"Hey Kaku?" Paulie mumbled as he followed the redhead out of the shipyards. It was the end of the day and they were both about to head home.
"Yes?"
"You know where my place is, right?"
"Yes, I've had to drag you home when you were drunk before, I believe I'll be able to find it again." Kaku chuckled at the amusing memory of trying to follow a half unconscious man's directions. Unfortunately it wasn't a memory they both shared.
"Well, if things go bad between you and Lucci, I have a couch you can sleep on if you need somewhere to stay." The blonde said shyly, he didn't want Kaku to think he was trying to get into his pants but he had to let the boy know that he had somewhere to go.
"Thanks, I'll remember."
The pair exchanged quick goodbyes before parting ways, both heading to their respective homes. Kaku couldn't help but break into a jog as he got closer to the apartment the former CP9 members shared.
He wanted to hurry home and explain to Lucci what had happened but at the same time he wanted to avoid the man until he had figured out what to do about their crumbling relationship.
He had no idea what he wanted to do.
Before he was more than a block away Kaku suddenly changed direction. He walked the short distance to a small martial arts school he knew. It wouldn't be the first time he had waited for Jyabura to get off of work so they could walk home together.
The Zoan user slipped through the door, slid his shoes off and took a seat on a tatami mat against one of the walls.
There where a few pairs of adults nearby. They were parents waiting for the class to end so they could take their children home. Kaku nodded to them in greeting before turning his attention to the class. He knew more than a few of the parents, he had chatted with them many times whilst waiting for the classes to finish.
His eyes wandered over the faces of the children, lingering over each one. He loved kids and had always wanted a couple of his own but he knew his lifestyle would never support that, let alone would he be able to bring in enough money to raise one. Kaku closed his eyes and sighed; now that his relationship with Lucci was falling apart he had even less chances of that dream coming true.
"Ok kids, that's all for today!" Jyabura said loudly, snapping the younger man out of his thoughts.
"I'll see you lot tomorrow."
The children scattered, some went to Jya to say goodbye to their sensei, some found their parents and the older kids left to walk home alone. Kaku stayed where he was against the wall and waited for the small dojo to clear out. He watched the older man chatting with one of the couples about the progress of their child had been making.
The redhead just watched him talk; it was weird to see him truly happy, without his barriers up. Jyabura always kept people at bay but he always let his guard down around his students.
It was one of the reasons Kaku often came to watch the end of the classes, he enjoyed seeing the real Jya.
"Why are you sad?" The small voice snapped Kaku out of his brooding. One of the students: a 5-year-old blonde girl had come up to him.
"I'm not sad." He answered, putting on a fake smile.
"Yes you are, your eyes are sad." Kaku was a little taken aback by the unexpected statement.
"I guess I am, just a little." The girl took a step closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. The child held him for a moment before she let go.
"Are you happy now?" Kaku smiled genially at the sign of affection, children just had a way to always cheer him up.
"Yes. Very much."
"Your hair is pretty." She said, reaching out and touching his bright orange hair. It was a rather unusual colour, especially in Water 7.
"Why thank you. I think yours is very pretty too." The pair laughed quietly.
The couple talking to Jyabura said their goodbyes and called the young girl; it was time for her to leave.
"I have to go home now." She said sadly.
"Well then you better go before your mummy and daddy get angry."
The girl leant forward and kissed Kaku on the forehead.
"Don't be sad anymore." She said sternly before running off to her parents.
"Goodbye mister." She called back to the redhead.
Kaku laughed as he waved to the girl.
"Great kid, isn't she?" Jyabura was leaning against the wall next to the younger man.
"Yeah. Are you just about ready to go?" he asked, looking up at the other man.
"Just let me lock up." Kaku waited patiently as the older man fetched his keys and jacket.
"So, why did you wait for me?" Jyabura asked as they left the small dojo. He was wearing his usual jacket over the top of his white training gii, Kaku had the fleeting thought of how strange it was to see the older man dressed in white.
"Do I need a reason?" he answered with a smile. 'I don't want to see Lucci'
"Hmm. I guess not." As much as Kaku wanted to bring up the subject of Lucci he just couldn't force himself to. Little did he know that the older man was in the same situation. The pair walked home together, chatting softly about nothing in particular.
Kaku and Jyabura slipped through the front door of the seemingly empty house. They were both in surprisingly good moods considering all that had happened over the last couple of days.
"We're home." Kaku said loudly. No answer.
He knew every one except the pair of them and Lucci were working late hours that day. Considering the silence he assumed Lucci was out.
Letting out a heavy sigh of relief Kaku hung up his jacket and disappeared into the kitchen.
"Do you want something hot to drink, Jya? It's damn cold outside."
As if to confirm the statement a violent shiver attacked the older man.
"That would be great, just let me go change." Jyabura went into his room to change out of his training gii and into something warmer. The days were getting colder with the oncoming of winter and snow had started to cover the streets.
After only moment Kaku heard footsteps entering the kitchen.
"What did you want me to ma-" he turned as he spoke to face the man that entered. It wasn't the one he had expected to see.
"Lucci." the man stayed silent, he merely stood there watching the younger Zoan user with distain painted clearly on his face.
"What the hell was that earlier?" He mumbled between clenched teeth.
Kaku's hands started to shake so he shoved them in his pockets and answered without meeting Lucci's dark eyes.
"It wasn't what it looked like." 'Dammit! Could it sound any more like I'm lying!'
"Don't lie to me, I know what I saw."
"I was upset so I spoke to Paulie. End of story." 'Wait. Why am I defending myself? I haven't done anything wrong. He should be the one making up the excuses.'
"That's shit; you two were a lot closer than that."
Jyabura was about to walk into the kitchen when he heard hushed voices arguing. He leant against the wall, out of sight of the pair and crossed his arms over his chest.
'And the fighting starts again.' He thought staying silent and listening to what the two had to say. He was ready to step in if he was needed.
At the last accusation Kaku looked up and met Lucci's glare with equal anger.
"What about the marks on your back?" The boy snapped. He was sick of Lucci's allegations, it was time to make some of his own.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't give me that shit! You have nail marks on your back and I didn't make them!"
"There's nothing on my fucking back!"
"Stop lying to him Lucci." Jyabura interjected from the threshold. "Tell him what you've really been doing."
The pair fell silent.
"You knew about this?" Kaku yelled, breaking the silence, tears burning in the corners of his eyes.
"Yeah, I did." Jyabura studied the ground, refusing to meet the boy's eyes.
"How long have you known?"
"Since yesterday." He mumbled
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to hate me." He hung his head in utter defeat.
"It's not true; he's just trying to split separate us so he can get to you." Lucci said, thankful that the attention had been diverted from him.
"W- What?" the younger man's anger dropped back. He had never even considered Jyabura would do something like that.
"Don't listen to him Kaku." Jyabura mumbled in defense.
"He's just trying to get you into bed with him." Lucci accused.
"That's not fucking true, you lying bastard!" The wolf Zoan's short temper had reached its limit.
"You know it is, we've all seen the way you look at him."
Kaku was in shock about the new revelation, he didn't know what to think anymore.
Jyabura said Lucci was cheating, Lucci said he wasn't but Kaku knew he was and now Lucci was saying that Jyabura was just being manipulative and trying to split them up.
Kaku didn't know who to believe anymore.
"Jya?" he said quietly. "Is it true?"
The older man stayed silent. He was not about to deny his love for the redhead.
"C'mon, love. Lets go out for the night." Lucci stepped forward and placed his hand lightly on Kaku's cheek. He lent in closer to kiss him but Kaku pulled away.
"Don't touch me." He hissed, his anger returning.
"I don't care what either of you say, I know you're cheating!"
"Did Paulie tell you that?" Lucci said matter-of-factly. Kaku had no idea why Lucci was bringing Paulie back into the conversation.
"What does Paulie have to do with this?" he asked a little hesitantly, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"Lucci, don't!" the wolf Zoan said, butting into the argument once again.
"Stay the fuck out of this, Jya!" Kaku was sick of his constant interruptions by now.
Lucci smiled at the cruelly at the scolding the wolf Zoan had gotten.
"Yeah I was cheating, I'll admit that. You want to know who with?"
Jya turned away form the pair, he didn't want to see the hurt in Kaku's eyes when Lucci told him.
"It was Paulie." Lucci leant against the counter and just watched as the boy fell apart.
"No, it can't be, it … can't-" Tears soaked the young Zoan user's cheeks. He didn't want to believe it but he knew it was true, it was all falling into place. Why Paulie wasn't acting like himself. Why he kept apologising.
'Oh god! He was apologising for that!' Kaku leant against the table for support, he didn't trust his shaking legs to hold his weight.
Lucci moved closer to the sobbing youngster and placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"C'mon, I'm not doing any of that now, we'll work things out." He leant in closer and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"I love you." The dark haired man whispered against Kaku's skin.
Jyabura's every muscle tensed at the statement. He knew Lucci was just trying to confuse Kaku. He also knew that Lucci wouldn't stay faithful for long, he would soon find another play-toy to replace Paulie and then it would happen all over again.
He had to find some way to make Kaku see who Lucci really is, that he isn't the mistaken good guy that Kaku thought he was.
A fresh wave of tears burst forth from Kaku's eyes as Lucci spoke.
"I- I don't know anymore." He pushed Lucci away and bolted out the door and into the streets.
"I hope you're happy now." Jyabura mumbled as he passed the smirking Lucci. He went straight out the door to follow Kaku.
At that moment Lucci didn't really care Kaku was angry with him or that he had found out about Paulie and himself. He knew that the boy would come crawling back to him, he always did.