Chapter Twelve: Welcome To The Family

Wind rustled wildly through the trees as Okumura-san and Ash made their way to the store. In the distance, a shelf of dark clouds was moving their way. The incoming breeze felt cool in contrast to the hot late summer air they'd had just minutes before.

"Looks like rain." Ash observed, more to himself than to Okumura-san.

"What does?" Okumura-san asked, interpreting his words literally.

"Oh. Um, I mean, it looks like it is going to rain soon." Ash said awkwardly. This was going to be difficult. He'd have to choose his words more carefully. He didn't want to confuse her.

"Ah, just a phrase?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I'm an idiot sometimes. "Bakadesu." He said shrugging, a goofy smile plastered to his face. He was certain Eiji would have done another facepalm if he'd been there.

"HA! You are funny." She smiled as they continued to walk. "Meeting you…I know why Eiji call you…" she paused, seeking out the word, "best friend." She finished with another smile.

Ash returned her smile. "Eiji told me you know about my past. I really appreciate you still letting me stay in your home."

"Appreciate?" Okumura-san asked, wanting to understand all his words before responding.

"Um, thankful. I'm very thankful." Ash clarified.

"Your past was not your fault. Eiji told me." She paused to gather her next words and then continued. "You do not have to tell me. I trust Eiji so I trust you."

Ash smiled but on the inside, he felt a bit sick. How was this woman so trusting? Did he even deserve her trust?

"Irasshaimase!" the store clerk called as they entered. Okumura-san nodded to her.

"Welcome" She translated for Ash. He had gathered as much.

"Ok!" She looked up at the much taller man beside her. "Favorite food?"

"Oh, uh…" Ash stalled. He wondered if she meant his favorite Japanese food or just his favorite food in general.

"Do not be shy!" She said, trying to prompt his answer.

"Shrimp and avocado salad." He answered, deciding to go with his general favorite.

Okumura-san furrowed her brow. "I know avocado but not rest. Show me picture." She said.

Ash was very happy with that idea. Not having a translator was proving to be challenging but this would certainly help. He quickly googled the other two words and showed her pictures.

"Ah! Tasty!" She said as her face lit up. "Show me what to buy!" She gestured for him to lead the way.

Hesitantly, Ash led the way through the store. They had to double back a few times as Ash was not familiar with the store's layout. As they shopped, Okumura-san asked Ash easy questions like his favorite color, favorite song, his birthday, etc. He responded and then returned each question to her. When she didn't understand an answer, he'd google a picture. When she didn't know how to answer his question in English, she'd do the same. Ash's heart was overwhelmed with goodness. Even though they hardly spoke the same language, she was trying her hardest to get to know him.

They'd long since gathered the ingredients for the salad but Okumura-san continued to shop as they talked. By the looks of it, she was getting ingredients for a dessert.

"Ok, favorite animal?" She asked as she picked up a bag of flour.

"An eagle."

"Picture." She commanded

"Here," he said, showing her a bald eagle.

"Ok, why?"

"I love the way they fly. They are so free."

"Mmmm. Yes, good answer." She nodded her head in approval.

"And you?"

"Caterpillar. Green ones." She showed him a picture, unsure if she had said the correct name in English.

Ash laughed.

"What?" She asked, a bit confused.

"Nothing. I like it. I've just never heard someone say a bug is their favorite animal." He told her with a wide, genuine smile.

Okumura-san laughed along with him. "I am….strange?"

"Not at all." He said with a smile.

"Ok. Next question."

Ash's face returned to its default state as he listened for her next question.

"What is your favorite thing about Eiji?" Aki asked, briefly glancing at him before reaching for the next item on her list.

Ash paused for a moment. He would have to answer carefully. He didn't want to give himself away. He was happy for Okumura-san to know his feelings for her son, but he wanted to discuss it with Eiji first to make sure he was okay with it.

"Eiji is selfless." He said finally. Aki raised an eyebrow. "Do you know the word?"

"No." Secretly, she did understand the word, but she wanted him to elaborate. She suspected there was more to their relationship than either boy was letting on. This was her way of investigating it further.

"Ok, well, it means to put other people's needs and wants before your own." Ash explained.

His dictionary definition did not satisfy her curiosity. She furrowed her brows in more fake confusion. "Example." She said firmly.

Ash felt heat settle in his face due to his sudden embarrassment. "Well, Eiji worries about other people before himself-"

"He worries about you?"

"Well, yeah. Being with me in New York was dangerous. I tried to send him home to Japan several times but he always insisted" Ash looked for another word to replace insisted "he always refused to leave. We had become good friends. It would have been safer for him to go home but he stayed with me because I needed him to. I liked having him around." Ash finished. The blush had left his face and been replaced with a sappy smirk.

"You are selfless too, then. You try and send him home even though you did not want." Aki said with a smirk.

"I guess…" Ash answered with doubt. He'd never thought of himself as selfless before. Was she right?

"I know." She smiled and patted his shoulder. "Ok! All food is here!" She said pointing to their basket to indicate they'd bought everything on the list.

The sky was dark as they left the store. The wind roared through the trees with more force than before. It was about to rain any second. Ash looked at Aki. "Let me carry those," he said, taking her share of bags from her arms. "We should probably run if we don't want to get soaked-er, uh-wet."

Aki bent down and rolled up the legs of her pants. "Ok, let's go." She said determinedly.

Ash bit his lip to stop from smiling. She was too cute. 'That's where Eiji gets it.' He thought. They raced home but had only made it halfway when the rain started. By the time they got back, they were soaked to the bone. Ash had placed one bag beneath his shirt to keep it dry. Not that it mattered, his shirt was soaked and so were all the groceries. They stumbled in the front door, dripping all over the entryway.

Eiji and Miyuki, who had been sitting on the couch, jumped up as they entered the door. Miyuki fell to the floor laughing her head off. Eiji ran to get towels. Finally composing herself, Miyuki took the wet groceries to the kitchen. She and Eiji returned to the living room at the same time. Ash and Aki were struggling to take off their wet shoes. Eiji was laughing as he tossed his mom a towel. With the other towel, he wildly ruffled Ash's soaking wet hair. Miyuki flopped on the couch giddily at the sight.

"Good thing we have two showers." Eiji laughed. Ash took the towel from Eiji, starting to dry the rest of him.

"Shower?" Ash asked dramatically. "But I just had one!" He said, pretending to look shocked.

Aki laughed. "Well, I will have a shower." She said as she goofily pulled her wet hair out to the side of her head. She spoke quick Japanese as she met Ash's green gaze.

"You go get changed into dry clothes, Ash. You can hang your wet clothes in the laundry room. We still have a few hours before we need to start dinner, so make yourself at home until then. Take a nap if you'd like. But be warned it won't help with the jet lag." Eiji translated.

Ash bowed slightly "Thank you, Okumura-san."

"Mom is fine." She said to him and then made her way down the hall to the bathroom.

Ash's eyes widened in shock. He faced Eiji, his face bright red. "I can't possibly call her 'mom!'"

"She just said you could."

"Yeah, but, I can't actually call her that."

Eiji grabbed Ash by the shoulders, eliciting a gasp from Miyuki who was lounging on the couch.

"Like it or not, you're part of the family now. If she says you can call her that, you should." Eiji said reassuringly. "Don't wanna be rude, after all." He teased.

This was a much bigger deal to Ash than Eiji understood. Being accepted into their loving family was a dream come true. Without thinking he gave Eiji a tight hug.

"ASH! You're getting me WET!" Eiji protested.

From the couch, Miyuki watched with great enthusiasm, blushing furiously.

Ash released him with a laugh. "Whoops. Sorry, Ei-Chan."

Ash returned to the living room after changing into dry clothes. Miyuki was lying across one of the two couches reading a Japanese novel. Eiji was presumably in his room changing his now-wet, thanks to Ash, clothes. Ash sat on the couch opposite her.

"What ya reading, Mi-Chan?" He asked her curiously.

She blushed as her own name left his lips. "Oh, just some book for school." she snapped it shut with a thud and sat up, placing the book on the cushion beside her.

"I wouldn't have told Mom, ya know." She told him eagerly, her eyes finding his. "If you had stayed in Eiji's room last night. I wouldn't have told."

"What, I, uh-" Ash was flustered. That's the last thing he would have expected her to say.

"It's ok! I already know about you two." She said, misinterpreting Ash's reaction. "I heard you leaving last night and I thought about telling you then-that I wouldn't tell Mom, I mean, but I didn't want to embarrass you two."

"Ah, ok so you were what, just listening outside the door that whole time. And you think I'd want to know this becaussseee?" Ash said, squinting at her with a devilish grin. It was her turn to be flustered.

"What?! No, I wasn't trying to listen, I promise!" She said, holding out her hands in front of her. "I just heard the door close when you left, that's all! I didn't hear anything, honestly!" She finished frantically.

Ash's face went white as a ghost. Eiji's baby sister thought he'd banged her brother and then weaseled down to his own room like it was nothing. Ash shivered at the thought. It always had been that casual in the past, but the last thing Ash wanted it to be with Eij was casual. When it did finally happen, it would be treasured, sacred. This girl didn't understand his past or his trauma, so he couldn't hold it against her, but the assumption still hurt.

Miyuki stared at his sudden silence in horror. She knew she had said something wrong.

"You've got the wrong idea." He said finally. "Eiji and I-we aren't-we don't-and besides I wouldn't-not with you across the hall." He rubbed his forehead in frustration at his lack of coherent words. "Look, I get why it might look that way...but there's a lot about me you don't know-" He cut the sentence short. He really did not want to explain himself to her yet, but he also didn't want her getting the wrong idea. "My past hasn't exactly been easy. Physical...affection is hard for me, so it's really not like that….Anyway, the point is we were just talking until we both dozed off. That's it."

"I-I'm sorry, I-" She stuttered.

"It's ok. It'd probably be normal for other people, but I'm not exactly normal." Ash told her, his head facing the ground.

Eiji returned to the living room just then, only to find the mood had shifted dramatically. "Oh, no...What's happened?" His eyes narrowed at Miyuki suspiciously. He correctly assumed she accidentally said something triggering to Ash.

"Oh, Mi-Chan here," Ash said, gesturing to her. Miyuki looked horrified. "Wrongfully assumed we were banging last night." Ash said, his mood had shifted into its typical teasing state once again.

Miyuki hid her face with her book in shame. Eiji's face twisted in anger.

"Bang as in-"

"Yes, Eiji, of course." Ash said, sounding almost annoyed.

"Miyuki, what is wrong with you!?" Eiji raised his voice. He then switched to lecturing her in Japanese.

Ash rose, crossed the room, and placed a calming hand on Eiji's forearm. "It's ok, she didn't mean anything by it."

"It's so not ok, Ash-"

Ash interrupted him saying, "Only because you know me. It's okay, really."

Eiji looked past Ash at Miyuki. "It's still none of your business!"

"I know, I-I'm really sorry." Miyuki looked as if she might cry.

"Let's go for a walk, huh, Eiji?"

Eiji glanced out the window. For the most part, it had stopped raining. Only a light drizzle remained. A few umbrellas would take care of that.

"Yeah, alright." He told Ash softly. He then turned to Miyuki, his voice serious again. "Not a word of this to Mom. She still doesn't know." He warned.

"I really am sorry." Miyuki said, covering her face in shame.

"And it's really ok." Ash said, giving her head a reassuring pat as he passed her on his way to the door.

Once outside they walked in silence for a few moments before Ash spoke.

"She knows how we feel. We've been apart for months...it's a natural conclusion to draw." Ash said, again implying he himself was not normal.

"I still can't believe she'd have the nerve." Eiji said bitterly. He splashed his foot in a puddle as the word 'nerve' left his mouth.

"She was trying to be sweet."

Eiji glanced at him in confusion.

"She said she wouldn't have told if I had slept in your room." Ash clarified.

"So why'd you look so upset when I walked in?"

"Because she assumed we casually banged and then I just snuck back downstairs like it was nothing." Ash stopped walking. He watched the rain hit the pavement. "And you know-I thought of all the times Golzine's customers had done that to me-Not that I'd want them to stay, but you get it. And the thought of treating you like that made me sick." He said the last word as if he were spitting out poison. "And when we eventually do-I want it to be the furthest thing from casual."

"If we do." Eiji corrected, taking his hand.

"You don't want to?" Ash asked in shock.

"No...you don't want to."

Ash let out a huff of air. He felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him.

"Oh, Eiji…" he said, his voice filled with sorrow. "Believe me, I want to. I just…" His voice trailed off as he saw Eiji's eyes widen in surprise. "Wait...All this time you thought I'd never want to and it didn't bother you?!" Ash was dumbfounded. In all his years, he never imagined that someone would stay with him without ever expecting his body. "You really do love me…" He added quietly.

"Ash! Of course I love you!" Eiji said in utter disbelief. "And, yes, I want you...But only if that's what you want."

Their umbrellas knocked together as Eiji gave Ash a tight hug. Ash's arms rest lightly on Eiji's back, as if he couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened. They stood like that for some time, neither one wanting to let the other go.

"Ashu, that one." Aki told Ash pointing to the drawer that held the knives. She had noticed him rummaging around in the foreign kitchen.

Ash opened it and let out a puff of air somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. "I swear I looked here already." He grabbed a knife and began cutting the avocados.

As Ash prepared the salad, Aki prepared Daifuku, a traditional Japanese dessert. "You will love, Ashu." Aki told Ash as she prepared the ingredients. As he looked at the red bean paste, he wasn't so sure, but he hoped she was right.

Eiji was in a sedated mood since their walk. He sat watching TV on one of the sofas. Miyuki had retreated, presumably, to her room. Ash hadn't seen her since they left earlier. Once again, he and Aki were alone with only food as their company.

"Did you really mean it, when you said I should call you Mom?" Ash asked as he chopped the lettuce.

"Yes." She said simply as she measured her own ingredients. After a few seconds of silence, she added "Eiji says you do not have a mom anymore."

Ash looked up from his chopping.

"Everyone needs a mom. Moms take care of children, even the older ones. I think...you need someone to take care of you."

"So that's it? You can see right through me?" Just like Eiji, Aki could see that under his tough, and sometimes goofy, exterior, inside he was hurt. He did need someone to look after him, to care. In New York, just a few days back, that someone was Max. And of course, Eiji would always take care of him, but that was different. She was right, his heart ached for a mother but before today, he didn't even know it.

Aki chuckled at the phrase. "Ah, yes. I see through. In there" She reached out a hand and poked him in the center of his chest, "you hurt. I see it. We can be the family you never had."

For the second time that day, Ash felt like someone had just knocked the wind out of him. And for the second time that day, Aki had overwhelmed his heart with goodness he wasn't sure he deserved. He blinked away tears.

"Okumu-Mom." He began, correcting himself. "Can I hug you?"

She smiled at him and let out a little laugh. "Oh, Ashu, sons do not need to ask to hug their own mom." She told him as she set down her measuring spoon and gave him a tight, motherly hug.

Ash gently placed his hands on her back. Until now, Ash hadn't realized just how tiny she was. Her head landed just below his chest as she hugged him.

She pulled away and placed her hands on his upper arms. A funny smile crept onto her face. "You smell like Eiji." She told him with a wink.

Ash's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. A faint blush rose upon his pale skin. He was speechless.

Aki laughed softly at his reaction. "It is ok." She said with a wave of her hand. "Your answer today...in the store...told me. So, I already knew." She finished, tapping her temple with her index finger.

"I-uh-we-" he stuttered.

"Shhhh." She hissed, placing a finger to her lips. "I am happy. It is as I said. You need a family to take care of you. But you also need someone to love you. Everyone needs that. And Eiji loves you. I can see it."

Ash choked out a shocked sound that resembled a laugh. He leaned his elbows on the counter, shaking his head slowly as he smiled. Aki grinned as she watched him.

"Damn...you've got me all figured out, huh?"

"Yep!" She chirped, returning her attention to her recipe.

Ash composed himself after another moment and began measuring ingredients for the dressing.

'This family-my family-is really something else…' He thought to himself in absolute awe.

Ash volunteered to do the dishes after dinner. He insisted that Aki relax in front of the TV or with a good book. As he stood at the sink scrubbing their plates, Miyuki walked quietly into the kitchen. She held the family cat tightly to her chest, stroking it nervously.

"Umm, Ash?" She asked timidly.

Ash jumped, a fluff of bubbles floated into the air. Everyone in this family walked on clouds. The cat, spooked by the bubbles, jumped from Miyuki's arms and ran from the room.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Are you talking to me or the cat?" He teased. "I'm only kidding, it's all good." He said, glancing at her before returning his gaze to the dishes. "What's up?" He asked casually.

"I uh-feel terrible-about earlier. It was so wrong of me to say what I did." Her tone of voice was shy, yet very serious. This apology was different from the one she gave earlier.

"Did Eiji tell you?" He asked, his voice even.

"No. He didn't say anything to me. I've just been thinking-about what you said..." Her voice trailed off with uncertainty. "And well-I have some ideas as to what you meant."

"I've been abused," he started, eyes never leaving the sink. "Sexually abused. Raped." he clarified. Miyuki flinched at the harsh words. "Since I was eight. I won't go into more detail, but you deserve to know that at least."

Miyuki's legs suddenly couldn't support her body. She sank down to the kitchen tile. Ash halfway turned to look at her, his soapy hands still in the sink. The corner of his mouth twitched in some sort of sad half-smile.

"I know," he sighed loudly, "disgusting." He turned back around. "But your brother...he was the first person to treat me right. But that's why we don't, ya know. Not yet, at least." Ash added the last sentence because he refused to believe it would never happen. He wouldn't let Golzine take that from him.

"I'm the worrrst." Miyuki whined. She felt like the scum of the Earth.

"You didn't know." He said simply. Although her words earlier had hurt, he knew there was no bite behind them. There was no part of him that was angry at her.

"Wanna make it up to me?" He said in a much lighter voice.

"YES!" She jumped off the floor.

"Help me learn Japanese?" He asked with a smile. "Eiji told me you're really good with languages. I mean I can tell, your English is amazing. But I bet you're a good teacher too."

"I tutor English at my school! I'd love to help you learn!" She said excitedly.

She rushed over to the sink and stood near Ash. She picked up a hand towel. "Scoot over, I'll dry." She said, bonking her hip against him to get him to move.

Ash laughed and bonked her back. Just like Aki, Ash hadn't realized how small Miyuki was until then. His nudge sent her stumbling. She laughed as she regained her balance.

"Your mom knows. Figured it out on her own. Actually, I kinda gave it away at the store today. Although, I have a hunch she already suspected us." Ash told Eiji as they sat together on Eiji's bed.

"And?" Eiji asked curiously. He showed no hint of worry. After all, he knew his mom well, he was certain she'd be okay with the two of them being together.

"She told me she was happy about it. She's got me nailed down pretty well." Ash said, looking slightly amused.

"How so?"

"She said she was happy to be the mom I never had. She told me that she could tell I was hurting inside, that I needed a family to take care of me." He paused and looked into Eiji's giant dark eyes. "And she said I needed someone to love me...And that someone is you."

Ashed reached over and tucked a strand of Eiji's impossibly soft hair behind his ear. His hand lingered on his jawline. "May I?"

Eiji answered him with a kiss. They kissed for a long while. Long, slow, gentle, and calculated kisses. It had been a strange day filled with ups and downs. Ash had told Eiji about his conversation with Miyuki in the kitchen. Eiji knew that was no easy conversation. So now, he tried his best to keep things light. He wanted Ash to feel at ease, relaxed, and, above all, safe. He didn't want him to worry about Eiji asking to take things further. So he went slow and careful.

A shrill alarm jolted them back to reality. Just like the night before, Eiji set an alarm so Ash could fall asleep and move to his own bed later. Only this time, they hadn't fallen asleep. They broke apart breathing hard. Ash got up, opened and closed the door, and then sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Hopefully that tricks Miyuki." Ash huffed.

"As if she'd ever say another word about it."

Ash was already climbing back up the bed. He leaned over Eiji, already kissing him again, this time with slightly more urgency. Eiji's arms wrapped around his neck. A soft, breathy moan escaped Eiji's lips as Ash slid his tongue over Eiji's and his hands found their way under his shirt. Eiji fought the urge to weave his fingers through Ash's hair. Last time they were here, that's what caused everything to go wrong.

Ash pulled back to admire Eiji. His face was beautifully flushed, pupils dilated. His lips were red and puffy from kissing Ash. He looked helplessly in love and...aroused. Ash felt strangely proud. Ash was in a similar state as Eiji gazed back upon his face.

"You're turned on." Ash stated simply as if it were a fact. As if he'd simply said 'it's raining' or 'we're in Japan.'

He expected Eiji to get flustered at his words, but he didn't. Instead, Eiji simply said, "Well, yeah," in an amused tone. After their conversation that afternoon, they both understood where they stood. Still, Eiji expected nothing. He wouldn't let himself.

"Let me help you with that?" Ash asked with a devilish grin, his pupils blown so wide that Eiji wondered if they'd soon swallow up all the remaining green.

A fraction of Ash was disappointed he still hadn't managed to fluster Eiji. He thought that would get him for sure.

"Depends on what you mean by that." Eiji replied with half-closed eyelids.

"Well…" Ash said, leaning down to kiss Eiji's jaw. "How would you normally handle it on your own?"

This did fluster Eiji. "Ash!" He said, startled.

Ash laughed against his jaw. "Just trying to get a rise out of you." He mumbled into his skin. Ash moved his attention to Eiji's neck, continuing to mumble words into his skin. "But I'm serious-" he continued to kiss him, "-I can sort you out. Give your right-hand man a day off."

This elicited another shocked gasp from Eiji. Ash laughed into his neck as he continued to kiss him, working his way to his collarbones. His hands continued to explore Eiji's skin under his shirt.

"And you?" Eiji managed to ask between impossibly quiet moans that sounded more like breaths.

Ash broke away from Eiji's skin to meet his eyes. "I can't handle it yet. I think I'd freak out. But that doesn't mean you need to be denied." He brought his lips back to the base of Eiji's neck, slowly finding his way to the edge of his shirt, right in the middle of his collarbones.

"Come on, don't leave me hanging here, Ei-Chan." He murmured softly, awaiting Eiji's delayed response. When Eiji still didn't answer, he pulled back to look at him. "I guess that's a 'no.'" Ash said. His expression was perfectly neutral, he'd made sure of it.

"It's...not a 'no.'" Eiji said slowly. "...I'd like that…" He continued cautiously.

"But?" Ash asked, his face still neutral. He was trying desperately to figure Eiji out.

"But if you're offering out of a sense of obligation, then the answer would be no." Eiji said, finally finishing his thought. "And I expect you to be truthful with me, Ash." He added.

Ash flopped onto his back so that he was now lying beside Eiji. It was much easier to talk at the ceiling. "Yeah, it's something like that." He said beside him. "I do want to, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it scared me. Smaller things have freaked me out. I might spiral into a panic." He said, thinking of the night on the couch when Eiji had grabbed his hair.

"Either way is okay, Ash." Eiji said, speaking to the ceiling as well. "It's perfectly fine if we leave it here for tonight. Or if you wanna try and need to stop, that's ok too. It's your decision."

In a flash, Ash was leaning over Eiji again. "I like option two." He said, staring into Eiji's still-dilated eyes.

"And you promise you'll stop if you need to? That you'll worry about yourself first?" Eiji asked seriously.

"Because you're a big boy who can sort himself out if he needs to?" Ash teased.

"I'm serious, Ash."

"Yeah, ok, I promise." Ash said, brushing Eiji's bangs away from his face to give his hands something to do.

"Good. I'll hold you to it."

"I know you will. That's why I like you so much." Ash smiled before leaning down to kiss Eiji again.

Things heated back up quickly and suddenly Ash was helping Eiji out of his shirt. Ash lazily tossed it to the floor and then hastily returned his lips to Eiji's body as if he were going somewhere. Eiji's hands returned to Ash's back, gripping the fabric of his t-shirt as if it were the only thing keeping him on Earth. This was uncharted territory. Ash kissed a path down Eiji's sternum and then trailed to the right. Eiji let out a small gasp as Ash kissed his nipple, tasting him as he did so. The sensation was electric, more so than Eiji could have imagined.

"Ash!" Eiji whispered into the dim light. It was late, Miyuki was certainly asleep by now, after all, she had school in the morning. And the fan near the door likely drowned out any sounds they made. Still, Eiji didn't want to risk it.

Ash decided it was time. In a moment he may freak out and run from the room. But he didn't care. He wanted to at least try. He lifted his head for a brief moment, admiring the state he'd put Eiji in. He took in a deep breath and then released it. His mouth returned to Eiji's chest and his hand went south. He hesitated only a fraction of a second before pushing beneath the two layers of fabric. He found him more than ready as he took him in his hand.

Eiji moaned, this time louder than he anticipated, but still nothing that could be heard from the other room. Eiji gripped the fabric of Ash's shirt impossibly tighter. His fingers dug into Ash's skin. Ash's hand masterfully went to work, stoking the length of him slowly, dragging it out. This was Eiji's first time being touched by another person, Ash knew he wouldn't last long. Still, he wanted to draw it out as long as possible. Eiji was throbbing in his hand as Ash slowly pulled him apart. Eiji was breathing heavily, his grip on Ash continued to increase, surely leaving marks on his skin.

"Ash" he moaned into the night.

Ash knew he was on the edge. He quickened his pace, causing Eiji's back to arch. Eiji quietly moaned his name several more times into the air. Ash lifted his head and watched Eiji as he came beneath him.

Eiji was in a pleasure-induced haze. He was vaguely aware that Ash was now cleaning them up with tissues. Ash then lay beside Eiji again, kissing his temples lovingly.

"I'm so glad we went with option two." Ash whispered against his skin.

"Yeah," Eiji said breathlessly. "That was fantastic." He felt Ash smile against his cheekbone.

Eiji rolled on his side to face Ash. "You must be aching." He said with concern. It was true, Ash's body ached for release.

"I'm a big boy, I can sort myself out." Ash smirked.

"Well, why don't you go take care of things and then come back to join me?"

Ash smiled and kissed Eiji's forehead before standing. "Yeah, alright. Give me five minutes."

He quietly left and returned several minutes later. He got back in bed and snuggled up close to Eiji, laying his head against his still bare chest.

Eiji was suddenly exhausted as he spoke softly to Ash. "So everything was okay this time?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, you have no idea how much I appreciate you asking." He said, nuzzling closer, taking in the scent of him. "I think that's just the way it will be. Sometimes I'll be able to fully enjoy pleasuring you...and other times something as small as kissing will send me spiraling. And maybe someday, if we're lucky, I'll be able to let you touch me."

Eiji placed a kiss into his hair and held him tighter. "Then we'll just work through it together. And I'll always respect your decision to stop-or never start in the first place."

"God, Eiji, you're perfect." Ash whispered, placing a chaste kiss on his sternum.

They held each other lovingly as their breathing slowed, their eyes got heavy, and their brains went offline for the night.