The Business of Bonds 2/3
**
Kame: Thanks again for letting me stay over yesterday! Sorry I fell asleep on you before the movie ended.
Jin: Anytime. Let's do it again sometime! You need to see the end of Iron Man 2 before we watch Thor though.
Kame: Sure. Any plans for the weekend?
Jin: Nothing special. Mom is making dinner tomorrow night.
Kame: I have tickets to the soccer tonight. Wanna go?
Kame: It's ok if you are busy, I know it's last minute.
Kame: I'm about to head out, let me know if you want to come.
Jin: Sorry. I got caught up. I can't make the soccer game tonight. Have fun!
**
Kame: The game was excellent, you should have come!
Jin: Maybe next time.
**
Jin: Hey Mr I'm so famous I get to meet famous movie stars and be in the newspaper!
Kame: Shut up.
Jin: Can I have your autograph?
Kame: Shut up.
Jin: Can you get me their autographs?
Kame: Shut. Up.
Jin: So are you really going to be leaving the business world and becoming a movie star like the newspaper suggested?
Kame: I swear I will come over there and shut you up myself.
Jin: Kamenashi Kazuya is going to come to my house? Kyaaaaaaa.
Jin: Kyaaaaaaaa.
Jin: Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Jin: Kyaa?
Jin: Sorry.
Jin: I'm really sorry.
Jin: Don't be mad at me.
Kame: I am in a meeting.
Jin: Is it with someone famous? Can I get an autograph?
Kame: Shut. Up.
**
Kame: Hey. Want to catch a movie?
Jin: Maybe. Which one?
Kame: I hear the latest Miyazaki one is great. Or that new one with Hugh Jackman....
Jin: Ah, sorry. I can't today.
Kame: What about tomorrow?
Jin: Sorry. Don't think I can make it. Maybe another time.
Kame. No problem.
Jin: Talk to you later.
**
Jin: I've been thinking. Shinjuku is wrong for the location. We need somewhere else.
Kame: Where?
Jin: Ryo and I are thinking somewhere near Kokoritsu Stadium.
Kame: To keep it near a sporting base? Good idea, but the demolition and rebuilding will render it obsolete too soon. How about
Tokyo Dome?
Jin: Can we afford it?
Kame: Well it won't be as expensive as Ginza but yeah real estate will be expensive. Let me see what I can find.
**
Jin: How is your week going?
Kame: If you could find an extra four hours per day that would be great.
Jin: Take care of yourself. Anything I can do to help?
Kame: Coffee. Bring me coffee.
Jin: Starbucks Ok?
Kame: Yes. Anything. Especially if it is a Venti size iced cafe latte with cream and maybe caramel.
Jin: Done. See you in 30 minutes.
**
Kame: I've found it.
Jin: What?
Kame: I put out some feelers in the Tokyo Dome area, and we lucked out. One of the tenants in the La Qua building is vacating in three months.
Jin: That's right next to Tokyo Dome.
Kame: Yep. Perfect location, and so many of the big start up costs are already taken care of. It's smaller than I would like, but I
think it's a good start.
Jin: That deserves a celebration. How about karaoke? We haven't done that for a while.
Kame: I'm in. Pick you up at eight.
**
"Living on a Prayer!" Jin finishes the song with a dramatic flourish and a long sustained note that gives Kame a little pang of envy. Jin makes singing seem so effortless.
"Did you ever think about becoming a singer?" he asks, only half joking.
"No," Jin says, but a little flush along his cheekbones makes Kame wonder if he's embarrassed or lying. "Not seriously."
"Why not?"
"He'll kill me if I tell you, but.... ok." Jin grins, his laugh slightly evil. 'For about four years, Ryo was a Johnny."
"What?!?!"
"Yep. Joined at ten, left just before high school. He even had a CD debut with a song called Secret Agent Man."
"Next time, he's coming to karaoke with us."
"It had a dance."
"Oh my, please tell me you have a video of that."
"I do."
"Change of plan. He comes to karaoke, and we sing the song and do the dance and he dies of embarrassment."
"Deal." Jin laughs. "He may kill us, but it will be worth it to see the look on his face."
"It will be great. So, what should we sing next? How about Kanashimi Blue by the Kinki Kids?"
"On it," Jin says and scrolls through the lists looking for the song entry. As the music starts, he looks over at Kame. Kame is grinning at him, and for a moment Jin's heart skips and he almost misses the opening. Kame's voice joins his, and together they sound so smooth and blended that he can't tell Kame's voice from his own.
**
Kame: Hey. Are you and Ryo free tonight?
Jin: As far as I know. What are you thinking?
Kame: I've been invited to the opening of a new club. I can get you on the list.
Jin: I'll check with Ryo.
Kame: Let me know. BTW, I think I have another venue for Tokyo Dome. We should go see it tomorrow. I'll send you the address.
"So, do you want to go?" Ryo asks. "That's the real question."
"I do, but..."
"There's the but."
Jin nods.
"I'll be honest, if this is an opening then there may be press and photographers. It does make it more likely that someone may
recognise you. Can you handle it?"
"Not... not yet."
"Ok. Tell Kame another time."
"You can go! Just because I'm not going doesn't mean..."
"It might be good for business."
Jin: Ryo can come. I've had something come up and will be working late. So yes from Ryo, another time from me.
Kame: Are you sure you can't come? There will be dancing and great club music.
Jin: I'm not really much of a dancer. Next time maybe.
Kame: Ok. I'll miss you. Tell Ryo I'll see him tonight. Maybe dinner tomorrow?
Jin: Sounds good.
**
The club is dark and the music is pounding through the floor and walls. The dance floor is packed with people, and Ryo is sandwiched between two girls both of whom are beautiful and fighting for his attention.
The darkness is regularly punctured by the flash of powerful cameras though, intent on finding interesting or scandalous pictures of famous enough faces - Ryo is glad that Jin isn't here, he definitely wouldn't have been comfortable enough with that level of scrutiny.
"Ryo! Good to see you!" Kame grabs his shoulder, and the lady behind Ryo shifts to run her fingers down Kame's back. Ryo watches Kame look over his shoulder and grin at her, before he turns and catches hold of her wrist, and spins her in circles. She laughs in delight and Kame brushes her hair behind her ear and whispers something. She nods and beckons to her friend, and together they disappear into the crowd. Kame leans in and grabs Ryo's arm and drags him towards the back of the club, the back hallway behind the speakers where it's a little less noisy.
"That was smooth," Ryo says, one eyebrow raised in question.
"I asked them to get us some drinks. Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Definitely. Great DJ, good music, good atmosphere."
"Pity Jin couldn't come tonight. I hope he's not working too hard."
"He'll be fine."
This time it's Kame who raises an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You've been spending a lot of time with Jin lately. DVD nights, karaoke, dinners, drinks... maybe what, three nights a week you guys are hanging out together?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"I'm just a bit concerned."
"About what?"
"You are a smart guy. What do you think?"
"I'm disappointed. I didn't think my orientation would be an issue. If it was, you should have mentioned it earlier. I would never
have done business with you."
"Woah. Hold it right there."
"If you prefer, I'm happy to withdraw my investment and - wait."
"Yes. Wait. I have no issue with you being gay."
"So you only have a problem with me spending time with Jin?"
Ryo laughs at Kame's puzzled look. "No I don't have a problem with you spending time with Jin. Why would I? He's a big boy he can date you if he wants to."
"You think we are dating?"
"Aren't you?"
"I'm not sure."
"What? You haven't made a move?"
"Well we woke up on the couch one morning, but I was never sure what his reaction would be if I tried anything physical." Kame peeks at Ryo. "He's... interested? Really?"
Ryo nods. "Yeah I think so. He talks about you all the time, and he messages you all the time, and he's happy. Happier than I have seen him in a long long time."
"Then what is the problem?"
"Have you really not noticed that Jin won't be seen in public?"
"I thought it was me. I thought he might be worried about people thinking he was gay."
"It's not that. Jin's always been fairly open that he finds attractive whoever he finds attractive, but he has been off the market ever since it happened." He pauses and stares, for a moment. "You really don't know? Sorry, it was just such a huge story and I don't
see how you could have missed it."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
This time it's Ryo grabbing Kame's arm to pull him through the crowd. "Come with me. This is going to take a while."
They manage to find a late night yakiniku restaurant not too far away, where they won't be too noticeable in their clubbing clothes.
The waiter looks at them with some interest, but waves them towards the back where they can have some privacy. Orders placed, Kame waits for Ryo to start.
"Jin said you made your high school Koshien team?" Ryo asks.
"Yeah, but what does that have to do -"
"So you had no time for other things like TV, magazines and newspapers, or even gossip about other sports?"
"No time for anything but baseball practice before and after school six days a week, and juku on Sunday."
"Right. Baseball and juku." Ryo forces a smile, so obviously that Kame's eyes narrow. "Jin should be happy, that means that there is a whole group of people who have no idea what happened."
"Which was?"
"Jin used to play soccer. Did he tell you that?"
"Sort of. I asked him one day whether he was a soccer fan, and he said yes. I wondered why he never really talked about it. When we talked about areas to expand into it was always baseball. He knows I love baseball, but I could see it wasn't really a
passion of his."
"Jin loves soccer. Loved it. He was a huge fan of watching others play, and when he was on the field himself it was almost like he was a different person. He shone. He could read the game so well, he could predict the plays, he could tell where the ball was going to land. He had a lot of natural talent. He ended up on just about every premiership team there was, and then he got into the National Institute of Fitness and Sport."
"He told me he had studied there, but he didn't finish and ended up coming back to Tokyo to study English."
"That's true. What he didn't mention was that he was part of the national soccer squad while he was at the NIFT, one of their youngest recruits. He made the team as soon as he started, and he was pretty much known as the rising star of the squad. He made it through to the Olympic Trials that year, made it all the way through to the final game, when a member of the opposing team tackled him. He hit him really really hard, and when Jin went down he injured his knee."
"Badly?" Kame asks.
"Career ending."
"What happened?"
"The tackle was a red card one, way too high and designed to injure him. I think the idea was to keep him out of the Olympic team, not end his career though. Jin was running and this other guy hit him, when he landed his knee took the brunt of it. His anterior cruciate ligament was ruptured, and bone broke above and below the knee. It happened out on the field, so it was televised and they replayed it over and over again."
"He... he can walk." Kame stutters. "How can he... he's walking now. That's good isn't it?"
"It's taken multiple surgeries and years of physical therapy and luck and Jin's a stubborn idiot who decided that he was going to walk again, and he managed it."
"I guessed he had an injury of some kind, the first night when I walked him down to the taxi he was limping. I didn't realise that...
Oh." Kame pauses in realisation. "That's why he's not a dancer?"
Ryo nods. "He used to be a really good dancer. We got into trouble sometimes for sneaking into clubs. He can't move the same way any more. He never says anything specifically, but I know that he misses it."
"And I invited him to come dancing tonight?" Kame shakes his head.
"You didn't know. We have gone clubbing, don't get me wrong, but tonight was not possible because there would be press and photographers there too. Jin's always worried that someone is going to recognise him, and tonight that was a real possibility."
"But why? I can understand that it was a tragedy, but why is he concerned about people recognising him now?"
"After it first happened, everyone wanted to talk to him about how he felt about his dream being over, and what his plans were now, and how he was going to go on with his life. The press were the worst, the most intrusive, they kept after him for months until long after the Olympics themselves had come and gone, hoping for an exclusive interview. Jin never really knew what to say to the press before the accident and then afterwards.. he had no idea. Normal people on the street also approached him, they meant well and most of them were supportive but they all wanted to know how he was feeling and what he was going to do, and he just had no answers. So he started to dread going out, started to dread being recognised, couldn't cope with meeting strangers. He developed an anxiety disorder, started to have panic attacks."
"Is he...ok?"
"He's working on it. Every day."
"That's why it was online in the beginning. Your entire business was online, he never had to meet people face to face."
"That's right."
"And the suppliers? Surely they weren't all people he knew?"
"Not all of them. Enough were people he had met before, back when he was still at University at least once, so he could do it. After that, there was a lot of introductions and references given, and it was over the phone. They all knew enough not to ask him about - they were conscious of what he had lost."
"And I just sat down and demanded to know who he was."
"The first person in years. I think he was angry because he was so used to being on guard and spending so much energy on worrying about being recognised that when you had no idea who he was, he lashed out a bit."
"Oh I didn't help, I was obnoxious and deserved it." Kame stares at Ryo. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"You deserve to know. He likes you, and you won't hold it against him. You seem to understand him, and I can tell that he trusts you." Ryo reaches across and grabs Kame's wrist. "And you never pushed him."
"I didn't realise. I just thought he was a bit worried about being seen with... me."
"Well he was, but not for the reason you think. He wasn't worried that people would think he was gay, he was worried that someone would recognise him and he'd look bad in front of you."
Kame's phone buzzes. "It's Jin."
Ryo stands, pulls out his wallet and gives Kame s few bills. "To cover my share," he says. "Be careful and good luck." He waves, and leaves Kame behind, sitting there with his mouth slightly open.
Jin: How's the club?
Kame: It was great. Good music, interesting people. Next time, you should come.
Jin: Maybe. Listen I just wanted to confirm our plans for tomorrow. Can you do 4 pm?
Kame: I think so, I'll need to check but I think that's ok. Ryo and I went out for yakiniku after. He just left.
Jin: I guess I'll see him tomorrow at work then. Get home safely.
Kame: Actually, he told me something, and I really want to discuss it with you. Can I come over?
Jin: That's ok - but it's 2 am. Will you be fine for work?
Kame: I will make it work. It's important. Can I come over?
Jin: Sure. Grab a taxi.
**
By the time he had reached Jin's apartment, Kame's stomach is tied in knots and his hands are shaking a bit, and he's at a loss as to why he's torn between terror and excitement. It's no secret that he likes Jin as a person, and part of him has been hoping to move it to another level, but now that the chance is staring him in the face, he's feeling ridiculously nervous.
"Hey!" Jin grins at him as the door opens. "Come on in. It's too late for coffee, how about some hot chocolate?"
"That would be great." Kame toes off his shoes in the genkan, hangs his heavy winter coat on the hook, and then heads to the kitchen to help Jin carry the hot mugs to the couch.
"I didn't get you out of bed did I?" he asks, noticing that Jin is wearing soft cotton calf length pants and a faded T-shirt, with messy hair.
"No, I just had a long bath tonight."
"I thought you were working late," Kame prods.
"After I got home," Jin says evasively.
"Can we talk? Seriously?" Kame asks.
"About what?"
Kame takes a deep breath, and swipes his tongue over his lower lip in a way that makes Jin's stomach tense.
"Are we dating?" Kame asks.
"Do you want to be?"
"I do if you do."
"Then I guess we are?"
"OK."
They sit side by side drinking hot chocolate and studiously avoiding each others gaze, until Kame snaps. "Give me your
chocolate."
Jin hands it over, and Kame places both cups carefully on the table, then turns back to face Jin. "Are we? Dating?"
Jin slides a nervous hand into his hair. "If you want to be."
"I want," Kame says, and moves closer. "I want. Do you?" Kame places a hand on Jin's thigh and leans closer, breath ghosting over Jin's chin.
"I do," Jin whispers, and Kame smiles as he leans forward and kisses Jin. Softly and slowly, giving all the time in the world for retreat, or dismissal, Kame is warm and solid and present and Jin accepts and welcomes him. That seems to be a yes then Kame thinks hazily as he slides his arm around Jin's neck to pull him closer.
He is surprised then when Jin wraps both arms around him and pulls him down to lay on the couch, covering him with his own body. Jin is all heavy legs and warm weight and soft cotton and Kame's busy running his hands over his shoulders and back as Jin takes control of the kiss, parting Kame's lips with his tongue, softly stroking over his lip, and then pushing into his mouth.
Definitely a yes. Jin kisses him deep and long, one hand stroking his jaw and the other pushing through his hair, and Kame responds with everything he has, opening up his mouth to give Jin more access and his hands wandering wherever they wanted across Jin's back.
"That was worth the wait," Jin mutters between kisses, then brushes his lips over Kame's jaw and heads for his ear.
"It was," Kame manages to say, before he moans as Jin begins to suck gently on his ear lobe. "Why were we not doing this all along?"
"I wasn't sure you were interested," Jin answers, and Kame laughs.
"Do you have enough proof now?"
"I think so," Jin mutters, then slides down to brush kisses along Kame's throat. "You seem to like this."
"I do." Kame gasps as kisses turn to nips and then moans as Jin latches on with tongue and teeth. "I knew you liked me, but I wasn't sure if you were into me. You always knew I was gay though. Why didn't you make a move?"
Jin slides a hand over Kame's chest, so Kame slides one over Jin's waist. "Talk to me," he demands.
"Ryo said you were probably gay," Jin admits. "I wasn't sure whether making a move would affect our business relationship, and I didn't want to make things uncomfortable."
"I did try to give you a few signals," Kame says as he gently lifts Jin's T-shirt and strokes his stomach.
"I didn't want to put you in an unfair situation." Jin groans as Kame's hand slips under the waist band of his pants and strokes softly.
"Unfair?" Kame asks. "It seems not allowing me the opportunity to do this is unfair..." Kame leans up and catches Jin's bottom lip beneath his teeth, then pushes forward, moving Jin up and over so that now Kame is on top.
"It's not as easy for me,' Jin admits in a harsh whisper as Kame's fingers glide lower. "I wasn't sure...Kame!"
Kame grins. "Ryo told me about your knee." Jin stills, hot and heavy in Kame's hand. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It changes things," Jin says, then gasps as Kame flicks his wrist.
"It does?" Kame asks. "In what way?"
"I don't go out like you do." Kame squeezes a little, then moves his thumb softly in circles, a silent reply. "I can't dance anymore. It's a problem."
"I can adjust, and there are many forms of dancing..." Kame stops and looks at Jin and they both laugh at the bad joke. "It's not a problem for me." Kame's hand pulls free, and he runs both hands down Jin's thigh to massage his knee. Jin whimpers as his fingers brush scar tissue. "This isn't a problem for me."
Kame looks up at Jin, sees the flush on his cheeks and the hair curling on his forehead and the way his bottom lip is held against his teeth. He rubs Jin's knee again and then climbs up to kiss him deeply. "God you are hot," he breathes against his mouth.
Jin holds him close and realises that as aroused as he is, Kame is in the same position. "You really want this?" he asks between kisses.
"God yes."
"Bedroom?"
"Now."
**
Kame is gone by the time Jin wakes, but the note he has left on the kitchen table is sweet, as is the coffee sitting beside it. Jin grins happily as he reads the note. He hadn't thought it would be this easy, but Kame made it easy. He was enthusiastic and vocal and could do things with his tongue that should come with a warning label...
With a start, he realises that he is going to be late for work, and rushes to get out the door as soon as possible. First though, he makes sure to carefully slide the note under a magnet on the fridge door.
**
Onto part 3