A/N:I must apologize for the horrifically long time it took to get this last chapter up. More than a year. That is so unacceptable. I can't tell you how many times I opened up this chapter to work on it and the words just wouldn't come. It was more than writer's block. It was like brain constipation. I've been having this problem with all my stories. I'm not sure why. It's disheartening. But I found this inspiration again a few days ago to get this done. I wanna finish this story so that we can all move on. As it's a new year, it feels only right to finally put this story to rest. I hope one day I can write more stories about this couple. They truly are a blast to write about. Thank you for all your support over the crazy length of time it took to finish this story. I truly do appreciate it. This chapter is self beta-ed. Any mistakes are my own.

P.S.- Edited for better reading.

Chapter Nine

All night, staring at the ceiling
Counting the minutes, I'm feeling
This way, so far away and so alone

But you know it's alright, I came to my senses
Let go of my defenses
There's no way I'm giving up this time

Yeah, you know I'm right here
I'm not losing you this time

And I'm all in, nothing left to hide
I've fallen harder than a landslide
I spent a week away from you last night

And now I'm calling, calling out your name
Even if I lose the game
I'm all in, I'm all in tonight
Yeah, I'm all in, I'm all in for life

Lifehouse - All In Lyrics

Nakatsu felt ridiculous. He was standing in front of Zak's apartment door with his fist in the air, hesitating. Honestly, he had never behaved this way in his life. He had taken a thirty minute shower, shaved to the point of almost bleeding, and probably coated himself in entirely too much cologne just for this night. He had done all this for a guy he had lived with, and loved for years. It was fucking ridiculous. He was ridiculous. What the fuck was he even doing? He had waited so long for this to finally happen again. Now he was standing here on the verge of running away because he was scared. He was so damn scared it was making him sick to his stomach. What if it all went wrong? Sure they'd kissed and made up…to some degree. Years of hurt could not be so easily fixed. Yet, starting over like this felt so awkward and weird. How do you start over with someone you once knew better than you knew yourself? Did Zak even like the same things anymore? Had he changed that much?

"Oh my God." Nakatsu groaned to himself. Seriously. He was so fucking pathetic.

He jumped back when the door was flung open from the inside. "Were you ever going to knock?"

"Uhhh…" the soccer player muttered unintelligently. "Yes…I was working up to it."

Zak leaned against the door frame and smirked. "Working up to it?"

"I…," Nakatsu shrugged. "To hell with it. I felt like an idiot. Ok? I mean, you and me going on a date? When did we ever do that before? It's so weird. And I got kinda freaked out."

"Oh…," Zak blinked. "It is kinda freakish for us."

"Right?"

"Yeah. So do you want to go out still?"

"Yes." Nakatsu said decisively. "Let me try this again."

Zak smirked wider. "Should I close the door?"

"Yeah. I want to do this right."

"Ok." Zak slammed the door in Nakatsu's face.

The soccer player stood there, staring in shock at the door. He felt even more like a moron. He took a deep breath and straightened his shirt. He knocked on the door as confidently as he could manage.

Zak swung the door open. "What a pleasant surprise. How kind of you to come over." He smiled brightly.

"Shut the fuck up." Nakatsu glared.

The high jumper arched an eyebrow. "Was that your idea of doing this right?"

"You know what…forget that. Can I just come in already?" Nakatsu sighed in defeat.

"Yeah." Zak stepped back, with a grin, and gestured for the other man to come in.

"Thank you." Nakatsu stepped past Zak.

Zak closed the door. "Don't take your shoes off. I just need to grab my wallet and jacket then we can go."

"Oh ok."

The high jumper walked through the door from entrance hall into the living room. The door swung shut behind him and Nakatsu instantly sagged against the wall.

"Get a grip," he ordered himself. "You are making this weird."

Unbeknownst to Nakatsu, Kagurazaka was probably even more anxious. He refused to let it show though. He used to be the confident, in your face type. He could be that way again. Zak snatched up his wallet and slung his jacket on. This was simple. Dates were easy. Eat and talk. He could do that. He swung the door open and stepped back out into the entrance hall. "So where are we are going?" He asked casually as he slipped his wallet in the inside pocket of his jacket. He smirked as the blond straightened up abruptly before smoothly his shirt down in quick swipes of his hands.

"Somewhere quiet and a little off the beaten path." Nakatsu smiled, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "You know…away from prying eyes and all." He turned to reach for the front door handle.

"I'm not going to sneak around with you," Zak snapped.

Nakatsu stopped and looked at the other man. "Ok." He said. "That's not why I picked this place, but you're right. I've been worried about another scandal for way to long. The whole world already knows I'm gay. What else can the media do to me? So you're right. We're not gonna sneak around like we are ashamed to be together."

The high jumper's eyebrows quirked up in a look of surprise. "I didn't expect you to give in so easily."

"Neither did I." Nakatsu grinned. "If I was with anyone else, I'd probably refuse. But it's you. I want us to be an 'us.' So no sneaking if it's what you want."

"Don't start doing things just to please me." Zak scowled. "I am not some woman you have to seduce."

Nakatsu stepped closer. "No, you're not. But I will do whatever it takes to keep you by my side. And it pleases me to please you." The soccer player leaned down to whisper that into his reinstated boyfriend's ear. "I know you remember all the times I've pleased you." His lips brushed against the shell of Zak's ear.

He was abruptly shoved away. The look on Zak's face was enough to soothe the momentary disgruntlement of being pushed back. Zak remembered alright…every detail. Nakatsu could see it in the other man's face. Nakatsu felt a thrill of joy at that.

"Don't forget it was me who taught you everything," Zak growled irritably.

"Never." Nakatsu smirked.

The two stared at each other for a long moment. Old memories that dredged up sharp desire, and days of contentment seemed to thicken the air around them. Slow, Zak reminded himself. Take it slow. His younger self would have laughed himself silly at the very idea of taking anything slow.

"So are we going out or not?" Zak reached over and opened the door.

"Yes." Nakatsu answered decisively. Lust and want could wait, he reminded himself. They needed time to start over and rebuild what they had lost. They were different from the people they had once been. They could not jump blindly back into this. He smiled as Zak caught ahold of his hand.

"Then come on, blondie." Zak demanded before pulling him out the door.

Nakatsu followed after him with a huffed laugh. He hadn't heard that nickname in so long. His chest suddenly felt warm with happiness. He had to tamp down the urge to skip after Zak. The other man glanced back just long to catch Nakatsu's gaze and squeezed his hand. Nakatsu lengthened his stride until he was walking side by side with the other man. The soccer player squeezed Zak's hand back before they strode out of the apartment's inner hallway and out on to the Osaka streets.

They walked through the streets together as the sun set and the street lights twinkled to life like small glimmering stars in the twilight. Nakatsu led the way to a little hole in the wall kind of place that made the best Japanese home cooked meals he had ever found (even better than his own mother's cooking). The staff was kind. They were quickly ushered to a corner table, given menus, and drinks before being left alone to decide on their meals.

"I'm surprised you didn't take me to your favorite place when you were in high school." Zak remarked, setting the menu aside.

Nakatsu shrugged. "It's still my favorite. I wanted to take you somewhere different. We're starting over so I didn't want to take you somewhere we've already been."

Zak nodded. "Makes sense." He glanced around at the small restaurant. "This is nice. Homey."

"Exactly." Nakatsu's eyes lit up. He was glad he'd made a good choice.

The rest of the evening went better after that. Nakatsu stopped trying so hard to impress Zak. This wasn't just his ex-boyfriend, but his best friend. Once upon a time, they had shared dreams, beds, and so much more together. They seemed to fall back into the easy camaraderie they had once shared. It was pleasant and relaxing to know that Nakatsu could still talk to this man like none of the heart ache from before had ever happened. It was not forgotten. That much was certain. Yet, it didn't thrive in the fore front of either of their minds' anymore. Bitter anger was slipping away to be replaced by renewed love and friendship.

/

A month flew by with intermittent dates. Nakatsu had even been invited over to Kagurazaka's apartment for dinner with his daughter. Harumi had been sweet and showed him every toy she owned. She then told him that she was happy he had made her daddy happy again. It was amusing to be given a blessing from a little girl, but Nakatsu had nearly choked up when she hugged him. It was all falling in to place. It was almost to easy. The soccer player wasn't about to speak against it. Maybe Karma was finally making up for the severe fucking it given both Zak and Nakatsu in the past few years.

During the entire month though, neither man had pushed for more than kisses and some furtive touches. They had taken it slow. Time was now on their side. There was no need to feel rushed. They were no longer hormonal, crazy teenagers that jumped into things before realizing they had gotten in to deep. This was romance. The very idea made Nakatsu laugh himself nearly sick one night alone in his apartment. He was romancing Zak, who had literally jumped Nakatsu's bones in his youth without a second thought.

Working together had, of course, become a much less burdensome task. In fact, it was not a burden at all. It was fun. Nakatsu's little fan club still followed him around, but now they followed Zak too. The high jumper tried to be as patient as possible with them, because they did help Nakatsu out when he needed it most. Zak's students steadily improved. Without Zak's constant grumpy attitude, the students seemed to gain confidence. They were beginning to win championships. Nakatsu's soccer team was beating every team they came up against. There was talk of going to the Nationals. Everything was going so well.

Zak continued to train. His strength was gradually coming back. Pounds had been shed and his middle went from softened to ripped again. He was gaining his athletic physique back, slowly but surely through sheer determination and iron will. Jumping no longer seemed like an impossible feat. Practice sessions with Umeda in the late afternoons were continually getting better. Umeda was pleased with Zak's improvements. The doctor was already writing up the journal article to go along with his research that he had been gathering through Zak and the high jump team's training. He was proud to know that his strength training techniques worked as well as they did. He might be finally making a ground breaking improvement to sports that would cement his professional reputation.

It was exactly a month after Zak and Nakatsu started dating again, that the high jumper finally cleared his first high bar since he'd injured his leg. It was a small jump; nothing more than a beginner's level height. Yet, it was an achievement Zak hadn't made in what felt like forever. He laid on the mat staring up at the sky. He knew it was time to share this with Nakatsu. The whole point of this had been for him. Anxiety swelled in Kagurazaka's chest, but he shoved it down. He could jump again! He would jump for Nakatsu.

/

The next day dragged by as Zak waited nervously for the end of practices to be over. He left all the equipment set up as his students finally left their practices for the day. The rest of the coaches cleaned up and departed for the evening after what felt like a horrifyingly long time for the high jumper. He had asked Nakatsu to stay late earlier in the day. The blond had agreed somewhat dubiously. He was used to Zak chasing him away after practices. He was a little surprised to be invited to stay. He had no idea what the high jumper had been up to with Umeda. He figured it had to be more than just drawing up training plans for the high jump team. Curiosity had been plaguing him, but he had respected Zak's privacy.

Nakatsu now stood off to the side of the bleachers with his hands shoved in his hoodie pocket, watching as Zak lowered the high bar and adjusted the mat. He was beginning to get a very strong inkling of what was about to happen. He wasn't sure if he was excited or scared for Zak. He remembered Sano pushing himself to near exhaustion as he tried to learn to jump again. It had been painful and heartbreaking to watch Sano fail over and over. Yet, he had eventually done it. He'd gone on to win a gold medal in the Olympics. Still, Nakatsu would never forget watching his best friend fight to jump again and the crushing disappointment with each failed attempt.

The big difference between Sano's situation and Zak's was age. He no longer had youth on his side despite still being in his late twenties. His body had suffered a debilitating injury that had caused him a permanent limp. Granted, Nakatsu had been noticing less of a limp with each passing day. Yet, he couldn't help but feel anxiety rising within him as he watched Zak start to warm up. He no longer had any doubt what Zak was going to attempt. Nakatsu debated on whether he should say something. Hesitation made him linger on the side lines as Zak stretched and did a few short sprints.

"Fuck," the blond sighed before jogging over to his boyfriend. "Zak…" Nakatsu grabbed the other man's elbow. "You don't have to do this. You don't need to prove anything to me if that's what this is about."

Zak scowled fiercely. "I'm not proving it to you. I'm proving to me that I haven't lost myself. I gave up on myself once. I have to do this." He stepped closer. "Watch me do this." Nakatsu didn't need to know that he put the bar higher than the first jump he had made the other day. It didn't matter. Zak knew he could do it now. He would make this jump no matter what.

A small smile flitted across Nakatsu's lips. "I'll watch you."

"Good." Kagurazaka smiled fiercely.

The blond swallowed hard at the high jumper's expression. There was the fire and the passion Nakatsu had always admired in the other man. Once, he had put a 100% into his high jumping. There had been no one as competitive as Kagurazaka. Sano may have gotten gold at their first Olympics, but not for Zak's lack of ferocious competitive nature. Seeing that determined expression back on his boyfriend's face did things to Nakatsu that made him ache to kiss the other man.

Nakatsu tucked his hands into his pockets and shuffled to the side as Zak walked up to the starting line. The high jumper's eyes were set on that high bar. He stretched one more time before jumping up and down before setting himself up to start. Nakatsu felt apprehension seize him as Zak took off at a sprint. It had been so long since the last time he had witnessed this. For half a second, Nakatsu had the wild urge to sprint out and pull the other man to a stop. He didn't think he could bear to watch if Zak hurt himself worse trying to do this. He forced himself to stand still. Zak would not thank him for interfering. He sucked in a sharp breath as Zak leapt into the air. For a heartbeat of a moment, the high jumper was suspended in the air in a beautiful arch. Nakatsu's heart felt like it got lodged somewhere in his throat. Kagurazaka soared over the bar with inches to spare. He landed with a thud in the mat on the other side.

Both of them were unable to move for a nearly a minute so stunned that they were frozen in place. Nakatsu felt a surge of joy take hold of him. He whooped in sheer delight before sprinting across the short distance between him and his boyfriend. He leapt on to the mat to scoop Zak up into a bear hug. He held on tighter when he realized Zak was sobbing. The high jumper embraced Nakatsu back just as hard.

"I did it." He whispered between choking sobs. "I fucking did it!"

"You did." Nakatsu half shouted for glee. "I can hardly believe it. You looked amazing. Like a hawk. You were flying."

Zak buried his face against his boyfriend's shoulder and grabbed fistfuls of Nakatsu's shirt as he sobbed harder. It had been so long since he felt this sheer joy and freedom of clearing the high bar. He hadn't known he could do it. He believed he could. He told himself he could. But now that it had truly happened again for the first time in years, he could hardly contain the swell of elation that was making his heart pound. He jerked back from Naktasu's embrace, grabbed the other man's face in his hands, and kissed him hard. The blond's smile was wide against Zak's lips.

"I love you." Zak whispered when he drew back.

Nakatsu closed his eyes in effort to stave off the wild urge to cry too. Maybe they were different now. Their lives had changed. This love had not. They still had this between them. They always would. It had survived through bitterness, angry, betrayal, sorrow, and years. He brushed a kiss across the high jumper's jaw before hugging him tight again. He had waited past the point when most would have given up. He didn't know why he had, but he was so very glad he had waited.

"I love you," he murmured into his boyfriend's ear.

Zak pulled back and swiped the tears off his face. "I want to go to the Olympics."

"WHAT!?" Nakatsu burst out in shock.

"I never won my Gold. I want it." He glanced up at the high bar. "I'm going to get it this time."

"Zak…"

The high jumper gazed into the soccer player's eyes. Fierce passion and determination was set in the lines of Zak's face. "You don't believe I can do it?"

Nakatsu looked up at the high bar swaying gently in the wind above them. The memory of Zak gliding over that bar flashed through his mind. "It will be difficult."

"I don't care."

"People will doubt you. They will tell you it's impossible. That you're crazy and it's to late." Nakatsu said, looking back at his boyfriend.

"They can say whatever the fuck they want. Long as you think I can do it." Zak replied seriously.

A smile curled across Nakatsu's lips. Zak's determination was contagious. "I know you can do it. I'll see you there. This time we will win our Golds together." Zak's answering grin was so bright that Nakatsu laughed. "That's a promise."

"We have two years to make this happen." Zak's eyes were back on the high bar.

"London's calling our names, Zak." Nakatsu whispered. He gazed over at the other man. His breath caught in his throat. The smile on Zak's face was so devastatingly happy. Gone were the tired circles under his eyes, the lines from weariness, and the frown that seemed to have been permanently carved into his face. It transported Nakatsu back into the past for just a moment to the first time he saw this boy, no, this man smile. That might have been when he truly fell in love with the high jumper. He had seen behind the prickly, prideful behavior to the person underneath. He had loved that person. The smile on Zak's face reminded Nakatsu of just how much he loved this man.

Before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and kissed the smile on Zak's lips. The high jumper froze for only a second before he grabbed the blond's face to kiss him back. Nakatsu laughed into Zak's lips as he wrapped his arms around the other man's neck. They kissed each other, fast and eager, until they were breathless.

"I want you," Nakatsu whispered into the high jumper's mouth.

Zak shivered before kissing the blond again. "Yes," he hummed when he broke the kiss a moment later.

The blond's eyes popped open in surprise. "What?" The whole world seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Yes. I want you." Zak reiterated more clearly.

Nakatsu tackled him. They went flailing backwards into the mat. Zak laughed as he landed in a graceless heap on his back. A second later, he was moaning happily as Nakatsu straddled his hips and their lips crashed together. Zak nearly sobbed in delight as the blond rubbed his nipples through the thin fabric of his t-shirt.

"Not here!" Zak choked out.

"What?" Nakatsu drew back, blinking to regain some clarity.

"We can't do it here." Zak pushed the blond back. Nakatsu sank back onto his heels. His weight settled on to the high jumper's cock. Zak groaned and rolled his hips up against the blond's clothed ass in spite of himself.

Nakatsu smirked. "You were saying?"

"Fuck," Zak growled. "We can't. Dr. Umeda will kill us. Not to mention we are in the middle of the athletic field."

"Fine. Mood killer." Nakatsu pouted. He grinned again when he felt the high jumper's cock twitch against his ass. "So…" He leaned back forward, bracketing Zak in with one hand on either side of his head. "Your place or mine?"

Zak's eyes shuttered nearly shut. "Yours. Definitely yours." His eyes went wide when Nakatsu bounded up and away. "What the!?"

"Get up! Let's throw this crap into the storage room and get the hell out of here. I've waited years to get you naked again. I'm not gonna wait a minute longer than I have to!" He nearly yanked the mat right out from under the high jumper.

Zak chuckled before he rolled up onto his feet. "Let's hurry up then!"

/

The clean-up seemed to take forever. The walk (if you wanted to call their pace walking) was almost like torture from the distance between the school and Nakatsu's apartment. Never mind, that it wasn't even a half mile walk. It was just the notion of having to hold themselves back; especially for Nakatsu. He was nearly jittery with desire. His palms felt itchy with the need to feel Zak's bare skin once more. He had been patient. Hell, they both had. But after a month of going slow, Nakatsu just couldn't take it anymore. It was not in his nature to be patient. He practically bounded down the sidewalk, unable to contain himself.

He caught Zak giving him a knowing, amused smile as they walked up the stairs to Nakatsu's second floor apartment. Unlike, Zak's apartment that had a nice lobby with the entrances to the apartments down indoor hallways much like a hotel, Nakatsu's apartment complex was more like a motel. The walkways to the apartment doors were on the outside of the building. These types were usually cheaper and less extravagant, which was right up the soccer player's alley. He didn't have a family or the need for anything more high class. Sure, he had the money for a much nicer place, but he didn't care to indulge. He was a humble, simple kind of guy. He felt more at home in this kind of place. He unlocked the door before swinging it open and ushering the other man inside. Zak stepped in without even hesitating. That made Nakatsu smile.

Zak slipped his shoes off before shrugging his jacket off and hanging it on the hooks on the wall. Nakatsu slammed the door shut before flicking the lock closed. The snick of the lock made Zak tense for just a second. For a moment, all they could do was stand there and stare at each other.

"Are you going to invite me in and offer me a drink?" Zak remarked casually, as if a swarm of butterflies hadn't suddenly taken up residence in his stomach.

Nakatsu felt a wave of want and lust course through him so strong it left him nearly shaking. Zak looked so cool and unaffected. He had always been this way back when they first started this crazy roller coaster of a relationship. He'd played Nakatsu like his favorite instrument. He'd always known just what to do and how to get what he wanted. It used to drive Nakatsu crazy. Well, this time it was his turn to catch the high jumper off guard. He would be the one to start things this time. Zak might look aloof, but a quick glance at his pulse proved he was not as unaffected as he pretended.

"Nope." Nakatsu grinned before lunging forward.

Zak gasped as he was slammed backwards against the wall. Whatever strange hesitation that had been holding them back was broken. Nakatsu couldn't stand to be separated from the other man a moment longer. He needed to touch and taste Zak now! It seemed like his sentiments were shared with Zak. Their mouths met in a wild, desperate clash of mouths that nearly drew blood. It was all teeth and tongue. Fuck, how Nakatsu had missed this. Zak's hands gripped the blond's jaw and slanted their mouths harder against each other. Nakatsu grabbed the other man's hips to drag his body in tight against him. Nakatsu groaned into Zak's mouth as their clothed cocks rubbed against each other. The blond had missed this. Some days he had missed it so much it was like a physical pain and nearly unbearable. But that was over. He had Zak back and he would keep him this time. Everything about the high jumper was Nakatsu's to own. He'd sear it into the other man's skin if he could.

Their hands ripped at clothes, tangled in hair, and mapped out every inch of bare skin within reach. It felt like they were seventeen again; wild, lusty, and oh so needy. Clothes just seemed to fall away until there was nothing left between them. Nakatsu whimpered, high and desperate, at the first full body grind between them. Zak keened in response as his erection was trapped between their bellies and the friction of their rolling hips sent shudders racing through him. The sound went straight to Nakatsu's cock like a tuning fork, making him unbelievably harder.

Nakatsu ripped his mouth away from Zak's lips before grabbing him by the shoulders to steer him none to gently through the apartment. They stumbled over strewn piles of clothes, books, movies, and general mess that littered the floor of the blond's bachelor pad. Zak stumbled back and tripped over his own feet when the blond shoved him backwards. He flailed for a second before going over in a windmill of arms. He landed on the bed less than gracefully. Nakatsu snickered at the disgruntled glare sent his way. It was fairly obvious Zak hadn't been man handled in years. The very idea that Nakatsu was about to break the other man's dry spell of gay sex was incredibly thrilling. He reached over to yank the drawer of his night stand open and grab the bottle of lube stashed inside. He tossed it on to the bed next to Zak, who barely got to glance at it before Nakatsu was on him again.

Nakatsu grabbed the high jumper's hips and yanked him to the edge of the mattress. Zak scrambled for half a second until his feet touched the floor. The blond dropped to his knees on the floor and licked a stripe up the underside of Zak's cock. The high jumper made a noise like he'd been punched in the gut. Fuck, he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt someone's mouth on his cock. His eyes fluttered shut as his back bowed up when the blond swallowed his cock in one go. Zak moaned brokenly, lost in the wet heat surrounding his cock. He'd always loved this. He loved it even more knowing it was the blond doing it. He buried his fingers in Nakatsu's hair before thrusting his hips up to bury more of his length in the blond's mouth. Nakatsu didn't even protest. He took it. Fuck, he enjoyed it as Zak fucked his mouth. No one else's cock had ever tasted this good to him.

Nakatsu pulled off with a pop when he felt Zak's shudders starting to grow more desperate. He smirked when the high jumper cursed and tightened his hold in the blond's hair. Nakatsu pushed Zak's hands aside before flipping the other man onto his stomach. He pushed the high jumper's knees up under him, making him lift his ass in the air and leaving him exposed to Nakatsu.

"What the hell, Nakatsu?" Zak growled, trying to flip himself back over.

Nakatsu grabbed the other man's hips and held him in place. "This is mine." He whispered possessively before dropping his head and swiping his tongue over the hidden pucker of muscle between Zak's ass cheeks. The high jumper sucked in a sharp breath. His fingers dug into the bed sheets as Nakatsu swirled his tongue and sucked. Zak moaned, dark and deep, pressing back into that exquisite feeling. Nakatsu's tongue pressed inside, wet and hot, making Zak jerk then writhe. The blond's hand found the high jumper's erection, stroking in long, twisting pulls. Pre-cum dribbled in a steady stream into Nakatsu's palm, slickening the motions of his hand. Zak couldn't figure out whether to rock backwards or forwards, trapped between two blissful agonies, yet needing more. He hadn't been so painfully, wonderfully aroused in so long that his body felt like it was going to shake apart.

"Come on, Zak," Nakatsu breathed, against the heated flesh beneath his mouth. He knew the high jumper was close. "Fuck, come on."

"Uuhhh," Zak moaned helplessly as the blond stabbed his tongue back inside the high jumper. Another twist and pull of Nakatsu's hand had Zak coming all over the sheets with a yelp. His body spasmed through his orgasm as the blond stroked him through it. He sagged down into the mattress. The only thing keeping him up was Nakatsu's grip on his hips. He shuddered in anticipation when he heard the cap on the lube pop open. He tilted his head back to watch the blond coat his fingers in the slippery liquid.

"You ok?" Nakatsu asked the other man, rubbing circles into the sensitive skin on Zak's hip with his free hand.

"Fuck yes," Zak sighed.

"Looked like you've been holding that one in for a while." Nakatsu remarked, as he rubbed his lube covered fingers over Zak's wet whirl of flesh.

Zak huffed then shivered when Nakatsu pressed on finger slowly inside him. "I have. Keep going."

"You're sure?" He plunged his finger slowly in and out of the tight muscle. His cock twitched with the need to be buried inside that slick heat.

"Yeah."

Zak immediately gasped as another finger was pressed into him. His hips shifted against the intrusion. It had been so long since his body had felt invaded that the uncomfortable strangeness of being breached was like his first time all over again. Only this time at least he was with someone he truly cared about and knew how to make it good. His cock was slowly taking interest, already half hard. He unconsciously spread his knees a little more as Nakatsu slipped a third finger inside him. The burn of being stretched was sharp. His hips jerked forward. The blond held him steady, gently rocking his fingers in and out in slow drags. Nakatsu leaned over to lick and kiss the soft swells of the other man's ass cheeks. He glanced down the long line of Zak's spine. His cock drooled pre-cum as he watched Zak's muscles flex beneath his skin. All that pale skin, unmarked and so smooth. The blond's free hand slipped up to caress Zak's back and sides. He felt more than heard the hum of appreciation Zak gave to the attention he was receiving. Zak slowly relaxed as he was petted.

He went very still when Nakatsu withdrew his fingers and Zak felt the nudge of something much larger against his backside. It had been so long since he'd taken it. Part of him was nervous—most of him was just held tight with anticipation. He resisted the urge to clench his muscles as the head of Nakatsu's cock breached him. Zak took a slow deep breath as the other man's cock pushed further in. He shivered as Nakatsu's hands caressed over his skin while the blond whispered soothing nonsense to him.

Nakatsu was doing his damnedest not to plunge inside of Zak's tight body. The man felt so perfect. The blond felt like he was coming home. This place inside of Zak had always been his and always would be. He wanted to fuck the other man into the mattress and claim it back. He bit his bottom lip as he forced himself to take it slow. He watched the curve and arch of Zak's spine as the high jumper pushed himself up onto his elbows so he could press back. Then before Nakatsu realized it, he was buried fully inside Zak, balls pressed against soft, furred thighs. He had to pause and take a deep breath. He gripped Zak's hips, bending over to press his forehead against the nape of the high jumper's neck.

Kagurazaka groaned low in the back of his throat. He felt vulnerable and broken open, but he welcomed it. He felt like his whole world was right in that moment with Nakatsu over, around, and inside him. Zak's body shivered hard as the blond barely shifted his hips, yet the high jumper felt every tiny motion with absolute clarity. Nakatsu set up a slow, steady motion of short, grinding thrusts. Zak shoved his face down into the mattress as he gasped with each plunge of the blond's cock inside him. They fell in sync in the rocking of hips and soft moans that followed. Nakatsu couldn't hold himself back for more than a few minutes. All to quickly, his thrusts were becoming longer and harder, but Zak took it. Fuck, he felt dazed from the pleasure flooding through him. Nakatsu's cock only brushed past his sweet spot every other thrust but it was enough to have Zak rushing towards nirvana.

Nakatsu was getting close embarrassingly fast. He couldn't help it. No one else had ever affected him as powerfully as Zak did. But there was one thing that wasn't right. He was missing something crucial. He needed to see the high jumper's face. The blond reached forward and hooked his hands under the other man's biceps. He flexed backwards and pulled the high jumper up then back against Nakatsu's chest. Zak's thighs spread wide across the blond's until he found himself sitting on Nakatsu's lap. The high jumper gasped as he sank down further onto the soccer player's cock. Zak's head fell back against the blond's shoulder. Nakatsu began to thrust up in short and deep grinding circles. He turned his head to watch Zak. Pleasure was painted across the high jumper's features. His face was flushed as he bit his lip and his eyes were shut against the onslaught of Nakatsu's cock driving into him. Beautiful, Nakatsu thought. The half halo of Nakatsu's eyelashes was gorgeous against the red flush of his skin.

"Fuck," Zak breathed when Nakatsu closed his fist around the high jumper's cock.

He writhed in the blond's lap, trapped between Nakatsu's hand and cock. Pleasure so strong washed over him in increasing euphoric waves. How had he lasted for so long without this bliss in his life? His mouth fell open, unable to hold back the desperate cries any longer. Nakatsu was enthralled by the man he held in his arms. His climax snuck up on him before he was ready. His hips jerked up as ecstasy burned through every nerve in his body. He moaned breathlessly as his thrusts became erratic, drawing out the pleasure blazing through him. Zak whimpered a soft plea as all motion stopped for a few moments. All he needed was a little bit more…anything! He was so close to coming his balls ached and his body clenched tight. Nakatsu groaned weakly as the high jumper's body gripped him hard from the inside. He forced his hand to start moving again. He jerked Zak off in quick, long pulls until seconds later the high jumper was coming across his hand. Zak keened low as his orgasm finally hit him hard and fast. For a few seconds, the world seemed to fade out as rapture flooded his senses.

He came back down from his high with Nakatsu holding him close. He grit his teeth against the ache of the blond pulling out of him. The soccer player tipped them sideways until they fell in a tangle of limbs across the mattress. Nakatsu rolled Zak onto his back to kiss him soundly.

"I love you," he said.

Zak's smile was small but soft and happy. "Love you too."

"You think we're gonna be ok from here on out?" Nakatsu couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah," the high jumper answered without hesitation. "Yeah, I do." He dragged the blond down for a long, tongue twisting kiss.

Nakatsu pulled back to press his forehead to Zak's. "It was all worth it for this."

"Fucking liar. It was hell." Zak snorted.

"It was hell. But I don't regret having been with you back then. Maybe we could have saved ourselves a lot of pain otherwise. But life's to short to let love slip away." Nakatsu replied decisively.

"You've gotten sappy in your old age." The high jumper smirked.

"Your fault."

"Whatever."

They traded kisses until lethargy dragged them to sleep. The morning would bring the start of not only a new day, but new possibilities for them. It took a fight, jealousy, anger, and tears to get them back together. Nothing would ever tear them apart again. Both of them would make sure of that. All roads to love are painful, but they had learned that the pain was worth it if it meant being together.

The End.

/

Yes, there will be an epilogue.

No, it will not take another year for me to post it. I will have it up tomorrow or the day after even if I get migraines from forcing myself to write it. It will get done! Thanks again for all your support. The Hana Kimi fandom has truly embraced this couple with such enthusiasm that I can hardly believe it. I'm so glad I converted people to this ship. As I said, I do want to write more about them. Hopefully, the inspiration will come back. Until then, I bid you Happy New Year!