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There were a few things that appeared in Kaoru’s daydreams that he never talked about. He was not one to classify himself as a romantic, but there was something wholesome and intimate about taking a bath together. The inherent connection with water and skin, the intricate connection between life and emotion as poetic as it is unspoken. He has a bad habit of being unable voice these things, the image of a candle-lit bath under the stars something that seeps into his daydreams when he’s working.
Hands. Kaoru had attempted to rationalise that so much of his profession came down to the way he used his hands, the immediate and physical response to his work, that it was only natural that the intimacy he craved as something with his hands. His language, like everyone’s, was inhibited by an inability to tell someone how he loved them, words could be lies and figments of his imagination. But the way his hands moved through someone’s hair… Kaoru could only imagine.
Kaoru had been imagining it, long enough for his eyes to glaze over and his breathing to slow. Long enough for Kojiro to take note. As often as Kojiro toyed Kaoru over small things, Kojiro observed. His partner had been quite for long enough to force him to retrace the conversation. Moving house, real-estate agents, plumbing, bathtubs…
The deduction wasn’t that easy, Kaoru had been subtle but Kojiro was smarter than many gave him credit for. Kaoru took a bit too long to turn the page on those adds for those bubble tents in the middle of the deserts in Australia, or the bath-specialty shops or a collection of other things. What Kojiro missed, however, was the incentive that Kaoru wanted the experience to be shared. Kojiro landed on the false idea that “Kaoru likes luxurious baths.”
By the time Kaoru’s birthday had rolled around, Kojiro had been hording stuff for months. Everything Cherry Blossom scented for obvious reasons, but candles, clothes, petals, and everything he could understand from the research he had done. He was still completely oblivious, both Kaoru’s true desires, or why a few litres of water was so fascinating but it was for Kaoru.
The morning of Kaoru’s birthday was an odd scramble of getting dressed, and taking the boat to Miyakojima with the kids. Reki and Langa had managed to get themselves late for the ferry due to a very incorrect detour forcing Kojiro to convince the ferryman not to leave. Kaoru found amusement in watching the squabble, sitting next to Miya in the shade so he could play on his Mintendo Bitch.
“Daddy’s getting angry.” Miya mumbled, not looking up from his game.
“He’s not your…” Kaoru took a breath. It was his birthday; he wasn’t going to let this of all things get to him. “He’s got a whole itinerary for today. I doubt he’d be happy if he was forced to reschedule.”
“He’d do anything for you huh?” Kaoru rolled his eyes, but he knew it to be true. The fact that today was packed with fine dining and an afternoon trip to the beach was so clearly designed for Kaoru.
“He would do many things for all of you. Don’t get too jealous.”
“Maybe I should ask him for a new game.” And as much as Kaoru disagreed, by the end of the day, Miya was able to start a new save on the new Pokemum: Redstone.
~~
After Langa and Reki arrived, the day was mostly smooth sailing. Asides from the group forgetting Hiromi at the beach, all had gone well and the group was preparing to take the last ferry back.
“You guys go ahead. We’ll catch up at some point.” Kojiro said, putting Hiromi in charge of the group.
“We won’t wait for you if the boat leaves!” Reki shouts back at him.
“Plus I’m tired. I don’t want to sleep here.” Langa replied blandly, struggling to keep his eyes open.
“Don’t worry! I’m counting on it!” Kojiro laughed back taking Kaoru by the hand off the ferry and around the corner. Once out of view, Kojiro pressed a kiss to Kaoru’s cheek, Kaoru leaning back against the wall to capture Kojiro’s face in his hands.
“I’m going to take a bet that you have other plans for us tonight.” Kaoru grinned, running his thumb across Kojiro’s lips.
“Plans for you, yes. We won’t be needing that ferry just yet.” Kojiro replied, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“Where too?” Kaoru inquired, moving a hand to intertwine theirs together.
“The hot springs.”
~~
The trip there had been longer than Kaoru had remembered, perhaps it was because he spend the time daydreaming about what Kojiro had planned for the evening, or because he was wondering if he’d somehow figured it out. Nevertheless, when they arrived Kojiro was surprised to find a clear moonless night that allowed a view of the night sky so vivid one could see the smear of lights across the sky we call the ‘Milky Way’.
“Can I ask now what you have planned?”
“Perhaps.” Kojiro replied, a warm tone flickering in his deep natural voice only Kaoru really heard. When they arrived at the top of the mountain where the hot springs were located, Kojiro guided Kaoru to a small secluded glass bubble with a large bronze bathtub big enough for two. Kaoru’s eyes traced every corner of the room surrounded by dense forest, and above the brightest stars he’d seen in a while. Everything cherry blossom, including the tea.
“Kojiro I-“
“I hope I payed attention well enough. There’s everything you could possibly need, I spoke to some shop owners I-“
“Thank you.” Kaoru smiled, eyes filled with a curious and energetic spark and his voice light.
“Let me help you get in.” And that was all the convincing Kaoru needed to let Kojiro begin to remove his yukata. It was a rhythm he was accustomed to, and something Kojiro was managing to do with increasing speed, but this time the brush of Kojiro’s hand against his back was enough for him to fall fully into him.
Kojiro pressed a kiss to the back Kaoru’s neck, holding up his hair so that Kaoru could feel every sensation of the kiss that sent ripples down his spine. Kojiro tied his hair up into a bun, and guided him into the water. The temperature was perfect, Kaoru humming as his head rested against the rim of the bath, eyes closed and fingers buzzing.
“Kaoru, don’t close your eyes you’ll miss the stars.” Kaoru’s eyes flickered open to witness the full majesty of the stars. White flecks of varying capacity strewn across the vast expanses of darkness, so elegantly positioned in ways that people could draw lines in the sky and say they remind people of someone they love.
“You seem settled, so I’ll leave you to it-“
“Wait-“
“- don’t panic, you can call me when you want me to come back.” Kaoru’s panicked expression was easily misread by Kojiro. As far as he could tell, perhaps being alone here felt a bit too dangerous. “I assure you. You’re safe here. Okay?”
Kaoru took a breath and closed his eyes. “Okay.” This was a good present, a fantastic one. Perhaps Kojiro hadn’t felt comfortable to be with him like this.
“I’ll see you in a bit.” Kojiro opened the door, and a small gust of wind created a small chill in the air. Kaoru had decided, both of them had. He was going to enjoy this-
“Wait.” Kojiro opened the door slightly again.
“Is everything okay?” When Kojiro looked in, he found Kaoru looking back at him, eyes glassy and his breathing heavy. He was peering over the side of the tub, arm outstretched. Kojiro almost mistook the tears for water droplets. “Kao-“
“Join me.” Kaoru mumbled. “Please.” He regretted his words immediately. “If you want to.” Kaoru, despite his saddened demeanour, was so classically beautiful. Hair draped between his fingers and vivid beneath starlight and candlelight. Kojiro found his pose similar to those of paintings he had seen during his time in Italy, basilica’s with painted angels were less angelic than him. Seeing Kaoru, Kojiro understood why people painted their lovers for the world to see. But for Kaoru, Kojiro wanted a form of idle worship meant only for him.
“Kaoru-“
“Sorry, just pretend I said nothing.” He whispered, sinking back into the tub and turning away from Kojiro. Candlelight sent streaks of light bouncing off the water, light smeared across his back and arms as if the world itself had managed to converge all its light on him. They had been in this dance for years, knowing full well they were enamoured with each other but refusing to speak a word of it in case saying something would break the spell. But Kojiro knew, seeing Kaoru like this, that he wanted to say something, anything, that would make this adoration infinite.
Wordlessly, Kojiro unbuttoned his shirt and slipped off the remainder of his clothes. Unlike all the other times they had shared their time in ways like this, it was filled with thoughts and sounds that replaced what he felt now: vulnerability. Had it been anyone else, they would have been a joke or some charismatic remark. But for Kaoru…
“May I?” Kojiro asked, his voice a soft rumble Kaoru barely recognised but lavished in the way it echoed through his body. Kaoru looked up at his partner, holding out his hand to guide him in. Kojiro barely created a splash, guiding his body in next to Kaoru. Karou’s eyes, in all of their golden glory, held such a different tone to that of earlier today. A sincerity he was beginning to take delight in replacing the usual formality. And he was smiling, tracing his fingers across Kojiro’s jawline and pushing strands of hair out of his eyes.
“Thank you.” Kaoru didn’t need to say it, the way he’d fondly kept hold of Kojiro’s hand ever since he’d gotten in and the joy that danced across his eyes was enough of gratitude for Kojiro.
“I couldn’t leave you here like that alone.” Kojiro drew a line across Kaoru’s lips with his thumb before pulling him in for a kiss. They’d kissed multiple times, usually in a fit of passion but Kojiro preferred kissing Kaoru like this. It felt naïve, sacred even. Kaoru hummed against his lips as they kissed, slow and unburdened by time that had passed to quickly throughout the day. Kojiro held Kaoru as if they had been mythic lovers reunited, and the converging of stars and light on them seemed only to be proof of it. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Kaoru.”
“I…” Kaoru hadn’t intended to let his emotions get the better of him. But Kojiro had been so delicate with him, the kisses on his neck and forehead enough that he had been enraptured with just the idea of being here with Kojiro. “… I just wanted you with me, here.”
Kaoru pressed a soft kiss to Kojiro’s neck, to which he mumbled “I’m starting to understand this now,” running his knuckles against Kaoru’s scalp, Kaoru moaning against his neck in approval. “It’s the weightlessness. The illusion that..” Kojiro trailed off as Kaoru kissed his shoulder, running his hands across the muscle of his arms. There was no desperation, or obsession; Kaoru’s kisses felt like a form of worship. The delicacy and the softness Kaoru treated him with was something so foreign to him, yet he was completely enamoured.
Kojiro ran his fingers across Kaoru’s thighs as he captured his lips with his own. Kaoru whined against his lips, Kojiro running his fingers through the length of his hair. The pair folded into each other, falling in time with the rhythm of each other that musicians would struggle to recognise the pace they had made for themselves. Kaoru’s infinite dreamings of this moment struggled to compare to the ways Kojiro treated him.
When their mouths broke apart, Kojiro laid his partners head against the rim of the tub and kneeled over him; trailing kisses across this collarbone, down across his shoulder and picked up his hand to kiss ever knuckle, to kiss his wrists and the palm of his hand. He’d expected Kaoru to have his eyes closed, but he’d watched with close curiosity, revelling in every kiss and the sensations they left on his skin. Kojiro repeated with the other side, with extra care so he could hear the small hums of approval every time he kissed him. The candlelight danced across Kojiro’s back, the mounds of muscle outlined by small slivers of silver and gold.
Kojiro held Kaoru’s body just slightly out of the water so he could trail kisses along his torso, down across his stomach and then let him submerge again only to pick up his leg and trail kisses along it. A bright pink spread across his face and neck the colour of his hair, Kojiro could head the murmur in Kaoru’s breaths every time he kissed him.
“You’re so lovely Kaoru.” He whispered against his partners calf before sliding back up to meet Kaoru’s eyes. “You’re so incredible Kaoru.” He repeated, placing a kiss on his forehead.
“Kojiro I-“ Kaoru had to take a sharp breath, caressing Kojiro’s cheek. “-you’re beautiful.”
“Let me wash your hair,” Kojiro stepped out of the bathtub and put on a bath robe, grabbing Kaoru’s shampoo and a stool to sit behind him. Kaoru grumbled at the loss of warmth beside him, but promptly fell back into rhythm as soon as he felt Kojiro’s hands in his hair.
Kojiro watched Kaoru’s eyes flutter closed as he massaged the product into his scalp, a sharp exhale leaving his lips as he felt the hand at the pack of his neck, collecting the strands of hair. It was only a few minutes, but it could have been hours and Kaoru wouldn’t have complained. Kojiro brushed his fingers through his partner’s hair, taking the time to take out all the knots and sand from the events of the day before washing it out.
“Where’d you learn this?” Kaoru mumbled, opening his eyes to watch Kojiro run conditioner through his hair.
“To wash hair?”
“To worship your partners.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve never done this with anyone else.” Kojiro replied, a smug grin on his face as he bends down to kiss Kaoru on the forehead. “Only for you.” Kaoru grinned with that. Many people had been with Kojiro, but none had experienced how delicate he could be.
“You have gone above and beyond for me today Kojiro. Thank you.” Kojiro chuckled as he washed out the conditioner and began to dry Kaoru’s hair. “Let me at least return the favour.”
Kojiro grinned, removing the bath robe and sitting in the bath in front of Kaoru, handing him the bottles. “Go ahead.” Kaoru chuckled, running his fingers through the length of Kojiro’s hair and massaging both products in, and washing them out. Kojiro looked like a wet puppy, grinning and smiling at Kaoru whenever he did anything.
“We’ll have to get out to get you a towel.”
“Mmh?” Kojiro made a sound, processing the information before saying. “No need.” And shaking his head wildly sending water droplets in all directions. Kaoru laughed, tipping his head back and splashing water in Kojiro’s direction.
“How rude.”
“Well it did the job.” Kaoru laughed, caressing Kojiro’s face and placing a soft kiss on Kojiro’s forehead.
“I adore you Kojiro.” He whispers, holding Kojiro’s face in his hands.
“I love you Kaoru.” Not adore, not like. Love. Kaoru hoped it would be the first of many times he’d hear that. Kojiro’s voice rang with a sincerity he would enjoy until the end of time.
“I love you Kojiro.”
~~
Kaoru had welcomed the cool sea-breeze on the morning ferry, unable to shake the feelings of the night before, and he had no real intention of doing so any time soon. It was early enough that it was only the two of them and a few other workmen. Kojiro had rung Hiromi to check if all the kids had gotten home fine, all except Miya sleeping at an acceptable time who had finished all the gym battles of his Pokemum game.
Miya’s words from yesterday echoed through Kaoru. Kojiro would do anything for Kaoru. And unlike Miya who had taken full advantage of Kojiro’s generosity, Kaoru would always try to return the favour.
“I found a house we might like to move into.” Kojiro wrapped his arms around his lover, handing him the phone to show him some real-estate advertisement. It met all of their requirements, close proximity to both of their businesses and enough storage space for the both of them.
Kaoru chuckled, flicking through the photos. “It’s nice.”
“So?”
“Shall we go look at it?” Kojiro nodded.
“Yes!” He hugged Kaoru closer, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “I can’t wait to live with you, My love.”
Kaoru couldn’t tell if it was the sentiment or the nickname, but for the first time he was excited for a change as big as this.
~~
SK8 Kidz chat
Snowboy: Do you thing Joe and Cherry are OK?
Fruityginger: Yes. They probably have more plans.
Catboy: Are Mummy and Daddy going to stop fighting now?
Snowboy: Why would they stop fighting?
Fruityginger: Miya, they’re not your parents.
Catboy: Shut up Slime boy.
Catboy: Mummy and Daddy are in love with each other.
Snowboy: …
Fruityginger: No! They’re best friends.
Catboy: All of you have a bad definition of friendship
Snowboy: Me and Reki are best friends.
Catboy: Right. Best friends (;
Fruityginger: CATBOY NO
Snowboy: Reki why is he winking.
Fruityginger: It’s OK Langa. Catboy here doesn’t understand how friendship works.
Catboy: Slimeboy it’s not friendship if you kiss
Fruityginger: WE KISS LIKE HOMIES DO
Snowboy: We kiss over our love for skateboarding
Catboy: REKI THIS IS WHY YOUR FRUITYGINGER IN MY PHONE
Fruityginger: IM AS FRUITY AS A PUMPKIN
Snowboy: Actually, scientifically speaking the distinction between fruit and vegetable doesn’t exist in biology therefore a pumpkin is a fruit.
Catboy: SHUT UP
Fruityginger: SHUT UP