his mask and fell for that. When you get to know the real him, I suppose it’s hard to forget.
Koki smacked Junno once again over the head, making him pout and get silent again. Ueda, on the other hand, understood a bit. He had only seen Jin once but the only thing he noticed was the way he was holding the glass wine. Kazuya probably saw Jin smiling, pouting, frowning and so one and so forth during those almost two days they spent together. Kazuya got to see a Jin that left more of an impression that he had thought so he couldn’t forget.
Ueda sighed again and stood up and then walked all the way to the counter, taking Kazuya away by the collar and making him go outside. Since the bartender obviously fell for Kamenashi’s flirts, they didn’t even have to pay the drinks they had because that man was going to.
- You seriously gotta stop it! Ueda warned Kazuya as soon as they got out of the place.
- Stop what?! I’m just having a few drinks, Kamenashi replied really not understanding what his friend’s problem was.
- Kazuya!! Ueda shouted for the very first time and made the younger one flinch.
Even the bad looking, gangster like Koki took a step back as he heard the rough voice of their cute looking friend. Junno began tabbing something on his cellphone and he knew better than to mess with an angry Ueda.
- What?! Kazuya shouted back, getting rather angry.
- I get it. You love the guy and you suffer because he abandoned you! But this really isn’t the right way to drown your pain. You’re fucking up your life.
- You are exaggerating, Tat-chan. I’m just having some drinks and that’s it.
- You will turn into an alcoholic like this. And what’s worst is that if you continue like this you will get so wasted that one day someone will fucking rape you and you’ll feel even more like shit.
That one phrase seemed to have made an impact on Kazuya. His face turned completely pale as he heard about that and he immediately straightened his body, biting his lower lip as he was completely nervous.
- I don’t want to have sex with anyone …, Kazuya whispered, getting even more pale as he said that. I …
- I get it. You want Jin. I get it but this isn’t the right way to go about it. Do you want some stranger to fuck you on a dark alley and get you sick or even kill you someday?
Kazuya looked down at his feet and couldn’t even open his mouth. He knew his drinking was getting out of control but no one actually dared going that far with him so he never thought anyone would try and fuck him. Heck, why would he think that just because of some drinks, someone would wanna rape him? Sure, on every going out he’d end up in his room dead drunk but he was never assaulted like that. If he wanted anyone to rape him, then he wanted Jin to be the one.
- What can I do? I can’t have him. I don’t even know where to find him. If I had known I was just a fuck, I would have done something to make sure he’ll come back for more.
- Kazuya..
- No…listen. I would have allowed him to come to me just for a fuck. I would have known how to make him come back for more and eventually he would have fallen for me but he didn’t even give me a chance. He didn’t give me a chance to make him love me and that’s what bothers me the most.
Ueda found himself nodding. He could understand that. He could understand if that was what made Kazuya so attached to Jin.
- So if you had had the chance to make him love you and failed, you wouldn’t be suffering like this? Ueda asked just to make sure.
- Yes.
The serious tone Kazuya used although it was obvious he was a bit tipsy was more than enough to convince Ueda. Sure, no one really knew anything in particular about the one called Jin but maybe there have been a chance to get to him.
Ueda nodded again and pulled Kazuya into a cab and then took him home. It was already late and there was no place for conversations like that. Koki could only wonder what was going to happen from there on. It had been a year. A year since Kazuya was abandoned.
The morning came with a big headache. Kazuya was used to it so he went to the bathroom and took a shower, then put his uniform on and was ready to start his job. As he went downstairs he noticed the door was still closed and Ueda was sitting on the other side of the counter, looking all serious while staring at the bottle of Parson’s Flat Wine Shiraz Cabernet 2005.
Instinct made Kazuya run towards the counter and just take the bottle out of side, hiding it so no one could see it. He knew Ueda was his boss and he shouldn’t be doing something like that in front of him, but he didn’t care. That precise wine was the one that brought Jin into his life and it meant more than anyone could think.
- I’ll help you, Ueda spoke on a calm voice.
It made Kazuya shiver. He knew Tat-chan something could shout, sometimes would feel like hitting something and most of the time he would act cute and all, but when Ueda Tatsuya spoke so normally, so casually and yet so serious, it meant he was for real.
- Help me? Kazuya shuttered a bit, not sure what was going on.
- Jin. I’m gonna help you find Jin. I’m going to help you find him and make sure you get your chance to make him fall for you. Yet, if you fail, you’ll never get drunk again. I won’t allow it anymore. Deal?
The harsh tone and yet calming one made Kazuya blink a few times. Find Jin? Why now? Why after a year? And how could they find Jin? The only thing he knew about that man was his name and the way he looked but if he could change so much in a year, so could’ve Jin. It was just a name. A name so particular and uncommon but a name and that wasn’t good enough.
- Be serious, Tat-chan, you can’t.
- I can try. I know the man isn’t stupid and he does have knowledge about wine no matter how much you seem to have ignored that. He knows what wines all about and I’m willing to bet everything I have that he is somehow related to it. In other words, he continued just as he saw Kazuya was ready to contradict him.
- In other words…?
- In other words, if we succumb in the depths of the wine world, we should be able to find him. In other words, all we need to do if become even more knowledgeable about wine.
Kazuya listened carefully and tried to remember if Jin had ever said something about him being like that. He could only remember the way Jin hold his glass, the way he’s spin it around a bit and then gently smell it, not making it look slow or stupid. He remembered the way Jin could perfectly pull every wine he was asked for out and then he remembered the decantage. Kazuya quickly looked up at Ueda and licked his lower lip. Jin knew how to move the wine from its bottle and change its taste so…maybe he knew more.
- Ok, Kazuya bit his lower lip, willing to give it a try.
- Good! Now….
Kamenashi watched as Ueda crunched down and then placed something on the counter. As he saw the number of books placed on the wooden surface, Kazuya could only blink in disbelief and wonder if Tat-chan was planning on killing him or something of a sort.
Nonetheless, he did it. It was close to torture. Everyday, they were out. Out to find out about wines, to do tasting and then to note down their thoughts about them. They closed the wine shop and together began going from city to city, talking to people that knew more about wine than they did. It was hard work, really hard work. They had to be able to name wines just by smelling them but thankfully, Kazuya seemed to be a genius at it. His talent was immediately recognized by a wine critic and offered Kamenashi the chance to study even more. It was painful. Every morning, as Kazuya began a new lesson and practiced, he would always think that at some point he would see Jin. Ueda made sure Kazuya never missed on one single wine related gathering. All wine tasting, parties and so on and so forth were on their list and they joined all.
It was pretty strange how it all started as a way of finding Jin but somewhere along the way they encountered more people, make relations and advanced in the wine industry. It was even more impressive that it took them only three months to get there.
- This is a really big one, Kazuya muttered as he continuously walked from one end of the room to the other.
- It’s still a party. Even though the level is high, you do want to see if he’s there, right? Ueda ask almost chuckling, looking at the perfectly dressed Kamenashi Kazuya, wine critic in training, that was about to join his first high class party.
Kazuya nodded and followed Ueda inside the room. As always, he had that bottle of Parson’s Flat Wine Shiraz Cabernet 2005 ready. It was the wine that brought them together so he wanted to offer it to Jin, would they meet again. It wasn’t a different bottle. It was the same bottle from which he first offered Jin some of it, the same bottle from which he poured him some the second time as well. It was that wine, not just the name for it.
He walked inside the room and stopped for a second, trying to adjust to the glitter. It was so shinny and sparkling that it somehow gave him the goose bumps.
- He is really handsome, isn’t he? He heard a few girls talking behind him and turned around a bit.
He would have been surprised if it would have been him they were talking about. Even girls called him beautiful, not handsome, so the subject of their talk had to be someone else.
- I heard he’s changed a lot in the last year. He is more approachable now, another female voice joined.
- Those that mean we have a chance at him? one giggled.
- No, silly. He just smiles more now. When he looks at wines, he just smiles. Before it seemed like a job for him, but now he seems to love it, another voice explain.
- Well…I don’t really care if he loves his job or not. I just want him to do me once, another voice giggled and soon others followed. As his lover, he’d give me whatever I want.
Kazuya rolled his eyes and then looked around a bit. Of course in a world where they were so much money involved, people would get closer just for fun, the sex or the money itself. He just didn’t expect to heart it so clearly from a bunch of woman that looked so elegant and yet only thought about having a guy do them.
- I’d settle for a kiss. I bet he is the perfect lover…, one of them whispered embarrassed.
- Of course he is. He is Akanishi Jin, after all.
The name made Kazuya snap his head around, look straight towards those women’s direction and walk close to them. He couldn’t stop his feet. He just couldn’t. They moved by themselves and stopped only when he got in front of them.
- Excuse me…you mentioned Akanishi Jin.., he shyly began.
- Oh…, one woman giggled. So he has fans amongst the guys too. Well, I understand that dear but unfortunately you don’t have a chance.
As the lady said that, she pointed somewhere in the room and Kazuya immediately followed.
His heart stopped beating and his eyes didn’t blink anymore despite the torturing light invading them. There he was, the man that he fell for, the one that abandoned him and made him dwell in sufferance for a year and three months. He was there, with a woman at his arm, smiling as someone showed him a bottle of wine. Indeed, Jin looked happy. He looked happier than before, especially as far as wine went. He looked as if someone had given him the best present and the quickness with which he tasted the wine, made him look like a kid wanting to know how a candy tasted like.
Kazuya gulped once then found himself walking towards the exit. He went straight to the car he came with and took the bottle out, then walked back inside. Jin was shinning brighter than ever. He looked as if he was the center of everything and everyone was trying to please him. Jin looked so bright, that Kazuya feared getting close. It was obvious just by looking at him, that Jin had someone else and that there was no chance for Kazuya to be with him.
Kazuya realized that. One look was more than enough for him to know but he still wanted to give Jin that bottle of wine. It was theirs but as long as Kazuya was going to have it, he would never be ready to give up on his one-sided love. He began with small steps, but firm steps, and stopped only in front of the older one.
- Akanishi-sama, this is for you, he spoke calm and politely, offering the bottle of wine.
Jin flinched a bit as he noticed so it was. In front of him stood an even more beautiful Kamenashi Kazuya, with a more alluring aura, smiling and offering him wine. Akanishi shook his head a bit and then looked again but since it wasn’t a dream, Kazuya was still there. Jin could only take the bottle from the younger one’s hands. He took the bottle and wanted to say something, but no words came out. He then saw Kamenashi bowing and leaving. Only then did he snap out of it, apologized quickly and followed the younger one.
Kazuya ran. He ran all the way outside and stopped near the entrance door, leaning back on it. He felt like crying because he felt he was an idiot. He had feelings for a man that just went ahead and continued his life as if nothing happened. He had loved Jin and seeing Jin again only made him realize he was still in love. It wasn’t just his lingering resentment. It was love. Still love.
The few quick steps coming from inside made him turn around and look up. Jin was there, huffing, still holding the bottle of wine in his hands. Jin had ran after him and that made Kazuya more than happy.
- So it is you. Kamenashi Kazuya, Jin spoke softly.
Kazuya closed his eyes and allowed himself to be taken away by that beautiful voice. He could remember hearing it, the bit lower tuned and husky version of it, as he was embraced. He then opened his eyes and looked carefully at the older one. Just as handsome as before, even more imposing and arousing. The Jin he remembered.
- And you are Akanishi Jin. finally found out your full name, Kazuya tried to joke just so that he could hide his pain.
Jin really didn’t need him. Jin had moved on pretty fast, probably from the exact next day, so Kazuya could only blame himself from thinking someone else would fall in love that deep as he did. Kazuya might have been in love, he knew he still was and he still couldn’t understand why since he knew almost nothing about the man in front of him, but Jin wasn’t.
Jin only nodded upon hearing his full name and blushed a bit. He took that chance to look at the bottle of wine. He was shocked to see which wine it was so he quickly looked up.
- Is this…
- Yes, it’s the same wine. Parson’s Flat Wine Shiraz Cabernet 2005. The one that you first drank when you came to the wine shop.
Silence followed. Jin knew what he wanted to say but didn’t know how to put it. He took a deep breath and then looked up again, confident.
- Thank you, he spoke clearly, making Kazuya confused for a bit.
- You are welcomed, Kazuya softly replied, turning around, trying to stop himself from making a scene.
- Not for the wine! Jin spoke louder, making the younger one turn around again.
- I used you and I’m sorry for that but at the same time I’m thankful to you. You had no idea who I was and yet you were so loving, I’m happy I experienced that. Compared to all the people inside, you are the only one that never looked at me because of my money or position. My looks might have mattered, but I can’t blame you since I liked yours too. I learned a lot from that small amount of time. I really did..
- Akanishi…
- Just let me finish, please, Jin interrupted him. I’m not sorry I left, he honestly confessed. If I wouldn’t have, you would have been dragged into my world and eventually turned into something like them. I learned from what I did…, Jin spoke softer as he made a few steps closer to Kazuya. I learned how it feels to be truly loved so now I’m doing my best to find it in me to love. I want to love with all my heart.
Jin placed the bottle down and then set down on his knees, doing the deepest bow possible, showing just how much he regretted hurting the younger one.
- Jin…, Kazuya found himself being touched by what he heard. He could understand, in a world like that, people were indeed about money.
- Thank you. I really enjoyed it. I was happy then and …he wanted to go one but he was stopped.
- You hurt me, Kazuya replied. You just left and I felt like shit. I guess I acted like too much of a kid, huh? These sort of love stories don’t happen so…, Kazuya sighed and as he did so he felt really refreshed. I guess I was really lost in you. By giving it back, I hope to wake up.
- Kazuya….
Jin stood up but didn’t pick up the bottle. He looked at Kamenashi and saw the younger one smiling. Was it a real smile?
- I’m okay now, Kazuya said once more, surprised of how serious he sounded. By doing this, I too can move on, he said as he recalled the image of Jin and that woman inside. The wine, you can drink it and…
- I won’t, Jin stopped him. I found a better wine than this, Jin confessed with a bright smile. Ruffino Santedame Romitorio 2003, from Toscano, Italy. It’s a Sangiovese, red wine, perfect time to drink it. I’m sure you will like it, Jin smiled again. Actually, you will love it.
- Then someday I will give it a try, Kazuya promised, smiling this time more sincerely than before.
- As for this one…, Jin mentioned picking up the wine. This wine is ours, right? He waited for Kazuya to nod and then continued. Then, let’s keep it between us, he spoke next, picking the bottle with all his strength, smashing it into the wall.
The glass broke and the wine spread all over the floor. Both Jin and Kazuya watched as it slowly formed a small river and fell into the draining sewer. Both of them were smiling, although Kazuya’s still felt a bit of pain.
Ueda saw all that. He had been there since halfway and seriously felt the need to punch Akanishi Jin. Kazuya had worked really hard. He was going to become a wine critic and work harder just so that he could find Jin. It didn’t seem fair. Not only did his wings got cut halfway through it but Kazuya wasn’t actually given a chance. Akanishi Jin was selfish.
- Kazuya, Jin spoke again when the younger man turned around to leave.
- Yes?
- After you drink that wine, maybe you’ll come and tell me how it felt.., Jin smiled again, his smile looking just like one of a child’s.
- I’m not going to, Jin, Kazuya confessed. I’m not going to, Kazuya smiled and began walking away, still keeping his smile.
He had finally found closure and although the outcome was not the one he wanted, he could finally feel relieved.
- I hope you do…, Jin spoke to himself, crunching down a bit, looking at the small red river.
Ueda waited a bit and then walked out of the building and followed Kazuya. He got to see, once more, a different side to Kazuya. He was seeing a still smiling Kamenashi Kazuya although he knew well how broken the boy was, then looked back at Jin to see him smiling as well, although he had a rejected aura to himself.
As days went by, Kazuya really didn’t drink that wine. Ueda knew the stubborn Kamenashi Kazuya wasn’t going to drink it so he didn’t even try to ask him to. Kazuya seemed to have gone back to normal. It wasn’t the normal from before knowing Jin but a more normal Kazuya that the one that would get drunk and flirt with random people.
Kazuya went to sleep, like he began too, not getting drunk again, not crying again, not even when Ueda went to check on him for some muffled sobs.
Ueda sat down at the counter and pulled the bottle of wine out of the bag.
2003 Ruffino Santedame Romitorio, form the Ruffino SpA Winery. He opened the bottle and poured some into his glass, then tasted it. It had everything one could want from a wine. A perfect balance between all components. It had a strawberries and coffee notes, hazelnuts and mint chocolate. Layers of sweet dark fruit, mint, herbs and toasted oak flooded his mouth as he drank more of it. As he emptied the glass, Ueda put it down and remained silent.
Tears were falling down his cheeks and he could swear he didn’t get it anymore. It had everything. The strawberries Kazuya loved, the mocha, the coffee, chocolate, the unique alcoholic touch and note of cigars, everything he loved. It felt as if Kazuya’s taste and Jin’s mixed into one perfect combination.
Ueda tried whipping a few tears away but he couldn’t stop from shedding some more. It tasted like the two of them, it tasted like their story. Exactly like that.
Two big idiots…, Ueda sobbed a bit as he emptied the bottle inside the sink and then threw the bottle inside the garbage bin.
That wine… it tasted like love.
A/N: Someone mentioned something about a sequel. i don't really know how to put polls so i'll just put it like this:
if more than half of the people that read this want a sequel...i'll think of one.
until then..i still have a thank you fiction to complete.
please enjoy reading.