A Cup of Lust, Beauty and Affairs
Summary:Taichi, a photographer and artist fascinated by the beauty of the world, becomes captivated by the beauty of a customer at his parent's coffee shop. Innocent desires soon blaze into an unforgettable, insatiable affair. (Taito)
D-Angel: Hola, I bring you another jolly June update from the story I am most thoroughly enjoying writing at the moment. I thought I'd be polite as well and exclusively reply to all those who reviewed the last chapter, right here, right now ;)
Minako-Akemi - Thanks for waiting anxiously, here's the next chapter!
Krad - Kraddy! I'm glad it totally made your day, hope this has a similar effect. Couldn't write the smexiness without you lovely guys tbh.
PinkBrideGoneWrong - :D I'll do my best to keep up the good work for you.
Angelfish369 - Hey you :) Thanks for sticking by me over the past few years! I promise not to disappoint you. They'll be plenty more sweet, hot and moments of frustration to follow.
solent silver - Thank you muchly. I'm glad you noticed about the nightclub thing (note that the bar they went into, Zaru, is also a real place too). I want this story to have a raw edge of realism, so did some research into Tokyo nightlife. Womb seems like such an amazing place, hehe.
Dynamite to White Balls - Gawd I love you! Hope you enjoy this chappy.
shadowdolls - The first line of your review = brilliant! And, there's no way in hell I'm giving up on this baby, not yet. I've come too far! And I've got many things left in store.
poobaoger - I do try :) My intention is to keep you all craving another cup of sweet, yet maybe bittersweet coffee.
Basically, from here onwards I will do my upmost to reply to reviews via PM, obviously unless they're anonymous :P I'll probably just reply to those ones in le following chapter. Oh, and as always, feel free to PM me. I love a good chat.
Anyways, don't let me keep you! Please, read on...
Rating: T / Borderline M
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Chapter 7 His Bitter Reservations
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'Why do you build me up, buttercup, baby, just to let me down?'
One of the most frustrating things with being a photographer was that it wasn't often the most reliable source of income. Summer was starting to merge into autumn and I was beginning to struggle. I needed all the money I could muster together to pay for this month's electric bill and next month's rent. Even the money from the FRUiTS photographs hadn't lasted that long, and working at my parent's coffee shop for a bit of extra cash was never nearly as fun when Yamato was absent.
Since I wasn't quite yet a household name in the art industry, there were often week long draughts when it came to finding work. The competition was simply too hot, particularly when it came to wedding and birthday based photography. Unfortunately, most people would much rather prefer to go for cheap and cheerful, and moan about the disappointing results, than pay a few hundred yen extra for a more professional and worthwhile consequence.
On a particular Saturday morning in August I was slumped on the sofa chewing on a piece of buttered toast and checking my emails on my laptop. I had almost given up the hope of finding any work again when the cordless phone started to ring. When I leant over and saw the familiar number flashing up on the small LCD display screen I eagerly stretched out and snatched the phone out of its cradle.
"Isamu-kun," I greeted with a cheerful tone. Komatsu Isamu was my wonderful agent and close friend from senior high school who I had heavily relied on finding me work from the very moment I had launched my creative career. I honestly would have slept with him years ago if he hadn't decided to be straight.
"Tai, I have snagged you a big, big job!" I instantly jumped up onto my feet. Isamu had one of those enthusiastic story-telling voices, the sort which people found difficult to ignore.
"Go on," I beckoned, intrigued at just how big this job actual was.
"Two words; Vertical Illusion."
The phone almost slipped out from my hand. Vertical Illusion. That band was incredible; I had seen them live a couple of times with Mimi, Hikari and Miyako (one of my sister's best friends). They had formed almost two years ago, and thanks to their poetic lyrics and edgy rocky style combined with their raw talent and likeability factor (four smoking hot guys, what's not to love?), they had sky rocketed to fame across the far East barely a month after launching their first album.
Now, two albums down the line, with their third about to be released they were focusing on gaining recognition across the globe, therefore there had been talks about them organising a worldwide tour.
They were currently polishing up their new album at Avex Trax's recording studio and afterwards had planned to take a few photos for the album cover and other promotional purposes. However, apparently the band's usual photographer had managed to tumble down a flight of stairs, breaking both his arms and a leg in the process.
"So they've personally requested you," Isamu revealed as I paced excitedly around the room, "after Takumi saw your online portfolio."
"No way!" I spluttered, feeling somewhat light headed as I peered down at the coffee table, my eyes locking onto the local TV guide which coincidently had an image of Vertical Illusion (dressed in sexy leather and black tinted sunglasses) slapped on the front with text underneath that read 'The boys are back in town!' The thought of such a band personally requesting me was ego enhancing enough, but hearing that Takumi had been the main influence behind that decision was something on a whole new level of self-esteem boosting.
Banshou Takumi was the luscious lead singer and lead guitarist of the band. He had fortunately been blessed with star quality looks; a strong and narrow jaw line, luscious almond-shaped emerald eyes and chin-length spiky black hair, which at one stage used to hang down to his waist.
Being twenty-four years old, he was only two years older than me. He was known as a bit of an enigma, particularly after being spotted with female and male lovers over the current duration of the band's fame. A lot of people were certain he was gay though, and that the girls he had been photographed with were just clever decoys to keep the band's female audience believing they stood a chance with him.
"Please say you're interested," Isamu persisted, snapping me out from my Takumi plagued daydream "I've got the band's publicity manager on the other line."
"Isamu, why did you even phone me?" I questioned, scratching the crown of my head with my free hand. "You know this is a dream come true for me."
"I know." I could only imagine Isamu was smirking at this point. "But I wanted to hear your excitement. Bear with me for a second then."
As Isamu put me on hold to discuss things with Vertical Illusion's publicity manager, I ended up waltzing around the room to Isamu's delightful hold music (Frédéric Chopin, Prelude Op.28 No.15 'Raindrop'), unable to stop a chuckle of disbelief from venturing out of my mouth. Finally, after what seemed like a stretched eternity, Isamu took me off hold and briefed me with all the details (nature of the shoot and timings), which I willingly soaked into my brain.
"Oh, and Takumi's been warned about you," Isamu jokingly added, or at least I hoped so. I didn't think I was that bad when it came to flirting. "So you'd best behave."
A slight chuckle fell from my lips.
"Of course, thanks dude; I'm forever in your debt for this. My body is officially yours to do what you please with..."
"...Hmm, nice try, but you know I don't swing that way."
"Worth a shot," I teased, peeping over at a framed photograph, perched on a shelf next to the open archway that led into the kitchen, of Isamu standing beside me on our school field with a bright grin on his face, his arm hanging casually over my shoulder. A couple of our other friends were posing next to us in matching uniforms and sporting equally bad hairstyles. It was a generic yet significant 'last day at senior high school' picture.
"But honestly, Isamu, you are fricking awesome."
Isamu ended the call stating he would email me over all the information I needed and expected me to be at the right location in a fortnight's time. There were still butterflies fluttering in the pit of my stomach as I washed up my plate and the other bits of dirty cutlery floating around my sink from last night's dinner.
I couldn't wait to tell Yamato the news. Being a musician himself I was certain he'd be thrilled I'd been offered such a unique and potentially career advancing opportunity.
I already knew it was going to change my life, but I just didn't realise how much it actually would…
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I met up with Yamato in the coffee shop the Monday after next, before his shift at The Broken String. As usual my Mum enthusiastically greeted Yamato the second he set foot into the shop and almost immediately brought over his usual simple cup of coffee to our table. She then left us to our usual half an hour of enjoying each other's company.
"So, what's this good news?" Yamato asked his hand tracing against my own before he reached for the sugar and sprinkled a small amount into his drink. I started to jiggle my leg up and down like an over excited child, a habit that annoyed a lot of my friends and family.
Now we were finally together, face-to-face, I couldn't wait to tell him about Vertical Illusion; I was almost at the point of bursting. Last weekend I had sent Yamato a text stating I had some incredible news to tell him. I would have arranged to meet up sooner, but he'd been busy spending the week with Sora; some sort of special anniversary which he'd been very vague about.
During Yamato's absence I'd missed our steamy nights of snuggling up on my sofa, sipping wine, exchanging fond memories and relishing skin to skin contact. Maybe I was being selfish, but I envied Sora so much for having him. It was why I at least wished for him to be proud, like a doting lover would be over their partner, and pleased that my photography career was on the verge of a potential breakthrough.
"This upcoming Friday, I've been asked to do a promo-shoot for Vertical Illusion!" I revealed, clasping my hands together whilst I grinned from ear to ear, perhaps even managing to put the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland to shame. Eagerly I waited, but as the seconds eased by, Yamato had not even battered an eyelid. His reaction was taking too long, blood rushed straight to my ears and my heart felt like it was about to leap out from my mouth.
"Oh." He finally breathed one simple syllable with not a drop of sentiment in it. The muscles in his face barely twitched; his expression remained deadly seriously, and somewhat sombre, like a picture perfect still image.
When I repeated the single syllable he had uttered, only adding an uplifting curl of inflection, his eyes softened with what I could only describe as sympathy.
"You know who they are, right?" I thought I'd ask, in case there was a small chance he had never heard of them- of course, you'd have to be living under a rock for the past two years to not to have least listened to one of their songs on the radio.
To my relief Yamato nodded. He started to tap his nails rhythmically against the rim of his coffee cup before staring down at the dark liquid within. Whatever melody he was producing with his musical fingers, it certainly didn't belong to a Vertical Illusion song.
"I'm not really a fan," Yamato's tone sounded strained, like his thoughts were dwelling on something remorseful. Annoyance started to coarsen through my body when he took a couple of sips of his coffee as he glanced out the window. Clearly he had no intention to carry the conversation any further, deliberately attempting to leave me in the blue.
I squirmed in my seat, wishing I had a drink to gulp down to distract myself from wanting to press further into the matter.
"How can you not be a fan?" I eventually blurted out, unable to conceal the bewilderment in my voice, "The lead singer's amazing."
I expected a smirk to stretch across his face, but to my dismay his deadpan expression remained. A strange essence of fear crept across the back of my neck. I cringed at the rattling sound that was made as he set his empty coffee cup back onto its saucer in a similar fashion to a Judge placing down their gavel.
"They're a sell out; to them it's all about the fame, all about the money. There's no real depth to their music," Yamato spoke coldly, his left hand gripping against the edge of the table. "Only naïve school girls like that sort of crap."
Ignoring the fact that Yamato had thrown an unnecessary insult straight at me, I was determined to stand my ground.
"No way, Takumi-san even writes his own songs!" I protested, remembering an article I had read in one of Mimi's gossip magazines. Before I had even reached the end of my statement, Yamato let out a low but brief chuckle and I creased my eyebrows inwards.
"Do you believe everything you read?" Yamato asked in a sharp sarcastic tone, his hand now stroking the underside of his chin. Each word that fell from his pretty lips made my chest ache. Unlike previous occasions when he had made snide or self-absorbed comments without managing to sound like a pompous brat, this time he'd failed.
Somehow I'd definitely hit a raw spot, a peculiar one indeed. Still, it had unveiled an imperfect side of Yamato, which I had never seen before, and I didn't like it at all.
As the sound of my Mum nattering away to an elderly customer fought back a well-deserved wave of silence, Yamato checked his watch whilst I quickly stole a glance at the time flashing up on the display of my phone. We both realised, despite it was only 8:30am, there was nothing left for us to talk about now. A sour mood had been set, and the conversation that would have followed would have only been strained.
Yamato reached into his wallet and pulled out a couple of crisp notes. As he stood up I held back my fury as he tossed the money down onto the table, before ironing down a subtle crease in the unbuttoned black military blazer he was wearing.
"I'll see you later." Yamato lightly squeezed my shoulder before he made his exit.
I slumped back on my seat and swallowed back the bitter pill of rejection Yamato had thrown my way. I couldn't understand why he had acted like a jerk. Surely he should have been excited for me, even if he wasn't a huge fan of Vertical Illusion? Perhaps Sora was a diehard fan and annoyed him with her non-stop ranting about how awesome they were? Then again, I wasn't convinced she was a Vertical Illusion fan; she didn't strike me as the rock music loving type.
Without thinking, I grabbed my phone off the table's edge and flicked through my phonebook until I reached Mimi's name. My thumb hovering over the call button, I sighed, shutting my eyes as I hit the cancel button and slid my phone back into my pocket.
As I continued on with the day I tried to convince myself Yamato was inwardly pleased for me; but after seeing several couples strolling down the street, hand in hand, I soon realised that it was a childish thing to fret over. In reality, he wasn't my boyfriend and our relationship wasn't normal. We couldn't even describe ourselves as friends; after all, we'd gone way beyond that stage.
Reality suddenly dawned. Yamato was always going to put Sora before me, whilst he was still with her. The importance of her happiness weighed a lot more than mine.
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Song lyrics (At the beginning of the chapter)
The Foundations - 'Build Me Up Buttercup'
D-Angel: And there we have Tai's and Yama's first little 'disagreement'! Couldn't keep things peaceful forever, had to inject a bit of conflict. I intended on adding another scene or two to this chapter, before I realised I may be overdoing things (don't want to ruin the pace!). But yeah, the whole Vertical Illusion band thing is going to play an important part in this story, it's not just something completely random I decided to add (foreshadowing much, ey, poobaoger? -wink wink, nudge nudge-).
But yeah, as always, your constructive criticism, views, ramblings are very much welcome. Thanks for all the support so far! I'll try to update this story next in early August at the latest.
Anyways, I'll be seeing you next chapter! x x x
D-Angel
21/06/11
PM me if you want me, hehe