NEW REALITY
I gazed at the bed in awe. The two plump pillows caught my eyes next. Kaede and I slept together last night. I could smell Kaede scent.
I'd slept here last night, with Kaede.
Kaede was busy having a bath. And now, here I was, waiting for him to emerge from his bath.
"Akira?" A soothing voice came from the direction of the bathroom, and there he was, Kaede, the pretty boy who made my heart pound, the man who'd totally captivated me at first sight.
"Kaede." I beelined to his side. Kaede was like a blooming flower at that moment, freshly dripping with spring dew. His pale skin was exposed to my hungry eyes, and I ate his image up, eyes slowy licking every droplet of water from his body.
Kaede really was sculpted to perfection. Such a beautiful creature. I found it hard to believe he was even human. But human he was, with his foul mouth and his bad attitude. He was still a heartthrob, to all the female population in this world, include me.
I was now Kaede lover. We'd slept together last night. At that moment, Kaede lifted his head and smiled at me, a lazy smile, one that shot straight into my heart.
"How long have we been lovers?"
"Just over 12 hours ago," I automatically responded.
"Are you scared, Akira?" he asked, knowing that now I'm in love with boss of mafia.
"Not really. I don't care, Kaede." My hand cradling his cheek.
I kissed him, soft and subtle at first. This was no hard kiss like before. This was slow and melting. My lips lingered there, just above him. Then, I smiled at him.
Kaede eyes were so intense. He said, "Don't ever smile like that to another guy. Promise me, Akira. I won't take it if you do." And then, he kissed me.
"You're mine. My lover."
I was pleased. I was happy. Kaede said I was his. And that was all the assurance I needed.
Kaede, my mafia boss. I chuckled. We're so intimate. The most fearsome man, who controlled the underground of Kanagawa. This man was dangerous.
"Kaede," I mumbled, "Let's go to breakfast. I need to go school."
"School, again, huh?"
"Yes, school again." I replied.
"You know, I'll support you forever, even if you don't want to attend school."
Kaede words should've reassured me about my future, but I wasn't the least bit reassured.
"I don't want to rely on you." I looked at him. "What if one day you woke up, and you no longer want me, or what if you found--"
Kaede swung me around to face him and cut me off with a succulent kiss. He looked at me. No, his eyes literally burned my entire soul. "Shut up, Akira. I would never let you go. You're my lover. So, stop thinking those stupid thoughts. You're mine. You hear that. Mine. And what belongs to me I'll cherish forever."
I'm really his lover. I'm really Kaede lovers.
There was an air of mystery and anticipation at the dining table that morning. I could sense it because the guys were eyeing me with smirking as they were sipping their coffee. Under their little pretense of chitchatting about nonsensical things, they were brimming with energy. Just a few days ago, we both was a virgin.
"Nyahaha! Looks like Akira and boss having a great time last night." Sakuragi smiled devilish to me.
"Oh. What about you, Sakuragi? Your back still sore?" It's Fukuda. Everyone choke after hearing Fukuda statement.
"Damn. What do you expect, Fukuda? You bastard. You really don't miss a chance, huh? You fucking bastard." Sakuragi hissed.
"What? Are you two together last night?" Maki asked in disbelief.
"Sakuragi begging me to fuck him last night. He say that's the new activities." Fukuda answered nonchalant.
"I'm not begging, fuck! It was a kind of experiment." Sakuragi face was reddened.
"Yeah, some experiment. We did it for 3 rounds." Fukuda smirked.
"What? 3 rounds?" Fujima asking in horror. "Maki and I only did 2 rounds. What about you, Akira?"
"Kaede and I only did 2 rounds too. It was our first intimacy together. So we may take a slow." Akira grinning to them.
"Fuck, Fukuda! Why did you tell them?" Sakuragi become more reddened.
"You're enjoy, right? Your moan so sexy more than boss." Fukuda say nonchalant. He didn't notice that the boss was watching them.
"Are you all, eavesdropping?" Kaede glaring at his underlings.
The four mafia shocked in horror.
"No. Of course not, boss. Why would we eavesdrop? Your shout to loud boss. We all in this mansion can hear it." Sakuragi grinning nervously. The three mafia nodded their head in unison.
Kaede ignored them and continued sipping his coffee. But his face already blushing. Akira just laughing. Finding mused at this situation.
"I have an announcement to make." Kaede looking at his underlings.
All four pairs of eyes were immediately on their boss.
Kaede cleared his throat. "From now on, Akira is my lover. You louts can't demand him to do anything, and especially chores. Nor can you touch him. You got that? If I see any one of you so much touch as touch a single strand of his hair, you'll be dead meat. And don't you dare called him Aki or Akira. Just Sendoh. Am I clear?"
They laughed and chuckled at each other, congratulating their boss.
"I'm happy for you, boss." Fujima said.
"I knew from the beginning. You always blushed when Sendoh tease you. I can see that, boss." Maki added.
I switched my attention to Kaede. "Really, Kaede? You know, how much cute your face when you're blushing."
Slap! Kaede gave his love to Maki with a slap on his head.
"Sorry, boss. Shouldn't have said that," Maki muttered and went back to his breakfast.
"Damned right, you shouldn't have." Turning back to me, Kaede said, "I didn't blushing. My skin was sensitive."
"Oh. Okay I try to believe that." I watched him through shrewd eyes. I loved seeing Kaede pissed-off face, because I knew in this little fight between us, I was winning.
"You sure know how to talk back, Akira. Let's make that mouth of yours do something useful." He pinched my chin and inched forward.
"You're right, Kaede." Before he could do anything, I grabbed his head and kiss him deeply in front of his underlings.
Kaede eyes lit bright with black fire.
"Great. Sendoh been upgraded from maid to lover. Boss, when are we going to get upgraded, too?" Sakuragi asked.
"Enough, you numbnuts," Kaede barked at his underlings. "Now, be prepared. I have an meeting after this. Time ticking. Get ready, Sakuragi and Fukuda. You two will following me."
Sakuragi and Fukuda nodded their head.
It was almost 9am. My exam started at 11am. I had to get my butt moving or else I'd be late for it. And who would be to blame but me. I might even have repeat a year if this kept going.
"Kaede, I have to go now. Or else I'll be late."
"You'll be late if you take the bike. I'll give you a lift."
"Oh, my lover is so kind," I said, getting into the car. Kaede followed suit. "But only up to the bus stop. Your car is too flashy. I don't want to bring attention to myself."
"Why don't you like attention, Akira?"
"It's not that I don't like that kind of attention, it's just that I don't like that kind of attention. You know, the kind when all eyes are on you because you have materialistic stuff. Then everyone wants to be your friend. That's all fake. It's not real. I don't want that kind of attention."
"You're my lover now, Akira. You've got to get used to it. That's the privilege of being rich. It brings that kind of attention."
"Like I said before, I don't want that kind of attention." I emphasize my point again. "I want to ride my bike to school like before, do all the normal things like before. Just because I'm your lover now, it doesn't change anything. Just because you're rich, it still doesn't change anything. I'm still me. I'm just grateful that I have a roof over my head and food to feed my belly. Living every day like this, getting to smell fresh air like this, it's enough for me."
Kaede scrutinized my every word. "So, you are saying that you're the kind of guy who doesn't seek attention, who doesn't thirst for money?"
"Well, it's not like I don't seek attention and I don't thirst for money. Money is just a monetry value, isn't it? If I have enough, I'm happy. I don't need truckloads. There are other people in this world who need it more than I do. For me, I'm happy with just having enough."
Kaede leaned forward and cupped my face. And then he kiss my lips. "I have a lover who doesn't seek attention, nor does he thirst for money. Here's a question I'd like an answer to, Akira. If you are none of those things, then what do you want? What kind attention do you seek?"
"You. I want you and your attention."
Kaede was taken aback by the simplicity for my answer.
But it was true. Right now, nothing could make me happier than just having Kaede by my side and basking in his attention.
"You want me and my attention?" Kaede asked again.
"Yes." And I kiss him.
"Okay. I'll make sure you get enough attention tonight," I heard him muttered under his breath. He turned the ignition, pressed the foot pedal, and the car zoomed to life.
Ten minutes later we were stuck in a traffic jam. I was counting down the minutes. If the car wasn't moving soon, I'd be late for my exam. Luckily, it started to moving again, and by the time we reached the bus stop."
"Thanks, Kaede. See you at home later." I grabbed my things and was about to bolt out the car down when Kaede called out.
"Please take care, okay. And make sure you pass the damned exam."
"I love you, Kaede."
"And, I love you more." Then, kaede pushed me out the door.
"Ahhh... I can't believe I've completed my exam." I laughed and looked up at the clear blue sky. "Kosh, don't you love that feeling when you've done the best in your exam? Damn, I think I did well. Did you answer question three? That was a bit tough, but I think I did all right."
"Yeah. It was all right," Koshino mumbled quietly, walking straight ahead.
Oh, what that have I done? Koshino was mad? Otherwise, Koshino wouldn't be this quiet. And Koshino being quiet was just odd. It didn't suit his character.
"Kosh, are you mad at me?"
Koshino didn't say anything.
"Look. If I do anything wrong to you, I'm sorry."
He didn't say anything but kept walking farther.
Something is wrong. For sure. Maybe Koshino mad because I'm neglect him off lately.
Koshino means more to me than simply a good friend. We've been together through thick and thin. More thick than thin, actually. He's like my brother from another mother.
"Kosh, you mad at me?" I asked pathetically.
I didn't want to lose Koshino. There were so many instances I had to lie to him to get myself out of situations. And it all boiled down to my relationship with Kaede.
I didn't want Koshino to know about my other life. Well, not yet anyway. I didn't think anyone of my circle could accept my decision to become the lover of the mafia boss, the most fearsome man in the whole of Japan.
"No," he said, looking away. His face held a sombre expression.
"You're mad." I still push him.
"Hell! Akira, if I said no. Then no." Finally Koshino face me.
"You're not?" I pointed out.
"Yes." He dragged his fingers through his hair a few times.
"I just worried about you, Akira. That's all."
"Kosh. Thanks for everything. You're truly my bestfriend's ." I patted him on his back.
"You'll always be my bestfriend's, Akira." Koshino said from where he stood.
"More than a friend, Kosh. You're my brother."
"So, I've been upgraded to a brother?" he teased.
"Yes. A brother from another mother." I declared with triumph.
"Yeah, right." And Koshino was all smiles and lopsided grin again.
"So, you're not mad anymore?" I asked.
"Just keeping me updated on your life once in a while would be fine," Koshino commented, and I watched his face grow red.
"You okay, Kosh?" I asked, patting his back.
"Yeah." Koshino cleared his throat, then suddenly changed the subject. "You're hungry?"
And right on cue, my stomach roared.
"Hahaha..." I laughed, holding my belly. "Thought you were never going to ask. I've been hungry since the exam. Food is definitely calling me. Come on, Kosh. Let's get some food."
"Food it is. I'll take you to a nice place. Hope you like it." Koshino shot a smile in my direction.
"Whatever, Kosh."
I know what your feeling, Kosh. But I'm sorry. I'm not really gay. I don't really like all men. Only one man can caught my attention. My Kitsune.