A/N: Guess whaat? Notice the change in rating. We've jacked it up. That's right…this chapter contains YAOI! You have been warned!
Also, notice the title change. We werent feeling the last one and thought something more crass ought to do.
REVIEWERS! Thank you so much! We love the ones we've gotten so far! And it's great to see Seimei lovers! We didn't expect such enthusiams but are ecstatic about it!
Enough with the chatter! Please enjoy the third installment of Soubi's Whorehouse!
Oh yeah—- Wii no own Loveless.
Chapter 3
Ritsuka squinted at the paper in his hands and matched the number against the apartment building before him. So this was where Soubi lived. It looked really nice. He didn't expect to be so impressed but…. Soubi must be loaded. The buildings beyond the large iron gate were cocoa brown and elaborately decorated with Corinthian columns along the porches and a frieze with high relief mythical carvings. There was rolls of grass and small ornamental bushes along curvy stone paths, all immaculately groomed.
Ritsuka stared up at the three-story structures with his jaw slightly open, then consulted the paper again and pressed a button on a call box outside the gate. It buzzed cheerily. A moment later he heard Soubi's voice.
"Yes?"
Ritsuka pressed the button again and leaned in close to speak. "Soubi, it's me. Ritsuka."
"Very good. Please come up. It's the first building on your immediate left."
Ritsuka heard another buzz and the gate lock thunked and then swung open.
He didn't like to admit it to himself, but he was a little nervous. Or a lot nervous. Soubi had given him a job to do - which he was very glad for, especially because Soubi had promised to pay him well - but the job was...
Well. It was weird.
As he climbed the stairs to Soubi's top-floor apartment, he went over the job description again. Soubi had told him that he wanted another sketch done. This time, though, he wanted it to be based on live, sitting models. Nude ones.
"They're friends of mine." Soubi had said with a slight smile. "They also happen to be homosexual, and a couple. I do hope that doesn't bother you. They'd like a drawing made and I'd love to give them one. As a gift, you understand. You came to mind instantly...I know you can draw them beautifully."
And since Ritsuka had no other means of income, desperately needed money, and truthfully WASN'T bothered by homosexuality, he'd said, "Sure. When and where?"
They had decided in four days, on Tuesday. Soubi had scribbled down his address and told him which bus to take. He had even given him a bus token so he didn't have to pay, claiming he had an extra on hand. Ritsuka found this a little strange as well—Soubi never took the bus. Never that he had seen, at least.
Soubi was standing on the small porch beneath an awning when Ritsuka walked up, and the sight of his violet eyes and mystical smirk half-hidden behind cigarette smoke helped settle his nerves a bit. Over the past several days, Ritsuka had met with him every afternoon to collect his list of errands and again every evening for dinner and to collect his pay. It wasn't enough to save up and pay for somewhere to live, but it bought him food and clean clothes from the laundry mat. He'd also been able to buy a new sketchpad— his had been completely ruined during the milk incident.
"Good afternoon," Said Soubi. "I trust you found it okay?"
"Yes. I hate to admit it, but I'm really impressed.
"Soubi looked more than pleased by this confession. He stubbed out his cigarette in a crystal dish set into the stucco of the balcony's ledge and gestured for him to go inside. "Never judge a book by its cover. However, I trust you'll find the inside to your liking as well."
Ritsuka felt his stomach flip again. Inside were the two boys he would be drawing, the both of them only a year older than himself. And he'd be drawing them naked. In all honesty he wasn't sure if he was more curious or embarrassed about the whole thing. He steadied himself and walked inside, feeling his shoes sink into carpet that was at least two inches thick and the color of beige sand. He immediately slipped them off and set them on the shoe cabinet.
Soubi came in behind him and closed the door. "Well?" he asked. "Does it meet your approval?"
The décor was elegant and the rooms spacious. It felt like he'd stepped into a clipping from a modern home magazine in which the decorator had a special fondness for leather furniture and glass accents. Soft piano music was playing from invisible speakers, and it was comfortably warm.
"This place… is so cool."
"Youji, Natsuo," Soubi called. "The artist has arrived."
"Soubi! Don't call me 'the artist.' It's embarrassing."
Soubi led him into what looked like a sitting room. It was lit in strategic places with soft lamps and there was a large chaise lounge in the center, upholstered in heavy cream-colored silk.
It looked as though the models were ready and waiting for him. They were lying on the lounge together, completely nude and in far too intimate a pose for Ritsuka's comfort. He felt like was intruding on a sexual encounter just by looking at them.
"Hi. I'm Natsuo," one said pleasantly, smiling at him. He sounded completely at ease with the situation. His hair was thick and wavy, a sort of burgundy red. And he was lying face up on the lounge, slightly inclined. His arms were wrapped low around the waist of a boy on top of him - one who seemed even less self-conscious than himself, if that were possible.
"And I'm Youji," that one said. He was smirking and his eyes were positively gleaming with mirth. His hair was a brilliant spearmint green and it fanned out evenly over Natsuo's bare chest. "You've gotta be Rituska. We've heard a lot about you."
Something about that seemed to be highly amusing, for he starting chuckling after he said it. Natsuo joined in. Even as they laughed and laughed, neither of them could seem to take their eyes off of Ritsuka. It made him feel like HE were the one on display.
"Yeah...that's me." Ritsuka said. He tightened his arm around his sketch pad. "Hi."
"Well don't just stand there," Youji said, still smirking. "You gonna start drawing or what?"
"You'll have to excuse Youji." Soubi touched Ritsuka's shoulder and with a light pressure, led him over to a thickly padded armchair in front of the subjects. "He lacks brain to mouth censorship. But really, he's harmless."
"And hard," said Youji, adjusting himself a bit. "We need to get this over with so I can-"
"Ritsuka, how about some tea?" Asked Soubi. He was shooting an extremely disgusted look in Youji's direction. Natsuo had a hand over his mouth, trying to muffle the very apparent snickering leaking between his fingers.
Ritsuka couldn't understand what was so funny. Did he look like a complete idiot to them or something? Had Soubi told them that he was?
"Umm...yeah. Thanks." he said, more out of a desire to be polite than an desire for the tea. Soubi walked away then, presumably to fetch it.
The armchair was extremely comfortable, plush and squashy. Ritsuka felt like it would have been a lovely place to take a nap. The overpass was still his home at this point and his spine had taken to loudly protesting many of his movements, having been made to suffer the cold concrete for night after night. Ritsuka had tried the homeless shelter when his name had come up on the list but he'd found it severely lacking. There was no end to the crying babies, the hyperactive children, the odd smells...and being surrounded by so many strangers at once really unnerved him. He had gotten more sleep under the overpass. So that is where he'd stayed ever since.
Soubi came back with a small teacup and saucer and set it down on an end table to Ritsuka's right.
"Now then, " he said briskly. "You can take all the time you need, Ritsuka. And don't feel obligated to withstand any chatter these two might make." He turned to look at Youji and Natsuo, subtly narrowing his eyes. "Because they are to be still, calm, and QUIET for the duration."
As if he could finally hold his tongue no longer, Natsuo's shutters of silent laughter finally ceased. "That has GOT to be the most unsexy thing you have ever said in your life."
"No kidding. At least it took care of my erection." Said Youji, looking thoroughly put out about it. "Still, calm, and quiet? Ritsuka, never have sex with this guy. Sounds like he wants to do it with a Buddha statue."
"You're too lively for that," Natsuo added.
Ritsuka felt his cheeks erupt in a ferocious blush. First all this talk of erections and then...having sex with Soubi? Where did that come from? Had Soubi said something to them? Did he...WANT to sleep with Ritsuka?
The thought made Ritsuka blush even harder. What if Soubi was...but surely not? ...Right?
He glanced up at him. Soubi didn't look like he was planning to get inside Ritsuka's pants. He looked rather pissed off, really - his eyes were like slits, trained on Youji and Natsuo.
"As I said, you'll have to excuse them." Soubi said, clearly to Ritsuka, even though he still was focused on the boys. "They were never taught anything resembling manners. And in fact, they are both on shaky ground with their employer."
Natsuo coughed then, obviously trying to fight down his mirth. Youji just shifted some more against him and shot something like a sneer at Soubi.
Ritsuka thought this was quite possibly the strangest group of "friends" he'd ever encountered.
He took an unsure sip of tea, just to have something to do really, then flipped open his sketchpad to a fresh page and began to draw. His subjects were pretty cooperative for a time, but soon seemed to be getting restless again. Youji had one of those faces Ritsuka loved to outline. All smooth lines and perfectly symmetrical, with a wide forehead, large eyes, and a small pointed chin. His enjoyment must have shown, because Youji's plastic smile suddenly widened sinisterly.
"Ritsuka, if you keep looking at me like that I'm going to get hard all over again."
It threw him off for a moment, and his heart began to thud. But then he thought about what Soubi said, to not feel obligated to withstand any of their chatter. They were all talk. That was all. If he acted scared, they'd prey on him all the more.
Fighting the blush from his face, he said, "There aren't many people with faces as perfectly oval as yours. It's interesting to draw, but it doesn't mean I want to sleep with you. Get over yourself."
"Ooo, he's a feisty one," said Natsuo. "That's hot. Now I'm getting hard."
Ritsuka saw Youji roll his hips forward immediately at that, right up against Natsuo's. Natsuo gave something of a contented sigh.
Ritsuka dropped his eyes to his sketchpad again, hastily getting back to some detail work on Youji's face. It felt hugely uncomfortable to sit here watching while Youji practically humped his naked boyfriend. And yet...Ritsuka felt something more than discomfort.
Suddenly he felt hands on his shoulders. Soubi was standing behind his chair, probably checking on his drawing and making sure it was up to par.
"They can be annoying at the best of times," Ritsuka heard him murmur, almost as if he were talking to no one but himself. "And yet...there are also times when the pair of them can be almost..."
Soubi never finished his sentence, but Ritsuka was sure he knew what he had been about to say.
The pair of them could be almost beautiful.
Ritsuka's initial impression was that these were two of the most obnoxious, sexually immoral boys he had ever met in his life. But as an "artist," Ritsuka couldn't help but notice the change that occurred whenever their eyes met. It was so subtle he doubted that even the two of them were aware of it, but it was there. Ritsuka had only seen people look at each other like that in the movies, certainly never between his parents. These two were a couple, Soubi had said. Did they even realize they were in love with each other? Had they figured that out?
The music swirling around him was soft and hypnotizing, and Soubi's hands were warm on his shoulders, his fingers skimming lightly down his arms. Ritsuka felt a shiver race down his spine when Soubi's voice hummed again in his ear.
"It's hard for most people to see the magic, but as artist's, Ritsuka, it's in our nature. Every curve is sensual, every touch charged with lust. Can you capture that in your drawing? You can feel it, can't you?"
Ritsuka felt vaguely helpless, unable to answer with anything but a nod. He could certainly feel it. And if he could feel it...he ought to be able to capture it.
He was working on the curve of Youji's back now, following it down from his shoulders to his waist. And from there, it was inevitable that Ritsuka reach the part where he had to draw Youji's rear, almost as rounded and curved as a woman's would be.
Soubi's fingertips were skimming the insides of his elbows. "You're doing very well. The image is already...evocative. They're probably going to remember this moment when they look at it. And feel the lust all over again. And they'll know that you felt it too, as you were drawing."
Ritsuka swallowed, shifting a bit in his seat. His charcol pencil was motionless in his hand for the moment.
"It's alright..." Soubi was saying softly into his ear. "It's alright to feel it. Let yourself."
He was feeling it for sure, and he was pretty sure most of it was Soubi's touch and how close he was and all that breath. Ritsuka swallowed hard and felt another shiver break through him.
Whether Soubi realized what he was doing or not...Ritsuka couldn't say. Maybe he really was simply entranced by the art. Maybe he cared deeply for these friends of his and wanted them to have a really good portrait.
Or maybe Soubi was purposefully arousing Ritsuka, and had meant to do so from the start.
If that was the case...he was succeeding.
Terrified Soubi would look down and notice the state he was in, he set his pencil in motion again, concentrating hard on the lines and curves as nothing BUT lines and curves; trying his best to pretend he couldn't feel Soubi's breath against his neck and that his pulse wasn't fluttering madly in his wrists. He finished the rest quickly, and abruptly stood when he did, relieved and also slightly disappointed at the absence of Soubi's hands on him; he had artists fingers, that was for sure, all long and graceful. Ritsuka shuddered and crossed the room to Youji and Natsuo, who were now sitting up and (thankfully) pulling on robes.
"What do you think?" Ritsuka asked, handing it to Youji, who had already finished tying his sash. He was a lot taller than he had looked lying down, about a head taller than Ritsuka, and when Natsuo stood, it was apparent he was approximately the same height as his mate.
Youji was looking at it with bemusement, leaned close to Natsuo to give him a look, then turned it sideways. "Does my ass really look that good or are you just really hot for me?"
For the first time Ritsuka met his gaze and saw, to his amazement, that Youji wasn't as intimidating as he'd initially seemed. His eyes were sparkling with amusement, and Ritsuka smiled. "I never doctor up sketches. What you see is what you get."
Youji smirked widely and pushed at Ritsuka's shoulder. He really wasn't intimidating at all...he was remarkably playful, really. "I knew I liked you." he said. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he glanced around the room. "Hey Pervo Creep, where'd you go? Are you off masturbating in the darkest corner of the room?"
"He means Soubi," Natsuo said to Ritsuka, sotto voce. "Pet name."
The man himself suddenly appeared, strolling through the door blithely. "I was making a phone call. I have a job for you in two hours so you'd better get going."
"What, both of us?" Asked Natsuo.
Soubi threw clothes at them—two pairs of black pants with matching boxers, one white shirt and one blue. "That's right, it's a double order and you two were requested especially. I think you remember Mr. Takahashi?"
Youji snorted loudly.
"Oh, No," said Natsuo, hiking up his pants. "Seriously? And I was having such a good day."
"Least he's quick," said Youji. "Ugh, lets just get this over with as soon as we can. I don't think he'd mind if we showed up a bit early. Let's take the bus."
Natsuo put Youji's shirt over his head for him. "Good thinking. Hey, Ritsuka, do you want to ride with us? You're from the west side, right?"
"Actually." Soubi pulled a cigarette out of a silver case with his lips. "I wanted to invited Ritsuka to stay for dinner."
The embarrassing part wasn't that Soubi almost made that sound like he was asking him on a date, but that Ritsuka felt his body throb in reaction to the thought of being alone with Soubi here, in his apartment, when it was about to be getting dark. The way Soubi was smiling at him made Ritsuka wonder if maybe Soubi knew exactly what he was thinking.
…Did Ritsuka WANT to stay?
He did. But he wasn't ready for that sort of thing. And besides… what if he was just imaging this? There wasn't any way someone as successful and attractive as Soubi would be interested in him. Was there?
He used to live on the west side, it was true, but now it was rather out of the way of his overpass. Still, it was better than hanging out here and making a fool of himself.
"That's really nice of you, but I actually have some things I need to do tonight. I should be getting back home soon."
This time Ritsuka saw plainly the disappointment on Soubi's face; there wasn't any way he was mistaking that. He felt kind of bad for him, but if Soubi was lonely Ritsuka was sure he must have plenty of friends he could call up. He looked like he was a pretty popular guy.
"The offer is open anytime," Soubi said, rather graciously. "And here..." he pulled a black leather wallet out of his back pocket, rifling through it and pulling out a handful of bills. "You did great work."
He held them out to Ritsuka, clearly indicating that Ritsuka would have to be the one to cross the distance between them.
Soubi's hand was incredibly smooth, Ritsuka discovered, when it brushed against his as the money exchanged hands. Almost as if Soubi had never done a day's labor in his life. Ritsuka knew that his own must have felt like sandpaper by comparison. The dry winter air had chafed them every night, and the concrete had done much worse.
...the payment was shockingly high.
As if he'd predicted that Ritsuka would protest, Soubi held up a hand and smiled. "As I said...you did great work."
Ritsuka took it with an awestruck, "thank you," wondering if this guy was always going to leave him feeling so flattered and confused. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"I'm looking very much forward to it, as usual." He reached out and brushed a piece of stray hair back from Ritsuka's face. The touch re-ignited the flame in his stomach and seemed to paralyze his lungs.
"CREE-per!" Sung Natsuo.
Youji seized Ritsuka by the wrist and pulled him toward Natsuo, who already had the door open. "Come on, Ritsuka. Before he rapes you. I don't like the look in his eyes."
Ritsuka couldn't stop himself—he looked back as Youji dragged him away, trying to see exactly what it was Youji didn't like. Indeed there was something smoldering there, but Soubi always looked that way. …Was Soubi really hitting on him? Ritsuka was a little worried about how ridiculously excited that made him feel.
As soon as Youji had him out the door, Natsuo followed through as well and slammed it shut.
"Seriously," he said, starting down the stairs. "That guy has it in for you."
"Correction: he would LIKE to have it in for you." Youji remarked. Natsuo giggled.
Ritsuka didn't know what to say. Wasn't it rude to talk about a friend like that?
"Is he...honestly as out of control as you say?" he asked.
When they made it out of Soubi's building, Ritsuka saw that the sun was already low on the horizon, mixing reds and oranges and yellows in its rays.
"Nah..." said Natsuo. "Well...actually, yes. Soubi is a total pervert. But he's one of the best businessmen in this city. He's helped Youji and I out a lot."
"How'd he help? Do you actually work for his company?"
They exchanged glances over his head. Ritsuka hated how he had to tilt his head back to look up at them; it was like walking between two moving skyscrapers.
"His company," Natsuo repeated, as if testing out the words. "Has Soubi told you what he does?"
"He's in the entertainment industry."
They exchanged glances again, this time pointed and amused. "Figures," said Natsuo. "But yeah, that's basically right. We work for his 'company'. If it wasn't for that, Youji and I would be shivering away at the homeless shelter right now. And trust me, Ritsuka, you never want to stay a night in that place."
'Tell me about it,' he almost said. He almost even wanted to say it. He couldn't believe these two had actually been in his situation.
"Why would you be there? Don't you have parents?"
"I don't," said Youji. "I've been an orphan since birth. Natsuo does, though. Watch your step." He caught Ritsuka's elbow before he could walk off the curb.
"Thanks." Ritsuka straightened himself. He was rather surprised Youji wasn't an older brother-he kind of acted like one, and it seemed instinctive. But maybe he was simply used to being around a lot of younger orphans. Ritsuka waited until they had made it safely over the crosswalk before asking, "What happened to them?"
"Nothing. I ran away when I was fifteen to be with Youji," said Natsuo, with the first notes of bitterness creeping into his tone that Ritsuka had heard. "I don't think they minded that I had a boyfriend so much as they minded that it was Youji. They didn't like him. Judgmental bastards looked down on him the moment they met him."
"When was that?" Ritsuka felt a little hesitant about prying, but he was really curious. He'd never met a same sex couple before. And so far they seemed to be open books, so it couldn't hurt.
"In middle school," said Youji. "Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if he had introduced me as a friend first."
"… But weren't you friends first?"
"For about a week," said Natsuo, grinning. "The attraction was instantaneous, so naturally we weren't having any of that 'lets just be friends' bullshit. There was no point."
"I don't really do 'friends,' anyway. They annoy me," added Youji.
They kind of annoyed Ritsuka too, so it was perfectly understandable to him. He just didn't quite get how they instantly knew the other was attracted to them. How could they tell? Maybe it was one of those things that when you knew, you just did, and you didn't have to question it. If that were true, then Soubi couldn't really be interested. Ritsuka didn't feel sure about anything with that guy.
They turned a corner and saw that the bus was already loading passengers at the pick up stop, and they broke into a run to catch it before the doors hissed closed. There wasn't a space available for them all to sit together, so Youji smiled rather nastily down at a group of elementary aged children on the bench along the back row. They nudged one another and then filed away toward the front of the bus, looking rather a lot like frightened puppies. This must have been typical Youji behavior, because Natsuo sat as if he hadn't noticed a thing, while Ritsuka wondered if maybe Youji suffered from some form of bi-polar disorder.
"So what about you, Ritsuka?" Asked Youji once the bus was in motion. "Girlfriends? Boyfriends?"
Ritsuka shook his head. He'd never been in a romantic relationship before, but he wasn't sure he wanted to share that with them. They might think he was a loser. That didn't really bother him, but it would bother him a lot if they told Soubi and he thought he was a loser.
"A free agent, huh?" Youji grinned. "Soubi will love that."
"So are you going to give him a go?" asked Natsuo. He smiled at Ritsuka. "He's totally trying to get into your pants, you know."
Ritsuka inhaled too sharply at that. He was mortified to find himself suddenly falling victim to an intense hacking cough. He could feel his eyes watering and his lungs straining inside his chest, unable to get enough air.
"Oh man...wonder if that means Soubi's gonna be disappointed," Natsuo said. He slapped his hand against Ritsuka's back a few times.
"I somehow doubt that," Youji told him. He was watching Ritsuka with a knowing smirk.
Trying desperately to recover, Ritsuka mentally flailed. Did Youji know how his body had reacted to Soubi's touch earlier? Could he tell that Ritsuka had considered that dinner offer?
"Hey, it's fine if you are, you know." Natsuo cut in, still pounding on Ritsuka's back. "Soubi's hot in an...uptight perv kind of way."
"I-I don't know," he said, when he had finally recovered.
"You don't know," said Youji, very slowly.
"I mean," said Ritsuka, hating himself for blushing. He could feel the heat of it burning up his cheeks. "I don't really… is… he isn't married?"
They both burst into laughter.
"Can you see Soubi in a tux?" Natsuo tapped Youji playfully. "it'd totally suit his arrogant prick ass."
"Soubi's never been married and I doubt he ever well be," Youji told Ritsuka. "He's into boys."
"Young boys." Natsuo made claws with his hand as he said this, as if indicating the creepiness of it.
"How young?" This didn't sound like a bad deal to Ritsuka; he would need Soubi to be interested in people younger than himself if he stood a chance.
"Well, I dunno," said Youji. "How old are you these days? Five?"
Ritsuka's eyelids lowered with exasperation. "Hilarious. I haven't heard that one before."
"Awww, be Serious, Youji. I think Ritsuka's getting a thing for him." Natsuo was smiling at him, kind of the same way his mother had once smiled at him when a girl had made him homemade tarts—like she knew exactly what was transpiring between them. God, it was annoying.
"Don't be like that, Ritsuka," said Youji, apparently noticing his shift in mood. "Young looks are a good thing, especially if you want to eventually be recruited to Soubi's…er…company."
"He's right you know," said Natsuo. "Soubi likes them young and he likes them cute. He's able to make better deals that way. But personally, he's never been in an exclusive relationship that we know of. The closest he's come to that is our um, our coworker."
"Oh." Ritsuka felt a definite pang in his stomach, like he'd swallowed too much thick oatmeal. "Are they seeing each other?"
They both shrugged.
"I don't think it's really like that," said Natsuo. "You know, serious. Kio has been in love with Soubi forever, but Soubi just treats him like an obnoxious pet. I think he's more fond of Kio than he really lets on, probably so that he doesn't lead him on. Kio is older than us, though. He's twenty-four."
"We've seen them sneaking off places and then we hear all this noise." Youji laughed. "Kio is a moaner. Hey! This is our stop."
Ritsuka was jarred, both by Youji's complete non-sequitur and by the knowledge that Soubi regularly had sex with this Kio person. There was too much going on - both inside him and around him - for him to process right now.
Youji and Natsuo were getting up, bracing themselves with the bar that ran overhead.
"You coming, Ritsuka? Is your place here too?" Natsuo asked.
Ritsuka managed to pull himself out of his fog long enough to answer. "Uh...no, mine's the next one."
"Well..." Youji said, grinning. "You're cute and you don't seem insane. I'm glad to meet you, Ritsuka."
Natsuo laughed. He ruffled Ritsuka's hair, staring down at him. "Me too. See you around - especially if Soubi has his way. Bye!"
And before Ritsuka knew it, they were ambling off the bus together.
Ritsuka was stuck riding the bus for nearly an hour after that. His overpass wasn't at all near here and he had to wait for the bus to make it back to the station to get closer. The ride was lonely and quiet. Ritsuka didn't have much to see out of the windows, only the gray brick walls of random buildings and cracked sidewalks. There wasn't much sound beyond the hum of the bus engine and the squeaking of its wheels. All Ritsuka had to think about was his emotional state, which right now could have used a Prozac or two. His stomach was in knots over Soubi's boytoy Kio and nothing he could tell himself would ease the tension.
When he got off the bus at the station, Ritsuka was still wishing for that Prozac.
—
Ritsuka had trouble falling asleep that night. Not that sleep had been easy since he took up residency in his overpass, but it was especially difficult with sour feelings and images of a faceless Kio swarming his thoughts.
Surely he was cute—hadn't Natsuo said that Soubi likes them that way? What made Soubi like him more than anyone else? Maybe he was funny. It was easy to get Soubi to laugh, but never a true gut-rolling laugh. Maybe Kio was the only person who could. Or maybe he was just interesting. Ritsuka never had anything very entertaining to talk about. And God, did he sound like a five year old? He knew Youji was grossly over exaggerating how young Ritsuka looked, but maybe he behaved childishly too. Kio was twenty-four; probably he was as cool and collected as Soubi was, and Ritsuka… well, he was just a mess.
Paranoia began to creep in as these thoughts chased each other around, and eventually Ritsuka feel into an uneasy sleep. Usually upsetting thoughts would spill over into nightmares, so he was surprised the next morning to awaken after a particularly pleasant dream.
He had been back in Soubi's apartment, but this time it was the beautiful stranger who had given him the milk who lay on the chaise lounge, waiting to be sketched. Only he was asleep, and he appeared to be naked from the waist up. A peach colored silk blanket was draped over his legs and hips. Ritsuka could see the slow, deep breaths rising and falling in his chest.
Those breaths were anything but similar to Ritsuka's own. He could feel his breath coming in short bursts...his heart beating powerfully in his chest. Every beat felt like it had been made by a timpani drum. His blood was pumping so forcefully that Ritsuka could feel his heartbeat in his palms.
He put his sketch aside and crossed the room on careful legs, not wanting to wake him. The invisible speakers played a crystal melody, soft and inviting. He paused just in front of the man and stared, trying hard not to blink so he wouldn't have to stop for even a second. He was remarkably perfect.
Enchanted, Ritsuka reached a hand out, fingers stretching toward the dark lashes curled again soft almond cheeks.
…That's when a trucks horn had sounded overhead, and Ritsuka woke with a start.
He was mentally cursing out that truck as he made his way over to Chai's to meet Soubi. They'd taken to meeting there each morning for Ritsuka to pick up his errand list. Though he was grateful for having work, this morning he felt supremely annoyed with the world in general. He didn't much feel like going about town and doing Soubi's bidding.
Soubi was waiting in his usual corner booth, shrouded in smoke, as usual. Ritsuka was surprised to see a cup of coffee in front of him. Usually Soubi subsisted on nicotine alone. For breakfast, anyway.
"Good morning, Ritsuka," Soubi said cordially when Ritsuka approached. He lowered his cigarette and smiled.
Plopping himself down into the booth, Ritsuka replied with nothing more than, "Who's Kio?"
Soubi blinked, his smile falling. "Are you not having a good morning?"
"I'll tell you if it's a good morning after you tell me about Kio. Is he your boyfriend?"
"He's an employee. And, if one uses the word loosely, a friend. Not nearly as talented with a pencil as you are. Speaking of...I wanted to request another sketch today. Another one of me. However...I'd prefer this one to be done nude."
Ritsuka opened his mouth to snap out a few more questions (the walk over here had given the thought of Kio plenty of time to worsen his mood), then quickly changed course as Soubi's words sunk in and took root.
"I- What?"
Soubi took a long drag of his cigarette, then turned his eyes toward the window. As he contemplated it, he blew out lungfuls of smoke, saying, "I very much enjoyed what you created with Youji and Natsuo. I want one of myself. I assure you that I'm a better behaved model than either of them are."
Staring wordlessly at Soubi staring out the window, Ritsuka felt his brain grind to a halt, then jolt into overdrive.
Soubi was asking him to come back to his apartment? And draw a sketch of HIM? NUDE? As in, with no clothes? ALONE?
...or?
"W-will you be posing with anyone?" He asked.
"No." Soubi said. He tore his eyes away from the window finally and looked Ritsuka in the eye. "It will be only me."
Ritsuka's mouth went dry. That hot thobbing sensation he'd experienced the previous day was back, directing all his blood to either his cheeks or directly below his belt line.
He seriously had no idea if he would be able to stare at this guy naked and not give himself away. It was impossible. And he still wanted to. But words seemed to have completely escaped him, and he was reduced to stunned staring.
Soubi reached out and brushed a bit of Ritsuka's hair away from his eyes, just as he had done the day before, in his apartment. His eyes were smoldering again, more brightly than the end of his still-burning cigarette. They wouldn't move from Ritsuka's.
"Will you do this for me?" Soubi asked.
A small whimper escaped him, and his blush burned darker. "Um. O-okay. When did you-?"
"Today." Soubi said. He pulled back, and his eyes lost a bit of their magic. He picked up his coffee cup and drained everything inside it. "Soon, in fact. I do hope you don't have any other plans for this morning."
Breakfast had originally been on the agenda, but he doubted his stomach's ability to hold anything at the moment, summersalting as it was. He shook his head. "Not unless you have errands for me to do."
"The sketch is all I want today." Soubi told him. And that, it seemed, was that.
The experience turned out to be a lot more comfortable than Ritsuka had anticipated on the awkward walk to Soubi's apartment. Soubi was very professional and a much better candidate than Youji and Natsuo had been. He had remained perfectly still on the same chaise lounge, positioned exactly like Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam."
With his head turned away, Ritsuka was able to relax, even when a bulge began to form behind the zip of his corduroy jeans. Soubi's body was as beautiful as he'd suspected, all smooth muscle beneath milky skin. His assets were impressive, but not scarily huge, and Ritsuka found his eyes lingering there just a little too long.
"I'm finished." It had taken a little more than forty minutes, but Ritsuka was particularly proud of this one. He had put extra effort into it.
Soubi nodded and gracefully stood up, pulling a robe out of nearby closet and shrugging into it. As he tied the sash around his waist, he tilted his chin up in the direction of Ritsuka's sketchpad. "May I have a look?"
Ritsuka swallowed. He was less comfortable now than he had been while he was drawing. Standing up and walking over required certain parts of him to be in full view.
Reminding himself that now was no time for cowardice, he dutifully brought over the portrait.
Soubi took a seat on the lounge, patting the spot next to him and indicating that Ritsuka should sit with him. Together they looked over the piece.
"I thought more shading here," Ritsuka said, moving his fingers over Soubi's sketched face. "And less on here," they lingered over his chest. "It makes the atmospheric perspective softer somehow."
Soubi made an acknowledging sound and continued to study it, fingers pressed thoughtfully to his lips.
"What do you think?" Ritsuka asked, sounding small and scared. Internally, he scolded himself.
"I think it's exactly what I expected from you." Soubi said, not lifting his eyes from the portrait. "It's wonderful work."
Ritsuka felt himself blush with pride. He really HAD tried so hard on this...it felt so good to be appreciated.
Soubi reached behind Ritsuka and pulled his wallet off of the end table next to the lounge.
"You deserve more for this one..." he murmured. He was pulling out bill after bill. "I would be a thief to give you any less."
"That's really kind of you," said Ritsuka. Soubi was still counting out bills. "But I think you're ripping yourself off. I'm not even a professional."
"You are now." Soubi said with a smirk. "By definition. You have been paid for your work. In fact, you've been paid for it multiple times. That makes you a professional."
He folded the bills neatly in half and pressed them into Ritsuka's hand.
Ritsuka breathed a soft laugh, shaking his head. "Well, I'm not going to argue, Soubi. I really need the money. Thank you. This will help me a lot."
Soubi nodded quietly...thoughtfully, it seemed. "Ritsuka..." he began, meeting Ritsuka's gaze and holding it. "There is a way to make more money than this, you know. Much more."
"I've already tried selling sketches. It seems you're the only one who wants to buy them." Ritsuka lifted his hips to tuck the money into his back pocket. "Maybe I'd have more luck at a gallery. You think I should try?"
Soubi smiled slightly. "Well...you surely can. But galleries are no guarantee. There's another way to make money - a lot of it. And quickly. And guaranteed."
Was he kidding? There was no way money could be made so easily or there wouldn't be homeless people. Was it possible Soubi wanted to give him a real job? Maybe with his company. He could work with Youji and Natsuo!
"How?" He asked. "Are you going to hire me on permanently?"
Soubi just watched him for a moment, as if coming to a decision on the spot.
"That is an option I'd certainly be willing to discuss with you," he eventually said. "You seem qualified...extremely qualified..."
And now Soubi was looking at Ritsuka in an entirely different way. In a...a HUNGRY way.
Ritsuka didn't know where the sensation was coming from, but he suddenly felt endangered...like he was prey.
"Of course...that wouldn't have to be settled today." Soubi continued. "Right now...you have something I badly want. And I have something you badly need. I think I know of a way for us to help each other."
"...how?" Ritsuka asked.
Soubi smiled slowly, intently, at Ritsuka. "You're a smart young man, Ritsuka. You're honest...caring...attractive."
Ritsuka blushed.
"And you've been so helpful to me. I've enjoyed your company so much these past days. Just to see you each morning...knowing you'll be there..."
Ritsuka felt Soubi's palm gently cradle his jaw. At the touch, Ritsuka's heart sped up tenfold.
"Sometimes friends do each other...small favors." Soubi continued, his thumb grazing gently back and forth over Ritsuka's cheek. "Services. We're friends, aren't we, Ritsuka?"
Ritsuka nodded unthinkingly.
"And so surely you could do me one of these favors...I'd repay you for it, you know. Much, much more than I paid you for the drawing."
And he slid his hand against Ritsuka's throat...over his shoulder and chest...and farther still, to rest on top of Ritsuka's thigh.
With a jolt, Ritsuka inhaled sharply at the unexpected sensation. Heat spread like melted butter between his thighs. His thoughts seemed to have scattered and hid completely, an empty buzzing filling there place.
"Wh-what kind of, of favors?" he stammered.
Soubi's thumb began to move in slow strokes over Ritsuka's thigh.
"I'm sure that by now you can guess," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
He felt like he might hyperventilate. The sensual strumming against his thigh was sending sparks up his legs and he was starting to tremble. "That...that would be prostitution. My body for money."
Soubi leaned in closer at that, sliding his hand a fraction higher up. His violet eyes seemed almost to be glowing as he spoke.
"It would be generosity. Your body for a friend."
"I...haven't ever..." Ritsuka broke off, ashamed he had no experience. He didn't want Soubi to know that, but suddenly it felt important he know Ritsuka had no idea what he was doing.
Soubi nodded, as if he'd known this all along. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. We were all in the same position once, after all."
The words really WERE whispers this time, spoken right into Ritsuka's ear.
Ritsuka shuddered and felt himself swell further inside his jeans. Absently, his hands closed into fists around Soubi's shirt.
"Let me, Ritsuka. I promise it will feel good."
He could swear he felt his brain die. Suddenly he didn't have the ability to protest any longer, or ask questions, or form thoughts at all, or even breathe, yet a lone whimper worked its way past his lips, the noise helpless and wanton.
He felt Soubi's hands encircle his waist, his fingers lying just along the ridges of Ritsuka's hipbones...was Soubi kneeling in front of him? He was. ...and somehow he'd maneuvered himself in between Ritsuka's knees. Ritsuka couldn't remember when that had happened. Things were all foggy right now.
"Relax," he heard a voice whisper, and then there was a pair of cool lips on his.
Soubi was no first-timer. Ritsuka was clutching at his shirt even harder now...scared that this "favor" was going to last an embarrassingly short time. He took two shallow breaths, and then Soubi's mouth was gently coaxing his open. Ritsuka parted his lips and tasted a hint of mentholated smoke on Soubi's breath as he deepened the kiss with soft, persuasive movements.
He was almost too lost in the sensation to notice that his t-shirt was being lifted up, the hem pushed to his chin. But there was no mistaking it when Soubi's hands slid up over his ribs and to his nipples. Ritsuka gasped. He felt a throaty chuckle vibrate through the kiss. Soubi's hands were playing at him expertly, and Soubi knew it.
Instinctively, Ritsuka began to follow Soubi's lead and started kissing back, the progression on his end slow and a little sloppy, but quickly catching on to the rhythm of it. His breaths were rapid and shallow, his heart fluttering like butterfly wings. He was sure Soubi could feel it beneath his hands.
Soubi pulled back a fraction, just far enough to speak against Ritsuka's mouth. "Lift up," he said. Ritsuka was disappointed to find that he wasn't even breathing hard. His lips were a bit swollen, but that was the only sign that Soubi had been affected at all by the last few minutes.
Well...Ritsuka thought, glancing just below Soubi's belt...perhaps not the only sign.
There was a tapping at Ritsuka's hips - almost impatient. "Lift up," Soubi repeated.
Ritsuka obediently raised his hips off the lounge, leaning back and using his hands for balance, and then he felt Soubi curl his fingers under the waistband of his jeans and tug. They slid off with traitorous ease and fell, forgotten, to the floor. Soubi's hands roamed up his thighs and hips, excruciatingly close to each side of his arousal, then trailed the length of the elastic band on his underwear.
"Yes..." Soubi murmured, looking at parts of Ritsuka that no one had ever seen. "I knew I wasn't wrong..."
Before Ritsuka could piece together exactly what he meant, Soubi slid the palm of his hand directly between Ritsuka's legs.
His hips nearly jerked off the lounge.
Soubi gave one of his chuckles, but this time it was softer and dark, more flighty. His hands rubbed around the cotton material, feeling and cupping with deceptive gentility. Ritsuka's breathing bled off into panting, quiet grunts breaking off one from another. His hips began to twitch impatiently.
"Aren't-aren't you..." Ritsuka managed to get out. "W-wanting...you know..."
Soubi shook his head, miraculously understanding what Ritsuka meant. He sounded perfectly calm. "I'm fine. I'll have what I'm wanting soon."
His hand slid itself beneath the elastic of Ritsuka's smalls and closed in around what it found there.
"And it will be..." he continued, giving Ritsuka a long, firm stroke. "Very, very pleasant indeed."
Ritsuka's grunts tapered into louder, longer moans. He closed his eyes, rocking his head from side to side.
Soubi's hand suddenly tore themselves away from him, and Ritsuka whimpered at their loss. Soubi was slipping open the end table drawer and retrieving a tiny vial filled with clear liquid.
If it were any one else, Ritsuka would have felt embarrassed to watch. But somehow Soubi unzipped and stepped out of his pants and smalls as though it were the most natural, orderly thing in the world. He opened the vial and tapped some of the liquid out into his palm, smoothing it over himself in calculated strokes.
"Turn over."
"I...w-what?" Ritsuka stammered.
"On your stomach. It will be easier that way." Ritsuka did as he was told, too far gone now to consider questioning.
The initial moment was much more painful than he'd anticipated. Ritsuka's hands were scrabbling at the silks under him for purchase, trying his utmost to withstand it. Eventually his body relaxed into a dull acceptance...it wasn't long after that before he realized that the onslaught could actually be pleasurable.
"Relax, Ritsuka," Soubi said, breathing it right against the back of his neck and making a series of chills shoot up his spine. "I'm going to make this really good for you." Soubi's movements were smooth and coordinated, just like his kiss had been. And just like the kiss, Ritsuka began to instinctively respond, pushing back with his hips on every upstroke.
It began to feel good...great, even. Ritsuka felt like his body was alive in a way it never had been before. He whined and pushed his hips back harder.
"That's it," Soubi whispered. "Go on. Do it. For me."
How was Ritsuka supposed to resist it? The feeling of this...Soubi's words...the sounds...how was he supposed to resist what was coming? He couldn't.
With a sudden shock of pleasure, he felt himself spasming and pulsating his release. He dipped his head, panting and trembling as the waves crashed over him. Soubi continued to move behind him, now silent, but the thrusts coming harder until he finally broke into a long, low growl, and everything became hotter and more slippery.
Soubi pulled away and Ritsuka felt a uncomfortable sort of squishing. Then he heard the sound of pants being pulled up, and a wad of bills were placed next to him. More money than he'd ever seen in his life.
"I was absolutely right." Soubi murmured. "You're just as tight as I imagined. I'd love to take you on permanently. You could make this every night on the street. Maybe more."
It was like having a gong placed next to his ear and then banged repeatedly. It shook him completely from his afterglow, which had left him feeling like his bones were melted marshmallows.
"I could—what?" He asked, his ragged breath suddenly tight again.
"Work for me." Soubi said, pulling a cigarette out of God knows where and lighting it. He inhaled a long drag and blew it out slowly before continuing. "Along with Youji and Natsuo."
"Youji and Natsuo," said Ritsuka, getting into a more appropriate position. "are hookers? They're your hookers?"
Soubi made a clicking noise with his tongue. "They're my boys. They get paid...I get paid...and various men in the city get to spend a night with a young, energetic escort. it's a beneficial arrangement for all involved."
It was too surreal. Ritsuka didn't know if he wanted to scream or laugh because clearly this had to be a joke. A really horrible, stupid, repulsive joke.
"Tell me you're lying," He said, his body heating up and not in a good way. He was barely keeping himself in check.
Soubi shrugged elegantly. "I can't see why I would be. Don't reject it out of hand. think about the benefits...steady work, excellent pay, guaranteed home, food...you're shocked now. Everyone is at first. But you'll want to consider it." Soubi took another drag of his cigarette before adding, "Especially if your mother comes to call with her posters again."
Ritsuka paled, a cold chill sweeping through his sweat-dampened body. He straightened himself. "So you know I'm a runaway," he said, heatedly. "So what? Big deal! You manipulated me you selfish bastard!" He took on a grossly over exaggerated tone of flattery, and mimicked, "You're honest...caring...attractive."
Seeming to realize suddenly that he was naked and looked more insane than impressive, he grabbed up his underwear and jeans and began to yank them on. "You said all that just to test if I was good enough to rent out to people!"
Soubi gave one of his small chuckles. "No...I wasn't lying when I called you attractive. This was more than a test. You were very pleasurable to be with."
And there it was, like an oncoming rainstorm that sweeps over the land and begins to hail like ink spilling through water, the tears swelled up in his eyes. Angry, humiliated, frustrated tears. Without a word, he pulled his shirt over his head while he was jamming his feet back into his shoes, and he grabbed his jacket on the way out the door.
"Wait," said Soubi abruptly.
Ritsuka forced himself to pause. The man was worse than sinful but if he wanted to apologize...the least Ritsuka could do would be to hear him out...
Soubi stepped up to him, close. Ritsuka could smell the sex on him as if it were cologne.
"You forgot your earnings," he said, stuffing the bills into Ritsuka's coat pocket.
Ritsuka left without another word.
A/N: Magic would like it known that she hates Soubi. That is all.
The second child of Brattiness would like to say we clearly haven't seen the last of Mr. Agatsuma, sooo no worries Soubi fans!
Reviews please!
-Magic Mind & Bratchild3