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Kazuya let himself into the apartment, sliding his keys back into his bag and toeing off his shoes. He moved across the room a little gingerly, his back was more sore than he’d expected it to be. But it had been worth it, the end result was amazing. He couldn’t wait to show Eijun, he knew his boy would love it. Well, at least I HOPE he loves it…heading into their small bathroom, one that really only had room for one person—although they’d managed to double up in there more times than he could remember—he turned so he could see his back, lifting up his shirt. He grinned. Perfect.
Eijun trudged up the stairs to their apartment, exhausted; he’d had so many tests today. Finals, though, were over (finally! hah!) and they had a couple of weeks before the next semester started. He and Kazuya were headed home for the break the following morning, so tonight was going to be packing and cleaning and busy as well. Breathing in the warm night air, he realized he was glad it wasn’t full on summer yet. Nagano heat could be brutal, and he’d become accustomed to air conditioning, which was something his family didn’t have. To be fair though, even in the summer, away from pavements and concrete, the temperature would fall overnight making sleeping bearable. Unlocking his door, he stepped into the apartment, following the lights and noise to the kitchen. Leaning in the doorway, he watched his boy.
Kazuya was cooking. Eijun loved to watch him; the preciseness of his movements, nothing wasted, always left him in awe of his abilities. Plus he always made great food. Smiling gently, he observed him move around the small kitchen. Eijun knew better than to invade when Kazuya was cooking, this was something they’d hashed out shortly after they’d moved in together. He could duck in for a minute for a hug or kiss, but other than that, he needed to “Stay the fuck out of my kitchen.” So he stood, leaning on the wall, just enjoying the quiet and the sight of this boy that he loved so very much. Soon, though, he noticed that he was moving a bit tentatively, as if his back hurt.
Kazuya knew the minute Eijun stepped into the doorway; he always knew when those eyes were on him. He also knew that he loved to watch him cook, so he indulged his boy, just moving around as he normally would, not acknowledging his presence at all. Soon, though, he felt Eijun’s gaze sharpen. Ah, so he’s noticed. It’s not a surprise, I guess, he knows me best.
“What did you do to your back?” Eijun asked, concern dripping from every syllable.
Kazuya looked up from the pot he was stirring and smiled at his boy. “Okaeri, Ei. How were your finals? You look beat.”
“They were fine, Kaz.” He brushed off the change in subject. “What’s wrong with your back? How did you hurt yourself?” Eijun insisted, striding the two steps into the tiny kitchen that it took to reach his boy.
Kazuya leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, giving him a soft smirk. “I’m fine, it’s just a little bit sore. Dinner’s done, let’s eat and I’ll tell you about it.”
Eijun knew that tone, and knew he’d get what he wanted faster if he went along with Kazuya. He also knew that Kazuya wouldn’t lie to him about something like this, and the catcher knew that even if he tried, Eijun would know. Internally sighing, he gave in, grabbed the silverware and napkins, and headed to the table.
“What did you cook? It smells fantastic.”
“It’s just a stew from the leftovers in the fridge; we need to clean it out before we leave for a week.”
“Well, whatever it is, I’m in. Thanks!” Kazuya gifted him with a smile, wide and happy.
Together they sat and ate, talking about their finals and what they planned to do in Nagano. Kazuya left the discussion of his back for after dinner. Eventually, though, even Eijun was full, so he couldn’t avoid it any longer.
“So, tanuki, no more dodging. What’s up with your back?” Eijun demanded.
Kazuya was strangely nervous; he’d not mentioned this to Eijun, because he’d wanted it to be a surprise, but now he didn’t really know how his boy would react. Squaring his shoulders, he confessed. “I’m not hurt, the skin’s just a little sore...I got a tattoo.”
Eijun’s eyes widened, this wasn’t anything like any of the scenarios he’d considered. “You did what?!?”
Kazuya chuckled nervously. Looking down at the grains of rice clinging to his plate, he repeated himself. “I got a tattoo.” He heard a strange sound from Eijun and his head shot up. Meeting his boy’s eyes, he saw that they were sparkling, anticipation in their depths.
Reverentially, Eijun whispered, “Let me see. Please.”
“Before I show you, you need to know that it’s going to take some time to heal, it may not look perfect yet.”
Eijun nodded, but repeated himself, eyes still aglow. “Please let me see, Kaz.”
There was no way Kazuya could resist those eyes, that sincerity, so he stood and walked over to Eijun. Turning around, he stripped off his shirt, leaving only his sweats on. He heard Eijun’s swift intake of breath, followed by the feeling of fingers softly touching his skin around the tattoo, right above his waistband.
“You got a tanuki? That’s...that’s amazing. Is it just his head?”
Kazuya shook his head, looking over his shoulder, meeting those gleaming eyes.
Eijun slowly pulled down Kazuya’s sweats, underwear as well, exposing the lower right side of his back and the beginning of the slope of his buttocks. As they revealed more, Eijun's eyes gleamed until Kazuya could have sworn he saw sparks flying. When it was fully revealed, Eijun sat still, staring.
“Oh wow, Kaz.” he said, awed. “This is beautiful.”
He leaned in and kissed his skin, careful to not disturb the inkwork. “Can I touch it?”
Kazuya let out a snort. “You're the most tactile person I know; you've got to touch everything. Go ahead, but wash your hands first.”
Eijun jumped up and went to the sink, taking their dishes with him, and quickly washed his hands. Returning to his seat, he lifted his hand and gently ran a finger over the image. It was clearly a tanuki, but not a traditional representation of the animal. He was alert, his head was raised as if he was sniffing the air or looking for predators, but his body was curled up on, wrapped around, a sunflower. The attitude was one of protection, of watchfulness, as if the sunflower was of the utmost importance, and yet, in return it was providing shelter for the animal. Eijun moved in close, trying to take in every detail. The crosshatching in the sunflower grabbed his attention. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was kanji, stylized to the point it was almost unrecognizable. He found similar words embedded in the tanuki.
Slowly, he parsed the words.
Eijun felt tears sting the corners of his eyes, and meeting his boy’s gaze, he stood up. Lifting his hand, he stroked Kazuya’s cheek, leaning in for a soft, gentle kiss. It always took Kazuya off guard, these times when Eijun would go soft, quiet. He was so used to the exuberance; he never expected the stillness that he was capable of, the sweet tenderness that disarmed him every time, the care that made the very bones of his body ache with longing for this boy.
“You...you’re it for me, Kaz. Always.” Eijun murmured as he pulled away from the kiss.
Kazuya smirked at him, trying to regain his equilibrium. “Same for me, Ei. And the proof of that is now tattooed on my ass.” Eijun snorted.
“Oh god. It is, isn’t it?”
Eijun walked into the apartment, unsure if Kazuya was home yet. He dropped his bag as he toed off his shoes and hung up his coat. Slipping on the house shoes he had waiting for him, he moved further into the house. He’d only taken a few steps into the living room when he heard a voice.
“Let me see.”
Eijun snorted. “Typical. You’ve been on the road for the last month, haven’t seen me at all during that time, and that’s the first thing you say to me?”
“Seriously, let me see, Ei. Please?” Kazuya nearly whined. Eijun’s eyes had adjusted to the dimness in the room, and he saw his boy lounging on the couch. Walking over, he climbed into Kazuya’s lap, straddling his legs, claiming the spot he’d always considered his. Their heads were a little less even than they had been when they first started this, Eijun was now the taller of the pair by a few centimeters, but it was still his favorite place.
He wrapped his arms around Kazuya’s neck and leaned his forehead on Kazuya’s.
“I really fucking missed you, Miyuki Kazuya.”
Looking into those golden eyes that still, after seven years, destroyed him every time they focused on him, Kazuya couldn’t help but agree. “Me too, Ei.”
He brought his hands up and ran them along Eijun’s sides, finding the hem of his shirt and stroking the skin along the waistband of his jeans with his thumb. Eijun tilted his head just a little, and their lips met, melting into this thing that was them, that was home and love and affection and, after the time apart, more than just a little lust. Hands found skin, lips and mouths and teeth roamed, nipping, sucking, licking.
Eijun nibbled on Kazuya’s ear, whispering, “I’m not showing you anything, you’re going to have to find it yourself.”
“Looking forward to it....”
Later, much later, while they were lounging around in bed, Kazuya had his head on Eijun’s shoulder, running his fingers languidly along his hipbones, when Eijun grinned and chuckled. Kazuya made a hum of inquiry, and Eijun explained. “Ok, so I didn’t just fucking miss you, I missed fucking you, too.”
Kazuya snorted out a laugh, and pinched Eijun. “Brat. You’re getting a smart mouth in your old age. And you’re welcome.” Kazuya gleefully stole back his lines and smirked at Eijun’s crestfallen look. “Seriously, though. I missed you every day. I can’t wait until we’re on the same team.” He leaned up on his elbow and kissed his boy, affection and love shining from his eyes.
Eijun kissed him back, wrapping a hand around his neck. “I love you too, Kaz.” He kissed him on the nose, and gave his permission. “Go ahead, I know you want to.”
Kazuya smiled widely, and peeled back the sheet, exposing Eijun’s torso. Climbing on top of him, he slid his way down, headed for the spot he’d wanted to explore ever since Eijun had sent him a selfie from the tattoo parlor. Despite every threat and plea Kazuya could think of, he never got the boy to send him any other pictures or give any indication of what he was getting or where. Now he was going to get to see it, explore completely what he'd only caught glimpses of before. Stopping at Eijun’s pelvis, he looked at tattoo that sat right next to his left hipbone.
Running a finger gently over the warm flesh, he examined the artwork. “It’s gorgeous…,” he breathed, barely heard by the boy lying under him. It was a sunflower, stylized to look like a traditional Japanese tattoo. Looking closely, you could see a tanuki peeking out from between the leaves, his body cleverly woven around the stem, both hiding in and protecting the flower. The words, their words, were woven into the sunflower, into the background, into the tanuki.
Into every aspect of their lives.
You are mine and I am yours.