A Prince of Tennis fic by Maria
Written for: Five True Loves. Themes: 13 (bad habit), 27 (similarity)
Pairing/Characters: Takashi Kawamura x Jin Akutsu.
Rating: PG-13 for slash
Disclaimer/claimer: Konomi's! Not mine!
Summary: If Kawamura thinks you're wrong, he'll say it... Settled years after the series.
"Akutsu, I hadn't noticed that you have more scars than the last time you came here."
"You're not my mother, Kawamura." Akutsu pushes him away when he tries to roll up his sleeves to see them more clearly. The two last costumers that are finishing their dinner at Kawamura Sushi look at Akutsu disapprovingly, but the young co-owner and chef lifts a hand and smiles at them, silently saying that they shall not fear.
"Besides," and Akutsu smirks, pride revealing in his voice, "it's my job. I'm a top bouncer in Los Angeles; two or three scars are a part of my life. They won't kill me, Kawamura. Even Mother, Sengoku and the kid know it."
"Does that mean that I'm not allowed to wish you didn't need to get them?" Takashi almost wishes he hadn't said that, since Akutsu now looks even angrier at his words. Suddenly, his old friend's long and tanned fingers grab Taka's wrist, wrapped around flesh, bone and skin in a tight grip.
"What you're not fucking allowed to do is to tell me how I should fucking live," he hisses, face close to Kawamura's, lips almost touching the other man's, noticing how he flinches a little at the smell of tobacco in his breath. "You made your choice, I made mine. That's enough, isn't it?"
Yes, Kawamura admits to himself. He's somewhat scared at this (notably small, considering Akutsu's personality as a whole) outburst coming from his old friend. But he suppresses his fear and looks at the other man firmly. Being cautious doesn't mean that he has to give in...
"Whatever your choice is," he murmurs, "I'm more than allowed to have my own view about it."
Unlike the clients who are quietly leaving, Kawamura knows Jin Akutsu since they were children, and he likes to think that he's somewhat close to what's left of his heart...
"Fine," and Akutsu's grip on his wrist loosens as he makes a face. "I'd say to keep it to yourself, but whatever. My flight is due tomorrow, anyway, I have to go now if I don't want to damn sleep in..."
Still, Akutsu doesn't seem too eager to move away. Takashi also stays in his place, eyes fixed on the other's - and then he's pulled into a deep, passionate kiss, lips clashing and tongues roughly rubbing against each other.
"Never forget this, Kawamura." Akutsu says as they part. "I never lose. These assholes won't kill me. And you better do your damned best as well here in this place, just like I do in the States."
Takashi doesn't say anything when Akutsu jumps off his seat and leaves Kawamura Sushi. But to him, it's obvious that Akutsu already knows what his answer to the challenge is...
"You don't even need to remind me, Akutsu," he whispers, cleaning up the counter and later walking towards the sink to have some water, the taste of Akutsu's cigarettes still in his lips.