Sinfully Yours
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Kagami, trying to hide the pissed expression on his face, went down the stairs to the dining room, where all the other boys were. Kise and Kuroko were busily talking to each other, while Takao was wearing an apron, fawning all over Midorima.
Kagami groaned. He was getting sick of these couples! He didn't want to see any man to man affections first thing in the morning.
He pulled back a chair roughly and sat down, avoiding eye contact. Takao saw him and immediately got the frying pan, where the chao fan was. "Ohayou, Kagami-kun!"
"Mornin'," Kagami replied, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Since he had lived in the States for a long time, he drank coffee as much as tea now. He waited until Takao put enough serving of chao fan on his plate before saying thank you.
As always, Takao's meals were scrumptious. When the band learned that Takao could cook like a pro, they stopped ordering take outs, asking Takao to cook regularly for them. Which Takao wholeheartedly obliged.
They learned that before Takao became an talent manager, he worked as a station chef in a couple of Western restaurants in Osaka. French and Italian were his specialties, though he was also proficient in cooking washoku. Or better yet, Chinese food.
The boys of GoM decided Takao was their best manager ever.
Kagami wolfed down a couple of spoonfuls and before he nearly choked he was able to say to their manager, "Best chao fan I've ever tasted. Thanks, man."
Takao smiled brightly. "No sweat, Kagami-kun. Knock yourself out, there's still plenty in the pan. Where's Aomine-kun?"
And then Kagami choked on his rice.
He drank as much water as he could, still avoiding eye contact. Kise accused, "Didn't you wake him up?"
"I did," Kagami replied, coughing.
"So where is he? If he's late again – "
"Would you quit yer yappin', Kise! Is it a mortal sin to take a dump in the morning?" Aomine growled from the entrance of the kitchen.
Kise scrunched up his nose. "Eeeww. Gross."
"Here, eat up!" Takao quipped, putting chao fan on Aomine's plate. Aomine eyed his seat, which was directly facing Kagami's. Most mornings they sat like this, because the other two couples would often sit next to each other so the seats left were always on each side of the table facing each other.
Aomine sat down, head bowed low, not looking at Kagami. It was the quietest breakfast for the both of them, amidst the chattering around the table. They ate with their heads down, not joining the conversations.
Finally Kuroko snapped, "Are you listening, you two?"
Both Aomine and Kagami looked up, first at each other, then flushing, and at Kuroko. "What is it, Tetsu?" Aomine muttered.
"Takao-san is telling us our schedule for tomorrow evening. It's Director Okawa's birthday party. Do you want to go?"
Kagami frowned. He still didn't know all the bigwigs in the industry here in Japan but he knew this Okawa person must be a really influential entity. For Kagami's benefit, Kise explained, "He's a director from a huge recording label. Our agency is affiliated with them, though not direct business partners. So Director Okawa also signs up artists from different agencies."
Kuroko went on, "Different artists from other agencies are coming to his party."
"S-so, we're invited?" Kagami asked.
"Obviously. We wouldn't be asking if we werent't," Midorima grumbled, adjusting his glasses.
Kagami scratched his head, embarrassed for being a slowpoke. Aomine, all of sudden, slammed down his glass on the table and faced Midorima. "He just asked a perfectly normal question! You didn't have to be a smartmouth, Midorima," he snarled at the green haired drummer.
Kagami's eyes widened. He didn't expect Aomine to get mad just because Midorima dissed him.
Midorima simply raised an eyebrow, surprised that Aomine would show this aggression over one small comment he made towards the new bassist.
Aomine glared at Kuroko. "He's getting on my nerves. It's bad enough that he's a smartmouth all the time while we're recording and he has to be sarcastic in the house, too?"
Kuroko tried to placate him. "Cool your head. It was nothing."
"Nothing? He's always like that! Kagami was just being polite and –"
Kagami suddenly reached for his arm, gripping it tightly. When Aomine turned to him, Kagami just shook his head. He didn't want the bandmates to go at each other's throats just because of a silly comment. Aomine looked at Kagami, and huffing, he pulled back his arm, going back to eat.
Silence ruled the table.
All of them were astounded at Aomine's reaction and defense of Kagami. Sure, Midorima was always grumpy and a smartmouth but no one actually bullied Kagami in the house for Aomine to come to his defense like that.
Takao cleared his throat. "So – ahhh – we're going, right?"
Kise squeaked. "Yeah! Yeah, we should!"
After a few more minutes, the boys finished their meals, cleaned up their plates and went to their rooms to take a shower, leaving Kagami and Aomine still eating their breakfast.
Aomine was eating quietly, trying to finish his chao fan as fast as he could.
Kagami, confused as to what he should do, kept on eating, too while glancing up at Aomine frequently. Their eyes met.
The corner of Aomine's mouth twitched into a smile. Right there and then Kagami thought he would forgive the bluenette for all those times that he sexually harrassed him. There was just no point holding a grudge against Aomine, especially if he looked this apologetic.
"Hey, Kagami..." he started.
Kagami swallowed his food then looked at him. "Hmm?"
"You're not mad – from before, right? From this morning?"
"Oh. That. Uhm, it's okay..."
Aomine let out a sigh of relief. "Great. So we're good, huh?"
"Don't worry about it."
"'Kay."
Kagami bit his lip, hesitating. "Uhh – "
"Yeah?" Aomine drawled.
"Thanks. With Midorima-san. You didn't have to tell him off like that. It was –"
Aomine huffed again. "He's a prick!"
"It's okay. He's not bad or anything. I guess the answer to my question was really pretty obvious." Kagami pulled back his chair, carrying his empty plate to the sink. "Thanks again, man."
Aomine nodded at him. "Anytime, pal."
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It was in the middle of a break from recording when Midorima felt the muscles on his back ache again. He had been feeling this pain for a couple of days now. It must be because of constant drumming and he would sometimes get into the groove of it and be forceful in his drum rolls. At the end of the sessions, his back would ache all over.
As usual, Takao was hovering over each of the GoM member, asking if they needed anything. When he noticed Midorima huddled in one corner, trying to massage his weary shoulder, he immediately went to him. "Hey, is something wrong?" he asked the drummer gently.
Midorima shook his head, still rubbing his shoulder and anything he could reach on his back. "Nothing. I'm fine," he answered curtly.
Takao watched him with concern. "Would you like a massage?"
Midorima opened his eyes and looked around. "I don't think it would look good right now."
"Uhh, yeah. But tell you what. I'll give you the best damned massage when we get back home. Is that okay?"
Midorima had to smile at Takao's eagerness. His willingness to please him out of all the boys in GoM. Takao could easily hook up with all the other guys since they were all single in the house – except for that red haired hypocrite Kagami, of course – but instead, Takao chose him, Midorima. And Midorima knew he was not easy to get along with. Why Takao was so enamored with him, Midorima didn't know.
At times like these, when Takao was being so sweet to him, Midorima wished they could be alone so they could at least kiss. Sure he hated PDA. But he was just a guy. A hot blooded male. And he had to admit that Takao, so far, had been the hottest fuck buddy he had ever had over the years. Not that there was a lot. Midorima hated sharing his space with anyone so he did not have any type of relationship with anyone – man or woman – that lasted longer than a one night stand. Sometimes two night stands. But no more than that.
How many times had he and Takao slept together, anyway? They had been rooming in for almost a month and they had hit the sack five or six times?
Midorima had to wonder at himslef. He should be losing interest in Takao by now. But Takao proved to be the most attentive, helpful and caring manager that GoM had ever had. And he was pretty talented in bed himself. So Midorima thought it would be a waste to start avoiding him.
Midorima smiled. "I'll take you up on that,manager-san."
Takao leered at him. "Wouldn't want to disappoint my artist, y'know?"
The two of them continued looking lasciviously at each other, oblivious to the fact that Kagami was openly watching them. Watching them as they flirted with each other.
To other people they may look like a talent and his manager goofing around, but to Kagami, who knew the real score between Midorima and Takao, that they were sleeping together, Kagami couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
He didn't have to witness this kind of interaction in the workplace. He hated to admit it but he felt both vexed and – and somewhat jealous when he would see Midorima and Takao, or Kise and Kuroko discreetly flirting with each other even while in the middle of work.
No one else would notice since the boys knew how to be careful with their actions, but it was in the little touches they gave each other,like how Kuroko would lovingly reach up and ruffle Kise's hair whenever the blonde got all the difficult notes right. Or when Takao would casually lean against Midorima when they talked. Sometimes, Midorima would unconsciously pat Takao's shoulder. And of course, Kise, being Kise, not a day passed by that he didn't cop a feel from Kuroko.
So why did he feel jealous about these exchanges? Because Kagami didn't know if he would be open-minded enough to accept that he, yes, he also wanted to have this intimate sort of interaction with another male. He was jealous of them because they could express what they wanted with whoever they wanted.
Once this gig was over and he went back to LA he couldn't imagine suddenly going to gay bars to hook up with guys there. His family and friends all knew he was straight!
No, Kagami couldn't have this kind of lifestyle. He would be a college professor after he graduated from his masters. All he wanted was to play instruments for a while, and he was also earning a lot from this gig so who was he to complain about all the hard work?
However, once it was done, he would go back to the US, back to his old circle of friends, whom he knew would be horrified if they learned that he became suddenly gay when he came home to Japan for a short stint.
Aomine sat quietly beside him, playing lazily with his guitar chords but he couldn't help watching Kagami's face as the bassist studied their drummer and manager.
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"Alright, everybody, that's a wrap!" yelled the album director as the band finished recording their last song for the day. They had ten takes for this song, even though they had rehearsed it really well since yesterday.
It seemed that everyone had been making mistakes so they had to repeat the recording over and over. Kagami felt bad because he had to admit to himself that he could not concentrate. He was called out three times for not having the right timing on his ad lib part. It was really embarrassing.
Midorima did not ride on his bike this day so he was hitching in Aomine's car, as well as Takao. Kise and Kuroko were riding in Kise's Toyota.
Since Kagami always rode beside Kagami on the passenger seat,tonight was no different. The two men sat awkwardly in the car, while waiting for Takao and Midorima. The two were held up somewhere inside the studio.
Kagami was looking out from his car window, deliberately turned away from Aomine, hoping the bluenette wouldn't engage him in any kind of conversation. More flirting wasn't what he needed right now, especially when he was this confused about himself, his desires, his goals in life. He'd like to think that accepting the fact that he might be gay wouldn't change anything in the future.
But who was he kidding? If he wanted to be a respectable professor in a prestigious university, there shouldn't be any rumor attached to his name. He just couldn't see himself opening up his desires to anyone back home in LA.
What Kagami needed was for this album to be finished, the tour to be done so he could peacefully go back home to LA. Back to his books, his papers, his old life.
Was that what he really wanted? In all honesty, Kagami didn't know anymore. But because he was really confused right now, all the more that he should not make any drastic decision for himself, which he might just regret later.
Finally, Midorima and Takao appeared, getting inside the vehicle. Aomine started the engine, snorting, "What the hell took you so long? Had a quickie in the washroom?"
Kagami rolled his eyes at the crude joke.
Takao giggled. "I wish!"
Midorima leaned back and groaned softly, reaching for his back. All at once, Takao was fussing over him. "Hey, you alright?"
"Yes, I'm okay."
Kagami heard the faint voices of the couple in the backseat talking about Midorima's back ache. Then there was rustling and when Kagami looked at the rear view mirror, he found Midorima bent over while Takao was gently massaging his back.
Kagami knew he shouldn't watch since this was an intimate moment between the two. But he couldn't help it. He was mesmerized by the dynamics of the two men, who acted very manly while in the presence of strangers, all the while being lovers themselves!
Kagami kept on watching as Midorima turned around, whispering something to Takao. Takao nodded and leaned forward. Right there and then, their lips met in an open mouthed kiss. Midorima hooked an arm around Takao's neck, pulling him closer, while his other hand roughly grabbed their Takao's ass.
Kagami gasped and turned away from the scene. His face suddenly flamed. He didn't need to see that!
Aomine, curious as to what caused Kagami's reaction, also looked at the rear view mirror. When he found the two groping each other at the back seat, he barked, "Hey, my car isn't some love hotel, you couple of pervs! Wait 'til we get home!"
Kagami heard Takao apologizing and Midorima growling "Shut up" but he pretended he was not in the same vehicle as with those three. He just wasn't prepared for this kind of shit.
Mercifully Aomine did not make any further comment. When they got home Kagami immediately ran to his room, falling onto his bed. He should have been prepared for this. Those guys were all gay – bi-sexual – whatever! Of course they would do those kinds of things in private. They were only discreet if they were in the company of other people, but in the house, it would be natural for the boys to flirt as much as they wanted.
The door of the room opened, and Aomine entered, looking baffled himself. "Hey, is everything okay?"
Kagami sat up, frowning. "I'm fine."
"I already told them to stop doing that with you around. Sorry. They could be insensitive sometimes and with you being new –"
"Tell me. Is that something normal for you guys?" Kagami suddenly asked, his face hardening.
"Normal?" Aomine echoed.
"T-That! Kissing, making out... while other people are looking."
Aomine shook his head. "Midorima and I have known each other since high school. We've made out in the same room with different partners before so I'm not like 'other people' to him. He just forgot you were there, and the car was really dark so –"
"The thing is, you want me to be like that!" Kagami pointed out, standing.
Aomine was taken aback by that comment. "Whoa. What does it have anything to do with me? With us? I don't get it."
"W-well, you want me to be gay..."
Aomine had to chuckle dryly at that. "You are gay."
"NO, I'M NOOT!" Kagami snarled. "You think it's so easy! You're not the one who's going to go back to LA after this. You're not the one who has to be with straight homophobic friends all the time. You guys are having the time of your life here, kissing your boyfriends and such!"
Aomine argued, "I didn't tell you to join any gay parade back in LA! You don't have to be out and proud if you don't want to. If you haven't noticed all of us here are also discreet about our preferences. The guys just can't hide it in front of you because you're part of the band now. There's no point in hiding it from you, do you understand?"
"No, I don't. I just – don't. I don't want it! I don't want this kind of – of - environment."
Aomine looked at him with contempt. "Well, it's too late to back out now, since you've signed that contract and you're tied to us until the tour is over."
"I'm not backing out, okay. That's not what this means!"
"Then what?"
Kagami also didn't know what he wanted to say. All the band members of GoM slept with women and men alike, that part could not be helped. He didn't have to be so affected with their choice of bed partners. He didn't understand why he was, though.
"Look, Aomine, I can't be gay. I can't be. My life after this – the tour... All of this is temporary. My life after the band is – There's no place for someone who's gay in my life. I'm sorry. I cannot be – like you."
"Not even if you – you know – have sex with guys and just marry a woman if you really want to pretend that you're straight? Lots of men do it all the time." Aomine suggested in a hopeful tone.
Kagami shook his head. "I fully intend to marry a woman. I've never had any issues with any woman I've taken to my bed. I'm satisfied with my sex life with women. Experimenting with a – uhh – a guy will just add complications to my life that I do not want. I've lived all my life with not having sex with a man before. I don't see why it should change now."
Aomine tried one more time. "But don't you want to see what you're missing all this time? Just come to bed with me. Just once and I'll show you how good it feels."
"Stop, okay?" Kagami waved his hand.
"You're afraid that if you sleep with me you'll realize –"
"So what?" Kagami snarled. "So what if I realize something? I told you. I can't be gay. My family will be heartbroken. My friends will never – accept me. My job – My professors – Okay, look, I don't want to talk about this anymore. And this will be the last time we'll discuss this. I don't like opening myself up like this. But I owe it to you since you've been chasing after me all this time. Dude, it's never gonna happen, okay? I want us to be friends. That's all."
With an air of finality, Kagami held out his hand in a manly way, as if they were agreeing on an international peace treaty.
Aomine just looked at him, disappointed.
Kagami lifted his hand higher. "Friends. That's all I can offer."
With a long heavy sigh, Aomine came forward and clasped the proferred hand. They shook hands tightly, so tight it hurt. "I could have made it really good for you, Red."
Kagami shook his head. "I don't sleep with men."
Aomine nodded. "Then I respect your decision."
When they let go of each other, they did not immediately move away. Instead they merely stared at each other, calculatingly. When Aomine realized Kagami was really serious, he was the one to first back away. "I'm going to take a shower."
"I'll take mine downstairs." The main bathroom was in the first floor. That one had the bath tub in it.
"Okay."
Aomine sighed again.
And that was the end of it.
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I'm trying to build up the Midotaka in the background since they will be the last couple that would develop in the story. Spoilers! Hehehe...
So in the midst of AoKaga we'll find bits of Midotaka. Actually, in my storyline, Midotaka will take up the longest character development and progression. Kisekuro is the easiest, in terms of getting together since they already both like each other so I don't want to put too much tension in this couple.
I think the in-the-closet theme of Aokaga and open-relationship theme of Midotaka are enough. And oh yeah, spoilers, Midotaka would have lots of side dishes. All part of the story, though. I want a complete development from being fubus to serious, committed lovers.
It's gonna be long but I hope you'll be patient enough to find out what's going to happen. Ciao! Thanks for following!
