Anchor

Written by: RinoaDestiny

#7 – Encounter with the Landlord

Takahashi was his landlord and Iori rarely saw him, let alone spoke to him. So it surprised him one day when the older man intercepted him during a mail run. "Yagami-san, if you have time, I'd like to speak to you." Takahashi was old enough to be his father – if his father was still alive – and wasn't the kind to waste words, getting to the point. He was still polite about it, yet direct.

"What about?"

"Where are you headed?"

"Getting my mail." He could be direct, too, but this was just straight honesty. "Is it urgent?"

"I just need to ask you something."

"Then do it. I have stuff to do." Kyo wasn't dropping by today – the Kusanagi clan kept him busy with resolving interfamilial and clan matters – which gave him plenty of time to sort out his daily schedule.

Takahashi gave him an apologetic look over the frames of his glasses. "This man you're seeing – is it long-term? Will he be taking residence here?"

Very little astonished or took Iori aback. This did. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at his landlord, unable to stem the sudden anger he felt. "Why are you asking this? Who told you?"

"It's true, then? About this man?"

"Did someone complain?" It was the only possibility Iori could think of, short of Takahashi finding out on his own.

The other man sighed. There was gray hair mingled in black. Iori wondered if the man had family or grandkids. "There are two families on the same floor. They have young children."

"And I'm responsible for them?" he said, temper rising.

"I'm just telling you what they told me."

"It's none of their business. What do they care?"

The apologetic expression deepened on his landlord's face. Iori supposed he should be feeling sorry for him, but he had his own concerns right now. "They said it was wrong. Don't want their children seeing that. Particularly the sons."

"Never heard complaints when I had women around."

"I know," Takahashi said without changing expression.

"Buncha hypocrites."

"Yagami-san, you're a quiet and good tenant. You pay on time. I have no issues with you. But I can't disregard the other tenants here."

"If they have problems, they can come to me."

"They don't want to. That's why they approached me."

Iori pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the start of a headache forming behind his eyes. "Are you evicting me, Takahashi? Is this what it's about?"

"I have no issues with you."

"But two families with brats they're responsible for do."

"Will he be staying with you? Long-term?"

"No," Iori said, sure that if his answer was otherwise, Takahashi would have to make a choice right here and now. "He has his own home."

Sudden relief on the older man's face, which confirmed Iori's suspicions. "You have not been…too loud, I suppose?" What a way to broach that topic. It was also indirect, since outright asking if he and Kyo were fucking was impolite.

He glared at Takahashi, even though none of this was the man's fault. "They have no right to complain. One of them yells at his kid every night. Tell him to shut up."

"Noise complaint?"

Iori sneered. "Yes."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"So that's all? I continue to stay, right?" He wanted this in ironclad terms.

"Yes. As long as nothing untoward happens, you may stay."

There was still indignation burning inside of him. "You mean as long as no one sees anything?" As if he and Kyo would be blatant outside. They weren't even fucking yet, simply because Iori wasn't quite sure how to begin. He wasn't a woman and neither was Kyo. While the mechanics were the same, he didn't want to get hurt or injure Kyo in the process. "Do they take me for an idiot?"

"Huh?"

"My neighbors mustn't know me well enough. They'll see nothing."

"Only the man arriving at and leaving your apartment."

"If that's it, this is a waste of time." Iori growled in the back of his throat, irritated at this disruption in his schedule. "Maybe they should look somewhere else."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you with this, Yagami-san, but it's my responsibility to check and verify complaints. I'll do the same with yours."

"Good. Anything else?"

"No."

"Then I'll be on my way." He had mail to retrieve, songs to practice, a venue to check out, and his own clan matters – however miniscule – to take care of. Just because he was the only living descendant left didn't mean the clan issues weren't there. "If there are any more complaints, let me know."

"Will that be wise, Yagami-san?"

"You let me decide that."

Takahashi looked slightly unhappy at that, but Iori ignored it. "Have a good day, Yagami-san."

Iori gave him a curt nod and left.

What do you mean, you almost got evicted? For what?

It was late at night and Iori stood by the window, gazing out at the half moon hanging in the dark sky. There were probably stars, but the neon lights blotted them from his sight. You remember my neighbors? The two families with kids?

Yeah. What about them?

They complained. About us.

A few seconds' pause. You've got to be shitting me. Even from the text, Iori could decipher Kyo's tone. What did we do to them?

Nothing. We just are. Some bullshit about their brats and how wrong it is.

I'll like to show them what I think.

I didn't get thrown out, so no. If it comes to it, I'll handle it.

My fucking sponsor drops me and your landlord held eviction over your head. A moment where Iori stared at his blinking cursor, waiting for Kyo to continue. He can't do that, you know.

What's to stop him? If both families move out, then he loses income.

Let him find better tenants, then. Why do they care what we do? Another pause. How the hell do they…are they listening in on us?

The walls aren't that thick, Kyo. At least we aren't fucking yet.

The pause this time was longer. Iori wondered if he took Kyo off guard with that last remark. Do you want to?

Not until we know what we're doing.

We can learn.

You did say that. Kyo's counter to his confused flailing that one particular evening was amusing in hindsight. Don't feel that you have to, okay?

Of course.

Iori glanced around his apartment. There was jazz music playing in the background and dishes drying in the rack inside the kitchen. It was quiet tonight – Takahashi must've given his neighbor a warning – and the small apartment was comfortable. Was home. While he could move out in a hurry – having done it before – he didn't want to. Not now. He liked it here.

Next time your neighbors complain, tell them to fuck off.

Do the same with your sponsor.

A second's pause before the characters popped up in his text app. If anything happens, you can come to my place.

The Kusanagi estate. The heart of his lover's clan. Would they want me there?

I don't care what they think. If something happens and your landlord throws you out, you're always welcome. Stay in my room. I'll handle the rest.

Iori scoffed, but not with his usual biting derision. Shape the world as you like, eh, Kyo?

Gotta do something with this destiny bullshit, right?

What's this gotta do with your destiny?

I'm clan heir, genius. If I want you dropping by or staying, that's my call, right?

His scoff turned to bemused smile. That's a roundabout way to claim your destiny. Getting your lover in your place. You gonna pull rank?

If I have to.

Well, at least he knew he had a place to go if Takahashi was forced to evict him. At least let your folks know. Your old man might wonder if you've gone mad.

Nah. I'll let Mom deal with him.

Good night, Kyo.

Good night, Yagami. Don't think about that, okay?

I won't. See ya.