Naked 2: My Other

Sequel to: "Naked"

Written by: chochowilliams

Disclaimer: I do not own Only the Ring Finger Knows or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Summary: Yuichi Kazuki and Wataru Fujii set out to prove to that love conquers all.

Warning: M/M, OOC, hentai (sexual situations), implied self-mutilation, romance, hurt/comfort, drama, language

Pairings: Yuichi Kazuki/Wataru Fujii, one-sided Masanobu Asaka/Wataru Fujii

Inserts: recap from chapter 1

A/N: Yes, originally, "Naked" was one series consisting of 5 chapters, but I decided to split the story up seeing as the first chapter was an extended rewrite of "Endlessly" and the remaining 4 chapters were its sequel.

oOo

Last Time

Lowering the toilet seat and then the lid, Yuichi sat down. He slipped off his slippers and then his socks. He stuffed his socks into the toes of his slippers and stood up.

Again facing the wooden pocket door that separated the dressing room from the bathroom, Yuichi reached for the door and slid it open as quietly as he could. He stepped into the steam-filled bathroom and shut the door behind him.

Wow. Did it feel like a sauna in here!

Turning around, he caught sight of Wataru standing with his back to him under the shower not more than five feet from him. His heart swelled at the sight of his naked, wet lover. Yuichi let his gaze roam freely over Wataru's backside-the round globes of his ass, the firm thighs, muscled calves, the peek of testes nestled amongst a nest of coarse black hair-and then back up to his narrow waist, the long, lean line of his back slightly hunched over, raven black hair that tickled his wide set shoulders. What Wataru called his "short pudgy fingers" that were splayed against the cold wet tiles in front of him.

This was it. This was what he has been missing. This was where he should have been the last three weeks. This was home.

oOo

Chapter 2: The Cure for the Endless Affliction

Yuichi Kazuki Residence - Japan

Squirming, Wataru once again protested as the older boy carried him-wet and naked-out of the bathroom, through the dressing room and into the studio apartment itself. "Kazuki!"

"Hush," was the only thing Yuichi said.

Wataru fumed at being treated as if he was some sort of helpless heroine, a princess locked away by her evil stepmother awaiting her prince to rescue her. Yuichi knew it too, but of course, he never did listen. The older boy loved taking care of him, even more so because it seemed to irritate Wataru so much. Damn him! "Kazuki put me down! C'mon! It's embarrassing," he pleaded. He flinched as he heard the whiny sound of his voice.

"What's to be embarrassed about?" Yuichi asked as he took the dozen steps to the queen-sized bed in his studio apartment.

Uncomfortable to the nth degree, Wataru continued squirming, hoping Yuichi would grow fed up and drop him.

"Stop that," Yuichi ordered as he stopped by the foot of the bed.

Wataru gave a startled yelp as Yuichi slapped his bare bottom. He flung a glare at his boyfriend.

Yuichi pretended innocence.

A gasp echoed through the still apartment as Wataru suddenly found himself airborne. With his heart beating rapidly from within the confines of his throat, he bounced lightly on the mattress before tumbling backwards. He ignored the chuckling coming from above him. Pushing himself up on his elbows, he gave a start when he found Yuichi's face suddenly mere inches from his own. His face went up in flames. His heart, which had been starting to slow down, sped back up, but this time for a completely different reason. It was not fair. The reprimand he was about to force upon his boyfriend of one and a half years died an instantaneous death on his lips, the thoughts not even half-formed. Damn Yuichi and that pretty face of his. It always amazed and baffled Wataru at how much Yuichi seemed to affect him, even now nearly two years into their relationship. "What? Kazuki? What are you doing all of a sudden?"

"What do you mean 'what'?" Yuichi shot back lightly, cocking his head to the side and grinning that heart-stopping smile of his.

Wataru fumbled with vocalizing the words that suddenly felt like jumbo-sized boulders in his mouth. "I, I, uhm, I mean, that is…" He felt like an idiot and was sure Yuichi would say as much.

Yuichi pulled back and sat down on the bed besides Wataru who pushed himself up into a sitting position with a grateful sigh.

Yuichi's affect on him was so great; it was as if he was in a perpetual state of drowning.

Now that he could form a coherent thought again, Wataru wished he could not. There was a sudden tightness in his chest that lodged a sob in his throat. He loved Yuichi and would always love him, but he did not want to be here right now. He wished oblivion would open up and swallow him whole. Bringing his knees to his chest, he wrapped his arms tightly around his legs and rested his chin on his knees, feeling strangely self-conscious in his birthday suit in front of Yuichi. It was stupid. He knew it. Yuichi had seen him naked countless times before. His discomfort stemmed not from the problem that he was as naked as the day he was born, but from the problems that were attributed with that nakedness. His sins were on display. They were bared for Yuichi to see. He did not want Yuichi to see him, not like this. Guilt formed the hot sting of tears in his eyes. The studio apartment blurred and doubled behind the thick veil.

Yuichi stared at Wataru's hunched form out of the corner of his eye and sighed heavily. Drawing a leg up, he propped his head in his hand and rested his elbow on his knee. Folding his other leg under his raised one, he rubbed slow, lazy circles on Wataru's damp back with his free hand. He was not sure if he was trying to soothe himself or his boyfriend. "Wataru," he began.

"I'm sorry," Wataru whispered. His voice was thick with tears. He sniffled.

Typical Wataru, Yuichi thought with a scoff. "What are you apologizing for?"

Wataru shook his head. He wasn't even sure why himself. For making Yuichi worry unnecessarily about him? For being a lousy partner? For being such a disappointment? It always seemed he was messing things up somehow. How Yuichi could possibly love someone like him was beyond him. He was a pathetic, sorry excuse of a man.

Yuichi reached out and ruffled Wataru's hair.

Wataru scowled over his shoulder. He fingered his damp chestnut locks back into place.

Yuichi chuckled, then sighed. He picked at a loose thread on the bedspread. A frown marred his features as he slipped deep into thought. "I love you, you know."

Startled, Wataru blinked.

Raising his head, Yuichi snorted. He thought Wataru looked ridiculous with his hands on his head and with that idiotic expression on his face. He chuckled lightly.

A rosy tiny frosted Wataru's cheeks. He could not seem to help it. Yuichi had that affect on him. He always had.

"It shouldn't come as such a surprise."

"I know," Wataru mumbled.

Unfolding himself, Yuichi slid closer to Wataru until their body heat mingled. He tucked a lock of hair behind Wataru's ear. "Then…?"

Wataru shook his head. A tear slipped free of its confines and slid slowly down his cheek before he was able to scrub it away.

Wataru did not have to say anything for Yuichi to understand what was going through that empty head of his. "You're an idiot," he announced matter-of-factly.

The heaviness of Wataru's depression intensified. He moved his arms from their death grip around his legs and folded them across his middle and curled into a tight ball of misery.

Yuichi leaned forward and whispered in Wataru's ear, "And I love you Wataru Fujii."

"But-!" Wataru started to protest, but Yuichi's finger against his lips stopped him.

Yuichi brushed away a tear with his thumb and felt his heart ache at the melancholy clearly displayed on his beloved's face. "We certainly screwed things up this time, huh?"

"Kazuki…"

Yuichi shook his head. Cupping Wataru's cheek, he smiled.

Wataru tipped his head into the warmth of Yuichi's touch. It felt scorching against the clamminess of his skin.

The smile slipped and a serious mask took its place. "I told you Wataru. The only one who can make you smile, make you angry, make you cry, is me (1). Right? I love you. Don't you ever forget that," Yuichi ordered.

A sob escaped through parted lips. Wataru smiled through a torrent of tears that spilled down his face. Sniffling, he nodded.

"Never doubt us. Never doubt me or my feelings for you. Never doubt my commitment to us. Got it?"

Wataru nodded again. "I love you, too, Kazuki."

The soft smile returned, but with it a hint of slyness.

Wataru's heart jolted and started racing in anticipation. "Ka-Kazuki," he whispered breathlessly as Yuichi lowered his head toward him.

When their lips were but a hairsbreadth away, Yuichi said softly, "I don't care what you do, what you may say, as long as I am here." He laid his hand against Wataru's chest. He could feel Wataru's heart beating rapidly against his hand and smiled smugly at the knowledge that he was the reason why, him, not Masanobu Asaka, not Miho Ookusa, not Wataru's ex-girlfriend-what was her name? Nano?-him, the son of a dentist. "And here." This time he poked a finger at Wataru's forehead.

Wataru smacked the hand aside with a mock scowl.

Yuichi chuckled lightly. "And here."

Large, dark eyes locked with his beloved's smoldering twin orbs and grasping the finger that rested lightly against his lips, Wataru pressed a chaste, openmouthed kiss against the fingertip that was slightly roughened and calloused from work with the Renovation Research Society. A haughty smile crossed his lips when he heard Yuichi catch his breath. But before he could revel in his glory, he suddenly found himself flat on his back. His hands were pinned together above his head and Yuichi was kneeling over him from between his splayed legs. His flushed hotly at the compromising position. "Ka-Kazuki," he whispered nervously over a heart that was racing. He was sure it would explode or give out from the strain and overexertion Yuichi placed it under.

Being careful to keep their bodies from touching any more than they already were, Yuichi leaned over Wataru and whispered, "I love you," in his ear.

Wataru caught his breath as his heart leapt.

When Yuichi captured his lips, Wataru was lost.

oOo

It had only been a couple of weeks, but it felt like a lifetime had passed since he last tasted Yuichi on his lips, smelled the mixture of sweat, paint, sawdust and fried foods that clung to Yuichi like cologne, felt the heaviness pressed down upon him, felt the pleasurable ache between his legs and the large rough hands skimming over him, touching, seeking, finding places on his body even Wataru never knew existed, felt the hot breath caressing his skin and heard their mingled exclamations of ecstasy echoing out into the night. He was being driven to the edge of insanity and his chauffer was Yuichi Kazuki.

"…Nn…!"

The sweet melody of Wataru's voice called out again and again.

"Ugh…!"

He stuttered out Yuichi's name, entangled his fingers into the blond locks tickling his abdomen. He arched off the bed as his obsidian eyes, glazed over in a passion only two people who shared one soul, one heart, one body can know, rolled back. His mouth hung open as soundless words filled the room.

This was it! This was what nobody else could ever do to him. This was what he could never give to anyone else, but Yuichi.

"Aah…! Aah…!"

He cried out incoherently as waves of pleasure crashed over him again and again.

Was a storm brewing off into the distance or had night fallen already? Wataru found he could not tell as the apartment was thrown deeper into twilight. As he thrashed wildly beneath the delicious weight of his partner who continued to play and tease him, neither did he seem to care one way or another.

"Wataru."

Wataru shuddered at the sound of his name on his lover's lips. "Aah…! Ugh…! God," he chanted as he unconsciously pushed against the pressure that traveled up his spine.

"I love you, Wataru," Yuichi murmured, his voice thick with need.

Wataru tightened his grip on Yuichi's sweat slickened shoulders and rose up to meet the loving ministrations. "Nn…! Nn…!"

It was a dance as old as time. A ceremonial dance. A rite only a privileged few had the honor of being part of. As Wataru was rocked, as the sweat pooled around their entwined bodies, as their gasps and moans and erotic cries rose and fell around them, as the heat and friction increased, as the pressure built, Wataru found himself crying. Yuichi loved him despite everything. Here he was filling Wataru with his essence. No matter what his sins were, Yuichi forgave him time and again. How did he get to be so lucky?

"Y-yeah," Wataru stuttered through his fever. "I love you too…! Ugh…!"

He tightened his hold on Yuichi and refused to let go even when they both collapsed from exhaustion into a sweaty mass and their voices had gone hoarse.

oOo

The Next Morning

When awareness finally returned, so did the reality of what the two of them did…all night. Neither had held back. Never before had Yuichi and he been so…carefree. Inhibitions were thrown to the wind. Wataru could vaguely recollect some hammering on the wall above their heads that had nothing to do with their frenzied lovemaking as well as irritated raised voices that belonged to neither of them. The realization that they may have been too-enthusiastic sent his face aflame in embarrassment. The knowledge that everybody in the building knew what had transpired between Yuichi and him last night was almost too much to bear. Dear God! How could he possibly show his face again? He slapped his hands over his face and groaned.

Sighing, Wataru dropped his arms. He stared up at the ceiling and waited for the frantic beating of his heart to return to normal and for his embarrassment to die. It was not working. Every time he thought it was, Yuichi's face would pop into his mind and he would have to repeat the process all over again. Maybe he should just resign himself? It's been nearly two years and the fire was only growing and burning hotter with each passing day. If they could only manage to keep the firefighters away, who knows how long this fire could keep burning-if he had his way, possibly forever. The thought of reaching eternity with Yuichi sent his heart into a dizzying flutter.

Wataru swept his arm out in an attempt to reach Yuichi, but his hand hit something else instead. His brows went down in confusion. Curious, he sat up, or started to.

He halted in mid-motions as the most intense pain he has ever experienced swept through him. It pierced up his spine and throbbed wickedly from between his legs. It nearly brought tears to his eyes. He had never been in this much agony before, not even after the first time he was with Yuichi. He could just picture the smug smile on Yuichi's face. It had Wataru sneering. Why Yuichi loved to do this to him, why it amused Yuichi to rile him up like this was beyond him. But then again, maybe he allowed Yuichi to do it? Pursing his lips, he slowly pushed himself up. He gritted his teeth against the waves of pain that flared through him and squeezed his eyes shut. He really was going to murder Yuichi for this. He took slow deep breaths and waited as the pain subsided.

Once the pain had dulled, at least momentarily, he reached out and grabbed what turned out to a black velvet jewelry box. Once again, he drew his brows in confusion. What was this? And where was Yuichi? "Kazuki?" he called.

"…Minute," came the muffled voice from the bathroom.

Wataru turned over the small case in his hands. It sort of reminded him of his mother's jewelry box in which she kept her old wedding ring-

He caught his breath. Obsidian eyes grew wide and his heart skipped a beat.

Chuckling, he shook the notion away before it was fully formed.

After a quick glance at the closed bathroom door, he pried open the lid. He had an eerie sense of déjà vu as his breath hitched. His heart thudded in his chest.

"Oh, my God," he whispered, misty eyed. With trembling hands, Wataru pulled out a wide silver band. It was a beautiful unisex design that had Touko's name written all over it. "Oh, my God."

Wataru looked closer at the ring and noticed that the center of the ring looked oddly familiar. And that was when he realized why. It was his ring. The one he exchanged with Yuichi all those many, many months ago. The one Masanobu took in order to blackmail him with. He recognized it immediately. It was nestled snuggly within a ditch around the middle of the band. But how? What was going on?

"It may just look better on me."

Startled, Wataru's head snapped up and around. He hissed through gritted teeth and moaned as spasm jolted through him at the unexpected movement. He blatantly ignored the light chuckle.

Once the pain receded, though he could feel it pacing impatiently on the sidelines, he glanced at Yuichi who stood showered and dressed and looking refreshed in the door leading into the dressing room. He was also holding up his left hand besides his face.

"Kazuki." His mind was overwhelmed. He had no idea what was going on.

"What d'you think?" Yuichi pushed out of the doorway and strolled across the room towards the bed. "Hm, Wataru?"

When Yuichi was standing at the foot of the bed, Wataru noticed that their rings matched. "Kazuki?" he spoke up cautiously.

"Ya know, Wataru," Yuichi said as he sat down on the edge of the bed. He turned thoughtful. "People in our position should act more familiarly toward each other. Don't you think?"

With a blank expression on his face, Wataru stared across the bed at Yuichi. "What?" he asked in a deadpanned voice.

Yuichi stared at Wataru slyly out of the corner of his eye and tried unsuccessfully to hold back the smug expression. "Don't you think it'd be more appropriate if you were to call me 'Yuichi'?"

Wataru blinked. Why was Yuichi pushing this? What did it matter what he-called…him? With a gasp, his eyes went wide. He glanced from the ring and then up at Yuichi. His one-year senior boyfriend blurred behind a veil of tears. "Kazuki?" Wataru whispered. Was he asking what Wataru thought he was asking or was he just reading more into it than was actually there? God, he hoped not. He really really hoped not.

The bed shifted and wobbled. "That's 'Yuichi', Wataru," Yuichi corrected.

Wataru shuddered as Yuichi's breath caressed his cheek.

"I love you."

Gulping, Wataru turned his head and met Yuichi's gaze. He ran his tongue over dry lips.

Without taking his gaze from his beloved's face, Yuichi took the ring out of Wataru's fingers and holding his trembling hand within his, slid the silver band onto the left ring finger. It was a perfect fit.

Wataru caught his breath when Yuichi pressed his lips against the back of his hand.

"I love you, Wataru and don't you ever forget that."

With tears in his eyes, Wataru shook his head. Never. Never ever.

Smiling, Yuichi cupped Wataru's face. His thumb brushed away the droplets that slid down his cheeks as a serious expression skated over his face. "I'm sorry."

The statement threw Wataru for a loop. "What?" he asked in confusion.

"For Mizuho. For everything."

"Ka-Yuichi," Wataru corrected himself. "You don't-"

Yuichi laid a finger across Wataru's lips. "But I do. If I would've just-"

Wataru gently removed Yuichi's finger and smiled up at him. "There's nothing to forgive."

Yuichi was not too sure. "Wataru…"

Wataru shook his head. "You remember what you told me? You said, 'No matter what the truth is, if your feelings are directed at me, then sit up straight and look at me' (2)."

Chuckling, Yuichi conked their foreheads together. Wataru was definitely too good for him. "Then is that a yes?"

oOo

Same Time - Mizuho Residence - United States

Mizuho stood in the doorway of her Brownstone with her parents besides her. Together, they scanned the dark, silent house. "Yuichi," she called hopefully.

Silence.

It couldn't be, she thought. She clutched at her chest as her heart gave a painful jolt. Tears prickled her eyes. She had finally been released from the hospital and had expected to finally be able to spend some time with Yuichi and talk. She had expected to find him here waiting for her. She had not been expecting to return to an empty house.

"Maybe he just ran up to the store?"

Mizuho shook her head as the tears started to flow.

"Maybe he left a note?"

"Yes, something could have come up unexpectedly."

Oh, something came up alright. She slapped a hand over her mouth as she sobbed quietly. Once again, she had driven her one true love away.

oOo

That Night - Japan

He would have loved for the two of them to be able to walk into the sunset together. What he wanted more than anything was to have his "happily, ever after" with Wataru, but it was far from over. There were still their parents and the small problem of Shohei Kazuki and Masanobu Asaka that had to be dealt with.

Yuichi believed, he had to believe, that both Wataru's and his parents would more easily accept the true nature of their relationship than Shohei ever could. His big brother only wanted what was best for him. Yuichi understood that. He himself was the same way with Wataru. The problem lay in that Shohei just could not seem to understand that what made Yuichi happy, what was ultimately best for him was to be able to spend the rest of his life with the man curled up next to him.

Shohei feared for him.

He could never introduce Wataru as his girlfriend. They could not stroll casually through the park holding hands. Neither could give the other a child. A legal marriage was out of the question unless they wanted to immigrate to Canada, the States or some other place where marriage between two people of the same sex had been legalized. They could never have a "normal" relationship like Shohei and his wife Kirie.

…Or so that was what Shohei believed.

Yes, there were some sacrifices they both had to live with, but as long as he fell asleep at night and woke up in the morning with Wataru by his side, than he had no regrets and he knew that Wataru felt the same.

No, he could not introduce Wataru as his "girlfriend" for Wataru was all male. Therefore he could introduce Wataru as his boyfriend, his lover, his partner, even as his fiancé. If he cared one lick what society thought of gay couples, he would never have started dating Wataru in the first place. He would not have chosen Wataru over his stupid reputation, or any of the thousands of girls who claimed to be in love with him, or Mizuho and quite possibly even his family. If he wanted to hold Wataru's hand as they made their way through downtown Tokyo, then he would do so. It was as simple as that. As for children, just because neither of them was a woman or had the ability to bear children, that did not mean they could not have a family someday. Marriage between individuals of the same sex did not have to be legalized for him to promise himself to Wataru till death to they part.

Yuichi felt his heart swell at the thought.

But before all that, there was something more serious that had to be dealt with.

As Yuichi and Wataru lay wrapped in each other's arms listening to a Blues CD playing softly on the stereo, Yuichi found himself frowning as he fingered the scars crisscrossing Wataru's wrist. Something was going to have to be done about this. It just could not be ignored. Wataru might just see it as a momentary lapse in judgment but Yuichi knew they would have to sit down and have a serious discussion about this. He might even have to keep a very close eye on Wataru for the foreseeable future.

Yuichi trailed his hand up Wataru's arm, rounded his shoulder and tickled his neck. He swept a lock of hair off Wataru's forehead and smiled down at his lover's peacefully sleeping face.

But that was all right. Time spent with Wataru was not wasted time. Besides, this was nothing that they could not overcome. Just a little fleabite that would soon go away.

"I'm sorry, Mizuho," he thought, "but I have something that's even more precious than life itself. He is the one thing I just cannot live without."

To Be Continued…

(1) pg. 211, Book 3, The Ring finger Falls Silent

(2) pg. 120, Book 3, The Ring Finger Falls Silent

Next: Chapter 3:Lingering Symptoms of the Affliction