Confessions

Chapter Two

Kojiro froze, hand still on Kaoru's leg, eyes locked on his face, trying to read him.
This wasn't a joke.
Kaoru was hurting and suffering enough to seek outside help, and ask for help. This was entirely foreign to the both of them.
Kojiro gave him a firm nod, never more sure if anything in his entire life.

"Whatever you need. If it's easier for me to stay at your place, I can do that, too."
Kaoru shook his head, pressing his forehead to Kojiro's shoulder.

"If it's alright with you, I'd like a break from my house. I think it would be best to pull myself from it all, and then ease back into it. It would be more sufficient to avoid my work if I'm not home as well. I just don't want to be in the way."
Kojiro wrapped his arms around Kaoru, inhaling deeply.
"Maybe in the next few weeks I can get it through that thick skull of yours that you're not a damn burden."

-

The next day Kojiro took the day off from work to help Kaoru pack up some of his things and get situated at his apartment. Kojiro stacked a suitcase on top of a box and glanced back at Kaoru, who seemed to be deep in thought staring at the second bedroom.

"Are you sure I couldn't just rearrange some things in here? I would be more out of the way, correct?" Kaoru finally asked, golden eyes scanning the room. It was the second bedroom that Kojiro had turned into a small gym, a good size but still fairly full of gym equipment. A treadmill took up a good amount of space off in one corner, a yoga mat and free hand weights off to the side of it. Kojiro also had a squat rack and a bench, complete with a standing punching bag dead center of the room. And even if they did manage to move everything over, there would maybe be enough room for just a futon.

Kojiro shook his head.

"Nah, it won't be worth trying to move all that heavy machinery just for a week or two. Plus, there still wouldn't be enough room for you to actually live in here. The closet is full of weights and hand wraps and stuff. I really don't mind just crashing on my couch for a while." He turned, flashing Kaoru one of his signature grins.
Kaoru felt a ping of guilt in his stomach.

'Sleep on the couch?'

That thought made him feel even worse, and he couldn't pin point if it was guilt from kicking Kojiro out of his own bed to sleep on an old couch, or that he wouldn't be in the same room as him. Memories of the night before hazily danced through his mind, but he wouldn't soon forget the way he was nestled into Kojiro's neck, cuddled up against his chest. Kaoru's face flushed, wishing he had his fan to help hide his face.
Kojiro glanced back over at him, concerned.

"If you're over heated, we can take a break. Here, I'll run the fan."
Kaoru shook his head almost a little too quickly, causing Kojiro to raise an eyebrow.
"Ok, suite yourself. I'll go work on my closet for you."
Before Kaoru could protest, Kojiro turned and headed for his bedroom.

It was getting more and more difficult for Kaoru to not feel like a burden, instantly regretting that he had asked the green haired friend of his if he could stay with him. Watching Kojiro drop all responsibilities to come rushing to Kaoru's aid was enough to raise Kaoru's anxiety, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, also flattered him.

The last thing that Kaoru wanted, besides being alone, was to inconvenience Kojiro. He wanted to just get a break from reality, shake things up a little bit. But now he felt like he was all but uprooting Kojiro as he watched him rearranging things in his closet to make room for Kaoru's clothing.

"I'll give you this half, if that's cool. And these two drawers of my dresser." Kojiro turned in one swift motion, his large hand already opening the top drawer and taking clothes out.