Chapter 4
Powder Lunch II
Author
The Last Kitten
Disclaimer
I don't own any rights to Dir en Grey and I don't personally know any of its members. I'm not making any money off this fic and this disclaimer will go for the whole story, as I hate repeating myself. lol I mean I really don't have any money so suing me wouldn't get you anything…unless you're a sadist. :p
AN
I know, I know. I suck out loud. I haven't updated this story in FOREVER. I just have this OCD need to make sure all my stories have the same number of chapters, and it helps me think of new stuff for each story when I'm working on another.
Also my freaken computer broke down and my entire hard drive got erased, which means I have to write out every thing and then go to the library and type everything up. Unfortunately I have this little quirk where sometimes my mind recoils in horror at the thought of touching a pen/pencil to paper. So…I said all that to say I'm sorry for the inexcusable lateness of this chapter.
AN2
Onegai (Please)
Choto-sumimasen (Very polite excuse me)
Midori (Green)
Chiya ({Cha}Tea)
Moshi moshi (Hello)
Keiniku (Chicken)
Inu (Dog)
Ano (Ughhh)
Domo arigato (Oh come on, ya'll know what that means! lol)
AN3
"Dude!" Means talking.
'Duuuude!' Means thinking.
ooooooooooooooo Means a scene change.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Kyo flicked his lighter irritably.
It had been nearly ten minutes since he'd sent the note and Skyler was nowhere in sight.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out another cigarette, only to leave it hanging between his lips.
'Ahhh, that first taste of poison,' he thought.
He glanced around again and then back to the bartender, a tall stubbly man with hard worldly eyes.
Kyo had strode through the restaurant, bold as ever puffing like a chimney, and as he sat down at the bar the man pointed to the no smoking sign.
Kyo stared at him and took a deep drag.
"Midori ocha," he said, ignoring the pointing finger.
The barkeep raised an eyebrow, surprised at Kyo's brass.
"Sir there's no smoking in here…," he looked Kyo up and down. "Not even for you," he countered.
Kyo smirked as he inhaled again. "Midori ocha…onegai," he exhaled in the man's general direction.
The bartender shook his head and went off to fix the tea mumbling about young people with no manors.
Kyo smirked again at the man's rambling. Thirty-five years old and he was still being mistaken for someone half his age.
'Maybe I should try a goatee,' he thought.
He flicked his lighter one more time before lifting it to his lips.
Suddenly, a hand clamped lightly on his shoulder, startling him and causing him to fumble it.
It made a loud clank as it hit the bar, a heavy sound that attracted attention despite the level of music and conversation behind him.
His fright had startled Skyler as well, and she gave a small laugh at their mutual jumpiness.
Kyo chuckled as he took a moment to eye her.
She wore almost the exact opposite of what she'd worn the night before; soft looking black slacks, black Mary Jane's, and a somehow quiet metallic baby blue button down shirt tucked smartly in to her pants to show off her flat stomach and wide hips.
It was a simple outfit that struck all of her best aesthetic features, and Kyo almost laughed out loud at how similar they were dressed.
As for most important public events, Kaoru had dressed him for their outing, wrangling him into a pair of black slacks, a simple black button down shirt, and an expensive powder blue tie.
Also, rather than fight him for an hour, Kaoru had given in and allowed him his beloved black Doc Martins.
And to complete the ensemble Kyo added his favorite skull pin with diamond eyes to the knot of his tie.
Skyler smiled in recognition of his appraisal and took the tall chair next to him.
'What the hell took you so long', Kyo thought.
"I just ordered some tea, do you want anything," he said in very polite Japanese.
Skyler's smile widened. She could tell he didn't speak that way often and she appreciated the effort.
"Do you know if they have Golden Oolong tea," she asked soft and informal, and she could since the small breath he'd been holding.
Naturally observant, Skyler was very aware that most men both feared and somewhat resented women who tried to change them.
"I have no idea; I've never been here before."
Just then the bartender returned and sat Kyo's steaming cup of tea in front of him.
"Choto-sumimasen," Skyler caught his attention. "Do you have Golden Oolong Tea?"
"No," the man said simply.
Kyo watched the man's hard eyes go blank, watched all the emotion drain from his face. He might as well have been answering the wall.
"Ano…do you have Shiso Sen tea," she asked.
"No," he repeated.
"Green tea," she tried with a raised brow.
"No," was the hard and final sounding reply.
Kyo looked down at his still steaming cup of green tea and then sharply at the bartender.
"Hay," he began loud enough to turn the heads of a few people sitting behind them.
"That's alright, I'm not really thirsty," she smiled. "Domo arigato."
She turned back to Kyo who just stared at her with a mixture of anger and disbelief.
Skyler smiled softly and shrugged one shoulder, "it happens."
And for a moment he couldn't look at her. This "demure woman" was too familiar, too close to the tone of a once tragic loss of innocence.
An almost forgotten name rattled around in Kyo's mind and he could feel his anger rising, but it faltered with the touch of Skyler's hand.
'Let it go,' her eyes whispered, and again the name echoed.
He turned one more time making sure to remember the bartenders face before returning his attention to the retreating warmth of Skyler's hand.
'Those hands,' he thought. 'Those hands have never seen a hard days work…so different from….'
Skyler watched him watching her hand and it felt strange, awkward, and she moved slowly until it sat beneath the other.
But Kyo's eyes followed the hand, the manicured nails matching her shirt.
He wanted to snatch it back, study it up close.
Kyo imagined himself pouring plaster over that hand. He wasn't a sculptor but he'd take it up.
Skyler cleared her throat.
"Ahem, Kyo-kun?"
"Humm," Kyo snapped out of his daze.
"Your tea's getting cold," she smiled.
Kyo looked down at his cup, narrowing his eyes.
"Yea, I'm not thirsty either," he said, not so subtly pushing his cup away.
Skyler nodded but then squinted at him.
"Ano, Kyo-kun…are you wearing makeup?
"Oh yea," Kyo chuckled. "I kinda fell out of bed this morning…hit my head on the nightstand…."
They were both silent for a moment letting the obvious lie lay.
"So how was the rest of your evening," Skyler jumped on the first thought that came to mind.
"I'm still hung over," Kyo half smiled with a short laugh.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"So, how did you get stuck with the name neko," Tochi whispered, stroking the hand of the cat geisha.
She giggled behind the other.
Daisuke looked back at the sliding paper door.
'Kyo's been gone for a while,' he thought. 'Maybe I should go check….'
"So the appearance on Tokyo Today is set for tomorrow and the Japan Times wants to interview him on the fourth," Shinya said clamping shut his cell phone.
Kaoru was busy negotiating an appearance in America and Shinya nudged Daisuke to write the appointments in their collective planner.
For a minute Daisuke just stared at him blinking dumbly, until Shinya waved a hand in front of his face.
"Moshi moshi, anybody home?"
"Hum," Daisuke answered.
"Did you write that down," Shinya asked raising an eyebrow.
"Hai, hai."
He scribbled down the dates, glancing again at the door.
Kaoru began laughing suddenly and everyone in the room turned to look at him, puzzled.
"You won't believe what show I just booked for Kyo," he couldn't control his laughter. He held his side and covered his mouth with his hand to calm his hysterics, and everyone raised their eyebrows in question.
"…OPRA," Kaoru cackled.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Aleksis's conversation halted briefly at the roar of laughter coming from the adjacent VIP room.
"Hum, someone's having fun," he whispered to himself. "Hold on Lamier," he spoke into the receiver. Aleksis stood and crossed the short distance to the door, trampling the soft pillows. Pulling open the door he found his geisha, Keiniku, sat kneeling just outside. Giggling with another painted woman in front of the second VIP room, Keiniku went silent the moment the door opened.
"Is there anything that can be done about that party," Aleksis pointed at the door behind the inu geisha. "I'm in the middle of a very important business call."
The inu geisha bowed and turned to the door, but just as it opened Aleksis's attention was caught by two of his guards posted at the end of the hall and he walked away.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Sumimasen, our other honored guest has complained about the noise level," Inu spoke softly but stern.
Keiniku watched behind her, envious of her courage and poise.
"Of course," Kaoru nodded still chuckling. "We're sorry for the disturbance."
Inu smiled and bowed low as she slid the door shut.
"Hay," Shinya chuckled. "Where's Kyo?"
The group looked around, and there was a moment of silence before they heard the crash.
Everyone jumped and then ran for the door when they heard Kyo's raised voice.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Is there a problem," Aleksis asked as he approached his guards.
The two men stumbled their reply as their heads whipped back and forth between Kyo Skyler and Aleksis, who followed their eyes.
His hands slowly became fists as he crossed the room.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"So the first day of high school the teacher mistook Shin-chan for a girl," Kyo laughed. Skyler covered her mouth with her hand to try and reign in her bubbling laughter.
"He was so pissed!" Kyo shook his head, grinning and looking into her eyes. "I still tease him about it."
And suddenly, they were laughing together. An easy familiar laugh, that looking at each other only seemed to spur.
"I…," Skyler began as she was roughly yanked from her chair, sending it loudly to the floor.
"Hay," Kyo's voice carried through the restaurant.
Aleksis's eyes blazed at Skyler, completely ignoring Kyo's protest, and she swallowed thickly.
He was squeezing her arm so tightly she knew that even on her dark skin the bruise would be visible.
He said nothing, did nothing but squeeze for nearly a whole minute, and when his tongue loosened he spoke low and even.
It was his 'there's going to be a long loud fight later' voice, and Skyler hung her head.
"There you are darling." Skyler looked up at him sharply. "I was wondering where you'd wondered off to."
Aleksis speaking English, except with business matters, was always a bad sign. He would be ruthless with her tonight. He would say cruel cutting words.
He would want tears as penance.
And from the look in his eyes, he would get them.
'You always hurt the ones you love,' she thought.
Skyler picked that moment to forget how to speak, and remained quiet as Aleksis glanced at Kyo.
His hand flexed around her arm, and as he opened his mouth to speak the inu geisha cleared her throat.
"Choto-sumimasen, the Dimitry party's meal is ready", she bowed.
Aleksis remained quiet and simply pulled Skyler along, nodding to Shinya as he passed by, his two large body guards automatically falling into step behind them. The two men stopped at the door of the VIP room and stood silent and menacing.
Kyo had made a short noise in his throat as Skyler was dragged away, but she turned and held up a hand in both appreciation and parting.
She even managed a small smile, and she too nodded to Daisuke, Shinya, Tochi, and Kaoru as she passed.
Shinya looked furious when he approached Kyo.
"What…why…how did you even…what the hell were you thinking," he sputtered.
"Shinya," Kaoru interrupted him firmly. "Not here".
Kaoru looked around at all the stunned faces and motioned their group back into their room where both their food and geisha were waiting.
When Kaoru closed the door behind them, the small sound made everyone jump.
He was being quiet, which meant things were going to get very loud later when they were away from prying eyes and gossiping ears.
It also meant that Kyo was going to have a few new bruises to add to his collection.
They all sat at the expensive low table in silence until Shinya couldn't hold his tongue any longer.
"Why Kyo," he asked, head in his hands.
"Why…do you have a death wish?"
The room stayed silent.
"Do you hate yourself that much," he yelled.
The geisha flinched, and after a moment Kyo reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.
Reaching for his lighter with the stick between his lips he spoke.
"What I wanna know is…," he paused to light it and take a drag. "Why," he exhaled, "is everyone acting like we were out there fucking on top of the bar?"
Everyone's mouth dropped, even the geisha, at his bluntness.
Daisuke and Tochi shared a worried glance before staring at the other three.
"Kyo," Shinya started as calmly as possible. "That may not be what happened," he squeezed the bridge of his nose, "but I can guarantee you that's somewhere near what Aleksis saw."
Kyo scoffed and took another drag.
"Don't bother Shinya," Kaoru suddenly spoke up. "Let him find out the hard way," he said picking up his chopsticks to eat.
Shinya just shook his head and retrieved his own, and soon the others joined in.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Aleksis and Skyler sat in silence, his mind so enraged it was forced to wander.
He thought of the moments before she'd left to go the bar. He could see her walking toward him with concerned eyes, could feel her hand resting over his heart.
How could she show such loving concern and then leave him to go gallivanting off with another man?
"Aleksis," Skyler tried. "We were only talking."
He looked up at her with such speed and fury that Gyūniku and Keiniku flinched, and Skyler quickly averted her eyes.
They were sitting at opposite ends of the long low table, geisha between them, set in front of the door.
"Leave."
One word, barely containing his anger.
The geisha looked at Aleksis, then to each other, then to Skyler, who nodded and they smiled softly in thanks.
When the sounds of their leaving ceased Aleksis took a deep breath.
He hadn't built his empire with brut force.
No.
He was a chess player, a strategist.
He would try another approach.
Skyler's demurity had a limit after all and he didn't want to see it.
That breaking point was the only thing that stayed his hand, many of his previous lovers not being so lucky.
"What is it...," Aleksis cleared his throat. "What is it about him that makes you want to leave me?"
Skyler's eyes went wide.
'Yes,' he thought. 'Let down the wall a little.'
"Is it," he played with his pain, "because he's a real ma…."
Before the last word was out of his mouth Skyler was at his side.
He knew how it pained her to see him hurt over the subject of his gender.
He was a man in all but body, that irreversible steep being one he never wanted to take.
He reveled in deceiving the world, in having all the rights and privileges of a man.
It was a hard cover to keep, and he'd raised a question or two early on, but through his brother and fortune he was able to keep it.
"Aleksis, I would never leave you, you know that. And your gender doesn't even enter the equation."
Her eyes were pleading for his understanding, his belief, but he turned away from her, a terrifying motion for Skyler.
He tried briefly to lie to himself, to pretend he didn't love to see her eyes pained for him.
"Aleksis…," she lightly touched his arm, then taking his hand in hers she touched it to her cheek.
"Let's go home," she whispered.
And that was it. He could ask for the moon tonight and she would get it for him.
It was childish of him, he knew, but Skyler was a rare breed and he intended to take full advantage.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
So…I hope that was worth the wait.
The next chapter will be up soon so please reply and let me know what you think of this one. It actually felt a little rushed to me but I can't tell, I've read it over soooooo many times.
Ja ne!