Rating: light R
Pairing: Asami/Akihito
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Yamane Ayano, not me.
Author's Note: Special thanks to Perchance_to_Write for all her help and feedback and being a wonderful soundboard! And thank you to everyone who has read and left me such lovely comments. You guys definitely inspire me to keep writing. P.S. I think I'll have Chapter 5 posted in a few days, maybe sooner! I have some of it down in black and white already, and most of the rest written in my head.
"...and that's how we ended up naked in the Kiritappu Wetlands during the hottest July on record."
Akihito wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, sinking low in the chair from the force of his laughter. His date grinned and leaned forward to pour more beer into Akihito's glass.
"Is that really a true story, Wakai-san?"
"One hundred percent." Wakai held up his hand. "I swear it."
Akihito laughed again, straightening up as the server came to clear away their plates. The blind date Kou and Takato had forced on him despite his vocal protests was going exceptionally well. Wakai was funny, nice, good-looking, just that much older to give him an air of worldliness, and downright cool. He raced street bikes for fun, and not only that, his job was awesome too. Being the owner and a travel guide of an extreme outdoor adventure tour company was a total dream job, and it showed in Wakai's enthusiasm when talking about his work. It apparently kept him quite fit too.
Like his friends had said as they'd hustled him into going along with their well-intentioned but highly unwelcome plan, the guy was practically perfect for Akihito. That was why it pissed Akihito off so much that despite his best efforts his thoughts kept turning back to Asami. Asami-that complete and utter bastard.
Sure, he liked Wakai. He was a great guy, and Akihito would love to hang out with him again...just like he loved hanging out with Kou and Takato. It wasn't that he couldn't see that Wakai was attractive, and he was pretty sure from the looks he kept getting that Wakai didn't mind what he was seeing either.
Only, when Akihito thought about what it would actually be like to take things further, just a kiss even, Asami's stupid face rose up in his sights and all he could see were those intense, golden eyes that always made his knees go as weak as a crushing schoolgirl's.
He should have hidden his feelings better and he wouldn't be in this situation now, but once Kou and Takato had gotten fed up with him moping about unaccountably and finagled an admission from him through the use of copious alcohol that he was pretty sure he was gay all things considered, he'd ended up telling them about Asami, some of it anyway, and they had been righteously indignant on his behalf.
They'd even threatened to go and punch him in the nose, as ridiculous and alarming as that thought was. Of course, Asami hadn't even shown his nose once in all this time.
Stop it, Akihito growled to himself. He was just playing with you. He got what he wanted and bailed. A month without one word, and you're still letting him get to you. Get over it.
"Takaba-san?"
His head jerked up and he gave Wakai an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I..."
"You looked like you were thinking hard about something."
Akihito shook his rapidly. "No, it's nothing. Sorry." He smiled, trying to distract Wakai from his absentminded rudeness. He would forget about Asami, whatever it took. "What shall we do next?"
"Well..." Wakai reached for the check, having to fend Akihito off as he quickly tried to take it before Wakai could whisk it out of reach. "No, no. University students should save their money for important things-like beer." He grinned, holding the bill aloft and Akihito had to acquiesce.
"Thank you, Wakai-san." Akihito returned the grin
"It's nothing, but how about going for a ride with me? I rode my bike over."
"Really?" Akihito's eyes went wide. He hadn't been on a bike since his third year of high school and that tiny little accident his mother had blown completely out of proportion. He'd done a lot in those days behind the backs of his parents, but after his mom had threatened to disembowel him with her grandfather's katana that hung over his picture in the alcove off the main room of their house if he'd ever got on one of those "death machines" again, Akihito had wisely decided to pick his battles.
Moments later, he found himself on the back of the bike, his arms around Wakai's waist, the wind whipping the thin fabric of his shirt. It was brilliant, even if he was freezing his ass off in the night air.
He shivered a little when Wakai pulled the bike over, and they stood by the edge of the Sumida River, watching the lights of the Kachidoki Bridge twinkle in the distance.
"You're cold?" Wakai looked chagrined. "I should have thought about you not being dressed for this. Why don't you take this."
He started to shrug out of his thick leather jacket but Akihito waved his hand in negation. "Ah, I'm fine! I'm fine! Now that I'm out of the wind it's not bad at all."
The raised flesh on his arms gave lie to his claim, but Wakai accepted his words without pressing him further. He did move a little closer and smiled. "You know, I wasn't all that excited about a blind date to tell you the truth, but I'm really glad to have met you. I've had a great time tonight."
The faint heat in his cheeks made Akihito glad for the darkness. He gave a nervous laugh, his stomach churning a bit unpleasantly. "I had a good time too, Wakai-san."
"Hm." A teasing glint appeared in his eyes. "Do you think you could manage to call me Hirosuke?"
"Ah, all right." He tried to smile past the excruciating awkwardness he suddenly felt. "Hirosuke-san. Then call me Akihito."
Wakai smiled again. "Akihito."
Before Akihito could process it, he had leaned in and pressed his mouth to Akihito's. Several long seconds passed before Wakai slowly pulled away with a rueful grin.
"I-I'm sorry," Akihito stammered. "I really do like you, and I had a great time, and..."
"It's okay," Wakai interrupted. "If you're not feeling it, then it can't be helped."
"It's just..." Akihito rubbed his hands over his face and groaned. "I told them I wasn't ready for this. You're great. Really."
"Then...is there someone else?"
"No!" Akihito grimaced at his sharp reply and looked up at Wakai apologetically. "I mean, sort of. There was but...he's not around now. It was nothing. Not anything serious, but I guess..." Akihito's voiced dropped and he stared at his feet, distraught and shamed-faced. "I guess I'm still thinking about him."
He couldn't bear to look up and meet Wakai's eyes, but a warm hand landed on his shoulder. "I think I understand where you're coming from, and I know this is all new to you. I had fair enough warning when I agreed to this set up."
Akihito swallowed hard and nodded, murmuring an inarticulate apology.
"No, you misunderstand, Akihito." Wakai spoke soothingly, the warmth in his voice finally compelling Akihito to raise his eyes. "I've been where you are, I know how confusing and overwhelming things can seem, but I just want you to know that if you ever need an ear to bend, you can call me anytime. As a friend."
"That's..." Tears sprang to Akihito's eyes, but he blinked away the moisture. God, what was wrong with him. This guy really was perfect. Stupid, stupid Asami. "Thank you."
Wakai grinned. "Anytime. Besides once you get over this idiot who doesn't know enough to hang on to something good, then I get first dibs."
Akihito laughed even as he flushed bright red, once again grateful for the concealing darkness.
"Now," Wakai added playfully, holding out his jacket to Akihito. "I'm wearing long sleeves, so put this on, and I'll take you home."
The whole way back, Akihito couldn't stop castigating himself for throwing away this chance with Wakai, but when he was finally dropped off at his apartment, it was Asami's goodbye kiss that kept playing over in his mind.
Kicking off his shoes, he made his way to the sofa and flopped onto it, curling onto his side and sighing as he once again called up the memories of that morning almost four weeks ago.
"You're leaving?"
Akihito could have bitten his tongue the moment he saw Asami smirk.
"I wasn't planning on having to leave so early, but something urgent has come up and I need to go in and deal with it in person. Will you miss me, Akihito?"
"As if." Akihito started to scowl but was interrupted by a huge yawn he didn't bother to cover with his hand. "Just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't..."
"I wouldn't what?" Asami looked amused.
"You know what I mean-continue where you left off about..." Akihito rolled his head and groaned as he looked at the alarm clock "Two hours ago. I can't believe you kept me up all night." Akihito shifted to a sitting position and gasped, a grimace of pain contorting his features. "How am I even supposed to walk to the train station, you jerk? I kept telling you to take it easy!"
A large hand pushed him back down on his back as Asami chuckled. "I'll have a car take you wherever you want to go. But you're more than welcome to stay and wait for me here in bed until I return."
Akihito snorted. "I've got my own things to do. Waiting around for you in your bed all day isn't one of them." He struggled vainly to sit up again.
"Pity." Asami looked highly entertained by Akihito's efforts, waiting until he'd fallen limp again before scooping him up and striding off toward the bathroom. "Shower with me then. I have just enough time to give you the attention you're craving."
"Craving? What the hell are you saying? I'm not-" Akihito broke off with a moan as Asami pushed him under a hot stream of water and then began to lather him up with firm but gentle strokes that made him aware of every new ache of his body, but it still felt so incredibly good that he decided not to put up a fuss.
He did hiss softly when a soapy finger slipped between the cheeks of his ass, testing. "You're swollen here."
"No shit," Akihito muttered grumpily to cover his furious blush. "Maybe if we hadn't done it so many times in a row!"
Asami laughed again, low in Akihito's ear, as he pressed up against Akihito's backside. He could feel him, half-hard against his ass, and Akihito tensed a bit. He was sure he'd split in two if Asami so much as even thought about fucking him again.
"I guess I'll just have to pleasure you here then." Still soapy, Asami's hand curled around Akihito's erection and, without fanfare, worked him to a lazy morning climax that Akihito had to admit felt wonderful. He sunk back into Asami's embrace, letting him support his weight. If he was going to make him like this, then he could just bear the responsibility.
Warm laughter rumbled in his ear, and the arms squeezed tighter for a moment before Asami helped him stand properly, steadying him before moving under the spray of water himself and quickly rinsing off. Akihito watched with rather grudging admiration the way the water highlighted every sculpted ridge of Asami's admittedly fantastic body.
He hastily averted his eyes when Asami shut off the water and turned toward him. A fluffy white towel landed on his head, and Akihito gave him a dirty look but began to towel off anyway. His eyes widened in appreciation. The towel was huge and impossibly soft. He hadn't known they even made towels that felt this luxurious.
Without thinking, he rubbed it against his cheek and smiled. "Where did you get these towels?"
Asami laughed again, but didn't answer, leaving Akihito to trail after him back into the bedroom.
"Would you like me to order breakfast up for you?"
"Ah, no. That's okay. I'll grab something on the way to class."
He watched for a moment as Asami began to dress, pulling on black briefs first, then going to the closet that was filled with more suits than Akihito had ever seen in one place. When he shrugged into a crisp, white shirt and began to button it, casting an amused look at Akihito over his shoulder, Akihito flushed and turned away uncomfortably.
What was he doing staring at Asami like that? He needed to find his own clothes and get out of there. His underwear was crumpled on the floor at the foot of the bed. He swore he could feel the heat of Asami's gaze when he bent over to pick them up, but he didn't dare look around to check. He just stepped into them as quickly as he could, probably looking as graceless as Asami was elegant.
His shirt had been flung into the far corner of the room. Akihito just shrugged at the wrinkles as he pulled it over his head. It smelled a little like fixer too, but it wasn't like he had a choice. He had to pad out to the main room to find his jeans, where Asami had ripped them off and left them pooled by the window.
The unfiltered morning light made him squint. His temples throbbed a little, reminding him of the previous night that certainly had not been spent in refreshing slumber. The city was already bustling along below him: cars on the street and people scurrying on the sidewalks. And he was high above it in some surreal dream that he felt like he couldn't quite wake up from.
The sharp slap on his ass brought him right out of it. He glared in the face of Asami's amused grin, and pulled his jeans on with a clumsy little hop.
"Hands off. My body can't take anymore of you this morning."
"Now now. You shouldn't underestimate yourself, Akihito. Unfortunately, I don't have time to prove to you just how wrong you are at the moment. But I'll see you soon."
Before Akihito could make any further protests, Asami reeled him in and gave him a lingering kiss that spread warmth right down to the tips of Akihito's toes. Once again, Akihito found himself clinging to the arms of Asami's pristine suit jacket as Asami slowly drew back, his eyes lit with smug amusement.
"Have a good day at school. Don't forget to look both ways before crossing the street."
Akihito's middle finger shot up and the sound of Asami's laughter stayed in his ears even after the door had shut behind him.
"Asshole."
Then a slow, involuntary smile spread over Akihito's face. Embarrassed by his own reaction, he buried his face in his hands and shook his head back and forth.
Somehow, though, even calculus seemed like something to look forward to today.