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Here You are :: chapter 7
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"Excuse me, Sir, may I know your name?" A lady in receptionist desk stopped typing on her keyboard, looking at the red head who were gazing throughout window.
Akashi turned his attention to the lady. "Akashi. Akashi Seijuurou, from Tokyo," he answered.
The lady nodded. She typed so quickly that might gave such dizziness to everybody at receptionist desk. Then she smiled and politely handed a keycard to Akashi. "Your room is on the third floor, number 316. Your stuff-"
"I will carry my stuff by myself," Akashi cut-in. Without waiting for any reply from the receptionist lady, Akashi proceeded to elevator. He certainly was not in his best mood. Taking a week off meant he had to make sure the office would be fine without him. Sure, he believed Nijimura and Sakurai could manage those painstaking pile of works but still he felt responsible to finish his workload. A night before his departure, Akashi had locked himself in the office and worked until dawn.
He had gone back to his penthouse with the first train, packed his travelling bag, bought breakfast at convenience store, and finally gotten himself on shinkansen to Hiroshima. Sitting down on a seat next to window, Akashi had nibbled at his melon bread. He had not wanted to think about anything. He had let his mind blank during the four hour journey. Therefore, when the train had arrived in Hiroshima Station, reality had began to seep in. When he had set his feet on Hiroshima Station, it had made his stomach churn. When he had moved to another platform to get into local train, he...
'Gods, just kill me now.'
Akashi Seijuurou, twenty nine year old fearless corporate lawyer, had his hands trembling since his ride from Hiroshima Station to this town.
The man threw the keycard as well as his luggage onto the queen-sized bed. He groaned inwardly, slumping onto chair The hotel was located only five minute walk away from the station-really close to the area when he had met Kuroko before. To be honest, he did not know where to find the pale-skinned man. He had searched for information in kindergartens around Saijo. Thankfully they only got some since the town was still relatively new.
The clock showed three fifteen in the afternoon. Akashi stared at his palm and noticed it had not trembled anymore. The man took a deep breath, releasing all his tension. What the hell are you thinking Seijuurou, he thought. He had been so confident to find Kuroko this time but as soon as he had entered the town, he had felt like an old man who lost all hopes. What would he do after he met Kuroko? Made him speak? It would not be that easy. Made him apologize? For what? For leaving Akashi all of a sudden?
His stormy thoughts were interrupted by a faint beeping sound from his smart phone. An e-mail came from Nijimura. /Are you still alive?/ Quite sarcastic, Akashi noted. He read more lines of his e-mail. /Sakurai said 'hi', and just to make you know I've told him about Kuroko. I expect to see you again next week./
/I see, fair enough./ He typed then hit send button. Nijimura did not give any reply, the man was probably still busy working on their case and threw his phone somewehere. It left Akashi with deafening silence. His gaze dropped at the view outside the window.
Saijo Town was a small, modernized town surrounded by mountain. Some parts of the town were still covered by forest and paddy fields. He read it somewhere that Saijo actually had been developed after the local university moved their campus from Hiroshima City to this place in 1995. The scenery from Akashi's window was far from what he called Tokyo's suburb. The town's development was centralized around train station area. Banks, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and apartment complex were easy to spot. Akashi had not gone that far yet but he had anticipated to see many apartment buildings and izakaya-traditional bar restaurant-around campus area.
In the end, this place was completely different from where Kuroko had used to live. It made Akashi wondered why Kuroko had decided move to Saijo. This town had nothing interesting but row of high quality sake breweries-and a peaceful mountainous scenery, if he did not mind to count it in. More importantly, why Kuroko had moved from Tokyo. Why... Akashi frowned. He had had enough with 'why' and felt like a protagonist from some sappy love novel every time he had those 'why' questions.
Akashi closed his eyes, whispering, "Was it my mistake, Tetsuya...?"
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"I'm sorry."
"Akashi-kun should not have apologized," Kuroko said as he touched his boyfriend's hand lightly.
Akashi frowned. "I really wish my father would just leave me alone." This morning, suddenly the Akashi senior had called his son all the way from Tokyo. The conversation had been short and clear-Akashi had had to accompany his client for breakfast. Akashi had not even met the client before but his father had insisted Akashi to show their hospitality. Akashi had ended up accompanying the man in Gion, hopping from one shop to another.
Kuroko stared at Akashi's distressed face. The red head had supposed to meet him in front of Kyoto Station about an hour ago. Akashi had invited Kuroko to their vacation house in northern part of Kyoto for summer vacation. He actually preferred to go to his vacation house during spring because its sakura and wisteria trees would have been in full bloom. Well, summer was not that bad. They could enjoy sightseeing, visiting some temples and shrines, or simply hanging out on the river. Akashi knew the smaller boy would love to see the elegance of Kinkakuji and breath-taking Sagano bamboo forest.
"Shall we go now, Tetsuya?" Akashi asked.
The former phantom player of Seirin followed Akashi to his car. The chauffeur bowed politely at the two. Kuroko was taken aback from a moment, remembering that Akashi family was super rich. During the journey from Kyoto Station, Kuroko kept looking out of car window. "This is my first time in Kyoto," he said.
"You've never been gone to Kyoto before?" asked Akashi in disbelief. The teal-haired boy answered by shaking his head. "Not even for school study tour?"
"No. I've never been gone outside Tokyo that much, only Yokohama and Kamakura."
"Interesting. So, you live a secluded life, Prince Kuroko?" Akashi teased.
Kuroko did not answer right away, he had his eyes glued on window. Slowly he turned his head to Akashi's direction. "Well, I am my father's prince."
"Daddy boy?" The Rakuzan captain could not help but smile. "Don't tell me I must compete with your father. At this rate I'll lose in seconds."
Kuroko rolled his eyes. "I thought Akashi-kun hated losing..."
Akashi threw another smile. "You don't want me to lose?"
"No, besides my father is a very thoughtful person. Akashi-kun should not worry about my mother either. She likes meeting new people."
Wait. Had Kuroko just implied that he planned to introduce Akashi to his family? Akashi was about to ask the question when the car stopped in front of the vacation house. Kuroko, as Akashi had predicted before, was stunned. The size of Akashi family's vacation house was not even a half on the main house in Tokyo but it was still big for Japanese standard. The house had been built on the hillside with a huge traditional garden. Sakura, plum, wisteria, camellia, peony, azalea, iris... It seemed that the gardeners had been working very hard to maintain this place.
"Beautiful," Kuroko commented, half-whispering.
Akashi was pleased by the word. "Let's go inside, Tetsuya. It's getting hotter here." He gestured toward the traitional sliding door. To be honest, Akashi barely spent his time in vacation house. What was the point staying at another house when you probably would have the same routine as in your usual house? Akashi had no idea why his parents had decided to build vacation house. It wasted a lot of money and the maintainance was not that cheap. However, today, he felt really lucky to have this vacation house only for himself and Kuroko.
"What are we going to do today, Akash-hmph!"
Kuroko almost tripped on his foot as Akashi kissed him on the mouth. He was pushed until his back was against the wall. Akashi had gripped at Kuroko's arms tightly, practically trapping the boy. Kuroko moaned. His lover's hot breaths made his body shivered. Akashi's lips moved to his earlobe. "I miss you, Tetsuya," he purred, "Finally...it's only two of us."
Listening to such seductive voice, Kuroko's member grew hard. He buried his face on Akashi's shoulder, inhaling the masculine fragrant of his lover's parfume. It smelt like fresh mint and ocean breeze-reminded him of Davidoff's Cool Water. Before, Kuroko had always guessed that Akashi would have smelt like a sandalwood. Kuroko did not mind though. He loved Akashi's scent, after all.
"I...I miss you too, Akashi-kun," replied Kuroko. He gently ran his fingers on Akashi's red hair, while another hand reached for Akashi's back and slowly trailed his spain. He felt Akashi shuddered under the touch. Kuroko smiled. Since they lived faraway from each other, it was really hard to meet so Kuroko valued every time when they could spend together.
While Kuroko was too busy with his own thoughts, Akashi began grinding his hips. The sudden movement earned delightful gasp from Kuroko, and soon Akashi removed Kuroko's black jeans. Kuroko looked very inviting with his bare legs and strained erection.
"Akashi-kun," Kuroko panted, "We are...in the hallway." His cheeks were flushed and he dropped his eyes only to meet his own cock. Kuroko's eyes went wide-there was no way he would get turned on by his erection.
His boyfriend smirked. "What is it, Tetsuya? Admiring yourself much?"
"N-no! I..."
Akashi lift Kuroko's chin up devoured those pink lips once again. He pushed his tongue farther, roaming the hot cavern. Kuroko encircled his arms around Akashi's shoulder. Pulling the taller boy, he silently demanded for more attention to his lower body part. Akashi gladly accepted it by dropping to his knees while his skillful fingers groped Kuroko's firm butt. Kuroko let a soft whimpered as Akashi licked the boy's inner thighs hungrily. He loved how Kuroko hunched over with silent cries coming out from his mouth. Kuroko was not a type who let noises on bed but Akashi had learned that he only needed to put a little bit work on Kuroko's sensitive spots to drive him into pure lustful cries.
"Aka...shi-kun, n-no...ahn not here..." Kuroko was digging his fingers at Akashi's shoulders, trying to balance his already shaking legs. He gasped when Akashi took his cock. "P-please no!" Kuroko cried and came instantly into Akashi's mouth. He did not realize that tears were sliding down his cheeks.
Akashi looked up. Kuroko's white cum was leaking from the corner of his mouth. "So soon, Tetsuya? I only put your cock into my mouth. Are you that sensitive?"
Suddenly Kuroko slid down to the floor then wrapped his legs on Akashi's waist. He whispered, "Because it's been a while since Akashi-kun touched me."
The red head chuckled. Kuroko was very honest as always. "You want me to touch you more?" he asked. Kuroko nodded shyly without even looking at his boyfriend. It seemed he was too embarrassed to show his expression now. "Then, can you do me a favor?" Akashi asked again, stroking Kuroko's smooth cheek, "Can you call me by first name?"
Kuroko did not answer for a while. They had been dating since winter but Kuroko never called Akashi by his first name. "Akashi-kun doesn't like me to call you by family name?" Kuroko asked back, burying his flushed face on Akashi's shoulder.
"Don't be silly, Tetsuya, I'm not angry or anything. We're lovers now and it's only natural for us to call each other first name right?" Akashi gently pushed Kuroko's body so he could see his lover's face clearly. "I love you, Tetsuya."
The smaller boy looked taken aback. He stared at Akashi with wide blue eyes as if he was scanning through him whole. It was the first time Akashi had said he loved him. Kuroko's body shook then he burst into tears. Akashi was startled by the reaction. He gathered Kuroko into embrace, letting the boy cried on his torso. "D-don't leave me, Akashi-kun," Kuroko whimpered between his sobs, "Please don't leave me alone."
"What are you saying, Tetsuya? Of course I won't leave you." He kissed the top of Kuroko's head. "We'll stay together, forever."
At the last word, Kuroko hugged his boyfriend tighter. "Don't leave me..."
"I won't." Akashi was actually confused now. Why did the boy desperately keep asking not to leave him alone? "Tetsuya, is there someth-"
"I love you too, Seijuurou-kun."
Akashi finally smiled, completely throwing away his confused thoughts. He lifted Kuroko and showered the boy with kisses. They moved to master bedroom, touching and feeling each other naked body until the sun disappeared on west sky. At night, they stayed cuddling on bed in silence. Akashi stared throughout the window where the darkness of night was mixed with loud sound of cicadas. Summer was still long.
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Sighing, Akashi stood up from chair then decided to change into more casual clothes. He opened the travelling bag and took out pair of jeans with red polo shirt. Red, his favorite color. There had been a time when Kuroko had teased his wardrobe. 'You only have red,' he had laughed which sounded more like fit of giggles. Akashi had been amazed by Kuroko's various facial expression that he has never seen before. The boy had smiled in mischief. The boy had laughed from tickling. The boy had...showed how loving someone could make people changed.
The man put the keycard inside his wallet. He needed to get out of this small room. Anywhere would be fine. Sitting all day would only make him felt worse. He did not want to drown on those memories. Akashi soon found himself walking through narrow streets near the station. He stared absentmindedly at rows of small stores. A neon sign slowly dominated the view as the sun went dim. A colorful sign of an okonomiyaki restaurant caught his attention. The sign was painted in bright red color with big black letters. Around the letters, there were some drawings of Hawaiian beach. Akashi wondered if the restaurant owner was a fan of Hawaii. Out of curiosity, he opened the restaurant's sliding door.
"Welcome!" said an old man behind the counter. Akashi nodded, taking a seat on stool. The man narrowed his eyes, looking at Akashi with creased brows. "Ya aren't a local, eh? Where di' ya c'me from?" Akashi blinked as he tried to catch what the man had said. Was he talking in local dialect? Akashi had caught a hint of Kansai dialect but still it was completely different one. Noticing a slight frown from his customer, the old man asked again, "Tokyo?"
This time, Akashi replied with a nod.
"Tokyo! I've nev'r been to Tokyo b'fore but gues' I won't like it." The man shook his head. "Busines' trip then?"
"Kind of," replied Akashi politely. He scanned at the menu. They only got okonomiyaki and beer here. Well, they did have various kind of okonomiyaki. Akashi had heard Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki was more delicious than Osaka-style one but never had time to try it. Akashi was pretty sure Tokyo had some Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurants somewhere.
"Wha' ya wanna eat, youn' man?"
"Any recommendation?"
The old man's expression lightened. While preparing okonomiyaki, He began telling Akashi about his restaurant and old neighborhood. The man had moved from a small island in Seto Inland Sea to Saijo when he had been too small to remember. His father had worked on farming while his mother had worked part-time for sake brewery. He told Akashi how this town had changed-more lively and busy, but still could not be compared with those suburbs in Hiroshima City. During Akashi's second beer, the old man's son joined their conversation.
"Now to think about it...Saijo is really a good place to raise children," the son said in normal Japanese dialect, "That's why my wife doesn't mind to live in this place. Our local university has affiliated schools from kindergarten to high school. Heard that they got one of the best faculty of education in Japan."
Akashi looked up from his beer. Much to his own surprise, he asked, "Do you by any chance know the man named Kuroko Tetsuya?"
The pair of father and son blinked in return. "Do you mean Kuroko-sensei?" asked the son.
"Yes, the...kindergarten teacher." Akashi tried to sound confident. Somehow he knew those two were suddenly becoming really careful. "He's my friend from middle and high school. I'm here to meet him."
"Oh, yes! Kuroko-sensei." The old man grinned. "One of the bes' teachers we got her', right son? My grandsons went to his kindergarten. Go'd kid, very reserved though. Kinda like his late mother."
Akashi frowned. "Late mother?"
"Kuroko-sensei's mother..." The son cleared his throat and gave his father a look. "...passed away ten years ago, when he was still nineteen, almost twenty if I'm not mistaken."
"Toug' time for the kid. He-"
"Dad," the son cut-in, "Aren't you going to check the supply?" The old man sighed. He went to the back room, leaving Akashi and his son. "Sorry," said the man when his father had disappeared behind the door, "My old man talks too much."
The red head only nodded. He gulped down his beer, glancing at the small restaurant where now was already filled by other customers. "Tet-I mean, Kuroko never told me about his mother," Akashi said then the man in front of him nodded. From the gesture, Akashi knew the man wanted to drop this conversation really bad. Akashi let him body relaxed on the bar stool. "Right, I don't know this town's direction yet. I'm afraid I'll get lost before I find Kuroko's workplace tomorrow."
"You won't. It's only one stop away before the university."
Akashi smiled. "Thank you."
The man shrugged, oblivious to the fact that Akashi had succesfully tricked him.
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tbc
