Ofuro Family

Disclaimer: All the chara and basic idea belongs to Minekura Kazuya

Warning: err maybe some shonen-ai?/implied M/M sex

Pairing: Kenren x Tenpou

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…


He was there when Kenren had his first son – Gojyo – and his second son – Gokuu – but decided to make a distance, he couldn't let go his own feelings. Kenren too, after his second son's birth he said they would rarely see him at home, since he was trusted to report on warfare areas throughout the world. Even though uncle Sanzo opposed it, but he stick to his decision – he's that kind of man after all.

But one day – 2 years after Kenren's departure to unknown part of the world – uncle Sanzo contacted him with devastating news. Kenren's wife passed away.

She passed away, so suddenly…

Kenren couldn't reach home in time when she was cremated and buried, Kannan – her younger sister said – Kenren was stuck on the conflict area, couldn't get out until the authorized said it was save to leave their bunker.

Until one month after her death, suddenly the taller man showed up in front of Tenpou's door room.

"Yo"

Tenpou sighed, "You should call me when you come to visit," He rummaged through his coat's pocket to find his key.

"What now? Should I make an appointment to Tenpou-sama?"

"Hmm probably…," Sloppily he inserted the key to the hole, "I'm busy after all"

"Fuck you, how dare you said something to me after 2 years we didn't see each other…I'm freezing now lemme in!"

"Oya…you're not in the position to say that…" Tenpou held his hands in front of the door, preventing Kenren to step further. "You know what good boy will say…," He smirked.

"Damn youuuu…all right, please…please let me in Tenpou-sama…"

"Ii ko…douzo…"

"Ojamashimasu…" Kenren rushed himself inside the house only to be shocked by the room's condition. "What in the world is this mess?"

"A- please ignores it…"

Even though he must held the urge to clean the room, Tenpou knew Kenren's arrival wasn't for that. Both of them took a seat on the 'seemingly still free of dump' area.

"Where did you go?," Was Kenren's first question after they sat and blew his cigarette.

"Umm…I met this someone…"

"Someone?" Kenren raised one of his eyebrows.

"Yes, someone special…want to know…?" He dared him with half mocking smile.

Tenpou could see Kenren gulped and diverted his gaze, "Nah…"

"He was so nice, he treat me a full set of Matsuzaka steak…," Tenpou savored his newly lit cigarette, smile still plastered on his face.

"He? A guy?" Kenren scowled. "Ok who is this 'he' anyway? Don't lose your guard; you don't know what he wants!"

"Hey, I'm not a chick, besides; I know what he wants…"

"Suuureee…you only hooked up with me, so you know what this guy wants…," Kenren put his sarcastic tone on his voice.

Tenpou giggled, "Jealous?"

"Wh-what the hell…I just want you to be more careful"

"Of course I'm careful, that guy's needs is very clear"

"Uh huh…and what's that?"

"My manuscript…he's my editor though"

Kenren dumbfounded, Tenpou laughed at his expression. After ten minutes cursing himself because he fell to Tenpou's trap he went silent once again.

"Do you want to cry?" Tenpou asked.

"Yamero yo~ I did that after I got home, I think I already spent my tears stock"

"But it's impossible right, the tears gland will always producing even though you already cry like a river…" Tenpou's tone was flat.

"Shuddup you…don't ruin my sentimental moment with your facts…"

"Okay…"

Silence…

"Why you silence?"

"You asked me to shut up"

"Tsk…comfort me please"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Sing or something? Even on the battlefield wasn't this silent…"

"You know I can't sing…," He exhaled.

Tenpou could see the cloud hanging above the taller man's head, he sighed, pulled something from the box and called Kenren while patting his own lap.

"Here, let me clean your ears"

Kenren scoffed but scooted himself to his best friend, resting his head on his lap, while Tenpou gently brushed his hair – the strands still the soft strands he used to know – Kenren closed his eyes slowly, seeping the slow comfort Tenpou offered.

"Be careful will ya?"

"I know what I am doing…," Still, he had his cigarette hung on his lips.

A moment of silent came when Tenpou inserted the mimi-kaki to Kenren's ear, the taller man yelped. He straightened himself and glared at the glasses man, "Did you just try to make me half deaf?"

"A- pardon, I failed to measure your ear hole's depth…"

"Tch, do it right this time…," He laid his head back to Tenpou's lap.

"How nice"

"Huh?"

"You trust me to do it again, what if I really try to make you deaf?"

"Haaaa? You wouldn't dare…"

Tenpou just scoffed at Kenren's confidence but he moved his hands carefully and cleaned Kenren's ear's cave. Just like before, under the dim light they were enveloped with silence, but this kind of silent was different, it was calming.

"…Why she died so fast?"

Tenpou shut his mouth; he didn't have the answer nor want to cut his best friend's babbling. He knew he loved his late wife so much and her death must be so devastating for him.

"I…can't put her picture on butsudan"

"Well, isn't that a little bit unfair for her?"

"What should I do when she asked for it herself?" Tenpou heard his almost sobbing voice. "She told my pop a week before she died, that she doesn't like everyone sad by seeing her face on butsudan if she passed away one day, that's why…"

Tenpou could feel the man started to cry, and soon followed by tears that seeping through his jeans. The long haired man brushed his hands once more on Kenren's hair, the tears; it wasn't dried up was it?

"…and Gojyo keeps asking 'where's mommy'…that child hasn't fully understand the meaning of 'leaving us and went to the heaven'…and Gokuu is too small to remember his mom, it hurts…"

"Child will grow…they will accept it soon or later…," With one deep breath, Tenpou fill his lungs with nicotine.

Silence…

"Ne…Tenpou…"

"Hmm?"

"Will it be okay if I stay over?"

"It's fine with me…"

"I need to come home with big bright smile, so they'll stop worrying about me…"

Still on Tenpou's lap, Kenren opened his cell phone and dialed number to his house. He told the people at his house that he'll be drinking while reuniting with his old friend. It was surprisingly easy, but Tenpou knew it wasn't because Kenren was an adult, but he needed some time and distance to release his depression after her death – and the best place was not in his own house.

After he hung the phone, he sits back, sighing and erasing his tears. "Sorry to make you see me weak like this…"

"Well, sometimes a man needs to cry too, ne?"

"Then, did you cry?"

"Huh?"

"During my wedding day, did you cry?"

Tenpou scoffed, "Why you always chasing me with this kind of question," He threw his gaze to the floor, smiling "I don't want to answer that…"

"I cried…"

Kenren lit his cigarette, smiled while watching Tenpou's expression – there was nothing on his face – he decided, it's not the time to runaway and pushed the overused question to his best friend.

"I cried…" He repeated. "I kept asking myself whether it was the best choice, and if you said I must stay beside you, I'll stay…but you've decided on your own and told me to be happy…and yes, she gave me happiness…but she passed away so fast"

Tenpou scratched the back of his head, just like he always did when he thinks about something, but in the end he couldn't find any words to say.

Kenren exhaled, "I just declared my feelings for you, say something…"

"…Isn't it too fast?"

"Nah, I'm just saying what I wanna say…," Kenren stood and walked towards the door.

"A-are you leaving?"

"Huh? Oh, no I wanna buy some booze, besides I told my family that I wanna drink out this night, right?" He smiled, borrowed Tenpou's sandal and closed the door.

Being left alone for a while made Tenpou think. If only they talked about this sooner, maybe this wouldn't happen, but after all everything had happened, even though he talked to the other man about his feelings towards him, will everything okay?

After a few minutes passed, Kenren came back and cursing how cold it was out there. Tenpou was still on his position, sitting holding his knees and his gaze was empty, as if his soul wandering to another world.

"Oy, I'm back…"

"Oh, I'm sorry…I didn't hear you"

"Seriously, you have to do something towards your habit zoning out like that"

"I'm thinking, you know"

"Yeah, yeah…," He cracked open the beer can and took a big gulp.

"I want to ask you…," Said Tenpou, his eyes were staring at the TV's black screen, his cigarette hung low between his fingers.

"What's that?" Kenren searched his first snack on the plastic bag.

"Do you truly love your wife?"

"Why asking now, did I tell you she made me happy?"

"Does making you happy mean you love her?"

Kenren silenced – he hated to be involved in debate with Tenpou. Tenpou read his expression, it wasn't hard to read Kenren, he always had this quizzical look if he runs out of words – he must be thinking hard.

"Then, would it be weird if you declare your feelings to me just one month after her death?"

"…it's nothing, I just want to lift up this burden on my shoulder, I mean my heart"

"After all I'm burden to you, right?"

"Yes, very heavy burden, I feel guilty to my wife and children because of that," He opened the second can.

Tenpou gave his, 'I can't help' smile and took once can from the plastic bag, "You're really not sweet aren't you?"

"Talk to yourself…"

Silence…

"Will it be lighter for you to spill some?" Third can.

Tenpou had his eyes on Kenren's drinking figure, his brain dealt on possibility to talk to him, a smile formed on his lips. "Then what will you do if I told you I love you?"

"Huh? It will be easy for us, eh? We will go back to times where we were on college days"

"I don't want it…," Second can for the glasses man, and he drifted her gaze to somewhere far with his favorite cigarette on his lips, he left it unlit because he just lost his lighter between their conversation.

Kenren saw the mood change and called his name. When Tenpou didn't respond to him, he extended his arms and pushed the smaller man to the clothes piles on the floor – forcing the man facing him and made him dropped his cigarette to the floor.

"Let me go Kenren"

"…I don't wanna…"

"Kenren!" His tone was a warning but the bigger man didn't budge an inch.

"I'm tired of this…I will say the words as much as you like, but please don't ignore me…please don't leave me like the way she did…"

He was as fragile as a crystal glass this moment and wrong move can make him scatter. Instinctively he reached for Kenren's and hugged him tight, he can't leave him like that.

"Then say it please, say it until I can't take it anymore, say it repeatedly until I feel assure what you had say were true…"

Kenren looked Tenpou in his eyes, his dark eyes were smiling the same smile he had on Kenren's wedding, the hurt, the hope, everything.

"I love you…I love you…," Kenren buried his face on Tenpou's neck, searching the same warmth he left years ago for a woman. But now it's here again, seeping the cigarette's smell from his skin, entwined their hands like the old times.

Tenpou knew it was wrong – disrespectful to Kenren's late wife but for this time he wanted to be selfish, he wanted Kenren for himself, was it wrong? And even so he didn't really care. He was that kind of man after all, he wanted to keep his belongings under his arms – he was so possessive, but that time when Kenren asked him permission to be with his late wife, for the first time he thought about others feelings too – his loved one, being with her maybe Kenren's happiness and he had to let go.

But he melted beneath Kenren's body under the dim light of his room and Kenren's pouring words. No matter what will happen or the possibility of both of them weren't forgiven by anyone, everything he needs were here, everything he loved, and after that he didn't need anything.

To be honest, he felt a little bit afraid that Kenren will vanish once again from his grasp and he was left alone even though they bound together at this time. If that happened, all his memories will stab him over and over; break him apart until he couldn't revive again.

"Please…don't leave me…again"


The light that slipped through the curtain and the Tenpou found Kenren watching him while he sleeps. The man smiled and brushed Tenpou's strands that covered some part of his face.

"Morning, sleeping beauty, dreaming of me last night?"

"Cut it out will you," Tenpou groaned, his body feels sore. "I'm not a girl…"

Kenren giggled, "Still, when you crying and asked me to not leaving you again was the cutest face I ever see"

Tenpou glared, Kenren pinched his cheek and laughed. "I have something to give you…"

"Huh?"

Kenren rolled out from the bed and searched something from his jeans. He pulled a sealed envelope and gave it to Tenpou. "From my late wife"

Tenpou wore his glasses and ripped the envelope, unwrapping the neatly written letter. "What's this? Don't say it's a love letter…"

"What the hell, it's impossible right?"

"Mmm…did you read it before me?"

Kenren silenced for a while, "…no, without reading it I know what she wrote in that letter…"

To My Dear Tenpou,

I'm sorry for bothering you with this letter, but it will be painful for me and you if I keep my mouth shut like what I did all the time.

By the time you read this letter maybe I will no longer lived in this world, no don't give me that face, I know I'm terribly sick and I keep hiding it from the Genjou family, Kenren was the only one whom I share this secret – he's so nice and kept telling me that he loves me despite my illness and not even pitying me. Hahaha…you know him better than I right? He's that kind of guy after all.

This letter was meant as an apology letter to you, I'm a coward I can't even say sorry to you directly. But if God give me another chance or long life, I will do it nonetheless.

I'm sorry for taking Kenren from your side.

It was something I wanted to say to you in our wedding day, but like I said, I'm a coward. To see your painful expression – even though you hid it very well – make me feel guilty.

I was a mean person, knowing that I still snatched him from you. Huh? Maybe you think 'where did I know all of your affairs before he married to me?' well, you can call it a woman instinct, but I'm very glad to have this short marriage, he gave me overwhelmed happiness and sweet children.

One day before I and Kenren hooked up, he told me that he has someone he deeply care but I don't care, I'm a selfish woman and I don't even mind to search who is this 'someone' until he introduced me to you, then my woman's instinct keeps blinking, you know like the one ultraman has on his chest.

[Aaahh, I can't win…]

I kept on thinking like that, but Kenren erased my doubt, he always there and I like you so much to hate you. Even so I can feel Kenren's heart partitioned, he has his own confusion and you held his bigger part of his heart.

I'm not complaining…

If he decided to stay and married me out of pity, I'm very happy. We have our family and his family is very nice too. The only thing I have to do before my death is to make you together again. If I no longer here, please continue my love to him…I know you love him as much as I do…

Your Forever Friend.


"She knew?"

"Mm…she wasn't stupid; actually she confronted me to tell her the truth about you"

"You told her all?"

"Yes, why should I hide it? I love her and I respect her…that's why hiding it from her will make her sad…" Kenren exhaling the smoke from his newly lit cig.

"…I feel like I'm the bad guy…," Tenpou folded the letter and put it back to its envelope, his heart aching with guilty.

Silence…

"Ne…stay with me…"

"Huh?"

"At my house…I still have one room left"

"Will it be okay?"

"I don't care…please watch over my sons…"

"I'm not baby sitter you know…"

You read what she wrote right? – To continue loving me – loving my children means loving me and her too…"

"…"


Then he moved in to Genjou family, uncle Sanzo talked to him one night in his room, when everyone had fallen asleep – Kenren already left for his other duties to another conflicted area, bringing his DSLR along with him, the same camera Tenpou gave as wedding gift and from that camera he printed beautiful photos to sent home.

"Thank you for making him revived"

"I'm not doing anything"

"No one can fix him like you did…," He inhaled his cig. "From now on please take care of my idiot son and his children…"

Then he left. Somehow Tenpou felt he was no different from a newly bride and uncle Sanzo as his father in law. Was it possible that he knew his relationship with Kenren? He didn't know and didn't bother though.


"Oooyy Sensei…"

Tenpou diverted his gaze from a book, on door frame he saw Gojyo, Kenren's first son. He grew up very similar with his father, from his facial structure to his long feet. Tenpou smiled and closed his book.

"May I help you?"

"Dad sent another letter, here for you…"

"Thank you," He walked towards the crimson haired man and took the closed envelope.

"Isn't it weird?"

"What is it?"

"Dad always sent you another letter, we usually only had the photo and very short writing about his condition but it seems he sent you thicker letter"

"What is it? Jealous? Or do you want to know what's inside?" Tenpou swayed the letter in front of Gojyo to annoys him.

"Stop it will ya…" He stared at the older man. "It always came across my mind, that you and dad…"

"What is it?" Tenpou hid his expression behind his dirty glasses and smile.

Gojyo sighed, canceled the conversation to getting further, "Forget it, and don't forget to clean your room"

"You're one to talk…don't make another man do it, he isn't your wife…," He chuckled, he really couldn't handle himself to tease his best friend's son.

Gojyo freeze and clicked his tongue walking down the stairs to finished whatever he was doing before relaying the letter to his dad's best friend – or so.

"My…my…quite sharp isn't he…Kenren…?"

To be continued?


A/N: well IDK…And sorry if I put the wrong translation and grammar…*runs*

Translation:

Ii ko...douzo: Nice boy…you may come in

Ojamashimasu: Sorry to bother you

Yamero yo~: Stop it

Butsudan: Altar for people who alredy passed away

Mimi-kaki: ear cleaner