Chapter Text
"Did I miss it?" Shinsuke had rushed down the stairs and wandered through the dark hallways of the Madison Square Garden. "Why are you dressed like that?" Yoshi looked up at him and asked him startled. The tall Japanese looked down at his friend. "I was at the Hall of Fame Ceremony. We must wear a tuxedo there. I didn't want to stop somewhere and change my cloths just to miss the match. How is it going?" – "It just started!" answered Ishii calmly and pulled Shin closer to the TV, so he could watch Kazuchika's Match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
~
Back in December, Shinsuke went home to visit his family for the holidays. He didn't feel well. The pre-recordings of the shows hadn't been the best. He lost his championship to Rusev. The United States of Naka-merica sadly ended, because of the Bulgarian brute. It was New Year's Eve and his old faction mate Yoshi-Hashi had invited him over. "Shin! You look good!" the smaller man ran up to him as he entered his flat in Tokyo. Shin greeted him with a hug. "Thank you! You look great, too. How's your shoulder?" Shin asked caring rubbing the back of his friend. It was cool to see him again. The last time they met was at WrestleMania before he lost his cool. Yoshi shrugged with his shoulders. "It's okay for now. I'll return to the ring on New Year's Dash, but I'll keep it taped up!" Shin nodded over the words of his friend. "Better safe than sorry!" he said oud loud. Yoshi chuckled. "You never went on that one, Shin… Don't start today! How's… you know?" the smaller one asked, but immediately Shinsuke shook his head. "Don't ask about him. It's finally over with us. No Finnsuke anymore!" he told his friend. Yoshi didn't seem so sorry about that news. He just nodded and wrinkled his forehead. "Wasn't your shipping name Bakamura?" Yoshi asked with a slight smile. Shin crooked his head. "You mean Baka like… Baka?" Yoshi chuckled and after a moment Shin joined in. He pulled the other man into a hug again. "I missed you and the boys!" he answered pressing the other against his chest. "We did it, too. The others are in the living room." Shin let Yoshi slip from the hug. "You managed to get him out to a party?" was Shinsukes surprised question. Yoshi nodded enthusiastic. "Yeah, sure! Ishii kidnapped him… I guess!" Both men chuckled again, but Yoshi got serious for a moment. "I told him you would come. I think that's the only reason he's here. He misses his big brother!" The king of strong style interrupted Yoshi with his head shaking. "I was never his big brother. More like a mentor. I'm sorry he had hit rock bottom, but he'll be fine!" Yoshi wasn't ready to let his friend walk away so he held his wrist a little longer. "Can promise me, that you talk with him. We need him back or CHAOS will disappear! The friends are about to leave, and I don't know what the others are planning." The older man understood his worries, but he didn't know what to do, so he patted Yoshi's hand. "Trust me, he will be fine!" – "Talk to him!" Yoshi pulled his wrist stern and looked up at Shin till he nodded and agreed to care about Okada.
Sure, he cared about the younger and new leader of his group, but there was a little feeling of shame. He hadn't been there as he needed him, battling his own problems. He didn't know how a talk, and which one would help Kazuchika. First there were the others. Ishii was calm as always just like Goto. He entered CHAOS not on Shinsuke's watch, but the choice that Kazu made with him was good. The twins were there together with their big brother Rocky. Yoh was so happy to see him that he almost ran over Shin to hug him. He got packed not the small lion he met before. He talked a little to Ayumi, the lady of the house and Yoshi-Hashi's wife, but Kazuchika seemed to be vanished.
He found him later in the kitchen. Shinsuke wanted to swap his empty beer bottle with a new one as he saw him bend over the sink and wash up some dishes. "Doesn't have Yoshi a dishwasher?" asked Shin. Kazu turned around in surprise, eyeing the man in the doorway. His view wandered up and down the King of Strong Style, after that Okada just shrugged his shoulder. "He has, but I wanted to help Ayumi and clean the pods and bowls." Shin leaned in the doorway, looking at Kazuchika. "The rainmaker doing dishes. I think I can skip the question how you feel?" Kazu looked over his shoulder. It was an angry and at the same defeated look. It didn't matter what he would have told him, Shinsuke knew the answer. "How should I feel? I'm still a disgrace, who is not able to win a match and support his friends. But how would you understand King of Naka-merica?" he shot angry at him. Shin just stood there in silence for a moment. He turned the bottle in his hand and looked at its emptiness, shaking his head, what Okada wasn't seeing. "I'm not anymore the champion. Lost it in a show which was pre-recorded, Kazu. And I also lost my boyfriend." He answered shortly and walking in to the room up to the Fridge to switch the bottles. This was the magic words that made Kazuchika turn around. "Lost?" asked he surprised. Shin looked in the fridge while choosing his bottle. "You're right. Losing is not the right choice of words. He left me, since my heelish nature he found appealing here in NJ wasn't that attractive anymore in the US!" he answered dry and finally pulled out a bottle.
"So, you and Finn finally split? Or is this a thing like that time he left for the WWE and you run after him?" Kazuchika asked, which made Shinsuke turn around quickly. "I didn't run after him. You know this! I was… I was ready for … something new, someone new." Both men stared at each other, but after a moment Kazuchika shook his head. "I wasn't keen on being just someone. I didn't want to be the comforter. You know that fact. I wasn't keen on being just the one to sooth you and then you left." Was Kazuchika's clear opinion. It wasn't the first time the rainmaker explained it to him to Shinsuke. "Who says that you only would have been the one to soothe me?" he returned the question. Kazu put the sponge in the water and walked up to Shin. "The fact that you got back to Finn!" short but powerful were his words. "I made a mistake!" answered Shinsuke in a low tone. "Like you made the mistake that I should follow you as a leader!" Again, words like a whip stroke. Shin was about to go, but as Kazu said his last sentence, he turned back. "What?" he asked breathless? "You heard well! It was a mistake. I was not the right choice!" That was enough. Shin walked up to him and pushed him back. "Shut up! You were my first and only choice. Now shut up!" his voice was harsh. He had raised a finger and was warning Kazuchika. "I'm still not allowing you to question my decisions!"
Okada looked at him and then he walked by without saying anything anymore. The whole evening Kazuchika was avoiding him and the others except for Ayumi. Shinsuke sat with the others and were drinking and chatting. He was sulking in a way. Why did Kazu say that his choice was a mistake? Because of the loss of his championship? Was he questioning Shinsuke and himself because of Jay and his betrayal? Or because of Gedo or… or because he chose Finn over him. As he looked up Kazuchika was walking by him straight to the balcony. "Kazu!" he stood up and pulled him to the door, dragging the slightly taller man outside. "Don't call me like that. You know I hate that!" the younger muttered. Shin closed the door and pulled him to the side, since the others stared at them since they walked out. "What is your problem?" asked Shinsuke crossing his arms in front of his chest. Kazuchika looked at him, straight and stern, but after a moment he looked down and shook his head. "I don't know. I just can't… I can't wrap my head around what happened and is constantly happening to me! I can't wrap my head around me losing all the time!" Shin stared at the younger one. He didn't except that answer. "Kazuchika, have you forgot that you're worth it with or without a championship? Losing is part of our game, but you can't lose the faith in yourself. Kazu… I lost the biggest match of my career. You were there, you saw me break down." Okada pressed his lips together and let his head sink a little, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Shinsuke drew nearer. Carefully he rubbed over Kazu's shoulder and let his hand wander softly over his neck. Slowly the taller man raised his view up to Shinsuke's face. His brown eyes locked with the almost dark ones of the King of strong style. "You weren't there when I tasted my worst defeat." He whispered lowly. Again, Shin stroked over Kazu's neck and pulled him closer. "You were never supposed to just soothe me. I got back with Finn because… I couldn't have you!" Shinsuke whispered. Kazuchika conquered the distance wrapping his arms around Shinsuke's shoulders pressing his own mouth against the lips of the others. It was just a short kiss and both men parted quickly, surprised and startled. "I'm sorry." Whispered Kazu and stepped back. Shin shook his head. "Don't! I'm… Sure you didn't do this, because you're desperate?" asked he carefully. He knew that there would be two ways Kazu would react. The first possibility was that Okada would explode and yell at him. The other one was what happened. Kazuchika smiled softly, chuckling a little, looking up and with his beautiful shy look. "You mean I have to be desperate as a reason to kiss you? Nakamura Shinsuke you're bad shit crazy!" Shin chuckled: "You're getting that out now?"
Okada sighed and nodded in direction of the door. "Should we get back in and don't talk about the kiss?" Shinsuke shrugged with his shoulders. "We could, but I think you should tell me why you kissed me. We should stop being silent and talk to each other like adults." Kazuchika nodded leaning back on the railing of the balcony. "I'm desperate, Shin, but I didn't kiss you because of that! I kissed you since I don't know when I've the chance to see you again and I thought what if this is the last time." Slowly the older man rubbed with his hand over Kazuchika's shoulder. "It won't be. It's hard to find time to come over here, but it won't be the last time." The blond man looked up enjoying the warm hand on his shoulder. "Let me you walk home, Shin. Is this okay?" The older started to laugh up. Shin leaned forward like Kazuchika, so their shoulders touch. "Since I'm older, wouldn't it be my job to walk you home?" asked he lowly. The rainmaker shook his head. "No, I live in this city for years and…" – "I still know it. You don't even know in which hotel I'm staying." Interrupted Shin making Okada laugh. "Oh Shin, please! You always stay in the same hotel. Let us leave before the clock strikes midnight when the happy couples sharing some passionate kisses and we just stare at each other, not knowing what will happen next!" Shinsuke directed his view away from Kazu, but he leaned against him a little more. "So, the twins?" he whispered lowly and again Kazu chuckled. "You didn't know? I thought a blind man would see it!" – "They are cute, pretty cute… Come on, Kazu. We'll walk each other home." The older man pushed himself back and walked back to the balcony door.