Business
as Usual Sidetrack Nine
wherein Jin and Yuki make a
commitment
by Laura Bryannan
Yuki's call came in as Jin
was getting ready for bed. “My mother's found out about us,”
he whispered, “and she's totally pissed.”
Jin's
heart clenched. “I thought she knew.”
“I
thought so too,” came the anguished voice. “I mean, it's
been almost four years, hasn't it? But she was either looking the
other way or just being clueless, because she's freaked enough now to
pull my college funding.”
“Oh no!” Jin
cried, unbelieving. Hojo-san was such a wonderful lady. She'd treated
him like a son, always kindly, so he couldn't reconcile his knowledge
of her with what Yuki was saying.
“School's been
horrible with you away,” his lover continued, passionately,
“and seeing you over Winter break just made it worse. But now I
can't come to OU after all. She told me she'll pay for anywhere but
there, and our family is too wealthy for me to get a loan. I know you
chose Okinawa University to escape your uncle's reach, but I hate
that you're out of mine too. I miss you so much!”
“I
miss you too,” Jin replied honestly, his mind racing. The
opportunity seemed too good to be true, but he didn't hesitate. “Do
you want a job?”
“A job? What do you mean?”
“I've started a little bike messenger service to make
some extra money,” Jin told him. “The three of us are
doing the running around, but it would be great to have someone
manning the office. I can't pay you much right now, but since you'd
have room and board covered, how....”
“Jin!”
Yuki gasped. “Did you just say what I think you said?”
“Yes I did. I can move out of the dorm in May, and
so....”
“YES!” came the happy shout. “Of
course I'll come. I love you!”
“I love you too,
but you were accepted at two other universities. Shouldn't you go to
school somewhere else? I don't want you to screw your future over our
relationship, although perhaps in a year you'll be able to pay your
own way to OU. ”
“Come on, Jin,” Yuki
argued. “I'm not like you. School is about the social stuff for
me, not the academic. Attending OU was gonna get me back in your bed,
so I figured I'd deal with it. But I didn't really want to go. This
is a relief. Honest!”
Jin was delighted to hear him
laugh. “Do you need money to book your flight?”
“Thanks, but I've got it covered. I'll fly out the day
after graduation.”
“And what's your mother going
to say about all this?”
“What she don't know won't
hurt her,” Yuki stated conspiratorially. “I'll be gone
before she can do anything about it. She'll get over it eventually,
of course. We're talking about my mother, here.” There was a
short pause, and then, “I can't believe this is
happening.”
“We can finally sleep together and not
have it be a euphemism.”
“What?”
“Never
mind. Goodnight Mister Operations Manager.”
“Ooooh,
I like that. G'night, Jin. Good luck with your exams.”
“You
too. Study hard so you actually graduate, alright?”
“I'll
be good, I promise!”
“I'll start looking for an
apartment.”
“Wow, okay. You know, I've always
dreamed about something like this, but I never thought....”
There was an audible gulp, and then, “I was so upset a minute
ago, but not anymore! I love you.”
“I love you
too,” Jin replied sincerely, feeling the most profound relief.
After the mess he'd made of his emotional life in the past six
months, he wanted Yuki back in his arms more than anything in the
world. But still, there was concern. “Are you sure you want to
do this? Do you really think you can put up with me 24/7?”
“You
ass! Of course I can,” Yuki declared with certainty. “I
miss you something awful. In fact, I'm so excited, I'm gonna have to
lock myself in the bathroom after this call.”
Jin
chuckled. “An alluring thought. Thanks for loving me.”
“You're mine, Jin-nii. I'm not ever letting go.”
“I'm
glad, my beloved. I'll hold you to that.”
end