Disclaimer: I'm just a geeky fangirl that likes to play around; I own nothing.


The Long Way Home: Chapter 13

They had arrived at yet another Friday. Ueno had a feeling that tonight was going to be quite memorable, but he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, even though he'd tried to make sure the night would go well. Not only had he agreed with Satou-san to get Aki to his surprise birthday party come hell or high water, but he had helped with some of the planning.

He was the one who had insisted that Satou-san cancel his order for a chocolate birthday cake and order something fruit-based. He was the one who had given Satou-san a list of appetizers to serve. He hadn't attempted to talk his boss out of throwing the party; that would have been a useless effort. The man was willing to compromise, but he wanted to celebrate his son's natal day no matter what. He'd made that clear during their talk.

Ueno remembered their conversation, which had taken place after he had cleared up the best friends forever misconception. It was clear that Satou-san was trying a little too hard, but if the father-son relationship was as fragile as it seemed, Ueno could understand his need to compensate. So Ueno had agreed without protest, and agonized over the upcoming Friday night all week.

His tactic hadn't been complicated. He'd simply walked Aki there – blindfolded- and given a warning before opening the doors. He didn't know how to be sneaky. As it was, no matter how he got Aki there, he would pay for it later.

So as they stood in the doorway, he didn't offer any excuses or reasoning. He'd take whatever blame came his way. After all, he was partially guilty. He hadn't come up with the idea, but he'd assisted with the planning. He'd known Aki probably wouldn't be pleased, but as his friend, he'd been pressured to become involved.

The room wasn't filled to capacity, but there was a sizable crowd of a good forty or so individuals milling about and mingling.

Ueno gave Aki a tiny push, easing them both through the doorway.

"You can kill me later," Ueno promised, "but for now, I think you should try to have fun."

Aki turned and shot Ueno a look that he immediately recognized as deadly. "Did you plan this?"

"Your dad did. But I was in on it," Ueno's reply was honest, "and he asked for my help with some of the planning."

Aki couldn't answer; his parents descended on them and his attention was diverted. Ueno watched as Satou-san draped his arm around Aki's shoulders, and a woman Ueno had to assume was Aki's mother took his own arm.

She was pretty in a natural sense, and had a cute smile that made her appear quite young. He could tell that she was on the short side, but she had paired a pair of black capris with an astonishingly high pair of heels, so she wasn't far below Ueno's eye level. She had the same fair, porcelain skin as her son, although her eyes were such a dark shade of brown they appeared almost black, as opposed to Aki's mink brown, crimson tinged ones. Her abundance of chocolate brown hair was gathered to one side of the nape of her neck with a clip, the end cascading over her shoulder in large waves, no hint of gray in sight.

"So you're Ueno. You're adorable!" She looped her arm through his, dragging him in one direction while Satou-san tugged Aki in another. "It's hard to get any details from Aki, but my husband talks about you a lot. I think he wishes you were his son too."

Ueno smiled, feeling the unspoken pressure of many to impress the family of their significant other, although Aki's parents had no idea of their true relationship.

She tugged him along, and he willingly followed her lead, answering her questions about his schooling, hobbies and family. He replied honestly and enthusiastically, until she asked how they'd met; at that, he could only mention that they had started hanging out on campus, which he supposed was very true. After all, it wasn't as if she'd asked when they'd first had sex or started dating. It wasn't his fault that she hadn't noticed when he had steered his answer away from the term met. Satisfied, she proceeded to lead him to various bunches of party goers.

Ueno was exceedingly friendly and polite with everyone Aki's mother introduced him to, but underneath the surface, he was on the verge of making a run for it. He wasn't uncomfortable meeting new people or socializing; it was in his very nature to be friendly, as was obvious in school and his ability to get along with almost anyone. His thoughts were simply otherwise occupied, and he occasionally swept his gaze across the room, attempting to locate the reason for his distraction.

Satou-san still had Aki in his possession, and the two of them were making rounds of their own. Ueno hadn't made eye contact with him yet, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to. He and Aki had misunderstandings and tense situations in the short time that they had been reunited, but never actually fought, and he had yet to discover what it felt like to be on the receiving end of Aki's anger. He didn't want to know.

Ueno returned his focus to Aki's mother, who still clutched his arm while she spoke to a young man who must have approached them while Ueno was lost in thought. He shook himself back to awareness just in time, as Aki's mother was currently making introductions.

"Kuchida Ueno. Nice to meet you." Ueno smiled easily, feeling the man's curious gaze. He stood a little taller than Ueno and Aki, with a thick, unkempt mop of jet black hair that skimmed his shoulders. His slender form was dressed in a pair of fitting jeans, along with a white button down top. The outfit was completed with a collegiate style V-neck sweater and a pair of pristine white sneakers.

"Same here. I'm Shinozaki Mira."

Aki's mother turned to Ueno with a smile. "Mira has been friends with Aki for years."

Ueno's eyes widened marginally. Of course Aki had friends. The simple fact that he had never met any of them didn't mean they didn't exist. That didn't explain why Ueno was so floored at being introduced to one of them. The fact that he had been invited to this party indicated that he had some solid ties to the family, and it was likely that he knew Aki better than Ueno himself.

Aki's mother continued with her introduction, unaware of Ueno's thought process. "And Mira, Ueno is Aki's new friend. They go to school together. We used him to get Aki to come."

"Did you have to trick him? It's not like him to willingly come to a family gathering, after all." Mira smiled crookedly, the corners of his fawn colored eyes crinkling in his mirth.

"Kind of." Ueno returned the smile, a little more at ease. "I'm sure he's not too happy with me right now."

"He'll get over it." Mira answered in a confident tone, chuckling quietly. "He always does. He has a fiery temper initially, but it burns out fast. I'm sure you already know that, being so close to him and all."

Mira's last sentence stung; it wasn't his choice of wording, but his tone of voice that made Ueno feel as if he were being mocked. While Mira turned his attention to Ueno's host, he did a quick sweep of the room once again, although this time he and Aki locked eyes.

Aki's eyes were narrowed, and Ueno knew at that moment that he wasn't off the hook. The fire still blazed. Just as quickly, Ueno noticed that Aki's gaze shifted slightly to the right, and the anger in his eyes disappeared immediately, replaced by surprise. Ueno watched as Aki alternated between glancing at Ueno, then focusing on his mother and Mira.

Then Aki's mother pulled at Ueno's arm, bidding Mira farewell. "I just saw my sister and niece. Come on. I need to introduce our new kid."

Ueno blinked. "New kid? Me?"

"Who else would I be talking about? Let's go." Aki's mother gave him that smile again.

"Nice to meet you." Ueno said to Mira again in his friendliest voice, although the unease had not yet passed.

"You too." Mira smiled again, although this time there was no crinkling of the eyes; this one was obviously forced. "Welcome to the family, and good luck."

"What did he mean by good luck?" Ueno stared at his host quizzically.

She giggled. "You'll see. We look pretty stuffy, but you'd be surprised once you get to know everyone. Here we are."

They stopped in front of two women; one appeared to be in her late forties or early fifties, and the other was obviously her offspring. Ueno behaved admirably during the introductions, but was feeling a serious need for a moment alone.

The daughter, named Kanoko, was pretty. Long dark hair, with the aid of many hair products, was molded into a fetching arrangement. A tiny skirt displayed slender legs, and her blouse, with many buttons undone, displayed a high-sitting pair of breasts.

She was very, very friendly. As Ueno and Aki's mother continued to move around the room and seat themselves at an empty table, she trailed behind them. Although she sat in the chair directly next to him and he noticed how she discreetly scooted her seat closer to his, Ueno wasn't incredibly worried.

He heaved a sigh of relief. Aki's family all welcomed him, but all of the introductions had been a dizzying process and he was glad for the rest. The names and faces were a blur. In addition, in the back of his mind, he had been all too aware of Aki's feelings toward him that night.

All he'd been trying to do was help out Satou-san. It wasn't as if he could refuse the man. He was not only Aki's father; first and foremost, he was Ueno's boss.

He would figure out a way to smooth things over. He wasn't so negative that he assumed this would be a permanent setback; but he did understand that things could be very awkward and tense initially. Aki couldn't be dramatic enough to dump him over this, although he might yell and throw things if Mira's description of Aki's temper was accurate. If things didn't work out between them, it would be one hell of an adjustment.

As the party progressed and greetings had been made, more of the attendees seated themselves. Satou-san, accompanied by his son, joined their small group, and Ueno's distress intensified at Aki's nearness. After a good half hour of avoiding further eye contact, Ueno's nerves were frayed.

Lost in his thoughts, he jumped as his hand, which had been resting on the table top, was covered by the warmth of another. Startled, he looked over to Kanoko, who was smiling, her expression questioning. Ueno blinked. She must have asked him something. "Excuse me?"

"What you do outside of school?" She repeated herself, running her fingertips over the back of his hand.

Ueno had to force himself not to blanch at the contact. She wasn't his type. He didn't even know what his type was, but if she wasn't Aki, then she wasn't his type, regardless of her qualities, goals, and looks. He looked over at Aki's mother, who was surveying their interaction with a mischievous curving of her lips.

"I'm pretty boring. I do homework, and I have a job, of course."

Kanoko downed a full glass of wine in three swallows. "You sound like a very hard worker. That's a good quality for a man to have."

Ueno gulped. "Thanks." He gently regained ownership of his hand, sliding it from underneath hers and placing it in his lap. He sipped at his beer, not really in the mood to drink. As the almost tasteless liquid slipped past his lips, the need to escape increased.

Kanoko held his gaze. "And apparently you're modest, too. You don't seem boring to me. The right person appreciates those kinds of qualities."

Ueno politely nodded, but was inwardly appalled. Please, please, don't be implying that you're the right person. She was making some suggestive implications in front of Aki and his parents, which made him extremely uncomfortable. Aki's mother still sported that infuriatingly gleeful smile, and Satou-san appeared amused as well. Ueno pointedly avoided looking in Aki's direction.

"Excuse me." He pushed back his chair and stood. "I'll be back. I need some air. It's hot in here."

There were only two exits; the one that he and Aki had used to enter the party, and one towards the back of the room, which he knew led to an outdoor lounge area, overrun with meticulously trimmed shrubbery and flowers. No matter which exit he chose, he would be spotted leaving.

Despite his dilemma, he walked away, not sure of where to flee, only recognizing the need. The door that led outside was closest, so he made a break for it, praying that he wouldn't be followed. He opened it wide enough to slide through, and shut it behind him.

Once outside, he breathed deeply, inhaling the cold, fresh air. It had a calming effect, and Ueno quickly placed some distance between himself and the party, walking along the perimeter of the building. It wasn't well lit this far from the entrance, so he walked cautiously, careful not to trip over anything. The lounging area, or whatever the staff called it, was very large, and continued as he rounded the corner of the building. This particular area had no windows, so he relaxed as he approached a low bench.

Ueno seated himself, and after a moment of thought, kicked his feet up and lay along the length of the bench, his arms dangling from each side.

What was he so stressed out about, anyway? This wasn't a typical Ueno reaction. He willed himself to relax, taking deep, calming breaths. It took a few minutes, but he slowly felt himself begin to unwind.

The week had been difficult, mainly in the fact that for Ueno, there didn't seem to be enough hours in the day. Even before the week had started, Ueno had been a little uneasy about the planning of the party, not to mention the fact that he was either at work or in class and wasn't getting a great deal of rest. When he wasn't doing either, he was running back and forth between his apartment and Aki's or running errands.

And now, he'd unwittingly attracted the attention of one of Aki's family members, aroused the suspicion of one of Aki's close friends, and angered Aki himself. What was next? He couldn't wait for the night to end. Maybe he should just go home after the party and go to sleep- alone. Aki most likely needed the time to cool down, anyway.

That sounded like a sensible, yet undesirable idea. He closed his eyes, continuing with his deep breathing until he heard a crackle that he immediately attributed to footfalls on some of the leaves that lay scattered along the walkway.

Ueno sighed, sitting up and making ready to leave. There was no reason for anyone else to walk this far; the area right outside the door had been prepared for outside mingling, with an ashtray for smokers and chairs for those who simply wished to inhale some fresh air. Ueno knew this; it had been one of his preparation tasks. Then again, he'd felt the need to walk, so maybe someone else had, too. Either way, he needed the privacy, so he'd seek another area to achieve solace.

"Ueno."

His heartbeat increased. That voice, although almost low enough to be a whisper, could never be mistaken. "Aki?"

"What are you doing way out here?" Aki voiced the question casually, as if they were simply engaged in small talk. "Are you hiding?"

"Kind of. I didn't think anyone would come this far down." He stood as Aki approached the bench. "If you still want to kill me, this is a good location. These bushes are pretty thick. You could stash my body here."

Aki sighed. "I was worried about you."

"I thought you were mad at me." Ueno smiled weakly, although he was positive Aki couldn't see it in the darkness.

Aki cleared the remaining distance between them, and stood directly in front of the other. "I was."

"I'm sorry. I was pretty sure you wouldn't be happy about it, but when your dad asked me for my help, what was I supposed to say? He's my boss; it's not like I could turn him down." Ueno frowned, pausing before continuing. "I didn't want to ruin your birthday, but I couldn't prevent it. Your dad really wanted to do this for you."

"I know. It just took me some time to come to that conclusion." Aki reached out, taking Ueno's hands in his, and his voice took on a teasing quality. "I didn't come out here to kill you. You looked so uncomfortable inside. I was worried something was wrong. Plus, I wanted to get to you before my cousin did."

"What about your cousin?" Ueno squeezed the hands that grasped his.

Aki didn't directly answer the question, but asked another. "Do you think she's pretty?"

Ueno raised an eyebrow. This could easily be a trick question, so he went for neutral territory. "I guess. I really didn't pay much attention."

"Hmm." Aki breathed. "She has nice hair."

"I guess."

"Do you think she'd be just as pretty bald?"

Ueno laughed, although he was more afraid than amused. "I have no idea how to answer that. Would she be bald by choice, genetics, or because you ripped it out?"

"I don't see how it matters. The end results all lead to a bald head."

"Why would you ask me that anyway?" Ueno spoke cautiously.

"She will eat you alive. And you'd be too polite to stop her." He didn't elaborate, but he'd had a front row seat to his cousin's little display and seen Ueno's reaction- or lack of- to her advances. After Ueno had left the table, Kanoko had quickly disappeared, and Aki would be damned before he let his cousin step into his territory. Considering Ueno was outside and in the dark, anything could have been possible once she'd found him.

Ueno laughed quietly. "She did come on kind of strong, but if she tries to manhandle me, I can fight her off. There's no need for you to forcibly remove her hair. I don't know what she'd want with a guy like me anyway. I'm not very exciting."

Aki smiled. "The same things I want with a guy like you, with a few exceptions." He took another step forward. "And you clearly don't see it, but I find you very exciting."

"Thank you, then." Ueno was grateful for the darkness; he was positive he face was blooming crimson. He leaned forward slightly, and it was enough. Their foreheads touched, and Ueno released Aki's fingers, choosing instead to rest his arms around his other's shoulders. "So you're not mad anymore?"

"No, and I didn't have a right to be mad at you before. I have issues with my dad, but it's not like he did this to try and ruin my life. He wanted to do something nice for me. And so did you, but I didn't appreciate it, so I'm sorry for that. You've made me very happy today, Ueno."

Ueno was beyond relieved. "I'm glad. That's what I was going for." He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to sully their make-up session, but gave up quickly. All he had to do was angle his head and press forward, which was, in the end, exactly what he did.

He felt Aki's surprise in the temporary rigidity of his slender form; after all, in the few weeks they had been reunited, he could count the times they'd kissed on one hand, but the darkness emboldened him. It didn't take Aki long to adjust, and a split second after Ueno began to wonder whether or not he'd made a mistake, he received his answer.

As their lips parted, Aki released a sigh, circling his arms around Ueno's waist before leaning in for another kiss.

The soft moistness of Aki's lips as they glided slowly over his own was maddening and relieving at once, and without interrupting their long awaited joining, Ueno stepped backward, until the cool brick of the building was pressed against his back and he could lean against the structure for support. His movement was slow, and Aki followed, not permitting a break in contact.

Ueno wondered why he had issues obtaining the courage to do something as simple as kiss. They were dating, after all. His fingers did what they normally did when in close proximity to Aki's hair; they buried themselves of their own accord in the thick silkiness and began their ritual. Normally this occurred when they were both in bed, drifting off into sleep, and Ueno was usually rewarded with some sound of appreciation. This time, Aki purred against Ueno's mouth, his lips parting slightly.

Ueno found that he no longer had control of his lips or his tongue; Aki's open mouth was too tempting an invitation, and the muscle moved on its own, slipping past Aki's lips, pressing against the other, as if asking for permission.

Aki immediately granted his request as if he'd been waiting for it, and as their tongues began to slide against one another, his purring graduated to quiet moaning.

Their hold on one another switched; Aki's hands shifted upward to tangle themselves in Ueno's hair, and Ueno's drifted downward to grasp at Aki's waist.

It was Ueno who broke off the kiss, slightly dazed, but still capable of coherence. He spoke between pants, as the absence of his lips prompted Aki to direct his attention elsewhere and he applied his lips to the warm skin of Ueno's neck.

"We need to go back inside." He heard his own voice, and was amazed at his shallow breath, at how weak and unconvinced he sounded. It was difficult to voice his thoughts when his attention was focused on the sensations made by feather light touches brushing against his throat.

"No we don't." Aki spoke, his words muffled against skin. "You started it. I'm done partying. We need to go upstairs."

"Later," Ueno promised breathily, "later, I swear." His argument wasn't having the desired effect, most likely because while he was attempting to be logical, his hand had coasted underneath the hem of Aki's thin cotton t-shirt, his fingers playing along the soft skin at the small of Aki's back. And most likely because the idea of going upstairs sent a signal straight to his nether regions, there wasn't much conviction in his words. "People are going to wonder where you are. You are the guest of honor."

"I don't want to wait until later," Aki gently raked his teeth along Ueno's skin, his breathing becoming slightly labored, "and I don't think I can."

Leaving would be disrespectful. Ueno knew they couldn't just ditch everyone, but the idea was so tempting.

"Come on." Aki whispered. "We don't have to go back the way we came. We can walk around to the front entrance instead. No one will see us." He lifted his lead, and the expression in his eyes caused Ueno's jeans to tighten. Aki meant business, assaulting Ueno's bottom lip first with a teasing sweep of his tongue, then trapping it between his teeth and tugging.

Ueno let out a groan of his own, his body reacting violently to the stirring sensations that Aki was creating. If they went any further, he wouldn't be in any condition to go inside either. His timing was awful. He thought of all of the opportunities he'd wasted. They were alone a lot of the time, and he had spent the majority of that time confused and unsure. Now, they were at a function that they couldn't leave, and he chose that opportunity to get touchy. He pulled away and opened his mouth to reply, but stopped as a scent reached his nostrils.

He sniffed experimentally. "Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?"

Suddenly, the smell was familiar. It was cigarette smoke. No big deal.

Wait. That was a big deal, considering he hadn't smelled it a scant moment earlier.

Ueno didn't have time to formulate a reply. A voice that belonged neither to Aki or Ueno penetrated the warm bubble that had surrounded both of them.

"I was just having a smoke and walking the grounds. Sorry to interrupt."

Aki tensed in Ueno's arms, and Ueno's grip instinctively tightened. "Mira."

"Yeah, it's me." His form was hard to make out in the darkness, but the Ueno remembered the voice, and was able to see the glowing red tip of a burning cigarette. "Thanks for acknowledging me. You didn't give me the time of day inside."

"I'm sorry." Aki sounded contrite. "I didn't have the chance."

"Bull." Mira's voice was soft, although his actual words were harsh. "I come all the way out here to see you, and you can't even say hello? It appears you haven't changed."

Aki bowed his head, offering no argument.

Mira paused, waiting for a response. Receiving none, he continued. "So, this your new best friend- Ueno- if I remember correctly? Have you told him about your old best friend?"

"Mira, can we talk later? Ueno doesn't need to hear this." Aki still sounded apologetic, and Ueno had to wonder why he wasn't more offended by Mira's behavior.

"Is he in charge of you now?"

Aki paused, collecting his thoughts. "Of course not. Ueno and I are-"

Mira interjected, his voice rising. "I see. Not only did you never contact me and ignore me tonight, but you immediately started seeing someone else the minute you got loose, huh?"

"Mira." Aki's voice was beginning to take on a more desperate tone, and alarmed, Ueno suppressed the instinctual urge to remove Aki from the situation. Instead, in an attempt to do what he thought was right, he interrupted both of them.

"Aki? I can go inside, if you want." Ueno didn't want to, and he was anxious to hear what Mira was getting at, but he'd respect Aki's wishes if necessary.

"No." It wasn't Aki who spoke, but Mira. "You seem like a decent guy. I don't have anything against you. So Aki, does Ueno know about us?"

Ueno didn't have an opportunity to be worried at the fact that their relationship was being revealed for the first time. And according to Mira's previous words, Ueno knew that Aki's orientation wasn't a surprise to him. Ueno relinquished his hold on Aki's waist, his hands falling to his sides, but the lighter haired man quickly grabbed them, joining their fingers together tightly, as if he needed the contact.

"Stop." Aki squeezed Ueno's fingers reflexively. "He's not forcing me into anything. And I don't have to answer to you. It's been over a year since you and I even talked. I'm sorry that it didn't work out-"

"It didn't work out because you wouldn't let it work out." Mira's voice elevated and he tossed his cigarette onto the cement walkway before extinguishing it beneath his sneaker. "And you let that old, disgusting, poor excuse for a man take advantage of you and move you away from your whole family. Does he know how you walked away from me? Does he know about your sis-"

It appeared he'd finally driven Aki to anger; he released Ueno's hands, and turned to the dark figure, cutting him off before he could continue. "That's enough." His was quiet, but there was no longer any apologetic undertone. "Is that what you came here to do? To try and make me feel even more guilty? Believe me, there's no possible way I could feel any worse."

"No." Mira produced a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket, selecting one and lighting it before returning the pack to its previous location. "That was just a bonus. I actually was trying to find you. Your dad is looking for you, wants to talk to you."

"I don't believe that." Aki crossed his arms.

"Try me." Mira exhaled, the smoke rising above his head before dissipating. "He says that if you don't come back inside, he'll move the party out here, and I don't think he's kidding. I'd get your sweet little ass back inside, if I were you."

"Fine." Aki suddenly sounded exhausted. He didn't react to Mira's description of his posterior; he merely reached for Ueno's hand, intending for them to go back inside together.

Mira made a tsk tsk sound before taking another drag. "You can go alone. I'd like to get to know Ueno better."

"I'm not leaving him out here with you." Aki's voice was tinged with disgust. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Come on, I'm not going to do anything to him. Like I said, I don't have anything against him."

Ueno didn't believe Mira for a second but his curiosity as to what the man had to say was getting the best of him, and he pulled his hand from Aki's grip. "It's okay. I'll be right behind you."

Yet another voice pierced the darkness. "What are you guys doing out here? It's freezing! And Aki, your dad is looking for you."

So he hadn't been lying. Ueno could barely make out Kanoko's slight form, shivering slightly as a breeze kicked up, causing her skirt to flutter restlessly. Playing the role of mediator, he made a suggestion.

"Why don't we all go back?"

After two mumbled assents, the foursome wordlessly began making their trek down the pathway; Ueno, Aki, and Kanoko in the lead, with Mira trailing behind them. The pathway wasn't wide enough for three individuals to walk side-by-side comfortably, but Kanoko remedied having to walk in the dirt by latching onto Ueno's arm and pressing close, shivering against him for good measure.

Ueno grimaced, but Aki spoke before Ueno could even begin trying to find a way out of the unwanted position.

"Kanoko, dear cousin, why don't you walk with Mira?"

The three of them stopped in their tracks. Aki's expression wasn't visible in the darkness, but it didn't need to be; his tone of voice was telling enough. It was probably from their recently ended conversation, but Aki's voice was tense, the irritation he felt evident.

"No way. I want to walk with Ueno. And you know Mira annoys me."

"Shut up, whore. You just hate me because I won't give you any."

Mira was far enough behind them that Ueno had figured Kanoko's response wouldn't be heard, but apparently her voice had carried, and he rolled his eyes at Mira's retort before resuming his earlier pace.

Thankfully, they reached the entrance before an argument could break out. He pulled open the door, standing back to allow first Kanoko, and then Aki to enter before him. He waited patiently for Mira to follow suit, but he stood back as well, motioning for Ueno to shut the door.

Ueno obeyed, glad Aki had already disappeared into the throng and would be otherwise distracted. "Okay. What is it?"

"I didn't mean to be rude earlier," Mira began, using his middle finger to flick at his cigarette, sending ashes flying, "I was just surprised to find out that Aki was dating someone. His dad talks to my parents a lot, so I'd heard that he had a new friend he was close to, but I didn't know you two were close in that particular way. I got a feeling when I met you that something was up."

Ueno looked towards the door nervously, hoping Aki wouldn't come out looking for him again. "I understand that."

"I noticed earlier that Aki was about to say that the two of you are together. Do you know that you're his first?"

"His first boyfriend?" Ueno shut his eyes briefly, trying to wrap his brain around that revelation. That was a definite shock to his senses. "Really?"

"Officially. According to him, at least." Mira disposed of his cigarette, this time in the provided ashtray. "Aki has never dated anyone and he's never referred to anyone as his boyfriend before. He certainly never referred to me that way, even though I was his first, and I was willing, as I'm sure you can imagine. Aki's easy to fall for."

Ueno didn't reply. So he himself was Aki's first boyfriend, but this guy was his first lover? Ueno didn't see the difference. He didn't know if he should feel jealousy, but he felt a pang that he identified nonetheless.

"But like I said, Aki wasn't ready for that. I still don't think he is. In the end, he wasn't serious. I won't mention much about it, but a little over a year ago, Aki moved out of the house, due to some screwed up circumstances. I was pretty invested, but he was able to walk away. He never called, never even sent me a hello through his parents, nothing. Now that I think about it, he didn't really speak to his mom and dad either."

Ueno watched warily as Mira ran a hand through his hair, clearly growing agitated. "Damn it, I could use a beer."

"What exactly are you trying to tell me?"

"You haven't figured it out yet? Aki can't be serious about you either. He's gorgeous, comes from an outwardly nice, inwardly extremely screwy family, and he's got problems you could never imagine. But eventually, if those problems resurface, and then Aki will run. That's why he doesn't want me talking to you, because I might expose him. I happen to have the privilege of bearing some of that burden with him, and because of that, I'll always understand him better than you. You need to know what kind of guy you're dealing with."

Ueno placed his hands on his hips, curiosity taking over. "What kind of guy am I dealing with?"

"You may think the two of you are together or something, but Aki isn't suited for that type of life, at least not right now. You do realize that he has no idea how to be a boyfriend or care for someone else, don't you?"

"Mmm." Ueno could poke a few holes in that logic. Aki had been exceedingly gracious and caring towards him from the beginning. He could have listed a few examples, but he chose to simply listen further.

"And if you think that you can save him or teach him how to care, you're wasting your time. When push comes to shove, he'll run, just like he did with me."

"What do you mean?"

"By running? I wish I could tell you exactly why he ran, but all I can say is that he wouldn't stand up to that old guy. Maybe he fell in love with him; hell if I know what goes through that pretty head anymore. No apologies, nothing. And he never thought twice about me or his family. You don't look like the type who can stand up to that kind of drama. And you're definitely too straight-laced to be his type; he must be going through some sort of phase. His cousin seems to like you, and she definitely seems more your speed."

Ueno dropped his hands to his sides, a tad insulted. He'd suspected it would be an unsavory discussion, but he'd assumed that Mira was going to question him, not insult Aki. Besides, Aki had already told him that he was screwed up, so Ueno knew there were some secrets that he wasn't aware of. But he was going to let Aki reveal them when he was ready. He didn't want to hear them from Aki's bitter ex-whatever. "Why do I get the feeling that if I did break things off, you'd be right there trying to take my place?"

Mira's eyes narrowed, and Ueno was positive he'd hit a little too close to home with his question.

"I don't think you're in this to help me out. The way I see it, you either want to get back at him for hurting you, or you want him back." It wasn't in Ueno's nature to be disrespectful to anyone, regardless of how they treated him. But in this case, he felt it necessary. "It sounds like we're each talking about a different Aki, because I don't see the one you're describing. I don't even think you're doing this because you believe that he's really a bad person; I think maybe you're doing this to make yourself feel better. If you've got something to work out with Aki, do it and then leave him alone."

With that, he turned on his heel, heading towards the building's entrance. He left Mira standing in the darkness.


Inside, a whole different party had taken place. Ueno noticed that each table held its share of empty beer bottles and drained glasses. The gentle humming of idle chatter had given way to shouting, hooting and laughter. Apparently these folks were only stuffy while sober.

Making his way back to the table and flopping down into an empty seat facing the majority of the group, he wondered how much longer he'd be expected to attend this gathering before he could run away without being considered rude. He'd wanted to help clean up, but if it ran much longer, he just might run for it instead. He was now officially exhausted. He purposely had chosen a chair farther away from the most of the other people at the table, but as soon as his rear end hit the seat, he heard screeching that indicated the movement of chairs, and the group dispersed.

The seating arrangement was slightly different. Aki's mother and father sat on either side of him.

Satou-san grinned at him. "Having a good time, kid? You look like you could use a drink or two." He ordered them each two bottles of beer before continuing. "Looks like things are progressing nicely."

"Progressing nicely, how? Ueno asked, suspicious.

"Between you and Kanoko. She's a very nice, wholesome girl. And she's very pretty, too. She's come a long way in the past couple of years."

"I'll say," Aki muttered from his side of the table, "If she starts eyeing your plate, just give it to her. Your life is too valuable."

Satou-san burst into laughter, and Ueno cocked his head in confusion. "She likes to eat, hmm?"

"That's an understatement." Mira chimed in, claiming a seat next to Aki. "But thanks to a crash diet that almost killed her and some serious hours at the gym, she is now the waif-like wonder you see today. But Aki's right. She has her moments of weakness."

Mira turned to Satou-san, raising an eyebrow. "And did I overhear you call her wholesome? How many beers have you had?"

Satou-san snickered. "Just kidding. She's a certified, card carrying harlot, a real woman of the night. We all know that, but we love her anyway. Thinking about taking her out sometime, Ueno?"

Four heads turned to Ueno, who found himself the center of attention. "Excuse me?"

"Just because she's a whore doesn't mean she isn't a nice girl," Aki's mother said sweetly in her niece's defense, "and she seems to like you a great deal. Maybe you can get her to… settle down." She wagged her eyebrows at Ueno.

Oh, God. This family is insane. "Uh.. I'm off the market." Ueno said lamely, reaching for his beer and pounding it before grabbing his second.

That was how the night progressed. Ueno lost track of time and the amount of the bottles that piled up at their table, the majority of which belonged to himself and Mira. Apparently not one to be outdone, Mira quickly joined him in drinking, and the pissing contest began. Although the atmosphere looked friendly to the passerby, it was anything but. They exchanged several impassioned looks across the table, while Aki sat stiffly in his chair, sporting a desperate look that reminded Ueno of a wild animal with its foot caught in a steel trap.

Drunkenness always crept up on Ueno; he never saw it coming. He'd always realize too late that he'd had too much to drink, which is why he didn't indulge very often. But hell, tonight he didn't care. He almost needed to be to get through it. Over the course of the evening, more individuals joined their table, so that all of the chairs were full. Kanoko had re-joined them after sitting with her family, and she forcefully wedged herself in between Ueno and Aki's mother. There was no available chair for her to sit in, so she simply rested her hip against the table.

Normally, Ueno would have offered her his seat and moved elsewhere, but as he sat and rested his head on the table, the thought didn't even cross his mind. Ueno didn't mind her presence much at this point, as his altered thought process didn't recognize her as a danger any longer.

He would have never behaved this way sober, but he needn't have worried. This was apparently Satou-party behavior, verified when even as he sat there, massaging his temples, Satou-san slammed another beer on the tabletop, instructing him to drink up.

He forgot all about his beer, however, as Mira stood and gestured in Ueno's direction. Ueno raised an eyebrow in question, and Mira motioned him over.

He obediently stood, intoxication preventing him from questioning Mira's intent, and made his way to the other side of the table, standing behind Aki's chair. Mira leaned towards him, and whispered quietly in his ear.

"I hate to admit it, but you were right, so I'll be taking your advice."

With that, he straightened, and began to speak.

"I just wanted to thank my extended family for throwing such a great party. I've known Aki since we were kids, and I'm very happy to see him turn into such a fine adult. Happy Birthday."

Is that it? What a lame speech. Ueno thought this dimly, wondering if he would be expected to speak as well.

What happened next nearly caused Ueno to topple over in his inebriated state.

Mira leaned down, grabbing Aki's long, slender fingers and jerking the startled man to his feet. Before Aki had time to fully stand, Mira hauled him against his chest and proceeded to mash his lips against Aki's in the most disgusting display of affection Ueno could recall.

As attendees burst into laughter, hooting and hollering, Ueno stared in horror, wondering why he was the only one who saw something wrong. Disgusting, moisture-rich sounds reached his ears as he watched Mira's tongue worm its way into Aki's mouth.

Why wasn't Aki fighting back? He wasn't participating; his body was rod stiff, his hands folded into tight fists, and Ueno could hear strangled protests attempting to make their way from his throat, but he wasn't physically attempting to escape. Seriously?

Ueno reached his boiling point quickly. He'd been such a good boy earlier, but now he was ready to be an asshole and put some of those empty beer bottles to good use. Luckily, before he could make an idiot of himself by physically attempting to break them apart, Mira ended the kiss, roughly shoving Aki back into his seat.

But what happened next was even worse. Mira cleared the distance between himself and Ueno, stumbling and using the back of Aki's chair for support.

Ueno shouldn't fight, not in front of all of these people, and not with an individual that had been accepted into this circle as family. Even in his drunken state, he knew that much, but he stood his ground, though common sense should have advised him to back off now that Aki had been released.

Mira addressed the crowd again. "Has everyone had a chance to meet Ueno?"

There were murmurs of agreement from most of Mira's audience. Shit. Ueno wasn't into being the center of attention, but now all eyes were on him. And just why wasn't anyone disturbed by what Mira had just done?

He stared hard at Mira. Mira stared back before continuing. "Welcome." An instant later, two warm, sweaty hands grabbed him by the neck.

Being strangled would have been more fun than him receiving the same treatment as Aki. The crushing of Mira's mouth against his own was almost painful, and the slithering sensation of the other man's tongue entering his mouth caused him to gag. He felt moisture on his chin, obviously saliva, and he wasn't sure who it belonged to.

He could hear more applause as he stood there in shock. After the shock was chased away by panic and revulsion, he began to fight, wrapping his hands around Mira's and pulling outward.

The other man was pretty strong, their strength almost evenly matched, and a tussle became necessary. Ueno reared backward, fingers scrabbling to dislodge the other man's hands. As Mira lost his balance, they both tumbled towards the ground, with Ueno's back making a small detour into Aki's chair on the way down.

Aki, who normally moved at a very leisurely pace, scrambled out of his seat before Ueno crashed into it. Ueno wasn't so lucky. His head hit the floor, he saw stars, and for a few seconds, everything was black.

Mira was a lot heavier than he appeared and sprawled on top of Ueno, didn't allow for any movement. And still, Mira didn't let up on the onslaught and the threat of vomiting became very real. He plunged his fingers into the other man's hair, pulling at it with the little strength his stunned body could muster. Thankfully, some of the audience finally decided to intervene, and Ueno gasped for oxygen as the heavy weight was lifted from him.

Mira collapsed on the floor next to him. As Ueno regained control of his breathing, his first thought was of what Aki had told him outside, when he'd all put pleaded with Ueno to go upstairs with him.

I should have listened. We could have been upstairs making out right now, but no; I always have to do the right thing.

"You're not much of a kisser, Ueno." Mira's voice reached his ears, slurred and disapproving.

Ueno whimpered and closed his eyes, wishing fervently for the floor to open up and swallow him. "You're pretty shitty yourself."