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Loud voices. Angry lovers. Pissed at one another. One bears a slap mark. Her husband was harsh and cruel but she wasn't weak that she'd allow the other to get away with slapping her.
A hand is raised, prepared to slap again but red hair identical to the man's get's in the way. A small 10 year old was grabbing the man's arm. Determined not to watch his mother get hit again. Instead it is he who gets hit.
More yelling this time over his slap mark. This is where he learned it from. To stand up for himself even against his own lover. He hated his parents. He would not parent like they did. He would not neglect his children. But he sure as hell will learn from his mother.
Learn not to take shit from anybody. If your lover or friend hits you, do not hit them back. Do not stoop to their level. But if someone else hits you, pummel them to the ground with words or punches.
A 10 year old strawberry blonde learned otherwise. He had not mother to show him right and wrong. He learned purely from his father. If someone refuses to obey and negotiating verbally is out of the question, don't be afraid to hit. No matter who it is.
He is always above the other and the other must always know that they are beneath him. However his parenting ways were not ones he was fond of. He was shown neglect and that kids were a hassle. He didn't want them. And he never would.
But somehow, 14 years later, that red head boy convinced him otherwise. For a short period of time that is.
The little girl they adopted was a pain. 7 years old and constantly needing attention. She couldn't hardly answer 2 x 2. He was doing 12 x 12 in his head at her age.
He could not with her. Anytime he tried to help she was squirming, bouncing her leg, getting distracted, zoning out. She acted just like his boyfriend during serious conversations, and they weren't even blood related. She learned it from him.
It was a huge pet peeve of his when the person he's talking to is constantly moving. It was so irritating.
So after their daughter had gone to bed and they were talking about his husband's least favorite topic, their daughter's grades, and he wouldn't stop moving, it broke the last straw.
"Karma, stop with the bouncing leg and fidgeting. You know how I feel about it. You've even taught it to Hikari now." He said irritably.
His husband, Karma Asano-Akabane, looked at him like he was crazy. And to him, maybe he was. But he thought he did nothing wrong, just asking a simple favor. It might have been the pure shock his lover was in but he finally stopped his fidgeting, thank goodness.
"Thank you. You're setting a bad example." He took a drink of his wine that he had with him placing his hand on top of Karma's. "As I was saying, I think it's better if she starts studying 1 hour a day instead of half. Or two hours. Even better. Get her involved in sport. Get her out of the house- Hey, why'd you move your hand? That's my whine. Karma."
While he was talking, Karma removed his hand from under him and took his wine glass. He stood up and went to the sink, leaning against the counter facing his husband and locking eyes with him. He swirled the wine that resided in the glass, holding it over the sink threateningly.
"Karma, don't dare."
"Watch me."
And without hesitation, he turned the glass upside down, pouring the red liquid down the drain then setting it carefully in the sink to get washed at a later time.
Karma stood his ground even as his spouse, Gakushuu Asano-Akabane, came over to him and grabbed his waist aggressively and angrily.
"What the hell was that for?"
"To make sure you were sober while we have a little talk." A forced smile was shot his way. Both of their veins popped.
"What talk?"
"About your complaining about our daughter having something she can't help."
"And what is that?"
"ADHD asshole. Same thing I do. I just know how to mask it better."
"Then she can learn."
"What is your problem with her? You agreed to adopt her."
"Stupidly. I never wanted kids. I simply agreed because you wanted one so much. I wasn't expecting we picked one so stupid."
It took everything in Karma's power to not hit the man in front of him. He would not hit his lover. He would not stoop to that level.
"She is not stupid and you know it. She just has a more difficult time learning."
"Whatever, she's also way too annoying and needy. Can't we just return her to the orphanage and go back to just the two of us?" While speaking, Gakushuu relaxed his grip on the other's waist pulling him close and beginning to kiss his neck softly.
"How the hell would you know? You don't spend any time with her. And don't fucking try kissing your way out of this one, Gakuhou."
His father's name was shot with venom on the tongue. He stopped kissing his neck and his grip tightened. He looked his lover in the eye.
"I am NOT my father. Don't you dare suggest that again."
"You sure as hell fucking act like him as you neglect your child forcing her to do something that makes her miserable and only caring about her grades. That's shit your father pulled and now you're doing it, you asshole."
"Watch your mouth."
"I will not watch my mouth. You should watch yours and watch how you're acting. You're gonna do the same thing your father did with you. Neglect our kid and make her think that's the way things are. You're lucky I'm here to show her what it's like to be loved by a parent figure otherwise she would turn out just like you."
"I suggest you keep your mouth shut, sir."
Once again his grip tightened on his spouse's waist to the point it was beginning to hurt while he moved one hand to hold his face and squeeze it.
"You also have a poor temper like him. As soon as someone is proving you wrong or guilty you freak out and inflict either physical, mental, or emotional pain on them. Go on, hit me. I challenge you to fucking try."
So he did. Karma had tested his patience far enough. And it wasn't the first time he had slapped him, and it most definitely won't be the last. Especially not that night.
"Unhand me."
Reluctantly, he obliged. They knew they weren't done with this conversation. Even as Karma picked up his phone and called his best friend.
"Hey Karma, what's up?"
"Hi, Nagisa. Gakushuu and I need to have a little chat and I don't want it to wake up Hikari since her father is too neglectful to bother to try and calm her down. So could you come take her for the evening?"
They all knew that his jab at the argument wasn't going to be taken in a way that would snap the other man out of it, but the least they could do was hope.
"He slapped you again didn't he? Just file for a divorce."
"Honestly, I don't know what's stopping me. But yes. Can you come get her?"
"Yeah. I'll be there shortly."
Beep signaled the end of the call and hands were once again on Karma's waist but this time from behind.
"Did I not say to unhand me? That means don't touch me."
Gakushuu replied with a tone that tested Karma's own patience, "We are not getting a divorce. I won't allow it."
"Why not?"
"Because I still love you."
"Really? This slap mark says otherwise."
"Yes, I just don't want a child anymore. I want it to just be the two of us."
"She has both our last names so how about, no?"
"Come on, we haven't had fun in months because everytime time we try, she wakes up and you have to calm her down and get her back to sleep."
"So that's what this is about? You haven't been able to fuck me? Is that it? Get your hands off me. You don't get to touch me in any way until you sort this shit out."
He doesn't listen as he pulls karma's waist, and Karma in general, closer to him. His head rests on his shoulder.
"There is nothing to sort out except your ability to listen. Once she's out of the house we can take this opportunity and have a little adult time. What do you say?"
"I say no."
Still, he wasn't taking no for an answer and began kissing his husband's neck once more.
"You know what? Fine." Karma agreed and turned to face Gakushuu. Gakushuu was happy his lover was finally coming to his senses.
Or so he thought. Without any warning, the red head escaped his grasp, pulled him into a choke hold, brought him to the ground and had his arm in a way Karma could easily break it. He remembered this move. He pulled this on him when they were just boyfriends in highschool. He pulled it on people that tried to get him into bed even before they started dating.
No gender was safe. Not females, not men, not trans people, no one. Not even adults who were twice his size. He caught them off guard by making them think he'd do what they wished but he wasn't like that. Honestly watching him and how he didn't let people touch him was what made him fall in love in the first place.
He had used the move on him only one before when Ren got him drunk by making him drink a spiked beverage. The only reason he knew it happened was because Ren had recorded it and showed him when he was sober. That night was their first time he and Karma had made out.
But now, this move wasn't gonna lead to a make out. Karma was genuinely pissed and would actually break his arm.
"Touch me like that when I say no again and I will break your arm. Don't test me. Or do I need to remind you how skilled I am with weapons?"
Suddenly, he felt a cold metal blade to his neck. He forgot Karma had his watch on. The very same watch that held hidden blades in it. He'd use them usually on perverts that would pass by on their dates. Drunk men or women that had no true clue as to what they were doing.
He'd made one bleed once. He didn't hesitate in self defense, even if that meant cutting someone. The only people he didn't hurt were his friends, daughter, and up till now, his husband.
His tone was cold telling him he wouldn't hesitate to make him bleed too. Being his husband didn't change the fact that he tried to touch him without his consent, therefore did not change the outcome.
"Heartless bitch. You'd hurt the man you're married to? Do you care that little for those around you?"
"You know fully aware that being married does change my disliking for being touched without my consent and the fact that you fucking did so. It does not matter who tries. They will be out in this very same position either way. So call me heartless. I couldn't give a shit."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"That's Nagisa. You stay right fucking here. Am I clear?"
Gakushuu, being as prideful as he is, stays quiet for a minute until there's another knock.
"Fine."
"Good."
Karma retracted the blade, released the strawberry blonde, and went to the door, opening it. There Nagisa stood with his fiance, Kaede Kayano.
"Hey, Karma."
"Hi, Kayano, Nagisa."
"Is she packed?"
"Shoot. No. She's still asleep. I meant to pack for her but we had issues."
"It's totally fine. I can get her ready. Shiota, why don't you talk with Karma. Maybe help them sort out their struggles."
Nagisa nodded as Kaede left to get Hikari ready for the overnight stay. Then he turned to his best friend and looked at his friend's husband.
"He tried to."
"Of course he did."
"Why not,"
"Haven't a clue."
"Like,"
"Yeah."
"You know if you need to,"
"Shouldn't be necessary."
"Will you two speak in full sentences? I don't have telepathy like you two."
"Good."
His husband flipped him off.
"Don't flip me off."
"Then don't be an ass."
Gakushuu stood up and walked to him.
"Watch it or you can pay bills next month."
"I have a higher salary than you do with a teacher's salary. No offense, Nagisa."
"None taken."
"Fine. You can meet our financial needs by yourself."
"Now that is not what I meant. I still have a higher salary but It won't cover everything."
"Then watch your tongue."
"No."
The back of a tan hand meets a pale face. Redhead vs Blonde with a blue haired spectator. Karma looks at his husband.
They hardly ever got to the point of getting slapped twice. Usually it was one slap, argue a bit more then calm down and decide they needed time with each other to remember why they loved one another.
But now. Now they were locked in a staring contest that wasn't funny. They were questioning what appealed to them about the other in the first place. They had been married since age 21. They got married in another country since gay marriage was illegal in Japan at the time.
Now they are 25, going on 26, with a daughter they've had for nearly two years.
"I did fall in love with your father. You are not the man you were in highschool. Or when we got married."
"What did I say about comparing me to my father?"
"Hey guys…"
"Not now, Nagisa."
They spoke in unison. Gakushuu's voice much harsher than Karma's.
"Don't talk to him with that aggression."
"Well he shouldn't get in our problems."
"Oh shut up."
"You know what? You're not the man I fell in love with either. I fell in love with.. with.."
"With what? Having trouble finding description words I wasn't once? Well good luck. I haven't changed. You fell in love with a man that was stubborn, didn't listen, was willing to fight back, took shit from nobody and defended the underdogs. Which is who I still am to this day. I on the other hand fell in love with a man much different than the one in front of me.
"He was caring, sweet, maybe a bit of a pervert but he still asked permission. He called me stupid any time I got into near death situations but took care of me. He didn't hurt me. He was romantic and charming and even if I could fend for myself he fought on my behalf. Argued with my father and took me to another country just so we could legally get married. That is not who stands in front of me.
"Who I see is your father. Rude, abusive, neglectful, and does whatever it takes to get his way. That's who you are."
"Enough! I am not my father!"
"Are you going to hit me again? Go on because the moment your hand touches my face is the moment I say 'fuck it' and file for a divorce. So if you still want this to exist. Watch what you do, Gakuhou."
But he didn't. Before Nagisa could stop either Karma's words or Gakushuu's hand, it was too late. For the third time that evening, Karma had been back handed across the face. This time was a lot harsher than the other two times.
It left a bright red mark on Karma's face and forced his head to the side. Karma did not move his head to look his 'husband' in the face. His bangs covered his eyes but a small smile could be seen.
"Wrong choice." He said softly. It was only then did Gakushuu realize what he did. Then did he snap out of it.
"Come help me pack my bags, Nagisa. I need somewhere to stay for the time being until I find an apartment after I get the divorce papers."
"Alright."
And like that all Gakushuu could do was watch as his little family fell to bits. As the love of his life packed up his necessities to leave. He wanted to stop him. But it was too late. And he knew it.
No one said a word to him. The outside couple glared his way, basically telling him how bad he screwed up. And he did. He truly was his father.
Six months later they had officially signed the divorce contract and they're last names returned to what they were before. He was Gakushuu Asano and the red head was Karma Akabane. Hikari had her name changed with Karma's. He would have full custody.
Karma had already found an apartment and moved out of their shared place completely. It was being rumored he started seeing an old classmate of his but it had yet to be confirmed. After the signing the two men left the judge's office and stopped right outside the door while the little girl they had brought ran to her godmother and father. The two men's best friends.
They just watched.
"You look awful. Don't tell me you miss me already?"
"I'm sorry."
"Too late now buster. I've taken full custody of her and our names are officially what they should be. Separate."
"I know."
"I had hoped that maybe before you slapped me you would realize what you were doing. That you would snap out of it. Imagine my shock when you actually slapped me. I actually still loved you which is probably why I couldn't get a divorce but you made it very clear that that love didn't matter. It took a lot for me to not slap you back or cry that night."
"I didn't realize till after you informed me I failed your test."
"I was one question with two possible answers and their outcomes clear as day. Come to your senses and ask for forgiveness and in result get a break where we work on bettering our relationship or slap me and get a divorce. You chose wrong."
"I realize that now."
"Good. Now good bye, Gakushuu Asano, and may we never cross paths again."
With those final words he could tell the other didn't want it to end but it was the only option available to them. Their relationship was in shambles and there was no putting it back together. None. And so Karma ran towards his daughter and best friend and Gakushuu walked the other direction. Down a lonely path he doomed himself to walk.