Phone A Friend
The taxi pulled up in front of a hotel overlooking Hyde Park, its beautiful front calvacaded with turrets and balconies. Their cabbie mumbled their total charge with eyes full of curiosity as he processed Cain's credit card. A red-coated footman opened the door for them, his face impassive.
"Welcome to the Mandarin Oriental," he intoned. A brief courtesy smile played across his face, then was replaced by skepticism as he stood straight beside their luggage, watching her disembark. "Reservations required."
Cain exited, drawing the footman's attention from her. She saw his body language shift. He swallowed tensely, picking up the luggage and turning to lead them into the building. His slightly crouched shoulders and too-fast pace screamed delegation of the sudden problem customers to someone else.
A second and third footman swung the doors wide, fake smiles plastered on faces. Evidently one of them had altered the senior staff. A black-suited concierge accosted them just inside the doors. "Sir and mademoiselle," he said, his voice holding a gentle quaver beneath the platitudes. "We are unfortunately completely booked for ah, the remainder of the week. Large event in the Park, of course. I would be happy to recommend alternate accommodations. The Regency is exceptional, and I have confirmed they have a two bedroom suite available. Please, have a seat. I would be pleased to reserve your cab for you."
Setsu bristled, stepping in front of her brother with her hands on her waist, her mouth open to put the idiot in his place when she felt her brother's hand firm on her shoulder.
"Cain Heel." His voice was deep, but calm.
"Pardon me, sir?"
"My name."
The concierge momentarily froze, then gave a short bow. "Heel-san, ah- your parents-" he bowed again, rising to take their luggage himself. "Please, follow me to your suite. My sincerest apologies for the confusion."
Cain grunted, his eyes cold and furious. The man swallowed hard and turned away, fleeing in front of them to the elevator doors.
The ride to the penthouse was short and entertaining for the siblings, with the ever-shrinking concierge trying to unobtrusively hide himself in the corner of the elevator as Setsu ran her hand up and down her brother's arm to calm him. Even she could feel the delicious waves of black energy radiating off him. The doors opened and the concierge ejected himself, sweeping dramatically to the left with their suitcases in tow. Beads of sweat on his brow proclaimed both his nervousness and his lack of physical stamina from assuming the atypical position of porter.
"The Oriental Penthouse," he proclaimed, the remaining shudder in his voice stealing some of his intended gravity as he swung open the double doors. A vision of leather, velvet, and marble welcomed the travelers as Cain led Setsu into their room. If it could be called a room.
Palace was a better description.
"Nii-san," she said, her voice petulant. "Our hotel room in Tokyo was the size of the couch here. I told you get something simple. This is too much space." She refused to move from the doorway; inner Kyoko was terrified of dirtying something.
"Father booked it."
Setsu closed her eyes, her fingers massaging the bridge of her nose.
"Why…" she intoned. "Did you ever let him be the one to choose our room?"
Cain turned to look at her and shrugged. "Easier."
The concierge coughed behind them. "Is… everything to your satisfaction?"
Cain nodded. Setsu turned and stared at the man, her eyebrow cocked.
"Ah, yes, then, I will see myself out." Cain threw an envelope at him. "Th-thank you, sir," he said, catching it mid-bow.
"Good man," Cain said, his voice mockingly British.
Setsu stifled a laugh and walked over to her brother, winding her arms around him as the doors closed, shutting them into their own private - and excessively opulent - world. Cain looked out the floor-to-ceiling window across the lush park.
"Time for a nap," he mumbled, pulling her over to the sofa. She hummed in agreement as he pulled her down to lay on top of him. One arm wrapped around her back; a long leg draped over the side of the couch while his other hooked overtop hers, pinning her in place.
Setsu lay her chin down on her brother's broad chest, her finger tracing over the ridge of his collarbone. He grunted, shifting his hips under her. He pushed her head down gently, forcing her to rest fully against him. His chest was so firm, so warm. She fit perfectly in the curve of his torso. She closed her eyes, letting herself drift peacefully.
Her phone rang.
She could feel his entire body go rigid. Setsu squeezed her eyes shut.
The ringing filled the penthouse with incessant, painful interruption.
"Answer it." His voice was almost painfully gruff.
"But I just want to spend time with you," she whined, her face pressed against his chest.
"He won't stop." Cain's hand reached over and grabbed her phone from her bag where it lay on the table. "Answer it, and I'll make it very clear to him," he paused, his eyes stormy, "and to you… whose you are."
She took the phone from him, mesmerized by the look in his eyes. His hands pressed hot against her back. The ringing stopped; a thirty-second silence ensued. The phone rang again.
Setsu answered. "What."
"Kyoko! Shit, finally! I know why you kick my shins!"
"What on earth—"
"F*ing irritating bastard, never listens, just wants to argue!"
"What's with this new self-awareness, Shotaro?" Cain's hand started to rub gentle circles over her lower back, drawing a smile from her at the pressure delicately easing her tense muscles.
"No, not me, God Kyoko— him! He's totally taking it all for granted. Forget the shin, I'm gonna kick him in his balls!"
She laughed, stifling it when she saw Cain's glare. His fingers slipped up under her shirt slightly without ceasing their circular motions. He nodded at her silently. She drew a deeper breath than usual as she replied to Sho with her true feelings, letting Setsu go momentarily.
"That is exactly how I felt about you."
"What— no, stop making this about me—"
"Sho, I don't know what you're talking about but it sure sounds like you." Cain's hand inched up higher, baring more of her back. "Irritating bastard, never listens, always about himself, takes it all for granted— one hundred percent that's you and why I left you." He raised his head and pressed a kiss on her cheek, his lips fever-hot against her skin. She sighed in bliss.
"I left you, idiot."
"Sure, sure," She rolled her eyes, then closed them tightly as Cain's lips found her earlobe. "This is an international call, I can't talk much longer. Did you need something or did you just call in a fit of insanity?"
"F* it Kyoko— wait, international? Where are you?"
Cain started to gently suck on her ear, making it very difficult for her to speak normally. She had to swallow a moan as his tongue flicked over the sensitive spot behind her ear. "None of your business. I'm hanging up."
"Kyoko, no, wait— I need—"
The line fell silent.
Cain's hands slipped under the back of her bra, his tongue sliding in circles over her neck. She hummed quietly to herself to release some of her tension, her hips squirming with the effort of self-control. "Thirty seconds, Shotaro."
"I— why—" he groaned loudly, making her frown in puzzlement. "Was it worth it?"
"What?" Her voice was breathless now. Cain unhooked her bra strap, his hands pushing sideways around her back, his fingers riding around her rib cage to graze the very side of her chest. She gasped at the contact, biting her lip.
"Any of what we had."
She froze, shocked out of the beautiful sensations Cain was evoking by Sho's words. "No."
Cain's hands paused. So did she. She bent her head and nipped Cain's collarbone before continuing. "And yes. I wouldn't be where I am now— who I am now— if I hadn't idiotically followed you. But… I gave up too much of myself to do it. I'll never stop regretting that." She felt Cain's hands start to move again, rubbing up and down her back, massaging away her tension again. "But regret is something you can learn from."
She smiled up at Cain and saw his eyes studying her, full of love. "Kuon…" she whispered, recognizing the look.
"If…" Sho's voice cracked slightly on the single syllable. "If there's someone I want— but they don't want me like I am—"
She sighed. Giving Sho advice for his latest E-cup conquest was the last thing she wanted to do. But he sounded like an insecure little brother, and something in his tone triggered her concern. Kuon's hands pressed more urgently, his nails digging into her skin slightly as he ran them up and down, around to the side and back to her shoulder blades. He bent his head again, kissing her on her temple.
Yes— Sho was an insecure, stupid little brother with extremely inconvenient timing for meaningful conversation. Kuon's fingers raked ever closer to the side of her breast as his lips traced down her jawline. It was time for this phone call to end. "Sho, you're a grade-A ass. You do need to change."
She heard Sho start to protest and cut him off. "But not for someone else. For yourself. I changed everything about myself to try and make you love me, and it just left both of us emptier than ever."
Kuon pulled her higher suddenly, his face nuzzled in the center of her chest, nipping her gently with his lips and making it hard to focus. Sho stayed silent, so she struggled to continue without moaning.
"I'm going now," she said, "and I don't want you to call me again. But remember what I said — changing for you left me emptier than when I started. If this person you think you want doesn't love you, won't walk beside you as you grow into who you should be— leave."
She heard him repeat the word leave softly.
"Goodbye Sho," she said, turning her full attention where it belonged.
~*~
A/N: Yes girllll put that attention where it BELONGS. Is Sho gonna listen to her??
Cranking out some chapters while we wait on baby! Hope you all enjoy, thanks for the reads and reviews!!