Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Yada. Yada. Yada.
Skyla ramblings: Here's another chapter! I'm happy people are enjoying this fic. I didn't think anyone would to begin with. This chapter is basically a small peek into the lives of the characters- sorta small vignettes. I hope the skipping around won't be too confusing. I've been bitten with the writer's bug on this one. As usual, please review!
Chapter 4: Mornings
As a gentle morning breeze sent the sheer curtains fluttering, the unwelcome intrusion of the sun's rays blasted into the room falling onto the peaceful sleeping face of Tsukasa. Normally he would have been able to just pull up the sheets over his face and allow himself to drift back into a peaceful slumber, but oddly enough he was already awake. He rolled over onto his side groaning at the lack of sleep his body was forced to endure. He was just beginning to realize how what seemed like a harmless offer had turned into a test of his wills- physically and mentally.
I really hate the mornings the most. I've always been more of a night person to begin with. I wasn't able to sleep much last night after what I interpret was a death threat from Tsukushi. Deep down I really hate that spiteful bitch. Yeah, I've always been like this, bite the hand that feeds you. I'm nothing more than an ingrate and damn proud of that. Well I guess I better get used to all this. Anything is better than my old home sweet home. No family can be more dysfunctional than mine.
He looked up through bleary eyes at the alarm clock resting on the nightstand to his left. It was only 5 in the morning. Seeing as how it was still way to early for any person to be awake, he shut his eyes willing his body to relax. Slowly, his mind wandered into a dark spiraling world of dreamless sleep.
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Tsukasa wasn't the only person awake in the wee hours of the morning. In the living room, a tiny figure sat hunched over the coffee table madly typing away on a laptop surrounded by large volumes of books. In between the incessant clicking of the keyboard's keys and the rustling of pages being turned, the repetitive cycle of alternating typing and flipping of pages was only broken by the sudden break of a sip of coffee or the sudden exasperated sigh followed by slamming her head down onto the desk only to start typing again.
"Mama," a hoarse whisper echoed into the room.
Tsukushi dropped everything she was involved with and scooped up the sleepy eyed girl standing in her pajamas rubbing her sleep filled eyes. "What is it, honey?"
"Can I have a glass of water?" she yawned.
"Go back to bed, and I'll be right there." She ushered her child back into her bedroom while she walked over to the kitchen to fill a glass with tap water from the sink. She had to slap herself into consciousness at the touch of water overflowing onto her hand from the faucet. She pulled the glass away, turned the water off, and entered to bedroom hoping to lull Kaya back to sleep. She pushed the door open to find her daughter, who was violently coughing up what sounded like a lung. She sat down beside the trembling girl gently patting her back until the coughing subsided. "Drink this."
"Thank you," she gratefully replied taking careful sips in between coughs. Soon the heavy coughs died out, she lay back onto her bed feeling the heaviness in her eyelids. They slowly fluttered closed.
Tsukushi rubbed her temples forcing herself to not fall prey to the inviting warm comfort of the bed. Her head was throbbing from a combination of lack of sleep and staring at a blinking cursor for hours. Her entire life had seemed to be one big endurance test after another. Whether it was her mind, her heart, or her body she pushed through it all never letting the world overcome her.
Why does everything have to be so damn difficult all the time? Sometimes I wonder if I am even here in this place and time. Maybe one day I'll awaken to find that everything I've held to be true was all just some sick nightmare. Nightmare. What am I saying? I should really stop doing this. I allowed myself to be spellbound by a man, who still to this day I question what it was that compelled him to choose me or me to choose him for that matter. Choices. Life is all a matter of choices. Call me a cynic, pessimist, whatever. I don't fall for all that crap about fate and destiny. We determine our own shitty existences one mistake at a time. Here I am feeling all this self-pity and loathing. Shit! I hate it when I fall into one of these funks. It was all worth it in the end, each gut wrenching moment of my 21 years on this earth. I don't even regret meeting him. Damn, I can't deny how beautiful she is. Who would have thought that the mess we started would end with something this- perfect.
It'll always be me-alone. The only person I can rely on is myself. I chose this life, and I'll be damned if I don't try to make the best of it. I'll sell my soul to be better than the people who brought me into this world. I have to do this for me and for her. Screw them all. I'll make something of myself.
She picked up the photo frame she had earlier removed from Tsukasa's room and placed in Kaya's. She held her breath for a moment trying to recapture that moment in her mind, trying to remember that feeling of smiling without a care in the world. Her younger smiling self stared back at her mocking her older self. The sweet innocent babe swaddled in her arms was oblivious to all the joy, hope, and pain that had brought her into the world. The older man beside her draped an arm around her shoulder lost in the mesmerizing spell her daughter had cast upon him. He promised them the world with the security that he would never leave their side. From the moment she had met him, he had actually kept his word on every single promise he had made. It was the first one he broke, and the last he would ever make. Lies. It was all lies. She slammed the picture down sending a crack over the faces in the once flawless glass.
"Mama," Kaya called out in a muffled vice. "Do you miss him?"
"Every second of every day."
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A few streets away from the Makino house, Akira found himself in just another one of his life's funny little predicaments. The cold breeze swept through the morning air sending chills down his spine, and at the same time making his erection go limp. He chuckled to himself thinking about how he could be the only person in the world to remain aroused at a time like this. His teeth chattered as he looked down at the ground below. It was a good ten feet fall below him.
Ah, the things I go through to get laid. I have to admit she was an animal in bed. That's the thing about older women. Everything is always so simple. They've reached the level where relationships don't revolve around that high school fantasy of the reformed bad boy sweeping them off their feet falling madly in love with them. Young girls want the whole package- being showered with gifts and compliments, spending hours spent on mindless banter sharing your life, and having all that lead up to the climactic night of professed love followed by what they refer to as "making love". Yeah, right like that even happens. I prefer a mature woman who just goes out looking for a good fuck. Okay, so most of the ones I go for are married. I always was the type to go looking for trouble. I like to think of myself as a savior to all those lonely, beautiful women in the city abandoned by their husbands too engrossed in their work to realize their wives have gone looking for comfort in the arms of another man.
"Why are you back so early, darling?" the woman questioned trying to shield the twinge of anxiety in her voice.
"Does a loving husband need a reason to come home to his beautiful wife?" the man sarcastically replied. He ripped the sheets off of his King size bed exposing the naked form of his beloved wife.
"I didn't think you were that excited to see me?" she giggled. Like a snake, she slithered over to him draping her body over his back hugging him form behind.
"Where is he, bitch?!" He threw off her advances and violently tossed her back onto the bed.
"Who?"
"Don't fake innocent with me. I know you've been screwing him the last few weeks." He bent over and picked up the pair of slacks left in the heap of clothing ripped off in a moment of heated passion. "Where is he? I'll fucking kill that bastard."
"Why do you care now who I'm screwing. You haven't touched me in months. I bet you couldn't even get it up anymore. You don't think I know about your "performance anxiety". He satisfies me in ways you could never do. You know what, I let him fuck me senseless for hours unlike you who goes for the three minute marathon."
Akira inwardly grinned to himself. His legs started to become shaky as one foot almost slipped off the thin ledge. After standing out there for the last fifteen minutes, he was beginning to become bored out of his mind. Calculations for the best landing in some nearby bushes raced through his brain.
Another satisfied customer. It's always the same argument every time with these women. It took me years to build up that kind of stamina. I've always had a penchant for older women. I guess after getting out of the business, it's a little strange to make these visits purely pleasure. It's still pretty much the same old same old. I party hard with the exception of a few details like illegal substance abuse and money being tucked where the sun don't shine. Then again that's nto something I choose to talk about right now. Fuck! I need to get out of here. I vaguely recall parking my baby around the corner somewhere. Their argument could go on for the next few hours. Okay, Akira. You can do this. One! Two! Three!
With one deep breath, Akira jumped off the ledge in one giant leap. Apparently his calculations were a little off, for he landed next to the bushes with a thud. It would have surprised the neighbors to see a full moon out so early in the morning. He streaked through the yard headed towards his car giving quite a show for the eyes of the garden gnomes. Upon reaching his precious car he got down on his knees, peeked under the car, and grasped for something taped to the bottom of the muffler.
"Got it!" he yelled in victory as he pulled out his car keys and wallet that were taped under the car. It was an old trick he had learned long ago. Playboy rule one: Never bring your wallet or keys with you when making a nightly call. He popped open the trunk and pulled out a duffel bag and began rummaging through it. His face paled. Empty.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I must have forgotten to put some fresh clothes in after last time. Alright, Akira get a hold of yourself. Just get into the car and drive home very quickly. God, I hope I don't get caught by the cops again. I can't take another ticket for public indecency.
He hopped into the driver seat and turned the keys in the ignition expecting to hear the soft purr of the engine. To his surprise, he was greeted by a loud clunk sound. "Come on, baby,"" he pleaded while turning the key once more. The car gave out with a loud hacking wheeze. For a moment, he could feel himself falling into a helpless despair. He calculated the distance to his apartment across town and at the route he would need to go by to go unnoticed by the cops. It would take him at least 45 minutes to get to his place. That would take too damn long. He banged his head against the steering wheel trying to figure out his next move.
"I've got it!"
He jumped out of the car and made a dash through the dark streets as the sun slowly rose out in the horizon illuminating his full moon.
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Somewhere across town, Sakurako lazily rolled over in her bed pulling the sheets up closer to her nude body that screamed nothing less than perfection. Her breath reeked of cigarettes and booze. It was a rather god awful taste to wake up to. Something beside her began to stir making the mattress beneath them shift under the strain of the heavy weight. A man swung his arm over her placing a hand over her breast. A look of disgust crossed her face as she stared up at her own ragged reflection on the mirror hanging on the ceiling.
What the hell is this guy's name again? I can't even remember, but do I even care. I'm starting to wish now that I had chosen to go back to his place instead of mine. It's not like I can slip out and never hear from him again. That's the problem with these one night stands. You have to deal with the awkwardness of the morning after. It's always a matter of how long is too long to stick around or do you exchange phone numbers making empty promised to call the other? Well, I'm usually on the side of being asked to be seen again while my interest has already waned on the subject. When will these guys get it? I'm just looking for a good fuck.
"You were amazing last night," a muffled voice hoarsely whispered under the sheets. The man rolled over to face her while he reached over to grab her around the waist.
Sakurako shrugged off his advances and reached over for the nightstand grabbing a cigarette from her case and lighting up. A ring of smoke emerged from her pouty lips floating through the air disappearing into a light fog. "I know."
"Then how about an encore performance?" He leaned over and snatched the cigarette from my lips and took a slow, long drag.
I hate when they do that. It's a sign that he's becoming too comfortable.
"I don't think so." She stood up letting the warms sunshine hit my naked and wrapped her robe resting on the bedpost around herself. She tied the knot around her waist causing the robe to rise up over her smooth thighs.
He scrambled up from the bed pulling the sheets around his waist in a desperate plea to drag the escaping woman hoping to pull her back into the bed. He placed a cold hand on her shoulder sending shivers down her back. Leaning he forward he whispered into her ear while laying small butterfly kisses down her neck. "How about you meet me for dinner later? Maybe for dessert we could head back to my place and go for a second round?" He spun her around and wrapped his arms around her gazing into her icy, cold eyes that paralyzed him. He bent his head down to draw her lips to his, but in true fashion she rejected his advances giving truth to her reputation as the unattainable.
"Never on the lips," she whispered turning her face to the side letting his sloppy kiss fall onto her cheek. Sakurako looked up to see that all too familiar expression in front of her. It was a mix between desire and frustration.
I'll do anything with any man. My body has been used and abused so many times it feels like I'm just going through the motions at times. Don't get me wrong. I do take pleasure in it when I meet the right guy who knows just the right places to hit. I enjoy every thrust, grind, taste, and bite of it. The rest of the time it's just feels like getting the satisfaction of scratching a good itch. My body is nothing more than a shell. They can have every last inch of me, but they'll never know me. As cliché as it might sound, they'll never be able to touch a piece of my heart. Sometimes I question if such a thing still exists within me. I mean I can hear it beating sustaining my life, it's in there somewhere. I opened it once allowing myself to become a victim to emotions, but what did that make me in the end? I'm just another dumb bitch.
She narrowed her eyes and glowered at him. "Play time's over. Get the hell out of here." The coldness in her voice sliced through the silence.
He questioningly gazed at her wondering if this was just some sort of dominatrix game or joke she was playing. Choosing to believe she was only teasing him, he pushed her back onto the bed like a rag doll being tossed onto the bed by a spoiled child. Her face remained fixed and emotionless. All he needed was some slight movement on her part that would tell him what was going on in her mind.
Sakurako lay back and stared at her face in the mirror once more becoming lost in her own musings. It was always hard for them to let go. She could see him back track for a moment pondering what to do.
Hesitation is a sign of weakness. If you want something bad enough you'd go full force and screw the consequences. That's life. Sometimes you've just got to forget about everyone else and do what you want to do. It must seem a bit strange that I'm willing to do anything but kiss a man on the lips. It's just too personal for me. I learned a long time ago on the streets that one kiss on the lips can lead to a lifetime of trouble. It's a sign of shared intimacy that girls like me were never supposed to give. It was the code of the street for girls like us, never kiss on the lips.
"So what are you going to do now?" she snapped letting the sarcasm drip off her lips. "I don't have time for this." She began to pull herself down, but was thrust back onto her back by the sudden jolt of warmth from below. Her inside tightened as his tongue delved deeper into her making her back arch. A slow husky moan slipped from her mouth. Her breathing quickened as his ministrations began to explore her more thoroughly hitting just the right erotic zones sending all rational thoughts out of her mind. She could feel herself becoming light headed as her body stiffened preparing itself for climax.
He pulled out for a moment licking his lips watching her let out a small sigh of disappointment. He devilishly grinned at her as his head bobbed up from between her legs. "Still want me to leave?"
Sakurako once again stared up at her reflection of a sweaty, aroused woman. Her face said it all.
"Maybe just one more game," she replied as she sat up and pushed his head back down.
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At another point of town in a not quite shabby and not quite elegant part of town, Yuuki was already up and sitting at the kitchen table watching the weather man banter on and on about barometric pressure and humidity levels. The relatively cheery apartment was covered in hues of pinks and rose emitting a strong aura of femininity of its owner. The open door exposing a view of her bedroom showed a set of perfectly lined up teddy bears and dolls resting against the pillows of her neatly made bed. The apartment was cramped, but cozy at the same time.
The light ring of the bell from the oven sent her jumping out of the chair revealing a pink lacy apron tied around her. She grabbed the oven mitts one in the shape of a dog head and the other a cat and slipped them over her hands making her appear to have two large oversized cartoon hands. An observer would note that the way she pranced through the kitchen made her almost resemble a little nymph. The aroma of freshly baked muffins wafted in the air turning the heads of strangers on the street who just so happened to pass by her window catching a glimpse of the freshly made baked goods and it's beautiful baker. She placed the tray of muffins onto the table and walked over to the window shielding her face behind the thin curtain.
What day is today? Oh, it's Tuesday. Hmm. This one has lasted a pretty good amount of time. She must have been good to keep around for the full seven days. Here it comes. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Right on time.
She peeked out to take a better look at scrutinizing every inch of trying to figure out what it was that made her so damn special.
Granted her tits are huge. Mine almost seem paltry next to hers. She has a pretty nice little ass, too. Face is average, though. There's nothing remarkably exquisite about it. I've seen better. He must be going through a red head phase. The last three have all been red heads. What's wrong with light auburn hair? She looks pissed. She probably never saw it coming after all the screaming they did the night before awakening the entire neighborhood. Thank god for sound proof walls and glass.
The woman tripped over her the front steps kicking off her heels and bending over to pick up the items off the ground. She fumbled with her purse as she rifled through her bag in search of her car keys. A slew of expletives echoed in the still morning air. Soon the sound of an engine roared and the screeching of tires squealed sending the car veering forward leaving a trail of dust behind. A few minutes later, he emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair still dripping wet from the shower he had just emerged from. His strong chiseled chest glistened with beads of water dripping down his skin. He bent over and picked up the morning paper glancing at the front page headlines before turning around and slamming the door shut behind him.
Yuuki pulled herself away from the window and mentally berated herself for wasting her time on being such an idiot. It had become somewhat of a hobby of hers to wake up early in the morning to see the early morning show. In some ways, it was comforting to know that none of them had done the impossible- have him want them to stay. At the same time, it was masochistic of her to watch in agony as they left knowing they while they had not captured his heart, they had at least tasted the force of his desires and passions. She had not even come close to that yet. She wasn't even quite sure if she held a remote place in his heart. Perhaps as a friend or maybe worse, a little sister.
One day Jiro. One day. Why did I have to fall helplessly in love with a guy like him? I mean it's not like I haven't taken up any of the other offers from readily available men, but they can never compare to him. Is it stupid to want something that is so close yet so far at the same time? It might sound pathetic, but he's the only guy who has ever treated me nicely. I may look young and naïve, but I've had my share of bastards. Men. They're all fucked up ten times more than I am. They're the reason I am the way I am. If it's not one thing it's everything they want from you. They are the bane of my existence, yet I can't seem to turn them down. I'm really a glutton for punishment. Sometimes I think I go looking for trouble. Love. Understanding. Comfort. Those are the things I desire most in this world. I guess it's just the curse of being a daddy's girl that gets me in trouble. Daddy didn't give me the love I needed, so I go out looking for a man to love me. He fucked me over. No matter how men I go through, how many nights spent covering up my bruises, or the task of getting over the overwhelming shroud of loneliness when you are left behind I let bygones be bygones. I must have done something wrong to make them leave. When I become too clingy and they tell me I'm suffocating them. It hurts to feel that stab of rejection. And why do I put myself through all this? Because I'm a daddy's girl. I'll always stand by the door with open arms ready to let him take care of me.
She jolted upright at the sound of a knock at the door. "Come in."
"I smelled the muffins from across the street," he mischievously grinned. He sauntered into the kitchen and grabbed a mug that had long ago been deemed as his pouring hot steaming coffee into it. He settled himself down at the table and grabbed a muffin front eh tray peeling off the paper bottom. He took one large bite out of it before flipping the newspaper he had under his arm open. "Delicious as always," he sweetly complimented.
"Thanks," she replied smiling down at him while pouring the milk and sugar into his coffee measuring the exact amount he liked.
That's the thing about me. I want to be taken care of yet I'll always be the one to take care of him. He makes me want to take care of him like a child. No matter how many mistakes he has made I can't bring myself to stay angry at him. For now, I'll just have to settle for this. It's all daddy's fault.
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Soujiro glanced over the newspaper to see the gentle smile of the girl in front of him. Her chin rested on her two hands propping up her face. It might have freaked him out to find some girl staring at him with that glazed over look in his eyes, but he had grown used to that look on her face. He knew what she was thinking, but it was one thing he could never give her. He pulled the newspaper back up covering his face from hers as thoughts of what happened earlier replayed itself through his mind.
Soujiro woke up to find a something warm on his chest. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down to see a mass of hair covering the face of his lover form the night before. His body ached a little still from the strenuous work out his body had been pushed through the night before. Very carefully he picked up the arm and slid out from under the sheets. He ambled through the dimly lit room towards the bathroom closing the door behind him to find some privacy. He stared at the weary face in front of him seeing only the face of a dead man. Shaking these dreary thoughts out of his mind he turned on the shower at full blast and walked in be drowned by the blasts of boiling hot water hitting his skin. It was what he needed to wash away the feel of her all over his body.
Have we already reached that time again? It's always bittersweet when it's over. From one point, it's sad to think she's not the one you've been looking for to break your cold, playboy veneer. On the other hand, there's that anticipation and excitement knowing that it's time to choose the your next victim. I really am nothing more than an unfeeling bastard. It's not my fault entirely, though. My father wasn't exactly the model male role model. He was the exact same way when it came to women. Yes, he was married to my mother, but a man has got urges that requires outside help. Sexual frustration is a curse. That's where I learned the value of women. Their worth is valued by their body. There are few women I respect. I worshipped my mother every day of her life, but in the end she was nothing more than another one of my father's whores. I hate my father for treating her like the rest. He could have at least respected her a little bit, but no. I hate men like him who take out everything on a woman. A man who dares to hurt a woman is nothing more than a coward. It's ironic how I'm becoming more and more like him in unexpected ways. I guess you could say, "like father, like son."
He braced himself against the wet tiles of the shower silently counting to a hundred before stepping out of the shower. He picked up a fresh towel from the rack and wrapped it around his waist letting drops of water from his body fall onto the floor. As he opened the door, he took a deep breath preparing himself for the worst. These things rarely ended pretty.
Across the room, his bedmate had already awakened and was busy looking for her other shoe under the bed. At the sound of footsteps approaching, she popped her head out from under the bed and looked up with a silly school girl smile on her face. "Good morning," she cheerily called out as she suddenly found her shoe on the ground next to a few open condom wrappers carelessly tossed on the ground after a fulfilling night of pleasure.
"Good morning," he replied in a calm voice.
She buttoned the last button on her blouse and slinked forwards putting a hand to his chest. Her large bosom pushed against him making him become slightly aroused by the sight of so much cleavage early in the morning. "I think last night was my first real orgasm," she giggled into his ear. She pulled his face to hers and aggressively stole a kiss from his lips.
He pulled back earning a small groan from his companion. "You were incredible, yourself," he chuckled. "You should get going. It's getting late. You need to get home and change before you get to work."
She followed him out into the living room and picked up her purse from the ground completely unsuspecting of what was to come. "You're so sweet worrying about me getting to work on time. Will it be my place or yours tonight?" she asked as she put on her black stiletto heels with her back to him.
"Neither,' he coolly replied.
"Oh, you're busy tonight?"
"No. It's over."
Her back stiffened at the realization of what he was implying. She spun around letting her fiery red hair whip her face. "What do you mean it's over?"
"I mean, I won't be seeing you anymore. This isn't going to work out."
Her voice was slowly rising with each word she spit out. "You're dumping me?! Why? You can't do this."
"I already did."
"So what was it we had anyway? I don't go around fucking any guy I see. I don't do that kind of thing. Don't treat me like a common whore off the street. I won't let you do this to me."
"Well, you did ask me to fuck you like whore last night. Only whores scream the way you do."
That'll surely get rid of her. I'm doing this for her own good. She'll be pissed for a short while, but I bet by tonight she'll have found some other guy to rebound on. Why's she being so possessive anyways? We've only known each other for a week.
"Bastard!" she shrilly screamed as she shot up landed on his flawless face. Her face was becoming redder and redder as her anger rose within her. A hint of desperation coated her voice that fell to a deathly whisper as remorse swept over her for at the realization of what she had just done. "Tell me you love me. Tell me that it's all a joke you're playing on me. Don't you understand? I. I've fallen in love with you."
I hate it when they resort to that. Love? Bullshit. They got what they wanted and so did I. Let's just leave it at that.
"You're not in love with me and neither am I with you. Get out before I don't refrain myself from throwing you out."
"Weren't you having fun?" she cooed while playfully trailing a finger down his chest to the towel around his waist. She tugged on the towel and pleadingly looked into his eyes grasping for any hope of salvaging their relationship.
"Get the hell out of here!"
A scowl spread over her face a she grabbed her bag and thrust the door open. She spun around and pit at him. "You'll regret doing this."
"No I won't."
The door slammed sending the walls shaking around him. He stood there listening to the slur of expletives coming from the women followed by the screeching of tires. He released as sigh and reached for the doorknob. A stream of sunlight fell down on his face greeting him to a new day. He sniffed the air recognizing the faint smell of freshly baked muffins coming from his neighbor. Soujiro bent over and picked up the newspaper scanning the headlines for any interesting news. The world is still as shitty as it ever was, he thought to himself as he slammed the door closed.
A few minutes later, he felt himself drawn to her doorway against his better judgment. He stood in the doorway grinning at the sweet girl watching her muffins cool with a far away look written all over her face.
She's the closest thing to a woman I respect. Although I would never lay a finger on her, I will hurt her more than she ever imagined. She thinks she can change me, but it won't work. I'm a bastard and that's the way it should be. I'm way too screwed up for my own good.
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Rui stood in his barren bedroom enveloped by the sweet lulling melody pouring out of his violin. His face was blank and expressionless as always. God, knows what was going through his mind. His studio apartment matched his personality rather well. Simplicity was the key to it all. Everything was a pure white or a shade close to white. In a way, it resembled the cold impersonal sterility of a hospital room. It was really more like one big room with only a music stand in one corner for his violin and a small baby grand piano in the other. Everything was in plain view, nothing hidden behind any extraneous walls. A large king size bed was the only large comfortable piece of furniture to be found. No couches. No TV. No radio. Other than the bed the only place to sit would be the small kitchen table with two steel chairs pulled into it.
He closed his eyes letting himself be carried away by the music- his only salvation in the world. Generally he would have been sleeping at such an early hour of the morning, but he couldn't rest easily until he knew she was back by his side. As sad as it all was he had an unwavering love for her that would never be fully reciprocated and he knew it. She would always choose her career over him. He was fine with that. The jingling sound of keys being turned in the door aroused him from his melancholy.
"You're back?" he asked in his normal monotone voice.
Shizuka, in all her glory, strode across the empty room and seductively wrapped her arms around him from behind. She rested her chin on his shoulder just letting the soothing sensation of a warm body against hers wash over her.
"Did you miss me?" she teasingly asked. Her warm breath tickled the tiny hairs on his neck.
He dropped his violin to his side and stared straight ahead inhaling the sweet scent of her French perfume. Chanel. It always had to be the best for her. His body stiffened in realization that he was supposed to be annoyed by her at the moment. "Where did you go?" he asked shrugging her arms away while he bent over to pack away his precious violin.
"I got caught up with business. He said he could maybe get me a movie deal. I went with him to meet the director for a screen test."
"And it took you all night to finish."
Her body tensed at the thought of what he was insinuating. "He's a very busy man. I was lucky he was willing to give me an audition on such short notice. He had a late flight to catch, so we went to his hotel to meet him before he left. It went so well, we went out to celebrate with some drinks afterwards. Why do I even need to explain myself? You always make me sound like I'm the bad guy in this relationship!"
Rui was never one to raise his voice, but the tone in his cold voice was enough to make anyone realize he wasn't in a good mood. It was the entire package of the indifferent face and icy voice that scared the shit out of people. "You were gone for two days. What was I supposed to think?"
"Fine don't believe me. You know I never question your relationship with her. She still loves you, and you know it. I see the way she looks at you, and how she forces you stay by her side. It's a dirty trick how she finds ways to get you close to her. The second she calls you, you go running to her like there's no tomorrow. She has you wrapped around her little finger."
"Shut up!"
"Oh, I've hit a sore spot there haven't I?" she vehemently hissed. She slipped out of her evening gown and walked around the apartment in the nude looking for her robe, which she found and tied around herself. "I've never made you choose, but it's always been you pushing me to choose my career or you. How about I make you choose?"
"It's not the same thing. There are too many people involved."
"She didn't want you in her life anymore. She would have let you off the hook completely. You still love her don't you?"
It's always the same vicious cycle we go through. I knew when we chose to be together that life wouldn't become any easier. But then again, in matters of the heart nothing is ever easy. So many lives were destroyed and irrevocable breaks in trust done. Was I coward to wait so late to do what I had longed to do so long ago? I wanted to be selfish and take what was rightly mine. Everyone always tells me how wrong it is that we would want to be together. She is four years my elder. I'm just heading towards the middle of my prime years. I should be out partying like Jiro and Akira, but I don't. That's never been my thing. I've only wanted one woman in my entire life and now I have her. Shouldn't I be happy? I know the truth. She'll leave me again one day for another.
He grabbed her arm stopping her from escaping into the bathroom. "You know it's always been you and never anyone else. I've given up everything for us."
"If that's true then you would give her up."
I hate the power she has over him. I do really love Rui more than I think I've ever loved anyone. There was always just something about him that drew me to him when no one else wanted to touch him. I've known Rui most of his life and up until a certain point all I ever saw was a brother. It was just too weird the moment I saw him for the first time as a man. In my mind, all I ever saw was the isolated little boy reaching out for a friend. Then everything went to hell when the unthinkable happened. I knew he had some unrequited crush on me, but how was I to know I had a growing fondness for him outside of our brother/sister boundaries? By the time we both realized what we had, we had gotten too far in. I hate pulling out this card to play, but it's not fair how he'll never be fully mine the way I want him to be. If he could only devote himself fully to me, then we wouldn't be having these arguments. I would never admit it to his face, but it's what makes me want to choose my career over him. At the same time, my worst fear is to lose him all together.
"Stop giving me that childish bullshit. I know you don't mean that."
"What if I do?"
"Then I don't know," he nodded his head letting go of her arm that now had red finger marks on her delicate skin. "I'm tired of always having to prove my feelings for you over and over again."
She brushed his cheek with the back of her hand raising his head to hers. "I know you love me, but sometimes I just get so scared that you will one day leave me. You've always been my Rui."
Their lips hungrily found each other; thus, ending their little lovers' quarrel. It was always the way their spats ended. Nothing was ever really resolved, and tense subjects were left to mull about in the back of their minds.
The kiss continued to the bed, but they were interrupted along the way by the sound of the phone ringing. Shizuka pushed him away panting heavily.
"You should get that. Have you forgotten what day it is?"
He nodded his head in agreement, but there was an unmistakable disappointment in his eyes. He let out a heavy sigh and rolled off her to answer the phone.
"Hello," he answered. A playful smile appeared on his lips as he recognized the voice on the other line. He hung up the phone after coaxing the caller on the other line to hang up. He turned back to Shizuka, who was now busy filing her nails.
"I've got to go."
"I know," she sadly replied with a hint of disappointment in her voice that they wouldn't continue where they had left off. "I'll see you later then," she sighed.
He gave her one last forceful kiss on the lips and grabbed his jacket from the bedpost. "We'll continue where we left off later," he devilishly grinned.
"I'll be waiting."
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Tsukasa finally awoke a few hours later. It was still a little too early for him, but the smell of fresh pancakes being flipped on the griddle made his empty stomach grumble in protest of not being fed for so long. He rolled out of the warm, comfortable bed and trudged to the door to hear the faint sound of voices outside.
Time to start another day.
Tsukushi put her hand up to her mouth as another attack of yawns took over. It had been a long night, but she had finally finished it. Only a half hour ago she had punched the last key and clicked the mouse to save all her work. All she was given was a few sparse minutes to take a quick shower before finding Kaya jumping on the bed waiting for breakfast. So, here she was now, deprived of sleep aching all over, and ready to begin another day.
"Careful, " she warned as she guided the little girls hands with the spatula flipping the pancakes sizzling on the griddle.
"We need more chocolate chips!" she exuberantly screamed as she grabbed another fistful and threw them onto the messy goop of batter Emeril style.
Her mother blanched at the sight of the chocolate chip pancake with more chip than pancake. She would be peeling the girl off the ceiling in a few hours. She glanced over at the closed bedroom door wondering when their new tenant would be making an appearance. After that look he had on his face from her vague warning last night he probably wouldn't be making an appearance very soon.
A knock at the door sent her focus back onto the pancake that was now starting to burn. "Honey, go get the door for Mama."
"Okay!" Kaya hopped off the stool she had been using to stand over the stove and raced for the front door. She thrust the door open and took in the sight in front of her. Not even feeling the least bit disturbed by the sight in front of her, she turned around to call out for her mother. "Mama! Akira's here and he's naked again!"
"Damn it!" Tsukushi wore under her breath. She turned the stove off and removed the last of the fresh pancakes of the griddle. Untying the apron around her waist she walked over to the door and pushed her innocent child out of the way. No matter how many times this happened it was always hilarious. She placed a hand over her daughter's innocent eyes shielding her view of the naked man who probably raised a few eyebrows on the elevator.
"Are you going to let me in or not?!" Akira whined holding up a duffel bag to cover his package.
"How the hell did you get up into my building like that?" Tsukushi leaned against the doorframe blocking his entrance. A dangerous smile lingered on her lips. She was going to have some fun before she let him in.
"Me and your doorman are old buddies now," he smirked. "Come on. It's getting drafty out here."
"Do you know how many complaints I've gotten from the tenants association about these early morning visits?"
"Hey! Do you know how many offers I get from the members on your tenants association?"
"When will you learn, Akira? Was it the car or clothes this time?"
"Both."
"You really should leave a few extra pairs of clothes in your car, you know."
"Details. Details. Don't tell me you don't like to be greeted by a specimen of human perfection in all its glory in the morning?"
"I've seen it before and it's not that amazing."
"Stop being such a bitch and let me in already."
"Good morning, Mrs. Fujisawa,' Tsukushi waved to the elderly woman passing through the hallway. "Beautiful day for a full moon, I must say."
The old woman snorted in disgust trying to edge as close to the wall as possible to avoid touching the naked stranger. As she passed by she couldn't fight the urge to just take a touch at the goods. "Young kids," he grumbled to herself.
"Whoa!" Akira yelped as he felt a hand grab his ass. He spun around to see what looked like an ancient old hag walking away with a satisfied look on her face.
"Here, put this on. I don't want you flashing my kid anymore." She tossed the apron in her hand at his face.
"Oooh, I almost forgot today was pancake day," He dropped the duffel bag and proceeded into the kitchen wearing a yellow apron with hearts all over it. As he walked away Tsukushi was given the privilege like the rest of the free world of his bare ass.
Tsukushi nodded her head in amusement. Akira always makes life a little more interesting.
Tsukasa emerged from behind his bedroom door peeking out to see if Tsukushi was there. From the distance, he thought he heard Akira putting him at ease that if she tried something there would be witnesses. He put on a happy face and bounded out of the room and into the kitchen in anticipation of stuffing his face full of pancake goodness. He turned the corner and the sunny disposition he had put on fell like a ton of bricks.
"Yo!" Akira waved waving a fork in the air before spearing another bite of pancake dripping with syrup into his mouth.
Horror could be the only word to describe what Tsukasa was feeling at the moment. All inklings of hunger had long drifted away as he saw the little girl sitting across from the half naked man wearing only an apron. Keep in mind the apron was skimpy and from the view he was given underneath the table he had forgotten to keep his legs crossed therefore revealing more than Tsukasa had wanted to see.
"Want some pancakes?
"Sit with me, Mr. Pineapple!" Kaya grabbed him by the arm pulling him into a seat wedged between Akira and her.
Tsukasa was definitely gonna puke right there.
Tsukushi brought out a two plates with a fresh stack on each and place one in front of him. "Tuesdays are pancake day around here," she said with a voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.
I seriously have entered the twilight zone. I knew it. For the first time, I think I might be wishing I could go home.
He turned to Akira who was childishly shoveling food into his mouth only taking a break to wash it down with milk. "Now why." Instantly he clamped his mouth shut thinking he might regret finding out the answer to his question.
"You should expect this to happen a lot around here. Akira just drops by unexpectedly all the time like this," Tsukushi answered. She continued to glance at the paper in front of her while taking small sips of coffee from her mug.
"Do you want that?" Akira asked pointing at the untouched plate in front of Tsukasa.
The ring of the doorbell woke Tsukasa from his daze. "Uuhh.You can have it.' He pushed the plate towards Akira who had already helped himself to the first few bites.
"Do you mind getting the door?"
"Sure."
Feeling relieved to get away from the proximity of the atrocity known as naked Akira, Tsukasa trudged through the hallway towards the door grateful for the interruption. He peeped through the hole and pulled open the door to greet a rather unexpected mystery person. The figure stepped back in surprise expecting Kaya, Tsukushi, or even Akira to open the door. They just stood there face to face startled.
"You're here!" Kaya screamed running past Tsukasa and jumping into the person's arms.
Tsukushi's footsteps followed soon after. She nudged Tsukasa over to greet their guest. A distinct mask of civility was plastered on her face. "I completely forgot that it was today."
Akira popped his head out into the hallway. "Hey Rui!"
"Yo," Rui responded glancing in Akira's direction.
Tsukushi peeled the little girl off of Rui and placed her on the ground. "Where are my manners? Let me formally introduce you two since you didn't get the chance to at our meeting yesterday. Rui, you remember our new hire, Tsukasa. He's renting out our spare room for the time being."
"Hey."
"Yo."
Tsukushi turned back towards Tsukasa with a rather blasé attitude.
"Rui is Kaya's father."
Skyla ramblings: Here's another chapter! I'm happy people are enjoying this fic. I didn't think anyone would to begin with. This chapter is basically a small peek into the lives of the characters- sorta small vignettes. I hope the skipping around won't be too confusing. I've been bitten with the writer's bug on this one. As usual, please review!
Chapter 4: Mornings
As a gentle morning breeze sent the sheer curtains fluttering, the unwelcome intrusion of the sun's rays blasted into the room falling onto the peaceful sleeping face of Tsukasa. Normally he would have been able to just pull up the sheets over his face and allow himself to drift back into a peaceful slumber, but oddly enough he was already awake. He rolled over onto his side groaning at the lack of sleep his body was forced to endure. He was just beginning to realize how what seemed like a harmless offer had turned into a test of his wills- physically and mentally.
I really hate the mornings the most. I've always been more of a night person to begin with. I wasn't able to sleep much last night after what I interpret was a death threat from Tsukushi. Deep down I really hate that spiteful bitch. Yeah, I've always been like this, bite the hand that feeds you. I'm nothing more than an ingrate and damn proud of that. Well I guess I better get used to all this. Anything is better than my old home sweet home. No family can be more dysfunctional than mine.
He looked up through bleary eyes at the alarm clock resting on the nightstand to his left. It was only 5 in the morning. Seeing as how it was still way to early for any person to be awake, he shut his eyes willing his body to relax. Slowly, his mind wandered into a dark spiraling world of dreamless sleep.
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Tsukasa wasn't the only person awake in the wee hours of the morning. In the living room, a tiny figure sat hunched over the coffee table madly typing away on a laptop surrounded by large volumes of books. In between the incessant clicking of the keyboard's keys and the rustling of pages being turned, the repetitive cycle of alternating typing and flipping of pages was only broken by the sudden break of a sip of coffee or the sudden exasperated sigh followed by slamming her head down onto the desk only to start typing again.
"Mama," a hoarse whisper echoed into the room.
Tsukushi dropped everything she was involved with and scooped up the sleepy eyed girl standing in her pajamas rubbing her sleep filled eyes. "What is it, honey?"
"Can I have a glass of water?" she yawned.
"Go back to bed, and I'll be right there." She ushered her child back into her bedroom while she walked over to the kitchen to fill a glass with tap water from the sink. She had to slap herself into consciousness at the touch of water overflowing onto her hand from the faucet. She pulled the glass away, turned the water off, and entered to bedroom hoping to lull Kaya back to sleep. She pushed the door open to find her daughter, who was violently coughing up what sounded like a lung. She sat down beside the trembling girl gently patting her back until the coughing subsided. "Drink this."
"Thank you," she gratefully replied taking careful sips in between coughs. Soon the heavy coughs died out, she lay back onto her bed feeling the heaviness in her eyelids. They slowly fluttered closed.
Tsukushi rubbed her temples forcing herself to not fall prey to the inviting warm comfort of the bed. Her head was throbbing from a combination of lack of sleep and staring at a blinking cursor for hours. Her entire life had seemed to be one big endurance test after another. Whether it was her mind, her heart, or her body she pushed through it all never letting the world overcome her.
Why does everything have to be so damn difficult all the time? Sometimes I wonder if I am even here in this place and time. Maybe one day I'll awaken to find that everything I've held to be true was all just some sick nightmare. Nightmare. What am I saying? I should really stop doing this. I allowed myself to be spellbound by a man, who still to this day I question what it was that compelled him to choose me or me to choose him for that matter. Choices. Life is all a matter of choices. Call me a cynic, pessimist, whatever. I don't fall for all that crap about fate and destiny. We determine our own shitty existences one mistake at a time. Here I am feeling all this self-pity and loathing. Shit! I hate it when I fall into one of these funks. It was all worth it in the end, each gut wrenching moment of my 21 years on this earth. I don't even regret meeting him. Damn, I can't deny how beautiful she is. Who would have thought that the mess we started would end with something this- perfect.
It'll always be me-alone. The only person I can rely on is myself. I chose this life, and I'll be damned if I don't try to make the best of it. I'll sell my soul to be better than the people who brought me into this world. I have to do this for me and for her. Screw them all. I'll make something of myself.
She picked up the photo frame she had earlier removed from Tsukasa's room and placed in Kaya's. She held her breath for a moment trying to recapture that moment in her mind, trying to remember that feeling of smiling without a care in the world. Her younger smiling self stared back at her mocking her older self. The sweet innocent babe swaddled in her arms was oblivious to all the joy, hope, and pain that had brought her into the world. The older man beside her draped an arm around her shoulder lost in the mesmerizing spell her daughter had cast upon him. He promised them the world with the security that he would never leave their side. From the moment she had met him, he had actually kept his word on every single promise he had made. It was the first one he broke, and the last he would ever make. Lies. It was all lies. She slammed the picture down sending a crack over the faces in the once flawless glass.
"Mama," Kaya called out in a muffled vice. "Do you miss him?"
"Every second of every day."
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A few streets away from the Makino house, Akira found himself in just another one of his life's funny little predicaments. The cold breeze swept through the morning air sending chills down his spine, and at the same time making his erection go limp. He chuckled to himself thinking about how he could be the only person in the world to remain aroused at a time like this. His teeth chattered as he looked down at the ground below. It was a good ten feet fall below him.
Ah, the things I go through to get laid. I have to admit she was an animal in bed. That's the thing about older women. Everything is always so simple. They've reached the level where relationships don't revolve around that high school fantasy of the reformed bad boy sweeping them off their feet falling madly in love with them. Young girls want the whole package- being showered with gifts and compliments, spending hours spent on mindless banter sharing your life, and having all that lead up to the climactic night of professed love followed by what they refer to as "making love". Yeah, right like that even happens. I prefer a mature woman who just goes out looking for a good fuck. Okay, so most of the ones I go for are married. I always was the type to go looking for trouble. I like to think of myself as a savior to all those lonely, beautiful women in the city abandoned by their husbands too engrossed in their work to realize their wives have gone looking for comfort in the arms of another man.
"Why are you back so early, darling?" the woman questioned trying to shield the twinge of anxiety in her voice.
"Does a loving husband need a reason to come home to his beautiful wife?" the man sarcastically replied. He ripped the sheets off of his King size bed exposing the naked form of his beloved wife.
"I didn't think you were that excited to see me?" she giggled. Like a snake, she slithered over to him draping her body over his back hugging him form behind.
"Where is he, bitch?!" He threw off her advances and violently tossed her back onto the bed.
"Who?"
"Don't fake innocent with me. I know you've been screwing him the last few weeks." He bent over and picked up the pair of slacks left in the heap of clothing ripped off in a moment of heated passion. "Where is he? I'll fucking kill that bastard."
"Why do you care now who I'm screwing. You haven't touched me in months. I bet you couldn't even get it up anymore. You don't think I know about your "performance anxiety". He satisfies me in ways you could never do. You know what, I let him fuck me senseless for hours unlike you who goes for the three minute marathon."
Akira inwardly grinned to himself. His legs started to become shaky as one foot almost slipped off the thin ledge. After standing out there for the last fifteen minutes, he was beginning to become bored out of his mind. Calculations for the best landing in some nearby bushes raced through his brain.
Another satisfied customer. It's always the same argument every time with these women. It took me years to build up that kind of stamina. I've always had a penchant for older women. I guess after getting out of the business, it's a little strange to make these visits purely pleasure. It's still pretty much the same old same old. I party hard with the exception of a few details like illegal substance abuse and money being tucked where the sun don't shine. Then again that's nto something I choose to talk about right now. Fuck! I need to get out of here. I vaguely recall parking my baby around the corner somewhere. Their argument could go on for the next few hours. Okay, Akira. You can do this. One! Two! Three!
With one deep breath, Akira jumped off the ledge in one giant leap. Apparently his calculations were a little off, for he landed next to the bushes with a thud. It would have surprised the neighbors to see a full moon out so early in the morning. He streaked through the yard headed towards his car giving quite a show for the eyes of the garden gnomes. Upon reaching his precious car he got down on his knees, peeked under the car, and grasped for something taped to the bottom of the muffler.
"Got it!" he yelled in victory as he pulled out his car keys and wallet that were taped under the car. It was an old trick he had learned long ago. Playboy rule one: Never bring your wallet or keys with you when making a nightly call. He popped open the trunk and pulled out a duffel bag and began rummaging through it. His face paled. Empty.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I must have forgotten to put some fresh clothes in after last time. Alright, Akira get a hold of yourself. Just get into the car and drive home very quickly. God, I hope I don't get caught by the cops again. I can't take another ticket for public indecency.
He hopped into the driver seat and turned the keys in the ignition expecting to hear the soft purr of the engine. To his surprise, he was greeted by a loud clunk sound. "Come on, baby,"" he pleaded while turning the key once more. The car gave out with a loud hacking wheeze. For a moment, he could feel himself falling into a helpless despair. He calculated the distance to his apartment across town and at the route he would need to go by to go unnoticed by the cops. It would take him at least 45 minutes to get to his place. That would take too damn long. He banged his head against the steering wheel trying to figure out his next move.
"I've got it!"
He jumped out of the car and made a dash through the dark streets as the sun slowly rose out in the horizon illuminating his full moon.
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Somewhere across town, Sakurako lazily rolled over in her bed pulling the sheets up closer to her nude body that screamed nothing less than perfection. Her breath reeked of cigarettes and booze. It was a rather god awful taste to wake up to. Something beside her began to stir making the mattress beneath them shift under the strain of the heavy weight. A man swung his arm over her placing a hand over her breast. A look of disgust crossed her face as she stared up at her own ragged reflection on the mirror hanging on the ceiling.
What the hell is this guy's name again? I can't even remember, but do I even care. I'm starting to wish now that I had chosen to go back to his place instead of mine. It's not like I can slip out and never hear from him again. That's the problem with these one night stands. You have to deal with the awkwardness of the morning after. It's always a matter of how long is too long to stick around or do you exchange phone numbers making empty promised to call the other? Well, I'm usually on the side of being asked to be seen again while my interest has already waned on the subject. When will these guys get it? I'm just looking for a good fuck.
"You were amazing last night," a muffled voice hoarsely whispered under the sheets. The man rolled over to face her while he reached over to grab her around the waist.
Sakurako shrugged off his advances and reached over for the nightstand grabbing a cigarette from her case and lighting up. A ring of smoke emerged from her pouty lips floating through the air disappearing into a light fog. "I know."
"Then how about an encore performance?" He leaned over and snatched the cigarette from my lips and took a slow, long drag.
I hate when they do that. It's a sign that he's becoming too comfortable.
"I don't think so." She stood up letting the warms sunshine hit my naked and wrapped her robe resting on the bedpost around herself. She tied the knot around her waist causing the robe to rise up over her smooth thighs.
He scrambled up from the bed pulling the sheets around his waist in a desperate plea to drag the escaping woman hoping to pull her back into the bed. He placed a cold hand on her shoulder sending shivers down her back. Leaning he forward he whispered into her ear while laying small butterfly kisses down her neck. "How about you meet me for dinner later? Maybe for dessert we could head back to my place and go for a second round?" He spun her around and wrapped his arms around her gazing into her icy, cold eyes that paralyzed him. He bent his head down to draw her lips to his, but in true fashion she rejected his advances giving truth to her reputation as the unattainable.
"Never on the lips," she whispered turning her face to the side letting his sloppy kiss fall onto her cheek. Sakurako looked up to see that all too familiar expression in front of her. It was a mix between desire and frustration.
I'll do anything with any man. My body has been used and abused so many times it feels like I'm just going through the motions at times. Don't get me wrong. I do take pleasure in it when I meet the right guy who knows just the right places to hit. I enjoy every thrust, grind, taste, and bite of it. The rest of the time it's just feels like getting the satisfaction of scratching a good itch. My body is nothing more than a shell. They can have every last inch of me, but they'll never know me. As cliché as it might sound, they'll never be able to touch a piece of my heart. Sometimes I question if such a thing still exists within me. I mean I can hear it beating sustaining my life, it's in there somewhere. I opened it once allowing myself to become a victim to emotions, but what did that make me in the end? I'm just another dumb bitch.
She narrowed her eyes and glowered at him. "Play time's over. Get the hell out of here." The coldness in her voice sliced through the silence.
He questioningly gazed at her wondering if this was just some sort of dominatrix game or joke she was playing. Choosing to believe she was only teasing him, he pushed her back onto the bed like a rag doll being tossed onto the bed by a spoiled child. Her face remained fixed and emotionless. All he needed was some slight movement on her part that would tell him what was going on in her mind.
Sakurako lay back and stared at her face in the mirror once more becoming lost in her own musings. It was always hard for them to let go. She could see him back track for a moment pondering what to do.
Hesitation is a sign of weakness. If you want something bad enough you'd go full force and screw the consequences. That's life. Sometimes you've just got to forget about everyone else and do what you want to do. It must seem a bit strange that I'm willing to do anything but kiss a man on the lips. It's just too personal for me. I learned a long time ago on the streets that one kiss on the lips can lead to a lifetime of trouble. It's a sign of shared intimacy that girls like me were never supposed to give. It was the code of the street for girls like us, never kiss on the lips.
"So what are you going to do now?" she snapped letting the sarcasm drip off her lips. "I don't have time for this." She began to pull herself down, but was thrust back onto her back by the sudden jolt of warmth from below. Her inside tightened as his tongue delved deeper into her making her back arch. A slow husky moan slipped from her mouth. Her breathing quickened as his ministrations began to explore her more thoroughly hitting just the right erotic zones sending all rational thoughts out of her mind. She could feel herself becoming light headed as her body stiffened preparing itself for climax.
He pulled out for a moment licking his lips watching her let out a small sigh of disappointment. He devilishly grinned at her as his head bobbed up from between her legs. "Still want me to leave?"
Sakurako once again stared up at her reflection of a sweaty, aroused woman. Her face said it all.
"Maybe just one more game," she replied as she sat up and pushed his head back down.
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At another point of town in a not quite shabby and not quite elegant part of town, Yuuki was already up and sitting at the kitchen table watching the weather man banter on and on about barometric pressure and humidity levels. The relatively cheery apartment was covered in hues of pinks and rose emitting a strong aura of femininity of its owner. The open door exposing a view of her bedroom showed a set of perfectly lined up teddy bears and dolls resting against the pillows of her neatly made bed. The apartment was cramped, but cozy at the same time.
The light ring of the bell from the oven sent her jumping out of the chair revealing a pink lacy apron tied around her. She grabbed the oven mitts one in the shape of a dog head and the other a cat and slipped them over her hands making her appear to have two large oversized cartoon hands. An observer would note that the way she pranced through the kitchen made her almost resemble a little nymph. The aroma of freshly baked muffins wafted in the air turning the heads of strangers on the street who just so happened to pass by her window catching a glimpse of the freshly made baked goods and it's beautiful baker. She placed the tray of muffins onto the table and walked over to the window shielding her face behind the thin curtain.
What day is today? Oh, it's Tuesday. Hmm. This one has lasted a pretty good amount of time. She must have been good to keep around for the full seven days. Here it comes. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Right on time.
She peeked out to take a better look at scrutinizing every inch of trying to figure out what it was that made her so damn special.
Granted her tits are huge. Mine almost seem paltry next to hers. She has a pretty nice little ass, too. Face is average, though. There's nothing remarkably exquisite about it. I've seen better. He must be going through a red head phase. The last three have all been red heads. What's wrong with light auburn hair? She looks pissed. She probably never saw it coming after all the screaming they did the night before awakening the entire neighborhood. Thank god for sound proof walls and glass.
The woman tripped over her the front steps kicking off her heels and bending over to pick up the items off the ground. She fumbled with her purse as she rifled through her bag in search of her car keys. A slew of expletives echoed in the still morning air. Soon the sound of an engine roared and the screeching of tires squealed sending the car veering forward leaving a trail of dust behind. A few minutes later, he emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair still dripping wet from the shower he had just emerged from. His strong chiseled chest glistened with beads of water dripping down his skin. He bent over and picked up the morning paper glancing at the front page headlines before turning around and slamming the door shut behind him.
Yuuki pulled herself away from the window and mentally berated herself for wasting her time on being such an idiot. It had become somewhat of a hobby of hers to wake up early in the morning to see the early morning show. In some ways, it was comforting to know that none of them had done the impossible- have him want them to stay. At the same time, it was masochistic of her to watch in agony as they left knowing they while they had not captured his heart, they had at least tasted the force of his desires and passions. She had not even come close to that yet. She wasn't even quite sure if she held a remote place in his heart. Perhaps as a friend or maybe worse, a little sister.
One day Jiro. One day. Why did I have to fall helplessly in love with a guy like him? I mean it's not like I haven't taken up any of the other offers from readily available men, but they can never compare to him. Is it stupid to want something that is so close yet so far at the same time? It might sound pathetic, but he's the only guy who has ever treated me nicely. I may look young and naïve, but I've had my share of bastards. Men. They're all fucked up ten times more than I am. They're the reason I am the way I am. If it's not one thing it's everything they want from you. They are the bane of my existence, yet I can't seem to turn them down. I'm really a glutton for punishment. Sometimes I think I go looking for trouble. Love. Understanding. Comfort. Those are the things I desire most in this world. I guess it's just the curse of being a daddy's girl that gets me in trouble. Daddy didn't give me the love I needed, so I go out looking for a man to love me. He fucked me over. No matter how men I go through, how many nights spent covering up my bruises, or the task of getting over the overwhelming shroud of loneliness when you are left behind I let bygones be bygones. I must have done something wrong to make them leave. When I become too clingy and they tell me I'm suffocating them. It hurts to feel that stab of rejection. And why do I put myself through all this? Because I'm a daddy's girl. I'll always stand by the door with open arms ready to let him take care of me.
She jolted upright at the sound of a knock at the door. "Come in."
"I smelled the muffins from across the street," he mischievously grinned. He sauntered into the kitchen and grabbed a mug that had long ago been deemed as his pouring hot steaming coffee into it. He settled himself down at the table and grabbed a muffin front eh tray peeling off the paper bottom. He took one large bite out of it before flipping the newspaper he had under his arm open. "Delicious as always," he sweetly complimented.
"Thanks," she replied smiling down at him while pouring the milk and sugar into his coffee measuring the exact amount he liked.
That's the thing about me. I want to be taken care of yet I'll always be the one to take care of him. He makes me want to take care of him like a child. No matter how many mistakes he has made I can't bring myself to stay angry at him. For now, I'll just have to settle for this. It's all daddy's fault.
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Soujiro glanced over the newspaper to see the gentle smile of the girl in front of him. Her chin rested on her two hands propping up her face. It might have freaked him out to find some girl staring at him with that glazed over look in his eyes, but he had grown used to that look on her face. He knew what she was thinking, but it was one thing he could never give her. He pulled the newspaper back up covering his face from hers as thoughts of what happened earlier replayed itself through his mind.
Soujiro woke up to find a something warm on his chest. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down to see a mass of hair covering the face of his lover form the night before. His body ached a little still from the strenuous work out his body had been pushed through the night before. Very carefully he picked up the arm and slid out from under the sheets. He ambled through the dimly lit room towards the bathroom closing the door behind him to find some privacy. He stared at the weary face in front of him seeing only the face of a dead man. Shaking these dreary thoughts out of his mind he turned on the shower at full blast and walked in be drowned by the blasts of boiling hot water hitting his skin. It was what he needed to wash away the feel of her all over his body.
Have we already reached that time again? It's always bittersweet when it's over. From one point, it's sad to think she's not the one you've been looking for to break your cold, playboy veneer. On the other hand, there's that anticipation and excitement knowing that it's time to choose the your next victim. I really am nothing more than an unfeeling bastard. It's not my fault entirely, though. My father wasn't exactly the model male role model. He was the exact same way when it came to women. Yes, he was married to my mother, but a man has got urges that requires outside help. Sexual frustration is a curse. That's where I learned the value of women. Their worth is valued by their body. There are few women I respect. I worshipped my mother every day of her life, but in the end she was nothing more than another one of my father's whores. I hate my father for treating her like the rest. He could have at least respected her a little bit, but no. I hate men like him who take out everything on a woman. A man who dares to hurt a woman is nothing more than a coward. It's ironic how I'm becoming more and more like him in unexpected ways. I guess you could say, "like father, like son."
He braced himself against the wet tiles of the shower silently counting to a hundred before stepping out of the shower. He picked up a fresh towel from the rack and wrapped it around his waist letting drops of water from his body fall onto the floor. As he opened the door, he took a deep breath preparing himself for the worst. These things rarely ended pretty.
Across the room, his bedmate had already awakened and was busy looking for her other shoe under the bed. At the sound of footsteps approaching, she popped her head out from under the bed and looked up with a silly school girl smile on her face. "Good morning," she cheerily called out as she suddenly found her shoe on the ground next to a few open condom wrappers carelessly tossed on the ground after a fulfilling night of pleasure.
"Good morning," he replied in a calm voice.
She buttoned the last button on her blouse and slinked forwards putting a hand to his chest. Her large bosom pushed against him making him become slightly aroused by the sight of so much cleavage early in the morning. "I think last night was my first real orgasm," she giggled into his ear. She pulled his face to hers and aggressively stole a kiss from his lips.
He pulled back earning a small groan from his companion. "You were incredible, yourself," he chuckled. "You should get going. It's getting late. You need to get home and change before you get to work."
She followed him out into the living room and picked up her purse from the ground completely unsuspecting of what was to come. "You're so sweet worrying about me getting to work on time. Will it be my place or yours tonight?" she asked as she put on her black stiletto heels with her back to him.
"Neither,' he coolly replied.
"Oh, you're busy tonight?"
"No. It's over."
Her back stiffened at the realization of what he was implying. She spun around letting her fiery red hair whip her face. "What do you mean it's over?"
"I mean, I won't be seeing you anymore. This isn't going to work out."
Her voice was slowly rising with each word she spit out. "You're dumping me?! Why? You can't do this."
"I already did."
"So what was it we had anyway? I don't go around fucking any guy I see. I don't do that kind of thing. Don't treat me like a common whore off the street. I won't let you do this to me."
"Well, you did ask me to fuck you like whore last night. Only whores scream the way you do."
That'll surely get rid of her. I'm doing this for her own good. She'll be pissed for a short while, but I bet by tonight she'll have found some other guy to rebound on. Why's she being so possessive anyways? We've only known each other for a week.
"Bastard!" she shrilly screamed as she shot up landed on his flawless face. Her face was becoming redder and redder as her anger rose within her. A hint of desperation coated her voice that fell to a deathly whisper as remorse swept over her for at the realization of what she had just done. "Tell me you love me. Tell me that it's all a joke you're playing on me. Don't you understand? I. I've fallen in love with you."
I hate it when they resort to that. Love? Bullshit. They got what they wanted and so did I. Let's just leave it at that.
"You're not in love with me and neither am I with you. Get out before I don't refrain myself from throwing you out."
"Weren't you having fun?" she cooed while playfully trailing a finger down his chest to the towel around his waist. She tugged on the towel and pleadingly looked into his eyes grasping for any hope of salvaging their relationship.
"Get the hell out of here!"
A scowl spread over her face a she grabbed her bag and thrust the door open. She spun around and pit at him. "You'll regret doing this."
"No I won't."
The door slammed sending the walls shaking around him. He stood there listening to the slur of expletives coming from the women followed by the screeching of tires. He released as sigh and reached for the doorknob. A stream of sunlight fell down on his face greeting him to a new day. He sniffed the air recognizing the faint smell of freshly baked muffins coming from his neighbor. Soujiro bent over and picked up the newspaper scanning the headlines for any interesting news. The world is still as shitty as it ever was, he thought to himself as he slammed the door closed.
A few minutes later, he felt himself drawn to her doorway against his better judgment. He stood in the doorway grinning at the sweet girl watching her muffins cool with a far away look written all over her face.
She's the closest thing to a woman I respect. Although I would never lay a finger on her, I will hurt her more than she ever imagined. She thinks she can change me, but it won't work. I'm a bastard and that's the way it should be. I'm way too screwed up for my own good.
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Rui stood in his barren bedroom enveloped by the sweet lulling melody pouring out of his violin. His face was blank and expressionless as always. God, knows what was going through his mind. His studio apartment matched his personality rather well. Simplicity was the key to it all. Everything was a pure white or a shade close to white. In a way, it resembled the cold impersonal sterility of a hospital room. It was really more like one big room with only a music stand in one corner for his violin and a small baby grand piano in the other. Everything was in plain view, nothing hidden behind any extraneous walls. A large king size bed was the only large comfortable piece of furniture to be found. No couches. No TV. No radio. Other than the bed the only place to sit would be the small kitchen table with two steel chairs pulled into it.
He closed his eyes letting himself be carried away by the music- his only salvation in the world. Generally he would have been sleeping at such an early hour of the morning, but he couldn't rest easily until he knew she was back by his side. As sad as it all was he had an unwavering love for her that would never be fully reciprocated and he knew it. She would always choose her career over him. He was fine with that. The jingling sound of keys being turned in the door aroused him from his melancholy.
"You're back?" he asked in his normal monotone voice.
Shizuka, in all her glory, strode across the empty room and seductively wrapped her arms around him from behind. She rested her chin on his shoulder just letting the soothing sensation of a warm body against hers wash over her.
"Did you miss me?" she teasingly asked. Her warm breath tickled the tiny hairs on his neck.
He dropped his violin to his side and stared straight ahead inhaling the sweet scent of her French perfume. Chanel. It always had to be the best for her. His body stiffened in realization that he was supposed to be annoyed by her at the moment. "Where did you go?" he asked shrugging her arms away while he bent over to pack away his precious violin.
"I got caught up with business. He said he could maybe get me a movie deal. I went with him to meet the director for a screen test."
"And it took you all night to finish."
Her body tensed at the thought of what he was insinuating. "He's a very busy man. I was lucky he was willing to give me an audition on such short notice. He had a late flight to catch, so we went to his hotel to meet him before he left. It went so well, we went out to celebrate with some drinks afterwards. Why do I even need to explain myself? You always make me sound like I'm the bad guy in this relationship!"
Rui was never one to raise his voice, but the tone in his cold voice was enough to make anyone realize he wasn't in a good mood. It was the entire package of the indifferent face and icy voice that scared the shit out of people. "You were gone for two days. What was I supposed to think?"
"Fine don't believe me. You know I never question your relationship with her. She still loves you, and you know it. I see the way she looks at you, and how she forces you stay by her side. It's a dirty trick how she finds ways to get you close to her. The second she calls you, you go running to her like there's no tomorrow. She has you wrapped around her little finger."
"Shut up!"
"Oh, I've hit a sore spot there haven't I?" she vehemently hissed. She slipped out of her evening gown and walked around the apartment in the nude looking for her robe, which she found and tied around herself. "I've never made you choose, but it's always been you pushing me to choose my career or you. How about I make you choose?"
"It's not the same thing. There are too many people involved."
"She didn't want you in her life anymore. She would have let you off the hook completely. You still love her don't you?"
It's always the same vicious cycle we go through. I knew when we chose to be together that life wouldn't become any easier. But then again, in matters of the heart nothing is ever easy. So many lives were destroyed and irrevocable breaks in trust done. Was I coward to wait so late to do what I had longed to do so long ago? I wanted to be selfish and take what was rightly mine. Everyone always tells me how wrong it is that we would want to be together. She is four years my elder. I'm just heading towards the middle of my prime years. I should be out partying like Jiro and Akira, but I don't. That's never been my thing. I've only wanted one woman in my entire life and now I have her. Shouldn't I be happy? I know the truth. She'll leave me again one day for another.
He grabbed her arm stopping her from escaping into the bathroom. "You know it's always been you and never anyone else. I've given up everything for us."
"If that's true then you would give her up."
I hate the power she has over him. I do really love Rui more than I think I've ever loved anyone. There was always just something about him that drew me to him when no one else wanted to touch him. I've known Rui most of his life and up until a certain point all I ever saw was a brother. It was just too weird the moment I saw him for the first time as a man. In my mind, all I ever saw was the isolated little boy reaching out for a friend. Then everything went to hell when the unthinkable happened. I knew he had some unrequited crush on me, but how was I to know I had a growing fondness for him outside of our brother/sister boundaries? By the time we both realized what we had, we had gotten too far in. I hate pulling out this card to play, but it's not fair how he'll never be fully mine the way I want him to be. If he could only devote himself fully to me, then we wouldn't be having these arguments. I would never admit it to his face, but it's what makes me want to choose my career over him. At the same time, my worst fear is to lose him all together.
"Stop giving me that childish bullshit. I know you don't mean that."
"What if I do?"
"Then I don't know," he nodded his head letting go of her arm that now had red finger marks on her delicate skin. "I'm tired of always having to prove my feelings for you over and over again."
She brushed his cheek with the back of her hand raising his head to hers. "I know you love me, but sometimes I just get so scared that you will one day leave me. You've always been my Rui."
Their lips hungrily found each other; thus, ending their little lovers' quarrel. It was always the way their spats ended. Nothing was ever really resolved, and tense subjects were left to mull about in the back of their minds.
The kiss continued to the bed, but they were interrupted along the way by the sound of the phone ringing. Shizuka pushed him away panting heavily.
"You should get that. Have you forgotten what day it is?"
He nodded his head in agreement, but there was an unmistakable disappointment in his eyes. He let out a heavy sigh and rolled off her to answer the phone.
"Hello," he answered. A playful smile appeared on his lips as he recognized the voice on the other line. He hung up the phone after coaxing the caller on the other line to hang up. He turned back to Shizuka, who was now busy filing her nails.
"I've got to go."
"I know," she sadly replied with a hint of disappointment in her voice that they wouldn't continue where they had left off. "I'll see you later then," she sighed.
He gave her one last forceful kiss on the lips and grabbed his jacket from the bedpost. "We'll continue where we left off later," he devilishly grinned.
"I'll be waiting."
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Tsukasa finally awoke a few hours later. It was still a little too early for him, but the smell of fresh pancakes being flipped on the griddle made his empty stomach grumble in protest of not being fed for so long. He rolled out of the warm, comfortable bed and trudged to the door to hear the faint sound of voices outside.
Time to start another day.
Tsukushi put her hand up to her mouth as another attack of yawns took over. It had been a long night, but she had finally finished it. Only a half hour ago she had punched the last key and clicked the mouse to save all her work. All she was given was a few sparse minutes to take a quick shower before finding Kaya jumping on the bed waiting for breakfast. So, here she was now, deprived of sleep aching all over, and ready to begin another day.
"Careful, " she warned as she guided the little girls hands with the spatula flipping the pancakes sizzling on the griddle.
"We need more chocolate chips!" she exuberantly screamed as she grabbed another fistful and threw them onto the messy goop of batter Emeril style.
Her mother blanched at the sight of the chocolate chip pancake with more chip than pancake. She would be peeling the girl off the ceiling in a few hours. She glanced over at the closed bedroom door wondering when their new tenant would be making an appearance. After that look he had on his face from her vague warning last night he probably wouldn't be making an appearance very soon.
A knock at the door sent her focus back onto the pancake that was now starting to burn. "Honey, go get the door for Mama."
"Okay!" Kaya hopped off the stool she had been using to stand over the stove and raced for the front door. She thrust the door open and took in the sight in front of her. Not even feeling the least bit disturbed by the sight in front of her, she turned around to call out for her mother. "Mama! Akira's here and he's naked again!"
"Damn it!" Tsukushi wore under her breath. She turned the stove off and removed the last of the fresh pancakes of the griddle. Untying the apron around her waist she walked over to the door and pushed her innocent child out of the way. No matter how many times this happened it was always hilarious. She placed a hand over her daughter's innocent eyes shielding her view of the naked man who probably raised a few eyebrows on the elevator.
"Are you going to let me in or not?!" Akira whined holding up a duffel bag to cover his package.
"How the hell did you get up into my building like that?" Tsukushi leaned against the doorframe blocking his entrance. A dangerous smile lingered on her lips. She was going to have some fun before she let him in.
"Me and your doorman are old buddies now," he smirked. "Come on. It's getting drafty out here."
"Do you know how many complaints I've gotten from the tenants association about these early morning visits?"
"Hey! Do you know how many offers I get from the members on your tenants association?"
"When will you learn, Akira? Was it the car or clothes this time?"
"Both."
"You really should leave a few extra pairs of clothes in your car, you know."
"Details. Details. Don't tell me you don't like to be greeted by a specimen of human perfection in all its glory in the morning?"
"I've seen it before and it's not that amazing."
"Stop being such a bitch and let me in already."
"Good morning, Mrs. Fujisawa,' Tsukushi waved to the elderly woman passing through the hallway. "Beautiful day for a full moon, I must say."
The old woman snorted in disgust trying to edge as close to the wall as possible to avoid touching the naked stranger. As she passed by she couldn't fight the urge to just take a touch at the goods. "Young kids," he grumbled to herself.
"Whoa!" Akira yelped as he felt a hand grab his ass. He spun around to see what looked like an ancient old hag walking away with a satisfied look on her face.
"Here, put this on. I don't want you flashing my kid anymore." She tossed the apron in her hand at his face.
"Oooh, I almost forgot today was pancake day," He dropped the duffel bag and proceeded into the kitchen wearing a yellow apron with hearts all over it. As he walked away Tsukushi was given the privilege like the rest of the free world of his bare ass.
Tsukushi nodded her head in amusement. Akira always makes life a little more interesting.
Tsukasa emerged from behind his bedroom door peeking out to see if Tsukushi was there. From the distance, he thought he heard Akira putting him at ease that if she tried something there would be witnesses. He put on a happy face and bounded out of the room and into the kitchen in anticipation of stuffing his face full of pancake goodness. He turned the corner and the sunny disposition he had put on fell like a ton of bricks.
"Yo!" Akira waved waving a fork in the air before spearing another bite of pancake dripping with syrup into his mouth.
Horror could be the only word to describe what Tsukasa was feeling at the moment. All inklings of hunger had long drifted away as he saw the little girl sitting across from the half naked man wearing only an apron. Keep in mind the apron was skimpy and from the view he was given underneath the table he had forgotten to keep his legs crossed therefore revealing more than Tsukasa had wanted to see.
"Want some pancakes?
"Sit with me, Mr. Pineapple!" Kaya grabbed him by the arm pulling him into a seat wedged between Akira and her.
Tsukasa was definitely gonna puke right there.
Tsukushi brought out a two plates with a fresh stack on each and place one in front of him. "Tuesdays are pancake day around here," she said with a voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.
I seriously have entered the twilight zone. I knew it. For the first time, I think I might be wishing I could go home.
He turned to Akira who was childishly shoveling food into his mouth only taking a break to wash it down with milk. "Now why." Instantly he clamped his mouth shut thinking he might regret finding out the answer to his question.
"You should expect this to happen a lot around here. Akira just drops by unexpectedly all the time like this," Tsukushi answered. She continued to glance at the paper in front of her while taking small sips of coffee from her mug.
"Do you want that?" Akira asked pointing at the untouched plate in front of Tsukasa.
The ring of the doorbell woke Tsukasa from his daze. "Uuhh.You can have it.' He pushed the plate towards Akira who had already helped himself to the first few bites.
"Do you mind getting the door?"
"Sure."
Feeling relieved to get away from the proximity of the atrocity known as naked Akira, Tsukasa trudged through the hallway towards the door grateful for the interruption. He peeped through the hole and pulled open the door to greet a rather unexpected mystery person. The figure stepped back in surprise expecting Kaya, Tsukushi, or even Akira to open the door. They just stood there face to face startled.
"You're here!" Kaya screamed running past Tsukasa and jumping into the person's arms.
Tsukushi's footsteps followed soon after. She nudged Tsukasa over to greet their guest. A distinct mask of civility was plastered on her face. "I completely forgot that it was today."
Akira popped his head out into the hallway. "Hey Rui!"
"Yo," Rui responded glancing in Akira's direction.
Tsukushi peeled the little girl off of Rui and placed her on the ground. "Where are my manners? Let me formally introduce you two since you didn't get the chance to at our meeting yesterday. Rui, you remember our new hire, Tsukasa. He's renting out our spare room for the time being."
"Hey."
"Yo."
Tsukushi turned back towards Tsukasa with a rather blasé attitude.
"Rui is Kaya's father."