Part Three - The Niceties of Fate

It took a moment for Kashima to finally shake off his sleepy disorientation and piece his rapid thoughts together. The bar around them was dark and quiet, not a single customer remained and all the tables lay clean for the following day. The Master sat across from him in the booth, giving him the most peculiar smile.

He felt the heat flood his cheeks and lowered his head slightly. "I - I'm sorry Master, I was waiting for my drive and must have fallen asleep."

"Don't worry about it! I was just closing up." Touma laughed. "It doesn't bother me if you want to come here after work, although next time I'd suggest finding a better place to sleep than on one of my tables."

"Ah - yes. Of course! I'm very sorry." Kashima muttered. He ran a hand through his already mussed hair nervously. "Well, I should be going. If you wouldn't mind letting me out I should - "

"Kashima-san, do you even know what time it is?" Touma smirked, watching the flustered man before him with growing amusement. "It's quarter to four, the last train is long gone and it's very hard to catch a taxi around here this late at night."

"Well, I suppose I could walk until I get a cab."

"Walk?! I don't think so." Touma worriedly stated. He stood up, grabbed his tray of glasses and took them to the counter, talking as he went. "You'll wait right there, I just have to put these glasses in the dish washer and I can drive you. How far is it to your house?"

"It's about a thirty minute drive from here but you really don't have to..." Kashima trailed off, listening to the clink of glasses as the bartender filled up the dishwasher and started it.

"Nonsense!" Touma turned around and smiled, wiping his hands on one of the bar towels. "Just let me get my coat and we'll go." He ducked into a doorway behind the counter to flick off the lights and get his jacket.

Shuuhei finally sighed in defeat, standing quietly in the now darkened bar. "Alright. As long as your okay with it. I'm really sorry it worked out this way."

"Stop apologizing, Kashima-san. It's not your fault that Owner keeps overworking you." Touma replied, shrugging into his black leather coat and rummaging in his pocket for his keys. "You really need a break, even a short one would be better than nothing. Have you ever taken a vacation before?"

"No." Shuuhei mumbled, following the Master obediently outside and waiting for him to lock up before walking to his car.

"Well, think about it. If you need some ideas about a nice place to go I could recommend a very nice onsen." Touma offered with a wink, slipping into the driver's seat.

"Thank you, Touma-san." Shuuhei smiled, getting in beside him. When he thought about it, Touma was right as always. He really could use a break. But could he really find time to take such a vacation? He mulled it over quietly for a while as a they pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the highway.

"Kashima-san? Kashima-san, are you awake?" Touma called softly, trying not to startle the sleeping secretary. About five blocks into the drive he had looked over to ask Kashima which way to go once they got to the highway, only to notice that the young man's eyes were starting to close. By the time he was able to pull over, his passenger was sound asleep. He had never seen someone who could fall asleep so easily. It was a marvel that Kashima had remained as pure as he was with that kind of problematic talent. It made him shudder to think how many times the young man had probably fallen asleep on the train on his way home at night.

The bartender sighed, resting his head on the steering wheel of the parked car. He was torn between needing the directions to Kashima's house and wanting to let the poor man get whatever sleep he could. He glanced over at his passenger, still undecided as to what to do.

The young secretary was leaning his head against the window, streetlight pouring over his features and giving Touma's better judgement a run for it's money. In an instant he had made his decision and pulled the car away from the curb, heading towards his own apartment.

I suppose it's not right of me to resist when fate has so kindly shone upon me. Plus, my apartment is closer to the Blue Boy than his house so he'll be able to get a bit more sleep before he has to work. He rationalized, hoping Kashima would believe the same excuse come morning.

By the time they had reached the apartment building, Touma had already figured out a plan. He would use this opportunity to play his role as the trusted friend to it's fullest.

The bartender turned off the car and went around to get his precious passenger, helping him out of the car and up the stairs to the room because he didn't seem to be fully awake by any stretch of the word. Kashima only gave a slight groan and dropped his head to rest on the older man's shoulder as Touma pinned him to the wall outside his door when he was digging for the apartment key in his jeans pocket. Once inside he slipped off his shoes and carried the young man into the bedroom. To his surprise, Kashima seemed fairly light for his size. If he hasn't been sleeping right, he most likely hasn't been eating right either. Touma thought and made a mental note to make sure that the secretary had a full breakfast tomorrow before he went off to work.

Touma paused for a moment, just staring at the man he loved sprawled innocently across his bed. This was something he could hardly have hoped for and the pressure to fulfill his many fantasies was growing in him. But his mind was weighing what one night of one-sided sex would give him against the prospect that he could have so much more if he waited. With a shake of his head, he decided that he could wait but he was at least going to get a peek at what he was waiting for.

Touma held his breath, afraid to disturb the sleeping man, as he carefully slipped his suit jacket off him and loosen his tie so he could unbutton the pressed white shirt underneath. He slipped off the secretary's socks and shoes before he noticed that his heart was beating erratically in anticipation. His hand actually shook as he reached for Kashima's belt buckle and slowly removed his pants. The black briefs beneath mocked him as they cradled Kashima's most private region.

He ripped his eyes away and glanced up to make sure he hadn't awakened his prey. The secretary's eyes were still closed, light brown hair tossed across his forehead and his soft lips slightly parted as he slept. Letting his gaze drift, Touma had to fight back the urge to touch as he focussed on Kashima's chest. Smooth, pale skin marked only by the dark buds of his nipples and, to Touma's growing appreciation, a single dark freckle to the left of his navel. Without thinking he pressed his lips to it, relishing the warmth of the skin that twitched beneath his mouth.

He sat back abruptly, afraid that he might not be able to resist the temptation much longer. It took all his will power to turn away from his nearly naked prey and drape his clothes over the only chair in the room.

"Nnn...cold..."

Touma's heart just about jumped out of his chest at the sound of Kashima's voice. Thankfully as he whirled around he saw the young man roll over, a shiver running down his naked back. He smiled and went over to pull the covers over his prize.

Sometimes, fate really was on his side, Touma decided, watching over the man he loved.