Chapter 12
Mentally arranging a room is one thing but actually doing it is a completely different story. It was nice that Mister Koibuchi had hired the movers to come to their place again to help with the heavy lifting involved in arranging the pieces of furniture how the two wanted them. It was a couple of grueling hours before the two were happy with how the furniture was situated. They still had a few boxes of things to put away. They couldn't help but be relieved that the bigger stuff was done. The movers left again because the two had only insisted on their bedroom and bathroom stuff being delivered to the new apartment. The living room furniture they had purchased still had to be delivered and set up.
Tsukimi blushed as her stomach growled loudly. "I guess we didn't think about food."
"Oh, no I did buy a few groceries and the things we would need to cook them with. But..." Kuranosuke ran his hand through his hair as he looked around the kitchen and living room area. "I guess it didn't occur to me where to eat them."
Tsukimi's face lit up. "Oh, I have an idea!" She disappeared back to her bedroom and Kuranosuke heard her shifting through boxes. She reappeared a few minutes later with one of her twin sized sheets from her old bed. "Let's lay this out and have a picnic!"
Kuranosuke couldn't help but release a full chuckle at the childish fun Tsukimi was suggesting. It reminded him of those times when he was younger and he made a fort by putting a sheet over the dining room table at his mother's house. He grinned at the memory.
The two got to work in the kitchen preparing the food. Kuranosuke had purchased some high quality tuna that he suggested they use to make spicy tuna bowls with. Tsukimi was hesitant to mess with the flavor the quality fish but he insisted so she just followed along with his ideas. The rice cooker was started so Kuranosuke grabbed the tuna to cut it appropriately while Tsukimi used another cutting board to slice up scallions for the sauce. Once it was cut she put together mayonnaise sriracha, and the onions in a mixing bowl. Kuranosuke added the diced tuna to the mixture, mixed it thoroughly, then set it aside. They sliced up nori, carrots, and bamboo shoots to add to the rice. Tsukimi also pulled out pickled ginger and radish to add to the bowls. By the time everything was prepared the rice was finished cooking. They each put together their bowls how they wanted, Kuranosuke adding a bit of chili oil to his because Tsukimi didn't like hers quite as spicy, and they sat down together to eat.
"Mmm," Tsukimi couldn't quite veil the moan of appreciation as she dug into her food. Kuranosuke looked over at her in the middle of lifting his chopsticks to his mouth. His eyes widening at the expression on her face. Her lids were shuttered close, her lips were perked in appreciation, and a light dusting blush blossomed across her cheeks. He cursed as he unintentionally dropped his bite-full on his pants.
"I don't think we need this high quality tuna all the time. But I definitely would love to revisit this meal at a later date."
"Sou.." Kuranosuke cleared his throat because his voice did the weird croak thing again. "Sounds like a plan. I hate to keep bringing up money but we need to work on figuring out what we need for the studio and the shop."
"Maybe we should work on future employes before going over those kinds of expenses."
Once Kuranosuke finished his previous bite he nodded. "Yeah, good idea. Koizumi had given you some folders or something on who he would suggest didn't he?"
Tsukimi licked her thumb where a dabble of the sauce dropped. "Oh yes, let me go get them."
When she walked away from the sheet Kuranosuke had a hard talk with himself. I really need to get myself under control. We officially live under the same roof, and just the sight of her enjoying a delectable meal is causing me all sorts of issues. He really just hoped that Tsukimi didn't take notice.
"Here it is." She handed the group of folders to Kuranosuke who promptly put them in his lap. She couldn't notice something she couldn't see, and maybe looking at these portfolios would give him a chance to cool off.
"These are just the designers. He said something about seamstresses also?"
"Oh, that note is in the last folder at the very back."
"Hmm, this isn't good." He had just perused over the seamstresses that were suggested. "He mentions three names here, but I know two of them have low quality work. I remember our competitors complaining about it at the after party for the contest."
"Well, one is still better then none. Despite that the designers themselves will be able to sew."
Koizumi had put together a list of twelve designers total, four for each of the three specialization areas they were wanting to cover. He pulled out his personal top choices for each section. "Double check those three and tell me what you think."
Tsukimi looked at the three portfolios and could tell why he had selected those three specifically. They each had unique takes on patterns, cuts, and silhouettes. There also were not over the top in their uniqueness. In her opinion the designs would be just the type people would come for miles around to purchase. "These three are wonderful, but what about the other nine? Shouldn't we at least meet with them?"
Kuranosuke shifted his head from side to side on his neck while he considered her suggestion. "I say that we first focus on those three. They are the best of the bunch, and honestly I am desperately hoping that they will work well with us. What about the crafting websites that Koizumi mentioned? Did you look those over?"
"Actually, I did one step better let me go grab my laptop."
"Laptop? What do you need your laptop for?"
"You'll see." No sooner had she called out her response then she was back in the dining area again. She typed a few things on her keyboard and pulled up what she wanted to show Kuranosuke.
"You made a Pinterest board?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I figured it was the easiest way to have a sort of portfolio for the few craft designers that caught my eye. I made a separate board for each designer."
Kuranosuke opened the boards in separate tabs and began to peruse them each individually. It became vastly apparent though that Tsukimi had already been leaning to one in particular because of the sheer number of pins she had on that board. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you are wanting to contact this, Ito Mirai."
"Yeah, I know contacting through their question service isn't the best option but because she doesn't give any of her personal email or contact information it's the only way I see to contact her."
"So, then, once we get the living room set up I vote we start composing emails to these five people and see if we can set up a time to meet."
OoO
Several hours later, after the living room was set up and the emails were sent the two crashed on the couch together. "This has been one exhausting day."
Tsukimi nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, but I am a bit wired. Can we watch a movie?"
"Do you mind if I pick the movie?"
"How about you pick a selection of movies, and I chose one from the selection."
It didn't take long to grab the movies he was thinking of. They were all older 80s and 90s movies but there was a point to each and every one. The selection included: Pretty in Pink, Say Anything, Can't Buy Me Love, Some Kind of Wonderful, and Secret Admirer.
Tsukimi picked Say Anything and handed it to Kuranosuke. "I always wondered what was up with the boom box."
Lloyd Dobler was a very well rounded character. He was judged by his lack of ambition and his social ranking in high school. But he was infatuated with the valedictorian, Diane Court, who was beautiful and well out of his league. The two characters succeeded as a couple despite the discouragement from the people around them. All of the other movies also had a similar feel and message but honestly this was probably the movie he had hoped she would pick the most.
The two sat beside each other and watched the movie in near silence. Kuranosuke only replying when Tsukimi had a question or comment about the current scene. When the song "In Your Eyes" played through the speakers of the television and the two main characters were in the back seat Tsukimi began to blush. "I'm sorry is this scene making you uncomfortable?"
She turned and looked at Kuranosuke. Her dark eyes shifting towards his lips and she bit her own. Her eyes looked back up at his, and she shook her head. "No, I just.."
The sight of the fleshy part of her lip disappearing underneath her ivory teeth made Kuranosuke suck in a good portion of the room's oxygen. "You just what, Tsukimi?"
"I am not sure how to express it. I guess maybe it does make me a tad uncomfortable but I mean the two love each other so that makes the scene beautiful. I just don't see a backseat as being all that romantic."
Your first time will definitely not be in a backseat, Tsukimi. If I have anything to say about it your first time will either be in my bed or yours. "No, but a high percent of American teenagers would lose their virginity that way at the time this movie was produced."
"Have you ever done it in a backseat?" Tsukimi blushed as she realized her own question. "Oh, wow, I...I can't believe I even said that. What's come over me?"
"Tsukimi, if you want to know about my past experiences I can tell you. I won't want to but I can." I honestly hope it won't completely feel like my own first time when we explore each others bodies.
"No, you don't have to. Um, but...have you been with many woman?"
"I won't lie, Tsukimi, my past in that department is not pretty. Before I began dressing in drag I acted out in high school by doing things I knew my father wouldn't approve of. I drank, did drugs, and I slept with numerous girls my age and older women even. I would change my actions if I could."
Something about the look of regret on his face had Tsukimi reaching over and hugging him. She knew he didn't need the sympathy. But for some reason she just felt she had to hold him. It was when his arms wrapped around her back and began massaging the muscles there that she leaned further into his embrace. She cuddled close to his body and felt his heart pounding against her own. "Kuranosuke, I want to know the things you have held back the past two times we were close like this. I want to understand why you are reacting the way you are."
Kuranosuke sighed in her ear as he pulled away. He looked her in the eyes trying to portray the amount of love and affection he had for her with his expression. "I don't want to lose our friendship for anything, Tsukimi. I'm terrified of how you will react to what I want to say. But, I've never in my life been jealous of my brother. I've never looked at someone wanting more then just physical gratification. I tremble with desire with the little things you do that you aren't even aware of. You blush at the drop of a hat and I get turned on. Your enthusiasm for the things you love, like jellyfish for example, it lights up your face and I gravitate towards you. When Shou went after that girl, well I was a mixed bag of emotions. I first and foremost wanted to be there for you. I held you and tried to reassure you. But there was another part of me that rejoiced that he had changed his mind about you. Tsukimi, I am desperately in love with you. I want you in every way that matters. But our friendship is more important to me that anything else, and if you aren't ready for something more I will gladly wait. It will be difficult but I will wait."
"Is that why you didn't want me to ask for a kiss out of curiosity but out of desire to be kissed? You didn't want me to play with either of our emotions?"
"I would have still kissed you if you had insisted. But, I would have hated myself later for it."
"I want you to kiss me now. Not because I am curious about what a kiss feels like. But because I want to feel the depth of your feelings in the action."
Kuranosuke didn't love that request but he also didn't hate it. It was better to want to know his feelings then just wanting to feel what it felt to be kissed in general. He leaned into her. His breath tickling her lips giving her enough warning beforehand so she could pull away if she changed her mind. Then he opened up the kiss with a light peck to see how it was received. Just that simple peck however ignited something in him and he had to have more. He tried to proceed slowly, letting her kiss him back. But after a few light open mouth kisses he needed more.
He pushed her down against the back of the couch and molded his angles to her curves. He ate at the gasp of surprise that escaped from her mouth. His hips angled more so against her core so she could feel his excitement against her stomach. He attempted to deepen the kiss by licking at her lower lip. She didn't seem to understand what he was asking though. So he pulled away to look down at her. Her expression was a mix of frightened and aroused. "Are you okay with this, Tsukimi? All you have to do is say the word and I will stop."
"I'm not against it. I mean I'm nervous and a tad frightened, but more out of curiosity and unsureness then anything else."
"Then, Tsukimi, I am going to bend back in to kiss you again. My tongue will once again lick at that delectable lower lip of yours, and when it does I want you to open your mouth for me."
"Oh..uh, okay."
He repeated the action that she had given pause to only brief moments ago. Just like he requested once he licked at her lower lip she opened her mouth and his tongue drove past her teeth. He moaned in salvation at being able to stroke at the crevices of her mouth. Her tongue mimicked the same actions and her own hips jolted upwards slightly. A whimper sound came from her own mouth as she surrendered herself to the sensations. He pulled away and smiled down at her. He caressed her cheek and looked her straight in her eyes. "You're missing the scene with the boom box you were curious about."
"I...I can always re-watch it."
"True, but honestly I think this is enough for now. But I do have a question for you."
"What's that?"
"What would you say to going out on a real date with me?"
"I...I think I would like that. I..I'm still nervous though."
"I'd be more concerned if you weren't. Now, I'm going to go take a very cold shower before I get ready for bed."
"Why a cold shower?"
"Because, Tsukimi, I am not about to ruin everything and push you into giving me more then you are ready to give right now."
"Oh..."
Please note that I have never eaten tuna in my life. I have only been around the canned tuna and stuff reaks so bad that I would never be able to eat it. I doubt I would like spicy tuna because I can't eat cold fish/shrimp the texture just does not blend well with my taste buds I guess. So the spicy tuna bowl was something I looked up. If you are curious about the recipe mentioned just google diy spicy tuna bowl and it should be the first link listed. The link says Cool Recipe: Spicy Tuna Bowl and the site is thekitchn
Again, I didn't necessarily want the couch scene to happen, at least not so early on. Regardless, though, I felt that it played out really well. But let me know what you think. Please be kind and leave me a review. :)
If you did like this chapter, especially the couch scene, then I think you will like the next chapter even more. I just finished typing up the initial copy and I am quite happy with it.
