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Here You are :: chapter 1
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"Ne, ne Sei-chan, don't forget to buy momiji manju, yes? Oh, and your father said he wants super premium grade sake from-"
"Kamotsuru Brewery," a man with red hair who had been standing around five minutes on streetcar stop cut in, "Father texted me a while ago."
"Thank you, Sei-chan, and enjoy your trip in Hiroshima!" His mother giggled and ended their phone conversation.
Akashi Seijuurou sighed. He put his cell phone away, staring at the city scenery in front of him. It was Akashi's first time to visit Hiroshima. He barely went to business trip himself, always ordering his staff to do that job. After all, he was not a travelling typed person. He preferred to sit down at his office, do some paperworks, and meet his clients at a restaurant next block.
When his father asked him to meet his a client in Hiroshima, Akashi tried to put a poker face.
He had no idea that his father could be this sentimental. His father had never mentioned any of his friend before. It turned out that the old friend was his father's assistant professor during college. The man had helped him so much-Akashi did not ask further detail since he had no interest-that the Akashi senior felt indebted with. So, when that man's brother's company had faced some legal issues, he had called Akashi senior for some help. Akashi senior was more than happy to send his son personally to Hiroshima the day after.
Talking about old time's sake, Akashi muttered under his breath.
Akashi had said goodbye to his father's friend only fifteen minutes ago, promising he would send necessary documents to the son's company by this Thursday. He walked to the nearest streetcar stop, which located about a sixty meter away from the meeting point. He immediately stepped into the streetcar as soon as it came into a halt.
Hiroshima city was a complete different with Tokyo. Its skyscrappers were not as tall as those in Tokyo. The main roads were more narrow. The distinct detail was those streetcar lines. While Tokyo had only one line with two streetcars, Hiroshima got six lines and eight routes-the busiest streetcar in entire Japan. Akashi got off at Hiroshima Station which also the last stop on the streetcar's route. The Hiroshima Station was big and attached to a shopping mall. Again, Akashi's mind begin comparing the Hiroshima station to some other stations at Tokyo.
Akashi had been living in Tokyo for more than ten years now. After he graduated from Rakuzan, he decided to enter prestigious Tokyo University majoring in law. His father had persuaded him to join his law firm right after Akashi passed bar exam but the young man declined politely. His pride told him to start everything from zero. Some years later, he made a name as corporate lawyer and ran a law firm with two partners.
Life was really good so far. He had good job. His staffs were always there to help him around. His perents were very proud of him. Yes, yes, what a perfect life...except sometimes-around midnight-Akashi would find himself wide awake, staring at the dark sky. Missing someone who had once shared beautiful memories with him.
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"The hell, Seijuurou! Get your ass back here now! How could you extend your stay in Hiroshima when we are facing a big case?!"
"Sorry, Akashi-san, but... Please come baaaaack, Akashi-san. Nijimura-san is going to kill me! I'm sorry that I'm not useful enough!"
"Sakurai, stop apologizing! If you have energy to apologize, you better use it for something more useful!"
"I'm sorry!"
"...have you done your bickering?" Akashi asked. His right hand held the smart phone tightly. He tried to ignore a constant screaming and shouting from the call which obviously connected to speaker phone on their office's desk. Nijimura Shuuzou and Sakurai Ryou might not get along with each other that well, but they were perfect partners for Akashi's law firm.
Nijimura cleared his throat. "Seijuurou, I want you to come back as soon as possible. Our client has been asking for your presence in next meeting. Friday, nine thirty, usual place," Nijimura explained in a very calm, almost stoic voice. He had barely showed his freaking-out state to anyone. However, today was different because he had so many things to be done by tomorrow and almost ran out of time.
"I understand, Nijimura-senpai. I just need to get some sake for my father and take shinkansen back to Tokyo this afternoon," Akashi replied.
Nijimura said nothing. Every time Akashi mentioned his father, Nijimura always went into a timid mode. Akashi knew Nijimura respected the Akashi senior very much. "I guess it couldn't be helped. I see you tomorrow at the office."
With that, the line went dead. Akashi turned his stare from cell phone screen to a train station platform. It had been 45-minute journey from Hiroshima city to a small town called Saijo something. Akashi frowned at the view before his eyes. If it had not been for his father's request, Akashi would not need to come to a town which name he had never heard before. 'Just get the sake, take local train to Hiroshima, and go back to Tokyo,' Akashi talked to himslef inwardly.
...and where on earth was Kamotsuru Brewery?
He began wondering whether this small town have some information center, which turned out they did have one on the edge of station area. A middle-aged lady was sitting at the information table with hand busy scribbling down on a notebook. Noticing Akashi's figure, the woman looked up. "May I help you, Sir?" she asked kindly.
"Yes, I'm looking for Kamotsuru Brewery," Akashi answered, glancing at some pamphlets on an iron rack next to him.
The woman gave him a colored map and pointed at a small dot. "This is Kamotsuru Brewery. From here, just walk straight to station direction then turn right You will find a narrow street leading to Kamotsuru," she said, "If you are interested, you can visit other breweries around here too."
"Thank you." Akashi nodded at the explanation. He was not here for fun, after all. Before the lady could ask whether Akashi needed a guide or not, the lawyer already made his exit. As he walked toward station direction, Akashi opened a pamphlet he managed to take from the rack. It had a brief introduction of this town. Unexpectedly, this town was famous of its sake breweries. No wonder his father had asked him to get a spesific Hiroshima sake here.
Akashi turned right and he found a small street. Some wooden, traditional-looking buildings were in row. He felt as if he was in Kyoto, strolling down random old narrow streets around Gion area. Back then, during high school, he had used to wander aimlessly during weekend after basketball practice. He would have visited old temples and traditional garden or sat down for hours at traditional tea shop.
How long had it been since high school graduation? Ten years? No. He would turn thirty this year, that meant-
"Ne, ne, Sensei! Hurry up!" A small boy wearing yellow hat suddenly came from a small alley, right on Akashi's left side. The boy practically bumped his light frame onto Akashi, who also did not even ready for such impact. Akashi almost tripped on his own foot. He leant forward and catched the smaller body with both hands.
The boy looked surprised for a moment, then looked up at Akashi. His surprised face turned into a scared one. "S-s-soowy...M-mister," he stuttered.
It was not the first time Akashi got such reaction from kids. Kids mostly were scared of his heterochromatic eyes. Plus, his stern expression made things worse. He remembered one day Sakurai had brought his niece to the office. The poor girl had cried immediately aafter she saw Akashi.
Now, what? Being at a small town in Hiroshima Prefecure with scared child on his hands was not what he had expected for today's trip.
Akashi glanced at the direction where the boy had come from. He watched a group of kids approaching him with an adult behind. "Kou-chaaaan!" they called, which in Akashi's ears was more like a high pitch cry.
"Kou-chan, please don't run around," the adult man said, "Are you al-"
Akashi stared in disbelief. Straightening his posture, Akashi let a name that he had never thought would call before, "Tetsuya."
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It had been raining since morning. Akashi read a shogi book on his bed. Sometimes he would steal a glance or two at another figure who was sleeping soundly by his side. The queen-sized bed felt crowded because of the teal haired boy's presence. The rain was still pouring when the other boy began stirring. His naked form slowly sat up. Rubbing his tired eyes, he smiled at the red head.
"Good...morning, Akashi-kun," she said with a deadpanned expression. Akashi almost missed a hint of reddened cheeks on the boy's face. "I...uhm..."
Akashi sighed. He put the shogi book on night stand. "Good afternoon, Tetsuya." He smiled as his palms cupped Kuroko's face. "Is your body okay?"
"Yes," answered Kuroko, nodding. He touched Akashi's hand gently while letting his cheeks leant on the warmth of Akashi's palms. "How long did I sleep?"
"Hmmm, for a while." Akashi placed a quick peck on Kuroko's soft lips. "You look cute when you're asleep, Tetsuya. Too bad I can't see your sleeping face every day, and to think that Kagami guy has seen you sleeping before..."
"We've had training camp together, Akashi-kun. It's only natural that me and my teammates slept in the same room," Kuroko sighed, "Sometimes Akashi-kun is just-"
"Did he sleep beside you?" Akashi gently pushed Kuroko until he once again laid on the bed.
"His futon was next to mine."
The Rakuzan captain frowned. "I won't allow you to join training camp next time," he stated and kissed Kuroko once again. This time was more fierce, full of lust. He pushed his tongue deeper into Kuroko's hot cavern. The smaller boy fought back but too bad Akashi's fingers had traced around his inner thigh, practically diverting Kuroko's futile effort.
"We...just did it..." Kuroko said between his delicious gasps.
"This morning, I know," Akashi hummed against Kuroko's nape. The vibration sent strange sensation along his spine. "Your body is too honest, Tetsuya. Look, feel it." He guided Kuroko's left hand. "You are already hard."
Kuroko turned red. "Akashi-kun is unbelievable."
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Tokyo's sky was just plain boring.
Tokyo's night sky was just plain boring, even though it was decorated by city lights. He did not find the view beautiful. Too artificial, he thought. Sitting at the bar which located on the top floor of five-star hotel, Akashi sipped his vodka tonic. The bartender was serving other customers, three young ladies dressed in expensive clothes. Akashi could smell their parfume from where he sat. God, it made his nose stung. About five minutes later, he saw a man stepped into the bar.
"Akashi, long time no see," greeted the green-hair.
"It has been a year." Akashi gestured to the bartender. "Tonight's my treat. What do you want to drink, Shintarou?"
"Whiskey," Midorima said to the bartender, "on the rocks."
"As usual," Akashi commented. He watched the man took a seat. He and Midorima Shintarou had been keeping contact since their high school graduation. To say that they were close friends...well, that was not quite right. They enjoyed each other companies, much to their same quiet and serious nature.
The bartender came with a glass of whiskey. Midorima took a sip before asked, "How's work?"
"Busy."
"Hmph, I guess lawyers don't have so much free time then."
"Says the heir of private hospital who barely have enough sleep. How's Takao?" Akashi turned to ask. He had known Midorima and Takao lived together as soon as they had entered university.
"He just quit his job yesterday, now planning to open his own cafe. Looks like he hate working for other people."
Akashi nodded. "It seems that you two are doing fine."
Midorima took another sip. "Cut the small talks, Akashi. Why did you invite me for drink? If you only want a company for a drink, you have Nijimura-san and Sakurai-san, else-"
"I met Tetsuya."
Midorima blinked. "Where?"
"Hiroshima, two days ago," Akashi answered. His eyes gazed at Tokyo's night view through a large window behind the bar. "After twelve years, we met...again."
His friend said nothing.
"Funny, isn't it?" Akashi smirked. "When I thought I would never see him again."
Putting his glass down, Midorima stared at Akashi. The red hair lawyer almost had never shown his emotion. Even if he had faced the most difficult case, Akashi would have remained calm and composed. However, there was only one thing in this world that would screw Akashi's mind up. It was Kuroko Tetsuya. For a moment, Midorima was contemplating whether he needed to speak the truth or not.
"Do you want more drink?" Akashi asked, cutting all Midorima's thoughts.
Midorima glanced at his still-full glass. "Later."
The two man continued their drink in silence. Old jazz songs filled the bar. Around one in the morning, Midorima called Sakurai to pick Akashi up at the bar. There was no way he would let the man drive. Takao came with car fifteen minutes after Akashi and Sakurai had gone. Midorima made a mental note to ask Takao for a little visit to Hiroshima. For now, he just wanted to be home and go to bed with his lover.
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tbc
*Kamotsuru is a long-standing sake brewing company in Saijo Town, Higashi-hiroshima city, Hiroshima Pref.
