Like It's Supposed To

Like It’s Suppsed To

Summary: The plans others make for us don’t always work, but neither do the plans we make for ourselves. We can only change with the times and go with the flow. Akutsu/Kaidoh
Disclaimer:I don’t own Prince of Tennis. *sniffle*
Warning:None for Now
Author’s NoteThis is a different story and it’s placed in I suppose a future that I’ve created. I said to myself, “What if” and began. I started to work with a story where I decided something big happened to Kaidoh to change him and we’re going to find out what.

Please join me on that journey.

Dozo.

Friday and the Week's End

“Kaidoh-san, you look like shit.”

“Yeah well... I didn’t get much sleep. Had to go get someone out of jail at three in the morning.”

Kaidoh hefted a large box, sitting it on the platform. He was thankful for the folded bandana around his head, keeping sweat out of his eyes. The white diamonds were mere slashes the fabric was folded so thin.

“A friend? Thought you didn’t have many of them.”

“I never said friend.” He walked back over to the unloading area and got another box. “Just someone.”

The other man shrugged and got back to his job as well. “Only a few more hours, then we can get off. Man, I’m going to the nearest bar I can find. Friday is truly king around here.”

Kaidoh just did his job.

Yeah, whatever.

Friday was nothing to Kaidoh. It just meant a lull before he had to get up again and bust his ass trying to pay rent, trying to pay bills. Sure, he’d gone to college, tried for a degree so he wouldn’t be doing this, but things had happened, life had gotten in the way. He’d left his second year and wasn’t about to look back. Everyone asked, “What happened Kaidoh?” And he knew they didn’t mean college. They meant tennis. He didn’t do tennis anymore and had really stopped his senior year of highschool when he didn’t get a regular position due to team politics.
But that was the past. Now was now and right now, it was only a few more hours until quitting time.

****

Akutsu looked at his landlord, his lip curling. He paid the man his fee and got the rest of his shit, already having arranged a storage unit. He wasn’t a trouble maker at his home really, the man had dust gotten sick of police and punks coming by looking for him. He didn’t blame the guy, he was just doing his job.

He’d rented a small car and put his shit in it, driving to the storage place in no time at all. He stood in the small space, fist on the wall, trying to think of what to do next. He needed a new job, he needed a place to sleep, he needed...he needed a life.

Life wasn’t too kind to those who walked the line of law and delinquency, especially those who were more often on the delinquent side. When he’d turned eighteen, things had gotten so serious and before he knew it his mother had kicked him out and he was living in a one bedroom apartment, making petty cash as a bouncer in a shady place down town. Eventually, he’d gotten a better job (being a bouncer at a better place) and took a few classes, just to fill out his resume in case he ever got out of the skull cracking business.

Only problem was, bouncers made enemies and they weren’t all little shit punks of no consequence. Piss off the wrong person, throw a Hyotei grad out on their ass and all of a sudden, people won’t hire you.

So, a bar fight and an eviction later, Akutsu Jin was standing in his storage space with no place to go and a rental car he had to get back by five the next day.

He leaned against his gassed up motorcycle, thinking he’d return the car, get a cab and just ride for a while.

But not really because gas cost.

Right now though...he needed something to eat.

He looked at his watch. It was only a few steps from midnight.

Oh well, it was Friday. Places would be open late.

****

Fishcake, grilled eel, Ramen, Udon...ready made Chahan...

Kaidoh ordered h is usual Ramen and a glass of sake, smirking as the stand owner related some interesting customer stories. Kaidoh always came by late, so he got to hear them. He liked listening, took his mind off his day. He sat there, taking sips while his noodles were made, his work shirt in the back seat of his car, the man sitting in his wife beater, laughing softly.

“So then, I tell this guy, I’m a stand on the street, not a freakin’ Nyuu Yoruku resutoran...”

Kaidoh shook his head. “Jackass...”

The small awning curtain lifted and Kaidoh heard the usual “Urashai ” and a customer sit down. They ordered Udon and fish cake and the man knew who it was.

“Akutsu.” he said, breaking his chop sticks and muttering “Itadakimasu”.

The man took his drink and leaned on the counter. “Kaidoh...”

“You two know each other?” the stall owner smiled. “I can’t believe you kaidoh-san ”

The Kaidoh’s grin was short and mirthless. “Yeah, I’m cheating on you Wasaki. Big time.”

They laughed then and Akutsu just took out a cigarette, offering one to Kaidoh. He took one and they lit up, both sighing as they took the first drag. Akutsu’s food came while Kaidoh finished his, asking for more sake.

When Akutsu was done, Kaidoh paid and he paid and they both got up, the younger man not thinking it out of place when Akutsu followed him down towards his car.

“I took my bike.”

“Which is parked next to my car. How did you buy it?”

Akutsu smirked. “I sold children on the black market.”

“You’re funny.” Kaidoh dead panned. He got in his car and drove off, knowing Akutsu was the headlight behind him and once again when he got to his complex, waited as he came up.

The blanket was still on the couch and incidentally, so was Akutsu’s jacket. The man swore, saying he knew he’d forgotten something and sat down, not bothering with the jacket.

Kaidoh went to the kitchen and drank some water, looking in the fridge and frowning. He really did need to make groceries. He straightened and looked around his sparse living room.

And maybe a plant.

“Kaidoh...”

“Until you find a job.” he said, going into the back.
Akutsu nodded to himself, thinking of the bag he’d left on his motorcycle.

Nn...I’ll get it in the morning.

****

The weekend passed and the week came and Kaidoh worked as he usually did. Hard. He came home and slept like he usually did. Hard. He sometimes got on the computer, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t get any emails really, except junk, and he did sometimes download music, but that was rare and he found he didn’t even really listen to it.

Sometimes he’d watch a movie, but not often. Sometimes, he’d just sit. Just sit in the hours of daylight he’d get to experience before he went to work in the warehouse till nightfall and beyond.

However, Akutsu was in his house now. Still sleeping on the couch, not that he heard complaints and this made at least for passing conversation.

Akutsu moved around. Which was something he wasn’t used to. He wasn’t used to another living person in his presence, in his space. Hadn’t been since he’d gotten rid of his roommate freshmen year. He wasn’t used to sharing things like, the bathroom or fridge space for when Akutsu had brought home some food. It was awkward and new to him but at least...there was passing argument.

So now this weekend was here and he was sitting on the couch, watching a program. He was up way too early and his eyes burned, but maybe that was from the cigarette smoke. His and Akutsu’s. He sat in a wife beater and boxers, the pillow Akutsu usually slept on over his lap as he cushioned his elbows.

It was the news, with Akutsu flipping channels through commercials.

“...So I found a job.”

“Hm.”

“Construction.”

“Hm.”

“I get paid alright.”

Kaidoh hissed out some smoke and watched the reporter talk about a recent flood. “You can stay until you find a good place.”

“Hm.”

“If you like this couch, I’d like some rent.”

“That’s fine.”

Kaidoh leaned to tap ash and put out the cigarette, eyes still burning, feeling real tired. “Rules.”

“That’s fine.”

“Don’t bring people over here.”

“I don’t have people.”

“That’s good. And don’t drink up all my alcohol, alright? It’s expensive and I try to make it last. I don’t like cheap beer.”

“I understand.”

Kaidoh looked over at Akutsu for a second. “...I’m waiting...”

“For?”

“For you to tell me not to order you around.”

Akutsu smirked. “I’m twenty-four. I know the way the world works a little better than I did at fourteen.”

“Hm.” Kaidoh set the pillow aside. “You cook it you clean it and...we’ll take turns with the bathroom. And since there’s only one tv...I win if there’s a problem.” Kaidoh got up. “I’m going back to sleep.”

He started to leave and Akutsu spoke up. “Ne, mamushi...”

“What?”

“Stop smoking so much.”

“Fuck you.”

****
*It feels slow and easy, but I wrote all this in a manner of hours. It’d been chewing at me you see, and I think you all know what it feels like when a story wants to br written.