AN: More thoughts than action but it'll pick up towards the end I swear. This chapter was hard to write. Not one of my better ones unfortunately. But it did get the point across I think.
This chapter is for all of those who wish Kuroda to die. I hadn't intended him to be such a villain. The degree of treacherous behavior certainly has change due to reader's demand. Thus I gave birth to such a dastardly deed. Read on if you like to satisfy your curiosity and let the hate emails begin. Please enjoy… or not. *scurries off to hide behind a boulder*
-Takamiya's POV-
Feeling a bit awkward by the lack of challenge from the other which was to say at the least, was unexpected, it threw him off his agenda. He was hoping to get a chance to speak to Izumi first before catching his flight. He had prepared a speech after all.
Takamiya hadn't expected the same obstacle as the previous night. Part of him wondered whether the young man before him ever goes home; while a darker part of him remarked bitterly to himself, perhaps the young man lives with Izumi.
His heart twinges in pain at the thought. Just barely a month has past and his— no not his Izumi anymore. The boy he once knew has grown up to be a responsible young man. Takamiya never knew that Izumi was capable of such a feat. His ex-lover left with nothing and was able to rebuild a life without Takamiya seamlessly. Izumi even outgrew his propensity to be shy and quite openly admit his love for someone else, another man at that. This discovery hurt the most for the translator.
The seven years they had together, Takamiya had taken care to support Izumi for life. His ex-lover was in want of nothing he couldn't provide. He hadn't realized that by doing so, in spite of his good intentions to take care of his lover, he was actually stifling Izumi's growth. In looking at the amount of strength and courage it took for the other to reestablish himself had proven to the translator just how much he has been holding the other back. Takamiya welled up with pride for his ex-lover despite being saddened by the knowledge that he was the origin of Izumi's flight.
Regardless, Takamiya was quite stubborn. One learns from one's mistakes, he thought firmly.
Thus, he straightens his posture, raises his chin, and made every effort to speak politely, "I wish to speak with Izumi, please."
Like the other night, the young man gave him a look of puzzlement before a smirk appeared on his lips. "You've just missed him."
"What!?" That response was also unexpected. Takamiya quickly ask on the heel of his surprise interjection. "When will he be back?"
The fellow raises both arms to cross his chest and an eyebrow arcs upward before he spoke, "Well now, that depends."
Takamiya felt the return of the man's challenging aura. He suspected the young man was up to something. His rival had won. Izumi is his now, what game was he playing? The translator prepared himself when he grit out, "On what may I ask?"
The smirk on the other's face never disappeared, in fact, it only got wider. That irritated Takamiya in spite of his easy-going personality. This young man before him seems to have the natural ability to get under his skin.
His rival waves a hand out to punctuate the generalize request before it return to form, "It depends on whether you will answer my question or not."
Takamiya doesn't like to play such games, especially the type of games his rival is alluding to. He only hopes that the man treats Izumi well for the time being and does not exhibit such distasteful behavior towards his ex-lover. In the mean time, the translator would very much love to walk away and not entertain the young man; however he was press for time.
With great reluctance, Takamiya grimace as he complies with the other's pace and follows through the leading response, "Such as?"
The young man shrugs then leans on the side trim of the threshold and took a long look at the translator. Takamiya braces himself for a snide comment.
He wasn't prepared when the other's face suddenly turned serious and stated, "Was fucking Kuroda worth losing Izumi?"
-Izumi's POV-
After preparing a tray with a cup of green tea and a plate of crumpets for Izumi, Kuroda made an excuse to return to the master bedroom and continue packing. It was just as well. There was too much awkwardness between them as is.
Since their last encounter, Izumi had given Kuroda his blessing. What would the man say now, if he tells the editor that he would like to renege on his word and present Takamiya a choice between them? Most likely the man would throw a fit, Izumi mused. The other did plead his case well, but Izumi felt like he was only given one option. Yes he had taken Takamiya for granted and had abuse the man physically, but life is all about change. Wouldn't his willingness to modify his behavior be a good reason for Takamiya to reconsider his options?
He was the one cheated on and has forgiven the other already, doesn't that constitute a chance for them to work things out? Izumi would hope so. If Takamiya still loves him despite Izumi's hasty decision to break up with him, then wouldn't that warrant another appeal to save their seven years relationship?
His eyes glisten upon remembering their last encounter. Izumi hadn't meant to be or sound so heartless at the time. He hadn't meant to allude to the fact that he had another lover either. But it was easier at the time to use Konno as an excuse since Takamiya had spotted the hickey on his neck. He was mortified then and still is in thinking his ex-lover seeing such a mark on him. Does Takamiya even care about such a mark on his person?
Even if Takamiya tells him that he has chosen Kuroda after all, Izumi wants to clarify everything. Perhaps that would be enough to salvage something. The thought of the man completely out of his life was too horrific. He had suffered severe bouts of melancholy, even beyond their initial break up thinking about it. Seeing Aoe Reiji again made him realize that. Upon reconciling his emotions and settling for even a smidgeon of hope for them to remain friends, Izumi desperately wants the connection to remain.
Eager to impart a new path of the future, Izumi sat patiently on the sofa. He didn't know how much time has past in between his musings. Kuroda hasn't reappeared and the suite was eerily quiet despite the random sounds of drawers opening and closing from the other room. He took another bite of his crumpet and sip of green tea. A yawn broke out and then another. His head felt heavy. Izumi sag in his seat and rested his head against the back. Perhaps a little shut-eye will help pass the time.
That was his last coherent thought. Another minute and he was out. Izumi never notice the figure with the set jaw quietly exiting the bedroom and approach him with determined steps.
-Takamiya's POV-
Takamiya gasp in hearing that question spoken so crudely. The shock of what the man said with such conviction brought another light to illuminate the breakup at an angle he hadn't thought of before. Perhaps that wasn't what the young man had intended, but it certainly enlighten Takamiya on Izumi's behavior.
All this time, he had thought Izumi left because the translator had hit him and the boy had had enough. Takamiya should have known better. Izumi was a very direct person when it came down to certain things. His ex-lover would have no qualms to be in your face so to speak, if the problem bothers him too long. Matters such as wanting a change in his life would warrant an outright demand for it once he'd figure what that was.
Thus, the only thing that would cause Izumi to flee from him entirely would be matters of the heart. In spite of initially feeling giddy in making his ex-lover jealous over Kuroda, Takamiya hadn't thought the other would take it so seriously. Izumi should have known his love for him would remain stalwart.
Takamiya had professed his love countless times and had remained faithful for seven whole years. His eyes or his lust hadn't wandered to anyone else. The only time he had strayed was when Izumi ran off. However, Takamiya felt he can't take fault on that. Both Kuroda and he were drugged. The sex they had together had no meaning. He had filed his mistake as that. Even though that brought Kuroda's feeling towards him even closer to home. Takamiya had vowed to the editor the next morning he wouldn't even consider a relationship with him until the one with Izumi was dissolved. Never would Takamiya have taken into account that the night of his mistake would bare a witness.
That was the crux of this whole debacle.
As drugged up as they were, Takamiya hadn't noticed a damn thing. He could hardly remember the details of that night. There were even moments in which he thought it was Izumi he was making love to. For that reason, if his real lover did return that night to witness this scene before him, no wonder the boy had fled and ran into the arms of another.
This realization hit Takamiya hard. His breathing became harsh. My god!
He needs to talk to Izumi now! There was no way around it. So much was misunderstood between them. No wonder his ex-lover behaved in such a manner. No wonder Izumi's mother warned him off. No wonder Izumi broke up with him. He must speak to him now. But the boy wasn't here. And the only person who knows anything is playing a game Takamiya has no patience for.
Taking a much needed breath to calm his growing anxiety, Takamiya made sure the eye contact with the young was secure before he replied with steadfast words that bespoke of his new found commitment.
"No. That was a mistake. One I intend to fix."
The young man seems to be weighing in his words and consider his demeanor far longer than was necessary. Inside, Takamiya fumed helplessly as he felt this urgency rising. He didn't want to waste anymore time. Somehow, he felt the longer he waits to hear his answer, something horrible was about to happen and it would be too late. Perhaps it was his desperate need to see Izumi that sent his heart racing in discomfort. Whatever it was he hopes it was enough for the other to impart his knowledge.
It would seem it was. The young man releases a genuine smile with a devilish glint in his eyes that makes the translator suspicious. When the man spoke, Takamiya realized why. "Good. If not, I'll enjoy taking him away from you. He is a delicious piece of ass."
Takamiya gritted his teeth from spouting possessive barbaric jibes back. He knew the other was baiting him and decided to refrain from such proclivity. It would seem the other is actually…cheering him on? Despite his confusion, Takamiya repeated what he asked earlier. "When will he be back?"
The young man had the audacity to laugh before he replied, "I gave him your calling card. He should be at your suite number right about now. You might catch up to him if you hurry."
Takamiya bit back a few choicer curses. Despite the irony of the situation, he didn't think it was funny like his rival. He glances quickly at his wristwatch and notices the time. Rush hour has already begun. If he was to drive back in his rented car, it would be about an hour before he made it back to the hotel. He had left Kuroda back at the suite exhausted. Somehow he didn't think Izumi would care to see Kuroda given what Takamiya knows now. And given their past history, he was afraid what Izumi might do to Kuroda in finding the editor has accompanied him to Kyoto to look for him. What would Izumi think? Takamiya felt even more desperate to intercept such a meeting.
He quickly pulls out a mobile phone and dials the suite number. Nothing but dial tone. He turns off the connection and frowns, stating the obvious. "No one is answering. He's not there."
The young man mirrors his look and offers. "Here let me try."
He retrieves his mobile from his pocket and dials what Takamiya supposes is Izumi's number. After a period of rings later, again the same result. Izumi wasn't picking up either.
Both of their frown deepens. Then the young man remarked, "That's odd, I know I told him to keep his phone on and with him just in case he needs me to pick him up. "
Confused by the mystery of the miscommunication, both men silently joined forces to figure it out. Both tried their mobile phone once more. The outcome was the same. Another moment of silence spent in contemplation.
His rival's face suddenly lights up and exclaimed brusquely, "Oh fuck it, who cares about work anyways. Hey, I have a motorcycle that will get us their quicker, that is if you care to join me?"
Again Takamiya wondered what was his rival thinking. Is he actually helping him? Takamiya decided not to spare any thought at the moment to think this through, he nodded his head in acceptance. The young man returns back inside to grab his keys before he closes the door. They hurry side by side, down the stairs to the streets and alight the motorcycle that was parked close by.
Takamiya only had a brief moment to wonder what the hell he was doing before his thoughts was whisked away by the speed of his rival's death cycle. The young man had the audacity to laugh at his unyielding grip before they drove off.
Even though it was most likely more than ten minutes, the hair-raising trip felt like a lifetime. There were several incidents in which the translator thought his rival was purposely leaning too close to the ground that he could see sparks flying. There were other moments when he felt that the space between vehicles were much too narrow for them to squeeze between. How the guy manage was beyond Takamiya's nerves.
He had immediately jumped off the motorbike as soon as the kickstand was place down when the young man pulled into an alley a few blocks from the hotel. The translator was more than happy to return the borrowed helmet to his rival with an added glare for good measure.
He should have known it would only encourage the other to smirk in return.
"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad."
Takamiya felt compelled this time around to say otherwise. "Yes it was. I believe that will be the last time I'll get on that death trap with you, thank you."
Again the man had the audacity to laugh at him. Takamiya gritted his teeth once more and hurried out the alley and stop. His thoughts arrested by the sight before him. He couldn't comprehend what was happening. It took his rival to join him to voice out his own thoughts.
"What the hell is going on?"
A white van was parked in the driveway lobby of the hotel. Its door was held open by a man in shadows from their vantage point. A sleeping figure, a man who looks very much like Izumi was being carefully place into the van by another fellow wearing a baseball cap and the hotel's bell boy. Once the body was securely place, the door slam closed.
Takamiya gasp. The other figure was Kuroda. What the hell is going on?