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: Sorry for the delay, I had major writer's block when it came to writing this chapter. Ended up chopping and changing a lot of things... There's about 5,000 words worth of material I edited out. I may implement some of it in later chapters, who knows! Anyways, time to respond to le latest reviews :)
Caliboy: I knooow, no Tai / Yama kisses :( Haha, it would be awesome to dive into the Internet like they do in the Digimon movie. Takumi does deserve a bit of a beating, let's be honest!
PinkBrideGoneBad: I have a knack for torturing characters it seems D: Things shouldn't get too bad for Taichi though, don't worry :)
Krad: Long time no speak! I'm glad you stopped by :) I am so excited for Digimon Adventure Tri, it's unreal!
Ichi Yagami: My Spanish is terrible / non-existent, so had to Google translate your review, sorry! I am glad you are enjoying the story. I hope you enjoy this new chapter :D
Hibisha: Sorrrrry, here ya go!
Please read on and enjoy! :)
Chapter 22 Hidden Depths
'Do I trust my heart or just my mind? Why is truth so hard to find in this world?'
The chill was prominent as my eyes adjusted to the bright white backdrop. I was unclothed and standing in a blanket of snow that reached above my ankles, the cold wind biting against my skin like tiny daggers of ice. Instinct urged me to move forward.
As I walked, I wrapped my arms tightly around my torso as the snow grew deeper, crisper. Squinting into the distant, I noticed two figures up ahead, embracing. As I grew closer I realised, without a shadow of a doubt, it was Yamato and Takumi. They were grappling, hissing and growling like wild animals as they fought for dominance. Their fists rained down on each other, knees tried to dig into ribs, stomachs, anything that was, or could be, exposed.
My heart drumming frantically against my chest, I tried to rush through the sea of snow, lifting my knees up high to try and gain more momentum, yet despite my efforts, my movement remained slow and sluggish as if heavy hands were holding me back.
Finally, I managed to break away from the snowy restraints and built up a steady pace, only to have it stripped away when I crashed headfirst into something solid. Frowning, I was just feet away from where Yamato was so I tried to keep moving, but I was literally unable to take another step past this particular point. It was as if something was blocking my path. Double blinking, I reached out, flinching as my hand touched against the invisible wall. Underneath my fingertips, it felt sleek and cold, like a flawless sheet of ice.
Gritting my teeth, I drew my fist back to my shoulder, then sent it hurtling toward the invisible barrier. My knuckles crunched loudly against the surface; the impact caused no pain, but to my frustration the ice remained pristine and unscathed. After three more attempts all I could do was look on as Yamato and Takumi continued to brawl.
Their movements had grown more frantic. I winced when Takumi's knuckles caught Yamato hard in the stomach, just after he had dodged a blow to the ribs. Winded, Yamato dropped to his knees and tumbled flat onto his front. Takumi wasted no time pouncing on him, his hands wrapping tightly around his pale neck as he pinned him hard against the ground.
Yamato started to writhe underneath Takumi's deadlock grip, hopelessly reaching up with sharp claws, trying his hardest to pry his former lover off him. Takumi only increased the pressure of his hold. Yamato's desperate eyes met mine, his blue lips wide with panic. I pounded my fists hard against the invisible barrier separating us, willing for it to break.
As if by magic, the ice cracked, then shattered and somehow imploded, the force knocking me back what felt like several feet. Seconds later, I awoke in pitch black, the same chill from my dream creeping across my body.
I quickly lifted my head up from the pillows, my vision was blurry, unstable, like a camera out of focus. A harsh wind whipped into the room from the open window, sending my curtains into complete disarray.
Why did he always leave the fucking window open?
I dragged myself over to the edge of the bed. As I was about to hoist myself off the mattress, but a familiar voice completely caught me off guard. It couldn't be...
"Taichi?" His voice repeated, slightly louder, coming from the living room beyond my bedroom door.
"Yama..." I breathed out.
Hopping out of bed, I made a beeline for the door. When I swung it open I stifled a cry as my confused eyes feasted on the surreal image that greeted them. My living room was gone. There was no floor, no ceiling. There was nothing but darkness. Terrified, I spun around, only to exhale short and sharply as I peered across, then down, into the same pit of blackness. A coldness snaked across my skin as I shuffled back, hands clinging tightly onto the doorframe as I awkwardly balanced on a single wooden tile. I closed my eyes, willing myself to wake up.
A claw-like grasp on my forearm forced my eyes to snap open. I turned and frowned at Takumi who was grinning from ear to ear, his wild eyes glowing with determination and lust. Before I could push him away, another hand took hold of my other arm from behind; the grip, although not as hard, still hurt.
"Let go," Yamato's voice growled as he started to pull me toward him. Takumi fought back, yanking me over in his direction. I tried hard to free myself as they continued playing tug-of-war, like two dogs fighting over their favourite toy, terrified I was about to be torn in half as I felt my skin stretching, to the point where I was certain it was about to split. That was when Yamato let go, or Takumi overpowered him... Whatever happened, I still I tumbled back into the darkness. Takumi's arms slid around me in a restrictive embrace as we fell into the unknown.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Buzz
Buzz
Buzz
My eyes opened as my hand reached out to the bedside table, in attempt to silence my phone. Groggily, I managed to wrap my fingers around the device, tapping my finger frantically against the glass screen, in an attempt to awaken the display. The thing was too fancy for me, yet I had been forced to upgrade to it. It turned out my old Nokia wasn't as indestructible as I thought. The countless times I had dropped it over the past few years (even once down a flight of stone steps), of course it had finally succumbed to the two or so foot drop from my mattress on New Year's Day.
Takumi had given me this new phone. It was the same one he had let me use to take a few photographs during the celebrations on New Year's. He had shown me how to work the basic apps; emails, internet, Facebook, (which I hadn't touched since setting up my profile when I was about twenty), and some relatively new thing called Instagram (which I realised would help me immensely with promoting my photography and artwork).
After logging onto Facebook, I was surprised when I'd noticed Yamato's name nestled amongst my lengthy friend request list. It had almost been a month since he'd told me he wanted a break from us. Since then I had succumbed to Takumi, well and truly. It helped take my mind off from Yamato, and the awkward living situation I was now in.
Takumi had officially taken over the lease for my flat a few days after my party. On the upside it meant I could still stay there and start saving my money for a deposit on a new flat. The downside was the sudden loss of freedom.
I had dreaded telling Isamu about me becoming reliant on Takumi, but I knew the sooner I confessed the better.
"I don't have time to babysit your life, Tai," Isamu had sighed down the phone. "I just hope you see sense before it's too late."
As harsh as his words were, it was fair enough for him to say that. He had the stress of trying to find a suitable apartment to move into with Mimi, who had decided to go ahead with the pregnancy, so long as Isamu vowed to stand by her side. I was happy they were giving things go, and that Isamu had promised he would continue to support her even if their relationship didn't work out. I was convinced it would though. They certainly made a better couple than me and Takumi regardless.
For the first couple of weeks, Takumi swung by the flat a lot more regularly than I thought he would, more than often in the early hours of the morning, despite being busy with rehearsals.
"I want a photo of us." He decided one time after having his way with me. I was too tired to protest.
Holding his phone out with his arm stretched as far as he could, we posed and waited for the timer to reach zero. As the flash of the camera dazzled my eyes, a series of memories from my party played out in front of me like a slideshow; the hipflask of rum, Takumi's hand pawing at my crotch, the upside down view of the window as he fucked me.
"Cute," Takumi said when he analysed the picture. "Maybe I'll post it up on my Instagram."
Staring at the photo, a sharp shudder rattled down my spine. Takumi dominated most of the frame, his lips were curled up in a seductive smile, photogenic as always. I was squeezed into the remainder of the shot, my tired eyes wide, lips slightly parted, similar to a deer cornered by its pursuer. I couldn't muster the courage to ask him to delete it.
Buzz
My phone vibrated harshly against my hand, interrupting my thoughts. I squinted as the LCD screen flashed up to life in my face, notifying me that I had 1 new text message from Takumi.
You're in. Thank me later. X
I smiled. He wasn't all bad. I'd asked if he could pull a few strings and see if he could land me an opportunity to attend the band's opening gig as a photographer; the sort that would spend the night running around with a camera, taking snaps of the fans and the performers. It was something I'd done a few times on a smaller scale at nightclubs in the past. Tiring work, but at least it was a way of making some cash.
The Nanami twins still hadn't warmed to Takumi's suggestion of me becoming Vertical Illusion's official photographer, and in a way, I was glad. Somehow, being with Takumi often felt just as empty as being alone.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Placing down my empty wine glass, I glanced over at the clock hanging by the kitchen archway and sighed. It was 11pm and Takumi still hadn't returned from rehearsals. Safe to say he was staying out somewhere again tonight. I'd given up texting him to find out where after the umpteenth time he had done this. He rarely bothered to reply.
Fuelled by Dutch courage- in this instance, a few too many glasses of red wine- I flopped down onto the bed and tapped out a simple three word text. My finger hovered over the send button for just a second before I closed my eyes and jabbed my finger against it.
"Shit," I groaned when, after a few moments, I realised what I'd done. Literally seconds later, the phone buzzed in my hand. My heart jumped when I saw the recipient's name that had flash up on the LCD display. Yamato.
'I miss you too.'
Our conversations remained fairly casual and mundane over the next few days. There was no mention of New Year's, or about the future of our relationship. Yamato had made it apparent he had wanted a break, whether it was permanent or not was another matter. I felt compelled to find out, but I was too afraid to ask, just in case it was the end. I would have much rather had this kind of contact with him than none at all.
It was frustrating. I desired him, his presence, his touch.
Sexually, I wasn't being deprived- Takumi had promised to keep me 'well milked' after all- but sex with him was often rough. Too rough. He loved to dominate; biting, scratching, spanking, hair pulling. I enjoyed it, in moderation, but he was becoming too insatiable.
Almost a week after I had started texting Yamato, Takumi stumbled into the bedroom, drunk. It was no secret that he was a fan of his spirits, but he was drinking a lot more now that the band's opening gig was fast approaching.
I was still up, working on a canvas painting of the Meiji Shrine for a customer. As I was applying some additional touches to some leaves on a row of trees, Takumi sidled up to me from behind, his hands sliding underneath my t-shirt, his breath hot against my cheek. I could smell the rum on the breath.
"I've got to get this done," I said, attempting to keep my fingers steady as I dabbed my brush against the canvas. I sensed his frown before he harshly slapped his hand against my forearm, the force knocking the paintbrush straight out of my hand. The brush splattered against the painting, leaving an unsightly green splodge amidst the blue skyline. My eyes widened with horror. I turned to face him.
"It's just a smudge," Takumi said, his hands resting on his hips, "you can cover it up."
True, the damage was salvageable, but that wasn't the point. I respected his craftsmanship, but he had hardly any regard for mine.
I didn't care that he was drunk. Gritting my teeth, shoving my right palm hard into his chest. He stumbled back, almost falling to the floor as he tripped over a box of my art supplies.
My heart fluttered heavily against my ribcage. It was the first time I had ever lashed out at him, and rather than acting surprised, or even retaliating, he was smiling.
"Has Yamato seen this side of you?" Takumi asked. "It's pretty hot."
"I have a deadline, Takumi," I spoke through clenched teeth. It didn't matter that he was a super hot celebrity who was used to getting his own way, I was going to punch him if he carried on being a dick.
"Whatever," he sighed, "I've gotta be up early for rehearsals anyway."
Turning away, he stripped off and crawled into bed. He had backed down so quickly, it was slightly unnerving.
I joined him after fixing up the painting. By then, he was fast asleep. He left for rehearsals early the next morning and didn't return to the flat that night. Although, he returned the following night.
"See, you can't even see where the smudge was," Takumi said as he analysed the painting, his finger pointing precariously close to the canvas's surface.
"Don't touch…" His lips crashed against mine, silencing me. Melting against his body, I let him have his way, again.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Song Lyrics (At the beginning of the chapter)
Thrice - Stare At The Sun
D-Angel: So, I've totally rewritten most of this chapter (there was originally a cliffhanger, but I didn't like it, or where things were going). Also, the second part of Chapter 21 has also been revised. Chapter 23 will be uploaded very soon. Stay tuned ;)
D-Angel
Original chapter uploaded: 08/04/15
Revised chapter uploaded: 30/05/17