Authoress here.
BOF! That's all I have to say in the opening statement today.
Oh yeah, and that there will be some very racist comments in this chapter, because Alex is like that. So, please don't be insulted!
And Darkless, I'm totally going diabolical evil Authoress! WOHOO!
Three-Way Tie
Chapter 10: Small World
Alex DuFresne
Himoru sat me down on her couch, made me tea, showed me a map of Tokyo, brought out her yearbook from high school to show me Aoyou three years ago, and chatted on about the year's newest big musical hit, Luck-something. She managed to pack an hour's worth of useless information into ten minutes, and wasn't showing any signs of relenting.
"Himoru," I had to interrupt. "D'you mind telling me what I need to know about Aoyou?"
"Oh." She looked slightly put out. "Right. I can tell you were she works, where's she's staying, and who-"
"That'll be fine, just where she is!" I had to keep myself from shouting aloud with impatience. "I just want to see her as soon as possible."
"Why?" Himoru sat back in her chair, hands cupping her slightly chipped tea mug.
"Why?" I set my mug down. "Why? Because she's the best thing that's ever happened to me, that's why!"
"But…Wait. How old are you?" Himoru changed tracks abruptly.
"I'm twenty four."
"She's nineteen."
"So?"
Himoru regarded me seriously. "Are you sure you've found everything you want with Aoyou?"
"W-What do you mean?" I frowned. The way she was acting was making me nervous. Not like being nervous was a rare occurrence for me. Only shortly after Aoyou had left for this weird place I had developed a nervous tick in my cheek from wondering about her too much. Was she alright? Was she happy? Was she falling in love while I sat idly by?
Himoru sighed a little, looking like a woman on the verge of tears. I wasn't sure if she were simply being over-dramatic or serious. "Alex, are you sure she's happy with just you?"
"What's that supposed to mean!"
"Your eye is twitching." Himoru stared at my face.
"Thank you for stating the obvious, Himoru." I snapped. Taking a deep breath, I slowly calmed myself down. "Now, what did you mean by what you said?"
"I mean, Alex," Himoru said, "did it ever occur to you that Aoyou might not love you as much as you love her?"
I was shocked. Absolutely shocked. Aoyou was my world! Even though we had only met a year or so ago, I loved her deeply. And not just because she was the first girl who ever said yes to a date with me, but because she was smart, too. And pretty enough, even with her weird, half-slanted Japanese eyes.
"Well?" Himoru prompted my response.
"I don't think she'd do that." I said firmly. "When we met at collage last year-"
"Whoa! Hang on there, cowboy!" Himoru interrupted me. "You met last year and you're planning on proposing!"
"We have a very deep bond!" I retorted hotly. "She and I fell in love beneath the stars, when my astrology club went to watch for unidentified flying objects."
Himoru just sat there, staring at me. "You took Aoyou UFO hunting?"
"Sort of. Some farmers around Milwaukee said they had spotted something strange around their fields once or twice, so my astrology club went to check it out. I thought it'd be cozy for Aoyou and me."
"You took Aoyou UFO hunting?" Himoru's lips began to twitch as she struggled not to laugh. "Alex, I wasn't planning on showing you this, but after that, I think you deserve to see it."
Before I could inquire as to what she was talking about, she got up and left the room. She returned shortly, magazine in hand and pity mixed with amusement on her mien.
She handed the magazine to me. I stared at it in horror.
There was my Aoyou. MY Aoyou. My Aoyou kissing some random filthy Japanese dude. My dislike for the Japanese increased ten-fold.
"But- But- But why? Who's he! What's Aoyou doing kissing that son of a bitch bastard!"
Himoru chuckled slightly. "My my, Alex, I didn't think you had it in you to swear. Good job."
"Answer me, Himoru!" I snarled.
She looked slightly alarmed. "Please settle down, Alex! All I'm saying is you should revaluate your decision. Aoyou isn't the type to sit around and go searching for UFOs! She'd be happy a little closer to home. You're star-struck because she's the only girl to be with you, but that's a warning right there!"
"What do you mean by that!"
"Why do you think people date, huh?" Himoru was getting annoyed with me, I could tell. Her face was becoming flushed, and those damned Japanese squinty eyes were narrowing even further.
"It's a process of elimination! You figure out what you like and dislike about people, and you use that knowledge to sculpt your preferences for your future mate! Because you've only been with Aoyou, you don't know anything else. She's all wrong for you and you're too bedazzled by the prospect of companionship to notice it!"
"I beg your pardon!" I shouted.
"Listen to me, Alex." Himoru said firmly. "If you really like Aoyou, you'll give her what she crossed continents for; space. Now, if you'll please leave."
She crossed the room and held her door open for me. I stalked out, seething inwardly. How could that damned Jap woman even suggest something like that! I glanced down at the magazine still clenched in my hand. That woman could be anyone. It was probably not Aoyou. No, it wasn't. It couldn't be.
Gravitation
Aoyou was upstairs, sent to bed by a concerned Shuichi. The teen's eyes flickered with concern as he sat across from Yuki at the kitchen table. "What was that all about, Yuki?"
Yuki wearily gestured to the manuscript Aoyou left on the table. "She had to edit it, and something in it offended her. She got more angry then she should have, I s'pose."
"And then she just started crying?" Shuichi pressed.
"Yes." Yuki said. "She apologized and burst into tears."
Shuichi sighed. "And I didn't even remember to tell her my good news."
"Hmm?" Yuki frowned slightly. "What news?"
"K set Bad Luck up for our next performance." Shuichi's face broke out into an excited grin. "He's got us headlining at the Tokyo Dome!"
"And that's good?" Yuki asked sleepily.
"Good? Good!" Shuichi's voice grew high with excitement. "It's spectacular! Only the biggest names go there, and I got you and Aoyou tickets!"
The teen reached into his pocket and drew out two slips of paper, brandishing them proudly in Yuki's face. Yuki took them and examined one.
"Shuichi, this concert's not for a month yet."
"So?"
"What makes you think Aoyou will be around that long?"
"What!"
"Shuichi," Yuki said quietly. "She's going to want to move out at one point, sooner or later. She's got her own job now, and soon she'll be making enough to rent a place somewhere. I've seen her type before."
"Whaddya mean, her type?" Shuichi questioned.
"The "I am Woman, hear me Roar" type." Yuki said curtly. "You know, slowpoke! Do you really think Aoyou would be able to live with herself if she thought she was depending on our charity?"
"No." Shuichi said reluctantly. "But it's not charity!"
"Then what is it?" Yuki crossed his arms. "She's going to ask the same questions, Shu."
"It's….I dunno. We're benefiting from her being her, too, so it can't be charity." Shuichi said reasonably. "She cooks for us, and I saw her dusting the other day. She's like our maid!"
"And I'm thinking she won't adhere to that title either." Yuki pointed out with a wry half-smile. The teen smiled too, hesitantly, mind still clearly working on the problem.
"But we have to keep her here!" Shuichi pouted.
"Why?" Yuki's face was dispassionate. "Why do we have to keep her here?"
"Because." Shuichi struggled for the right thing to say. "She fits."
To that Yuki had no rebuttal. It was true. He enjoyed spending time listening to Shuichi singing Bad Luck songs with Aoyou, when she lifted her clear voice up with his on the refrains. He liked waking up to hear someone bustling around in the kitchen down the hall. He had grown to love the sweet odor of her shampoo mixed with Shuichi's aftershave.
"For a nitwit, you sure are right on that." Yuki leaned forewords and ruffled the teen's hair. Shuichi preened under his touch.
"It's kind of like having a sister. Sort of. Not really." Shuichi wrinkled his nose in thought. "In fact, it's nothing like having a sister."
"Listen, smart one." Yuki grated. "If you don't have anything smart to say, keep the trap closed."
Shuichi didn't seem to be hurt much by Yuki's jibe. Instead, his eyes gazed adoringly at the older man. "See what I mean? It's as if her niceness balances out your grumpiness, and your sexiness balances out her bitchiness."
"Oh, so she's not sexy, and I'm not nice?" Yuki asked, half serious.
"You know what I mean."
"Not really-" He was abruptly cut off as someone hammered on the door. Checking his watch, Yuki stood to answer it. "Who the hell would come here at ten to eleven?"
He opened the door, coming face to face with a furious-looking Caucasian man. "What do you want?" Yuki asked bluntly. The man's face showed only confusion. He frowned and spoke.
"I'm looking for Aoyou Tsumaru." Speaking in English, the man's voice was nasal, and his bleary eyes looked weary behind the thin-rim glasses perched on his nose. The man was thin and tall, a little taller than he was. Despite that, Yuki got the impression that his stature didn't affect his personality. He guessed this man was easily beaten down.
Yuki sighed, and answered in English. "She's resting. Go away." He started to shut the door when the man shoved roughly inside, wincing as he hit the door.
"I won't go away!" The man meant it as a threat, but to Yuki, it sounded more like a whine. "I want to see her, and now!"
"Who's that?" Shuichi came up behind Yuki. He hadn't a clue of what the two were saying in their conversation, as he spoke little English.
To Yuki and Shuichi's surprise, recognition registered on the man's face as Shuichi came into view. He gave a strangled yell of "Bastard Jap!" before lunging at him.
Yuki caught the man bodily in the chest, ruining his attempts to reach Shuichi and slamming him against the wall. "Don't you DARE touch him!"
"That filthy bastard was kissing my girlfriend!" The man yelled, still fighting (however ineffectively) to get at Shuichi, who had a terrified look on his face.
"What?" Yuki stared hard into the man's face. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Alex DuFresne, Aoyou's boyfriend! And that slimy little son of a bitch was forcing my girlfriend!"
"Don't speak shit, you bastard." Yuki's voice was a low growl. "Aoyou and Shuichi are none of your business. Now, you're not wanted here, so I suggest you-"
"What's going on down here….Alex?"
Aoyou's sleepy voice interrupted Yuki, and all three turned to look at her. She was back in her pajamas again, and the sight of Aoyou standing before two Japanese men dressed as such seemed to fire Alex's anger more.
"Aoyou!" Alex shouted. "What the hell are you doing here!"
"What are you doing here?" Aoyou demanded, her temper returning to her. "You're supposed to be finishing med school back in the States!"
"And you're supposed to be there with me!" Alex ranted. "Why are you here!"
"Because, Alex," Aoyou's voice was dangerous now, "I wanted to come here to start my career. And, I needed space from you."
"Why couldn't you just tell me that!" Alex demanded. "I would of given you space!"
"Yeah, right." Aoyou snorted in disbelief. "You bought us matching planners, Alex. So we'd have all of our dates planned weeks ahead. According to you, space is only two dates a week instead of five."
"I thought you liked going out with me!" Alex's eyes seemed to be begging: Please tell me you liked it! Please!
"This isn't the time or place to talk about this," Aoyou snapped irritably. "Why don't you come back tomorrow and we'll catch lunch or something."
"I'm not letting you sleep here with these two Japanese rapists!" Alex sputtered.
Yuki and Aoyou started speaking loudly at the same time, with poor Shuichi utterly confused off to one side.
"I've BEEN sleeping here-"
"-Watch it buddy, you're getting this close to an-"
"-and they've been very kind to me-"
"-when I'm done you won't be able to have children-"
"-and I won't let you insult them!" Aoyou finished, just as Yuki growled the last of his threats: "So button up your shit-hole, bastard."
Despite the deluge of voices beating down on him, Alex remained immovable. "I refuse to leave you here when I still have a chance of getting you away."
Shuichi had absolutely no idea of what was going on, but he was sure that this man was saying something bad about Aoyou, whom he apparently knew. Shuichi glanced carefully at Aoyou, hoping that this sudden verbal barrage wasn't going to make her cry again.
Instead of seeing the upset look he had thought would be on her face, he was slightly dismayed to see the glimmer of an idea behind her eyes. A mischievous air settled around her like a mantle.
Aoyou did have an idea, but it would take both Shuichi and Yuki's cooperation. Yet Alex remained unmoved by her attempts at honest civilized behavior, so she decided to give it a try.
"You don't know when to give up, do you, Alex?" She glanced at Yuki. His deep orbs held her gaze, and she gave him the tiniest of winks. He nodded, slightly mystified but ready to play along.
"What do you mean, my dear?" Aoyou felt like retching at the sickly sweet syrup in Alex's hopeful voice.
"What I mean, Alex," Aoyou gently pulled on Shuichi's shirt. He stumbled foreword, confusion plain of his features. She gently nuzzled her head into his shoulder, all the while leaning against Yuki. "You have this thing against Japanese people, right?"
"W-Why…So?" Alex eyed her nervously. "W-What are you doing?"
"If you don't like Japanese people," Aoyou continued, her voice becoming breathy as she leaned up towards Yuki's face. "Then you can't join the orgy."
One arm around Shuichi's neck, the other hand pulling slightly on Yuki's collar, Aoyou glanced seductively through her eyelashes at the horrified Alex. I believe I have his attention now, Aoyou grinned inwardly.
Yuki saw her intent, and whispered in Japanese to Shuichi, "Play along. Orgy time!" With that, he reached over to Shuichi and ran a finger along his cheek, then bent over Aoyou's upturned face. He opened his mouth and slid his tongue across her parted lips.
Alex watched in petrified disbelief as his ex-girlfriend returned the disgusting display of perverted affection, flicking her own tongue across the tall blonde man's mouth. She then turned, all steam and glory, to the younger one. He responded by nipping at her neck, however timidly.
"Sorry, Alex." Aoyou said, all wide eyed innocence. "I thought you knew that about me."
Alex mouthed wordlessly for a few moments. Yuki gave him a feral grin. "Three men, one make for an interesting evening."
Before the rest of his sentence was out, Alex had turned and fled, slamming the door behind him.
"All right! That was aweso-Mmph!" Aoyou's words were cut off as Shuichi pressed his warm, parted lips to hers. Aoyou could feel the pinch of Yuki's teeth on her neck, and groaned aloud at a sudden, intense heat that flooded through her.
Shuichi was aware on nothing except Aoyou's lips and Yuki's hand placed firmly on the small of his back, crushing the trio together. He broke away from Aoyou's mouth for air, and was smothered in inexhaustible passion from Yuki's.
Aoyou was sandwiched between them, their lips clasped over her shoulder. Her tongue was making small circles on Yuki's throat, three pairs of hands smoothing each other's bodies.
As suddenly as the fevered embrace had started, it stopped. Shuichi and Yuki pulled away, and Aoyou stepped back, pressing herself against the door. Her eyes were wide, and she was breathing hard. Shuichi found it hard to catch breath as well. Yuki was the only one not outwardly shaken.
Shuichi fled into the kitchen. Yuki turned abruptly on his heel, striding down the hall to his office, slamming the door in his wake. Aoyou scampered upstairs to the guest bedroom.
End Chapter
Authoress here and not doing homework, which I'll regret in about….three….two….one…yep, now. DAMN! I NEED TO DO MY HOMEWORK!
Oh well. Hope you enjoyed it! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! I'm OLD now!
