krystalkatzficz | Wanderer part 4

“So, how do you all know each other?” Nino asked as he ate his dinner. The conversation had been light, with Jun surprised that even Satoshi was trying to talk to his former…Or rather…Current lover. It was deeply surprising that anybody could pull Satoshi from his thoughts for very long but here he was having actually promised Nino he would show him some of his art later after Nino had complimented the tattoo on his neck.

“Masaki” Jun, Sho, and Satoshi answered together causing side man to giggle and flush a little as he jabbed at some meat from his plate and fed it to Sirius. Jun wanted to tell him not to feed the dog from the table, but he didn’t want to come off as a fussy old man in front of Nino.

“I knew Masaki from school. He was in the year above me and he worked for Satoshi and is of course dating Sho…” Jun muttered choosing to kick his friend instead. Masaki let out a cry but didn’t stop feeding the dog and Jun sighed slowly as Nino asked;

“Oh, what do you do?”

“Now? I’m an acupuncturist and masseuse when I worked for Satoshi I did body piercing” Masaki answered pointing to the piercing in his own ear with a grin and the hole in Sho’s ear. The man really wore his piercings now he had an office job, but Masaki refused to let it close as it had been the reason that they had met in the first place.

“He likes sticking needles in people” Jun joked weakly and Satoshi hummed from the other side of the table saying absently;

“He’s good at it. He really helped my arm”

“Are you a tattooist?”

“Yup, I’m a Horishi…” Satoshi nodded, and Nino lifted an eyebrow looking confused. Satoshi gave a smile and offered him a small explanation “It’s the traditional method over a machine, it’s called Irezumi and is done by hand, using wooden handles and metal needles attached with silk thread…”

“Sounds…Complicated…” Nino muttered, and Jun rolled his eyes. Complicated had to be the understatement of the century but he knew that his little lover have no idea what kind of tattooing it was.

“Maybe but I find it to be the most rewarding”

“Satoshi is being extremely modest” Jun huffed when the man gave a little shrug turning his attention back to his meal “There are only a few people left that practice Irezumi and even less that can do it well”

“So, the tattoo on your neck was done like that?” Nino stared with renewed wonder at the tattoo still not fully understanding the technique but having more of an idea of how difficult it was. Jun gave a smile running his fingers over his sparrow as he nodded;

“Yup…Maybe Satoshi will let you watch him one day”

“Or I could tattoo him…His skin is perfect…” Satoshi seemed to be almost drooling now as his eyes moved over Nino’s exposed skin, like somebody looking at a pricey canvas and Jun rolled his eyes slowly again.

“He’s a little young…”

“I’m not that young…And you have a tattoo…” Nino grumbled with a small pout and Jun gave a shrug. He wasn’t his mother he wasn’t going to argue with him about it. He was sure that Nino would look sexy with a tat on his back and he trusted Satoshi’s judgement on design. “So, what do you work as now?”

“Jun runs an herbal shop in town” Masaki answered for him and Nino smiled moving closer and nudging his arm. Jun knew why the brat was so pleased, it had been his idea for the shop back when they were dating. His grandmother had always taught him traditional healing medicines and Nino had muttered that it was a shame nobody else would learn them. They had talked about running the shop together as Nino hadn’t trusted him with money. Of course, that had never materialised but now maybe Nino could help him, though it would be a little awkward with Toma being there.

“You really did it?”

“I really did. It’s only new and not really profitable at the moment, but with Masaki and Satoshi as well it’s working out better than I thought” It wasn’t completely true. They only had a few loyal clients at the moment and it didn’t help that the local police thought of them as gang and there was always an overwhelming presence near the shop. He knew that it must look odd for the people of the small town but knowing that didn’t mean it stopped him from getting angry.

“Is that why you all living together?”

“Yup, it saves on money as Sho is the only one that makes more than he spends…” Jun chuckled and of course Masaki flushed proudly puffing out his chest as he wrapped his arms around his lover and shouted;

“Sho-chan is the only one with a real job! He works in a bank, ne Sho-chan!”

“Yes, Masaki…Not as interesting or exciting as you three…”

“Not unless you think numbers are exciting…Sho is the adult of the four of us, or he pretends to be on weekends he works in the pub down the road as an MC…” Jun whispered into Nino’s ear noticing that the younger man, noticing that he had finished eating his meal and was pushing what was left around with his chopsticks. “Are you okay?”

Nino’s POV

“Yeah! I was just thinking…Um…Are you ready to go for that walk now?” Nino asked looking at the man. Wondering why he felt as though there was a huge gap between them. He hadn’t really done anything after school. He had been told that it was a waste of money to go to college and his lover hadn’t liked him working where he might meet somebody. The one job he had had was working in a game store and that had earned him a slap around the face. It was the first time had been hit and he had gone to his parents straight away, but they had told him that he was just being dramatic.

“Yes, if you’re sure you’re well enough…” Jun muttered putting his hand on his forehead and checking his temperature and Nino waved him off with a laugh. Getting to his feet and whistling to Bru-Sirius. The dog lumbered around from Masaki’s side of the table and licked at his face slowly with his large tongue.

“I’m fine, some fresh air will probably do me some good and it will make Sirius happy…” He answered the dog licking him again slowly and Jun gave a small nod getting to his feet and stacking the plates over near the sink. Nino hadn’t meant to be a bother or cause him to worry but he hadn’t been able to escape the overwhelming feeling of being inadequate compared to Jun and his three roommates. Even if they said they weren’t doing well they were at least doing something while he was just wasting his time. At least that was how it felt.

Once they reached the door Jun handed him a pair of new, extremely comfortable looking, sandals. He took them with a grateful smile and slipped them on his feet sighing with happiness as they moved over the blisters and held them gently the soft memory foam soles hugging his feet in a soft gentle way. There was a new lead and harness for Sirius too and Nino happily took off the collar from around Sirius’ neck and putting on the new ones. The dog slowly wagged his tail and together they stepped out into the new day.

He hadn’t taken in the details of Jun’s new home when he had first arrived, his mind hadn’t been any fit state for that, but now he saw that the house was a lot bigger than he had imagined. Though a lot of it was rundown with peeling paint and patched up walls. It was the only house in the area and there was a path which led directly onto the beach through a small hedge.

“This house must have cost a fortune…”

“Satoshi inherited it, though it does cost a lot to keep up so its easier to have us all living there…”

“I’m just gonna be an extra burden…”

“Nope, you can earn your keep by doing paperwork at the shop and I’m sure you can help with some of the repairs. Don’t worry about it so much, squirt…” Jun chuckled his hand resting on the top of his head and Nino gave a smile feeling a little more relieved now. “Now come on, let’s enjoy our walk…”

TBC

A/N: Sorry for the delay. I was asked to do some paperwork for some money and I wanted to get it done as soon as possible…>.<