Chapter 5
Akira watched as Kaede retreated, distancing himself from him emotionally and mentally. He was still reeling from his revelation.
Akira gaze fell on his slight form. Kaede was a strong man, a go-getter who didn't take crap from anyone, yet now he seemed so vulnerable. The urge to move closer and offer his solace stole through him. Like before, Akira fought it. He did not intend to be emotionally involved with Kaede, or so he kept telling himself, but Akira was failing miserably. Something about the beautiful man kept tugging at him.
Was it lust? Was it gay? Without a doubt. Those lush lips, beautiful eyes, and slim body of his hips were made for lovemaking. Akira would do something about it before their association was over. What Akira couldn't deal with, were the tender feelings. His original intentions were to come to Kaede house and demand some answers, yet ever since he walked into Kaede loft, Akira emotions had shifted from one plane to another. Kaede set the pace, and Akira followed.
He moved forward to stand beside him, yet Akira couldn't open his mouth and ask the questions burning the tip of his tongue. He needed to know what little Kaede remembered, if he'd ever tried hypnosis to recall the lost memories. Akira gaze dropped on his raven hair, and soft skin on his nape peeked at him. An urge to place his large hand on its base, massage it and ease the tension pouring from him stole through Akira. Annoyed at the direction of his thoughts, Akira balled his hands.
Akira shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. His gaze took in the childhood memorabilia all over the floor and the empty beside them. "Cardboard boxes aren't safe storage containers."
He glanced at him. "What?"
Akira indicated the boxes with a nod. "These are flammable. You shouldn't be using them to store your valuables." He wasn't surprised when Kaede looked at him as though he'd lost his mind. But talking about storage containers was safer and less emotional.
Kaede blue eyes sparkled with wry amusement. "Thanks for the warning, Firefighter Sendoh. I'll make sure I buy the right containers."
Akira looked around and frowned. "Make it sooner. Combined with your painting paraphernalia, your home is a fire waiting to happen."
Kaede rolled his eyes. "Okay, you've made your point. And since you're obviously not leaving, want to get down here and lend me a hand?"
Akira squatted beside him. Despite his casual tone, Akira could feel the tension emanating from Kaede.
He picked up a ball and bounce it.
"Do you play basketball?" Kaede asked.
He gaze bounced between Kaede and the ball. "I am."
"Nice to know." He gently placed the ball in a bubble wrap and covered it, then placed it in a box. "They were my companions when I go everywhere."
"Must have been lonely," Akira murmured quietly, intrigued by Kaede despite Akira's constant pep talks. He continued to pick up more balls and pass them to him.
"A little, but my mother treated everywhere we stayed like home." A smile touched his lips. "She would place family pictures on every table and chest of drawers in our suite. And my bed always had my favourite basketball players frame picture and the balls and stuffed animals arranged the way I liked it, no matter how late we got into a town. I don't know how she did it, but each place always had a homey feeling about it. She was really wonderful," he whispered, then overlapped the four flaps to close the first box.
"She had an amazing voice. They both did. I never saw them perform, but I have a collection of some of their music. They are reissuing them." He gave Kaede a sheepish smile. "But I guess you already knew that."
He nodded. "You see that metal case?" Kaede pointed at a box at the corner of the room.
Akira twisted his head to follow the direction of Kaede finger. It was the same sturdy, metal box where he'd retrieved the camera. "That's the kind of box you need to store your stuff in, not these..." Akira voice trailed off when Kaede eyes narrowed with irritation. "Sorry. Yes, I see the box. What about it?"
"It has an old record player, and stacks of records of some of their old songs- the ones that will never be reissued."
"Really?" Akira wanted to ask why, but decided to keep if for a later. "Can we play some now?"
Kaede smiled at the curious expression on Akira face. Then his gaze fell on the clock on the wall and the smile wavered. "Tempting as that sounds, I can't. I have a dinner date tonight and must clear this mess."
"Oh." With whom, Akira wanted to ask. He'd already checked Kaede home for any female things and didn't see any. Kaede fingers were bare of rings. But those little observation didn't mean he wasn't dating. Lucky person. "We'd better finish here then. Wouldn't want you to miss your date."
Kaede cut him a look, but he pretended not to notice. Kaede soft scent teased his senses, starting a now familiar ache in his belly. Akira shifted so he could watch him. Akira gaze followed the smooth contour of Kaede face, so beautiful. He'd dated his share of beautiful women, but none of them would be caught dead entertaining without a flawlessly made-up face. With Kaede, male on the other hand, vanity wasn't an issue. Did Kaede have any idea what a major turn on that was?
Akira gaze shifted upward, liking the way Kaede long dark lashes contrasted his pale skin. His mouth drew Akira attention the most. Natural pink color was visible. He wondered how Kaede would taste. Succulent and sweet? Hot and exotic? Combination of both? Akira knows, he had attracted with men. He is bisexual. He wonder if Kaede was a straight? It didn't really matter, the pleasure he'd get working with and on them was limitless.
Kaede suddenly looked up and raised a questioning eyebrow.
Akira knew he ought to feel guilty for ogling, but he didn't. He was a man, and Kaede was a man too. A beautiful man. It was only natural for him to appreciate his God-gifted attributes.
"How much of that evening do you remember?" Akira asked.
Kaede stood and nervously rubbed his palms on his pants, his expression becoming guarded. Akira straightened too, and followed Kaede to the kitchen counter, where the photographs were still spread out. For a moment he didn't speak, just pursed his lips and squinted at the glossy pictures.
"Not much." He gave Akira an uncertain look. "The ride to the club. The firefighters and lights from the fire trucks. Anatta holding my hand while talking to my aunt and uncle. It's as though I fell asleep when we arrived at the club and didn't wake up until I was pulled from the edge of a gaping hole on the first floor."
Akira felt the tightening in his chest and steeled himself against the pain. It still slammed into him, making him clench his teeth. The floor had given away from right underneath his father as he ran back to check on Kaede's parents. The man deserved a medal, not the ugly rumors Akira and his mother had had to live with since his death. They deserved to know the truth, and Kaede was the link.
"Have you ever thought of using hypnosis to recover your lost memories?"
Kaede started to shake his head before Akira finished speaking. "No. I never wanted to relieve that night," he said.
"Even now?"
Kaede glanced at the pictures again, and shook his head. "I want to help you, I really do, but hypnosis? I don't know." Frown lines appeared on his smooth brow. "I think it's better to talk to the other people who were there that night. Mitsuka shouldn't be a problem. He's like an uncle to me. You can talk to him."
"Actually, that won't be necessary. I have a friend looking into this even as we speak. He can talk to Katashi and Haru." Akira was more interested in what Kaede saw that night. "I know it's asking a lot, but it would mean a lot to me if you agreed to hypnosis, Kaede."
His brow furrowed. "A friend?"
Akira noticed how he totally ignored the issue of hypnotherapy. Oh, the beautiful man thought he was slick. He had no idea who he was dealing with. "His name is Sakuragi Hanamichi. He used to be with the FBI and now runs a P.I. firm. He's very competent."
"What has he learned so far?"
"Is this really necessary?"
"I just want to know the truth, Akira. Going by that letter you showed me, someone may have murdered my parents. Not the fault wiring and smoke rendering them unconscious story I was given. What did your friend find?"
Akira knew he shouldn't be irritated by Kaede's third degree, but he was. When it came to this investigation, he wasn't letting Kaede handle him. In fact, he didn't want him involved, period. It was too personal and too close to home to share with someone. All he needed from him was the information buried in the inner recesses of his mind, however damning it was.
Akira inhaled sharply, reining in his irritation. Sometimes you had to give a little to receive more. "He gave the letters I received to a former colleague with the FBI to study the paper and check for fingerprints. According to their expert, the sender appears illiterate yet the paper used was expensive. The inconsistency indicates the person is attempting to mislead us."
"Fingerprints?"
"None. Not on the envelope, the letters, or my car. The first two letters were left under the windscreen wipers of my car. But if anyone or a company in my building ordered that type of paper, Sakuragi will find them. He's good at what he does."
Kaede shoom his head. "I still don't understand. Why would this person contact you? Why not the police?"
"Possibly he or she got the same response I got last week when I asked the Fire Burning to reopen the case- case closed. The cops weren't cooperative either. With no new evidence, there's no case."
"Maybe they're right."
"No." He shook his head.
"Akira, you're blinded by your loss and-"
"Enough," he snapped, causing him to flinch. "Please."
"Then don't snap at me."
Kaede pouted, drawing Akira's attention to his lush lips. The thought of how they'd taste stole through him, but he squashed it. This wasn't the time to be distracted.
"You brought this to me, Akira, not the other way round. I have a right to know what you've learned, and I sure don't want to waste my time chasing a wild goose here, okay?"
Unbelievable. Tenacious, bold and a real pain in the rear, he held all the aces. Akira knew it, his mother knew it and the faceless, nameless person who sent the photographs knew it. But Kaede wasn't making him forget what was at stake by laying guilt on him.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you, Kaede. But I'm not answering any more of your questions unless you're willing to meet me halfway."
His shoulders sagged. "Don't ask me to do it, Akira. I can't."
Akira saw the fear lurking in depths of his eyes, and he couldn't blame him for it. No sane person would want to revisit what he must have seen that night.
"Don't you mean you won't?" Akira inched closer. "Come on. As long as there's the slightest chance that someone started that fire, we can't afford to leave anything uncovered."
Kaede eyes snapped with heat. "You're not being fair. You can't waltz into my life and start dictating what I should or should not do."
"I know I'm asking too much, and to be honest, I know nothing about hypnosis, but I'm willing to learn. I promise I'll be with you every step of the way."
Kaede let out a frustrated growl. "Haven't you heard anything I said?" When Akira continued to stare at him, he looked away. "Don't try to make me feel guilty. It won't work."
Akira had no intention of laying a guilt trip on him, not when seduction often produced the right results. Akira reached out to caress Kaede cheek with his knuckles. The feel of his warm skin, soft and smooth, sent a jolt through his system. In a beat, desire pulsed along his nerves.
Kaede stiffened, but didn't move away. His eyes, wary and defenseless, tugged at Akira, making the man feel like a low-life for using the attraction between them to get his way.
"Kaede." He kept his voice low, heard to catch his breath and felt his body quiver. Perfect. "Do this for me, babe."
Kaede breathing became shallow, his gaze asking, begging for...what? Akira was more than willing to accommodate any needs Kaede might have. His too. Akira's moved closer and dropped his head until Kaede cheek was a whisper away from his. Anticipation surged through him. Akira meant to seduce him, yet he was the one losing control of his senses. His scent, his warmth, the need in his eyes all seem to call to him. Hadn't he told himself a moment ago he couldn't afford to be distracted? The urge to taste him was so strong Akira could barely breathe.
His 'I need you,' was true in every sense of the word.
Another shudder shook Kaede body. His mouth opened, hopefully to say 'yes,' but the peeling sound of his doorbell intruded. Akira smothered a curse and glared at the door. The moment was lost when Kaede blinked, as though waking from a stupor, and jerked away from him. His eyes narrowed.
Akira braced himself for another punch, waited while him glowered, his breathing uneven. Akira was surprised when he relaxed and smirked.
"Were you by any chance trying to seduce me into doing your will, Akira Sendoh? Shame on you."
Akira ears grew hot in embarrassment. Still, he managed to flash a grin and stepped back. "You can't blame guy for trying."
"You're unbelievable." Kaede rolled his eyes.
"Whatever, babe," he said as the doorbell rang, again. When Kaede looked at the clock and frowned. "Your date? I ought to sue the bastard for ruining a perfect moment."
"Perfect?" Kaede sucked his teeth in exasperation, then jerked his thumb toward the counter, where Akira's left his keys. "Take your keys and leave before I say something that's inappropriate."
He thought Kaede sounded thoroughly disgusted with him, until he saw the corner of Kaede mouth lift before he turned and started for the door. Akira sauntered to the counter, picked up his keys and approached him. Kaede still hadn't opened the door, just stood there with his hand on the knob.
"Are you saying you weren't even a little bit enthralled by my moves?" Akira asked.
Kaede smirked. "Not even close. Better luck next time, doaho."
"Hmm, next time. I like the sound of that."
"I didn't mean...I meant to say..." A sigh escaped him. "You know what I meant."
Akira grinned, loving the vulnerable look in Kaede eyes. A confused Kaede's was a riveting as one in a full-blown temper. How would he look when fully aroused? Akira only caught a glimpse of how responsive Kaede could be during that brief caress, and he loved it.
"I do know what you meant. You want me to do a better job next time." Akira winked. "And I plan not to disappointed you."
Kaede shook his head. "You are, without a doubt, the most arrogant man I've ever met. You're a pain in the a...in the you-know-where and I want you gone." He jerked the door open.
"Babe, if I were anywhere near your delectable you-know-where, pain is the last thing you'd be feeling." Akira gaze ran down his slimming body, lingered around his rounded ass. Hmm, he loved some meat on a woman, but this beautiful man, more than that. Something he want to hold, and bite. Their gaze met. Kaede eyes were wide, as thought he'd shocked him. Akira grinned. Kaede's hadn't heard anything yet.
"Ah-hmm, excuse me?" a male voice interrupted them from the doorway.
Akira turned his attention to the tall man wearing an expensive black suit and an amused smile. His gut tightened with envy. Lucky bastard.
Kaede senses still thrumming from the hot look he'd seen in Akira's eyes, Kaede stammered through, "Tsuchiya. What brings you upstairs?"
"Thought I'd stop by and see how the paintings are coming along," Tsuchiya said, then threw Akira a glance. "Didn't know you had company."
Kaede took a sideways step so he wasn't between the two men. How much of the conversation had his cousin heard? Kaede glanced at Akira, remembering the feel of his breath against his skin, his words, the look in his eyes. Heat crawled up his neck. Okay, just because he was yummy and was obviously attracted to him, it didn't mean he would lose it.
Kaede straightened. "Akira, my cousin Atsushi Tsuchiya. Tsuchiya, Akira Sendoh."
Tsuchiya's expression hardened.
"Tsuchiya Gallery downstairs, right?" Akira asked but didn't offer Tsuchiya his hand.
"That's me," Tsuchiya answered, his tone cold. Then his gaze shifted to Kaede. "Rukawa, give me a buzz when you get time. I need you your opinion on something."
Kaede scowled. The coolness puzzled him. His cousin was usually very amiable. "Why don't you come in now?" Kaede glance collided with Akira's. "Akira was just leaving."
There was a moment of tense silence. Tsuchiya's gaze bounced between Kaede and Akira, then he murmured 'excuse me' and walked past them.
Akira stepped out of his loft and turned to face him. "About-"
Kaede shook his head. "I'll think about it." He didn't want to discuss hypnosis in front of his cousin.
Akira appeared to understand and nodded. "Okay. I'll see you on Saturday."
"Hey, Sendoh," Tsuchiya called out. "You forgot something."
Kaede turned to look at his cousin and froze. Oh, no. He was standing by the counter, the pictures Akira had brought in one hand and the envelope and letter in the other. He was studying the top photograph with a scowl. Why hadn't Akira taken them? He shot him a look from the corner of his eye and hurried toward his cousin. "Those are mine, Tsuchiya."
Tsuchiya's brows shot up, then he glanced at the cover of the envelope. "Akira Sendoh? I don't think so. What's going on, Rukawa?"
"Nothing." Kaede reached for the photographs, but he moved them out of his reach. Kaede glared at him. "This isn't funny. Give me the pictures."
"The envelope and the letter, too," Akira added coldly from behind him.
Tsuchiya ignored him, his gaze locked on Kaede. "Were these taken the night your parents, uh, the night of the fire?"
"Yes." Kaede extended his hand, palm up. "Give them to me."
Tsuchiya ignored his request. "What are you doing with them?"
Kaede's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? I have a right to look at my pictures without asking you for permission, Atsushi Tsuchiya. And you shouldn't look at things that don't belong to you." Once again, he reached for them.
"They were spread on the damn counter, Rukawa. I had to be blind not to notice them." He gave them to Kaede, then jerked his head toward Akira. "Is he responsible for this?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Kaede took the envelope and the letter from his other hand and shoved them in Akira's, then mouthed 'go please'.
"No." Akira cut him an unreadable glance, then his gaze shifted to Tsuchiya.
Kaede smothered a growl. He had no idea what nonsense was behind the animosity between these two, and frankly, he didn't care.
"Suit yourself." Kaede turned to Tsuchiya and said the first thing that popped into his head. "I have these pictures out because I'm thinking of seeing a hypnotist to recover my lost memories." He felt Akira move behind him. Akira probably thought he was an airhead, one minute vowing to never agree to hypnosis, the next consenting. Akira had no idea what a mistress of contradictions he'd become since meeting him.
"Why?" Tsuchiya frowned. "Last I heard you were dead set against the idea."
"I changed my mind."
"Don't you mean he changed it for you?" Tsuchiya retorted then shot Akira a disdainful look.
A cold smirk touched Akira's lips. "I don't know you, man, yet you seem to have a problem with me."
"You bet I do," Tsuchiya snapped. "Stay away from my cousin."
"Hey," Kaede protested.
"Your family has done enough to hurt him," Tsuchiya continued as though he hadn't spoken.
A lethal expression settled on Akira's expression. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know what I mean. Leave." Tsuchiya jabbed a finger toward the door. "If you ever come anywhere near him again..."
"You'll what?" Akira didn't move, yet Kaede had a distinct impression he was primed for action.
"Stop," said Kaede, and got their attention. "Enough. Both of you." He grabbed Akira's arm and tugged. He scowled at him. "You're leaving." Akira didn't budge, but his muscles flexed underneath his hands. If it weren't for his cousin and their tiresome exchange, Kaede would have savored the feel of Akira. "Now, Sendoh."
Amusement flickered in the depth of Akira eyes, then disappeared. "We need to talk."
"Saturday." Akira still hesitated. What was wrong with him? "Please go."
Akira gave Tsuchiya one last heated glance, then allowed Kaede to lead him to the door. Once there, he lifted Kaede's chin with finger and said, "Until Saturday."
"Good bye."
Akira finger lingered on Kaede's chin, shifting into a brief caress before he dropped his hand and walked away.
Kaede watched him, the imprint of Akira finger on his chin still tingling. When he reached the elevator doors, Kaede nudged the door closed with his hip and turned to face his cousin. "What was that about? I have never seen you treat anyone with so much disrespect and-"
"Mother is going to have an fit when she finds out you're associating with a Sendoh. As for recovering your memory, she'll think you've lost your mind."
Kaede approached him, his anger increasing with each step. "Why are you bringing Aunt Yui into this? She wouldn't care one way or the other whether I recover my memory or not. No, I take that back. She'd encourage me to go for it."
Tsuchiya raised his hands in surrender. "Okay. Forget about Mother. Tell me why you'd want to recover what your mind chose to block. Have you forgotten the nightmares?"
Kaede didn't forgotten waking up sweating, heart pounding and echoes of his screams still in the air. The worst part was always never remembering why. It was time he stopped letting the fear cripple him. If that meant bearing his darkest moments, so be it.
Kaede plopped on a stool beside Tsuchiya's, propped his elbow on the counter and rested his chin in his palm. He eyed his cousin and sighed. "It's time I faced what I saw that night, Tsuchiya. I can't stay afraid all my life."
"What did that bastard tell you?" Tsuchiya snapped.
"What?" Kaede leaned back, his eyes widening. "Enough already. What's with you and the Sendoh? Are you forgetting I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Akira's father?"
"No, I haven't."
"Then what's wrong with you? What did you mean his family had hurt me enough?"
Tsuchiya studied him guardedly, hesitated as if weighing his response. "There was a rumor that the fire was the work of an arsonist."
"I know that." When Tsuchiya looked surprised, he added, "Akira told me. He's trying to find out the truth about what happened. That's why he was here."
Tsuchiya lips curled decisively. "Did he tell you the suspect was one of his relatives?"
Kaede eyes widened. "What? Who?" Why hadn't Akira mentioned it?
"I don't know. We... Mitsui and I overhead our parents discussing it. They even hired some guy, a private detective, to look into it."
"I know. I asked Aunt Yui about it. She said the man found nothing."
Tsuchiya shrugged. "That doesn't mean you can trust a Sendoh. One of their own started that fire."
"Rumored to have started it," he corrected him. "You can't base your hatred on a rumor, Tsuchiya. I mean, do you really think Akira would come to me for help if someone in his family was guilty of starting a fire that killed my parents?" He shook his head. "I don't think so. Anyway, I'd rather deal with facts. His father saved my life. I owe him something for that." He went around the counter, opened the refrigerator door and retrieved a bottle of water. "So, I'll go through hypnosis and share with him what I remember."
"As long as that's all he wants."
The seduction Akira had pulled flitted in his mind. It had been perfect, darn it, felt right too. No time to think about that now.
Kaede planted a hand on his hip and jabbed the water bottle in his cousin's direction. "You have it in for this guy, don't you?"
"He has a reputation. A new woman on his arm every week. He's supposed to run the Tokyo branch of Neumann Security, but the man's rarely in his office." When Kaede raised his eyebrows, he added sheepishly, "I dated a woman who works for him. He's always out. Probably chasing women."
Or fighting fires, he wanted to correct Tsuchiya. Although why he would want to defend Akira was beyond him. The man packed too much sensuality to be faithful. Based on his looks alone, Kaede should have factored in player status. Lucky women.
Not liking the direction of his thoughts, Kaede opened the bottle and took a gulp of pristine spring water. "I don't care what Akira does or with whom." Oh, the lies we weave. "But you'd better hide your feelings because you'll be seeing him again."
Tsuchiya's brow shot up. "Meaning?"
Oh, he and his big mouth. He couldn't dare mention the investigation. An idea popped into his head. "He's going to be the model for my next series," he fibbed without batting an eye.
Tsuchiya burst out laughing. "You're kidding."
Kaede scowled at him, irked by his reaction. He rather liked the idea now that he'd voice it. "Why would I be kidding?"
"The man is old," Tsuchiya answered.
"Seasoned."
"Over the hill." He still didn't bother to mask his amusement.
Kaede pressed his lips together in annoyance. "He's same ages with your age, Tsuchiya. I don't see you shuffling around with a cane. Besides, he's a beefcake."
"Yeah, you'd think so. You don't see men unless they're on a canvas or through your lenses. I know you're gay. You need to get out more."
"From what you said earlier, Mr. Smarty Pants, I'm not the only man who thinks Akira Sendoh is hot. Neither women too. A different woman on his arm every week, remember?"
Tsuchiya dismissed his comment with a shrug. "The man is the heir to Neumann Security. Fill in the blanks."
Kaede dropped his chin on the counter and gave his cousin a condescending look. Akira could be dirt poor, but he'd still be a magnet for everyone. Neither men or women. The dreamy eyes, the world-class buns, the rippling muscles... He got heated just thinking about him. Tsuchiya, being a straight man, couldn't see those attributes.
"I'm the artist, and I say he's just what I need." He caught Tsuchiya's amused expression and quickly added, "For the series."
He raised his hands in surrender. "If you think he's marketable, then who am I to question you."
That's right. He never had to discuss the subjects for his paintings and wasn't about to start now. Tsuchiya sold his pieces in his gallery and made a tidy sum for the both of them.
Kaede took another gulp of his water and capped the bottle. "Now that's settled, what really brought you upstairs?"
"A cup of coffee."
Kaede noted the way he avoided making eye contact. Tsuchiya had never been good at lying. "You must think I was born yesterday." He got up to pour his coffee, brought it back to the counter and set it before him.
"Thanks." He accepted the mug and stood up.
"I'm waiting, cuz, or is my coffee off-limit?"
He laughed. "Hanagata was concerned after two of you spoke. I promised him I'd stop by."
Kaede was going to smother Hanagata. He loved his cousin dearly, but Hanagata's overprotective instincts could drive anyone to plot his death. "As you can see, I'm a picture of perfect health."
"It's a good thing I came up," Tsuchiya added as he headed for the door. "Probably stopped Sendoh from charming more than hypnosis out of you." He paused near the door to study him. "Rukawa, promise me you'll be careful. Don't trust him."
Unease coursed through him at his tone. Should he take the rumors about Akira's relative being an arsonist seriously? "I'm a man. I can take care of myself."
"Good. I'd hate to see you get hurt by a Sendoh, again." Tsuchiya opened the door and left.
Eyes on the closed door, Kaede forked his fingers through his hair and dropped his forehead on the counter. The headache that had started earlier was now a hurricane slamming repeatedly against his temple.
Could Akira be hiding something or was he allowing his cousin's words to get to him? No, Akira wasn't cold anf unfeeling enough to seek him help if he already knew the identity of the arsonist.
To be continued...
