Xxxxx

Raeger

When Ibuki came by for dinner that night I wasn't expecting him. I honestly thought he was going to blow me off to hang out with Mistel and Fritz all day because they all just seemed to have so much fun. Before Ibuki showed up I stewed over it and I still didn't understand why.

I only had a suspicion. But it wasn't possible, it couldn't have been.

Could it?

I fought the suggestive inner voice growing louder inside my head. I stopped and took a really good look at him. t I got lost in those eyes of his. Those eyes of his which were staring right back at me.

"Is there something on my face?"

Almost in a trance I just shook my head.

"Just gray eyes."

"Ha..."

My skin felt hot, cheeks threatening to burn as Ibuki simply climbed up on the stool to the counter. I couldn't tear my eyes away, not until he began to look up.

"Raeger?"

"Hm?"

"Have you been busy?"

I'd been busy thinking about him.

"Not particularly..."

Ibuki scanned the currently empty dining room.

"You left earlier, in a hurry. I assumed you had stuff to do."

"I had some inventory to take." I lied, knowing damn well I hadn't left for anything work related. "It's all set."

"That's good. It was a shame you had to leave but work comes first, I understand that."

It almost felt like Ibuki was insinuating he missed me after I left. Almost. My stomach leaped.

"What?" I instigated, paying close attention. " You miss me?"

"Well, sure...It's not like you're mean to me, anymore. Wouldn't have a reason to miss you then, right? Ha ha..."

That was a curveball. I remembered nothing but being kind to him when he visited me, because I looked forward to it. But then it struck me, he was right. I hadn't always been very welcoming to him. I fucked up.

"I'm just not particularly friendly with new faces." Suddenly all I could see was my first encounter with Ibuki. " I'd never intentionally be mean to you. That's just not my way. Not me."

Grandfather always warned me I had a mean streak like my mother. According to him, I was a bit ignorant to it. According to him, I was capable of being nasty. A warning I never paid much mind to, and now a regret that blared through my thoughts urgently.

"I could never do such a thing..." I continued, eager to explain myself while under the guise of being cool and collected. "Not to my favorite customer."

"...Favorite?"

Ibuki was pink from the compliment. Just brief flash of color at the apple of his cheeks. He didn't give me the satisfaction of blushing, I really wished he had. It would have been amusing, watching him flush to a little sweet talk.

Women were so susceptible to it, melting under appraisal. At an earlier stage in my life I remembered taking advantage of that when it convenience me. . . intimately. I denied it when accused, but I'd had my playboy days. If only for relief.

With a woman flush and chipper from praise and sweet talk, all it took was some charm to reel them in. Ibuki flushed just like a woman, almost. The more suggestive areas of my brains did not ignore what an opportunity could still arise from that. Ibuki was petite and pretty with delicate features... but a man no less.

"What can I get you, hm?" I questioned him, ready to divert my dirty thoughts."What are you hungry for?"

"Pasta's fine."

I watched Ibuki for just a second longer and that color returned to his cheeks.

"Red sauce please." He added quickly, breaking eye contact to cool his face.

"You got it."

Ibuki recovered quickly from his embarrassment.

"So, what did you do after the tree climbing?" I asked him in an effort to keep him talking. "Anything interesting?"

I hoped to hear he came straight to see me.

"I went over Mistel's."

"...Mistel's, huh?"

"Yup. He was nice enough to make some tea while I was there too."

He meant nothing by it, but somehow I'd taken it personally.

"Would you like some tea, now?" I offered, aiming to please. " I could brew you some."

"It's okay, Raeger. I can have water."

"It's no trouble, I'll make you some."

The tea kettle was left to warm as I gathered the tea leaves, pasta and sauce cooking away on the stove. As always, I carried on talking to Ibuki after suavely steering the topic away from Fritz and Mistel. His "best friends".

I felt like if he said anything else about Mistel and Fritz I would steam at the ears and scream.

"You're always welcome here, you know. "You can come see me anytime."

"Thanks Raeger... I just don't want to bother you. You're always working."

I knew that too well.

"You don't have to swing by just to eat, I'm always here to talk." I insisted. " I'd love to see you more often. Don't be a stranger. I'm serious."

I served up his food timely, joyed to know he would clear his plate and then offer his compliments to me for my cooking. As Ibuki ate I was struck with just how gorgeous he was. Far more appealing to the eye than any woman. At least to me.

Ibuki went about eating his food and I nodded to myself, finally accepting what I'd been so hesitant to admit to myself. I liked Ibuki, I really did. With the acknowledgment came a sense of relief.

I was relieved, that was until reality struck me with the force of hammer upside my head. I couldn't have him all to myself. I had competition. And I didn't even know where to begin.

Xxxxx

Klaus

I returned home against my better judgment soon after Ibuki allowed himself to be guided away by Mistel. The youthful young man was abundantly popular. It was clear to me that Ibuki's time was a well sought out commodity as of recently. Many wanted a piece.

Some wanted more than just a piece. Such as myself. It was difficult to deny it now. Just as any common woman, the desire to reel him in should have passed with time. But it did not. Such unrefined, vulgar desire. There was something about him to be craved, such as what he sounded like in the throes of passion.

Or if he could handle the desire of an older brute, let alone welcome it. No woman had ever appreciated such rough handling of mine. A refined gentleman I was for public appearance, such behavior could only extend so far.

My bed was territory, not a love nest.

What was in it, was mine. With what was mine I did as I pleased. Women, fickle delicate creatures. They would preen and groom for the attention, batting their eyes in seduction. What many failed to see was I had no interest in games. One by one over the years they left with either a huff or frightened eyes following copulation.

They wanted a gentle love making, to melt me under their soft touch and string me along with the song of a siren. To dance and flaunt their bodies in seduction. To exploit the primal urges of a man whom could so easily overpower them. They wanted the control.

When faced with the pent libido of a real man of power, none knew what to truly expect. They anticipated to be lavished and made love to gently. Their bodies only served to please me in rough, brief encounters. Woman despised me during my younger years.

One woman specifically rang loud and clear within my memory, exasperated and disgusted.

"You're nothing but a beast! A BEAST!" She wailed, gathering up her skirts as she hurried to redress herself. "Those whom you prowl with are nothing but over glorified predators."

I stood to redress, silent to her scorn. She paused her irritating squawking to look at me, only her eyes were met with the plane of my back. Her mouth curled with disgust at the ink there.

"To think such a brute with the brand of a beast on his back could ever protect us! You've set wolves to this town, Klaus Schwarz! Goddess help these sheep, they know not who their protector is."

"If not for me this town would be in ruins. I've protected innocent people." I reminded her, cutting her with my words. "Leave my presence. Out with you. You're no better than a vile ingrate."

"And you're no better than a savage animal!"

That woman stormed off, the door to my bedroom chambers slamming with her exit.

"May your beloved rest in peace. Surely she'd roll in her grave if she knew whom you really were!"

My bitter memories were broken off with noise from outside.

"Thanks for having me over for tea."

Shamelessly, I peered out the window.

"Ibuki, are you sure you can't stay?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry Mistel. It's great seeing you and all but I'm going to go have dinner soon. It's almost that time."

"Eat here. Iris and I don't mind at all, she'll be home soon."

Smiling in the easy way I'd only seen Ibuki capable of, he shook his head and thanked Mistel for his hospitality. Though Mistel pestered for more of Ibuki's precious time, Ibuki turned him down. Something I internally praised him for.

I want to go eat at Raeger's. I'll see you around, alright?"

"You know where to find me if you need anything." Mistel told Ibuki as well, smiling with that razor tongue hidden well behind such sweetly upturned lips. "Anything at all."

Walking away, Ibuki glanced at my house. For a second I feared I'd been caught listening in. Ibuki looked to the door of my home, not the second-floor where I peered out from the curtains.

"You wouldn't happen to know if Klaus is home, would you?"

Although Ibuki hadn't spotted me, another set of eyes did. Mistel looked to Ibuki and gave a light, casual shrug of his shoulders.

"I haven't a clue where he is, why would I? It's not as if I keep tabs on people." He challenged me directly under the guise of speaking to Ibuki, making a point to look to my window as he spoke. "At least, not the irrelevant ones."

"I guess you and Klaus don't speak much, huh? Well I could always knock on the door to say hi...but, he's probably still walking around the forest. I'll just see him Tomorow. "

Mistel wasn't pleased to see Ibuki go, but he was more than satisfied to watch him pass my door. Taking a step back inside the doorway to his home, Mistel gave a smug two finger wave goodbye.

The little bastard.

If he wanted to play, we would play. I was not one to lose. I was the Alpha and Misel would soon learn. My blood boiled with the newfound determination.

Xxxxx

Raeger

I never chased after anyone. They'd always come to me... but I was used to young women. Maybe men were different? Regardless, Ibuki was mine. I wanted him, no matter how I had to go about it.

"Ibuki, this is awesome!"

"It's not that awesome."

"It totally is!"

Entering his farm, my ears perked at the sound of Ibuki and Fritz talking. Fritz sat along the edge of a newly built chicken coop. Ibuki put tools away. For what apparently was a one-man job, it was pretty awesome. The coop was average size but built well.

And evidently so was Ibuki.

Deeper in to summer we were and his work was really showing on his body. I took interest in the shirtless little blonde with a newly acquired set of biceps and surfacing abs. All of which I could see because Ibuki was wearing little cut off shorts...

As I stood nearly awestruck, I was spotted. Fritz began laughing and came up from Ibuki, picking him and swinging him around, partially out of view.

"Ibuki, cover yourself! You're practically naked!" Fritz joked as Ibuki squirmed to free himself but failed "Raeger's here. Cover up, blondie!"

"Fritz we're all guys, put me down. I have shorts on."

I was annoyed at Fritz for his never ending efforts to be a goof ball but smiled as Ibuki laughed. He sounded as if he were having fun...I could have easily swung him around faster. Fritz wasn't strong enough. He nearly lost his hold on Ibuki. Seeing Ibuki nearly fall to the ground, I tried to intervene.

"Here, hand him over."

I hopped the fence to go get Ibuki but Fritz was adamant Ibuki was fine. He swung him away and Ibuki yelped with the movement. When Ibuki nearly slipped again,I practicaly yanked him out of Fritz's arms.

Ibuki was grateful. I held him steadily and he recovered from being dizzy, resting his forehead down on my shoulder. He was warm all over, skin hot from baking under the Summer sun.

"Have I told you what a great friend you are?" Ibuki commented.

I vividly recalled Ibuki telling me I was a great friend after I rescued him from Frit's antics another time at the lake.

"I don't recall. Wanna tell me again?"

"You're a great friend." Ibuki repeated before groaning. "...and everything is spinning. Ugh...I'm so dizzy. "

Tipping him back just enough that he lifted his head off me, I looked him directly in the face. He was still dazed with unfocused eyes. Clearly, he was disorientated, which I wasn't very pleased with. Fritz had done a number on him.

"Can you see me?" I asked him

Blinking, Ibuki focused his vision and nodded.

"Good. So, a chicken coop. What happened to wanting a seed maker?"

"I'll be getting that soon...and everything is still spinning. eh."

Fritz sidled up next to us. Leaning his weight from one hip to the other, he snickered.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothin' really..." Fritz assured Ibuki, darting his eyes down. "Just I can see your bum."

"What!?"

Reaching a hand down quickly, Ibuki discovered that being his summer work shorts were so small they had bunched up enough to reveal about an inch of his ass cheeks.

"R-Raeger could you put me down, please?"

"Here. just let me fix your shorts for you-"

"No! That's o-okay...I can do it."

Back on his feet, Ibuki avoided eye contact and tried fixing his shorts. Without saying a word, Fritz leaned in and helped. His fingers took hold of the material covering his rear and he pulled it down a little further.

"Your bum is all set again." Fritz promised him, snickering with a pinch to Ibuki's ass. "All covered. "

It irked me, how easily Fritz just put his hands on Ibuki. I'd offered to do the same for him and he put up a fuss. Fritz just did it on his own and Ibuki put up no fight. They were definitely close, closer than I was with him. That was a problem.

"That coop looks great." I announced just then, drawing Ibuki's attention back to me. "I hope you worked up an appetite building it. Once you're ready for Lunch we can go back to the restaurant. My treat."

I knew what I was doing was manipulative, trying to lure his attention away from Fritz. I didn't care, I would do what I had to do. To my disappointment, he and Fritz had already eaten.

"Dinner then." I told him, matter of factly. "I expect to see you there."

Without giving him time to retort, I waved and walked away. If Ibuki had plans, he didn't anymore. Not with anyone else, that is. Fritz couldn't have him all day. Not on my watch.

Xxxxx

Klaus

"Wow, Klaus...these look very nice. Um, thank you."

In Ibuki's hands was a small box of chocolates. Ones I'd received as a gift from a female client in attempt to convey her unreturned affections.

"I have no interest in chocolate. Somehow it always finds its way to me." I told Ibuki as he looked to the gift with uncertainty but content clear in his eyes. "I'd prefer if you enjoyed them, they would go to waste with me."

"Would you like to come in?"

I'd taken Ibuki's invitation inside his home with pleasure, until I spotted his house guest.

"Mistel and I were having tea, would you like some?"

Seated on a worn loveseat, Mistel had one leg crossed over the other. He bore his violet eyes in to me from over the rim of the ornate glass tea cup. It seemed Ibuki was blind to the presence of vermin in his home, vermin I could easily remove if he allowed me.

"Tea would be greatly appreciated."

Even if I could have comfortably seated myself in the loveseat with Mistel I had no desire to. Taking my place in the adjacent chair instead, I situated myself in the recliner where my large frame took of the entirety of it.

"Here you go, Klaus." Ibuki handed me a tea cup.

"What impeccable timing you have, Klaus." Mistel drawled, airily. " You showed up just in time for tea ...and with chocolates? How thoughtful."

Glancing to the tea set on the coffee table, Mistel was all to pleased with himself. He jutted his chin up hautily.

"Ibuki is rather popular today, so many gifts hm? Elise left him a horse and I just brought him this tea set."

Last I'd seen, Elise had a rather bitter taste for Ibuki. The brat gifted him a horse?

"This tea set is nice, Mistel. But I feel bad accepting it...isn't it an antique?" Politely, Ibuki voiced his concerns.

"It's my gift to you. Don't you worry about it."

"I'm scared I'll break it...maybe you should keep it."

"Nonsense."

Mistel's little gift for Ibuki had not been the hit he'd hoped it'd be. What foolery it was, gifting the simple farmer antique China. Not to undermine Ibuki, but he did not seem the sort for expensive China. Dearest Ibuki liked sweets.

"Perhaps you'd do well to pay closer attention to your chums, Mistel. " I advised the antique shop owner. "China is not suitable gifting for everyday occasion"

"Oh?" Mistel pried, batting his eyes sharply. "And chocolates are? Last I checked, chocolates were for Valentines Day. Just saying."

There was a pause of sorts and Ibuki blinked his large eyes at Mistel.

"Klaus is silly, isn't he?" he teased. "Bringing you chocolate. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

"Well I thought it was thoughtful...I like chocolate." Ibuki responded meekly, embarrassed. "Thank you so much Klaus."

Mistel bristled.

"My pleasure, Ibuki." I assured him, eye fixed on the subtle manner in which his pupils dilated when he was nervous. "Do tell me how you like them when you take the time to indulge."

From there on it was difficult to truly get a word in with Ibuki, Mistel doing all he could to eat up his attention. Watching on as his antics unfolded I made no effort to play the fool and pretend I didn't knew what he was doing. With each attempt to keep Ibuki's attention on himself, Mistel only dug himself deeper in to enemy territory. With watchful eyes I conveyed that.

Proud of himself, he flicked his eyes to Ibuki as if I were not there.

"Perhaps the tea set was not the most favorable gift for you. But Ibuki, do you have any interest in antiques? Any interest at all?" Mistel asked of him, more implying than inquiring. "If so, you should come visit my shop. You know, instead of just coming to see me. Not that I mind that. I love seeing you."

My teeth all but ground inside my mouth reflexively at Mistel's blatant goading. Ibuki was naïve to what was happening. Mistel was a sneaky little creature and Ibuki truly hadn't a clue. I could already see him being the type to not see it until Mistel blatantly announced it. Or made his strike.

The bothersome blonde watched for my reaction as he placed a hand on Ibuki's leg.

"I'm certain you'll find something that catches your interest if you come. " He nearly purred.

"You sell blueprints too, right?"

"Mmhm."

Still oblivious to Mistel's advances, Ibuki just smiled back. Mistel's huberous was nauseating. He gave me another satisfied glance.

"I could always visit Klaus afterwards." Ibuki cut in, chipperly. "Since he lives right next door to you and all."

It was my turn to smile and Mistel's eyes soon turned sour.

"How true, Ibuki. You certainly could." I affirmed to him. "If I am home, enter at your leisure."

Mistel was determined to interfere.

"You're hardly ever home, Klaus." he retorted. " Walking around the forest all the time... No point inviting him over. How is he ever going to find you? How rude."

"I'm home far more often than circumstance may lead on. If in doubt, simply knock on the door." Sharing a look of mutual aggravation with Mistel, I carried on. "Best to find out for yourself lest someone misdirect you. Now Ibuki, the weather today is lovely. I insist you tour the town with me. I simply won't take no for an answer. "

Soon Mistel had no choice but to leave Ibuki to my company. He leaned in close and gave the farmer a hug, holding him for a few seconds before leaving with a glare casted over his shoulder at me. Mistel did not care for losing a game when he already had his fingers so tightly wound around the prize.

Xxxxx

Raeger

As the summer went on I began seeing less of Ibuki. His visit at noon was what I watched the clock for but yet less and less he showed up. I hardly even saw him run past the shop for a week. On my slow days, Ibuki had been my only customer. So by the time my frustration peaked, I couldn't stand being in the kitchen with nothing to do.

I closed my restaurant in the afternoon, knowing there'd be no business. The hours once spent standing around watching the clock and twiddling my thumbs, I spent in my room burning off steam. Exercising for hours, I pushed myself. Whether I'd been doing pushups, sits up or muscle work of any kind, I pushed myself until I absolutely couldn't anymore.

And, then I went for a run.

With muscles aching and sweat seeping from my pores until I was slick, I was still wasn't satisfied. I was pent, and aggravated. It bit me in the ass knowing Ibuki was off somewhere with either Mistel or Fritz. His best friends, the ones he had no clue were infatuated with him.

The ones he didn't need to spend his time with but suddenly preferred over me for whatever reason.

With anger lit ablaze inside me, I took out the aggravation in the backroads of the forest with newfound motivation. I didn't like being discarded, left alone. And that's what Ibuki did, it felt.

Running, heart pounding under my ribcage, my sneakers hit the dirt road venomously. Steam nearly wafting from my skin, I ran until I felt hot all over. I ran, believing nothing could have stopped me. But something did.

Coming out of the guild's root crop field yards away was Ibuki, with Fritz's arm thrown around him. Up the path towards his farm they went, not once looking back and spotting me. He couldn't ignore me forever.

It felt like forever the following weeks. Summer was coming to an end and Ibuki's chair at the counter sat empty day after day. All I could do to appease myself was run, berating myself for possibly scaring Ibuki off.

For hours I'd run, draining myself. First thing in the morning I itched for the rush of endorphins that would flood me. Like clockwork I'd wake up and dress for exercise. That was how I spent my remaining Summer days, pissed off and sweaty.

During this time, business picked up with the arrival of a new vendor. I'd heard through various new customers about them, many of them going on and on about some local farmer who'd make record breaking shipments that brought them to Oak Tree. So much produce had been shipped in the previous weeks that news was traveling fast.

Ibuki had done well. Proving himself once again. Still too busy to see me it seemed. Just the thought made me itch for a run. Angry, I felt ready to take on the hills. Let my lungs fill and tighten like my reawakening physique.

"Oh Raeger~ Could I order another drink, please?"

That afternoon a female customer beckoned me over to her table, her group of friends all smiling ear to ear. She held out her empty cup for me and as I took it from her, I felt slender and manicured fingers rake up my sleeve.

"Do you work out?" she questioned with sparkling eyes. "Your biceps are bulging. Careful now, that shirt may burst."

The women giggled. I wasn't unfamiliar with such blatant flirting, it had just been a while. When the town economy had been down and out, they stopped showing up after I'd become so focused on my work and got sick of one-night stands. Many redundant, one-night stands.

She was right though, as of late my work shirts were feeling quite fitted. Especially around the shoulders and sleeves. I'd grown, muscles filling out with my diligent efforts.

The efforts had paid off, a little too well at that. If I got any bigger I was going to need new shirts. Just breathing made the fabric brush and rub my skin from the expansion of my diaphragm. It was intoxicatingly satisfying.

Dressing in the mornings I'd put on my trousers, the material becoming fitted. Although I was built with muscle, the button just barely shut I'd grown so much. Along my rear and thighs the material stuck to me, threatening to cut circulation at times. Never had my clothes ever been so tight. Worse, I'd lost any extra space to speak of at the rotch of my pants.

Pressed snug against the seam of the zipper, my bulge became visible. Down my thigh my length would be, requiring I ensure my shirts and aprons were always properly placed for coverage. Being well endowed was something I'd only ever flaunted in the bedroom for women, but it seemed growing out of my clothes would soon show everyone how large I was.

Ensuring my apron was placed, I gave the woman a polite smile.

"I'll be sure to be careful." I assured her, brushing off her flirtatious ways. "I'll refill this right away. Can I get you anything else?"

"I'm sure I'll think of something~"

With a wink, the young woman pinched my arm and I walked away to refill her cup. Perhaps the attention was meant to be flattering, but I'd grown sick of such antics. I would have much rathered a conversation about crop cycles with Ibuki than women batting their eyes at me and pining after my attention. Ibuki's eyes were prettier anyhow.

Closing that night, I watched the door in hopes he would show up. He didn't.

Xxxx

Klaus

Despite having clearly told Ibuki to visit me whenever he pleased, I saw neither hide nor hair of him. Logically I was aware he was a busy person, a farm to tend to taking up much of his time. That alone was not enough to douse my heated frustrations.

The late mornings I spent drinking coffee with Ibuki, or the afternoons spent running in to him on my walks, soon became solitary again. For years I'd been accustomed to such solitude and his absence should have set me back to my original routine, but it didn't.

I was distracted. Between the Summer heat and yearning for the little farmer, I simply couldn't set my mind to work. A physical rage I thought I'd buried years prior bubbled within me.

I could envision Ibuki falling victim to Mistel's attention. Those slender white hands creeping over him as he knew not what was happening. Closing my curled fingers around a perfume bottle nearly hard enough to shatter it, I inhaled deeply through my nose.

"I haven't the patience for this." Placing the bottle down for another time, I stood from the workbench.

Up the stairs I went, unbuttoning my coat all the while. If I was to stay composed, the aggravation had to be purged. Entering a room, I flicked on the lights and was met with the large, heavy barbell I'd owned for years.

Wasting no time, I carried on the reps. Breathing in deeply, I brought the heavy barbell down to my chest before exhaling as I pushed it up. Repeatedly I did this until I began to sweat, growing increasingly aggravated with each repetition. Such efforts had been made to purge my frustration, but I only seemed to grow angrier.

Ibuki knew not what he'd gotten himself in to, befriending me.

I nearly snarled at the weight I pressed from my chest. With each repetition I only roused the building beast. With time, my true form would return. They would see.

After refreshing in the washroom, I dressed to go out. Articles of clothing I wore everyday without issue were now in need of alteration desperately. My shoulder and back had always been exceptionally wide and because of such I had clothing tailored for my fit. But the shirts I had tailored for myself were now unable to accommodate my size.

The seams all but threatened to rip if I made sudden movement. Buttons would go flying askew if I dared. My trousers did not give much more leniency to my new found growth either. My loins were trapped and smothered.

Iris welcomed me in kindly when I paid her a visit, going on about such a lengthy span of time it'd been. Set at the table, I watched as she went about preparing the coffee for our visit. When bringing it over, Iris looked me over with intrigue.

"Pardon my prying, Klaus. But have you been taking up sport again?"

"I have, Iris."

Having no clue to what I'd taken upon myself to do for my body, she was ignorant to just what extreme I'd "taken up sport". I'd gone beyond. With ease I was destroying slabs of wood with my bare hands. Said hands held a porcelain cup I could snap with a twitch of my fingers, but I sipped the steaming beverage from it.

"You're looking well, good for you." Iris praised me, meaning well. "Things have been going wonderfully for everyone it seems."

"You don't say?"

"Oh I do. Haven't you heard? A new vendor arrived. Ibuki has been a very busy bee. He shipped so many tomatoes and onions, you wouldn't even believe it. Vanessa has been raving about it for days now."

His name alone bit at my nerves simply because I missed him.

"Ibuki has brought much to this town and it only seems to be growing." I affirmed to Iris, noting how lively the streets were when I left my home.

Lively streets but no sight of Ibuki.

"Klaus would you care for more?"

"This will do." Declining a refill, I wrapped up my visit with Iris.

As dear a friend and hostess she was, I had other things to tend to. Another face to seek.

More often than not I stumbled upon Ibuki in the forest and with realization I felt a fool. Perhaps had I sought out to wander the forest as per usual, I may have stumbled upon Ibuki.

Out of curiosity, I finally visited the forest for the first time in weeks, Ibuki was nowhere to be seen along the river he often found me at. Taking a seat, I watched the water move along, hoping to hear him prance up the dirt road.

Wishful thinking proved to help none.

Xxxxx

Raeger

I wasn't prepared for when Ibuki finally showed his face in my restaurant. I went about cleaning the kitchen after a Lunch rush, not feeling well that day. I'd woken far too light headed to even consider running. I felt awful.

When the rush hit, I felt drained. But I had no choice but to press on, expecting more business thanks to Ibuki attracting such a large crowd of customers to the market. With visitors coming in all the time, I had no chance to rest on the job.

"Of all the days to be so packed...fucking hell."

After clearing tables, I loaded the dishwasher and took a bracing breath at the counter. My limbs felt impossibly heavy, as did my skull. The fear of passing out consumed me for a moment but then the front door opened.

Ibuki took his seat at the counter and I couldn't muster anything to say. Between the shock of actually seeing him and not feeling well, I was at a loss. Ibuki caught my peculiar behavior right away and looked at me questionly, tilting his head worried.

"...Raeger?"

"Huh? Oh...welcome. Sorry" I apologized. "I'm just feeling a little... dizzy, is all"

"Want me to get Marion next door?"

Ready to leave for the doctor, he began to get down from the chair. This was the first time I'd seen in him weeks, I didn't want him to leave.

"I'm Fine. I'll get over it soon." I assured him, intent on keeping him there. "What can I get you?"

"I'll have the fried rice, if that's alright."

"Fried rice? Gotcha. Give me just a minute..."

After cooking up his food, I brought it over to him. I was lightheaded from moving around but did well to hide it, nervous that Ibuki would go running off to the clinic if he saw I was struggling. So with a smile, I placed his plate in front of him.

"Here you go."

Ibuki was happy upon receiving his food but then stopped, staring at it once put it down. Then I realized I messed up. On his plate was curry rice, not fried rice.

"That's right! You ordered fried rice, not curry rice! I'm so sorry. I'll go remake it for you."

I ran to remake his order before having to pause, and catch my breath. Ibuki jumped down from the stool and came to my side immediately. He held his hands out, worrying as I hunched over to brace my hands on my knees.

"Look, I can go get Marion-"

"No. I'm fine. I'll only be a minute."

"What can I help you?"

To say I wasn't flattered by his worry would be a lie. I was actually very happy despite feeling like shit.

"It's not right to make my customers do my work for me." I declined. "...looks like I have another customer."

"Excuse me! I'd like to place an order!"

"Coming!"

I wasn't feeling well and shouldn't have been working at all. Vertigo hit me pretty hard so I relented to Ibuki.

"Ugh...okay. I can't handle the restaurant on my own today." I admitted. "Could you take the front of the house?"

"I can do that." Ibuki happily obliged.

He ensured I could stand before going to man the front counter where more customers had come in to order food. He saved me the hassle of having to run back and forth between the counter and the register, even going as far as to tend to the tables and carry the trays.

All I had to do was stand at the stove and cook, minimizing my dizzy spells enough that I could function. In and out Ibuki would go, carrying out trays of food for one table and then bringing back dirty dishes from another table.

"I'm going to load up the dishwasher. Where's the soap for it?"

"In that cabinet down there."

I watched him look for it, really seeing how taut and round that ass of his was before remembering the soap was all used up.

"Raeger?" Ibuki piped up, head still in the cabinet under the sink. "There's no soap in here."

"Uh...keep looking. It should be in there."

Without shame I watched him look for a box of soap that wasn't there. From behind, Ibuki was a sight for sore eyes. I'd never seen a woman with an ass like that, ever. It was suddenly the most amazing thing to me.

"Raeger, there's no soap..."

"You sure?" I feigned shock.

"It's not here. Do you have any somewhere else?"

"The walk in freezer has a closet next to it, go check there"

For a few hours business was relentless and Ibuki was handling it well. So well in fact, that I was bothered he had a job already. If he wasn't working the farm I would have asked him if he wanted a job in the restaurant as a waiter. Grandfather would have loved him.

"Phew, that was the last customer." I sighed, taking a deep breath. "Thanks to you I managed to make it through to closing time."

Ibuki was modest but smiled proudly, expressing he was just happy to help. Suddenly fear blossomed on his face. My sense of balance was compromised and I felt myself sway mid sentence.

"Ill have to do you a big favor...sometime...in-"

I blacked out.

"Nnng..."

I woke up, not understanding what happened. When taking in my surroundings I was faced with Ibuki worrying by my bedside.

"Ibuki...?"

He came in closer to me and I still had no clue what was going on. Ibuki filled me in.

"Oh. I collapsed, huh? Sorry. Hope I didn't make you worry too much."

Ibuki was tense and it was clear he'd been worrying out of his mind.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Raeger."

"...hey, how did you get me up here?"

"I went and got Marion and Angela when you passed out. They helped me carry you here hours ago. You are really heavy..."

I made a mental note to thank Marion and Angela at a later time.

"Did you stay here with me the whole time?" I asked in disbelief as it dawned on me Ibuki had waited for me to wake up. "...Thank you."

"Marion said you'd be fine from the fall but I was worried. He thinks you're coming down with a cold."

The doctor gave him permission to leave, but he stayed.

"...is something on your mind, Raeger."

"It's nothing." I dismissed before beginning to cave." Just come to think of it...Its been a long time since someone stayed by my bedside when I got sick."

"What do you mean?"

I told him how my parents got divorced when I was really little. My Mom brought me here to stay with her dad. But both Mom and Grandpa were both really busy with work, so neither of them had the time to sit with me when I was sick. And I was sick a lot when I was really little.

Ibuki nodded, following along as I mindlessly began digging in to the memories of my childhood illnesses. Lonely days spent in my room by myself. Grandfather...it broke his heart to see me sick.

I hated how sad he was when he couldn't leave the kitchen to watch over me. Meanwhile, My mother was not as nice. If I so much as stepped foot in the restaurant when I was sick I got sent off with her scornful eye.

"I didn't want to bother either of them, so I usually wouldn't even tell them how I was feeling." I confided in Ibuki. "It's been forever since I've had somebody worried at my bedside."

"Raeger I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Upset me? No. It's a nice feeling having someone here... I didn't mean to dump all that personal stuff on you. Being sick seems to have loosened my tongue..."

With a dry chuckle, I changed the subject.

"Thanks for everything today. I'm sorry to have been such a bother. I'll repay you for it sometime, I swear."

Ibuki placed a hand on my forehead, testing me for a fever. While one of Ibuki's hands touched my forehead lightly, the other laid palm side up along my cheek. His hands were spft.

"Hey...um..." I began, losing my focus as Ibuki brushed a bit of my hair back to test my forehead more thoroughly. " ...Since I've already bugged you so much as it is, can I ask one more little favor?"

"Anything you want"

Even while under the weather, my brain took a nose dive in to the gutter. If only.

"Could you, um...stay here with me a little longer." I requested. " I, uh... I'm not feeling one-hundred percent quite yet. I want to rest a little more before getting ready for tomorrow. If you could stay just that long, I'd be really appreciative."

He agreed to stay before asking where I kept the first aid kit.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

"Um, no. I-I'm fine. I just think you have a fever, your face is a little bit flush. I was going to take your temperature."

I was just so enamored with the little blonde tending to my bedside so dedicatedly. There was no fever.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"You should at least lie down. I don't want you to fall again and get hurt."

Gently pulling his hand in closer, I requested he lie down with me. I had no actual intentions of doing something to him. I wanted him to keep touching my hair and my face, letting me feel those soft gentle hands of his.

Him physically being in the bed was a bonus. He initially was reluctant to get in. I coaxed him in, exploiting my sick privilege to get my way. After a skilled, manipulative smolder of the eyes and being told it was okay, Ibuki kicked off his shoes and climbed in the bed with me.

Lying on top of the sheets, he carefully adjusted himself to be comfortable as I laid under the sheets. In the adjustment some of the sheets had bunched up under him and I reached out without thinking and urged them out from under him to help.

But he fell, landing on his side next to me. His face was right in front of mine and he flushed, inching away while apologizing. Putting distance between us, he rolled over to face the other way as soon as we made eye contact. I was disappointed because from his position he couldn't touch my face and I couldn't see his. I was more disappointed to see he was lying there stiffly, nervous.

"It's been a while. " I told him to break the tension. "It's been weeks."

"I'm sorry...I really am, Raeger. I've been really busy. The farms doing well."

"So I've heard. I'm proud of you."

Ibuki's ears turned pink and I took that as a good sign

"I um, I heard you've been busy too. I mean I saw for myself today but Fritz was telling me last week how busy your restaurant has been."

Ibuki's voice was small, gaining confidence but not there yet. He was trying to make himself comfortable but couldn't quite get there. My curiosity got the better of me and I moved in closer to him, carefully resting a hand on his shoulder. It must have been heavy on him because his shoulder sunk at the touch and I heard his breath hitch.

"Everyone's talking about how well you're doing." I explained to him, carefully squeezing his shoulder in my long, large fingers. "I'm happy you're doing so well, just don't forget to come see me next time. Okay?"

"Okay." Ibuki whispered before going on shyly. "Marion says you should be getting extra sleep if you're sick. You should go to bed soon, or at least take a nap. "

"No problem...But come here, I'm cold."

I tugged him in close to me, his back along my chest through the sheets. Getting a long leg up, I curled it around his body, effectively trapping him to me with every intention of falling asleep. I greedily wished he would stay the night if I trapped him.

He didn't fight me when I spooned, but went rigid at the position. I didn't blame him for it, typically friends didn't just spoon each other. But even so, I didn't like it.

I wanted him to relax in to me. He was very careful not to move...not that my dominating spooning really gave him much choice. I was heavy, my limbs like anchors on him. Ibuki eventually commented on it.

"You've gotten really big..." he mentioned, swallowing as I moved my face in closer to the nape of his neck. "Your voice is a little deeper, too."

"Is it?"

I spoke just behind his head, my breath hitting the downy blonde hair at the nape of his neck. I was so close I could see his goosebumps.

"Yeah!" Ibuki squeaked. "It's definitely deeper. Maybe it's because you're sick."

"Maybe." I smirked. "Does it sound bad?"

"No..."

Without a worry, I shut my eyes to rest them, planning to eventually fall asleep. In the meantime, I just enjoyed Ibuki's presence. He fit perfectly in my hold, his small body cocooned alongside mine.

Xxxxx

Klaus

Ibuki either had horrible timing, or impeccable timing, because he decided to show his face to me in the midst of struggle with my work. I'd been working on that pesky fragrance for weeks upon weeks. It was missing something. Then Ibuki walked in.

"Oh, hello Ibuki." I greeted him, now aggravated that when he decided to visit when I was busy. "I'm sorry, but I'm in the middle of something right now. Could I ask you to wait a few minutes?"

My priority was to ensure he stayed. But in order to conduct a visit with him, I would need to store and put away the tools and materials I had out. The essential oils, flowers and such could not be left to sit in the open. Humidity was a perfumes enemy.

"Sure." he assured me, nodding to my relief. "I'll wait."

"I won't be long." I assured him. "Please have a seat on the sofa."

Finally, after trivial organization, I was able to meet Ibuki in the next room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Work kept me busy longer than I had expected." I explained to Ibuki, fully aware I had been working well past my usual hours. "Now then, what brings you here?"

"I just wanted to see you."

"Now why ever would you be happy just to see an old man like me? That sort of thing you should only tell one you love. How humorous."

Ibuki, the poor naive thing was confused.

"But, why..."

"Hm? Why? Here, allow me to give you an example. Phrases like those can give some men...ideas. Urges, if you will."

He was so vulnerable. Like he could be snatched up without any trouble. Surely a young man could not be that innocent or that naive. I set out to test him.

"If you blithely say such things to every man you meet..." Holding his gaze, I closed in on him. "Then someday you may be caught by the big bad wolf and gobbled up. "

I brought my eyes to align with his, giving him a close look at my topaz irises. Ibuki wilted in to himself unsurely. I inched in closer abruptly and saw him flinch like pry. Ibuki almost stumbled back on to the sofa. Doing well to conceal a smirk, I stayed close.

"Have care who you say that to, Ibuki. " It brought a dry chuckle to my throat.

"I'm still confused..."

"You really don't understand what I meant, do you? " I questioned him rhetorically. "Sorry, sorry. If you really don't understand what I meant that's perfectly alright. I couldn't help myself, so I had a little... fun with the warning is all."

Not wishing to scare Ibuki, I stepped away.

"Still...given how pure and naive you are, I can't help but wonder if you'll be well."

My own desire to feast upon Ibuki aside, it was no secret to me just how easily it would be to have him. A man larger than him, which were most, could coerce him. I would never force myself on him, but knowing I had the power to gave me a dark thrill.

"Fortunately, I do have some scruples left, so this turned out alright. But, if you were with someone less honorable..."

"...and if I were with someone else? "

"Ah well. Faced with this much innocence, they may just lose all desire to do mischief in the first place. In any case, I would suggest you stop saying such things for fear of stringing people along."

"String people along?"

"Just think of I from the other side. If I were to visit your house and wait paiently for you to finish work, why would you think I was there?"

He was stumped, shyly avoiding my gaze.

"What if I were to give you a hundred-watt smile and say it was 'just to see you'? What would you think?"

"O-Oh!"

There it was, the flash of understanding on his face. He paled, horrified.

"Now you understand? Pay more mind to the things you say and who you say them to. All right? Well?"

Ibuki stared down at his shoes, scratching at his pants uncomfortably.

"Answer me, please."

Ibuki looked up and nodded frantically. I felt myself grow transfixed with his innocence, his vulnerability. Fear in those gray eyes of his was sucking me in more than that vibrant smile of his had so many times. It aroused me.

It was time to cut the visit short.

"That's a good young lad. Well, now. Now you've seen me. I think it's time we call it a day. I still have some work to finish up."

"O-Okay. I was going to go get dinner anyways. Uh, bye K-Klaus!"

Ibuki fled from my home without any further ado. He gave me a stunning smile to be polite. My trousers were impossibly tight. He'd left overwhelmed, leaving some of said emotion to linger with me in the wake of that smile.

"Phew, that smile...that was a bit overwhelming to be sure..."

Ibuki was gone from my home once more but I had every intention of tracking him down, again. None else would have him.

xxxxxx