Work Text:
I'll love you forever
Forever and always
Please just remember
Even if I'm not there
I'll always love you
Forever and always
∞
Sawamura Eijun emerged from the bath, feeling refreshed as all layers of dirt and grime were peeled away by the hot water.They just had a double-header against Meiji and Hosei, both games ended up by mincing their opponents with Sawamura as closer.
As Waseda’s ace, he is most feared when closing the game rather than starting it. Just like any other pitchers, he might concede a run or two during the first innings. But as a closer, no one can hit his pitches. He already had two Emperor's Cup under his belt. His third one might just be underway.
Already, ten pro teams have professed wanting him for their pitcher's pool, but Eijun had long decided where he wanted to go. Speculations arose that Hanshin Tigers have been sniffing around, laying a paw, and staking claim on Sawamura. They were adamant to revive the greatest battery of high school baseball, which the world had not laid eyes on for four years.
The media had a field day when the best catcher of his generation, Miyuki Kazuya, signed with Hanshin Tigers just after graduating high school. It was expected that his partner, the southpaw ace Sawamura Eijun, who lead his team and won, Summer Koshien both on his second and third year in Seido.
However, being Sawamura, he disappeared under the radar, only appearing after two years as Waseda's ace, stealing the Emperor's Cup under Keio and Narumiya's nose after being named ace for a mere few months. The whole media was on uproar. So that's where he is!
Miyuki understood, though. For he was there when Eijun promised his parents that he would graduate university before pursuing pro, just so he could have something to fall back to if baseball doesn't work out for him. That's why he's in Waseda majoring in history.
Towelling his hair dry, Eijun wandered around the kitchen and made himself some cold oolong tea, before perching on the kitchen counter. If Miyuki Kazuya had found him desecrating his sacred countertop, Sawamura would be dead meat.
Eijun chuckled at the mental image, imagining Kazuya's distressed face. The first time Miyuki caught him, Eijun was put in a headlock poorly learnt from Kuramochi, making Eijun squirm and cry in pain.
When Miyuki realized what he'd done, he apologized in horror, peppering Eijun in kisses until they found themselves in their bedroom, naked, and consumating their love.
Eijun got off with another warning. But since then, Kazuya had never subjected him to that torturous headlock.
He smiled as he palmed the ring where it hung on a silver chain around his neck. They've been living together for the past two years, with the blessing of Eijun's parents.
“After all, who are we to oppose when the two of you are already engaged?” his grandfather said.
His mind drifted to that one day in December. It was Miyuki's third time spending winter holidays in Nagano. It was cold, but the minx of a boyfriend he had dragged him to the old baseball field where they practiced before.
∞
“Catch for me, Miyuki Kazuya!” Eijun yelled.
“I’m tired. Can I not enjoy my vacation for once and forget about my catcher duties?” he countered, hands in the pockets of his coat.
“But you need to catch my evolved pitches!”
“No means no, Eijun.”
“Eh? You being stingy now that you’re famous, you tanuki bastard?!”
“Wha―? I never thought that, you moron!”
“But you love me anyways!”
Eijun smiled, the warmth radiating off him was enough to erase all the coldness in the air. As soon as he saw that smile, he lost. And Eijun knew it, for he smiled even brighter and said,
“Won’t you catch my pitches for me, Miyuki Kazuya? You’re my catcher, you know?”
“Oi, don’t be too loud, Bakamura! Let's just get this over with!”
They went on for several minutes, Miyuki’s heart thundering faster and faster as he gazed on the glowing golden orbs of his boyfriend, his loud laugh warming his insides as he yelled ‘how’s that, tanuki bastard?’
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Kazuya called off their catching session and went to the mound.
“Eijun…” he bent his knee.
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Kazuya? Does your knee hurt? Are you injured? Is that why you didn't want to catch for me?? I'm so sorry!”
“Eijun, can you shut up for a minute and let me explain?" he chuckled a little, hiding his nervousness.
"But what is it?" his face was twisted into perplexity.
"Eijun, we've been together for three years but we knew each other longer than that. I want you forever and always. I know I’m still immature in many ways, and you still have a lot of growing up to do―”
“Hey!” Eijun protested.
“I know I’m a shitty tanuki bastard, but I want you in my life through the good and the bad and the ugly. I want to be with you, forever and always. Let’s grow old together?”
Miyuki knelt, holding up a simple silver band, looking at Eijun as if he hung the moon. His vision became blurry, and only then did he realized that his tears was making his vision blurry. Eijun cried, he bawled for a long time. But Kazuya didn't mind, he loved him after all.
And under the Nagano stars, they made their promise.
∞
Eijun’s fingertips thrummed on the countertop. Where was Miyuki anyway? He knows that Miyuki was in an away game, but he got a message hours ago that they were on the way home. It was getting pretty late, but if there's something wrong, he would have called, right?
So Eijun waited a little longer.
The ring lay heavy on his neck, burning a hole in his chest, so he took it off its chain and wore it on the ring finger of his left hand. He was comforted by its weight. He can still remember the day he wore it around his neck.
“Oi, Sawamoron. You can’t pitch like that if you wore it on your finger, you know?”
“But Kazuya! I want it to be with me all the time. And I might not remember where I put it if I took it off, you know?”
“Stop whining, moron. And you need to remember where you put your things, moron.”
“I'M NOT A MORON! STOP CALLING ME THAT!”
“Ah, so damn loud!”
“Oh, I know! I’ll just hang it on a necklace! Then it would feel like you’re with me all the time!”
“You... baka…” he said, but a fond smile was already in his lips.
∞
They got together on Miyuki's third year. After winning the Summer Koshien, the two had crossed the line of more than being a battery, but neither had acknowledged nor acted on it. They thought to forget about their feelings, but it came back with a revenge.
As it is, the retired third years took to helping the team take shape under Kanemaru's captainship. Zono kept giving pointers on the batter's postures, and Kuramochi had trained Seto personally, to the bones, to fill the void he left on the keystone combo.
And Miyuki was there, an ever constant irritating presence that hovered over Okumura and Yui, giving them extended lessons on pitch calling. His main objective was to rile up Sawamura, but ends up inadvertently pissing even Furuya and the wolf boy.
However, instead of drifting away like they expected, the two kept getting closer day by day. There's no moment that they would be seen alone, even in school. Sawamura often seek Miyuki to catch for me, tanuki bastard! Oftentimes, one would find Miyuki Kazuya handing an unsuspecting first year homemade bento, telling him to give it to the southpaw ace.
To their credit, everyone didn't seem to mind their weird mating dance. But his advances went unnoticed by the crowd around them.
Ruffling of hair, an arm sling over the other's shoulder, sitting too close that their thighs and arms touch, his hand on the other under the guise of teaching a new grip, buying a drink for the other when they pass a vending machine, and the quiet whispers that accompany it.
No one was able to look away when Miyuki personally went to their dugout seconds after the new team won the Meiji Jingu Tournament, where he shouted 'You did it, Ace!'. They watched, wordlessly, while the scene in front of them unfold.
Sawamura cried and threw himself at the tanuki bastard.
Their eyes might have bulged a little when they saw the said senpai gently hug and cradle their pitcher's head, whispered something, and wiped his idiot's overflowing tears away.
The team looked almost bored when they overheard the resident idiot invite Miyuki to spend the winter holidays in his hometown after the gruelling winter camp from hell.
However, they surprised the two idiots when they came back, cheering so loud when they saw the entwined hands after the said winter break. Murmurs of about time were heard amongst the crowd. Even Coach Kataoka smiled a little as he clapped Miyuki's shoulder.
Miyuki was seen loitering at the baseball grounds often, but no one complained. As long as their ace is on his top condition.
Nothing mattered, not even the discreet moans heard on room 5 after midnight, but that must have been a fragment of their imagination.
∞
Eijun looked at the clock, it was fifteen minutes past ten, but still no sign of Miyuki. Not even a text message was left. So Eijun went out and saw one of his neighbors. No, they had not seen Miyuki anywhere. So he went back inside dejectedly.
Suddenly, his phone rang. Miyuki’s caller ID flashed through the screen.
“Kazuya! Where are you? Did you need me to pick you up?” he greeted, going inside the house.
“Eijun, it’s me…”
“Eh? Mochi-senpai?”
There was a lot of noise in the background, and a distant wailing of siren. He felt something cold creep up his spine. His heart started thundering, so heard he thought it might break his ribcage.
Kuramochi had been drafted to the same team as Miyuki, had been with him on the away game they had earlier. So it was natural he’d get ahold of Miyuki’s phone, right? But there was something wrong with his voice.
“E-Eijun, something happened.” Kuramochi’s voice was tired, but laced with dread.
“W-what happened, senpai? Where’s Kazuya?” his throat constricted, as if being choked.
“Can you come to *******? We need you here, quick.”
Eijun grabbed his keys and wallet, locked the door, and hailed a cab. His mind was reeling, running a hundred miles per hour. He felt like suffocating, he can’t breathe.
“Relax, you baka! How can you pitch properly when you’re all tensed up?” Miyuki admonished.
He remembered it like it was yesterday. It’s like he was having the yips again, but that was nothing compared to the dread he felt this time, this feeling of hopelessness.
He ran as soon as cab pulled up in front of the hospital. He walked to the front desk and asked for the room Miyuki Kazuya was in. Since his fiancé was famous, he wasn’t immediately given the information.
Eijun wanted to tear out his hair, but fought to maintain his composure. Miyuki always told him he’s easily riled up, but that was only with him. So Eijun pleaded, but the receptionist did not budge.
“Sawamura?” a voice called out to him.
“Aniki!” he cried.
“What are you doing here?”
“I received a call from Mochi-senpai and he told me to come here. Aniki, do you know what happened? Mochi told me nothing.” tears began to form in his eyes.
“A little. C’mon, let’s go see them, okay?”
“But she won’t tell me Kazuya’s room…”
Ryou shot the receptionist a look, and her blood ran cold. Kominato Ryousuke was known in the pros, and anyone who knows him knows that he is not to be crossed.
The receptionist personally led them through a seemingly never ending maze. After what seemed like hours, but in reality it was just a few minutes, they stopped outside a suite room.
Players in yellow and black jacket of Tigers loitered about, some sitting in benches, others standing and holding up cups of coffee. Eijun saw a stone-faced Sanada and a pale-looking Shirasu, but there was no sign of that familiar brown mop of a hair.
“Youichi!” Ryou called, coming up to a guy seated amongst the benches.
“Ryou-san!” Kuramochi stood up and wrapped his hand on the pink-haired devil. Or tried to.
The left side of his face had bloody abrasions, while his left arm was in a cast and sling. He shifted his weight to the right, as if putting a little weight on his left leg hurt. He looked up, and saw Sawamura.
“Eijun…” he started, and then sniffed.
“Mochi-senpai…”
They looked at each other, and then the truth spilled. They had just finished their dinner and was walking back to their bus when they heard a huge explosion. A car speeding on the highway had busted one of its tire, and lost control of the vehicle.
“The next thing I knew, I was pushed aside and he―I… Eijun…”
Sawamura can barely hear them, can barely hear the whispered concerns of the pro players surrounding them, can barely hear Sanada and Shirasu asking him if he’s ok.
Of course he’s not okay. Still, he tried to keep a straight face.
“Eijun… I’m sorry.” Kuramochi said through gritted teeth. He was trying hard not to cry.
“Shhh, it’s not your fault Mochi-senpai. It’s nobody’s fault.” he wrapped his hands on the older boy. Kuramochi’s shoulder shook.
“Can I go see him?” he asked.
“Go Eijun, he’s waiting for you.” he whispered.
Sawamura walked into the room, where Miyuki’s dad was talking with the doctor. He sees two nurses, adjusting his IV lines and making sure that his Kazuya is comfortable. Eijun ignored their stares, opting to sit by the bedside. He took Miyuki’s hand and held it tight.
“Hey…”
Miyuki opened his eyes, his faced littered with bruises and bloody abrasions, but still as handsome as the day he confessed to Eijun. There was fluid leaking from his nose, where the nurse wiped it periodically, and a part of his upper lip was busted and swelling.
“Hey, Bakamura…” his voice was raspy, as if something was stuck on his throat.
Eijun drowned out what the doctor and his father was talking about. He didn’t understand them anyway. Instead, he took the tissue from the nurse and proceeded to wipe the clear fluid flowing from his fiancé’s nose.
“I see you’re wearing the ring…”
“Well, it’s not like I’m playing now. Got a problem with that, you tanuki bastard?” he said, but it had no bite.
“Ah, finally. Some peace and quiet. You’re not shouting now.” Miyuki smirked, a little awkward due to the swelling, but still stupidly handsome.
Kazuya reeked of dried blood, and Eijun forced himself not to gag. His legs were propped up on pillows, and Eijun knew that his body was littered with dark bruises, but the pristine hospital sheets shielded them from view. Still, there was the unmistakable smell of blood. Kazuya’s blood.
“I think I messed up…” Miyuki said, coughing a little.
“Two of his broken ribs pierced his lungs, and based on the CT Scan finding, there’s a bibasilar fracture and CSF leakage―” Eijun didn’t want to hear what they were saying, so he stooped down to peck Kazuya on the lips.
“Yes, you did. And it’s your birthday tomorrow, too.”
He looked at the clock, it says 11:10pm. Kazuya wheezed and coughed again, this time, it was with blood. The nurses hurried up to put an oxygen mask around his nose and mouth, but Eijun refused to part with him. So he stayed, and talked about their future.
Of how Eijun would win his third Emperor’s Cup and make damn sure that Hanshin Tigers would sign him up on the spot.
Of how they would shake the world as the greatest battery.
Of how they would get married when Eijun turned 28.
Of how they would live the good life.
And adopt kids, raise them as their own, and teach them about the sport they both fell in love with.
Miyuki sat there with a small smile, listening to his lover with labored breathing. He loved to hear Eijun talk about the future.
Of how they’re gonna retire at the age of 40.
And build a house on the hillside of Nagano.
Of how they would stay there forever.
Eijun glanced at the clock ― 11:45p.m. Suddenly, he had an idea. He went outside to the nurses station and requested for a chaplain. And then proceeded to usher Miyuki’s teammates inside the room. He clipped some stalks from the flowers in the room and fashioned them into makeshift rings.
The chaplain came, and Eijun explained his plans. The chaplain began reading some verses. Some of Miyuki’s teammates began laughing when they realized what was happening. And then laughter turned into tears.
And as the tears fell onto the floor, Eijun looked into his eyes.
And said his vows.
“Miyuki Kazuya, I want you forever and always, through the good and the bad and the ugly, whether for rich or for poor or for better. Let us grow old together."
"And always remember, whether happy or sad or whatever, we’ll still love each other. Forever and always.”
As Eijun was finishing his vows, he slipped one of the rings in Kazuya’s finger. He heard the beeps in the monitor getting slow. Kazuya was having trouble breathing, but he managed to take of his oxygen mask.
He took the other ring, and held Eijun’s hand.
“Sawamura Eijun, I’ll love you forever and always. Please, just remember, even if I’m not there, I’ll always love you. Forever and always.”
As soon as the ring slipped onto his fingers, Eijun placed a tender kiss on Kazuya’s swollen lips. He laid him down gently on the bed. Kuramochi was openly crying now, even Ryou had silent tears rolling down his cheeks.
Only Eijun didn’t cry. He cannot cry. He had to be strong for Kazuya.
“Happy birthday, Kazuya. This is my gift for you, I hope you like it.” He whispered.
“I love it… I love you.” Kazuya whispered back.
And then the monitor went silent.