Culmination I
"One gingerbread latte and one chestnut praline latte. Sugars, sweeteners and milk are all on the table for you. Enjoy." The waitress smiled specifically at Minato before she ushered herself to a recently vacated table, promptly taking the mugs to the back kitchen where her gushing coworkers hid.
Tsunade had wanted a quiet drink to start her night, but judging from the attention Minato had brought upon himself - and subsequently onto her - she didn't think that was possible anymore. Soft squeals at the back could be heard from Minato's newly recruited fangirls, and as much as Tsunade didn't feel any jealousy, she couldn't help but feel annoyed. How can she calm down when sexual pheromones were bouncing in the air around her?
As she stirred her sugar into her gingerbread latte, she gazed up at Minato who was sheepishly stirring his drink for no reason other than to avoid conversation with her. The car ride to the city could have been more desirable, Tsunade would admit, but she didn't expect for the silence to haunt them into her favourite cafe. As quietness settled in between them like the sugar in her beverage, and the shrill noises from those negligent waitresses ensued, Tsunade had no other choice but to take action.
"Minato-sensei, are you okay?" she asked, no longer wishing to speculate in her mind what was eating at her coworker.
"Oh, nothing, it's just…. I didn't know your favourite cafe would be this one." He continued to stir his drink. This time, he reached out for a packet of sweeteners, finally giving purpose to his mindless action. His gestures thus far only proved to be a ruse to deflect from his uneasiness of being here with her in this place, she realised.
"Is this cafe special to you?"
His eyes reacted at her question, but his face remained serene. "This is where my ex-girlfriend used to work when we first moved here," Minato replied with a small chuckle. Another deceptive gambit to cover up the pain in his features, which was done in vain since Tsunade was able to see through his veil of deceit quite well.
Even though Tsunade had no knowledge of this, she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for being the one to have caused his old wounds to resurface. "Oh, uhm, if you'd like we can take our drinks to go! We can take a walk in the park nearby."
"It's freezing outside, Tsunade-sensei. I wouldn't want you to get sick because of me. Besides, this was years ago. I'm fine, honestly!" He smiled the same way he always had in front of her - stunningly bright and warm. Even if it was just a facade, Tsunade wanted to believe it to be true though the uneasiness she felt told her otherwise.
"Alright… Still, I am sorry for taking you here. I wish you told me during the car ride."
"And ruin the only thing that will put you at ease after such a gruelling day? Wouldn't that be an evil thing for me to do? Think of it this way, I'm able to learn something new about you because of this. I now know that you are such a coffee fiend to have a favourite cafe."
How did he go from mulling through his words to teasing her without thought in a second? "A fiend?"
"Oh - my bad. A connoisseur, if you will." Minato corrected with a smirk. "But not enough of an expert to know that there's a secret menu here."
This piqued her interest greatly as she raised one brow, "A what?"
"Did you not know? There's a secret menu in this place. Every year, during the Christmas season, they put out keys all over the city centre. If you're able get your hands on it, you'll be able to gain access to their exclusive menu. Before you ask, no, I don't know where the keys are located. I did know, but not anymore. Maybe they still keep it in the same places? If you're nice to me, I'll tell you where they may be."
"You're the fiend," Tsunade lightly quipped back before she lifted her cup up to take a drink.
Minato chuckled upon noticing her play with words. "Oh, come on, Tsunade-sensei. Fiends also have hearts and you have wounded my tiny, tiny heart."
Tsunade tried to hide her smile which she has been trying to contain behind her mug. His animated gestures and jovial persona was teasing out a side of her she hasn't felt in the longest time; a moment of complete bliss to be in someone's company. Even if it was just a fraction of a second, she was able to forget why she agreed for his companionship in the first place.
She didn't want to be alone. It's as Jiraiya said, she was afraid to be alone, especially during turbulent times such as this brewing scandal about her. The incessant, almost gnawing, sensation of needing someone to fill the void was what kept her bound to Jiraiya. Despite his deprave nature, he was able to numb her pain… with a price, of course.
But this seemed different….
Minato was different.
She didn't know if it was her warm beverage, or the mellow atmosphere this cafe housed, but she felt her icy guard being eased away from herself by his unyielding charisma. After holding back for so long, Tsunade finally didn't hide her laughter from Minato.
"You're a silly man, Minato-sensei…" she said after, still smiling ear to ear. "You're still a fiend, but… a cute one."
Had Tsunade gazed up to see his reaction, she would have witnessed the expression of a man whose heart had stopped for a millisecond; Minato tried to hide his burning expression by haphazardly taking a drink of his beverage.
"Ow - hot!" He exclaimed upon burning his tongue.
Tsunade's head shot up in concern. "W-W-What happened?"
"Eydanktufast," Minato blabbered as he tried to reach for some napkins to dab his tongue with.
"Oh, sir, have some ice!" One of the waitresses - an eavesdropper on their conversation - promptly offered him a small glass filled with ice.
"Fanku." Minato said as he tried to remedy the burn on his tongue.
Tsunade shifted her chair and positioned herself next to him, removing any sense of personal space between them. She grabbed the napkin he had discarded earlier and lightly cleaned his appearance up as Minato quietly but intently watched her, even forgetting to catch his next breath when she leaned against his side.
She smelled sweet. Was it from her drink? Or was this her perfume? Maybe her lotion? Minato fought against each and every one of his instincts that told him to look directly at her. Doing so would put them at a proximity where he would be a few centimeters away from kissing her, and he didn't want to add another reason to the growing list he already had to kiss her because he'd surely cave in.
"Minato-sensei," she whispered close to his ear, "don't forget to breathe."
Suddenly, Minato exhaled heavily. He didn't even know he had stopped breathing from the moment she invaded his space; her presence was pleasantly suffocating, it had almost coaxed him into submission. When Tsunade retreated back to her spot, Minato's beating heart eased slightly, but his blushes remained prominent on his cheeks.
However, when he looked up, he saw a light tinge of pink on her cheeks too. Was she blushing? Or was he hallucinating? Maybe she was cold. Could she be…? Their eyes met again and Minato's mouth became dry. How can he be himself with this woman?
"So, have you always lived in the Land of Fire?" Tsunade asked with genuine interest, but also with the intent to steer their conversation away from their intimate moment.
"Oh, no, I lived in the Land of Waves with…" He purposefully bit his tongue to stop himself from saying her name. "...my ex-girlfriend. We were childhood friends, you see, and we have always wanted to move here to the Land of Fire. The first opportunity struck after we graduated from high school: I was offered a scholarship for track and field, and she had received an unconditional offer from the University of the Leaf."
"Which university did you attend, the same one as hers?"
"No. I attended the University of Baku, it's north-west from the border which divides the Land of Fire and Land of Waves. It was an expensive decision to relocate, but I had always wanted to be a professional athlete so I took my chances. I did well in track and field - I was even nominated to compete on a national level, but things just didn't work out."
"Were you injured prior to the tournament?"
"Something like that…" The gleeful expression on his face dulled again, but he was able to pick himself up before Tsunade could feel her guilt increase. "How about you? Did you always live around here?"
She was aware that he was deflecting - again - but she also knew it was not her place to pry. "I lived in a smaller town just outside the city, but I suppose you could say that I have always been around here. Like you, I moved into the city when I took my university degree in medicine school in University of the Leaf."
"Med school? Seems like you've drifted away from the profession you were building up to."
"Things happened that got me a little bit side-tracked. I am reapplying to complete my Foundation programme so I can specialise later on. What about you? Are you content with being a teacher?"
"The job has its merits and it's all I have ever done post-university. I have turned down jobs to be a personal trainer, but I do aspire to have my own company for fitness. It's a work in progress." He smiled, more masculine and genuine this time. "I guess we both have aspirations we still want to reach."
"Mhm…" she agreed, staring back at him. For a second, Minato was a spitting image of Dan. It must have been that slanted smile he did; Dan had a habit of smiling the same way. She lowered her gaze down to her drink, hiding her doleful eyes from him, before replying. "I guess we do."
"Tsunade!"
She didn't need to turn her head to know who it was. The cadence of the voice, along with the unwelcomed hand planted on the centre of her back, dampened the embers of warmth nurturing in her chest. As his fingers stroked the curve of her spine, evoking the sensation of ice creeping into her body, she hoped the sudden jolt of discomfort in her soul didn't betray her placid expression.
"Jiraiya," she acknowledged matter-o-factly, tilting her head to face him. Their eyes met, but their connection was not of mutual desire - she felt nothing but repulsion towards him, and the lust in his eyes for her remained the same. She followed his stare drop down from her face then to her body, purposefully lingering at the latter as he mentally undressed her.
Minato's own gaze trailed to Jiraiya and then back to Tsunade, waiting for her to build the bridge between them.
"Oh! Uhh, Minato-san meet Jiraiya. He's a... childhood friend of mine."
"Ah. It's nice to meet you." Minato leaned forward to offer him a handshake that the gallant warmly accepted.
"Minato, huh? I don't think I have heard about you before." He jokingly nudged Tsunade at her side. "Have you been hiding him from me and Oro, Princess? That's not very nice."
"Oh, no, no. There's nothing going on between us. This is just a co-worker hangout session before our PTA meeting this evening. Tsunade-sensei and I were discussing about the failure rate of the mock exam we had just conducted this semester. Isn't that right, Tsunade-sensei?"
At first Tsunade couldn't comprehend what Minato was trying to do, but soon understood that reinforcing a professional aura would prevent Jiraiya from settling beside them to engage in cordial conversation.
"Ah, yes. I have to plan after-school revision sessions for my students before the Christmas break so that they can retake the mock exam before the holidays. It's a bore, Jiraiya, honestly."
"I see," he nodded as he glanced at the two as if he were trying to catch an iota of evidence that proved that this shindig was far from a professional one. His hand creeped up from her back and onto her shoulder, caressing her openly in front of Minato. Tsunade cleared her throat and tried to shift her chair away from Jiraiya, but his grip was firm. It hurt.
Minato's piercing blue eyes were fixed on Jiraiya's hand like a hawk. The soft smile he had been parading since Jiraiya's sudden appearance had long disappeared. Tsunade couldn't predict what he was planning, so she mediated the situation by forcing a laugh as she placed her hand over Jiraya's hand, gently removing it from her shoulder.
"Jiraiya, your hand is heavy," she tried to say lightly, hiding any morsel of disgust in her face.
"You're such a princess," he commented. "Hey, Minato, be careful with this one, okay?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"She's easy on the eyes, but a thorn in the heart. So, don't sink in too deep. It's worth it for a couple minutes, but she'll drive you insane afterwards." He grinned as he brushed his knuckles against Tsunade's cheek. "Ain't that right, Princess?"
Tsunade lowered her head and grimaced as his touch plagued her skin. How could he do this to her in public, right in front of her colleague?! She held her breath in to compose the boiling urge to hurl insults and profanity at his audacity to embarrass her like this. Jiraiya was appraising Minato, she knew, and he was making damn sure that Minato would become aware that they have a history together.
Minato chuckled. "I shall take that in consideration, Jiraiya-san."
Again, his ceruleans eyes were shadowed with mystery, like the wild oceans during a storm, that made Tsunade's composure weak and unhinged. She needed to act fast if she didn't want this to escalate. "Minato, can you please give us a moment? I'm sorry, it's just -"
"Don't worry about it," he kindly said, already standing up. "I'm going to the restroom while you guys… catch up."
"Thank you."
As Minato walked past Jiraiya, their eyes linked briefly with unspoken threats and promises, but the gallant was more adept at getting under his skin, "Don't worry, Minato, I'll take good care of her." He winked and positioned his hand on her back again.
The blonde's gaze sharply followed his hand, and his jaw clenched slightly. His lips managed to curve up slightly to mask his irritation. "I'm counting you on" he said before turning away from them.
Tsunade took a deep breath to tolerate his fingers toying with the clasp of her bra as Minato walked away. When her coworker was nowhere in sight, she sighed exasperatedly. "Stop it. Stop it, I said!" she growled under her breath, gaining a chuckle from the man.
"There she is, the hot-headed Princess! I've missed you terribly, you know." He tucked her hair back from behind her ear and kissed her temple, prolonging their connection to slide his hand just underneath her breasts. "Stop avoiding me, because we know it's useless. Come over tonight, hm? Stop seeking out men like him, he can't contend with you."
"If you don't get your hands off me, Jiraiya, I will cause a scene here. You should know me by now, causing disruption is well within my forte. So I will only tell you once more - get your hands off me." She glared at him and watched him back away with his hands up as a sign of forfeit.
"What's the matter, Princess? You have never been this mad at me before. Are you still mad about what I said?" He huffed and ruffled his hair before muttering, "Unbelievable. So what, you're going to settle with him?"
"Who said anything about that? I'm spending time with one of my colleagues, Jiraiya. Not everything is about sex." Her eyes followed him as he took Minato's chair and placed it near her own. He sat down and leaned over to her closely.
"Oh, but he wants to fuck you, my dear, and you're playing right into his hands like an idiot. Don't think his kindness for you is without any strings attached, because trust me he's expecting something from you. As you're opening up to him, he's imagining what you'd look like naked and on his bed. He's thinking of the various ways he can take you, to make you scream his name. I know men, Tsunade, and he's no different."
Tsunade tightly clasped the handle of her mug as she continued to control her breathing. "Stop inserting your own thoughts and personality in every man I engage with. Minato is not like you, and you're not even half the man he is."
"Do you really hold me in such low regard now, Tsunade? After everything we have been through together, you're going to abandon me like trash?" He placed his hand over hers and his thumb lazily drew circles on the back of her hand. "Don't forget who you owe your life to and who saved you at your lowest point. I did all that for you."
"You did it for your selfish desires," she sneered.
"I did it because I love you and I couldn't bear to see you lose your life over someone who didn't deserve it in the first place."
"Stop saying that, stop saying that. Dan, he -"
"He left you," he quickly spoke, "all alone and with scars that will never heal. I know about those scars, but does that Minato-guy know? Will he be there for you like I was? The comfort you're seeking from him is going to go unsatisfied because he will never understand you like I do." He took her hand and kissed it before he leaned further to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll wait for you this weekend. I'm tired of fighting you, Tsunade. Just come, hm? I can give you the comfort you need."
She closed her eyes and huffed as her shoulders sagged in defeat. "Jira…"
"Don't say anything, just think about it." He branded her hand with another kiss before they were interrupted by Minato.
"Jiraiya-san, we really need to get going."
"Oh? I thought you were discussing your plans -"
"Yes, but now we don't have time for that. Our PTA meeting starts in an hour and we need to be there thirty minutes before." Minato had already gotten into his coat and was offering Tsunade hers before Jiraiya could protest.
"I see, I see." Jiraiya's eyes flickered from Tsunade to Minato, who had tugged her back to his side. He then looked back at Tsunade and his eyes twinkled with delight. "Promise me you'll think about what I said. I'll be waiting."
"We really need to go, Jiraiya-san. I'm sorry." Minato allowed her to walk past Jiraiya first while he acted as a barrier between them.
Tsunade hurried towards the door, vaguely thanking the waitresses who bid them farewell, as her lungs threatened to collapse under pressure. She heard the bell clink when she pulled the door open, but she didn't know whether Minato was right behind her or not. She couldn't think properly with all her emotions persistently swirling inside her head. She hated him, despised him but….. Gods, why did his promise soothe her? Was she truly that desperate for company?
It felt like a sudden gust of wind had ran past Tsunade when Minato took her by the hand and swiftly escorted her to his vehicle. She sat on the passenger seat and waited for him. Minato shut his door, got his seatbelt on and placed his hands on the wheel. She had hoped that he would drive off in silence, but he didn't turn the engine on. Instead, he turned to her with apparent concern.
"Listen, if you don't want to talk about it. I won't pry. But reaffirm something for me, so I won't think I'm going crazy, he wasn't a friend of yours, was he?"
Was he? Tsunade asked herself. She bit her lip in contemplation. Without much thought, her lips curved into a faux smile. "Jiraiya is a close friend of mine. I'm sorry if it looked like he crossed many lines back there." Why was she lying for him?
"So, you didn't mind him… touching you like that?"
Ah, he had spied on them throughout their conversation.
Of course she did. She resented his touch with her being.
"No, no," she lied, still smiling.
"Then why are you shaking?"
Over the years, Tsunade had become proficient in hiding her emotions behind her mask. She had become adept at it that she had forgotten to conceal other details that may betray her deceiving composure. She clasped her hands together, but it was too late to calm her nerves down. She just prayed she could keep her tears away.
"Jiraiya and I…." Memories flashed in her mind - the good and the terrible - as she tried to mull through her thoughts. "We have a history. But it's not one I'm comfortable in divulging with anyone, Minato-sensei. You're right - we are not on terms where I would call him my friend now, but he…. he was one of my closest, and most dearest friends."
Minato pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, looking ahead of the parking lot instead of her. "I'm sorry I couldn't get you out of there quicker. I didn't know until…." He stopped himself and looked at her with clear resolve in his eyes. "I won't let him touch you like that again. Not when I'm around. Okay?" He placed his hand on her thigh, which he quickly took back at the realisation of how intimate his touch was. "I'm sorry, I didn't…."
"Oh, but he wants to fuck you, my dear, and you're playing right into his hands like an idiot. Don't think his kindness for you is without any strings attached, because trust me he's expecting something from you." Jiraiya's words echoed in her mind like a tragic foreshadowing. The sensation of Minato's touch remained on her thigh. He was too close to her, she could feel his breath on her skin and his smouldering gaze in her core, and a part of her was frightened about his proximity.
Maybe Jiraiya was correct. Men have often masked their identities and agendas with kindness and charm in hopes that they would be able to bed her at the end of the night. Maybe Minato was like every other men she has encountered, starved for sex and gratification? No, she couldn't see him as a depraved man.
"Minato-sensei," she whispered, locking eyes with him, "thank you for everything."
The drive back to her apartment complex was brief since she only lived ten minutes away from the cafe. Minato pulled over into the private parking lot up front and helped Tsunade with her bags to her apartment door. After she had unlocked her door, she turned to her companion and eased a soft smile.
"Thank you, Minato-sensei. I really enjoyed spending time getting to know you. I just wish that we weren't interrupted so soon."
"Then -!" Minato's eagerness to talk surprised Tsunade, and her expression caused him to forget what he initially wanted to say. He rubbed the back of his head as he recollected himself. "Would you like to spend time with me this weekend? We can pick up where we left off."
This weekend, Tsunade thought. Jiraiya eclipsed her mind. He was also expecting her then, but why was she even considering going to him? It's clear that she should stay as far away as possible from him. She knew that but…..
"I…."
"I'm sorry, I'm pressuring you, aren't I? It's fine, just forget about it, Tsunade-sensei. I just -"
"It's not that, Minato-sensei. I just need to check my schedule and I'll get back to you before Thursday, I promise." She touched his arm as she stepped towards him. "Thank you - again - for today."
Minato blushed as he tried his damndest to contain his widening smile. She tiptoed, placed both hands on his broad shoulders, and pressed her lips against his cheek. The pink tinge on his cheeks ripened into bright red streaks, and he tried to hide this from Tsunade when she stepped back.
"Goodnight, Minato-sensei."
"G-Goodnight, Tsunade-sensei." He stuttered as he picked his composure up from the ground.
Once she had hauled all her bags into her apartment, she slipped off her high heels and wandered into her living room where she threw herself on the couch. She laid there, staring up to her blank ceiling, reminiscing through the snapshots of Minato's smiles in her mind. She had always thought that he was handsome, but she had remained impartial to him until then. That smile. She groaned and buried her face under her throw pillow.
He was reminiscent of Dan.
Tsunade slowly drifted off on her couch with the images of Dan and Minato gambolling in her mind, plaguing her subconscious as she rested. Her phone then vibrated in her hand, pulling her from her light slumber, and she saw that Minato had sent her a message.
Minato-sensei: Just got home. I saw on the news that it's raining all day tomorrow. Would you like me to pick you up tomorrow morning?"
Her heart warmed again. He's not like Jiraiya described. She refused to believe someone like Minato could be like Jiraiya.
That's very considerate of you. Thank you, I'd appreciate a ride.
After Tsunade had closed her conversation with Minato, she caught Kakashi's name listed under his in her recent messages. Her smile waned as she swiped to contact him. How should she reach out? Should she? Now that she knows what happened, what led to Kakashi being hospitalized, she couldn't help but feel responsible.
She sat up on the couch and attempted to text him.
Are you okay?
She quickly backspaced.
Have you been discharged yet?
Again, she backspaced.
I heard what happened. I hope you didn't do it because of me. I appreciate it, but you shouldn't hurt yourself for…..
She stopped typing and twirled her thumbs about. Would he go to such extents for her? Or was she assuming the wrong things? Even if he did get into an altercation for her, why would he? She was just a….
"What am I to you, Tsunade?"
She remembered his question back in the hospital and paused. She recalled the harrowing memory of Kakashi's doleful eyes and how he attempted to ease her worry for him. She chewed on her lip as she backspaced everything she had typed, still preoccupied by memories from this afternoon.
She could still feel the sensation of his fingers intertwined with hers, the heat of his chest as he pulled her hand over his heart.
"What am I to you, Tsunade?"
She sighed and rested her head against the back of her knees as she balled up on her couch. Slowly but surely, he - who was supposed to be a nobody - was becoming somebody important in her life. Her heart ached seeing him in pain, and she felt vengeful with hate brewing in the pit of her stomach as she watched students in the halls gossip about him as if they knew him. They didn't know him. They haven't seen him as vulnerable as she has, nor do they realise how utterly alone he looks despite being constantly surrounded by people.
"I have never relished in another person's warmth as much as I have with you."
Tsunade flinched when her phone vibrated again in her hand. Minato must have messaged her back. She looked at her phone and was surprised to see the message.
Kaka: I heard about what happened in school today. I hope you are okay.
Another vibrate.
Kaka: I'm here if you need me.
Kaka: To talk, you know. Just message me back, or call me. I'll get right back to you!
Kaka: I'm sorry if this popup seems random! Ignore it if you'd like.
Kakashi: Now, I'm sorry for the spam!
Tsunade smiled. Looks like she's not the only one who's frantic about this new territory they are abou t to commit themselves to.
Thank you, Kakashi. But focus on yourself, okay? You're going to need all the rest you're going to get during your time off from school. Don't worry about me.
Almost instantly, her phone buzzed again.
Kaka: I'll always worry about you.
Tsunade unexpectedly blushed at Kakashi's conviction. She groaned as she buried her face in her throw pillow again. She badly needed a bath to relax in.
Kakashi stopped and sat on an outdoor bench, frantically texting Tsunade after Asuma had called him to report back on what had happened after his hospitalisation. Should he be upfront and ask her if she's okay? Should he call her? No, he doubts that she'd appreciate him misusing her generosity of giving him her personal phone number.
What should he do? After taking a deep breath, he allowed his fingers to quickly type the first words that fleetingly came to mind. Before Kakashi could rationalise his impulsive nature, he had already sent four messages. He wanted to throw himself at the incoming cars in that moment. He should have compiled all of the messages into one.
What was she going to think -
He received a message.
Tsu: Thank you, Kakashi. But focus on yourself, okay? You're going to need all the rest you're going to get during your time off from school. Don't worry about me.
He smiled cheesily upon receiving a prompt reply, but he soon scowled at her selfless message. What did she mean by that? Can't he worry about her? Was he overstepping by being too involved when it concerned her? He probably was in too deep more than he'd like to clearly acknowledge, but the growing distress he was feeling on her behalf was an instinctive feeling he couldn't stop his heart from expressing.
I'll always worry about you.
He sent it before he had the chance to undo his mistake. It was the truth he had suppressed back in the hospital. But as his heart swelled with numerous emotions of jealousy, fret and unease he was no longer able to filter himself: he cares for Tsunade more than he'd ever outwardly admit to anyone else besides himself.
As the silence in their conversation prolonged itself, Kakashi could feel a pit of disappointment bury itself in his stomach. He should have never sent that message. Should he apologize? But that would mean putting a spotlight on the topic. What should he do?
Tsu: I can't tell you how much I appreciate you telling me that, Kakashi. I'm also here for you, remember that.
Kakashi sighed in relief upon receiving her message. Had the silence dragged itself any longer, he wouldn't have been able to think straight. He pocketed his phone in his winter coat and proceeded to walk towards the bus stop. He can't afford to be late for this; first impressions count, and in his dire situation, Kakashi was determined to make every effort count.
"What the hell happened to your face?!" Mei shrieked when Kakashi walked into her office.
"I, uhh, kinda… got into a fight…. with some of my seniors..." Kakashi mumbled as he avoided her burning glare. He already had to justify his actions before, to his mother, and he wasn't prepared to do it again. Although, in hindsight, he should have mentally prepared himself for this inevitable badgering.
"Was it in self defense?" She asked, flicking his hair to the side so she could see the full extent of his injury. "Jesus. How many stitches did you need? This is not going to heal in time for your magazine shoot with Hanare…."
"I'm sorry, Mei-san." He dipped his head slightly, apologetically, keeping his eyes hard on the ground in shame. The way her eyebrows had knitted together was an expression of disappointment rather than anger. While the latter was more explosive than the former, it was a quicker form of punishment. Disappointment tends to linger in the expressions of people - Kakashi has seen it countless amounts of times to know.
"You need to be more careful, Kakashi! I mean, thankfully I don't think your injury will hinder your work next week, because it fits the ethos of it. We can pass it off as makeup and part of the concept." She walked away and leaned against the edge of her desk. "As promised, you can borrow the suit you wore in your previous photoshoot, but you better be careful because it is worth thousands."
Kakashi almost choked on his spit. "Mei-san, why would you give me such an expensive suit? The responsibility of keeping this suit in one piece is too much for me!"
"That's the cheapest suit I have, kid. Just be careful. How hard can that be?"
Was she really saying this to him, someone who has recently gotten into a violent altercation with several of his seniors? Right now, he was far from an attentive individual. He huffed and took the outfit off from the rack at the corner of the room.
"Thank you," he said softly, looking back at her.
"I do have one request." Mei smoothly said, crossing her arms. "I want you to attend this weekend's fashion show of my company with Hanare. I need my best models with me there. You'll help, won't you?"
And there was the favour she was keeping up in her sleeve. Kakashi frowned. "I don't think my appearance is…. appropriate for that."
"You mean your scar? It'll be fine. We'll say you got into an accident because you saved a classmate, or something."
"You want me to lie?"
Mei placed both of her hands on her hips and sneered, "I'm sorry, is lying above your moral code, because if I remember correctly, you got into an altercation without any compunction. A little white lie isn't going to hurt anyone more than those kids you probably beat into a pulp."
"Actually, Mei-san, I was the one beaten in the pulp." Kakashi said with a nervous chuckle. He cleared his throat when he saw that Mei was far from amused. "But y-you're right. A little lie isn't going to harm anyone. So, I'll go."
Her face brightened considerably with glee, bringing relief to Kakashi's uneasiness. "Great! I shall message you the details later today, so be sure to give it a read once you return home. Oh, Hanare is going to be thrilled to have you there! She has been bugging me into asking you for her."
"She has? Why?"
His boss smirked deviously before shaking her head. "Oh, Kakashi, for a smart kid you're quite dense."
He cocked his head to the side. "Huh?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Don't be late, okay? I won't fully forgive you until then, so try your best to impress me."
Kakashi suddenly realised the privilege he has to be able to talk to Mei as candidly as he did, because her authoritarian tone brought him back to earth and made him acknowledge the power discrepancy between them. She had treated him so well that he had forgotten that he was just her employee.
He curtly bowed. "I won't let you down, Mei-san."
Kakashi arrived in front of Dukes, a nightclub. He raised his brow and looked at the business card Gendo had given him. "Didn't he say this was a bar?" he mused, flipping the card to double check that he was at the correct building. "This can't be right."
"Young man."
The silver-haired teen turned and saw the same man he had encountered at the restaurant he previously worked at. Without the warm glow of lanterns surrounding him, Kakashi was able to see his features properly: a man in his fifties with deep wrinkles embedded at the corner of his mouth and under his eyes. His white hair was sleeked back and his beard was well-maintained. Each modicum of detail on this man oozed with power, and it didn't help that his icy blue eyes were sharp and confronting.
Kakashi wasn't one to feel caged in in front of others, but this man's commanding presence made him feel demure. He promptly straightened his back and curtly gave his obeisance to his superior. "Good day, Gendo-sama."
"Come, let's negotiate." Gendo, along with his two imposing bodyguards, breezed past Kakashi as they headed towards the back entrance that was reserved for employees only.
Kakashi curtly followed their lead, trying his best to ignore the ebbing sensation in his gut. He had a bad feeling about this, but he can't run away now. He had committed himself to this job - whatever it may be - and he's determined to see it through. He had burdened his mother again, and because of it his father is suffering. He had hurt them again.
This was the right decision.
He stepped into Gendo's office and sat where the older man gestured for him to sit.
"Kakashi, was it?"
He nodded. "Y-Yes."
"How old are you?"
"S-Seventeen, sir."
"Too young," Gendo muttered, lightning his cigar. "Are you desperate to earn money, Kakashi?"
He balled his hands together to keep his nerves at ease. "Y-Yes…."
"Then, when you're asked about you're age, you will tell them that you're twenty-two. That is an appropriate age and you fit it well." Smoke was exhaled out from his nostrils and it laced the atmosphere of his office. "You're a handsome young man, you'll definitely have customers."
"C-Customers?"
"The nightclub is a front to the extra business we conduct here. Only the VIPs - those bound to secrecy - are able to come through those red double doors. We often get men looking for fun from young, malleable girls. But we also get women - those who feel neglected by their husbands - frequent here, looking for company and warmth. Others only wish to have someone to talk to, but there are those who will pay premium for extra…. services. Are you following, young man?"
Kakashi could feel his heart practically beating like a drum as the palms of his hands felt clammy. He knew very well what this man was insinuating, and as much as he wanted to flee from this situation, his resolve to fix his family's financial problems gripped him in his seat.
"So, I'm asking for the last time, are you desperate for money? Because these services will be expected from you. There will be no exceptions - the customer is always right and they must leave this place satisfied. Do you understand, Kakashi?"
Gendo's eyes seemed colder now, and his demeanor more dangerous. Kakashi tried to stay resolute in front of him despite the fact that he was feeling himself crumble under the pressure.
"I do," Kakashi finally replied, eyes steeled with his unwavering conviction.
"Good man. Forty percent of your earnings will go back to my company, any tips you have will be yours completely. Services in this domain will end at two in the morning, but one of your customers may wish to lengthen the time you spend together. When that happens, you will have to notify us your whereabouts, so we can make sure that you are safe outside of the club."
"O-Okay."
"What is your sexual preference? Are you straight, gay, bi?"
The bold question felt like a sharp whiplash to Kakashi that he needed some time to recover from it. "Uhh, straight…. sir."
"Thought so. You'll stay in this side, then. To be frank, Kakashi, entertainers who don't have a preference in genders tend to garner more money. If you're desperate-"
"No, sir. I…."
"You're definitely straight, then." He sucked on the butt of his cigar, paused, then blew out a nimbus of smoke again. "That settles it."
Kakashi inwardly sighed in relief. He expected to put up a bigger fight than that.
"Normally I would tell every rookie to alter their sense of fashion, but you are dressed impeccably." He noted, pointing at his black silk suit. "Our clients will definitely be fond of you, Kakashi. You'll earn a lot of money here, young man."
Gendo walked up to Kakashi, shadowing him completely as if to assert his dominance over him. He swept his fingers through hair and his lips fell downcast. "That scar of yours needs to heal immediately."
"It will heal soon," Kakashi reassured.
The older man seemed satisfied that the scar didn't extend further down his face, and he nodded. "Go to the lounge, you will meet your fellow co-workers. When the club opens and our clients start coming in, make sure you make a good expression."
"Ye-Yes, sir."
"Go on then, young man."
Kakashi walked into the lounge and was immediately greeted with stares from his coworkers. Every man had a clean-cut appearance from their hair down to the accessories they chose to adorn their outfit. Everyone was covered in designer, even their socks were branded. If Kakashi didn't know any better, he would have mistaken this room to be the staging area for models.
"A new entertainer!" One blonde individual claimed as he approached Kakashi. "The name's Shī! What is your name?"
The man's pearly white smile was as blinding as his exuberant aura. Kakashi had to take a step back to feel that he was at a safe distance. "Kakashi," he answered without the same gusto.
"Kakashi, huh. Well, this is the crew for tonight." He said, wrapping his arm around his neck as he pointed at each of the member. "That pretty boy on the right is Utakata. Next to him is Arashi. The serious guy who's reading a book is Kimimaro. Those three guys there, huddled like a bunch of pussies, are Takakishi, Koro and Temma."
"R-Right…" Names he probably won't be able to recall after this shift.
"Woah, what suit is this? Is this Armani?" Shī gasped. "Somebody has a rich sugar mommy up their sleeve. You caught a great one, Katashi!"
"Kakashi," he corrected, slipping out from his hold to iron out his blazer.
"Shī!" Utakata called, looking up from his phone, with an eerily calm annoyance resting on his perfectly proportioned face. "Stop smothering the new kid, he clearly doesn't appreciate it."
"I'm just trying to welcome him!"
Utakata shifted his attention to Kakashi. "That's a nasty scar you have going on there. It could hinder your chances with the clients tonight. You should have waited until it healed."
Kakashi sat down on the chair adjacent Utakata and leaned back in a nonchalant position; he felt more at ease with this guy than the suffocating blonde who welcomed him. "I couldn't wait that long. I really need the money right now. Do you think this will really be a problem?"
"Some people dig it," Shī butted in, leaning against the chair Kakashi was sitting on. "Some women love scars; it's a real turn on for them."
The silver-haired teen blushed. "I-I-I….."
"Don't play coy. That suit must have come from somewhere! I mean, if you could afford that yourself, then why are you here, right? We're all broke - I mean, we all start off broke, that's why we seek jobs like this. It's like fun and games, anyways. So long as you have the face and the attitude, money will fall straight onto your lap."
The sounded simple enough on the surface of it, but Kakashi knew this job required a mental fortitude he has not yet prepared himself for.
"Here," Utakata nudged a shot glass at him. "Drink this. It'll ease your anxiety."
"W-What's in it?"
"Best you do not know."
"Oh, give me a shot too, Uta." Shī requested, finally leaving Kakashi's side.
As Kakashi debated whether or not he should trust these strangers, one of the bouncers entered the room and called for them to line up in the main room. As everyone shuffled out, Kakashi closed his eyes and chugged the unknown substances. He wiped his wet lips with his sleeve and followed Shī closely.
They lined up like contestants in a beauty pageant in front of a small crowd of women, with lights brightly accentuating on each one of them. As the women discussed amongst themself, Shī nudged Kakashi at his side. "Stop looking so glum and put your best face on."
Each of them were designated a number and were asked to introduce themselves one by one. Kakashi's hands felt clammy again and he had to pocket them in his pants to feign confidence. When was this drink going to kick in? He could still feel his heart erratically beating against his ribcage, and the back of his nape was starting to feel warm. There were dozens of eyes shifting back and forth between them, but Kakashi couldn't help but feel that all of them were on him. Was he being too obvious that was he a rookie?
"Number seven."
Oh shit. That was his cue. Kakashi stepped out of the line and cleared his throat. "Uuh…" What did the other candidates say? He was too busy internalising his consternation that he had accidentally filtered out their voices. Fuck it, he'll have to imprvise. "My name is Kakashi," he said as he bowed. "Uuhm…. I-I'll make sure to give you a good time."
He stepped back in line with a blush streaked across his face. The women giggled amongst themselves. Gods, why did he say that? He already looked like a spring chicken in a group of veterans, and here he was saying such things.
Shī was next.
"Shī here, ladies." He confidently said with a charming smile. "Let's have a good time tonight and get to know each other. I won't bite…. unless you want me to." The pure expression on his face darkened into a more seductive tone, gaining considerably more praise from the audience.
As Shī walked back, he eyed Kakashi. "That's how you bait them, Kakashi-kun."
There was an intermediate session to give the clients enough time to choose who they'd like to keep as their companion. As they waited, Kakashi could feel his anxiousness slowly fade away as a new wave of confidence flowed through his veins. He pushed his hair back, fully exposing his scar and sighed. Finally, he can breathe again.
"There's a good assortment of women tonight, Kakashi; they're all strapped with cash and they don't look half bad either. But you know who will be a lucky man tonight?"
"Hm?"
"Anyone gets that purple haired babe in the corner. She's the definition of MILF, being with her for the night will not be work at all. It will be a pleasure."
Kakashi followed Shī's sight and spotted the woman in question straight away. She was dressed in sapphire laced dress which hugged every curve of her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her short wavy purple locks crowned her dainty porcelain face, coordinated perfectly with her sharp lavender eyes, and complemented her golden earrings. She possessed traits of a doll - full scarlet lips, petite but tall nose, and perfectly shaped eyes.
What was someone like her doing in a place like this? Surely she can have any guy without paying for them.
He seemed to have stared too much, too long, because she took notice of his gaze. Normally, Kakashi would avert his attention to hide his embarrassment but in this moment he didn't feel such emotion. He smirked straight at her, maintaining their eye contact. She smiled back.
Utakata was picked first by the wealthiest woman of the bunch, but that was expected. The man was too pretty for his own good, he didn't need to exude with charm to seduce any woman. Shī followed shortly afterwards when a fairly attractive middle-aged woman eagerly outbidded everyone for him.
Kakashi stood in line, holding his breath. With such a lame introduction, who would choose him?
"Number Seven, accompany Ms Yui to the entertainment room."
His head shot up to see the same purple-haired woman waiting for him. He could practically feel the jealously from his fellow coworkers as he walked up to her, and honestly, he felt pride swell up in his chest to have the privilege to be chosen.
He offered his arm to her and she linked her arm through. "I didn't make the best introduction before. I'll be sure to make up for it."
She chuckled. "I found it endearing."
He led her to the back room, which was comprised of separate closed-off entertainment booths. They sat in their designated number and Kakashi slid the wooden door closed behind them. Different flavours of soju were at the centre of a round table alongside a couple of cigars, and a menu was next to two sets of buttons - red and green - at the end of it.
Yui sat scooched behind the table and onto the centre of the U-shaped leather booth. Kakashi removed his blazer and hung it up on the coat hanger before he accompanied her. How close should he be, he wondered. He decided to leave just enough space between them that it didn't seem like he was too eager to invade her private space, but at the same time allowed for enough physical contact to spark attraction. His knee brushed against hers as he settled down on the couch.
"I have never seen your face around here. Are you new?"
"This is my first gig," Kakashi answered truthfully.
"You stuck out like a sore thumb back there. But you still made quite an expression on the other women, they were practically vying for you." Her hand shifted onto his leg, caressing him softly. "I'm honoured to be your first."
Every cell in his brain screamed for him to swat her hand away, but it was numbed by the substance he had drank earlier. Every emotion that contributed to his innate wariness of others had been dulled, and every sense that constituted to reckless abandon was amplified. His core was blazing with vehemence he couldn't understand, and her intimate touch was the gasoline to his flames.
Yui leaned in closer, breast pressing against his side. She lightly touched his stitching with genuine intrigue. "This is what interested me the most. You look like a good-natured man, but this on your appendage seems to contradict that. You fascinate me, Kakashi."
"I could say the same about you," he whispered. "How did a beautiful woman like you end up in a place like this? You shouldn't be paying for the services of men; it should be the other way around."
She laughed. "You'd think, right? I'm already getting paid to fix the fuck ups of corporate men who are inadequate in leading a company. There is not enough money in the world that will make me want to be under more power hungry men."
Yui reached out for the unlit cigar on the glass tray. Kakashi promptly took the lighter beside it and lit the cigar from her. The orange hue of the lighter reflected on both of their eyes, revealing the intention that laid deep in their depths. She was full of lust, not for sex in particular, but for power.
"This, however, ensures that my word is resolute. It's that element that I keep coming back for." The cigar rested between her dainty, feminine hands which created contradiction with how masculine she released smoke from her mouth and nose.
"Is that what you're after? Control?"
"Mhm," she agreed as she continued to smoke. "My husband…. well, he's a bastard. Comes home late every night, thinking I don't know where he has been. But of course I know where he's been; the smell of cheap perfume and booze on his skin are all too telling. And to think, I used to wait up for him, like a blind fool." She weakly laughed as she shook her head, taking another puff. "I thought having a child would change things between us. Another naive mistake. He didn't stop his whoring; during my labour, he was out there fucking his side piece."
Kakashi placed his hand on her back. "I can't imagine him being with someone better looking than you." Was there truth to this statement? He didn't know, but it felt right to say it.
Yui snorted. "You're good. I guess you're not that bad at making small talk." Her eyes flickered from his and then down to his lips before she licked her own. "My husband seems far more content with whores than he is with me. Our sex life is one without passion or love. Do you know how empty that can make a woman feel, Kakashi? To not feel loved during the most intimate act we can do?"
She lowered her cigar on the tray, and exhaled. His hand that was on her back transferred onto her shoulder to grip her as he slid closer to her. Now, their knees were firmly touching each other, and she was close enough for Kakashi to discern her perfume in the midst of the smoke. Her scent was definitely not cheap.
"Your husband is a complete fool. A true man would find excuses to make love with you a hundred times a day. I know I would." What was he saying? This didn't sound like him at all, but then, he didn't feel like himself either. Whatever he drank was giving him unquenchable bouts of confidence.
She leaned back against him and he kept her close by wrapping her arm around her waist. He lazily stroked her side, starting at her hip bone and ending just under her breasts. "Kakashi," she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Pour me a drink. Any flavour will do."
"Right away." He opened one of the soju bottles and filled her glass up. "Here."
She took it right away and took a dangerous swig. "Fill me back up. Fill one up for yourself, too."
Kakashi did as he was told and drank alongside her. It took two bottles of soju to have his head begin to spiral. He grimaced as he forced another shot down his throat. The sensation of the soju burned. He slammed his glass on the table and groaned. He felt hot. His urge to remove his shirt was now becoming a constant demand in his mind.
From the timer on top, they had twenty minutes left.
She cupped his cheek and grinned. "Are you already drunk?"
"Nooo," he replied, mirroring her grin.
"Twenty more minutes and you'll be onto your next client. I'm jealous. I like your company. You must do this a lot, huh?"
"What are you talking 'bout?"
"Comfort women. I bet you're popular in college."
College? Oh, yeah, he's supposed to be twenty-two years old.
"I bet girls practically beg for you to sleep with them at frat parties." Her thumb traced against Kakashi's pale lips, and she pressed harder against him. He involuntarily groaned as the heat in his core heightened considerably. Her touches were poison and it was making him feel things he shouldn't be.
"Yui…" he breathed lowly, barely able to contain himself.
Her grin widened and her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Say my name again."
He swallowed hard. Their lips were millimeters away from each other. "Yui," he whispered, his breath kissing her lips.
She sighed with content, smiling. "Kakashi…."
Her hands were in his hair, her chest was against his own, and her leg was snuggly slotted in between his thighs. She leaned in closer and whispered her command:
"Kiss me."
A/N: Hello, hello! Long time no update! Good news is I finally know what ending I am going for. The bad news is that I am back in university and I am swamped with work, so updates will still be a little bit slow. I hope this lengthy chapter can make up for that! We are close to the climax of the story, and we are just over half way of it too! :)
As always, I would love to hear what you thought about this chapter! Stay safe out there!