Ofuro Family
Disclaimer: All the chara and basic idea belongs to Minekura Kazuya
Warning: err maybe some shonen-ai?/implied M/M sex
Pairing: KenrenxTenpou
Summary: Please read the Extreme Bath Log by Minekura-sensei first to understand the basic of their relationship (link can be found on A/N below) I'm taking my deliberate way to work on the 'what might be there/subtle' relationship on the Extreme Bath Log…well this is fic anyway.
A/N: Based on Minekura-sensei Extreme Bath Log. Her official AU fanfic if you may say that. You can find the translation here http:/ konnyakuhonyaku (dot) livejournal (dot) com/35164 html (exchange the (dot) plz) by the awesomely kind Elfsoto-san, thank you very much for translating…
"I like you, tsukiattehoshii…"
He looked from his glasses' rim when he heard him saying that, without having a second thought he said 'yes' as an answer at that time and realized that tsukiattehoshii has double meanings when that person asked him permission to kissed him for the first time – yes his brain was that slow.
When was their first meeting? Hmm if he was asked about something like that, he might not be able to remember that very well, it was an old story and his brain refused to work hard on the precise date and days, but it can remember quite well about the process.
It was quite busy day for him with piles of books he wanted to read. Even though he might not show, the truth was, he was so excited about new semester on college. Because he had tendencies to read and to write down what interested him, he took literature as major and their meeting started with a bump on the junction and fallen books to their sides.
"It hurts! Be careful will ya!"
"A- I'm sorry…" He was too surprised to properly answer.
"It's okay, are you all right?" He blinked and nodded. "Hmm…it was my fault too, there was a hot chick and I can't let go of that beautiful sight," That person chuckled; the sound of it somehow pleased him. "A- lemme help you with this clutter…"
"Before that…," He said and pointed to something laid on the cold floor, its lens broken to pieces and there were bumps almost everywhere. "…your camera…"
"OH SHIT!"
That person was about to cry when he saw his camera condition. 'It is old but this is my only treasure' – that was exactly what that person said; he can remembered that part very well. And when he offered him to fix it, he instantly pulled him in a bear hug.
It was his first hug with a complete stranger in the middle of book mess.
He was no rich person; in fact sometimes he found it hard to be able to fill his own stomach. So when the repairman said the cost of total patch up for the camera, he almost faint in disbelief. The owner of the camera looked at him and said 'show me how much you've got' he pulled emptied his bag to found money inside the mess, it was only 2000 yen.
2000 yen for a week before he received his salary from his part time in used book store.
That person laughed at him but he found it not offensive. "With that amount of money, you'll only be able to fix a little scratch, you know…" He had nothing to say, so he nodded. That person pulled 12,000 yen from his wallet and handed it to the repairman, "The down payment…," He said.
"Was that okay?" He asked when they finished their business on the camera shop.
"What?"
"I was the one who should pay, but you paid instead"
"Would it be like…embarrassing?"
"Huh?"
"To hand 2000 yen as down payment?" That person asked him back.
"Well…yeah," He scratched his head.
"But still you have to pay me back; it was my allowance until this month ends…," He sulked.
"…Then, should I share with you?"
"Hmm?"
"The 2000 yen"
That person laughed hard, "Man, you're funny…hey, I just noticed…I haven't asked your name…"
"A- it's Tenpou and you are…?"
"You can call me Kenren, I'm the famous photographer!"Said the person in confidence.
"But I haven't heard of you…," He said flat-toned.
"Listen, I'm not done yet…I'm the famous photographer…later…in the future…"
This time he laughed.
From their unexpected introduction to each other, they grew closer. Even though they had different major on college but they always ended to eat lunch or going home together. Inseparable existence if you may say.
It was the one year of their friendship when Kenren came to visit Tenpou's room for the first time and get shocked for its condition. He helped him cleaning, he was always like that, taking care of people whether he knew them or not.
"Actually, you didn't need to clean up…," Tenpou handed him a cup of coffee while Kenren lit his cigarette.
"Listen you, if I didn't clean up where am I supposed to sit? It amazed me you can live on that trash pile!"
Tenpou pout, "It wasn't pile of trash, it was…treasure…"
"Yeah…yeah you're so called treasure had five dead mice…"
Tenpou silenced. He can't argue with that person if he talked about hygiene, Kenren was the one who told him to come to his house to have a bath at last once in two days, he even gave him free of charge if he comes and use his family public bath.
There was silence and both of them savored the taste of their own cigarette. Sometimes Kenren sighed, but Tenpou didn't know and not bother to ask him, half of it because he was too preoccupied with his old book, that Kenren just found under the dirty clothes.
Another sigh.
Tenpou watched him from behind the book, Kenren looked so troubled. "Is…there anything I can do to help you?" Tenpou asked finally.
"Well…I've been thinking lately…"
"About?" He flipped a page.
Kenren sighed again, "I like you, tsukiattehoshii…"
"Yes…"
Kenren looked at him in disbelief, he stared at him questioningly. What was so special about 'hanging out' together? Wasn't that they always do it?
Then the bear hug attack came, made Tenpou lost his balance and fell to the pile of freshly washed clothes. When he opened his eyes, Kenren was still on top of him and gave him a very wide smile.
"Thank you…"
"Huh?"
"I never knew you have the same feeling as me…I'm so worried it will wipe out our friendship…"
Eh?
"Can I kiss you?"
He lost any words he wanted to say when Kenren took his glasses, pulled him near and planted a kiss on his lips. It was so sweet to tell the truth, Tenpou's lack of experience of romance and this kind of thing made him didn't know what to do and he let the taller man lead, he clung his hands to Kenren's clothes as a sign of believing.
Kenren softly bit his lower lip to made an entrance for his tongue, once he had the access and savor Tenpou's mouth, the other man can also taste the kisser – he tasted like cigarette and coffee. When Kenren deepen his kiss with his tongue, Tenpou can't help but moaning, the kiss was overwhelmed.
The darker haired man pulled off from the lips-lock and kissed Tenpou's cheek. "Very cute…my Tenpou"
"…it wasn't nice you know…," Tenpou stared back at his best friend.
"What wasn't nice? You didn't like my kiss?"
"Not that, ba~ka…it wasn't nice to call a guy 'cute' you know," he smiled.
Kenren smiled and laughed, "Then what do you want me to call you?"
"Hmm…what about sexy?"
"…Wasn't that almost the same?"
They spent many years together, but this time they walked between the line of lovers and best friends. Tenpou became like a son to Genjou family, he was there in every important occasion for that family – such as New Year or Obon.
Tenpou himself never talked to himself to confirm his own feeling whether he was in love or not with Kenren – Kenren made him feel save and that was the most important thing. Kenren too, never once said that three words to him, when they walked side by side or when they slept together with entwined hands.
The night after they met their old friends on a reunion, they spent the night together in Tenpou's room after wasted themselves on the bar with their friends. The rain was heavy when Tenpou noticed Kenren already awoke and sat on the end of the bed, smoking with troubled face.
Those kind of face he never like.
"Is there something bothering you?" He put on his glasses and brushed his hair behind his ears.
Kenren looked at him and smiled sheepishly; he scooted near his lover/best friend and kissed him softly. "Nothing…"
Tenpou sighed, "Do you think I will believe you? How long do I know you, Kenren? You can't fool me when you had that look on your face"
Kenren closed his eyes and rested his head on Tenpou's shoulder, "I met this girl that I like..."
"Oh…"
"What do you think?"
"Nothing," He imitated Kenren's answer before.
Silence…
"Lie"
"I am not"
He wasn't lying it was because he hadn't confirmed his own feeling – How to put Kenren on this kind relation that more than best friend and not a lover yet? He himself didn't understand. Lack of human interactions made him can't tell the hollow feeling he had when the taller man said about that woman.
Kenren sighed, "If you said so, may I asked you permission to date this girl?"
" Why bother to ask? If you really like her, go ahead...," He said while smiling.
Kenren took Tenpou's hand and locked his fingers to Tenpou's, and he kissed Tenpou's temple softly. "Thank you..."
"Don't say that...you're my best friend...I'm happy if you're happy"
A faint cringe appears on his best friend's forehead but soon it replaced by a smile, Kenren trashed Tenpou's hair, get dressed and left.
An hour after Kenren left, Tenpou still on his bed sitting while hugging his knees. Let his cigarette meet its end without him inhaling the nicotine. He took a deep breath, and covered his face with his left palm "...Best friend, eh?"
As a grown up man, he put his best smile when Kenren introduced the lady to him, she was...rather plain..., not that emotion took him over to point the lady like that – well maybe a little.
"Ah, so you're Kenren's best friend? He often talks about you"
"Yes, I'm his best friend who gets dumped when he met you...," Inhaling his cig, he couldn't put his sarcastic comment to the lady.
She sighed, "My...you're just as funny as he told me..."
Is she stupid or what?
But Tenpou knew she wasn't, she was just too kind hearted to feel the hatred. Kenren's chosen lady is bright and full of life, deceiving her plain look. She got a nice smile too. When he compared himself to her, he saw a big gap between them...
I can't win…
The short introduction lead to a deeper interaction, the more Tenpou know her, the more he couldn't help but liking her too. Maybe it's the same with Kenren, enchanted with her lively personality and her big bright smile; and how he hated himself if sometimes he thought badly about her. All of this happy interaction brought back his memory to their conversation on the bedroom after Kenren said he found someone.
What if I said 'yes, I decline'...will he be staying with me?
Well, fussing about that won't do any change, besides it was too late. if he was asked 'are you angry?' he'd say 'no' he had no basis to say 'yes' both of them were just best friends, even though Kenren asked him first to go out with him but both of them never really talked about their own feeling, nothing more - would it be the same as fuck buddies if you put it - yes only as fuck buddies.
But it would be different if he was asked 'how's your feeling?' If you asked him after Kenren told him that he was seeing this girl, he would say 'I don't care' or 'nothing' lightly. But as the times flew, he would blatantly said 'Yes, because I love him, I'm jealous'.
But there were some words better left not to be spoken.
"I will get married soon…"
He said in one lazy afternoon in Tenpou's room – which already put on another mess, made the ice cream Tenpou had on his spoon fell back to the cup.
"Sou…"
"How's your opinion?"
"Hmm…if you think that's the best way…do it," He put the ice cream-less spoon in his mouth just to found the cold metal against his tongue – he cringed.
"Not thaaat…," Kenren sprawled his legs under the table then dropped the ash from the smoke on his hand. "I mean…your true feelings…," He mumbled and scratched the back of his head.
"Yamenasai…"
"Eh?"
"Mou, Kenren, if you want to get married to her, would it be inappropriate to keep talking about this?" He hid his expression behind his glasses.
"Well, that's…"
"We must end this and set our border," He drew an imaginary lines on the table. "Here is best friends' line and this one is lovers'…now we stand between them as fuck buddies, what should we do?"
He stopped a while and watched Kenren's face to make sure the taller man heard and understood him well.
"You find this girl and you stepped to the lovers' line with her – even want to marry her, left me here in the middle…" He tapped his index finger to the table, "Now I want to draw myself back to this best friend line, I know my place…and I hope you know, after this we're no longer 'multi-functional' best friends…"
Silence came, Tenpou inhaled his cigarette, Kenren still stared at the invisible lines on the table before diverted his sight to the long-haired man with piercing gaze.
"Baka janee ka?"
Kenren stood and took his motorbike helmet with him, before he grabbed his jacket and got off from Tenpou's room. As the slamming door fade away, Tenpou exhaled, a white flow of smoke fill the room
He scoffed and smiled bitterly, "ee…baka darou na, boku…"
After the day, Kenren disappeared and Tenpou also didn't put any effort to contacted him or his family. Lost contact, maybe it was the best thing for them.
Until one day, an invitation came to his room – along with an enveloped letter.
I, along with this letter command you to become my best man on my wedding day; I won't forgive you if you don't show up.
Tenpou giggled, the type of giggles that mixed with tears welled up on his eyes, "My…why you so cruel to me, Kenren?"
He showed up though, during rehearsal and now on the wedding day, even though both of them not exchanging words that much on the rehearsal, but it was enough, at last for Tenpou to see his best friend happy. The wedding itself will be held on western style, made uncle Sanzo kind of angry, but finally agreed on what his oldest son decided.
Everyone felt the same anxious degree when the marriage ceremony will be start in a few hours. Tenpou – who had his hair tied back in ponytail – opened the groom's waiting room and found Kenren just wore his black tux, with a tailor checking here and there.
"Oooh Tenpou, do I look good?"
"Yes, perfect…"
"Oh good, people keep telling me that I'm getting fatter…"
"Yes you do…," The tailor commented.
"Shut up you…," The tailor chuckled, he was one of Kenren's neighbors, and he gets used to Kenren's rough attitude.
"Well considering you're nervous about your big day, it can't be helped," He patted Kenren's shoulder and tidy up his equipment. "Now it's done, I'll be on rest area, if you need me just call"
"Okay, thanks…"
After the door being closed once again, there were only both of them on the room and suddenly the choking silence came.
"So…uh, I came here to give it to you, personally…"
"What is that?"
Tenpou handed a quite big box and smiled, "Wedding gift, open it…"
Kenren complied and removed the lid; his eyes grew wider when he saw his best friend's gift. The newest DSLR camera he wanted but he had to put it on hold to save more money for the wedding.
"This…"
"Took me 3 months of my full payment to buy that, I demand you to like it…," He pouted.
"Why…surely I like it very much, thank you!"
"Even though you use the video camera for your job, you can use this DSLR to capture your moments with your…wife and…later children," He felt someone poured gallons of salt to his throat, making it dry.
Tenpou felt the gaze from his best friend bore him to the core. He couldn't help but to hid his eyes behind his glasses and gave fake smile.
"…Ok, where's the ring? I need to check on the bride first and go to the main hall…"
Kenren pointed at the table, where the black velvet wedding box placed. He took it and put it in his tux's pocket while hoping that he won't lose it midway to the aisle. Just before he stepped to the door, Kenren pulled him and shoved him to the nearest wall – kissing him ferociously.
No this isn't good…
If he keeps continuing this…
He tried his best to shove him away, but the touch of his lips melt him, left him no stamina to oppose it. It had been too long, he longed for this to happen again. His Kenren, will no longer beside him after this.
Just before he realized, he let a small moan, when Kenren's lips reached his neck. With one swift move, he pushed the taller man away. Both of their clothes and hair were messy. Tenpou gasped, catching his breath and bit his lips.
After he managed to calm himself and corrected the glasses back to his nose bridge, he glared at the man before him who couldn't help to think the marble floor was more interesting.
"…what's wrong with you? I've told you about our position long time ago right?" His tone was cold, Kenren gulped.
"I-I can't help myself…"
"Do something about that, for God sake!" Despite his harsh tone, Tenpou found himself shaking. "Why waver now? Kenren whom I know is not someone who…hesitates after he took decision," His tone softened.
"I'm sorry, I…"
Tenpou stepped towards him and kissed Kenren's cheek, "…Be happy…"
He closed the door and exhaled a heavy breath, it was so hard for him to wished him 'happiness' but Tenpou was sure that Kenren's bride can make his best friend happy.
One of us have to be strong, if not…everything will crumbled apart…
"…now, I should visit the bride, shouldn't I?"
When he reached the bride's room, she was alone facing her reflection in a big mirror and looked quite surprised when the best man came in.
"You scared me Tenpou~"
"Oya…my bad, I think I just surprised the bride…," He smiled. "Does the pretty princess ready for her big day?"
The bride's chuckled, "I'm nervous…but overall yes, I'm ready, ah…"
"Hm?"
"What happened to you? You look so messy…," She laughed again.
"Aah~ this, I woke up late and in hurry…so…," He lied.
"Mou…Tenpou, let me fix you, you have to look neat at least once…," His white bridal gawn swayed as she moved to Tenpou.
Carefully she fixed Tenpou's tie, their eyes didn't meet but he knew that she was smiling and somehow she had this sad atmosphere with her, does the soon to be married acts like this?
"Are you sad?," He popped the question at last.
"Of course I'm sad…I'll leave my parents behind, my dad couldn't stop drinking since last night and now he has severe hangover…he keeps saying 'my daughter get married at last…and left this pop alone in his old days, I remember when she was little and now she'll gone…' and my mother couldn't stop crying…as a child, what should I do?" Thin crystal started to form on her eyes.
"Maa na…that's how parents will act when they're about to lost their daughter to another guy"
"They succeed to make me sentimental…," He patted Tenpou's shoulder. "Done"
"Thank you…be sure everything will be all right and oh, I must go to the aisle faster than both of you…," She nodded and Tenpou decided it was the right time to retreat to the main hall.
"…I'm sorry…"
He stopped halfway when he heard her whisper, "Pardon?"
"Ah…nothing…," She smiled. "Hurry the ceremony will start soon"
Tenpou eyed her from the corner of his eyes and disappeared behind the door. Her whisper left him in a big question mark and only times will answer what was the meaning behind it.
A/N: e-enjoy? And sorry if I put the wrong translation and grammar…
Translation:
Tsukiattehoshii: 'Please hang out with me' but also used for someone asking his crush to go out/dating with him – it's like declaring love.
Yamenasai: Please stop.
Baka janee ka? Baka janai ka?: Are you stupid?
ee…baka darou na, boku: Yes, I wonder about that (the stupidity)