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/Yamachi
D-Angel: Hey! Hope everyone is well :) This is another super long chapter, but full of vital plot stuff, since the climax is coming (heh).
Chyn - Here's another chapter for you to nom on :)
Cloe Lockless - Eeee, I know, their love triangle has really got messy xD So much darkness and depth, like a triple layered chocolate cake. Hehe, let's just say, Yama knows what he's doing ;) But yes, it's a very dangerous move!
Ichi Yagami - My dear, things have only just begun ;)
PinkBrideGoneBad - I'm sorry! I don't mean to keep torturing our lovely Taichi D: He definitely doesn't deserve it, but it does make for interesting reading, lol.
DemolitionLovers - N'aaaw! Thanks so much for your review / remembering this story :D Yep, I'm still plodding along with it xD It's crazy how much the idea behind it has evolved over the years. I'll definitely finish it... Maybe by the end of this year, or the start of 2019. No rush, it's already been thirteen years, lol.
Please read on and enjoy, my lovelys :)
Chapter 28 Wolf to the Slaughter
'Two feet standing on a principle, Two hands longing for each other's warmth'
I was still staring blankly at the text Yamato had sent me, when my phone started to vibrate in my hand. Quickly recovering from my mini heart attack, I realised it was a call from Isamu, so I quickly slammed my finger against the accept button.
"Isamu?"
"Everything ok?" Isamu's compelling voice asked. Despite it was so late, he sounded wide awake. "Takumi's not with you, right?"
My eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, he's gone out..."
"To see Yamato?"
"Yeah. Wait. How did you know?"
There was a brief stretch of silence before Isamu finally answered.
"I'm downstairs in the lobby of the Park Hyatt. Can you ping me up to your floor in the lift?"
For him to be here this late, I knew it had to be important.
"You'll need a key card to get to the floor," I said. "I'll come down to you."
Placing my phone onto the bed, leaving the call running, I tugged on my clothes, then made sure I had the room key in my pocket before I stepped out into the hallway, phone in hand, and hurried down towards the lifts and hit the my finger against the reception floor.
When the lift shuddered to a stop, and the doors slid open, Isamu swiftly stepped inside, and we closed the doors before anyone else decided to join us.
"You look exhausted," Isamu bluntly stated as the lift took us back up to the penthouse suites. "Have you been sleeping properly?"
I shook my head. With Takumi's sexual appetite, sleep was an absolute rarity.
As I led Isamu into Takumi's suite, he let out a low whistle as he peered around the spacious living room. Placing my phone onto the circular dining table by the right hand wall, I placed a hand against my forehead.
"What's going on with Yamato?" I asked as Isamu removed his coat, placing it over the back of one of the dining table's chairs. "Clearly you know, otherwise you wouldn't be here."
Isamu briefly drummed his fingers against the table's surface, eyes focusing on the musical scores scattered across the smooth oak, before he looked up and over at me.
"All he said was that he had a plan to get close to Takumi again. I didn't expect it to be so extreme. Still, if it all goes well, it'll give you the breathing space you need."
"No, no!" I grabbed hold of Isamu's wrist, fear trembling through my body. He flinched slightly, but didn't shake me off as the pools of his grey irises hardened. "Why did you let him do this?"
"He insisted. And he's stubborn, like you."
My eyes widened. I released my grasp on Isamu. Yamato had already stated his intentions to me, I realised, during our night together in the hotel room last month.
'He'll leave you alone if I get back with him.'
"He was just biding his time," I murmured out loud, folding my arms across my chest, "waiting for the right opportunity to reel him back in."
I had been the bait. He must have realised Takumi would follow me to Super Deluxe tonight. Yamato had well and truly played him. There was no doubt in my mind that Yamato knew what he was doing. The only issue he had was Takumi trying to sniff out his true intentions.
"Tai, there's something about Takumi you have to know," Isamu's said, his tone lower than usual. My fingers dug into my forearms
"It's not well-known, but his father was arrested a few decades ago. Accusations he was misusing the pharmaceuticals produced at his company. However, due to lack of evidence, the investigation was dropped," Isamu explained as he sat down on the same chair he had thrown his coat over. "Afterwards, the company closed down, but shortly after, it re-opened, under a different name; what it remains as today."
"What do you mean by misusing?" I asked, eyes narrowing, curious as to where Isamu was heading with all of this.
"Like, using them for his own personal gain. Either selling them on the side, or actually using them, maybe even on other people. There's not a lot of info; I think he paid a lot of money for the finer details to stay under wraps. There's been no negative press since, at least, not surrounding Takumi's father."
Isamu ran his thumb along his lower lip, before he spoke again.
"What I'm thinking is, he could still easily be exploiting the drugs. And not just him. Takumi too."
My jaw dropped. It was like someone had just handed me a missing piece from an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. The picture was now becoming more and more apparent. Takumi and his father were rich and powerful. They could get around any loopholes, or bribe their way out of trouble.
"You understand, right? It means Takumi essentially has access to a library of drugs."
My body started to shiver. I knew just what he was implying. Combined with Takumi's manipulative personality, it was a lethal combination.
"Think back to the nights you've drank with him, especially that night I was with you.
One moment you were fine. The next, you could barely stand."
"I drank quite a bit that night though," I reminded him, rubbing my hand against my forehead.
"No. I've seen you drunk plenty of times," Isamu said, his voice deadly serious, "but never like that."
It explained why Isamu had insisted I returned home with him that time, rather than with Takumi. Placing a hand against my throat, I thought about all the drinks that Takumi had prepared or bought for me since we had known each other and how easily he could have just slipped something into them.
"Sorry to spring this on you. It's just a theory, one I'm going to keep digging into. There's some evidence, but not enough to pin him down just yet."
"How long have you been looking into this?" I asked. Isamu pursed his lips together, then scratched the crown of his head before he answered.
"I guess ever since you were offered that photo shoot with Vertical Illusion. I found it suspicious that Takumi would request you personally. No offence."
My brow furrowed. Thanks, Isamu. That being said, the request had surprised me too. It had seemingly come out of the blue.
"I dropped my investigation a couple of months ago when I hit a dead end," Isamu added. "That was until Takumi insisted Mimi started taking those morning sickness pills."
Despite Takumi had given the pills to Mimi, Isamu had refused her to start taking them until he had done his research. I had insisted they were safe, Takumi had provided all the relevant instructions with them after all, but Isamu did not want to take any risks. Now, I understand why.
"Yamato has always suspected something about the drugs too. That's partly why he's getting close to Takumi again."
"To help you find some evidence?"
Isamu nodded. I sat down on the chair beside him, rubbing my knuckles against my tired eyes. This was a lot to take in.
"I'll stay here tonight," Isamu announced. Glancing over at the clock on the wall by the sofa, I couldn't argue with him. It was almost 3am. I was absolutely shattered too.
"That's fine," I said, climbing off the sofa. "I doubt Takumi will be back any time soon. The sofa folds out into a futon, so you can sleep on that."
Isamu looked at the sofa and slowly nodded his head.
"Unless you wanna share the bed with me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows suggestively.
"Shut up," Isamu groaned, lightly bumping his fist against my arm. "I'm only staying to make sure you get some actual sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
Isamu sent Mimi a text to let her know he was staying at the hotel, then, once he was settled on the sofa bed, I walked around the partition, to the other side of the room, and spread myself flat across the messy King sized bed. Gazing up at the ceiling, I allowed all the new information from tonight slowly sink into my head.
I was now wedged in the middle of Isamu's and Yamato's ploy to take Takumi down. It was a hazardous place to be. Despite that, my own safety wasn't what concerned me. It was Yamato's. In a bid to save me, he was diving headfirst into danger, and now all I could think about was trying to prevent him from getting hurt.
If anything was to happen to him, it was a burden I wasn't ready to bear.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Sleep hadn't come easy, despite Isamu spent the night with me. My mind had been worried about Yamato, and the things he was getting up to with Takumi. Isamu had done his best to reassure me that things would be fine, before he left me on my own. He also told me he would be busy with work bits until the early afternoon, but mentioned I was welcome to stay over at his and Mimi's apartment, should I need a break from Takumi.
I knew I would probably end up taking him up on that offer.
By midday, Takumi still hadn't returned to the suite, nor had he left me any messages- but that wasn't my main concern. However, I knew I couldn't risk calling Yamato, just in case Takumi was still with him.
As I was eating what I could of my lunch (which I had ordered onto Takumi's room service tab), my phone rang. I almost dropped my phone onto the floor as I reached across the table, fumbling to answer it. Finally, I succeeded.
"Tai, can you do me a huge favour?" My mum's voice trilled into my ear.
About thirty minutes later, after grabbing a taxi, I hurried around to the back of the coffee shop to let myself in (My parents always closed up the shop for a couple of hours from around 2pm - 4pm). My mum had asked if I could help her lift some supplies, that had just been delivered, onto the shelves in the store room out back. Usually my dad helped her, but he had strained his back the other day at the gym. Fortunately, I had some time to spare before having to get to the venue for Vertical Illusion's opening gig, and it also meant I would be less likely to cross paths with Takumi until at the concert itself.
I shut and locked the door behind me, only then to freeze mid-step. Yamato was loitering in the corridor by the store room door, dressed in a thick blue and white knitted hooded jumper, and wearing his glasses. Biting down on my lip, I made a mental note to never trust my mum again.
My heart was pounding as we slipped into the small room. I switched on the light, blinking several times as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. At least my mum hadn't been lying about the new supplies. Wordlessly, we started to stack them onto the shelves. Once I had placed the final box out of the way, Yamato's arms reached out to hold me. Panicking, I pushed him away. He staggered back, but looked more perplexed than annoyed. Knowing he had been with Takumi last night, I couldn't bring myself to embrace him.
"Just what are you doing?" I asked, narrowing my eyes, my brow darkening.
"Saving you," Yamato replied, his expression matching mine. My heart suddenly felt like it was breaking all over again.
"Yama, don't do this, please," I placed a hand against my chest, my voice cracking after each word. "If he hurts you, I'll-"
"-I can handle him," Yamato said, a defiant glow in his eyes. With his glasses on, it made him look more attractive than ever. The lenses seemed to magnify the beautiful blue of his irises; I could see the flames of passion burning more brightly than ever before.
Taking a sudden step forward, he kissed me. My guard instantly dropped. His fingers tugged eagerly at my shirt as he pinned me against the door. Our tongues danced as his hands cupped and caressed my backside. I groaned deeply against his mouth.
Our lower bodies were soon grinding together, creating just enough friction that I knew things wouldn't last very long, and would create such an uncomfortable mess for the both of us. Realising this, Yamato reached down, unfastening both our jeans. Moments later, our lower garments were pooled around our ankles and our erections were pressed together. Yamato wrapped his hand around them, his touch, electric. I placed my hand on top. The heat soon quickly became unbearable as we pumped our wrists and rocked our hips in a synchronised rhythm.
"Turn around," Yamato panted. "I want you."
I gazed up into his eyes, my fingertips digging softly into the sides of his body. Yamato had never slid into me before without any preparation. However, we both knew time was of an essence.
"I'll slip it between your thighs," he whispered, sensing my hesitation. "I won't penetrate."
"Ok."
Yamato clumsily kissed me on the lips, before he spun me around and shoved me against the door. I bent forwards, resting the flats of my hands against the solid wood as he stood behind me. He traced a hand along the small of my back, before stepping forwards and slipping his erection between my upper thighs. Sighing softly, his fingertips digging hard into my hips, whilst his other hand clasped my shaft. I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek in a desperate bid to remain quiet as we started to sway back and forth. Knowing we weren't supposed to be doing this, it felt so illicit.
With his erection rubbing against the sensitive skin of my perineum, every little movement was red hot, and made me crave him even more. His lips swept across the nape of my neck, sending instant shockwaves down my spine. This wasn't enough; I needed him inside me. But, as much as my body craved it, without proper foreplay and lube, things would be far from comfortable.
Slowing down the pace, he ran his hand against my buttocks, a frustrated growl rumbling from the depths of his throat. Suddenly, he turned me over so we were facing. We kissed me hard as he resumed darting his talented hand up and down my member. Soon he was whispering the filthy things he wanted to do to me between sweet butterfly kisses.
"Nggh, Yama, I'm about to... I'm going to..."
Losing all control of my muscles, I slumped against the door as he continued to rub me, my back sliding down the wooden surface. His body followed mine, until he was knelt on the floor between my splayed knees. I reached across, grasping his erection. It only took a few strokes. As he gasped out, his cheeks were glowing bright red and his glasses were steamed up to the point where I could barely see his lust clouded eyes. Seeing his expression, combined with the warmth of his seed trickling down my flesh, tipped me over the edge just seconds later.
Afterwards, as we sat side by side, I couldn't believe what we had just done. I wondered why we hadn't thought about sneaking in here before, until I had the embarrassing thought of my mum catching us in the act. She had walked in on Seiji and I having sex once, so I doubted it was something she ever wanted to witness again.
"Takumi's agreed to leave you alone," Yamato revealed, gazing down at his feet. "He'll stage your breakup after the Japan gigs are over. You'll be completely free from him after that."
He tilted his head up then glanced over to the side to meet my stare, a strained smile on his face. I snapped head away.
"Are you really happy, letting him win?" I asked, closing my eyes, trying to ignore the raw ache in my throat.
With a small sigh, Yamato shifted positions so he was now sat facing me, straddling my lap.
"No. I'm just letting him have this victory," Yamato said, before he planted a single kiss on my forehead, then ran the palm of his hand across my cheek.
Fighting back my tears, I cupped my hand over his and squeezed it tightly.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Come on guys, drink up!"
We were all gathered in Takumi's dressing room. The stylists had just finished adding the final touches to the bands' hair and makeup, and now they were waiting for their cue to head on stage once the warm-up act (The Steel Arrows) had finished up their set. I was floating around in the background, snapping a few photographs of their pre-performance traditions.
Four shot glasses were lined up on the counter. Takumi had poured a generous measure of Suntory whisky into each. Shiro eagerly grabbed one of the glasses. Kano gave Yuki a sideways glance. Still, they each picked one up before Takumi's fingers grasped onto the remaining glass.
Counting to three, they necked back their drinks. Shiro grimaced as the alcohol burnt the back of his throat, then laughed as he slammed his glass back onto the counter.
"Let's do this!" Shiro exclaimed, fist pumping the air. Kano and Yuki grinned, and a small smile even broke across Takumi's face for a moment. It was probably the closest I had ever seen them all. Just as I was about to take a few more photos, Ren stuck his head around the door.
"You'd best head out there, Taichi," Ren stated. "The Steel Arrows are about to perform their final song."
Nodding, I slid my lens cap back onto my camera.
"The rest of you should head on over to the green room."
Takumi mentioned something about making a phone call, so I headed partway down the corridor with the others, until I realised I'd forgotten my lens kit. Wishing the rest of the band good luck, I turned around and headed back towards Takumi's dressing room.
As I stepped back inside, Takumi was stood by the counter, tapping a message out on his phone.
"Sorry," I said, as I walked by him uneasily, "I forgot my lens kit."
This was the first time we had been alone since he had run off to see Yamato last night. A heavy tension hung between us. He poured himself out another double shot of whisky. Downing it, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror, his hardened eyes locking with mine. A familiar sensation stirred down below. His costume was undeniably sexy. A pair of tight leather trousers, practically spandex, combined with a black military blazer which had gold trimming around the edges.
"If you're after a quickie, forget it," Takumi said, blunt as ever. "These trousers are so tight, I can't even get a hard-on."
"I just came to get this," I said curtly, picking my lens kit up from the sofa.
As I headed back to the door, I froze as he stepped towards me, then placed his hand against my groin. It wasn't just his outfit that was sexy, I realised. Even the subtle blusher on his cheeks and the black eyeliner framing his eyes made him look about ten times more enticing than usual, just like he always seemed to do in his music videos.
"We can play together after the show," he said, giving me a cheeky squeeze before he released his grasp. As he did, I noticed a couple of white pills sitting on the counter, next to the empty shot glasses and bottle of whisky. He frowned when he caught me staring at them.
"They're aspirin," he clarified, running his hand across his forehead. "My head hurts from listening to that warm-up act earlier."
"They're not that bad," I said, smiling faintly.
"Fancy a drink?" Takumi asked, gesturing to the shot glasses.
My eyes darted between the drugs and the bottle of whisky.
"No, thanks."
Takumi cocked an eyebrow. Perhaps my reply had come too quickly.
"I don't like to drink on the job," I swiftly clarified. I knew he couldn't argue with that. However, a sensation of unease slithered down my spine as his green eyes continued to study me cautiously, until the sound of cheering and applause exploded in the distance. The Steel Arrows must have finished their final song.
"Shouldn't you be heading out to the performance hall?" Takumi stated as he curled his fingers around the whisky bottle.
"Yes, right." I said unsteadily. As Takumi poured himself another shot, I edged over to the door and placed my hand on the handle. "Good luck out there."
Of course, luck wasn't needed. That night, the entire band performed so much better than in their rehearsals. Perhaps it was the encouragement from the audience that spurred them on that little bit extra. I embraced every moment of the gig, even jumping up on stage with the handheld cameramen, snapping close-ups of the band members. It was truly exhilarating sharing their performance space.
Takumi's and Shiro's guitar and violin duet, at the halfway point, went down a storm. The energy between them was absolutely perfect. And when Takumi stripped out of his shirt during their overtly raunchy performance of 'Sexy Vibes', literally every girl in the audience screamed.
Even several minutes after the band had finished their encore and had retreated backstage, the whistles and cheers were still resounding through the hall. Lowering my camera, I breathed a sigh of relief. Ensuring I had all my equipment, I headed to the green room to show the Nanami twins the pictures I had captured.
"Awesome work," Ren stated as he cycled through them, a satisfied smile on his face. Clearly he was still in high spirits from how well the concert had panned out. "Edit them as soon as you can, and throw them into the usual Dropbox folder."
"Great. Shall do."
As I placed my camera strap back around my neck, my phone vibrated against my leg. Peering at the screen, my breathing hitched. A one line text from Takumi.
Come to my dressing room
He hadn't signed off the message with his usual suggestive winking emoticon. Still, I slipped through the side door and made a beeline down the hallway. My heart was beating wildly as I hurried down the corridor, my trainers squeaking against the laminated flooring.
I only slowed my pace when I saw a slim figure appear from around the corner at the opposite end of the corridor. He was a couple of inches shorter than me, a fancy Nikon camera hanging around his neck. As he walked past Takumi's dressing room, a slight limp to his step, he slowed his pace as he peered over at the nametag stuck on the door, but kept on walking. When he was just a few metres away, our eyes met. I saw a vague flicker of recognition within his brown depths, before he breezed on past me.
As I stopped outside of Takumi's dressing room, I paused and glanced back up the hallway. That guy was definitely familiar, but at the time, I couldn't put a name to his face. Shrugging my shoulders, I reached for the door handle and pushed open the door.
Stepping inside, my fingers immediately clasped tightly onto the strap of my lens kit carrier. A sickening sensation stirred in my gut as I soaked in the scene taking place on the blue suede sofa at the far end of the room.
Yamato was naked from the waist down, his face buried into the cushions, muffling out his staggered groans. Takumi was positioned behind him, still wearing some of his third and final stage outfit (a glittery blue tuxedo suit), one hand resting on Yamato's exposed hip, thrusting his pelvis back and forth, the other clasping onto his shoulder.
The door shut behind me with a light click. Takumi roughly grasped Yamato by his hair, forcing his head up, a wide grin on his face.
"Look who's come to watch," Takumi said, slowing his pace down, glee dancing in his voice.
Yamato's eyes met mine in the reflection of the mirror. His lips parted in horror, and I saw the deep blue of his irises break.
Takumi chuckled softly, a mocking shimmer in his venomous depths. Before Yamato could physically react, Takumi yanked him closer, bending his body back further. His arms were crossed and tethered in front of him with the aid of Takumi's black silk tie; there was little he could do to escape this predicament. Closing his eyes tightly, Yamato allowed Takumi to completely consume him as the black haired devil stepped up the tempo.
My head spinning, I turned, tugged the door back open, and fled. Their pants and moans, accompanied by the rhythmic slapping of flesh on flesh, still echoing loudly in my ear as I ran down the corridor. My stomach churning, I only just about made it to the toilets to throw up. Afterwards, I remained knelt in the toilet cubicle, shivering.
Takumi was so sick. So twisted. I was fed up of this; his horrible mind games.
Frustration bubbling through my veins, I clambered to my feet and flung the cubicle door open, then marched back out into the hallway.
Big Bear was now leaning against the wall opposite Takumi's dressing room door. He looked perplexed at first when he saw me storming towards him, then horrified when I walked right up to Takumi's door.
"Err, you might want to..."
Ignoring him, I reached for the door handle, rattling it for a good few seconds, with no avail. The door was well and truly locked. I bit down on my lip, repressing a frustrated cry that was threatening to escape from my throat. Of course Takumi had now chosen to hide away.
As I stepped away, still trembling, Big Bear's eyes were filled with sympathy. He parted his lips, about to say something, until Shiro appeared around the corridor's corner and called out my name.
"What are you doing out here?" Shiro questioned, placing his hands on his hips, his eyes darting between me and the dressing room door. "Where's Takumi?"
"He's busy," I explained, making no attempt to hide my discontent. Shiro tilted his head to the side, before his lips formed into a small 'o' when the ball finally dropped. Shifting to my side, he suddenly linked his arm with mine, steering me away from the door.
"Come with me! Your sister and her friends are in the green room."
Taking one final glance at the door, before Shiro steered me away, I knew there was nothing I could do for the time being, but I definitely had no plans to let it just slide either.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
After a few celebratory drinks in the green room, Kano and Yuki had invited us back to their shared suite in the Park Hyatt for a couple more beers. (The night couldn't be too wild apparently; the band's second Tokyo gig was tomorrow after all).
I was sat with Kano and Yuki on the sofas in the living area. Hikari was stood by the window with Shiro, chatting and admiring the bright lights from the city view below. I was trying to keep a watchful eye of them, although I knew I could do nothing if they were to start kissing. Looking away, I stared down at my un-touched can of beer and felt my stomach sink.
Sighing, Yuki set his drink down on the rectangular glass table in front of us, a sympathetic glimmer in his eyes as he glanced over at me.
"Cheer up. I know it sucks," Yuki said, sliding his arm around my shoulder. I blushed. Yuki had always been my secret second favourite band member. "But, this is Takumi. He does this after every gig pretty much."
"Who was he fucking today?" Kano asked.
"His ex," Shiro chipped in from across the room.
"Nobu?" Kano asked, arching his eyebrow at Shiro who was now walking over to the sofas, Hikari following.
"No, the blond one. Ishida Yamato. Takumi was obsessed with him."
Hikari's eyes caught mine. I felt a sharp tug against the knots in my stomach.
"Oh, him. He had some amazing vocals. I'd rather have him as our singer," Kano sighed, folding his arms behind the back of his head. "Takumi's attitude is beyond pissing me off."
"Yeah, I preferred his voice too," Yuki said as he tapped Kano's drumsticks against the table's surface. "Shame he refused to join the band."
"He obviously predicted the manufactured mess Vertical Illusion would become." Kano downed the remains of his beer, then set the empty can onto the table as he wiped the excess bubbles off his lower lip. "I'm definitely out after this tour."
Shiro's eyes widened, and Yuki dropped Kano's drumsticks down onto the floor.
"Really?"
Kano nodded, he then locked eyes with Yuki.
"Remember Akira from high school? I've been doing a bit of drumming for his band on the side. He wants me to join them full time. I'll gladly take the pay cut."
I could understand where he was coming from. I'd been so focused on trying to boost my popularity as a photographer that I had lost complete sight of the reason why I had decided to make a career out of my passions in the first place. Now that I was tangled up with all this band drama, I really missed being a simple struggling photographer.
Yuki stood up abruptly.
"Kanoooooo, don't abandon me," he whined as he flopped himself across Kano's lap. Kano rolled his eyes, but still ruffled his fingers through Yuki's fluffy brown hair.
"Don't worry, babe," Kano soothed. "I'm yours forever."
Shiro snickered, and, for the first time that night, I felt a genuine small smile tug at the corner of my lips.
One drink later, Shiro, Hikari and I decided to make our exit. Kano and Yuki were getting a little bit too touchy-feely. I was beginning to suspect that maybe their relationship was actually as authentic as they led people to believe.
"Want me to walk you down to the lobby, Hika?" I offered as we stepped out into the hallway.
"Err, well..."
I arched my brow, until I saw her flushed expression, which matched Shiro's. It took me a few more seconds before the realisation dawned. I chuckled softly. Shuffling between them, I placed a hand on both their backs, pushing them in the direction of Shiro's room.
"Goodnight, kids," I smirked, before turning away, stuffing my hands into my jeans' pockets.
There was a hushed conversation, then the door opened, then closed again. Frowning, I paused mid-stride, then peered over my shoulder. Hikari was still standing in the hallway. Sighing, I turned around to face her as she approached me.
"Hikari, it's fine. Just be safe... You know?" I smirked. Hikari blushed as she knocked her knuckles lightly against my arm. Her shy smile was short-lived when her brow creased in thought.
"Yamato was the guy you were dating last year, right?"
My chest tightened.
"Yeah," I replied, my gaze falling down to the cream carpet, my voice almost a whisper.
Seconds later, Hikari wrapped her arms around me. Resting my chin on her shoulder, I hugged her back just as hard, silent tears cascading down my cheeks. We stayed that way for a couple of minutes, until I finally managed to calm myself down. I quickly wiped my tears away from my eyes, then gave her a feeble smile as we parted ways.
"You don't have to keep holding onto the things that hurt you, nii-san," Hikari said, a mature glow in her light brown eyes, her hand squeezing mine briefly.
"Don't worry, I'll sort things out," I vowed.
Satisfied with my response, Hikari's expression relaxed. She headed back over to Shiro's door, giving me one final smile before she swiped the key card against the reader and disappeared into his suite.
I wiped lingering tears off my cheeks, before I curled my fingers into the palms of my hands and dragged my feet back to Takumi's suite. I couldn't stay with him any longer. I decided to pack up whatever stuff I had there and then go stay with Isamu and Mimi for the next few days, until the band travelled up North for their two gigs in Sendai and Niigata. Maybe Shiro would let me bunk with him after that.
Stepping into the bedroom, I was greeted by an unexpected sight. I hadn't anticipated Takumi would be here, especially not alone. His body draped across the bed, naked, fast asleep. Fresh bite and scratch marks littered his skin. There was one particular bite mark just above the tattoo of the howling wolf on his left hip which I couldn't keep my eyes off.
'I got this tattoo because of Yamato,' Takumi had revealed a few weeks ago. 'Funny how you're always drawn to it.'
It was true. My fingers always traced against it when we had sex (if my hands weren't tied up), more so than the raven tattoo on his other hip. Somehow, it had always reminded me of Yamato and the name of their band they had been in together: The Teenage Wolves.
Yamato. His broken expression from earlier was still fresh in my mind. The fact that Takumi was here now meant that Yamato had refused to spend the night with him, or that Takumi had decided to return to the hotel without him.
Which was it?
I realised neither reason mattered. Just seeing Takumi there, after the stunt he had pulled earlier, looking so peaceful, it incited so much anger- I could feel the heat prickling against my skin. Burning. Itching. The position he was in: so vulnerable. My thoughts darkening; I could choke him, just like he had done to me. Put an end to this once and for all.
Climbing on the bed, straddling his lean frame, my heart thumping erratically against my chest, I reached down, hands shaking. Feeling the weight of my body on his, a murmur fell from his lips before his green eyes flickered open. I froze, my fingertips were brushing against his neck as he stared up at me, dazed, his pupils full dilated. A soft smile then graced his flawless face.
"You're here, you're still here," he chanted reaching his hand out, brushing it tenderly against my cheek. I flinched at the contact, yet, his expression remained the same. His eyelids then slowly flickering, drooping, closing. His hand then flopped back down, onto his chest. Swallowing deeply, I dropped my own arms to my side, only for my heart to seize when Takumi spoke once more.
"Stay with me, Yamato."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Song lyrics
Daughter - "Still"
D-Angel: What le fuck, is what I bet you're all thinking. Takumi is such a basket case. I wanted to show some vulnerability and complexity in his character, because he is definitely more than just a 2D antagonist.
Oh, and the drugs thing has been implied from quite early on in this story; I thought it was time to bring it closer to the surface, what with the end gradually approaching. Hoping you guys picked up on a few other things in this chapter as well... They'll be important ;)
Also, I threw the Tai / Yama smut in there, just because, haha.
Next chapter will possibly be finished by around September / October (I'm working on a few other stories at the moment too, but this one is taking priority, honest!).
Thanks as always for being awesome and reading my stuff :D
See ya next chapter!
D-Angel
30/08/18