So. This isn't the chapter I intended to put up next, but the other one's still not finished, and this one was, so this is the one you get! They don't have to be in any particular order anyway. This one's a little shorter than the earlier ones, hope it's still enjoyable!
I Don't Need You
Shinobu fidgeted restlessly, struggling to prevent his frustration and impatience from forcing his face into a permanent fierce scowl. It was his sister's birthday and his presence was required at home. He had already been here (and therefore away from Miyagi) for two hours, sixteen minutes and far too many seconds.
He was desperate to escape, to rush home and back into Miyagi's arms.
He clenched his teeth, trying to will away the irritation. He could see in his mind's eye Miyagi's face, smirking at him, half in amusement, half in bemusement. Even he was aware how ridiculous he was being. He hated the aching thud inside his chest that made him squirm and resent every minute spent away from his lover. He tried so hard to stop, to hold back, not to cling on to the older man like the lovesick child that he was – frightened that one day Miyagi would finally give one last exasperated sigh and shake Shinobu off as though he were a leech – but he couldn't help it. He needed him! He needed Miyagi, he needed to see him, to hear his low, rumbling voice, his deep chuckle, to feel Miyagi's tall, masculine body pressed against his own, strong arms tight around him, jaw rough with stubble against Shinobu's own smooth cheek, coarse, black hair wrapped around Shinobu's long, slender fingers.
He huffed out a deep breath, ignoring the reproachful glance from his mother, as he watched Risako open the present from her latest boyfriend with delight, kissing him rather too enthusiastically in front of the rest of the family.
His foot tapped on the floor impatiently.
Hours later – a whole damn lifetime later! – Shinobu burst loudly through the door to Miyagi's apartment, kicked his shoes off and practically vaulted into the living room, hurdling over the paper-strewn coffee table to land heavily on Miyagi, knocking the breath from the older man's lungs.
He gripped Miyagi tightly in his arms, entwining their legs together as he desperately tried to fill all his senses with the man. Miyagi's heart was beating loudly under his ear and Shinobu closed his eyes as he listened, taking a deep breath of the familiar smell of Miyagi – shampoo and cigarettes and musty, old books.
"Miyagi…" he confessed in a whisper. "I missed you…"
"Missed me?" Miyagi asked, startled, finally able to breathe once more. "Shinobu, we saw each other only this morning. You so adoringly chose to wear my favourite shirt, seeing as you conveniently forgot your pyjamas last night, and then managed to set it on fire when you burned my breakfast cabbage… Remember?" he reminded him with a wry smile.
"I know! But… it still felt like ages. Too long. Miyagi, I need you with me!"
"Hmm," Miyagi merely replied, rolling his eyes. "You don't really need me, Shinobu."
Shinobu raised his head and stared fiercely at him.
"Yes, I do! And you need me too! Don't you…?" Shinobu's voice trailed off, his earlier fears resurfacing. His fingers unconsciously tightened on Miyagi's shirtsleeves.
"I don't need you, Shinobu. I don't need anyone," Miyagi began, then, seeing panic in Shinobu's eyes, he hurriedly continued, "No-one needs someone else, Shinobu-chin – we all live on, no matter what, just like I did after I lost Sensei. But, you silly kid, even if I don't need you, I still want you – more than anything, Shinobu, I want you; so don't look at me like that! Just because my life wouldn't be over if you ever left me, it doesn't mean that it wouldn't be worse off or that I wouldn't be sad. You're here, in my apartment, in my arms, because I want you, Shinobu-chin, because I choose you, because I love you – not because I have to. And that makes such a difference, love. Now come here – you haven't kissed me since this morning and that was eight whole hours ago! And maybe I missed you just a little too."