An Ordinary Night
Author: emmachase
Requested by: No One
Title: An Ordinary Night
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance?
Pairing: OkaJima
Summary: When the earthquake hits, Yuto and Keito's life change... for the better....
Notes: I'm so nervous about this one... it's been such a long time since i've written anything! This one is a little different than the ones I usually write, so I hope you like it!
This, was an ordinary night, like every other that came before it, and what Keito was sure would be every night that followed. This was how their days were spent now, and there was nothing he could do, or rather, there was nothing he wanted to do, to change it.
The clock glowed a steady 1:30 signaling the start of the new day and the end of his. Keito grimaced as he took off his socks, his feet tired and stiff from spending the day in his stiff leather shoes. Staring at the body on the bed he sighed as he remembered the way Yuto used to rub them when he got home, and during all this they would talk about their day. It was the one time that he felt they really connected, but it seemed too distant now. He threw his clothes onto the small chair beside the bed and slipped on his sleepwear, a simple loose t-shirt with a grey pair of loose fitting shorts, and went to the bed, lifting the covers to find Yuto’s bare back facing him. He had never minded the fact that Yuto preferred to sleep shirtless, in fact, he rather enjoyed it, sometimes during the night he would wake up to find his hand touching the other boy’s arm or gently resting against his back, and he would relish the feeling for a few minutes, before politely retracting his hand and closing his eyes again. Very carefully, Keito climbed into bed, pulled the covers over himself and closed his eyes.
In the morning, he awoke the same way he always had these last few years, Yuto was gone already and in his place a neatly folded pair of clothes, the same ones that Keito would throw off the night before. Breakfast sat waiting for him on the table of their small house, sometimes it was toast, sometimes it was soup, but mostly it was oatmeal, wonderfully prepared but banal in its regularity. It was lukewarm and gently dusted with a bit of cinnamon, exactly the way he liked it. Wolfing down the bowl, he placed it in the sink, next to the empty bowl that Yuto would use. After going back upstairs to change his clothes, Keito grabbed his keys and said a loud “goodbye” to the only other person in the house, not really waiting for the response, and a loud bang would signal the door closing and his departure.
Yuto would sit now, in stark silence, within the confines of the small but cozy study that rested just behind their living room. The glass paned doors let him look out into the house, a world different than the one just within the four walls of his study. For the last five years of both his and Keito’s marriage, he had been working on his dissertation, at first seriously, but now he would be lucky if he threw even three sentences down in a week. He sighed as he remembered the way Keito would come home early and encourage him, he’d come in and give him a shoulder rub while reading his paper and offering words of advice. Now though, his only interaction with his husband was the few times Keito would get off work on time. Yuto could always hear the sounds of the car pulling into the driveway and he would pretend to be busy fumbling through books or typing gently to give the illusion he was busy and did not want to be disturbed. He would watch as Keito would walk into the living room and give him a glance before throwing his keys into the small shell shaped bowl at the entrance of the room and plop onto the couch. The TV would flicker on immediately and Yuto would recline in his chair watching the TV through the glass doors that kept him safely within his world and away from Keito.
Neither of them really knew what led things to be like this. As time passed, growing apart was just easier. Keito spent his days outside the house, either at work or with his co-workers, and Yuto spent his sitting quietly at home, staring at the cursed computer that contained his life work. Whenever they were around each other, the same awkward conversation came, and they both knew the other forced themselves to do it, and wish they hadn’t.
Yuto sat alone now in the quiet house, his mind a complete blank. He walked around staring at the small things the house had to offer, the small cookbook where he had compiled all the recipes he was so eager to make for his “newlywed husband.” There were small faces drawn in the bottom of every page now, each a recording of how much Keito had liked or disliked every dish. There were no more dishes to try and none to be made now, instead he would look in the small refrigerator to find the stone cold curry he had made earlier in the week. It was plain, but he was used to it. There was once a time where he would complain loudly to a picture of his husband, hanging from a awkwardly placed nail in the small hallway between the kitchen and the pantry, he would grab the pepper from the shelf and lightly throw some at the picture imagining the reaction as he sprinkled it onto his dishes, but now the portrait hardly garnered a glance and he had given up trying.
And so their days went, both speaking as little as possible to each other, and life was quiet and peaceful. Awkward smiles across a barren table except for two bowls of hearty rice porridge provided their only meaningful interactions and simple conversations about the weather or bills provided the sounds.
---
But on this one particular night, though they didn't yet know it, things were different. Keito came home earlier, his project had been called off due to one of the engineers suddenly taking ill. Yuto sat up in bed, his nose sniffling but clearing from a recent head cold. The minute Keito arrived in the bedroom, Yuto’s red face seemed shocked.
“You’re home?” He asked worriedly, though it seemed more for his alone time than for his husband’s income.
“Yes, Yamasaki got sick.” Keito’s reply was quick and direct.
“I see.”
“U..Uh.. want sou-“
Just before he last sound could leave his mouth Keito froze as a sudden shiver ran up his spine. Moments later the ground began to quake, somewhere downstairs the sounds of Yuto’s prized wine glasses smashing against the floor came. Keito’s legs weakened as he fell forward onto the bed, slamming his head into Yuto’s torso. The small bedside table shook violently as Yuto leaned forward, his back serving as a shield when the portrait of them on their wedding day fell from the wall behind them. Just as suddenly as they came, the quakes dissipated and the two raised their heads slowly, ready at a moment to dive back into their protective postures.
When the initial shock wore off, Yuto realized he was quite literally resting on his husband’s head and quickly reverted to his position back against the headboard, stabbing himself onto pieces of glass from the broken wedding photo frame.
“Anh!” He winced and Keito’s eyes flew to his partner’s back. A deep red welt appeared against his white shirt and Yuto doubled forward in pain.
“D-Don't move! I’ll go get the bandages!” There was a certain sense of urgency in his voice that Keito didn't recognize anymore. It was the same one that he used to have whenever Yuto asked for a glass of water or for a pillow for his strained back just a few years ago. Hearing himself now, Keito paused at the cabinet containing the first aid kit. A whimper from the room woke him from his ponderings again and he grabbed the kit. Helping Yuto out of the bed without getting anymore glass cuts, he helped him over to the small chair on the side, and gently lifted the now thoroughly stained shirt. Very gingerly he reached out to one of the three pieces, the moment his fingers touched one Yuto cried, his entire back arching, causing the other pieces to cut him deeper.
“Stop! Don’t move! H-Here take my hand, just… squeeze if it hurts.”
Very gently now, Keito positioned his hand, fingers poised to pull the shard out. Without warning now, he pinched the glass and pulled, making Yuto wince and let out a slight whimper. His hand however, remained unclenched…..
Yuto panted as he knew the next shard to come out would be worse, his entire body trembled and though he held Keito’s hand in his, he couldn’t bring himself to rely on it yet. He was so used to being by himself, he didn't know how to rely on his husband anymore…. And then, without warning, the second shard came out……
“Yuto please… be okay…” Yuto heard a mutter from behind him…. he supposed he wasn't supposed to hear that, but even so… knowing that Keito still cared for him even after so long… he closed his eyes and a single tear came from his eye as the pain became overwhelming and his hand clenched.
Just like that, the third and final shard came out, Keito winced as his hand felt as if it were being crushed, but in a way, he was glad….
Carefully Keito rubbed the medicine for the cuts onto his husband’s trembling body. The cuts weren’t deep thankfully, they would heal if given a day or so. Now, Keito tenderly applied the bandages, taking care to avoid pressing directly onto the cuts.
“Yuto… are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah…” The skinny boy’s voice waivered.
“C’mon let’s go downstairs and you can lay on the couch while I clean this up. Okay?”
Yuto nodded, his teeth clenched from the burning ointment beneath his bandages.
Slowly he allowed himself onto the couch, wincing as he shuffled pillows onto the ground. Keito went about picking up the living room slowly managing to give some sort of normalcy to the room. And though he had promised to clean the bedroom, he never quite made it up there that night. Somewhere between cleaning the dining room and tending to Yuto who seemed to wake up suddenly when he moved in his sleep, he made a small dinner of chicken noodle soup and a small sandwich which he cut unevenly, giving the larger to Yuto. Though he pretended not to notice, he felt himself grow brighter inside when he came back from getting the spoons to the larger half on his plate. He and Yuto ate together that night, sitting side by side in silence. There was a soft air of understanding around them that night, and though not a single word was uttered between them, it was still, one of the best nights that they had ever had since their marriage. After dinner, the pair turned on the TV to find it filled with nothing but static. The rest of the night ended up being a movie marathon, one DVD after. While they didn't realize it at the time, the two slowly drew closer throughout the night…. Until…….
---
The next morning, Keito woke up to a weight on his chest, Yuto was shifting positions, his head resting against his chest. Keito’s arm was still wrapped around the younger boy’s body and for once in a long while, he held on tighter and it felt… right. There was some quality about this moment, feeling Yuto’s delicate body against his own, that made him feel… needed. It was nice to be needed. For so long he had felt like such a failure, Yuto didn't depend on him, he would be working so hard on his paper, but all he could do was give the occasional grammatical correction. Since there was nothing he could do at home, he tried… so hard… to be good at his job, to provide for Yuto. But somewhere along the way, he got lost, he didn't realize until now, that what he was doing for Yuto’s sake, robbed him… of time with his husband……
He smiled now, as Yuto snuggled against him, and the warmth in his body spread and tingled as it went.
It was nice… to be needed.
Work was out of the question today, Keito was relieved when his boss called to tell him that work would be off limits for the next two days or so. The building seemed to have suffered major damage. But with that taken care of, Keito realized he had never actually run the household by himself before. The only thing that he knew how to make that could even be considered breakfast food were scrambled eggs… and with Yuto dozing away on the couch, he didn't feel it right to wake him up.
Fortunately for him, Keito had remembered how to make something that resembled a breakfast, and just as he was setting the plates down at the small table he heard a soft groan from the living room.
Inside, Yuto had begun to stir, his senses awakened by the smell of food. His arm stretched out into the air as his entire body twisted like a cat, and instantly jerked back to resting position, wincing as he did so.
“Don’t move too much yet…” Keito said worriedly, putting his hand on Yuto’s shoulders.
Breakfast was a quiet affair; neither knew how to start a conversation with the other anymore. It had been so long since they had sat down at the table together. Still, they did their best, trying hard not to ask awkward questions, occasionally telling the odd story.
When breakfast ended, the day was theirs to do with as they wished, and while at first Yuto went about his ritual, finding it somewhat difficult since the house was still a bit of a mess, Keito sat idly about, watching as his husband did the housework. After a few minutes of watching Yuto slowly wax away the large gash one of the bookcases had made during the quake, he resolved to help. Grabbing a cloth, he knelt down beside Yuto, his hands a little clumsy but delicate enough to slowly rub away the scratch. A brief moment came where he looked up to see Yuto gazing back at him, with warmth in his eyes he had not seen in so long.
“Thank you.” The skinny boy said, and Keito blushed.
And so the day passed, with Yuto slowly picking up the pieces of their home, and Keito following after, lending the helping hand. They finished in their bedroom, sighing as they set about picking the remnants of their most prized possessions from the carpet threads. Yuto’s favorite drum figurine was in pieces by the small ledge that housed it, the head had broken off when it fell forward, smacking the reading table beside it. Keito’s guitar had seen better days, the neck of which seemed almost likely to break after spending so long trapped with an alarm clock, a book, and a rather heavy lamp resting on it. The only stubborn reminder of the earthquake came in the form of a rather deep stain on the carpet. A glass of Yuto’s tea had fallen and found its home in the carpet bed, and no amount of rubbing or dabbing would remove it. Hours of pouring water and detergent yielded nothing more but a smudge on the otherwise perfectly clean carpet, and Yuto gave up trying.
Dinner came with an unexpected visitor, a man from the power company informing them that since the earthquake damaged the nearby lines, they would be shutting off the power promptly at seven, exactly 30 minutes from now. He also told them that they would do this for two days, today and tomorrow, for exactly 2 hours. They thanked the man for the notice, and Yuto turned quickly to the kitchen, throwing out potatoes and carrots and a small head of cabbage. Keito watched as he sautéed them and set them into a neat pile on a fine china plate, then he watched as Yuto boiled chicken pieces and shredded them, throwing them onto a prepared sauce he had made earlier in the week. Just as the lights began their warning flicker, the plates were set on the table already and as soon as the last clunk was heard, there was darkness.
Stumbling in the pitch black dark, Keito felt himself run into the leg of the table, the leg of his chair, and finally he slammed into his husband, whose body he quickly grabbed to keep from falling. The warmth of Yuto’s body, it’s delicate features all seemed to weigh upon his body and he loved the feeling of being so close again. He loved holding him and he wondered why he had ever given this up. For a brief moment they stood there in silence, and just as Keito was about to let go, he felt motions against his waist and Yuto’s arms came around him and pulled him close.
“I miss you…” Yuto said softly, and Keito closed his eyes a feeling of relief spreading through him.
“I miss you too….” He replied
Two candles were found eventually, with the help of a nearly dead flashlight they found a lighter too. Sitting at their small table eating to candlelight, the couple smiled at each other as for the first time in ages they felt a connection between them. They talked about the days that they had been wanting to talk about for almost their entire marriage, there were secrets divulged about Keito’s coworkers and Yuto’s neighborhood friends.
When all the gossip had ended, the dishes were set in the sink, and Yuto washed them to the moonlight streaming in from the window above the sink. Keito cleared the table and packed away the remaining food for another night. Just as he finished putting the dishes in the refrigerator, the lights flickered back to life and the two looked at each other for a moment before going back to their separate ways…
Yuto sat back at his desk in his small study, the doors were shut now and he was alone in his world again, staring out at Keito in his. The TV talked about some product that would be a “perfect home addition” but he didn't notice much. He didn't even look at his computer screen, his dissertation sitting there with a half sentence that read something along the lines of “…is set based upon the guiding principles of” and that was all . Instead, Yuto stared at the man he loved, Keito’s eyes were intently staring at the TV, which now showed his favorite game show, and Yuto thought for a second, placing his hands on his arms just where Keito’s had touched him moments before, his body tingled and he missed the feeling of being connected with his husband.
Keito looked at the TV, but his eyes went out of focus staring at the screen. The blurs in front of him were of no consequence to him, as his mind wandered back to just a few minutes ago, the smile he had caused on Yuto’s face, the laugh he had heard, and even the small embrace he had received, he missed all of it. But for some reason, he found himself sitting alone in the living room again, and he hated it. Somewhere behind him Yuto had gone up to bed already and the study lights were dark. Keito sighed as he too trundled himself up the stairs and to the bedroom. Yuto was asleep already, and knowing how hard he had worked today, Keito sighed as he got into bed and pulled the covers over them. He felt that they were so close, but a million miles away at the same time…..
---
The next day he woke up the same as usual, Yuto’s half of the bed was empty, but this time, there was something different. When he came downstairs, Yuto was just finishing breakfast, he made sure to greet Keito before setting down a plate of scrambled eggs with a few pieces of toast and a sausage neatly cut diagonally. He smiled brightly and then turned back to do the housework. Though Keito wanted to sit across from Yuto, he thought it best to let the boy be for now…
For the rest of the day, Keito lounged around the house, picking up books he had always meant to read, but never found the time until now. He read a good 10 pages into one of his novels before tossing it to the side, deciding it to be a rather boring, flatly written book. Yuto set about preparing what he could for that night’s dinner, something inside him wanted to cook, and he was going for something grand. Picking three of the dishes from his small cookbook, he smiled as he gathered the ingredients, all luckily on hand and prepared what he could, cooking the things that could be re-heated later.
Once again, promptly at 6:45, the power company man showed up to remind them of the impending blackout, and they nodded eagerly, listening to the same drabble they had the night before. This time though, they were ready, and just as the clock hit seven, the candles were lit and the light they cast displayed a marvelous table decorated with three very ornate looking dishes, all of which Yuto had picked from those recipes that Keito loved.
This dinner was peaceful, Yuto had opened the window nearby, letting in the cool night air, they listened to the sounds of the neighborhood, the kids laughing in the street and the birds that sung and watched over them. The couple talked about the things they had always been conscious of, and the things they wished they had done in their youth. Even now, Yuto dreamed of playing drums professionally, and Keito had hoped for a new guitar and a teacher with interesting new techniques to impart.
Dinner took longer this time, as the lights came back on, they were just finishing their meal. Again, the plates were set in the sink to wash and Keito had put away the food. This time though, Keito sat on the couch in the living room, the TV on, but his eyes stared at Yuto who walked to the study and just as he rested his hand on the knob, turned to look at his husband. Maybe, tonight would be a good night, to take a rest……
Keito’s heart fluttered as Yuto turned around and walked towards him, taking a seat on the cushion next to him. He nearly cried for joy when he felt Yuto press against him, the slender boy’s arm around his chest and his head resting on Keito’s firm and comforting shoulders.
“What’s on tonight?” He asked cutely, and Keito stuttered his answer.
Though it was his favorite show, Keito didn't pay much attention, he was too busy watching the expression on Yuto’s face, a cute, adorable one of confusion at some of the questions being asked of the contestants, and a annoyed, frustrated one when the answer he guessed wasn't correct. He loved all of it, the way his nose would wrinkle whenever he got it wrong, and the way his face would light up when he got one right.
Eventually the game show ended and the broadcast moved onto the next show, it was somewhere in the middle of this, Yuto fell asleep. Keito smiled gently as he brushed aside a lock of the boy’s hair and gently caressed his cheek.
“Let’s go to bed,” he said, turning off the remote and trying to ever so gingerly maneuver himself so as not to wake the boy up. Keito had managed to get up, but the minute he slide his hands under Yuto to carry him, the other boy woke up.
“Nnh..” he whined at being disturbed.
“Sorry… but let’s go up to bed okay?” Keito asked in a whisper, sliding his arms under Yuto’s body and picking him up.
“O-O..kay…” Yuto replied, wrapping his arms around Keito’s neck and letting the strong arms beneath him carry him. He didn't remember much that night, only the feeling of being weightless in his husband’s arms and the feeling of the soft bed appearing beneath him. But, he did remember the last thing he did that night. Just as Keito climbed into bed behind him, Yuto reached out for him, and he smiled as the strong arms pulled him closer and they shared an embrace, falling asleep in its warmth.
---
The next day, Keito woke up to find his phone ringing, his boss had called to inform him that the office was fixed, and that he needed to come in again. As he stumbled out of bed and answered as solemn “Yes sir” to the phone, he turned to notice Yuto was gone again. Downstairs he found the boy in his apron, finishing a tray of breakfast done in the traditional Japanese way. This time though, he smiled as Yuto sat by his side, grinning as Keito complimented every single thing he had cooked. Yuto saw his husband off to work, and he felt a spring in his step through the day, finishing the house chores in record time.
When six in the afternoon came, he worried for a second as he wondered if Keito would be home tonight for dinner, and he grabbed his phone to find that there were two messages he had missed, both from Keito.
He opened one:
“I’ll be home for dinner, so make something for me please.”
He opened the other one:
“And… I love you…Yuto.”
Yuto’s heart skipped a beat as he held the phone close to his chest, feeling all the air leave him as he sat on one of the kitchen chairs.
Dinner was filled with conversation about how Keito’s project partner had somehow managed to lose his entire idea pad for the project.
“It’s just as well… most of his ideas weren’t really going to work anyway, he was thinking too small, but the company wants something bigger.” Keito said, eating a fork full of mashed potatoes.
“Does this mean that you have a better idea?” Yuto asked curiously
“Yep! I’ve already put the proposal on the project coordinator’s desk”
Keito beamed with pride and Yuto found that part of him adorable. Setting his plate next to his husband’s he put his hand on his leg and smiled as the firm hands that held him grabbed his hand and held on tightly. They leaned in for a moment and kissed, reviving the spark in their bodies they hadn’t felt in a long time.
The TV show went by quickly tonight, as for once they were enjoying themselves, and all too soon it seemed it was bedtime.
Keito brushed his teeth and had his shower, stepping out he changed into his pajamas, laying his clothes out in the laundry hamper, neatly folded so Yuto wouldn't have to do it in the morning. He walked out to the bedroom and to his side of the bed, lifting the covers he climbed in, wrapping his arms around his husband who said goodnight and followed with a kiss. They snuggled in tightly and Yuto giggled as a gently placed kiss on the back of his neck tickled him.
Yes, this, was now an ordinary night, like no other that came before it, and what Keito was sure would be every night that followed. This was how their days were spent now, and there was nothing he wanted to do, to change it.
----
Uwa… sorry Minna, it’s been a while since I’ve written anything, so I thought I’d take a stab at writing something a little different. I hope you like it!
Once again, comments are greatly appreciated!
~Emmie
Requested by: No One
Title: An Ordinary Night
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance?
Pairing: OkaJima
Summary: When the earthquake hits, Yuto and Keito's life change... for the better....
Notes: I'm so nervous about this one... it's been such a long time since i've written anything! This one is a little different than the ones I usually write, so I hope you like it!
This, was an ordinary night, like every other that came before it, and what Keito was sure would be every night that followed. This was how their days were spent now, and there was nothing he could do, or rather, there was nothing he wanted to do, to change it.
The clock glowed a steady 1:30 signaling the start of the new day and the end of his. Keito grimaced as he took off his socks, his feet tired and stiff from spending the day in his stiff leather shoes. Staring at the body on the bed he sighed as he remembered the way Yuto used to rub them when he got home, and during all this they would talk about their day. It was the one time that he felt they really connected, but it seemed too distant now. He threw his clothes onto the small chair beside the bed and slipped on his sleepwear, a simple loose t-shirt with a grey pair of loose fitting shorts, and went to the bed, lifting the covers to find Yuto’s bare back facing him. He had never minded the fact that Yuto preferred to sleep shirtless, in fact, he rather enjoyed it, sometimes during the night he would wake up to find his hand touching the other boy’s arm or gently resting against his back, and he would relish the feeling for a few minutes, before politely retracting his hand and closing his eyes again. Very carefully, Keito climbed into bed, pulled the covers over himself and closed his eyes.
In the morning, he awoke the same way he always had these last few years, Yuto was gone already and in his place a neatly folded pair of clothes, the same ones that Keito would throw off the night before. Breakfast sat waiting for him on the table of their small house, sometimes it was toast, sometimes it was soup, but mostly it was oatmeal, wonderfully prepared but banal in its regularity. It was lukewarm and gently dusted with a bit of cinnamon, exactly the way he liked it. Wolfing down the bowl, he placed it in the sink, next to the empty bowl that Yuto would use. After going back upstairs to change his clothes, Keito grabbed his keys and said a loud “goodbye” to the only other person in the house, not really waiting for the response, and a loud bang would signal the door closing and his departure.
Yuto would sit now, in stark silence, within the confines of the small but cozy study that rested just behind their living room. The glass paned doors let him look out into the house, a world different than the one just within the four walls of his study. For the last five years of both his and Keito’s marriage, he had been working on his dissertation, at first seriously, but now he would be lucky if he threw even three sentences down in a week. He sighed as he remembered the way Keito would come home early and encourage him, he’d come in and give him a shoulder rub while reading his paper and offering words of advice. Now though, his only interaction with his husband was the few times Keito would get off work on time. Yuto could always hear the sounds of the car pulling into the driveway and he would pretend to be busy fumbling through books or typing gently to give the illusion he was busy and did not want to be disturbed. He would watch as Keito would walk into the living room and give him a glance before throwing his keys into the small shell shaped bowl at the entrance of the room and plop onto the couch. The TV would flicker on immediately and Yuto would recline in his chair watching the TV through the glass doors that kept him safely within his world and away from Keito.
Neither of them really knew what led things to be like this. As time passed, growing apart was just easier. Keito spent his days outside the house, either at work or with his co-workers, and Yuto spent his sitting quietly at home, staring at the cursed computer that contained his life work. Whenever they were around each other, the same awkward conversation came, and they both knew the other forced themselves to do it, and wish they hadn’t.
Yuto sat alone now in the quiet house, his mind a complete blank. He walked around staring at the small things the house had to offer, the small cookbook where he had compiled all the recipes he was so eager to make for his “newlywed husband.” There were small faces drawn in the bottom of every page now, each a recording of how much Keito had liked or disliked every dish. There were no more dishes to try and none to be made now, instead he would look in the small refrigerator to find the stone cold curry he had made earlier in the week. It was plain, but he was used to it. There was once a time where he would complain loudly to a picture of his husband, hanging from a awkwardly placed nail in the small hallway between the kitchen and the pantry, he would grab the pepper from the shelf and lightly throw some at the picture imagining the reaction as he sprinkled it onto his dishes, but now the portrait hardly garnered a glance and he had given up trying.
And so their days went, both speaking as little as possible to each other, and life was quiet and peaceful. Awkward smiles across a barren table except for two bowls of hearty rice porridge provided their only meaningful interactions and simple conversations about the weather or bills provided the sounds.
---
But on this one particular night, though they didn't yet know it, things were different. Keito came home earlier, his project had been called off due to one of the engineers suddenly taking ill. Yuto sat up in bed, his nose sniffling but clearing from a recent head cold. The minute Keito arrived in the bedroom, Yuto’s red face seemed shocked.
“You’re home?” He asked worriedly, though it seemed more for his alone time than for his husband’s income.
“Yes, Yamasaki got sick.” Keito’s reply was quick and direct.
“I see.”
“U..Uh.. want sou-“
Just before he last sound could leave his mouth Keito froze as a sudden shiver ran up his spine. Moments later the ground began to quake, somewhere downstairs the sounds of Yuto’s prized wine glasses smashing against the floor came. Keito’s legs weakened as he fell forward onto the bed, slamming his head into Yuto’s torso. The small bedside table shook violently as Yuto leaned forward, his back serving as a shield when the portrait of them on their wedding day fell from the wall behind them. Just as suddenly as they came, the quakes dissipated and the two raised their heads slowly, ready at a moment to dive back into their protective postures.
When the initial shock wore off, Yuto realized he was quite literally resting on his husband’s head and quickly reverted to his position back against the headboard, stabbing himself onto pieces of glass from the broken wedding photo frame.
“Anh!” He winced and Keito’s eyes flew to his partner’s back. A deep red welt appeared against his white shirt and Yuto doubled forward in pain.
“D-Don't move! I’ll go get the bandages!” There was a certain sense of urgency in his voice that Keito didn't recognize anymore. It was the same one that he used to have whenever Yuto asked for a glass of water or for a pillow for his strained back just a few years ago. Hearing himself now, Keito paused at the cabinet containing the first aid kit. A whimper from the room woke him from his ponderings again and he grabbed the kit. Helping Yuto out of the bed without getting anymore glass cuts, he helped him over to the small chair on the side, and gently lifted the now thoroughly stained shirt. Very gingerly he reached out to one of the three pieces, the moment his fingers touched one Yuto cried, his entire back arching, causing the other pieces to cut him deeper.
“Stop! Don’t move! H-Here take my hand, just… squeeze if it hurts.”
Very gently now, Keito positioned his hand, fingers poised to pull the shard out. Without warning now, he pinched the glass and pulled, making Yuto wince and let out a slight whimper. His hand however, remained unclenched…..
Yuto panted as he knew the next shard to come out would be worse, his entire body trembled and though he held Keito’s hand in his, he couldn’t bring himself to rely on it yet. He was so used to being by himself, he didn't know how to rely on his husband anymore…. And then, without warning, the second shard came out……
“Yuto please… be okay…” Yuto heard a mutter from behind him…. he supposed he wasn't supposed to hear that, but even so… knowing that Keito still cared for him even after so long… he closed his eyes and a single tear came from his eye as the pain became overwhelming and his hand clenched.
Just like that, the third and final shard came out, Keito winced as his hand felt as if it were being crushed, but in a way, he was glad….
Carefully Keito rubbed the medicine for the cuts onto his husband’s trembling body. The cuts weren’t deep thankfully, they would heal if given a day or so. Now, Keito tenderly applied the bandages, taking care to avoid pressing directly onto the cuts.
“Yuto… are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah…” The skinny boy’s voice waivered.
“C’mon let’s go downstairs and you can lay on the couch while I clean this up. Okay?”
Yuto nodded, his teeth clenched from the burning ointment beneath his bandages.
Slowly he allowed himself onto the couch, wincing as he shuffled pillows onto the ground. Keito went about picking up the living room slowly managing to give some sort of normalcy to the room. And though he had promised to clean the bedroom, he never quite made it up there that night. Somewhere between cleaning the dining room and tending to Yuto who seemed to wake up suddenly when he moved in his sleep, he made a small dinner of chicken noodle soup and a small sandwich which he cut unevenly, giving the larger to Yuto. Though he pretended not to notice, he felt himself grow brighter inside when he came back from getting the spoons to the larger half on his plate. He and Yuto ate together that night, sitting side by side in silence. There was a soft air of understanding around them that night, and though not a single word was uttered between them, it was still, one of the best nights that they had ever had since their marriage. After dinner, the pair turned on the TV to find it filled with nothing but static. The rest of the night ended up being a movie marathon, one DVD after. While they didn't realize it at the time, the two slowly drew closer throughout the night…. Until…….
---
The next morning, Keito woke up to a weight on his chest, Yuto was shifting positions, his head resting against his chest. Keito’s arm was still wrapped around the younger boy’s body and for once in a long while, he held on tighter and it felt… right. There was some quality about this moment, feeling Yuto’s delicate body against his own, that made him feel… needed. It was nice to be needed. For so long he had felt like such a failure, Yuto didn't depend on him, he would be working so hard on his paper, but all he could do was give the occasional grammatical correction. Since there was nothing he could do at home, he tried… so hard… to be good at his job, to provide for Yuto. But somewhere along the way, he got lost, he didn't realize until now, that what he was doing for Yuto’s sake, robbed him… of time with his husband……
He smiled now, as Yuto snuggled against him, and the warmth in his body spread and tingled as it went.
It was nice… to be needed.
Work was out of the question today, Keito was relieved when his boss called to tell him that work would be off limits for the next two days or so. The building seemed to have suffered major damage. But with that taken care of, Keito realized he had never actually run the household by himself before. The only thing that he knew how to make that could even be considered breakfast food were scrambled eggs… and with Yuto dozing away on the couch, he didn't feel it right to wake him up.
Fortunately for him, Keito had remembered how to make something that resembled a breakfast, and just as he was setting the plates down at the small table he heard a soft groan from the living room.
Inside, Yuto had begun to stir, his senses awakened by the smell of food. His arm stretched out into the air as his entire body twisted like a cat, and instantly jerked back to resting position, wincing as he did so.
“Don’t move too much yet…” Keito said worriedly, putting his hand on Yuto’s shoulders.
Breakfast was a quiet affair; neither knew how to start a conversation with the other anymore. It had been so long since they had sat down at the table together. Still, they did their best, trying hard not to ask awkward questions, occasionally telling the odd story.
When breakfast ended, the day was theirs to do with as they wished, and while at first Yuto went about his ritual, finding it somewhat difficult since the house was still a bit of a mess, Keito sat idly about, watching as his husband did the housework. After a few minutes of watching Yuto slowly wax away the large gash one of the bookcases had made during the quake, he resolved to help. Grabbing a cloth, he knelt down beside Yuto, his hands a little clumsy but delicate enough to slowly rub away the scratch. A brief moment came where he looked up to see Yuto gazing back at him, with warmth in his eyes he had not seen in so long.
“Thank you.” The skinny boy said, and Keito blushed.
And so the day passed, with Yuto slowly picking up the pieces of their home, and Keito following after, lending the helping hand. They finished in their bedroom, sighing as they set about picking the remnants of their most prized possessions from the carpet threads. Yuto’s favorite drum figurine was in pieces by the small ledge that housed it, the head had broken off when it fell forward, smacking the reading table beside it. Keito’s guitar had seen better days, the neck of which seemed almost likely to break after spending so long trapped with an alarm clock, a book, and a rather heavy lamp resting on it. The only stubborn reminder of the earthquake came in the form of a rather deep stain on the carpet. A glass of Yuto’s tea had fallen and found its home in the carpet bed, and no amount of rubbing or dabbing would remove it. Hours of pouring water and detergent yielded nothing more but a smudge on the otherwise perfectly clean carpet, and Yuto gave up trying.
Dinner came with an unexpected visitor, a man from the power company informing them that since the earthquake damaged the nearby lines, they would be shutting off the power promptly at seven, exactly 30 minutes from now. He also told them that they would do this for two days, today and tomorrow, for exactly 2 hours. They thanked the man for the notice, and Yuto turned quickly to the kitchen, throwing out potatoes and carrots and a small head of cabbage. Keito watched as he sautéed them and set them into a neat pile on a fine china plate, then he watched as Yuto boiled chicken pieces and shredded them, throwing them onto a prepared sauce he had made earlier in the week. Just as the lights began their warning flicker, the plates were set on the table already and as soon as the last clunk was heard, there was darkness.
Stumbling in the pitch black dark, Keito felt himself run into the leg of the table, the leg of his chair, and finally he slammed into his husband, whose body he quickly grabbed to keep from falling. The warmth of Yuto’s body, it’s delicate features all seemed to weigh upon his body and he loved the feeling of being so close again. He loved holding him and he wondered why he had ever given this up. For a brief moment they stood there in silence, and just as Keito was about to let go, he felt motions against his waist and Yuto’s arms came around him and pulled him close.
“I miss you…” Yuto said softly, and Keito closed his eyes a feeling of relief spreading through him.
“I miss you too….” He replied
Two candles were found eventually, with the help of a nearly dead flashlight they found a lighter too. Sitting at their small table eating to candlelight, the couple smiled at each other as for the first time in ages they felt a connection between them. They talked about the days that they had been wanting to talk about for almost their entire marriage, there were secrets divulged about Keito’s coworkers and Yuto’s neighborhood friends.
When all the gossip had ended, the dishes were set in the sink, and Yuto washed them to the moonlight streaming in from the window above the sink. Keito cleared the table and packed away the remaining food for another night. Just as he finished putting the dishes in the refrigerator, the lights flickered back to life and the two looked at each other for a moment before going back to their separate ways…
Yuto sat back at his desk in his small study, the doors were shut now and he was alone in his world again, staring out at Keito in his. The TV talked about some product that would be a “perfect home addition” but he didn't notice much. He didn't even look at his computer screen, his dissertation sitting there with a half sentence that read something along the lines of “…is set based upon the guiding principles of” and that was all . Instead, Yuto stared at the man he loved, Keito’s eyes were intently staring at the TV, which now showed his favorite game show, and Yuto thought for a second, placing his hands on his arms just where Keito’s had touched him moments before, his body tingled and he missed the feeling of being connected with his husband.
Keito looked at the TV, but his eyes went out of focus staring at the screen. The blurs in front of him were of no consequence to him, as his mind wandered back to just a few minutes ago, the smile he had caused on Yuto’s face, the laugh he had heard, and even the small embrace he had received, he missed all of it. But for some reason, he found himself sitting alone in the living room again, and he hated it. Somewhere behind him Yuto had gone up to bed already and the study lights were dark. Keito sighed as he too trundled himself up the stairs and to the bedroom. Yuto was asleep already, and knowing how hard he had worked today, Keito sighed as he got into bed and pulled the covers over them. He felt that they were so close, but a million miles away at the same time…..
---
The next day he woke up the same as usual, Yuto’s half of the bed was empty, but this time, there was something different. When he came downstairs, Yuto was just finishing breakfast, he made sure to greet Keito before setting down a plate of scrambled eggs with a few pieces of toast and a sausage neatly cut diagonally. He smiled brightly and then turned back to do the housework. Though Keito wanted to sit across from Yuto, he thought it best to let the boy be for now…
For the rest of the day, Keito lounged around the house, picking up books he had always meant to read, but never found the time until now. He read a good 10 pages into one of his novels before tossing it to the side, deciding it to be a rather boring, flatly written book. Yuto set about preparing what he could for that night’s dinner, something inside him wanted to cook, and he was going for something grand. Picking three of the dishes from his small cookbook, he smiled as he gathered the ingredients, all luckily on hand and prepared what he could, cooking the things that could be re-heated later.
Once again, promptly at 6:45, the power company man showed up to remind them of the impending blackout, and they nodded eagerly, listening to the same drabble they had the night before. This time though, they were ready, and just as the clock hit seven, the candles were lit and the light they cast displayed a marvelous table decorated with three very ornate looking dishes, all of which Yuto had picked from those recipes that Keito loved.
This dinner was peaceful, Yuto had opened the window nearby, letting in the cool night air, they listened to the sounds of the neighborhood, the kids laughing in the street and the birds that sung and watched over them. The couple talked about the things they had always been conscious of, and the things they wished they had done in their youth. Even now, Yuto dreamed of playing drums professionally, and Keito had hoped for a new guitar and a teacher with interesting new techniques to impart.
Dinner took longer this time, as the lights came back on, they were just finishing their meal. Again, the plates were set in the sink to wash and Keito had put away the food. This time though, Keito sat on the couch in the living room, the TV on, but his eyes stared at Yuto who walked to the study and just as he rested his hand on the knob, turned to look at his husband. Maybe, tonight would be a good night, to take a rest……
Keito’s heart fluttered as Yuto turned around and walked towards him, taking a seat on the cushion next to him. He nearly cried for joy when he felt Yuto press against him, the slender boy’s arm around his chest and his head resting on Keito’s firm and comforting shoulders.
“What’s on tonight?” He asked cutely, and Keito stuttered his answer.
Though it was his favorite show, Keito didn't pay much attention, he was too busy watching the expression on Yuto’s face, a cute, adorable one of confusion at some of the questions being asked of the contestants, and a annoyed, frustrated one when the answer he guessed wasn't correct. He loved all of it, the way his nose would wrinkle whenever he got it wrong, and the way his face would light up when he got one right.
Eventually the game show ended and the broadcast moved onto the next show, it was somewhere in the middle of this, Yuto fell asleep. Keito smiled gently as he brushed aside a lock of the boy’s hair and gently caressed his cheek.
“Let’s go to bed,” he said, turning off the remote and trying to ever so gingerly maneuver himself so as not to wake the boy up. Keito had managed to get up, but the minute he slide his hands under Yuto to carry him, the other boy woke up.
“Nnh..” he whined at being disturbed.
“Sorry… but let’s go up to bed okay?” Keito asked in a whisper, sliding his arms under Yuto’s body and picking him up.
“O-O..kay…” Yuto replied, wrapping his arms around Keito’s neck and letting the strong arms beneath him carry him. He didn't remember much that night, only the feeling of being weightless in his husband’s arms and the feeling of the soft bed appearing beneath him. But, he did remember the last thing he did that night. Just as Keito climbed into bed behind him, Yuto reached out for him, and he smiled as the strong arms pulled him closer and they shared an embrace, falling asleep in its warmth.
---
The next day, Keito woke up to find his phone ringing, his boss had called to inform him that the office was fixed, and that he needed to come in again. As he stumbled out of bed and answered as solemn “Yes sir” to the phone, he turned to notice Yuto was gone again. Downstairs he found the boy in his apron, finishing a tray of breakfast done in the traditional Japanese way. This time though, he smiled as Yuto sat by his side, grinning as Keito complimented every single thing he had cooked. Yuto saw his husband off to work, and he felt a spring in his step through the day, finishing the house chores in record time.
When six in the afternoon came, he worried for a second as he wondered if Keito would be home tonight for dinner, and he grabbed his phone to find that there were two messages he had missed, both from Keito.
He opened one:
“I’ll be home for dinner, so make something for me please.”
He opened the other one:
“And… I love you…Yuto.”
Yuto’s heart skipped a beat as he held the phone close to his chest, feeling all the air leave him as he sat on one of the kitchen chairs.
Dinner was filled with conversation about how Keito’s project partner had somehow managed to lose his entire idea pad for the project.
“It’s just as well… most of his ideas weren’t really going to work anyway, he was thinking too small, but the company wants something bigger.” Keito said, eating a fork full of mashed potatoes.
“Does this mean that you have a better idea?” Yuto asked curiously
“Yep! I’ve already put the proposal on the project coordinator’s desk”
Keito beamed with pride and Yuto found that part of him adorable. Setting his plate next to his husband’s he put his hand on his leg and smiled as the firm hands that held him grabbed his hand and held on tightly. They leaned in for a moment and kissed, reviving the spark in their bodies they hadn’t felt in a long time.
The TV show went by quickly tonight, as for once they were enjoying themselves, and all too soon it seemed it was bedtime.
Keito brushed his teeth and had his shower, stepping out he changed into his pajamas, laying his clothes out in the laundry hamper, neatly folded so Yuto wouldn't have to do it in the morning. He walked out to the bedroom and to his side of the bed, lifting the covers he climbed in, wrapping his arms around his husband who said goodnight and followed with a kiss. They snuggled in tightly and Yuto giggled as a gently placed kiss on the back of his neck tickled him.
Yes, this, was now an ordinary night, like no other that came before it, and what Keito was sure would be every night that followed. This was how their days were spent now, and there was nothing he wanted to do, to change it.
----
Uwa… sorry Minna, it’s been a while since I’ve written anything, so I thought I’d take a stab at writing something a little different. I hope you like it!
Once again, comments are greatly appreciated!
~Emmie