Argh…I'm a little frustrated with this chapter, but don't want to do any more revisions as I had my right wrist strained in a sparring session and thus it's all immobilized and shit…frustrating. Luckily, I'm left handed, so that means my hunt and peck typing is a bit faster than my mom's typing period so hopefully this won't stink too much…I've made it up to thirty words a minute…needless to say the next ch's gonna be a while.

Miso and rice breakfast, get dressed, teeth brushed and I'm out the door. The sun is an offence at this time of day, as are the people who are smiling or out for a morning jog. Any activity that requires actual effort before noon is a travesty against sanity and the gods, which is so very hypocritical of me it's laughable.

I am so not a morning person, but I have to get up at the same time everyday which is a serious pain in the ass, literally if that's the injection sight, figuratively if we've had a concert the night before and I only went to sleep two or three hours before I have to get up. Don't talk to me then if you like your head or genitals, I'm never in a good mood. It's hypocritical of me to say that these people that get up and enjoy the mornings are travesties because I'm becoming one of them. I don't like running, so I'm not a jogger or even a speed walker, that's not something that I could ever make myself enjoy, but I do go for walks, sometimes for a swim.

Today, I head in a direction that I haven't taken yet, it has, after all, only been just barely a week since I've moved in, not nearly enough time for someone with a job, let alone one that takes almost all your dedication, to explore their surroundings. The apartment is actually in Tokyo, so K can, if need be, get to the Studio within an hour no matter what time of day without having to wait for a train or bus or have to keep his car in top shape. He does, but if it's unavailable, he can make the time running. We're in the Shimbashi area, close to the Shimbashi stop for Japan Railways and the Shiodome monorail. I'm heading in the opposite direction from such major population gatherings, seeing as I really don't feel like signing autographs or having my picture taken in the morning.

Not a morning person. Being civil is an accomplishment. I only hope that my hat which has my hair piled under it, the sunglasses, and the non-descript clothing I'm wearing keep me from being recognized by anyone. I catch the Tofi Mita Line subway at Onarimon and head to the Uchisaiwaicho drop by Hibaya Park. There's a public hall close by and the music hall's a short jog from there.

It's full of people, some tourist group from Canada and the States by the matching shirts. Crap. I grumble a bit as I go an buy another ticket to go back the way I've come, lots of people, even foreigners, means a good chance that I'll be spotted. Damn it. I just want to get my exercise in, not be hounded by fans and reporters. Looks like it'll work, the subway pulls into the stop and people flood off as I start to push my way on. Morning rush hour.

"Nakano-san!! Please, a word for the viewers?"

Crap. Spoke too soon. I elbow someone a little harder than was probably needed and step on the platform before the beep signalling the departure of the cars starts up. Looking out I see a woman and her crew including camera and microphones jostling to get close. Before they can make it onto the platform the doors slide closed and the floor lurches under my feet. I wave and smile as the subway pulls out, hearing her disappointed wail through the glass.

That just made my day.

I get off at my stop with a thousand others switching sides of the little white line and begin to walk towards home, my adventure over. Yawning to disperse a bit of the claustrophobia caused by the subway I remove my cap and stretch, almost missing the small sign on the gate of the large yard I've just passed.

Shinju Teien, for all your adult needs. No wonder the sign's small and higher up than most kids could read. Shuichi's right, I'm a bigger pervert than he is. I walk inside, and have to gape. I don't want to even know what half of these things are for…or what they are. The big neon green jell thing right at the door is seriously freaking me out. It's not like I haven't been inside of this type of store before, but I have a feeling this caters to a more, alternative, crowd. It's dark and damp and freaky and I'm starting to get uncomfortable when a…person…speaks up.

"Can I help you?" I can't tell if they're a guy or a girl or something else entirely. Their face is pierced in more places than I want to count and the gear they're wearing is obviously from this place and yes, it is gear, not clothes. I know I'm gaping. I think that's real leather. They raise an eyebrow and about a kilogram of silver goes with it.

"Anything in particular you were looking for….Nakano-san?" Great now they're smirking, but at least at this angle I can tell that this employee is a guy.

"N…nothing in particular." I manage, then stir my failing courage a bit. "Just maybe some lube…do you have flavoured?" The guy laughs.

"And then some. For that singer? I hear it's his birthday soon, if you know what I mean. He's got a nice ass."

"Yeah, he does." I can't believe I just said that. I can't believe that I'd forgotten Shu's birthday and needed to be reminded by some _scary_ guy in a sex shop. Evil strikes my brain again and I find myself grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

"Not that I'm dissin' yours or nothing. You're pretty fine yourself."

"Thanks, not to many people notice."

"You free tonight?" God, I tried hard not to laugh, I really tried, and it did not work at all. The guy looks offended.

"Sorry." I gasp. "But I have someone."

"That Aya…ka?…chick? Or Ayako?" He looks disgusted.

"No…someone else. I do, however, need a hand with something a little more…interesting." He stops, we haven't reached the lube yet.

"Oh? Such as…?"

"I need a present for a size 7 woman, and he's picky." The guy's eyes light up, and I hope I have enough cash on me for whatever he's planning.

"I'll be right back." He disappears and comes back thirty seconds later with this semi-transparent pink slip and thong combo and a box of something that rattles.

"This will fit him perfectly, and I'm sure that writer will appreciate these." He shakes the box. "Strawberry flavoured edible rings…and not for the finger…dissolve in the mouth, not in the hands." I've found a guy more perverted than me, and I'm red as my hair as he smirks and places the stuff on the counter by the till.

"How much?" I ask. He smiles this smile that's more lecherous and disturbing than I though possible for someone under eighty. I sweat drop.

"Two signatures, a small favour, that's it…and however much the lube you want is. Won't come to more than 1,000 yen."

"What do you want signed?" I hope I'm not going to regret this. The smirk gets bigger and he whips out a pen.

"First, this CD." He pulls out our first single and it has my signature within thirty seconds. "And this…" He takes down the green jell thing I first noticed upon entering the store. I have no idea where to sign it, or even what it is…but I sign it anyways.

"The favour?"

"Two choices…a picture in an outfit of my choosing, or a recording of a phrase of my choosing."

"Can I see the outfit and hear the phrase first?"

"Nope! Live on the wild side man!" He bounces. I am seriously freaked out.

"Voice." I don't sing that often, maybe people won't recognize me.

"Alright! Let's see…" His eyes widen, and instantly he calms down a bit. I turn, but see nothing. He pulls out a bag and places the stuff inside…it's solid, so no one can see inside. A microphone is produced.

"What do you want me to say?"

"This is Nakano Hiroshi, and I like older men." I almost smirk as I say it back, but I'm too embarrassed. He places something in the bag as I move to pick it up and winks.

"On the house." I nod and bolt, feeling so dirty I actually want a shower and am glad to see the morning sun. I have something to think about.

Sex is not love, and I love K…is sex a part of that? The answer comes back instantly, yes, but there is a but.

Am I ready for this?

My mind is strangely silent.

--

I can't believe he's here. How did he find this place? Hiroshi is far, far too innocent to come to the Pearl Garden, and Shinyu smirks at my reaction.

"You know him?" He asks, his piercings jingling as his head tilts.

"He's why I'm here." Shinyu's eyebrows rise, and more metal shifts.

"He's a part of that band, right? Nakano Hiroshi?"

"Aa. What are you thinking of Shin?"

"Connections K. I can give him that thing you ordered for Yuki-san a year ago that you forgot about because of some 'interest' but came in two days ago…"

"Do it. Don't let him know I'm here, and don't do anything to stupid."

"You know me."

"That's why I'm reminding you not to do anything too stupid."

"Yes boss…" I watched the interaction between my…roommate…and one of the better agents I have in this sector. Shin was certainly playing the role of perverted freak well… I sighed, and Shin looked at me. I glared back and the younger man slid a bottle of my favourite lube into Hiro's bag as an apology before getting him to say something into the speaker which Shin recorded.

I stayed put as Hiro left and Shin bounced up the stairs, his metal striking dissonant chords as bits bumped into each other.

"30,000 yen and I won't put this all over the airwaves, 35,000 and I'll give it to you." Apparently Shin would always be Shin, and I sighed as I pulled out my wallet. I should write him up, but it's not worth the effort or the paperwork.

--

It's been four months since I bought the…stuff…at that freaky store. I haven't been back since. Before you ask, yes I did give the edible slip and thong to Shuichi, as well as the box of dissolving cock rings, and he got this god awful nose bleed when I did. Luckily, it was after the big birthday party, and he passed out completely smashed not five minutes after.

I don't want to know if he actually used them or not. The lube that metal face said was on the house is still in a box hidden away with some other things of mine that aren't used very often in the spare room. I moved permanently into our room about a month after first coming to live with him. Three days after Shu's birthday Ayaka phoned me for the first time since the tour that was nearly a year ago…ten months actually. She's found a politician's son and I've been invited to the wedding. I couldn't care less, cause I'm blissfully happy right now.

Bad Luck is still a chart topper. Shuichi and Eiri have progressed to the point that public displays of affection are commonplace, for both of them. Suguru's moony over some girl called Kumiko he met after a concert, and that's affected his music positively. We are in a high that won't fade for months. K's stayed on as manager, Sakano's 'Learning to Cope with Stress' novel edited by Yuki Eiri is selling like hot cakes, and Touma's stick up the ass fell out part way. Life is good.

Not to mention the fact that I am currently in one of the best make out sessions that I have ever had the pleasure to engage in. And trust me, that's a lot of pleasure. Crawd's very good with his hands.

I'm also a bit frustrated. I want more, I'm ready to move on from heavy petting and groping to something a little more advanced. We haven't gotten any further than having both our shirts off.

Did I mention I liked Crawd's chest? So much that when I asked him for a picture of it to carry around, he agreed?

Drool.

We're both fully clothed and in our apartment, and I like the way he's pushing me into the sofa. His weight on top of me is both a stimulant and a source of contentment. I feel warm and safe and loved when ever he does this, especially when he has his hands fisted in my hair as we kiss. It's heaven, it's in one of our songs, and he knows that I requested Shuichi write it for us.

It's been number one for the entire week that it's been out, and playing on the radio right now. Definitely ready for more. Instead of resting my hand on his hip for balance as I usually do, I put it on his back and make us grind together. He pulls away to look at me, and I ask the question I've spent months debating over.

"Will you make love to me?"