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FIC: Unmasked, Part 25 of 25
Title: Unmasked, Part 25 of 25
Rating: NC-17 overall
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/Onozuka, Iwaki/Katou, Yoshizumi/Kenzaki
Characters: Kikuchi, Onozuka, Iwaki, Katou, Yoshizumi, Kenzaki, Miyasaka
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Word count: ~7,535
Sequel to: Unexpected Opportunities, Comeback (Part 1 and Part 2), Forgiveness, Firsts, First Date (Part 1 and Part 2), Going Steady (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6), Audition (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Cookout (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Press Conference (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Sanctuary, The Prince vs. the Groupie (Part 1, Part 2), Family Visit: Tokyo (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5), Gigolo (Part 1, Part 2), Yoshizumi's Night Out (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Family Visit: Okinawa (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5), and Interlude. The series also includes two side-stories that are outside of the main timeline: Valentine's Day Surprise and Strictly Business.
Summary: Iwaki gives his guests a tour of the house, and Kikuchi decides to take advantage of the situation.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24
***
So Katou and Iwaki showed their guests around the first floor. There was the spacious combination dining room/living room which they'd already seen, as well as the kitchen and a small, traditional tatami room.
"Very nice," Yoshizumi said approvingly as he walked across the tatami mats. "It gives you the sense of being in a real Japanese home."
"The house I grew up in had tatami flooring, so I wanted at least one tatami room in our home," Iwaki replied with a nostalgic smile. "I find it relaxing."
Onozuka had probably grown up in a traditional, old-fashioned house, too, and Kikuchi glanced at his lover to see how he was reacting. He was smiling pleasantly, but it looked like an actor's mask rather than the real thing. No one else seemed to notice, and Onozuka's smile grew more natural after they left the room.
"And this is the downstairs bath," Iwaki said, opening the door to reveal a very large tub overlooked by a wide window.
"Wow, this looks really luxurious!" Yoshizumi exclaimed. "It must be great to stretch out and relax in the bath after a hard day at work!"
"It's very spacious," Kenzaki agreed politely.
"Yes, it's almost big enough to sleep in," Onozuka said sourly, giving Katou a pointed look. Katou ignored him, but Iwaki blushed, and Kikuchi suddenly recalled the sleepless night that Onozuka had complained about when he had stayed over at their house before.
"The two of you must be exhibitionists," Kikuchi said to his hosts. The lower half of the window was partially obscured by a hedge, but the top half was clear and it would be easy for someone outside to spy through the window.
"Oh, they totally are!" Onozuka agreed. Katou swatted him on the back of the head, but Iwaki was too busy blushing even more deeply and getting flustered to scold his lover.
"We're not," Iwaki protested. "We had the window installed because it lets in light and gives the room a feeling of openness. It's not facing towards the street, and anyway, who really wants to spy on a couple of naked men?"
"Only every tabloid in the country, if those naked men happen to be famous movie stars," Kikuchi said dryly. "Wasn't there an incident where you two got caught having sex out on the patio?"
"We weren't actually having sex, and it was all Katou's fault!" Iwaki argued, glaring at his lover.
"I didn't know that the paparazzi were going to be there!" Katou defended himself. He sighed wistfully and added, "But I am sad that we didn't get to go all the way before we got interrupted. Especially since Iwaki-san has refused to do it out there ever since then."
"Please don't say any more nauseating things!" Yoshizumi begged.
"Why don't I show you the upstairs now?" Iwaki asked hastily, and Yoshizumi readily agreed. Katou started to follow, but Iwaki told him, "You're still recovering, Katou; you should stay down here and rest."
"I'm not an invalid," Katou complained. "Climbing one flight of stairs isn't going to kill me!"
"The doctors told you to take it easy," Iwaki insisted. "You just got out of the hospital, and I don't want you pulling out your stitches by overdoing things!"
Katou looked ready to argue further, but Kenzaki said smoothly, "I'm sure that Iwaki-san is only saying such things because he's concerned about you, Katou-san. We all want to protect the people we love--it's only natural, after all."
Iwaki nodded and Katou's expression softened. "I feel fine," Katou said in a much milder voice. "But if it makes you feel better, I'll stay here and take it easy. You're such a worrywart, but it makes me happy that you love me so much."
"You see?" Yoshizumi told Kenzaki dramatically. "They're always saying such nauseatingly romantic things!"
"Indeed, you haven't exaggerated," Kenzaki laughed. "I think it's rather sweet, but since I must indulge in some nauseatingly romantic talk with my clients at work, I suppose I've developed an immunity towards it."
They headed upstairs, and Iwaki showed them a second, smaller bath, along with the guest bedroom and master bedroom.
"You have twin beds?" Kikuchi asked in surprise. "I would have expected a single king-sized bed."
"Why does everyone say that?" Iwaki asked, blushing.
"Probably because everyone knows Katou," Miyasaka replied with a snicker.
"There's nothing wrong with twin beds!" Iwaki said defensively. "It's much more practical to have two beds, since we're often working different schedules. That way I won't wake him up when I come home late and vice versa. Actually, I originally wanted separate bedrooms but Katou made a fuss about it, so we compromised."
"For someone that Yoshizumi finds nauseatingly sentimental, that's not very romantic, Iwaki-san," Onozuka laughed.
"Even the most loving couple needs some time apart," Iwaki said with dignity. "In fact, I think it's a sign of love and trust to feel secure that your partner is always supporting you even if he or she isn't physically present."
Yoshizumi nodded in agreement, but Onozuka shook his head skeptically.
"You say that, Iwaki-san, but I bet Katou would say, 'I want to spend every minute of every day with my Iwaki-san!'" He perfectly imitated the passionate but slightly childish tone of Katou's voice, as well as his pleading, wide-eyed, puppy dog look. Everyone laughed except Iwaki, who smiled but winced slightly, as if Onozuka's imitation had struck a little too close to home.
"You do that so well that it's scary, Yuu," Kikuchi chuckled.
"Yes, Katou does say things like that," Iwaki sighed. "But although he acts willful at times, he does understand that we can get through those periods when work keeps us apart because he knows that I'm always thinking of him, and I know that he's always thinking of me."
"Now that is nauseatingly romantic," Yoshizumi groaned good-naturedly.
"And we do have rooms of our own," Iwaki added. "Not bedrooms, but private rooms where we can work or read scripts, or if we just need some time alone to concentrate." He showed them the rooms--Iwaki's was set up like a small office or study, while Katou's was more cluttered. There was a desk for him to work at, and shelves holding books and old scripts, but he also seemed to be using it as a storage room, with exercise equipment taking up part of the room, and his surfboard was propped up against one wall.
"It's a good idea," Kikuchi said, turning to Onozuka. "Maybe we really should think about moving into a bigger place...I think there are a few empty units available in my building. I could look into it if you like."
Onozuka shrugged with a show of casual indifference. "I'm the one who's cramping your style, Katsuya, so it's up to you. I'm good either way."
"You're not cramping my style at all, Yuu," Kikuchi assured him, draping an arm across his shoulders. "I hate to say it, but I'm with Katou on wanting to spend as much time with my lover as possible."
"So are the two of you really moving in together?" Iwaki asked. "I'd heard rumors in the press, but..."
"Yeah, I've been helping Onozuka pack his stuff," Miyasaka said, looking a little unhappy. Onozuka had told Kikuchi that Miyasaka had accepted the news with both disappointment and a touch of relief. Of course Miyasaka didn't want Onozuka to move out, but at the same time, it was awkward for the two of them to be living together when one person had an unrequited crush on the other.
Mostly unrequited, anyway--Kikuchi was still convinced that Onozuka felt some attraction towards Miyasaka. He didn't believe that Onozuka would ever really act on that attraction, but still, Kikuchi would be much happier when Onozuka was no longer living under Miyasaka's roof.
"It was Kojima-san's idea," Onozuka told Iwaki. "She said that the public might get the wrong idea about me living with Miyasaka, and that it would be better for our image if Katsuya and I moved in together."
Iwaki frowned disapprovingly and said, "Surely that's not the only reason you're doing it, Onozuka-kun."
Kikuchi was afraid that it was, but Onozuka replied quietly, "No, it's not the only reason." He smiled at Kikuchi, looking a bit hesitant and awkward--which actually reassured Kikuchi more than his usual princely charm would, since it meant that Onozuka was probably being sincere. "I'm sure it would have happened eventually...Kojima-san just pushed up the timetable a bit."
"I'm glad to hear that," Iwaki said with a relieved smile. "It's unfortunate that your private life is being affected by all the publicity, but I hope that the move works out for the two of you."
"I was shocked when Kojima-san suggested it," Onozuka replied. "But now that I've had time to get used to the idea, I'm kind of looking forward to it. I must admit, it's more convenient than sneaking around and trying to meet in secret." He grinned and added, "And besides, I get a live-in cook as part of the deal, which is great since I hate cooking!"
"I take great pleasure in cooking for you, your Highness," Kikuchi said gallantly, and the others chuckled, except for Miyasaka.
"Well, you've seen pretty much everything," Iwaki said. "Shall we go back downstairs before Katou thinks we've abandoned him?"
Kikuchi was struck by a sudden inspiration, and while the others followed Iwaki downstairs, he grabbed Onozuka and ducked into the master bedroom, closing and locking the door behind them.
"What are you doing?" Onozuka demanded.
"Just following Katou's suggestion," Kikuchi replied with a grin.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Onozuka asked suspiciously.
"When I went to ask Katou and Iwaki for help getting back together with you, Katou suggested locking us together in a room until we either made up or killed each other."
"But we have made up," Onozuka pointed out wryly.
"We could make up again," Kikuchi cajoled, nibbling on Onozuka's earlobe. "Besides, doesn't the thought of doing it in Katou's bed turn you on?"
"For one thing, Katou would kill us," Onozuka said, pushing Kikuchi away but without much force, which Kikuchi took as meaning that he was willing to be persuaded. "For another, aren't you always complaining that I talk about Katou too much? Won't doing it in his bed just remind you of him even more?"
"I think of it more like revenge," Kikuchi purred. "Of course I love doing it with you anytime, anywhere, but imagining how outraged Katou would be that we were desecrating his bed would make the experience all the sweeter. And by the way, which bed is Katou's?"
Onozuka laughed and shook his head, but took Kikuchi's question seriously and scrutinized the room with the same intensity Kikuchi had once feigned in his detective dramas. There was a book and a pair of glasses on a small shelf next to the bed on the far side of the room, and Onozuka went over take a closer look.
"It's an historical novel and Katou doesn't read such things unless it's research for a role," Onozuka declared. "And also..." He picked up the glasses and squinted as he peered through them. "Iwaki uses reading glasses, but Katou has perfect vision. Therefore, I deduce that this must be Iwaki's bed."
"You look kind of cute in glasses, your Highness," Kikuchi teased his lover, and Onozuka laughed.
"Actually I do wear glasses sometimes, but I have the opposite problem of Iwaki--I'm nearsighted instead of farsighted!"
"Really?" Kikuchi asked, intrigued. "I had no idea...I've never seen you wearing glasses."
"Well, I don't use them much, since I only need them for seeing from a distance," Onozuka replied, placing the book and glasses back on the shelf. "For watching a movie or a play, mostly. And I have to wear them if I drive, but since I don't own a car, that's not really a problem. I do have a driver's license, though, just in case I'm required to do a driving scene for work, and I also have a pair of contact lenses in case I need them on the set and glasses are inappropriate for the role."
"I see that you're prepared for just about any eventuality," Kikuchi said, feeling both amused and impressed by the extreme level of Onozuka's calculation.
"Of course," Onozuka replied matter-of-factly. "I don't ever intend to lose a role over some trivial detail that could easily have been taken care of ahead of time."
"I want you to wear your glasses for me sometime, Yuu," Kikuchi said with a grin. "And maybe a kimono?"
"You have interesting fetishes, Katsuya," Onozuka said wryly.
"So this must be Katou's bed," Kikuchi said, turning his attention back to his original purpose. There was nothing on the nightstand next to it, but when he pulled upon the drawer, he found a tube of lube inside it. "Yes, this is definitely Katou's bed!" he laughed. "The label says, 'Personal lubrication...special formula with enhanced sensitivity to increase your pleasure!'" He grinned at Onozuka and asked, "Should we test it to see if the product lives up to the advertising?"
"You are such a pervert," Onozuka accused, but he seemed to be trying to fight back a smile.
"Yes, but you chose to sleep with me, so aren't you just as much of a pervert?" Kikuchi retorted. "Besides, you aren't so innocent yourself, Highness--as I recall, you enjoyed our previous encounter in the downstairs bathroom just as much as I did."
"But I'm the sweet, innocent prince," Onozuka protested with a wide-eyed look, batting his lashes at Kikuchi. "It's not my fault if you corrupted me by having your wicked way with me."
"I'll show you corruption," Kikuchi said, pulling back the covers and pushing a laughing Onozuka down onto Katou's bed.
"The others will come looking for us any minute now," Onozuka protested halfheartedly.
"Then let's be quick about it," Kikuchi said, refusing to be deterred. He pushed up Onozuka's t-shirt with one hand, licking and sucking at Onozuka's nipples while his other hand worked at unzipping Onozuka's jeans.
"Hey, are we seriously doing this?" Onozuka asked, a bit nervously.
Kikuchi lifted his mouth to reply, "I'm quite serious about it." He slipped his hand inside Onozuka's jeans and raised his eyebrows, murmuring, "Well, well...you do seem to find the idea exciting, after all, your Highness."
Onozuka clapped a hand to his mouth to stifle a moan as Kikuchi's fingers stroked and teased him until he was fully erect. He lifted his hand to gasp out, "Damn it, if we're going to do this, just get on with it before Katou comes up here and breaks down the door!"
Actually, Kikuchi found the idea of Katou catching them in bed together to be more rather than less arousing. It was stupid, because he knew that Katou didn't want Onozuka that way, but that didn't stop Kikuchi from wanting to stake his claim on Onozuka in front of his rival.
Still, he agreed that it would probably be a good idea to hurry up a bit--if he dallied too long, Katou might show up and kick them out of the room before things really got started. So he tugged off Onozuka's jeans and underwear, dropping them on the floor, then opened his own trousers to free his erection--he was already hard just from thinking about making love to Onozuka in this room.
He squeezed some of the "enhanced" lube into his hand and began preparing Onozuka, who was soon writhing enthusiastically on the bed with both hands clamped firmly over his mouth. Kikuchi would have preferred to hear his uncontrolled voice at full volume, but the muffled moans and whimpers were exciting, too, as was the desperate, pleading look in his eyes as he gazed up at Kikuchi.
Kikuchi was more than happy to answer that unspoken plea, and thrust deep into Onozuka, groaning out loud as he sank into the welcoming heat of his lover's body.
Another muffled moan escaped Onozuka's lips before he hissed at Kikuchi, "Keep it down, will you?!"
***
Downstairs, the others had rejoined Katou in the dining room, and Iwaki was getting dessert ready, transferring Yoshizumi's pastries onto a platter that he brought out to the dining table.
"Hey, where are Onozuka and Kikuchi?" Katou asked suspiciously.
"They aren't here?" Iwaki asked in a puzzled voice, glancing around the room. "I thought they were right behind us when we came downstairs. Maybe they went to the restroom?"
"Both of them at the same time?" Katou asked sarcastically. "We know what happened the last time they supposedly 'went to the restroom' together!"
"I'm sure there's a perfectly innocent explanation," Iwaki said soothingly. "Kikuchi-san said that he was thinking of moving into a bigger apartment with Onozuka-kun, and he liked the idea of our private rooms. Perhaps they just lingered behind to take a closer look at them."
"I don't want them poking around in my room!" Katou complained. "And what if they're not just looking around? What if they're in our bedroom, doing God knows what in our bed?!"
"You have a dirty mind, Katou," Iwaki reproved his husband, but just then, they heard a low groan from upstairs.
"That sounds like Kikuchi-san," Yoshizumi observed helpfully.
Miyasaka hastily planted himself down in a chair and declared, "I'm not going to be the one to check up on them this time!"
"I'm going to kill those two!" Katou raged as he ran towards the staircase.
"But Katou, your stitches!" Iwaki called after him anxiously.
Kenzaki turned to Yoshizumi and said with a smile, "Well, I see that things are never dull around your friends."
"You have no idea," Yoshizumi sighed.
***
Meanwhile, Kikuchi and Onozuka were having rushed, frantic sex that was somehow all the more exciting for its haste. The experience was indeed enhanced, although Kikuchi didn't think it was so much due to the lube as it was that the danger of being caught by an angry Katou gave their lovemaking an added thrill.
Onozuka stubbornly kept his hands over his mouth, but his legs were wrapped tightly around Kikuchi, and his body surged upwards to meet each of Kikuchi's thrusts. The muffled noises he made were becoming increasingly eager and desperate, and his eyes silently pleaded, Hurry!
"Mine," Kikuchi said in breathless satisfaction, redoubling his efforts as he pounded into Onozuka hard enough to make the mattress squeak beneath them. Onozuka's muffled moans grew louder, and Kikuchi panted, "You're...all mine...your Highness!"
And then there was a sudden loud banging at the door and Katou shouted furiously, "Open up right now, you two, before I break the damn door down!"
"Katou, calm down!" Iwaki urged.
Onozuka was startled into dropping his hands and letting out an undignified yelp, but Kikuchi laughed in exhilaration and shouted back, "Go ahead, if you want to see my naked ass that badly, Katou!"
The shouting on the other side of the door suddenly lapsed into shocked silence. Katou was probably realizing that he didn't actually want to get an eyeful of his enemy and his best friend in bed together, and Kikuchi grinned as Onozuka glared up at him.
"I am going to kill you," Onozuka threatened.
"Before or after I make you come?" Kikuchi retorted, thrusting into him.
"After, of course," Onozuka groaned.
"That doesn't exactly give me a lot of incentive, you know," Kikuchi pointed out, but he was already past the point of no return. "Ah well," he laughed, leaning down to kiss Onozuka as he wrapped his hand around Onozuka's cock. "At least I'll die a happy man!"
Onozuka, for once, had no reply and was reduced to incoherent moaning as Kikuchi kissed and stroked and thrust into him, and he cried out as he came, either forgetting or not bothering to muffle the sound. Kikuchi savored that moment as his usually cool and collected prince lost control, with his face flushed and his mouth open wide, eyes squeezed shut in ecstasy. And that was enough to send Kikuchi over the edge as well, groaning, "Yuu!"
As they lay there panting and trying to catch their breath, Iwaki's cold and stern voice said from behind the door, "If the two of you are quite finished in there, perhaps you could get dressed and join the rest of us? I'd like to have a word with you--several choice words, in fact."
"We're in trouble, and it's all your fault," Onozuka said accusingly.
"Yes, but it was totally worth it," Kikuchi replied with a grin, and Onozuka glared at him for a moment before he gave up, then laughed and shook his head.
"You're impossible, Katsuya!"
"But good in bed," Kikuchi reminded him.
"And just remember, that's the only thing saving you from being killed right at this very moment," Onozuka said, attempting another glare, but couldn't stop his mouth from curving up into a smile.
"Then I'd better be sure to keep my skills polished," Kikuchi quipped.
"Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem, considering the frequency with which you 'polish' them," Onozuka replied wryly.
***
A few minutes later, they were downstairs loading Katou's sheets and blanket into the washing machine under the stern and watchful eyes of their hosts.
"I can't believe you're making us do your laundry," Onozuka complained.
"And I can't believe you were having sex in my bed, and with him, of all people!" Katou retorted.
"Oh, so it would be okay if I'd been having sex with someone you liked?" Onozuka asked slyly.
"You idiot!" Katou barked, swinging his arm out to swat Onozuka, but Kikuchi stepped forward and raised his own arm, intercepting the blow.
"How gallant," Onozuka cooed sweetly.
"And you!" Katou shouted at Kikuchi. "You have the nerve to violate my and Iwaki-san's bedroom like that, after I agreed to help you against my better judgment!"
"But Katou-kun, it was your idea that Yuu and I should be locked up in a room together in order to make up," Kikuchi reminded him with a grin.
"But you already made up!" Katou snapped. "And anyway, I nixed that idea once I realized the direction your dirty mind was heading in!"
"I'm very disappointed in both of you," Iwaki interrupted, crossing his arms across his chest as he gave Kikuchi and Onozuka a stern, disapproving look. "We invited you over to celebrate with us, and you overstepped your bounds and took advantage of our hospitality."
"Hey, Katou-kun gave me the idea," Kikuchi tried to protest once again.
"And furthermore," Iwaki continued, his voice rising in volume and growing several degrees colder, "you deliberately provoked Katou, causing him to go charging up the stairs in spite of his injuries!"
This time he directed his glare at Katou as well, and Katou gave him a puppy-eyes look, saying contritely, "I'm sorry, Iwaki-san, but really, I'm all right."
"Are you sure?" Iwaki asked suspiciously. "You seem a little winded."
"That's just because I've been lying around in a hospital bed for so long," Katou said dismissively. "I'll be back to full strength in no time!"
"You will follow the doctor's orders and take things slowly!" Iwaki shot back at him, then yanked up Katou's shirt.
"I love it when you're aggressive, Iwaki-san, but please--not in public!" Katou said with a grin, then yelped, "Ow!" when Iwaki smacked him on the back of his head.
"Shut up, you idiot--I just want to take a look at your wounds! Hmm...there doesn't seem to be any bleeding."
"I told you that I'm fine," Katou insisted, but Iwaki's fingers gently prodded at the area near his surgery scars and he yelped again. "Ow, Iwaki-san, that hurts!"
"Then take better care of yourself," Iwaki said gruffly, pulling Katou's shirt back down. "You're not superhuman, you know."
"I'm sorry for making you worry, Iwaki-san," Katou apologized, and Iwaki's expression softened. Katou might have been forgiven if he'd been smart enough to keep his mouth shut, but of course the idiot just couldn't leave well enough alone. "But I had to protect our bedroom from those two perverts!"
"A room doesn't need protection, you idiot!" Iwaki snapped, smacking him once again. "Your health is much more important to me!"
"Then maybe you shouldn't be striking a wounded man, Iwaki-kun?" Yoshizumi suggested gently, although he looked extremely amused by the whole situation.
"Sorry," Iwaki apologized sheepishly to Katou, then immediately glared at him again. "But you're still an idiot!"
Kikuchi snickered, and Iwaki turned back to him and snapped, "And you! Onozuka-kun pulls childish pranks sometimes, but I expected a little more maturity from you, Kikuchi-san, considering how much older you are!"
This time it was Miyasaka's turn to snicker, and he grinned at Kikuchi with a touch of malice. He might have made up with Onozuka and accepted that their friendship would remain platonic, but it seemed that he hadn't entirely forgiven Kikuchi yet.
"Ouch," Yoshizumi whispered to Kenzaki, still looking amused.
"Isn't that hitting a little below the belt, Iwaki-kun?" Kikuchi asked coolly, glaring at both Miyasaka and Yoshizumi.
"And aren't you a little too old to be acting so childishly?" Iwaki retorted. "I was impressed when you came to us for help because I thought you were finally setting aside your old grudges for Onozuka-kun's sake, and I was deeply moved when you apologized to us. But now I wonder if you were being sincere at all, or if you were just putting on an act in order to get what you wanted."
"I'm not in the habit of humiliating myself just for kicks!" Kikuchi snarled, fearing that Iwaki's accusation would cause Onozuka to doubt his sincerity. Their new level of commitment was still a bit fragile and tenuous, and it would be all too easy for a careless remark to shatter that delicate balance and send Onozuka running for cover again.
To his surprise and relief, Onozuka came to his defense, saying, "I don't think that Katsuya would have bowed down to the two of you just to coax a favor out of you. He has too much pride for that."
"I thought so, too," Iwaki replied. "But I'm getting really tired of this feuding between Kikuchi-san and Katou--"
"He started it!" Katou interjected, then fell silent after receiving a stern glare from Iwaki.
"And especially after you promised to call a truce with Katou--publicly, no less," Iwaki told Kikuchi.
"I wasn't trying to start a feud," Kikuchi protested with a show of innocence, although everyone regarded him skeptically. "I just couldn't help myself," Kikuchi said, wrapping an arm around Onozuka. "We're like newlyweds--we just can't keep our hands off each other!"
"Speak for yourself," Onozuka said dryly, but at least he didn't push Kikuchi's arm away, which was a good sign.
"I have tried to forget about the past and accept you as a friend for Onozuka-kun's sake," Iwaki lectured Kikuchi sternly. "But if you cannot keep yourself from baiting Katou, and if you cannot treat us with respect while you're in our home, then you will no longer be welcome here. Is that clear, Kikuchi-san?"
"Very," Kikuchi replied, sensing that Iwaki meant what he said. "I'll stick to the truce from now on." He grinned at Katou, saying, "This will have been my last act of revenge--I'll consider us even now."
"What, are you still hung up over the press accepting our relationship?" Katou demanded. "Yeah, you got a raw deal ten years ago, but that wasn't our fault. Grow up and get over yourself, old man!"
Actually, what Kikuchi wanted revenge for was Katou's close relationship with Onozuka, and his suspicion that Onozuka harbored a bit of latent attraction for Katou. But there was no need for Katou to know that if he hadn't figured it out on his own--he would probably just use the knowledge to mock Kikuchi for his jealousy and insecurity. "Truce, Katou-kun," Kikuchi said placatingly, pulling Onozuka a little closer. "I'll behave myself from now on. But you know, you could cut me a little slack for rushing to your rescue and helping to save your life."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Katou asked incredulously. "You didn't save my life!"
"You probably don't remember because you were unconscious, but Kikuchi-san did rush to your side and render first-aid," Yoshizumi said gently. "However, it might be a bit of an exaggeration to claim that he saved your life."
"You never know--it could have made a difference," Kikuchi insisted.
"I did tell you that he tried to stop the bleeding," Iwaki reminded Katou.
"Yeah, but for like two seconds before the plastic surgeon guy took over!" Katou argued. "Wasn't he the one who stabilized me until the ambulance got there?"
"Ah, but it was my manager who found the doctor and brought him to your side," Kikuchi said triumphantly. "So you still owe your life to me, Katou!"
"I don't owe you anything, you jerk!" Katou shouted, and Onozuka burst into laughter while Kenzaki and Yoshizumi chuckled, and Miyasaka watched with bemusement. Iwaki heaved a long-suffering sigh and shook his head.
Yoshizumi patted Iwaki on the shoulder sympathetically and said, "You might as well give up on trying to make them get along, Iwaki-kun. I'm sure they'll behave themselves enough to avoid bloodshed for Onozuka-kun's sake, but they're never going to be able to play nice with each other. Try to think of them as two family members who always squabble at reunions, but you put up with them anyway because they're family."
"Does that make me the crazy uncle?" Kikuchi laughed.
"More like the pervy uncle," Miyasaka muttered, not quite under his breath.
"That's pretty ironic, coming from you," Kikuchi retorted, and Miyasaka glared at him.
Onozuka looked amused by the exchange, but stepped between them and said, "The two of you had better knock it off before Iwaki-san loses his temper and kicks us all out of the house."
Meanwhile, Katou was protesting, "Kikuchi isn't my family and I don't want to be related to him!"
"Well, but if Onozuka-kun is like a brother to you, doesn't that sort of make Kikuchi-san your brother-in-law?" Yoshizumi asked mischievously.
"He isn't really my brother, and anyway, they're not married!" Katou said frantically.
"You're so cold, Katou," Onozuka pouted. "I've always thought of you like a brother, and didn't I accept Iwaki-san as your husband?"
"Iwaki-san and I really are married, but you and Kikuchi aren't!" Katou argued.
"Yet," Kikuchi added, smiling at his lover possessively. "But we're moving in together, so it's sort of like we're engaged, right?"
Onozuka looked a bit nervous at the thought, but played along for the sake of unnerving Katou. "That's right," he declared, returning Kikuchi's embrace, then turned to Katou. "And you promised me that you'd put up with Katsuya for my sake."
"Did I really say that?" Katou grumbled.
"You really did," Onozuka insisted.
"Fine, but I don't have to like him," Katou said sullenly.
"That's okay, I like him enough for the both of us," Onozuka replied, smiling up at Kikuchi sweetly.
Yoshizumi made a strangled noise and fled back in the direction of the living room. "Sorry, I guess he's had too much romance for one evening," an amused Kenzaki apologized.
"It'll take awhile before the laundry is done, so why don't we go back in and have dessert?" Iwaki suggested.
"I've already had my dessert," Kikuchi purred into Onozuka's ear, and his prince swatted him on the arm--lightly enough to look playful to the others, but hard enough to sting a little and warn Kikuchi that he was testing the limits of Onozuka's patience.
"Behave yourself," Onozuka whispered sternly, then said cheerfully to Iwaki, "I'd love some cake--the pastries Yoshizumi-san brought looked delicious! I didn't know that he had a cousin, though."
"Neither did I," Iwaki said, and they both glanced at Kenzaki.
"I haven't met Tachibana-san yet, either, but Yoshizumi-san's told me some stories about him, and he sounds like quite a character," Kenzaki chuckled.
The cakes were delicious, but Kikuchi thought that his lover was even more tempting than the sweets and was quite sure that Onozuka was deliberately trying to provoke him, first by leaving smears of whipped cream on his mouth, and then by slowly licking the cream off his lips in a sensual manner that would be more appropriate for the bedroom. And Kikuchi knew that it wasn't just his imagination because he saw Miyasaka blush and stare down intently at his plate, trying to avoid looking Onozuka in the eye.
"Knock it off, your Highness," Kikuchi muttered irritably.
"I don't know what you mean, Katsuya," Onozuka replied, with an innocent wide-eyed look. He took another bite of cake and licked more cream from his lips.
"I swear if you keep that up, I'm going to jump you right here at the table," Kikuchi whispered into his ear.
"What happened to 'I'm an old man and have no stamina'?" Onozuka whispered back at him. He waved his fork at Kikuchi playfully and said, "Behave yourself, and perhaps there will be another serving of 'dessert' for you when we get home."
That was enough incentive for Kikuchi to remain on his best behavior, as much as he wanted to lean over and lick the cream from Onozuka's mouth himself. Katou showed less restraint as he suddenly leaned over and licked a dab of chocolate frosting from the corner of Iwaki's mouth.
"Katou!" Iwaki protested, his face turning bright red.
"The cake is very sweet," Katou declared unrepentantly. "But not as sweet as Iwaki-san's kisses!"
"Idiot!" a blushing Iwaki growled, and Yoshizumi dropped his fork and groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"I know, I know," Kenzaki said comfortingly, patting Yoshizumi on the back. "They're just..."
"Too nauseating for you!" Onozuka finished with a grin, and everyone burst into laughter.
***
As they drove back home later that night, Kikuchi said in a casual voice, "You seem to get along well with that Kenzaki guy."
Onozuka, of course, saw through him immediately and grinned with satisfaction. "Yeah, I do," he replied. "Why, are you jealous?"
"Of an incredibly smooth and handsome host who makes his living charming money out of his customers, and who spent an evening charming you and apparently did a pretty good job of it?" Kikuchi asked with ironic humor. "Why on earth would I be jealous?"
Onozuka laughed, looking smugly pleased with himself. "Kenzaki-san is very charming, but he's completely in love with Yoshizumi-san," he reassured Kikuchi, who scowled, still not feeling completely placated. "And while I do like Kenzaki-san, I don't like him in the way you're thinking of," Onozuka continued soothingly. "He's a very handsome man, but he's not really my type."
"What is your type, anyway?" Kikuchi asked suspiciously, secretly thinking that it seemed to tend towards hot-headed idiots, judging by Katou and Miyasaka.
"Older perverted men, apparently," Onozuka joked.
"Ha ha, very funny," Kikuchi said dryly.
"Actually, he looks a bit too much like Iwaki for me to ever consider sleeping with him," Onozuka said with a wry half-smile. "Even if I were single, which I'm not," he added, before Kikuchi had a chance to ask if that was the only reason why he wouldn't consider sleeping with Kenzaki.
"It's just that you seem really comfortable around him for someone that you haven't known that long," Kikuchi said in a more serious voice. "I've never seen you let down your Prince act in front of a stranger before."
"Well...I'm a pretty good judge of character, and I get the feeling that he's trustworthy," Onozuka replied thoughtfully. "Also, Yoshizumi wouldn't have brought him to dinner tonight if he didn't think that Kenzaki was trustworthy, too." Onozuka grinned at Kikuchi mischievously, then added, "And besides, I figured that Yoshizumi must have told him all kinds of terrible stories about me already, so there's no point in trying to convince him of my princeliness!"
"True," Kikuchi conceded, feeling mostly reassured.
"But you really are cute when you get jealous," Onozuka laughed, leaning over to kiss Kikuchi on the cheek.
"Brat," Kikuchi said gruffly as he reached out with one hand to ruffle Onozuka's hair.
"Hey, don't mess with my hair!"
As Onozuka made a show of peering into the rear view mirror and trying to smooth down his hair, Kikuchi thought to himself once again that it was a relief to see Onozuka looking so relaxed and happy for a change. Onozuka's cheerfulness was probably due partly to Katou and Miyasaka, but Kikuchi was so relieved that he didn't begrudge the two idiots that--at least, not much.
But thinking about Katou reminded Kikuchi of Iwaki and how he'd questioned Onozuka's motives for moving in with him. "Hey, Yuu?" he asked hesitantly.
"Hmm?" Onozuka replied distractedly, still focused on his primping.
"Are you really okay with moving in together?" Kikuchi asked, then wondered if he'd just ruined the relaxed mood by bringing up a touchy subject. Besides, what would he do if Onozuka said "no"? It was a little too late to call off the move now, since they'd already promised Kojima that they would go through with it, and they'd broadly hinted to the press that they would be moving in together.
But it turned out that he didn't have to worry, after all. Onozuka turned away from the mirror and gave Kikuchi a genuine smile as he replied, "Yeah, I think so. I know I gave you a hard time about it at first, but now that the shock's worn off, I'm kind of excited about it."
"Really?" Kikuchi asked.
"Really," Onozuka assured him. "It's a relief not to have to worry about hiding from the press anymore. And..." He blushed slightly and ducked his head, looking a bit shy and sheepish--and incredibly, it didn't seem to be an act, which made him look even more endearing to Kikuchi. "...I like being able to stay and sleep over with you instead of having to sneak out and catch a cab home." He looked up and smiled with his more typical mischievous charm and added, "And I like having you cook breakfast for me, too! So yes, I'm okay with living together, although it would have been nice if you'd been the one to ask me to move in with you instead of Kojima."
Kikuchi felt a flash of guilt and alarm, but before he had a chance to offer an apology or a justification, Onozuka noticed his expression and quickly said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like a complaint. All I meant was that I wish we'd been able to make the decision ourselves instead of having it forced on us. I know that you would have asked me eventually; it's just that everything happened so fast after we got outed to the media, and then Kojima came up with her brilliant idea..."
"I would have asked you, you know," Kikuchi said quietly. "Actually, I would have asked you a long time ago if I hadn't been worried about ruining your career--or about you running away from me."
"I know," Onozuka replied, just as quietly. He hesitated, then added, "I won't run."
"I trust you," Kikuchi told him, then lightened the mood by flashing a rakish grin at his lover. "And even if you did, I'd chase after you!"
Onozuka laughed, and when Kikuchi had to stop the car for a red light, he leaned over and laid his head on Kikuchi's shoulder. "I'm glad that you didn't give up on me," he whispered.
"Of course I'd never give up on you, Yuu," Kikuchi said, smiling at his lover tenderly. "I love you."
Onozuka pressed his face against Kikuchi's shoulder and mumbled, "Me, too." His response was awkward and unromantic and completely un-princely, but it was sincere, and for now, that was enough for Kikuchi. In fact, he was so caught up in the moment that he didn't notice when the light turned green until the car behind them honked its horn. Onozuka jumped and hastily jerked back, blushing as he retreated to his side of the car, but Kikuchi grinned, feeling quite content as he continued driving back to his--no, their apartment.
***
"You know, you did go a little far in making them wash the sheets," Iwaki said with a smile as he replaced the newly-laundered sheets on Katou's bed. Katou would have done it himself, but Iwaki had sternly said that he'd done enough for one day. In fact, he'd suggested that they sleep on futons downstairs so that Katou wouldn't have to make the climb up and down the stairs, but Katou had insisted that he'd been looking forward to sleeping in his own bed when he came home from the hospital.
"It's the least they could do!" Katou replied indignantly. "I don't want to sleep on anything that man's body has touched, and I most certainly don't want their bodily fluids on my sheets!" He shuddered at the thought. "Actually, I was tempted to just burn the sheets!"
"Now that would be going too far," Iwaki chuckled. After he finished making the bed, he straightened up and took a closer look at Katou's face. Katou wasn't sure what he saw there, but it made him frown, and he went to fetch the pills the doctor had prescribed, along with a glass of water.
"Really, I'm okay," Katou tried to protest.
"Don't be so damned stubborn--the doctor prescribed them for a reason!" Iwaki snapped. "I understand that you don't like feeling groggy, but we're about to go to bed anyway, so it doesn't matter now, does it?"
"Well, we're going to bed, but we don't necessarily have to go to sleep right away, do we?" Katou asked hopefully.
"We're going to sleep," Iwaki said firmly, in a tone that brooked no argument. "You're tired and you're looking a little pale, and besides, the doctor forbade any strenuous activity."
Of course they couldn't make love as vigorously as they usually did, but Katou thought that they could have managed something more gentle, using their hands and mouths to pleasure each other. That was another thing Katou had missed in the hospital, even more than sleeping in his own bed!
However, although he never would have admitted it to Iwaki, he really was tired. Tonight's dinner had been fun--aside from catching Kikuchi and Onozuka in his bed--but the evening had drained his energy much more than he had thought it would. It was really appalling, how weak he felt and how quickly he tired, although the doctors had assured him that he would eventually recover his full strength after his wound healed. Katou knew that if he tried to complain, Iwaki would say tartly that it was natural to feel a little weak after being shot and nearly killed, and that he'd heal faster if he rested more. And right now, his wound really did ache--climbing the stairs slowly wasn't that strenuous, but he probably shouldn't have charged up them at full speed earlier.
So Katou meekly took the pills and swallowed them under Iwaki's watchful eye. "Good night, Iwaki-san," he said, planting a chaste kiss on Iwaki's lips.
"Good night, Katou," Iwaki replied, turning out the lights.
Katou climbed into his bed, pulling the blanket over himself as he turned to lie on his side in order to avoid putting pressure on his injured back. He yawned and closed his eyes, thinking that it did feel good to be sleeping on just-washed sheets that still held a hint of warmth from the dryer.
And then the blanket lifted and he felt added warmth as Iwaki slipped in beside him and carefully wrapped his arms around Katou. "Iwaki-san?" a startled Katou asked. "I thought you said no strenuous activity..."
"That's right," Iwaki whispered, brushing a kiss against Katou's cheek. "But I thought it would be all right if we slept together...as long as all we're doing is sleeping. I missed being able to hold you in my arms while you were in the hospital."
"I missed that, too," Katou replied, sighing happily as he returned the embrace and snuggled against his husband, drinking in Iwaki's scent and the comforting warmth of Iwaki's body against his own. "Love you, Iwaki-san," he murmured sleepily as the effects of the medication, combined with the day's excitement, kicked in and he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness.
"I love you, too, Katou," he heard Iwaki whisper just before he fell into a deep and contented sleep.
-End-
Next story in the series: A Peek Inside Onozuka's (and Kikuchi's) Bag!
***
Afterword: The scene where Iwaki gives everyone a tour of the house of course borrows heavily from the "A Visit to Iwaki-san and Katou's New Home!!" section at the end of Book 3. It has a convenient floor plan and pictures of the bathroom and bedroom that really came in handy, and the interview was hilarious! It's so typical of Iwaki to want separate beds and rooms, and for Katou to want a single room and bed, but I thought they settled on a nice compromise. And I totally think they are exhibitionists--if you look at the picture, that bathroom window is wide open, and nosy neighbors or the paparazzi could have a field day with it! I hope they at least draw a curtain or something across the window when they bathe. ^_^
Iwaki is shown using reading glasses at the beginning of "Double Casting" in Book 7, when he meets Shimizu for lunch. And Onozuka is shown wearing glasses at the Japanese premiere of Fuyu no Semi in Book 10. It's the only time we see him wearing glasses, so I assumed that he mostly uses them for seeing from a distance (similar to me, incidentally), and doesn't really need them most of the time. And yes, I took special notice of that one scene because I totally have a thing for bishie guys in glasses! ^_^
The description on Katou's tube of lube was inspired by, of all things, an ad I saw in People magazine for KY Intense Arousal Gel for Women. Funny how odd little RL things work their way into my fics!
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all in all, a very funny company, those guys ^^. the only one left aside is poor Miyasaka actually. guess you've stacked a juicy plot bunny aside for him hmm?
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As for Miyasaka, I promised Snapelike that I would write some Mochimune/Miyasaka, so he will having some smexx and getting into some trouble of his own!
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Thank you for reading, and I will definitely be writing some sequels in the future!
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