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.
D-Angel: Hey everyone, hope all is well. I'm still trying to fix my computer, but my netbook is currently acting as a nice little replacement (at least for writing stuff since it only has 1GB of RAM).
Anyways, here are le replies to le reviews ;)
VidoraBlack: Thanks :) I'll sort myself out eventually! In the meanwhile, I shall continue to write wonderful chapters for your viewing pleasure.
DarkMetalAngel of Destruction: Thanks :)
HIKED: I feel a bit guilty as I used to take agggges to update (I believe my worse being two years). I was juggling about four or five different stories at the time though. This story is the only fanfic I'm actively working on now, so that's why my updates have been more constant this year.
melry: Yes, he is the biggest douchebag ever xD It's what makes him a fun character to write about. I'm trying hard to not paint him as a 2D villian though!
Pied Piper: Aww, I'm glad you've enjoyed the ride so far (Loving your name by the way!). Doing my best to keep the dialogue and descriptions fresh, especially now I'm 20 chapters in (and there's likely to be another 6 or 7 plus to go).
Caliboy: Ahh, can't believe you're a married man now! I still remember when you were like 16, haha. And yes, that window scene with Takumi was a delight to write (unintentional rhyming!). Glad you liked the end of the last chapter; was a tricky one to do! It's now literally make or break from here on out ;)
Jordan3Daikeru: Haha, dare I say he's probably only to go down even further in your estimates in future as well? Luckily, he's not in this chapter :) Enjoy!
That's it for now! Please scroll on (if you haven't already!).
Chapter 20 Astringent Memories
'Let's unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words'
That afternoon, I received a call from Isamu. The good news, he was alive, obviously. The bad, he was not happy with me, not in the slightest. When he swung by my flat the following morning; I was so relieved to see his face, and to have my phone back. I noted the missed calls and texts flashing on the display screen, but opted to look at them later. Firstly, there were a few things I was eager to find out.
After brewing up a fresh batch of coffee, we settled down on my sofa, amongst the numerous collection of cardboard boxes.
"When you borrowed my phone, why did you call Yamato?" It was a question that had been plaguing my mind since Yamato had revealed to me that he had received a panicked phone call from Isamu that night.
"As you were drunk, you may not recall, but Takumi briefly mentioned Yamato that night, something about him disliking whiskey." Isamu paused to ensure I was still listening before he continued. "It seemed logical that he was referring to the Yamato you were seeing. I phoned him to let him know that you were with Takumi and he was plying you with alcohol and asked him if I should be concerned."
Yamato wanted to come into town to 'rescue me', but Isamu discouraged him, stating that he would ensure I ended up returning home with him, rather than Takumi. Apparently we all left the venue together that night and had hopped into a limousine where Takumi had promised that the driver would stop by Isamu's house to drop us both off.
"When we arrived, you refused to get out," Isamu explained, setting his coffee mug down onto the table. "You wanted to stay with Takumi, and he didn't exactly discourage that idea either."
As Isamu continued to talk, I attempted to dig deep into the darkest recesses of my brain, trying to recollect the limousine journey, but I still couldn't recall a thing after passing out at the venue. Not even the smallest snippet.
"I only remember waking up in his hotel room," I confessed, tapping my fingers against my cup of coffee. The frown on Isamu's brow deepened.
"Takumi isn't right for you, Tai."
"I know," I replied.
"You do?" Isamu arched an eyebrow, as if he thought he knew me all too well, that I would succumb to desire if I ever happened to see Takumi again. I parted my lips, ready to give him my explanation, just as the bedroom door creaked open. Out stepped Yamato dressed in the jeans and t-shirt he had worn yesterday, which were now slightly crinkled
"Sorry for oversleeping," Yamato said, his voice still tired as he made his way across the room. When he finally realised Isamu was sat next to me, eyes studying him, his cheeks turned red. My mouth lifted into a smirk. Despite the confident front he put on, he was a shy guy at heart, and I found it delectable.
"Yamato, there's fresh coffee in the kitchen." I wished I could roll back into bed with him. "You may want to reheat it though."
"Do you mind if I grab a shower first?" Actually, joining him for a shower seemed equally as enticing.
"No worries, I left a towel on the radiator for you," I replied, and sent a wink in his direction. Next to me, I could sense the amusement radiating from Isamu now that his question had been answered. The leather creaked against Isamu's trousers as he sat up. I watched suspiciously as he made way over to Yamato with a wide smile on his face.
"Pleased to meet you, Ishida-san." Isamu bowed. Yamato returned the gesture, his face still flushed.
"Likewise, Komatsu-san." Yamato smiled politely before he excused himself and disappeared into the bathroom. I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty- Yamato had known that Isamu was coming over, I just hadn't told him what time.
"His fiancée, is it over between them?" Isamu asked, never one to miss a beat. I nodded; the news was still fresh.
A day after Sora was discharged from hospital, she told Yamato that she was going to stay with her parents for a while. Apparently she just needed a bit of time to herself. After she left, he found her engagement ring sitting on the dining room table, on top of a sealed envelope. Yamato said he didn't have to read the letter; he already knew what had written.
"So, Yamato's living here now?" Isamu continued to probe as he retrieved his coffee mug from the table, his tone lightning. He actually seemed to approve of the idea.
"I said he could stay here overnight, he only had an empty home to return to otherwise." I still had the image in my mind of Yamato wandering around alone in that beautiful house of his, sadness swirling in his eyes.
"Why not move into his place?" It was a valid question, what with my lease running out a few days after the New Year. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple.
"Sora still has access and she's likely to come back to pick her stuff up," I explained, scratching the back of my neck. "Beside, I'd rather we set up our own home, once the dust settles."
I still had to work out what I would do once my lease was up. Most likely, I would move back in with my parents until Yamato and I found our own place to live, which I hoped wouldn't take too long.
"Honestly, Tai, I never thought I'd see you settle down," Isamu teased.
I sunk back into the sofa and smiled loosely. I never thought I would either. I'd never particularly wanted to share the rest of my life with anyone else. In all honesty, my infatuation for Yamato had expired long ago. Somehow it had developed into something stronger, deeper.
Now it was the real deal, and, as thrilling as it was, it was also terrifying.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"No, I'm not cutting your hair."
"Please!" Yamato propped his chin on my chest and peered up at me with wide eyes.
"No. I'll mess it up and then you'll dump me and hate me forever," I said, closing my eyes, relishing his heavenly scent and the rogue strands of his golden locks tickling my skin.
"I won't. Besides, you're good with your hands," Yamato said, tracing his digits against the back of my left hand, sending an immediate tremble down my spine. Personally, I knew I was rubbish when it came to hairdressing. I had attempted to cut Hikari's hair one time when I was about ten. She ended up with a hairstyle that rivalled Lady Gaga's.
"Just because I'm good with a paintbrush doesn't mean I'm the same with scissors." If only it did work that way. Hairdressers always had a steady stream of business, whereas photographers had to rely on their competitors not undercutting them.
The bedsprings groaned underneath us as Yamato suddenly clambered on top of me, his legs straddling my torso as his hands caressed my shaft. Moments later, I was inside him, revelling in an endless flow of addictive sensations. We'd spent the entire day this way. In fact, over the past week there had been so much sex, I was worried we would eventually tire of it.
Somehow, in-between the passion, Yamato had managed to return to his house a few times to change clothes and what not, and also attend his shifts at The Broken String, whilst I painted and attended a couple of photo shoots.
As a bid to keep things fresh, we'd celebrated our first dinner out together as a proper couple a few days ago. Not at a fancy restaurant, just a quaint little noodle bar in Shibuya, where we spent most the night devouring greasy dishes, chugging back bottles of beer and chatting about our fondest childhood memories. It was an insightful experience indeed.
Once our moans subsided, Yamato rolled off me, face flushed, sweat sticking the strands of his fringe together. Untidy hair suited him, I decided.
"You should grow your hair out."
"It was longer when I was younger, almost shoulder length," Yamato replied as he reached across for the baby wipes. As we cleaned ourselves up, I tried to picture him with long, luscious hair. I had no doubt it had suited him thanks to his effeminate facial features. It brought back a strange memory from almost a decade ago as well…
Yamato arched an eyebrow as I stumbled out of the bed, almost taking the covers with me. Perhaps I was still buzzing from the sex, but I decided that I wanted to show him an embarrassing secret of mine.
Navigating my way through the mass of cardboard boxes on the floor, wobbling as one almost tripped me up, then swearing as another dug into my shin, I finally reached and knelt by the intended box, digging around until I came across a hardback dark blue photo album with 2001 - 2002 engraved on the front and spine.
Cradling it underneath my arm, I returned to the bed , flicking on the bedside lamp before I sat down next to Yamato and flipped it open. On the first page, a chubby faced teenager stared back at us with a wide grin. Yamato snorted in amusement. "You look like Goku!"
It was true. With my brown hair standing tall and sticking up wildly in all directions, I looked as if I had placed my finger in a plug socket. Being a stubborn young teenager at the time, I refused to let anyone touch my hair, hence why it had grown into a wild bush. Then, when I turned fifteen, I reached the stage where I started to care about my appearance, so had my wild mane snipped into a stylish crop.
"At least it's not at that stage yet," Yamato teased, ruffling his fingers through my messy hair. He flipped over to the next page, eyes widening in an instance. "Wow, never knew you were into football."
I glanced down at the photo of me dressed in my football kit, standing on the school pitch with the rest of my team mates, proudly holding up the medals we had won for some competition.
"Yeah, I wasn't too bad either," I bragged.
"Sports were never my thing," Yamato confessed, as he turned over to the next page of embarrassing photos. "I was the skinny pale child who was always picked last for everything." A forlorn glimmer flashed across his irises. My chest tightened. The thought of anyone bullying him made my blood run cold, even if they only were in his past.
"I usually hid out in an empty classroom during gym class. Just me and my guitar. That's how I met Makoto," he explained. I instantly scrunched up my nose at the mention of his name. "He heard me playing one day and invited me to join him in the music room for a jam session. We formed our first band a few weeks later."
Hearing about Yamato's escapades with Makoto in the music room, I thought I'd be jealous; but instead, I was intrigued. For some reason the more he opened up to me about his past, the more I wanted to know everything I possibly could about him. I willed for him to keep talking, but instead he resumed flicking through the pages of my photo album, chuckling softly at the occasional picture.
"You'll have to show me your embarrassing school photos," I said, nudging my foot against his leg when he reached the final page.
"I'll see if I can find any back at my place," Yamato replied, forcing a small smile as he closed the album and ran his thumb against the cover. I snuck a quick glance at my bedside clock then rubbed a hand against my empty belly as it started to grumble.
"Do you wanna eat out or stay in?" Yamato asked, crawling across the mattress so he could reach over the opposite edge of the bed to retrieve his clothes, rewarding me with a delightful view of his firm backside.
In the end, I decided we should eat out; I could just about afford it, and some fresh air was probably needed considering we had spent the whole day indoors.
I clambered off the bed and made my way over to the door and flicked on the light switch, squinting until my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the bulb above. I then gazed at my reflection in the full-length mirror next to the door, raking my fingers through my overgrown mop of hair before peering over my shoulder at Yamato, who was pulling on his jeans.
"Would you cut my hair?" I asked, out of curiosity more than anything.
Yamato's lips curled into a small smirk. "Got any scissors?"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Sitting in my parents front room with a warm glass of mulled wine clasped in one hand, I peered across at my image in the frosted window and grinned as I brushed my fingers through my shorter hairdo. It was going to take a little while to get used to, but Yamato had still done a decent job. His endless talents never ceased to amaze me.
I was so excited about spending Christmas Eve with him. In general, I'd always loved Christmas time. When I was younger it was mainly for the presents and being allowed to stay up late, but as I got older it became an excuse to eat and drink in excess without anyone judging me.
When it came to Christmas Eve, I always ensured I had a date- after all, apart from Valentine's Day, it was meant to be one of the most romantic times of the year, which usually guaranteed a steamy end to the night. Over the years I had discovered that a few restaurants and love hotels disapproved of same sex couples; fortunately, the ones I liked the most were tolerant.
With Yamato, I wanted our first Christmas to be special. I had an awesome night in mind, which I unveiled to him whilst he was in my kitchen preparing dinner.
"Really sorry, but I've already made plans with my family." A heavy sense of disappointment weighed my stomach down when he explained that because some of his family were part American, they always had a big gathering at Christmas time as a tradition.
"Can I come with you?" I asked, grabbing two wine glasses from the kitchen cabinet. I quite liked the idea of meeting his family, especially if they were as talented at cooking as he was.
When I glanced back over at Yamato, he was staring down at the veg he was about to slice and dice.
"Tai, my family still think I'm with Sora," he replied uneasily, tapping his fingers against the granite work surface, "I would have a lot of explaining to do if I turned up with you on my arm."
As much as his rejection stung, I could see how that would be awkward for him and I didn't want to force him into a situation like that. He was going to have a hard enough time justifying Sora's absence as it was. My presence was only going to make things worse.
In the end, Yamato reassured me he would return in time for New Years Eve, and bring back an awesome present, which was a fair enough compromise in my eyes. I had organised a gathering at my flat to bid it farewell, and to celebrate the New Year and my new start with Yamato. To prevent myself from getting bored and lonely before then, I decided to spend a few days with my own family and a couple of friends.
As expected, Hikari, who had recently become single, was thrilled to see me on Christmas Eve, although I knew secretly she was hoping to find out more about who I was dating. I kept a tight lip on the subject however, but promised I would reveal all on New Years Eve.
On Christmas day, I went round to see Mimi. I'd spoken to her a few times over phone during the past couple of weeks, but hadn't seen her up until now. She had sounded far from her bouncy self, which is why I had invited myself over to see how she was coping with the pregnancy.
Lowering my snow covered hood, I rapped my knuckles against the door and waited patiently for her to answer. She had told me she was planning to spend Christmas Eve with Koushiro; I wondered if he was still with her, or vice versa.
A minute flittered by.
I knocked two more times then rang the doorbell, just to make sure she definitely knew I was there. Another minute rolled by.
Starting to worry, I dipped my hand into my coat pocket in search of my keys. I was about to let myself in when she finally answered. Immediately, I was taken aback.
A pink fluffy dressing gown was draped over her fragile frame, her hair was dull and lank, and dark shadows were painted underneath her lifeless eyes. She led me into the living room in an uneasy silence. Instantly, I was knocked back by a wave of concern. Mimi loved celebrating Christmas more than me, however, only a few Christmas cards were scattered around the room, and there were no other decorations in sight.
"Are you eating properly?" Perhaps it was rude to ask out loud, but in all fairness I was worried - she had always had a healthy appetite. Now, her dressing gown looked as if it was drowning her, as if it was too heavy for her shrinking body.
"Everything I eat comes back up," she responded, dishearteningly. Her gaze darted over to the kitchen. "Did you want a drink?"
I declined. Mimi disappeared off into the kitchen, returning a couple of minutes later with a pint glass of water. Raising it to her dry lips, she hastily gulped down several mouthfuls of the clear liquid like she hadn't drunk in days.
"Have you made a decision yet?" I asked. Mimi shook her head and placed her glass down onto the dining room table, although her hand remained curled around it. My stomach tightened as the realisation suddenly dawned on me.
"Have you even told Koushiro?" Again, she shook her head, confirming my suspicions. Her hazel eyes watering as she stared inanely ahead.
"Meems, you have to tell him," I sighed, rubbing my hand against my forehead. That was when Mimi spun her head round and stared directly at me, her face scrunched up as she tried her hardest not to cry.
"You don't understand," she sobbed, her voice close to breaking. My frown on my brow softened.
"I do understand, but if Koushiro is the father he needs to know," I replied, taking a small step towards her, my arms ready to reach out and comfort her. Even though she was hesitating to tell Koushiro, the baby was still growing inside her. If she continued to wait she would have no option but to go through with the birth, with or without Koushiro's support.
"That's the problem." Mimi chewed anxiously on her lip and lowered her gaze to the floor. "He isn't the Father." Her hands were trembling as she rested them on her stomach and drew in a deep, quivering breath. "Isamu is."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Song lyrics (At the beginning of the chapter)
Rise Against - "Swing Life Away"
D-Angel: Ohh snap! Just when this chapter was looking sweet and fluffy... BAM! Mimi drops a bombshell.
Also, in case you did not know, in Japan, Christmas is not celebrated to the same extent Western cultures do; for one, it isn't recognised as a national holiday, so it's not unusual for them to work on Christmas Day! Christmas Eve is also deemed as a special occasion for most Japanese couples, which is why Tai has always deemed it as a time for sex and romance, whereas Yamato has always spent it with his family (what with him having American routes and all).
Enough lessons on Japanese culture anways xD Thanks for reading and for your feedback; I love keeping track on how you guys are finding the story so far :) Your suggestions and views are always very welcome as I do like to take them onboard ;)
More twists and turns to follow...
See ya next chapter :)
D-Angel
28/08/14