AUTHOR'S NOTE: *Waves excitedly* I am back! College ended for the summer for I have my free time back! I'm glad to be back. Hope you guys enjoy :D
Xxxxxx
Raeger
Midnight rolled by and the toll of the clock from downstairs only roused me from my sleep because I felt something move from under me. Ibuki was still trapped under my heavy limbs, the blankets rolled around us.
"Hm?"
He froze when I mumbled groggily.
"I didn't mean to wake you up." He apologized.
"What are you doing?" I asked him.
"Going home..."
Even with my head swimming with sleep and fatigue, I was quick to object to Ibuki's departure. It felt as if I'd only had him with me for a few minutes when I fell asleep.
"It's late, you shouldn't walk home in the dark." I curled my arm around him tighter. "It's dangerous."
"I'll be okay, it's just up the back roads." Ibuki tried sitting up but was pinned. "Uh...Raeger?"
I had no choice but to let him up. He stretched his arms, relieving the tension there. His shirt rose and I saw the little dip of his spine resting over the waist of his pants. I stared, then heard Ibuki take a startled breath.
My heart stopped but Ibuki just paused, bringing a hand to his mouth as he repressed a cute tiny yawn. He hadn't seen me staring. The poor thing was just tired. Rubbing his eye sleepily, he looked like a kitten who'd been roused from slumber.
"Gotta grab my shoes... I'm sleepy." He mumbled tiredly.
Getting down to sit on the floor, he began putting his shoes back on. I watched him, already feeling the sheets going cold. I should have hidden his shoes beforehand and pretended to be asleep still...
"Are you sure you want to go walking around in the dark? You're welcome to stay here tonight."
"Nah, it's alright. The walk home isn't scary at all." He assured me. "No one here is going to come after me."
"But, you're already so sleepy... don't push yourself. There's enough space for you in my bed, come on."
He rubbed his eye again, stifling a yawn. I thought for sure I'd lured him in but Ibuki insisted he could make it home. Standing back up from the floor, Ibuki touched my forehead.
"You're warm, do you want some aspirin before I go? Marion left some on the table in your living room."
My eyes were drawn to his shapely pink lips, the cupid's bow on top delicately defined. He decided to just get me the aspirin when I spaced out for a brief moment.
"Marion said to give you only one if you're not too feverish... here you go." He held the pill out for me to take. "I'll give you the water."
Turning to grab the glass, he held the pill out, expecting me to take it from him. I took the pill right from his fingers with my lips. He felt my breath on his hand and he didn't flinch, he handed me the water.
"Will you be okay for the night?" He asked.
I would have been better if he stayed.
"I'm sure I'll be fine." I assured him. "I'm more worried about you. You're really going to walk home right now? What if something happens to you?"
"I walk home in the dark all the time. I'll be okay, Raeger. Get some sleep, okay? "
Ibuki pulled the blankets back over my shoulders. He struggled, leaning up on the very tips of his toes to reach me. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been put to bed so tenderly... I couldn't remember the last time anyone had put me to bed at all.
I was almost certain that had I asked for a massage, he would gladly do it. Him sitting on my back, rubbing it as I drifted off to sleep was what I craved for now. Tragically, he was on his way out of my room.
He turned the lights off on his way out. Lying in bed, I huffed. The sheets were colder than I'd known them to ever be. The room was too quiet, the air heavier than it'd been when I fell asleep. I laid there, knowing the lonely feeling creeping up on me. I didn't like it and had every intention to do something about it.
Summer left and Autumn rolled in, winds of change blowing in. The bright, dewy green leaves changed, shades of red and yellow to my liking all over Oak Tree. Those leaves crunched under my feet on the way to his Farm.
"Ibuki, let me help you with the laundry before I go back."
"You're already late."
Mistel had gotten to Ibuki's before I did. Outside by his home Ibuki was unclipping shirts from a clothes line.
"How are you going to get those bedsheets folded all by yourself?" Mistel reached out to help.
"I can do it" Ibuki insisted. "Go to work. If you're late Iris is going to give you an earful."
"My sister writes books. She can leave the shop to me."
Coming up the grass towards Ibuki's house, I called out. Ibuki placed a folded shirt in the basket and looked up as he heard my voice. Mistel followed the sound of my call far less quickly. He looked aside stiffly, like it wasn't worth the effort.
"Maybe Raeger will help me." Ibuki tugged the corner of a bed sheet hanging off the clothes line.
"Sure will. Mistel can go home now."
Strolling by Mistel, I reached up high above him to unclip one edge of the bedsheets.
"Maybe you should go home."
"Excuse me?"
Looking back at Mistel, I wasn't paying attention to Ibuki who had been tugging on the bed sheets. As I released the hold from the clothespin on my side, he tugged and brought the whole thing down on himself.
"Oh, nothing." Mistel dismissed, bending over to lift the sheets covering Ibuki's face.
Brushing back wisps of Ibuki's long blonde bangs, Mistel pressed the tip of his nose gently.
"I'll see you later, my cute bedbug." he teased before making his exit without so much as looking at me again. "Until then, Ibuki. Stay cute. "
Stopping right before the exit, Mistel looked back at us. Back at me, specifically.
"Feel free to join Iris and I for Dinner, Ibuki. " Mistel suggested. "It's not like you'll have anywhere better to go. I hope to see you then."
Ready to retort, my attention was averted when a small "help" came from behind me. Ibuki was completely tangled in blankets. Mistel was already gone. Glaring in the direction he had been, I pulled Ibuki up to his feet and began helping him free himself.
"Here... I'll get you out of there." I promised him, tugging on pieces of the sheet to see what would give slack. "Turn a little."
I didn't know where to start because the sheets were a tangled mess. Patting his sides, I looked for an opening. Before I found the opening, I found the curve of his waist and ass.
"Just looking for the corner... wherever it is." I excused, internally groaning at the soft swell of his rear over the sheets. "You're pretty tangled... ahem. Especially here."
"Sorry about this, Raeger..."
"Don't be."
It was horrible, but I didn't want to move my hands from where I was touching. Had I lingered any longer on his ass it would have been obvious, no doubt.
Nearly distracted, I kept looking for the seam. I could have easily squeezed Ibuki's entire hip with one hand be it he was so small, even after putting on some weight. His ass filled my palms. And my hands were big.
For someone so small, Ibuki had an impressive backside. Hands gliding down to the backs of his thighs, I found an opening to the tangled sheets, nearly forgetting I had been looking for one.
"Aha. Here we go."
Bit by bit, I got the sheets to loosen and kept turning Ibuki a little to free him. When I pulled on the sheets wrapped around his waist, they were tight. I resumed pinching the fabric to loosen it and got his plump bum in the process.
"Eeek!" He gave a sharp yelp and scooted forward in to me, tripping from the sheets still wound around his waist and legs.
He fell forward, catching my hips. His cheek hit the solid surface of my abs. He was flush against me, cheeks pink and eyes wide looking almost like he were about to get down on his knees and-
The inside of my pants were unforgiving and grew tight immediately. Not wanting to shove Ibuki away, I picked him up and turned him away so he wouldn't see. One of my hands on his delicate hip as he was faced away from me, I got the sheets the rest of the way off his legs.
The few seconds gave me time to breath and cool off. The brief contact was too much... Ibuki's expression nearly killed me.
"They're a little wrinkled now." Ibuki shook out the sheets, disappointed.
"No one will see them but you."
"That's not true."
….What was that supposed to mean?"
"My house is just one big room right now. Anyone who comes over can see my bed."
His explanation was a relief. For a moment I'd assumed the worst. Imagining Mistel in Ibuki's bed... It made my blood run cold actually. Then it boiled. Ibuki wasn't to be touched like that, not by Mistel. Or anyone else. He was too good for their hands.
"I'm sure Gunther would be happy to renovate your house." I grit my teeth for a moment as the thought of Mistel in Ibuki's bed lingered. "I'm surprised he hasn't approached you about it yet."
"I hardly ever run in to him, I'm always running around doing something else."
"We could go and talk to him about it now if you want, after we get this sheet taken care of."
Reaching down to pick up the other end of the sheets, I helped him fold them.
"I may as well go ask him about it. It would be really nice to have more room."
"Start thinking about what you want to eat. I'm cooking afterwards."
"You don't have to do that."
"What, you going to go see Mistel?"
"No, I already ate."
Taking the folded blanket, Ibuki set it down in the basket on top of other laundry. I followed him to his house. Just as he'd said, his bed room was part of the small layout. A twin-size bed in the very upper left corner of the room, a work bench and tool box along the wall beneath it, and a kitchen to the right of the entrance.
There was also an old bookshelf and a chest I assumed was for materials, two actually. One was shut but the other was open, overflowing with various bits and scraps I assumed Ibuki used to make tools, crafts and such.
"What did you have for lunch?" I eyed the small refrigerator he owned alongside the kitchen. "Make anything that will run me out of business?"
"Raeger, you're funny. I can't cook like you." he laughed at my playful teasing. "I had a tomato sandwich."
"Tomato sandwich, huh? That filled you?"
"I'm not fussy."
Setting the basket down by his bed, Ibuki bent over. I just barely lifted my eyes in time to meet his gaze when he stood back up. Carrying on like I hadn't been staring, I smiled and told him he was welcome to come eat something more filling, my treat.
"I don't feel right having Lunch twice..." Ibuki declined. "Don't want to be a glutton.
"Then dinner, instead. After seeing Gunther, you can come over and we'll hang out until it's time to eat."
No way in Hell Mistel was having him.
"You don't have to waste your day off on me."
"Who said it was a waste? I'd be happy to spend today with you, unless you have other plans...?"
Ibuki had the crops water and the animals fed, the rest of his day apparently having been reserved for laundry and whatever else he could kill time with. That would be me.
"I was going to go fishing or foraging after the laundry but hanging out with you sounds like a better time." He agreed to join me for Dinner later. "As long as I'm not ruining your day off, I'd love to."
"I guess it's a date."
"I'm going to use the bathroom then we can head out."
Ibuki left me to stand in the middle of his house. As suited as it was for one person, it was still awfully cramped. I couldn't see how Ibuki hadn't taken more initiative to expand his home, sooner. He built a chicken coop, clearly he was capable of gathering materials.
"So how's the field conquest going? The farmers in this part are always competing for their favorite fields, you snag any of them yet?"
"Sure have. Right now I have the fields for root, leafy, tall and dry grain crops."
"...really? That's pretty great."
Ibuki pointed down the road in the general direction of the water paddies.
"I'm competing with Elise for the water paddies this season. Just waiting for her registration to expire. "
"Feeling confident you'll snag it from her?"
"I think I can do it. She was awfully mad when I took the grains from her."
I could picture Elise throwing a fit over losing. I was proud of Ibuki though for beating her. Walking to town he told me how he hoped to get both grain fields so he could eventually build a mill and produce flours and such. I knew they went for more money than the unprocessed grains themselves because I had to buy the stuff. Ibuki was smart to think so far ahead.
"The grains take a while to grow but they just need water so once they're watered they're fine to be left alone. Not much effort goes in to growing it. It'll be great once I start harvesting it."
"I'll keep that in mind. Once you get the mill going, I'll just buy flour from you. It'll be easier than hunting it down on the market days."
Usually my ingredients were bought from the market in bulk, but something I'd have to see about was how much Ibuki produced in his own fields. If he had enough product to supply the restaurant then I'd have no problem buying from him. It was the perfect excuse to see him while he was working.
On the topic of his work, Ibuki told me his plans for some new livestock. He would be buying a small flock of sheep for his barn. They would be a great source of income for their wool, Ibuki was more excited because he found sheep to be adorable.
He was adorable.
"You know, when I was a kid the farmer where you lived had some sheep. The sheep would walk around the fence and I always wanted to pat them because they looked soft." I told Ibuki, remembering my childhood shenanigans. "One time, I ran up to the fence and gave one a hug and the farmer saw me. Ha ha, I was scared he would chase me out but he just laughed and told me all the other animals would get jealous."
"He was right. You can't just hug one, Raeger. That's not fair. You have to hug them all."
Curious and suspicious, I gave Ibuki a raised brow. He blinked up at me innocently, still walking alongside me.
"Do you hug all your animals?"
"I do!" he answered me enthusiastically. "That's a silly question."
"I guess it was."
He was beaming, having no qualms admitting he gave all his animals affectionate hugs. That beaming smile of his lasted our walk to Gunther's. Gunther was excited to see Ibuki. Evidently, he'd been meaning to come around and tell Ibuki his plans for the cramped cottage home.
"Tell you what, all you's gotta do is gather up the materials and leave the rest to me. Consider it a friendly gift, no charge. Let me grab you the blueprint so you can take a look at what you'll need."
Gunther waved us off and encouraged Ibuki to get cracking on the materials so he could get his house better insulated for the upcoming colder weather. Folding the blueprint up carefully, Ibuki grinned from ear to ear.
"I already have most of this lying around my house. My house will be upgraded in no time."
"Let's celebrate at my house. Come on. We'll have some wine and snacks before Dinner. "
Leaving, Ibuki waving hello to someone in the distance. It was Fritz. I scowled, already on the defense that he would prance over and suck up Ibuki's attention. Fritz just smiled and waved back, hurrying to Otmar's shop.
"Come upstairs with me." I urged him when I got him to my place. "You can get comfortable then I'll come back down for some wine. What do you want to snack on?"
"Anything is fine, Raeger. It's your house."
"And you're my guest. What do you want? I'll get it for you."
Ibuki shifted his eyes unsurely, shrugging. His hands rested behind his back, one stray lock of hair lay between his large sparkling eyes. He was adorable, so carefree and innocent hearted.
"I really don't mind, you can choose." He insisted.
I gave in to his cute indifference, ushering him up to my living quarters. He looked around, unsure of where to sit. His eyes landed with the dining table.
"Should I sit at the table?" He asked.
"No, make yourself comfortable. Sit on the bed. You can turn the T.V on."
Ibuki kicked off his shoes before climbing up on my bed. I handed him the remote. He took it from my hands and he caught me by the wrist before I tried walking away.
"I don't know to use this."
"… the T.V remote?"
Taking the remote back, I pressed the power button.
"You really don't know how to use a T.V remote?" I stated more than questioned.
"Nope... I've never owned a television growing up."
"Really?"
Almost everyone had a television nowadays. Ibuki was young, how had he never used a television? Brushing aside the thought I left him to watch the T.V and went to get some wine and snacks.
"Get acquainted with it now while I grab some stuff. "
Downstairs I plucked a bottle of cherry wine off the rack and set it aside with two wine glasses. Thinking of a snack for Ibuki I wasn't sure what to give him. I'd be cooking him dinner and wanted to make sure he'd have room to fit it, so a big snack was out of the question. Otherwise, I would have whipped him up some appetizers.
"What to do, what to do..." I mumbled out loud. "Something small. What would he like?"
On the counter sat another cake I'd made, the display glass covering it. The cake wasn't lemon though, it was simple pound cake. Pound cake on its own was boring, usually the older patrons bought it.
Slicing him up a piece, I placed it on a dessert dish and went to the walk- in freezer with an ice cream scoop in hand. Twirling it between my fingers I scanned what was left of my ice cream stock from Summer. All the fancy flavors were gone, but there was vanilla, chocolate and strawberry left. More strawberry than anything.
"This'll do."
On the way out I spotted the container of decorative chocolates I kept in there and grabbed one. The scoop of icecream was placed next to the cake, one delicate chocolate truffle set on top of the frozen confection. Back up the stairs I went with Ibuki's snack in one hand, the wine bottle under my arm and two wine glasses in my other hand.
"Hope you're craving something sweet." I told him as I came in to view.
He perked at the mention of sweets and I came in to hand him the plate with a fork balanced on it. I took the wine bottle from under my arm and went to the table, setting the glasses down. Popping the bottle cork, I poured two drinks and came back to Ibuki.
"This is for you."
"Oh, thank you." He sipped from the wine a couple times before leaning away to set it on the bedside table.
He returned to his sweet snack and I sat next to him on the bed, watching what was playing on the television. Ibuki hadn't changed the channel, presumably because he didn't know how. So, we were watching whatever romantic soap opera was on.
The plot seemed to revolve around a petite woman, one so dangerously naïve. Her naivety left her clueless to the prying eyes of her male acquaintance. Ibuki watched on, quirking his head with a spoon of ice cream between his lips.
"I don't understand this."
"What do you mean?"
"That man, he's after that one lady and she doesn't seem to know at all. How does she not know?"
I almost chortled at the irony.
"Maybe he's too cute and innocent to see it."
"She."
"Hm?"
"You said 'he'. It's a woman. See?"
Ibuki pointed out the protagonist was a woman and I realized my slip of tongue. I laughed it off. Almost done with his snack, Ibuki took another drink of wine. When both were finished, I took the dish from him as well as his glass.
"I'll get you a refill." I offered him, turning without checking to see if he wanted more.
When I brought him a refill, he gingerly took back the glass. The wine did nothing for me being only on my second glass. Ibuki, on the other hand, was lightheaded, leaning his head on my arm suddenly. It was slow and gentle, the weight of his head resting down on me.
His eyes were on the television but as I stared at him, he looked up with just his eyes. He lifted his chin up a bit to get a better look at me. I couldn't think of what to say just then, I was just so trapped in those cute eyes of his. Ibuki, in his tipsy state, took my silence as worrisome.
"Do you want me to get up?" He offered. "Fritz and Mistel let me do this... I should have asked first. I'm sorry. I'm just getting dizzy."
"Oh, no no no. It's perfectly fine."
Hearing yet again that Ibuki was close with others burnt my ass but I didn't let it show. Instead, I appreciated the opportunity now in my grasp. Talking sweetly to Ibuki, I encouraged him to get comfortable how he wished. While watching T.V he eventually finished his second glass of wine and sat up to put the glass down.
When leaning back in from reaching for the bedside table, Ibuki got hit with vertigo. I curled my arm to bring him back in close to me. My intent was just to resituate him by my side but Ibuki leaned in to my chest.
He wasn't acting flirtatiously, it didn't look like it. The action itself was suggestive though. To test him, I wrapped my arm around his small shoulders. He adjusted his head, eyes still on the television whilst in my embrace.
"Comfortable?" I questioned him, rubbing his back gently.
"Mm-hm," he brough his legs up to curl towards his chest. "I'm still dizzy. I get drunk too easily."
"I've noticed."
Watching T.V on the bed with Ibuki in my hold, I liked finally getting a taste of the closeness he had with his other friends. I kept rubbing his back as the show went on. Towards the end of the episode I heard soft snoring. Ibuki fell asleep.
My first thought was to lie him down, but I didn't want to let him go. For a few minutes I held him and watched him sleep. His chest rose gently with his breathes. Touching his hair, I brushed his bangs back, lightly swiping the pad of my finger along his forehead.
In his sleep he responded to the touch, nuzzling my chest as he shifted. A soft, content sigh left his lips and he was back to his small snores.
"You're so cute." I whispered to myself in awe of having Ibuki so close.
As much as I liked having him sleep on me, I knew it was better to lay him down. With a pillow under his head, I carefully pulled the comforter from under his legs over his body. Perhaps getting him tipsy, comfortable, and massaged, wasn't the best formula for keeping a guest awake.
Careful not to wake him up, I got up from the bed and went downstairs with the dirty dishes. Alone in the kitchen I cooked, just content at the thought of Ibuki waking up from a nap and getting to eat dinner with me. For once, us actually just eating together.
It was an hour later when the food was ready. I carefully brought it up the stairs in a few trips, setting the table upstairs. While the lasagna and bread baked, I had also prepared a salad, as well as some eggplant. It was more food than two people needed but I didn't care.
Once everything was ready, placed my large hand on Ibuki's shoulder, I whispered for him to get up. His eyes opened the minute I touched him. He flinched but relaxed when he saw it was me.
"Are you alright? Did I scare you?"
"A little..." He mumbled, rubbing his eye as he sat up.
"Dinner is ready. Come on. I made something you'll like."
Helping him get out of the bed, I chuckled as Ibuki said he liked everything I'd ever made him. I slid my hand down his side and patted his hip.
"Let's not break tradition now, then." I encouraged him. "It's fresh and ready to eat."
A heaping portion of lasagna was set on his plate, eggplant alongside it. Some salad in a bowl to the side and I finished with another round of wine for us. He was so happy to eat, although this time he didn't fall victim to intoxication so harshly. Being he sipped between bites of his dinner his body took better to the alcohol. It was a shame, almost.
"How is it?" I asked him as he chewed away at some lasagna.
"Super cheesy...It's great." he answered, stopping to take a drink. "I've never had lasagna before."
What I would give to have him at my table every night. Wine and dine him then lie him down in bed after his small body had it's fill. Between the full stomach and wine, it would be easy to get him to stay the night.
I had no suggestive intentions... but the possibility came with the territory. I'd be a stupid man to deny such an opportunity if it were to arise.
"How about we make this a regular thing?" I suggested as Ibuki lifted a bite to his mouth.
"I come here to eat all the time."
Although he hadn't been around every single day as I would have liked, he was right. Even with the exception of his absences, over all, he did eat at my restaurant often. That wasn't cutting it anymore, not for me.
"Consider it an invitation. Come eat dinner with me from now on."
"I can't afford to eat here twice everyday... not yet. I could start eating lunch at home instead though."
"Oh no no. Dinner is on me, Ibuki. You just bring yourself and leave the rest to me."
Ibuki smiled bashfully when I winked at him and I felt remarkably accomplished. I had his attention, the shy little thing was adorably complaisant. Now I was guaranteed at least one visit from him each day, but many days I'd see him twice now. It was almost too perfect. Almost, because he still wasn't mine.
As I wanted, he came over for Dinner each night following that one. At that hour, no one ever showed up to visit me. It was my time with him. No one else knew about it and no one could take it away. It would just be us. Blissful hours of his attention on me.
Xxxxx
Klaus
Ibuki left a far larger mark on me than I anticipated that day. I tried to return to my work only to find myself revisiting the memory of his face. The pure naivety that consumed him was dangerous. He walked in to a predator's den and hadn't a clue the beast himself had eyed him closely.
A beast salivating and ready to take a decadent bite. Poor, naive lad. Poor... sulcuant... Ibuki. He hadn't come back that day.
Standing in the doorway of my bedchambers I looked in at the large, vacant bed. It'd been years since I tousled the sheets in a frenzy of limbs and sweat. retted sending him on his way. Had I less scruples, Ibuki would have been in a predicament. Quite so.
Coming to stand at the foot of the bed, my eyes were drawn to the center of the mattress. The large empty space that could easily house Ibuki's body. How small he would be, and how powerless.
I would set his body aflame to the lustful fires that burned me. The burn so powerful it only worsened each passing dayas if the heat from hell itself consumed me. How much longer could I bare it?
It would have been in Ibuki's better interest to avoid me, had he known what lie beneath the gentleman he saw. He couldn't escape me, that I knew. I wouldn't let him. Perhaps he'd been trying because he had not shown his face after our previous encounter.
The following days he didn't return to me how I'd anticipated he would. Determined to see him I went and looked for him, convinced he wouldn't come back on his own so soon. If the sheep caught wind of the wolf's scent he had every reason to flee... but without a flock there was nowhere to go.
I presumed he would be on his land but the young lad was constantly entertaining others with his presence. That being the case I knew it wasn't guaranteed he would be home. He could have been humoring others...
Mistel was an aggravating piece and earned my scorn, but Fritz was a simple man. His interest would bother me as time went on, but I could not bring myself to sincerely despise him. Or so I believed. Once I walked upon a moment between the two, my mindset abruptly shifted.
Ibuki and Fritz sat in a tree high up above, back turned to me. All was innocent horseplay until I caught Fritz lean in to Ibuki whilst the blonde had looked away in to the distance for a moment. Watching a bird fly past the blue sky, he smiled unaware of what would happen.
The young auburn farmer's lips nearly touched Ibuki's when the blonde reeled back in surprise from such close proximity. He hadn't even noticed Fritz had nearly stole a kiss.
Worse even, Ibuki fell from the tree branch.
"Ahhhh!"
Having been right below I caught him with ease. He landed in my arms, face flush and eyes wide with terror. He held one hand to his chest, breathing heavily. His fluttering heart nearly bursted from the delicate ribs within his chest.
Fritz, the incompetent retard, He'd startled Ibuki whilst a distance off the ground and nearly put his life at risk. Had I not been there... good heavens.
"Ibuki, are you alright?" I asked him, restraining my rage. "Speak to me, Lad."
"I-I'm okay Klaus."
Still wide eyed and horrified, he took uneasy breathes.
"Thank you for catching me... I didn't hurt your arms, did I?"
"You need not fret over such things."
As if Ibuki's weight could strain me. How adorable he was for worrying. It nearly brought my lips to curl. That blossoming grin was gone as soon as I remembered sweet Ibuki had nearly lost in life, and the culprit was still nearby.
"It's a good thing you were there, Klaus!" Looking up, I saw a startled Fritz.
"We'll be leaving, now. I must have a word with Ibuki."
With Ibuki in my arms I toted him away. I had no reason to linger about. My only goal had been finding him Ibuki, and I had done just that. Fritz should have considered himself lucky to still be in one piece after his actions.
In my arms Ibuki was quiet as a mouse. Looking down I saw him watching me with apprehensive eyes. He didn't know what to say or do. I spared him the burden of deciphering such.
"Are you hurt?" I asked him.
Ibuki still hadn't fully found his voice, something I assumed had to do with him falling from a tree. He seemed shaken. He only shook his head. His answer wasn't entirely true, however. Because when setting Ibuki down on his farmland, he winced and grabbed for my arm reflexively.
"What is it? What ails you?"
Ibuki gingerly put a hand on his upper thigh, close to this hip. He'd hurt himself, rather Fritz had been the culprit. Had he not been a imbicel Ibuki wouldn't have fell.
"My hip nicked a branch on the way down ... " He explained. "I didn't think anything of it... but it hurts now."
"Let me see."
"W-What?"
I felt my chest tighten, realizing how horribly absurd my request could have sounded. I hadn't meant anything perverse.
"Out here? Someone might see...I'll show you inside."
Inside the farmer's home was small and quaint. My first visit to him home I'd said nothing of it, but I did plan to see him often. The cramped space wouldn't do.
"Your home is lovely, albeit small. Have you no problem with such insufficient space, Ibuki?"
"I'm having an expansion done soon."
"Now then, your injury. "
Ibuki walked fairly well but it was evident he was in some degree of pain.
"Show me where you hurt, I'll take you to Marion if need be."
"I don't think it's that bad, Klaus... "
"I insist. Now Ibuki, Please. Promptly. "
He put up no further objection as I spoke to him authoritatively, insisting he do as I told him. Wearily, he brought his hands down to the waist of his trousers. He undid the button and zipper, pulling his shirt up to see what he was doing. Although I was sincerely worried, I could feel myself growing warm at the sight of him. The sight of his skin.
Such beautiful young skin, silken and what looked to be deliciously soft to the touch... and taste. As he edged his trousers down past his hip, he'd revealed the shapely curve of his rear. I was supposed to be watching for his injury, but my eyes had strayed to the underwear hugging his hips and rear.
He wore white briefs. White was a perfect color to encase his loins, pure and clean. I pushed down the adulterous interest and laid my eyes upon the swelling of Ibuki's upper thigh. Right beneath the bone of his left hip was pink.
"It's pink... " Ibuki mentioned, touching gingerly. "I can't tell if it's swelling though. My thighs have always been kind of bigger around the hips."
Had hellfire not been a power greater than the goddess, I damn well would have lost it. Such a beautiful, shapely young man... good gracious. Daring tempt my own self control, I came forward and touched Ibuki.
He winced as my hand laid upon his injury. He was swollen and ice would do him well. I asked him if he had any, and he meekly admitted he didn't.
"All I have is fish in my freezer..."
"Come with me, I have ice at home."
"I'd rather just sit down for a little first if that's okay... I'm sore."
"I haven't an issue carrying you. "
Ibuki insisted he would be okay, but allowed me to pick him after setting his clothes straight. I assumed he'd have anxieties being seen in Town, but he didn't seem to mind. He didn't shy away from the curious eyes of Melanie as we passed her.
"Mr. Ibuki!" The child called out. "Mr. Klaus!"
She pranced in closer, her dress bouncing with her long hair.
"Why is Mr. Klaus carrying you like that?" She asked without pause.
"I fell from a tree earlier, he's bringing me to get some ice."
"Oh! Daddy says we should be careful in trees!"
"Your daddy is right. I'll see you around... and stay out of the trees!"
Melanie went off skipping back towards the direction of the river. Ibuki smiled after her but that smile faded as he held his thigh. We walked down the stairs to town and none had been out in time to see me walk by with Ibuki, not until we reached the eastern section of town. As I entered my home with Ibuki in my arms, none other than the antique shop owner himself emerged from his shop.
Ready to shut the door, I nodded to him. Mistel stood at a distance away with eyes widened dramatically. Unseen by Ibuki, I gave Mistel a less than friendly stare. Ibuki had only been able to lift a hand in brief greeting before I shut the door twith concealed triumph.
What satisfaction it would have brought me had I whisked Ibuki to my bedchambers after Mistel caught sight of him in my arms. But alas, he was sat down upon my sofa. Outside my home Mistel surely had the mental fit worthy of a snotty, stuck-up child.
Or, at least, how satisfying to imagine.
"I'll fetch you the ice. Nevermind the doorbell if it happens to ring. You stay put."
The doorbell didn't ring as I brought back ice for Ibuki. I had him reveal his injury again but Ibuki had difficulty doing so whilst sitting on the sofa. Reaching down, I undid the ties to his shoes which were no longer a pair of worn loafers but now a pair of new work boots.
"New footwear? How appropriate" I appraised his work boots. "These must do you well in the fields."
"They do, they're better for walking around the soil."
"I'm sure. Now kindly allow me to move your legs Ibuki."
Adjusting Ibuki so he sat with his back to the arm of the sofa, I had m in h down the side of his trousers.
"That's cold!" He yelped, pushing my hand away. 'Klaus-ah!"
Without thinking, I snatched his small hand in mine, my own devouring is completely.
"It is best to keep the ice on" I advised him steadily, excusing my previous hasty action. "Please pardon if my touch makes you uncomfortable."
"You don't make me uncomfortable, Klaus..." He assured me, gaze wandering down to his lap. "Your hands are really big though. You're covering my whole hip... "
"Perhaps my hands are rather large... or by chance you are merely a small specimen."
"I think it's both. It's okay though, we can't help that. "
Ibuki had tried comforting me in such a manner that implied he felt I had some qualm over my broad stature. Aside from women of my past viewing me as some beastly creature after copulation, I'd never had issue with my size.
Size was power. Power was a currency stronger than mere money. I had certainly learned that... and with consequence.
"We can't help who we are, Ibuki. No. But perhaps it would be best if we could."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm blathering out loud, ignore me."
Stepping away for a moment I went to brew some tea. Standing in the kitchenette I waited for the kettle to whistle.
"Klaus?"
"Yes, Ibuki?"
"How are your perfumes coming along? Er, if you don't mind me asking."
t was never a burden to enlighten Ibuki.
"That pesky perfume has given me quite a run for my money. No matter how much time I put in to it, I can't seem to be pleased."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out. It probably smells lovely."
"You can be the judge of that."
I fetched the bottle of perfume from my workbench and brought it to Ibuki. He whiffed from the spout of the glass bottle. He looked at the bottle, perplexed. Just as he'd done the time prior.
"There's just something about this one that I can't put my finger on. " he mused, "Either way, it smells really nice. I hope you finish it soon."
"Why would that be?"
"It would make you happy, wouldn't it?"
The perfume would please me solely for the sake of finishing it. It would not make me happy. How humorously lighthearted of him to assume so.
"Perhaps it would please me, but happiness is rather fickle. I doubt happiness would find me under such circumstance."
"What would make you happy?"
"I've pondered that for years."
A fog of sorts seemed to linger in the forefront of his mind because his eyes blinked slowly as he said nothing. He intrigued me greatly that moment, silence coming between us.
"Does something ail you, Ibuki?"
The blonde farmer snapped from his trance.
"I zoned out..."
"Does this happen often?"
"Not really... it's just- nevermind."
Coming in closer, he inched back with nowhere to go because of the sofa. I reached out to touch his face and he teared just a bit at the corners of his eyes. Looking away, he held a hand protectively over the ice pack. How very peculiar, so very skittish all of a sudden.
"Ibuki."
"You just look like someone I used to know is all. " he explained, eyes cast away towards the window. "It's really not important. I just had a memory come back. It happens."
"Very well."
There was something so suddenly off about the lad in mere seconds. He could barely meet my eyes, more so than what was normal for him. He looked ready to leap at the faintest sound or touch, his body rigid. He jumped when a loud whistle came from the kitchen.
"The water for the tea is ready, at ease Ibuki."
"I should go-"
"No such thing. You should relax."
I brought him his tea. I sat on the sofa across from him with my own. Silence surfaced once more.
"How has your work been, Ibuki?"
"The season just started so I'm not too busy yet... the crops are still just seeds."
"With time your fields will be bustling again. But, do not forget to pay me a visit from time to time. You've grow accustomed to disappearing on me. "
Ibuki chuckled lightly, agreeing he didn't see much of me. He was often on the complete other side of town working. When I walked the forest, I wasn't blessed with running in to him as frequently.
"I may have to start paying you visits regularly." I suggested.
"You're welcome to. Hopefully I'll be around, ha."
"I still expect you here for tea and coffee more regularly. "
After tea, he stood and buttoned his trousers, putting his boots back on. Settled to sit on the sofa normally, I took the melted icepack from him. He thanked me for my time and bid me farewell for the day, promising to pay me a visit the next day.
The following visits I received from Ibuki occurred late Autumn mornings before I was intent on seating myself at my work bench. It was pleasant to see him before dedicating my attentions to my perfumery.
Tea and coffee were common. I found myself religiously keeping sweets amongst my cupboards. Cookies and treats I knew the lad enjoyed- any means to lure him.
"I shouldn't eat too many. I'm supposed to eat real food for Lunch in a couple hours." Ibuki left the tray of sweets alone after having two.
I was not one to push refreshments or food on anyone, if one chose not to partake then that simply their will. But, it did pain me to a degree for Ibuki to not indulge in what I'd offered him. Two cookies were surely more than enough for one person... I knew he wanted more, though.
When had I grown so interested in the satisfaction of others? Or rather, when had my infatuation for Ibuki taken such flight?
"You'll burn off these treats come Lunch time. I can't imagine you wouldn't be famished in the hours to come, you're a bouncy sort. Running to and frough."
Picking up the platter I held it out to him, offering him to take what he pleased. I insisted. He smiled meekly and gave in to his cravings, taking a chocolate dipped cookie from the assortment.
"Marion says sugar isn't good for me." Ibuki took a small bite. "It's not easy to turn my nose up at sweets...You didn't make it an easier though, Klaus. Ha ha."
A smidge of chocolate smeared itself on his lip and Ibuki's pink tongue wiped it away. Another bite and his full lips wrapped around the oblong shaped treat, crumbly bits melting across his tongue. No woman I'd known ever looked so naturally seductive. A man sat before me innocently indulging in a cookie... my perversion saw so much more.
"Temptation can be a mighty force." I advised him. "Self-restraint can fail us sooner than we may realize."
Nodding in agreement Ibuki took a sip of the coffee I served him. As I sipped from my own I remembered my parents whom had relentlessly increased in their efforts to get in touch with me through mail. The dark roast was what my father most preferred. How long it had been since I'd last shared a brew with him.
"Klaus?"
"Hm?"
"Are you okay?"
Looking over at Ibuki from the brim of my mug I nodded shortly.
"This coffee reminds me of home, is all."
"Oh, I thought Oak Tree was your home? You come from somewhere else?"
"Indeed I do."
Ibuki looked eager to learn more.
"Where do you come from? Is it a town around here?"
"I come from out of the country, actually. Germany."
"Wow! That's a long way from here..."
"It is."
Blowing away steam from his cup, Ibuki took a sip to wash down the sweets. His eyes raised to meet mine.
"Klaus?"
"Yes?"
"Do you miss home?"
Not giving the question much thought I tilted my head to one side and the other.
"Perhaps not as much as the next man, but in some ways I miss home. I wouldn't trade this town for any despite that. This is my home now." I answered him. "I have some less than savory experiences associated with home as well. I am in no hurry to return."
"I understand what you mean. I'm not looking to leave here, either."
"I would certainly hope not."
Intrigued by the opening Ibuki had unintentionally given me, I began reaching my hands in to what was by right not my business. But still, I could not help myself. I would make Ibuki my business if only to keep close to him.
"Now Ibuki, where was it you were from again? I can't recall you telling me why you chose here to live."
"I'm from out of town... didn't like where I was, is all...erm I sort of wound up here by chance."
"How peculiar. Here in Oak Tree we're known for our agricultural community. How does one simply land such a profession by chance?"
"It's a long story, really. It's not worth the time."
"I have no prior engagements to attend."
I crossed one leg over the other, waiting for Ibuki to enlighten me. The grandfather clock in my home tolled just then. He looked to the clock and announced it was time he get back to work. Nodding, I withheld my irritation with the damned clock.
"Same time tomorrow, Ibuki." I suggested, voice just a smidge less forgiving to the possibility of him declining. "I plan for this to be our usual arrangement."
Ibuki nodded obediently. He showered me with his smile and gave his word he would be gladly join me for coffee and tea regularly. His quick obligance impressed me, truth be told. I wondered in what other ways I could influence him.
xxxxx