Chapter
1: Wataru
The plane had a disgusting
odor, as Wataru stepped on, like newly applied car wax. He scrunched up his
face and attempted to shove his way through the crowed plane aisle to get to
his seat. "I swear I'd never do this for fun if this wasn't my job"
he thought as he flopped down into the window seat. Looking through the sad
excuse of a window, he sighed as he saw all the other planes taking off.
"What I wouldn't give just to stay home..." He sighed again and
pulled his headphones over his ears, turned up the music to the maximum volume.
He closed his eyes in the hopes that he'd be able to fall asleep and wake up
when the flight was over, though those dreams were short lived as a flustered
looking flight attendant came up to him. "Excuse me, sir?" Her chubby
cheeked face turned crimson as Wataru openly glared at her through his light
green eyes, “I’m sorry sir, but you’re going to have to turn
off your music until we’re fully in the air.” She smiled nervously as he removed them
reluctantly. "Thank you sir, I hope you enjoy your flight!" Her light
blue skirt fluttered as she turned around and continued down the aisle.
“Idiot,"
Wataru thought as he slowly slid his headphones back over his ears, "How
can anyone be enjoy being in a plane, all the noise and these stupid people
everywhere?" He tugged his beanie over his head; he pulled his headphones
back over his ears and closed his eyes once again: "Why did things have to
turn out like this?" And he let himself be carried off by sleep.
After about two hours, Wataru
grudgingly opened his eyes, his legs were aching from sitting in the same
position and his head was pounding because he'd fallen asleep with his music
volume to the max. He let out a low moan as he stretched himself out as much as
he could in his seat and then prodded awake the man next to him muttering
"Gotta pee…”. "Oh, sure,”
The man groggily stood up and Wataru slid out of his seat, he grunted his
thanks to the man before he walked down the narrow airplane aisle and entered
bathroom.
"It's good to get up once
a while," he thought as he examined his tired looking face in the
minuscule bathroom mirror. His normally tan skin looked pasty and pale in the
bathrooms florescent lighting. "I look like a mess,” he groaned, splashing
water on his face, he took off his gray beanie and combed through his thick
blond hair with his fingers; he traced the bags under his eyes and grimaced.
"This trip is destroying my looks and we haven't even landed yet! Why’d I even agree to go to New York anyway!" He slapped
his hand against the bathroom cabin wall, and sighed.
A light "knock-knock"
came from the door, "Sir, are you alright in there? Do you need some
assistance?" asked a worried stewardess. Wataru rolled his eyes in
disbelief and opened the door to the bathroom; the stewardess hurriedly stepped
backwards to avoid getting hit. "I'm fine, now go away” he gnarled, pulling
the door shut again once more and preceded to take his time cleaning himself
up. Two minutes later another knock came on the door as he was readjusting his
pants. His face twisted with annoyance as he pulled open the door only to hiss
"GO AWAY!" into the face of the most handsome men he'd ever seen in
his life. The man was wearing a black suit and had a musky fragrance, smooth
alabaster/ivory skin, hair black as night that graciously arranged to frame his
rectangular face, his cheekbones were well defined and his mouth was well
rounded, but stern. Though, what really took Wataru's breath away were his
stormy gray eyes. It felt as though he could drown in them. His face turned
crimson as the man before him took a step back, "Oh," said the man,
"I'm terribly sorry, I'll wait until you're done…" he blushed a bit
as he ran his hand through his hair and glanced at the floor.
"No, no, no," Wataru
shook his hands in the air, making the man look even more uncomfortable
"I'm sorry, it's because, you see uh, I thought you were the stewardess
and-" As Wataru glanced once more at the man once more and saw how flustered
he looked so, clasped his hands together and bowed "Anyway, I'm terribly
sorry!" the man relaxed a bit as he watched Wataru stand up straight again
and offered him his hand.
"It's quite alright young
man," the corner of the man's lips twitched lightly as he held back a smile
"It's good to be, 'woken up' after such a boring and tiresome flight, my
name's Amamiya, Nakahashi" He released Wataru's hand and really smiled
this time. Wataru felt his throat close up with nervousness, Amamiya-san's face
could probably light up the entire world with it's beauty.
"I'm, uh, I'm" Wataru
swallowed deeply "Fuyori Wataru, it's nice to meet you Amamiya-san?"
he smiled at Amamiya-san tentatively.
"Please call me
Nakahashi."
A silence fell over the two of
them as Wataru realized that Nakahashi-san was still waiting to use the
bathroom.
"Oh, well it was nice to
meet you!" He blushed again, as he step sided past Nakahashi-san
taking one last subtle inhale of his musky scent before speeding back to his
seat.
Once he'd sat down he couldn't
help but daydream about the possibilities between Nakahashi and him if they
hadn't met on a plane,which after they’d left they'd probably
never see each other ever again. Wataru let out a weary sigh and attempted to
suppress all of his thoughts concerning his future Nakahashi-san as he drifted
back to sleep.
Chapter
2:
Nakahashi brushed back his hair
in bewilderment as he returned to his seat; he’d
never been so drawn in by a person in his life! “I practically stalked him with
my eyes when I was walking back,” tapping himself on the forehead, slumping
down into his chair in first class, he murmured “Idiot. You’re too old for this.” Remarking a flighty stewardess coming
his way he waved her over, “Would it be possible to have a glass of wine?”
Batting her eyelashes, she
leaned on the corner of his seat and hushed, “Of course sir, one moment please”
before walking back to the helm of the plane; Nakahashi couldn’t help but noticing her awkward hip bounces as she tried to
draw his attention. “Women truly don’t change from one
country to the other do they?” frowning he closed his eyes. His thoughts
drifted back to “…Wataru…that’s right, his name was
Wataru” repeating his name he traced his lips with his fingertips, imagining
the feel of Wataru’s lips on his own, the gaze of those grassy green eyes
meeting his own, the touch of his hands running through Wataru’s hay colored hair—“Whoa, get a hold of yourself you old uncle, he’s just a kid, he’d never like an old man
like you. Never mind the obvious age difference.” After turning thirty-nine in
the past year, Nakahashi was finally experiencing the fatigue that came with
age and had even more difficulty completing his growing workload. “Being a
company’s vice
president isn’t so bad, but my silly ambition
to become president might kill me!” Loosening his tie, he leaned back into his
seat; his transfer from Okinawa to New York was really wearing him down.
Popping open his travel kit, he twisted open an Advil bottle and swallowed two
pills; he’d grown tired of working in Tokyo and his divorce was a
perfect excuse to transfer. Unfortunately at the time all that had been running
through his head was “If you get out of Japan maybe you can start over again,
get a new wife and family, and get rid of all the strange feelings you have!”
but then again at the time he hadn’t realized how difficult
starting anew might be… ”Well at least that means there’s a
chance I might meet Wataru again…” Realizing where his train of thought was
taking him once again he tsked himself as he crossed his arms. “What am I a pervert? What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I
just stop thinking about him? I can’t be interested in him,
we just met in front of an airplane bathroom!” He raked his hands through his
hair once more “It’s these kinds of feelings that made me lose my wife and here
they come again! Why can’t I just stop these
feelings completely and do my work in peace!” The stewardess came back and
tapped him on the arm, her manicured nails pulling him out of his thoughts.
“Here you are sir, and I’ve given you and extra packet of pretzels courtesy of our
airline, I hope you enjoy the rest of your flight.” She smiled and as she
turned to walk away, she looked back at him “I’m
Natasha, if you need anything else please, don’t
hesitate to ask.” She then winked, and flounced her way back down the aisle.
His face twisted in disinterest, even with the aid of the Advil, he slowly felt
his headache returning. “Darn it, when well this flight be over?” he thought as
he struggled to get comfortable in his seat.
Chapter
3:
A year had passed since Wataru
had landed in the busy city of New York and started working as a professional
photographer. After arriving he’d installed himself in a
loft in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn and started working for his new agency,
“Picture That!”. Shaking his head as he climbed out of bed, he strode over to
his mirror proudly admiring his newly acquired features; within the year, his
hair had grown longer, his muscles were thicker but his physique was still
lean, his eyes, surprisingly enough had also changed into a more oval shape
which only made his green eyes more seductive, so now instead of looking like a
young adolescent fresh off the plane, he'd grown into a mature 24 year
old looking man. Slamming his bedroom door open Wataru laughed out
loud as he threw himself down on his couch, "Which picture did they use
from me today?" he smirked while flipping through one of the many
newspapers. He’d known a great success since he’d
arrived in New York and his artworks were being published in every magazine,
heck, half of the fashion industry wanted him as a full time photographer! As
it was a Friday morning he searched for his most recent photographic conquests
in the business section of the New York Times, he happened upon an article
concerning a very popular clothing company's grand opening. The article read:
YOKOHAMA THREADS MAKES A
COMEBACK!
"Yokohama Thread's makes a
stunning grand opening on 5th
avenue after the company’s last store burnt down, toasting all its merchandise
to a crisp! With a new company president, Nakahashi, Amamiya the companies
stocks have skyrocketed and sales have never been better! With it’s newly added teen section and it’s refreshingly new architecture style, people have just been
flooding into the store non-stop! After receiving over $70000 on it’s initial reconstruction plan in a day the investors within
the company are certainly getting what they paid for! One of their sponsors,
Mr. Evan Green was kind enough to spare a moment of his day to tell us a little
more about the future project ideas of the company---“
“Blah, blah, blah, blah,
expanding in size, hoping to add another section by next fall” Drawing out
every syllable he skimmed through the rest of the article to find his picture,
but his eyes wouldn’t let him focus on his art as they kept drawing him back to
two words within the article.
“Amamiya...Nakahashi?”
Flicking back his newspaper, he stared at the article blankly, “Where have I
heard that name before?” Furrowing his eyebrows and frowning, he wondered
where it was he’d heard the name before…“Oh well,” he shrugged and sipped
his coffee “if he’s that important I’ll meet him at tonight’s opening party.” He smirked, folded the newspaper, and
contentedly threw it against his coffee table. He got up from the couch and
mussed his wavy bed head hair “Alright, time to move out.” Pulling off his
pajama top, he strode back into his room and tugged open his wardrobe, “Right
Wataru, today you’re shooting the grand opening of Yokohama Threads new store,
you want to look laid back but,” Wataru gleamed, pulling out a dark red long
sleeved shirt and a sleeveless vest “Classy.” Rummaging around the rest of the
room he managed to find a pair of black skinny jeans, a matching striped red
tie, a couple of varying leather bracelets, and his own addition to fashion,
his mark, and his constant accessory, his gray beanie. Sprinkling himself
lightly with cologne, he brushed his teeth, smoothed down his hair poking out
from under his hat, stuck a piece of buttered bread in his mouth, grabbed his
camera bag and keys and , slamming his apartment door
shutwith his foot, ran hurriedly out of his loft. His face was lit up with
excitement as he raced to begin his day with his usual goal in mind, “I’m going to be even more famous today than yesterday!”
Chapter 4: Nakahashi
Blinds drawn, lights out, a
glass of alka seltzer and Advil on his right, arms covering his head, Nakahashi
rested his head on his desk. After pulling three all nighters in a row while
sorting last minute files for today’s grand opening, he’d gone a little over board in his little celebration last
night. No one had drunk as much as he had, his friends couldn’t stop him, and now he was paying for it ten fold. His
headed throbbed as three light taps came from the door, he moaned in pain as
his secretary tried to tiptoe his way towards him.
“Sir…” Stevens stood in front
of his desk, he usual dark green suit and black tie perfectly in position, his
hair swept back, and with his young face it turned into a rather dorky looking
bowl cut. He’d hired the kid as a favor to his old neighbor and he seemed
to be doing well except for his incorrigible shyness when it came to speaking
with him, “Excuse me, President Amamiya, Sir,” He timidly tapped his arm.
“Probably checking to see if I’m not dead, poor kid,
stuck working for an old geezer like me” Nakahashi thought. “Hmmm?”
“You have a call on line one
from Mr. Green, Sir…” Nakahashi could hear the boy pulling at the edges of his
suite readjusting his shirt subtly, the obvious anxiety in his voice as he
stood before the president of one of the largest fashion companies in the world
and he chuckled softly. He urged his mouth to at least crook in the same
sense of a smile at the boy, but it seemed that it only scared the poor squirt
more. He sighed and recalled that he wasn’t presently living
through one of his best moments, “Thank you Stevens, I’ll
pick up, I apologize for my appearance, please transfer the call to line 4”
“Y-Yes Sir!” Stevens stammered
as he attempted to hurriedly walk out of his boss’s
darkened office, but it became more of a stumble when Nakahashi called out
before he could reach the door “And while you’re at
it Stevens, bring me a coffee!”
“O-of course Sir!” He bowed and
shut the door softly behind him as he left, an audible sigh of relief following
his escape. Nakahashi grinned as he quickly took a swig of Alka seltzer and his
two Advil then picked up his phone on line 4.
“Amommyiyyaaaaa! My Japanese
protégée! Welcome back to the real world! How was the rest of night?” Evan’s
smug voice hit his pounding headache like flaming projectiles. They had been
friends since university and they were about the same age, now is business
partner and best friend, Evan’s loud voice mocked him through the phone.
“First of all Evan Green, you
know for a fact I’m hung over you lousy excuse for a best friend, abandoning
me completely out of my mind in front of a bar at the mercy of New York City
the night before our company’s grand opening, without
a way to get home just because you wanted to chase after some chick leading you on.” Evan’s hearty and well amused
laughter was extremely nerve wracking through the phone, “I swear to you the
next time we go out you’re paying for psychological damage if that happens again!”
Nakahashi gritted his teeth as
Evan’s laughter turned into one of wild cackling, he could just
imagine the tears of amusement falling down his angular face.
“What are you even saying? I
paid for your taxi home! Come on, don’t
tell I’m not a great buddy I made sure you were safe on your way
home before I left with Janice!”
Nakahashi
scoffed, “Yeah, only after you found me
completely passed out in the alley beside the bar!”
Nakahashi pulled the phone away
from his ear, Evan’s laugh couldn’t get any louder and
Nakahashi could hear him gasping for air between his cackles. “I’ll hang up this phone if this is all you’ve called me for, I
have other more important calls waiting,” he twiddled his pen around in his
finger. “ I don’t really, they’re all just people
calling to congratulate me before the actual opening this afternoon, but that
doesn’t mean I have all morning to waste you.And the girl you took
home, her name was Jenny not Janice.”
Evan’s sarcastic gasp echoed through the receiver and his
laughter died down, “Who cares, she’s one girl of many that
I won’t even remember by tomorrow-“
“You’re an
enemy to woman kind everywhere, you know that?” Nakahashi imagined Evan’s sly grin on the other end of the phone line and groaned as
Evan was chuckling again.
“Come on Miya, bare with me, I’ll settle down in a couple of years, then you’ll see.”
“Right, now was there a point
to this ridiculous call?”
“Oh, that’s
right!” Evan exclaimed, Nakahashi swiveled in his chair as he buzzed Stevens,
who peeked in, he motioned for more Advil and the boy nodded and closed the
door “Guess who managed to snag the best and most popular photographer in New
York, for someone who’s been calling me a jerk all morning?”
Nakahashi scratched his head;
as far as he was concerned he’d hire at least a
hundred photographers why would one make a difference? “
You?”
“BINGO!”
“OW, DAMN IT EVANS KEEP IT
DOWN!” He rubbed his ears, Stevens stepped in and placed a saucer of tea
with two more Advil on the side next to him, Nakahashi nodded gratefully, “
What’s so special about this photographer anyway? And how’d you manage to snag him if no one else could?”
Evan tsked him, “Now, now, I
didn’t embezzle any money in hiring him-“
“So what did you promise him?”
An unusual silence, “Evan Green, what did you promise him?”
“…I gave him access to tonight’s exclusive opening party.”
“Evan.”
“Amamiya.”
“It’s
supposed to be for business partners and close friends and family! What are we
going to do if he shows up and is some sort of commoner? It’s not really a party then is it?”
“I KNOW, oi Miya, I’m not stupid, but I’m telling you his work
is worth it he has an extraordinary talent with a camera, his photos will be
hung all around and will mark our company’s history!” Evan’s
loud pleas were finally starting to get the best of his pounding headache.
“Fine, fine, he can come, but
you’re responsible for any indiscretions caused by him”
“Egg-cellant.”
“What?”
“It’s a
breakfast pun, I’m starving”
“You’re an
idiot.”
“I know, but at least I got you
to watch my little rich boy back!”
Nakahashi
chuckled, “Yeah, you loser of course you
do.”
“Alright, old man I’m going to go to the kitchen and as for some eggs, I’ll see you at the opening in three hours.”
“Three hours—ITS 1 PM HOW LONG
WAS I ASLEEP?“ Nakahashi jerked up from his chair and saw his mounting
collection of paperwork to be done before the ceremony “ARGH, STEVENS WHAT IS
THIS? WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP!” He could hear stacks of papers falling
from the young boys desk outside his office and then the shuffling of
adolescent feet shuffling across the office as they ran away from their desk.
Nakahashi recoiled from his outburst his head throbbing in pain.
Evan’s cackles emerged once more “Alright Amamiya, I’ll
leave you to your work,” Nakahashi’s groans were drowned
out by Evan’s insolent laughter “Oh, and the photographers name is
Wataru Fuyori, make sure to put him on the list.”
“Wait, Wataru Fuyori, I’ve heard of him before…”
“Of course you have he’s famous! I have to go otherwise Cook’s
going to yell at me! Have fun!” The line cut off as Evan hung up, but Nakahashi
just let the phone sit on his desk. “Wataru Fuyori…I’ve
heard that name somewhere before, not from the magazines but…where?” Nakahashi
frowned; he didn’t have time to think about the name now. He groaned and
dropped a stack of paperwork in front of himself. “I swear, when I think I did
this to myself I have to wonder about my mental health!” He then hung up his
phone and began to fill out his forms. “I don’t know if three hours
let alone three days will be enough for this! Someone save me!”
Chapter 5: Wataru Fuyori
“Excuse me, I’m sorry, if I could just get to the front!” Wataru coughed
as he was finally able to breach through the mob of people forming in front of
the new Yokohama Thread Store. It had taken him a half an hour just to push his
way through the crowd all the way from his bus stop two blocks away. His
company had called him suddenly as he was getting off the bus and told him that
they’d sent Miles, his photo development partner along with an
album they needed him to authorize before they sent it to the printers, “Is
this really the time and place to call me out for minor working details? That
stupid company of mine!” He swore once again as he skimmed the crowd for
the top of Mile’s head, even if African man was someone who stood out with
his ridiculous height and loud voice, but this crowd was just too much!
“Humph, forget about meeting up with him, the ceremonies about to start and I
have to take my place, I’ll find him later.”
Turning back towards the gated area of the makeshift podium, he went and showed
his “back stage” access to the guard and made his way to the isolated
photographer section.
“Fuyori? Wataru Fuyori?”
“Yes?”
The man walking towards him
smiled, wearing a black trimmed suit with matching shoes, a light blue tie and
glasses, the guy reeked of a high society bourgeois. Wataru grasped the man’s outstretched hand and caught a whiff of extremely potent
(but excellently chosen) cologne.
“It’s a
pleasure to finally meet you I’m
Evan Green,” He released his steel tight
grasp on Wataru’s hand.
“I’m
pretty sure he’s broken at least four of my fingers! He was too close to
breaking my tools of trade!” Wataru thought as he rubbed his hands and ground
his teeth together to keep him from yelping in pain.
“The pleasure’s all mine, I want to thank you again for offering me this
wonderful opportunity and-“
“Oh, no that’s where I have to stop and thank you,” Mr. Green his smile
growing even wider, Wataru was even sure that he’d
vaguely seen the face of a grinning fox in his light hazel eyes, “I’m so glad that you were available at the last second and
were willing to come through this large crowd in order to get here! I apologize
that I wasn’t able to find the subventions to fund your whole team.”
“Yeah right you creepy fox-man,
you’re lucky that I like parties you big ol’ cheapo.”
Wataru grinned back at him devilishly, “Oh, no Mr. Green I’m
afraid you’re apologizing for nothing, I was glad to come - never mind
the team, and your pay is it’s own benefit even if it’s not necessarily direct cash.”
Evan saw the wicked gleam in
Wataru’s cat like eyes and right away this new feisty little cat
would make the perfect addition to the Yokohama Thread family. Evan’s sinister sniggers filled the air as he clapped Wataru on
the back.
“Please, call me Evan,” Wataru
buckled under the larger man’s whack on the back and
ended up being bent over out of breath, “Welcome to the family Fuyori-san.”
Wataru glanced up in surprise as Evan’s greeted him in
Japanese.
“Why, t-thanks I look forward
to working with you…” He replied in Japanese as well. This was the first time
anyone from America had even uttered a word in his native tongue other than
cheesy anime catchphrases or silly songs.
Evan’s eyes lit with amusement as he watched Wataru’s confused gaze fall on his mouth, he seemed to be verifying
if what’d he’d
heard was true.
“A friend of mine that I used
to go to school with got tired of speaking English with me, so he forced me to
learn Japanese,” Pushing his glasses, Evan’s
began emitting some sort of strange ‘cool guy’ aura, and switched back
to English, “What you’re hearing is the practiced result of 4 years of nagging and
hard work.”
“Oh, I see well that’s very impressive Mr. Green-“
Evan frowned, his cheery
disposition turning somewhat haunting while he quickly corrected Wataru, “Evan.”
“Evan, right my apologies.”
“Right then, now that the
introductions have been done,” His lips crooking into a small smile, and light
humor returning, “I leave you to your work, I can’t
wait to see the results.” He waved as he began to saunter away, “Make sure to
get good shots of our press/president?, he gets very touchy about pictures.”
Wataru lost sight of him, as he was lost in the large crowd.
“Maybe he’s not
as bad as I thought…” Wataru smirked as he scratched his head, and stuck out
his tongue in his direction, “Still a bit weird though.”
An upbeat music suddenly filled
the air through the over speakers overhead, the music riveted the street and
sunshine bounced off the shimmering silver walls of the new Yokohama building.
The blowing wind matched the force of the chattering crowd as the
unveiling began.
“Right, time to get ready!”
Wataru quickly set up his camera and placed himself directly in front of the
president’s podium and focused his camera. Loud cheers filled the air,
the speakers boomed, “NOW PRESENTING YOKOHAMA THREAD’S NEW
ESTABLISHMENT, EVERYONE PLEASE WELCOME OUR COMPANIES NEW PRESIDENT MR.
NAKAHASHI!” A tall man walked on to the stage and waved at the crowd, his
bright smile warmed the crowd, and Wataru hastily adjusted his camera focus
just as the president’s face came into full view. His camera shutter clicked
wildly taking as many shots of the man as possible. Fingers nimbly adjusting
the light settings, he tried to get one close of shot of the president. Wataru’s gaze finally took in the face of the man who was standing
behind the podium, arms stiffening, he moved the camera aside he absorbed the
president with his eyes. His breath completely taken away by him, stunningly
good-looking, his handsome features had refined themselves in the passing year.
Even his eyes had changed, instead of a storm they now caged in a whirling
tempest. His eyes widen in astonishment, lips barely moving, the next almost
winded eight syllables fell out of his mouth like heavy stones, softly
murmuring the name of the man with tempest’s
eyes that he’d longed for 3 months after he’d
gotten off the plane that had brought him here. “Naka…hashi…Ama…miya?”
Chapter
6: Nakahashi
Besides almost passing out from
exhaustion while exiting the podium, the opening ceremony had gone off without
a hitch; he’d made his opening speech, waved and had leaving the stand
for the next speaker, blowing kisses. “Now, all that’s
left is tonight’s party.” Nakahashi thought as he stepped out of the shower.
Ruffling with his head with his towel, his black hair dripped water everywhere.
He lounged on his sofa a towel wrapped around his waist. “Ahhhh…” he
moaned, “there’s no way in hell I’m going to make in
through tonight.” Covering his face he groaned, he’d
tried taking a nap several times but sleep wouldn’t
wash over him like it usually did. “Ok! Think positive Amamiya, its only
one night, you’ll say hi to some people, greet some wives, accept a
bouquet, look over photos…” he groaned once again, “Shoot, I forgot to inspect
the Fuyori kid before the ceremony, I have no idea what he’s
like! He might be a liability to the evening.” Slamming his fist on the counter
he swore. “I never should’ve let Evan make such a
ridiculous bargain! All of our backers are going to be at that party tonight!”
Shaking his head he paced around his kitchen. “No, no, no, calm down Nakahashi,
you’re a full fledged business man, you can organize a whole
company in two minutes flat! You can deal with a stupid kid…or wait.” Stopping
in his tracks he grinned, “No, you, you can deal with a kid no problem, but
EVAN IS THE ONE WHO’S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIM, HA!” Howling with laughter he
snatched his cell phone and flipped it open. Fingers tapping away furiously, he
texted Evan:
‘Oi, Evan…you’re the one who’s responsible for the
kid, I don’t want see him, AT ALL during the evening. If you fail, I’ll kick you off the board of directors. Good luck!’
Exhaling he felt his shoulders
drop and his calm returned; not only had he gotten his vengeance on Evan, he’d gotten rid of dealing with the kid. A wave of drowsiness
engulfed him. He yawned loudly, “I could use with a nap…” glancing at the clock
mounted on his wall, 5 o’clock, “I’ve got time, three hours should be enough to get my face back
to normal.” His cell phone vibrated suddenly, it’s
screen flashing rapidly as texts from Evan began flooding in.
‘Aww, come Miya don’t do this to me! All of the belles of the world are
going to flooding into that party, don’t stick me with the
kid I’m begging you!’
‘Miya, I know you’re there answer me!’
‘I’m
sorry I left you the other day! REALLY SORRY! PLEASE DON’T
LEAVE ME WITH THE KID!’
‘You’ll
see his photos were really well done! Plus he seems like an extremely well
behaved guy! He doesn’t need a guardian!’
‘You rotten jerk; you’re doing this on purpose. There’s
no way I’m taking care of that kid’
‘OI, MIYA ANSWER ME’
‘手名輪 あなた輪 大機だい!I’M EVEN WRITING IN
YOUR STUPID LANGUAGE ANSWER ME’
Nakahashi’s
grin was ear to ear; he closed his bedroom door on his friend’s distressed messages. “Ahh, victory the sweetest platter
served by text.” Donning a pale blue pajama after setting his alarm clock for
8:30 he slid into bed.
“Tonight will be just
fine.” He murmured into his pillow before a warm feeling washed over as
he fell asleep.
Chapter
7: Wataru
“Wataru? Are you alright man?”
Miles jabbed him in the ribs bringing him back to reality. After the ceremony
was done he’d tottered mindlessly into a café where Miles had found him
after searching for 2 whole hours and they were now heading back to the office
in a cab.
“Yeah, no, I’m totally fine…”
Miles’s
long dreads bobbed along with his head, leaning forward he tried to meet Wataru’s distracted gaze, obvious concern etched the contours of
his angular face.
“Wataru, you’re not sick or anything right? ” Miles brought his hand up
to forehead, and Wataru nudged it off.
“I’m
totally fine!”
“Well then start acting like
it,” Miles leaned back into his seat and crossed his arms, “You’re really starting to freak me out.”
“Huh?” Wataru’s confused regard fell on him and then went right back to
being completely zoned out again.
“See? That’s
what I’m talking about!” Miles frown as he pulled on Wataru’s cheeks, the cabbie staring at them with curiosity scoffed
from the front seat; they were acting like a mother and son.
“What!”
“Wataru, you’ve been staring into space since I found you!” Miles sighed, “Wataru, I found you as you were about spill coffee all over
your camera, it's like a child to you! I’ve never seen you this
dazed!”
“I’m not
dazed, I’m just thinking…there’s nothing wrong with
that.” Wataru huffed; he slid down as much as he could so his knees were
hitting the chair in front, and stretched his beanie down over his eyes. He
couldn’t help it, seeing Nakahashi-san again was…incredible. His
cheeks turned red as they burned with anticipation. Tonight he’d see him again, he’d definitely be at the
party, “I wonder if he even remembers me… I’d
totally forgotten about him months ago until now…what should I do when I see
him?”
Miles patted him on the head
lightly and said “Don’t worry man, I’m sure what ever it is that you’re
worrying about will turn out fine in the end.” Wataru peeked up at him from
under his beanie, lips quivering and eyes beginning to tear up, he yanked at
his friends t-shirt and hugged him. Miles though initially shocked at such an
obvious sign of affection from his friend shrugged and hugged him back.
“ I’m so
nervous…what should I do, Miles. It’s been months!” He cried
into his friend’s shirt, excitement was out weighed by his frustration at
his own reaction; the fear of potential rejection was completely overriding his
brain and the outcome, an even heavier flow of tears. “I don’t
even know why I’m worrying! There’s no way Nakahashi-san
is gay, and he’d never be into someone as plain as me!”
“Oh, I see,” Miles a deep
throated chuckle erupting from his mouth, his dark face lit with delight, here
was one of the most confident people he knew, crying, over a girl, “Is there
someone you like coming to visit you here from Japan? An old fling?”
Wataru stopped his hiccupped
crying momentarily and feebly replied “Sort of, I guess you could say I haven’t seen them in a while…and they are from Japan…”
Turning his head back into the
crook of his friends arm “But he’s not my girlfriend and
he’s most definitely not a girl.” Recalling Nakahashi’s eyes, Wataru felt his face grow warm yet again.
“Well, if they’re here today, why don’t you invite them to the
Yokohama party? Your invite did say you could bring someone.”
“They’re,
they’re already going to be there…”
“Oh really? A wealthy
girlfriend then, and you’re going to see each
other tonight? ” Miles wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, they looked like
dancing caterpillars. Wataru smacked him in the gut, giggling as his friend
struggled to suck air back into his lungs.
“Shut up you perverted Rasta,”
Miles’s annoyed look, penetrated through his turmoil of emotions,
making him beam, his stuck out his tongue, “All that teasing you definitely had
it coming.”
The taxi pulled over next to
their office, Wataru jumped out and Miles paid the driver, together they walked
into the large red building and went all the way up to the fourth floor.
Entering the office all one could see were stacks and stacks of paper, piled
up, fluttering in the air (people dropped their piles very often), and
scattered on the floor. This, was PictureThat! one of the top photography agencies
in New York City let alone America and here it was looking like a pig’s pen.
“What’s
going on in here?” Wataru watched with annoyance as an intern knocked over one
of his many framed paintings on the wall.
“Just ignore it, unlike you a
lot of the photographers don’t get their work done
before the deadline and have to rush their photo developments in order to get
their albums done. It’s been like this since last month after you left for paid
vacation.” Miles answered signing them both into the company attendance book.
“Oh.”
“ Either way, we’re not even going near that section of the office,” Hitching
his arm under Wataru’s, Miles directed them towards the editing room “ Since you
already took the photos today we can go directly to editing!”
Sitting themselves down in one
of the larger editing cubicles, Wataru uploaded all of the photos from the
opening ceremony on the computer.
“Wow, you took some top quality
one’s today…” Rubbing his chin Miles scrutinized the photos in
detail, “Especially of President what’s his name, Nakakna-“
“Nakahashi…” Wataru’s eyes were glued on the screen, hundreds of pictures of
Nakahashi, all of them flooding in to the computer system, each and every one
capturing his face, his eyes, the sway of his hair in the wind—
“Wataru? Earth to Wataru,
anyone there?” His partner waved his hand in front of Wataru’s face snapping him back into reality.
“Sorry, I was just looking at
the…” His eyes unfocused and Wataru lost himself once more in his dream world.
Miles followed his gaze to the
computer screen where his friend’s eyes traced every
aspect of the president’s angular face, lingering on the man’s
eyes. He smirked, stroking his chin, “So, this is the cute Japanese girlfriend
we were talking about earlier…hmm, interesting…”
“Look Fuyori, you have less
than two hours to get you ready and then present these photos to,” roughly
pressing his fingers against the computer screen Miles tapped the image of
Nakahashi “That guy right there,” Pulling down on his partner’s ear gently, he watched Wataru’s
gaze shift and refocus on him, his face turning a bright crimson red, beaming
Miles ruffled his hair through his beanie “So, would you mind getting it
together?”
Chapter 8: Nakahashi
“A-MA-MI-YA!” Evan leaned over
into the driver’s section of his limo and leaned down on the car horn, “Lets
go! Come on, you slept all afternoon! You’re going to make us late
to the party of the century!” “Honestly, sitting here in this limo and
wrinkling my favorite Ralph Lauren suit with your awkward secretary isn’t all I have to do with my time!” Outside of Nakahashi’s apartment Stevens and Evan waited impatiently in his
private white stretch limo.
“April 7th 2010, 8:30 pm,”
Nakahashi muttered sliding into the gaudily white stretch limo. Wearing a black
custom made Anderson & Sheppard suit, with matching loafers, his hair was
fashionably combed so that his bangs hung stylishly not quite covering up his
eyes; he truly was a sight for sore eyes.
“Eh? What? Speak up.” Evan said
handing a matching glass of Armand de Brignac.
“Today is April 7th 2010 and it
is exactly 8:30 pm.” Nakahashi slamming the door shut, downed the entire glass
of champagne in one go, his eyes gleaming, his laughter echoed throughout the
limo, Evan’s annoyed face and Stevens confused stare watched him.
“A-are you alright Sir? I have
a bottle of Advil here if you need it!” Stevens reached his hand into a little
satchel he was carrying and fished out the bottle of painkillers.
“Don’t
worry about him squirt,” Evans scoffed, “The old man must’ve
downed a bit to much of the liquid courage before coming here. Just be prepared
to take him home tonight before he makes a fool of himself.” Sipping his
champagne, Evan didn’t feel Nakahashi’s heated glare until the man slid right up to him and
whacked him behind the head.
“Ow! Damn it! Now you’ve done it, the champagne is all over the upholstery!”
Splotches of champagne sunk into the cracks in Evan’s
seat. Evan wiped excess champagne dribble on his chin and dabbed at his golden
tie with a cloth napkin. He looked like a frivolous swan in his white suit and
the tie wasn't helping, “No wonder women love him,”
thought Nakahashi, “He looks good but he’s got the mind of an
idiot that they can manipulate freely without worry.”
“No, I’m not
laughing because I’m in a state of intoxication you idiot,” His frown
transforming into a content grin, Nakahashi pulled his arms over his styled
hair and leaned back into his seat, “No, I’m
laughing because I’m HAPPY.”
“Well of course you are,” Evan grumbled, “You’ll be spending the evening with beautiful women while I,”
Deciding that he’d just have to change ties, tossed his tie and wet napkin
into Nakahashi’s lap, “have to babysit.”
Steven’s muffled giggle from
the isolated corner of the seating area mixed in with Nakahashi’s boisterous laughter, piqued Evan snarled “Alright fine! I’ll bite! What’re you so happy about
you ridiculous grandpa?”
“First of all,” Nakahashi
flicked his friend’s nose, “We’re the same age, if I’m a grandfather you must
be a grandmother, second of all, I’m happy because today I
officially become President of Yokohama Threads!”
Stevens blushing in the corner
adjusting his glasses, squeaked, “E-excuse me President Nakahashi, um Sir?
Maybe I’ve been misinformed but I believe that you’ve been the president of the company for almost a year now…”
Nakahashi’s
gentle smile turned to the young man and chuckled, “I know that Stevens, but
what I meant was, in all the time I was working for Yokohama Threads I’ve never made a public appearance, this is the first time I’ll be known outrightly as the official president of this
company.”
“Oi, I really do think you had
a bit to much to drink before getting in.”
Nakahashi made a swipe at Evan
once again but Evan ducked and stuck out his tongue at Nakahashi’s agitated expression and poured himself another drink.
“Don’t
drink too much Mr. Green, remember you’re looking after a child
this evening!”
Evan growled from the rim of
his glass and downed it just as quickly as he had the past two, “All the more reason for me to be drinking now
rather than later.”
They all laughed and the driver
pulled up to the Plaza Hotel, the amount of cars and lights surrounding the
whole event were ridiculous, the minute Nakahashi stepped foot out of the car
the reporters were on him like flies on sugar. They bombarded him with
questions as the hired security escorted him and his company through the
excited mass of people.
“Mr. Nakahashi could you tell
us about your plans in the future?”
“What’s it
like to be the president of one of the most successful companies--"
“Mr. Nakahashi we love you!
Please turn this way for a photo!”
Smiling gratefully and waving
at the crowd, they made their way inside the dining hall.
“Well that was ridiculous.”
Evan loosened his tie and handed it to one of the maids, “Please have that
brought to Suite C, thank you.” He winked at the astonished maid watching her
scamper off clutching his tie.
“You’re
never going to get it back you know. The fans like to dress up as maids and
steal personal items like that” Nakahashi remarked.
“It's fine, it’s a ruined tie anyway.” Evan shrugged, “I’m going to find the kid, be back in ten.”
The ballroom was immense in
size: golden walls with beautiful decorations varying in forest greens, auburn reds, and
caramel brown hues, it was magnificent sight to behold the architecture was
monumental! Arches on the ceiling and white marble columns lined with dusty
golden curtains lead to different areas of the dining hall. The orchestra and a
crystal chandelier also made wonderful adornments to the hall that was starting
to look like a royal palace.
“Sir, please be sure to find
Mr. Fuyori and make sure you authorize the album he makes before partaking in
too many of this evenings festivities.” Stevens shifted his feet, he looked
like a scrawny kid in this crowd, with his black bow tie and over sized gray
suit. Nakahashi followed his gaze to a group of well-known secretaries chatting
and he patted the boy on the head.
“Get going before I find some
work for you to do.”
“Thank you Sir!”
Grinning as he watched his secretary
being embraced warmly by the others in the group, he felt a bit of his
nervousness fall away. “Maybe I should’ve had more to drink
after all,” he thought as he began to make his formal rounds to all of his
clients and partners. Hours later a drunken Evan called him over.
“Oi, President Sir!” Evan waved to him; Nakahashi excused himself from his
conversation and walked over to the column where Evan waited alone.
“You said ten minutes you liar,
where’s Fuyori?” Nakahashi glanced at his friend, “Did you even
find him before you started drinking?”
“Oh knock it off he’s right—“ Evan whirled around and looked behind him, “Well,
he was right here…”
“What does he look like?” An
exasperated Nakahashi sighed, scanning the crowd for some who looked like a photographer.
“A little bit like…oh!” Evan’s
squinted eyes spotted a hand poking out from behind the column, “There he is!”
Evan tugged him out from behind his hiding spot roughly and swung his arms
around the kids shoulder beaming like they were the best of friends.
Nakahashi did a once over of
the young man’s clothes before looking at his face noting that he was,
wearing a classical Yokohama suit; perfect for the man’s
lean yet muscled frame, a black tie, some black dress shoes and some leather
bracelets that surrounded his wrists making his fingers look longandelegant.
Judging him to be dressed well enough for the occasion he extended his arm to
shake hands with his new part time employee.
“It’s a
pleasure to meet you, thank you for aiding my com-pa-ny…” Nakahashi’s words stumbled out as he paused observing the
photographers face. Meeting the tentative regard of the young man’s soft, passionate light green eyes, his golden hair, his
(blushing) heart shaped face, his thin yet enticingly well shaped lips that
emitted a light fragrance of a fruity alcohol. “That would explain the
blushing…wait…blushing?” Searching his memory, he divulged the origin for the
warm emotions that he had for the young man and the recollection of a first
encounter months ago came rushing back to him as he finally recognized the
person before him.
“Good evening,” Wataru bowed
and grasped his hand, his blush becoming an even deeper shade of red, “My name
is Wataru Fuyori, I look forward to working with you.”
Chapter
9: Wataru
Yanking on the hand, Mr. Evans
had tugged Wataru to stand right next to him just as he was going to make a run
for it. Wataru and Miles had arrived at the party shortly after it began,
entering through the side doors as low class guests, but were immediately separated
after a young lady asked Miles for a turn on the dance floor. Waiting for his
partner to come back proved to be a longer charge than he’d
anticipated. His
impatience was getting the better of him
and so he decided to wander around the hotel a bit. He walked through the long
hallways admiring the hotel’s beautiful interior and
art collection until he came
across Mr. Evans chatting up a maid in the corridor, who readily abandoned his
clearly annoyed female companion for the strikingly well dressed Wataru’s
company. They returned to the party mingling with the crowd, they consumed
numerous extravagant drinks being distributed throughout the ballroom by
elegant waiters and waitresses, occasionally rejecting dance offers from young
ladies whom Evans deemed to be to young to humor and. Mr. Evan’s
mood grew merrier by the minute as dozens of beautiful women flocked over to
him, not to mention with every sip of alcohol he took he became less and less
focused on his mission of helping him find Nakahashi. It’d
taken Mr. Evans around three hours to figure out that he’d
been leaning against a wall totally heated and tipsy, that he needed to bring
him to see his boss.
“You! There! Kid!” He grinned
releasing his serpent like grip on his female entourage, much to their disappointment.
“WE,” jabbing his finger into his chest, “that is to say me and you, you and I,
need to go find my dearest supervising grandpa! ‘Cause you have something to
show him right? Right?” Pulling on the satchel he had on his waist, Wataru
bobbed his head up and down. He felt his body leaning precariously forward as
he was tugged along by the drunken man’s tight grip.
They’d
staggered the ballroom for 20 minutes before Mr. Evans spotted Nakahashi
talking to a group of people. Wataru’s fixated gaze fell on
the President’s white smile, his lips curved into a polite smile that lit
up the conversers' faces as they all laughed and spoke together. “Charismatic and
gorgeous…wow.”
“There he is, wait here for a
second I’ll go get him.” He patted the young photographers head and
stumbling more and more with each step made his way towards Nakahashi.
“Wait, he’s
coming here…to see me?” Wataru blushed, intertwining his fingers he
imagined the sensation he’d feel when their hands
met for a second time. “Maybe he’ll remember me by the
feel of my hands and say my name just like the first time we met. Or we’ll both feel those special sparks they talk about when they
come in movies.” Giggling at the frivolity of his thoughts he took a
bashful glance in Evan’s direction, he’d already starting
talking with Nakahashi.
“Wait! He’s
coming? Over here?” Slipping behind the column he caught a glimpse of his
bleary eyes and flushed face in one of the many mirrors hung throughout the
hall “Why’d I drink so much! I look like an idiot with my face like
this! A stupid youngster who’s totally out of his
league! Shoot!” Covering his face with his hands he hesitated, the thought of
making a break for it became more and more enticing. “It's not like I’d have anything more to lose, all I’d
have to do is find Miles and have him give him the photos for me! It’s no big deal!” There was a clear get away path
between a cluster of gossiping old ladies to his right where he could easily
sneak out of the room through one of the archway exits. “Alright, let’s do this, ready, set, g-“
Suddenly he felt the tight grip
of Mr. Evans brusquely yanking him out of hiding and placing directly in front
of the President of Yokohama Threads. Evan draped his arm over his shoulder
nonchalantly. “Amamiya Nakahashi…” He felt his cheeks redden as the
president gave him a once over. Shrugging off Evan’s
arm, Wataru bowed his head and took the initiative to shake hands with the
president and introduced himself.
He swallowed hard, face flaming
red, voice trembling and hands beginning to feel a little sweaty from the
president’s strong hands he managed to get out, “My name is Wataru
Fuyori, I look forward to working with you.”
“Naka, you look like you’ve seen a ghost, you alright?” Evan released his monstrous
hand from Wataru’s shoulders and lightly tapped spaced out President’s face.
The president’s stood before him frozen his eyes had widened, lips parted
slightly he muttered something under his breath.
“What didja say? Come on Naka,
speak up!”
Nakahashi shook his head,
refocusing his attention he smiled gently “I look forward to working with you
as well, I hope we work well together.” Bowing his head, “ I understand you
have some pictures to show me.” He tilted his head towards the rest of the
crowded dance room, “ And I think we’d be better off viewing
them in a more private place, please follow me to the study.”
Wataru nodded timidly and held
tightly to his satchel strap making his way towards the exit of the ballroom.
Evan began to follow suit, but Nakahashi stopped him with a wave of his hand.
“Evan, if I leave somebody has
to stay here and take care of the ladies while I’m
gone,” Nakahashi smiled, a evident chill rippled through Evan’s body at his superiors chilly glare, “You could do that for
me right?”
“I-I, uh…Definitely!” Evan’s
eyes joyfully lit up, staggering towards a group of young women who’d all been waiting their turn to talk with Nakahashi, he
called “Ladies,
Ladies, I’m afraid to inform you that our most competent president,
has a short meeting to attend to, allow me to entertain your beautiful minds
instead.” Then he vanished within the clump of chattering ladies.
Silently making their way to
the top floor of the hotel in the elevator, Nakahashi opened the door to a
large office space a little ways down the corridor, inviting Wataru in by
holding the door open. The space was huge, and a large window allowed them to
see the whole of Manhattan in one frame, the towering edifices glistened with
the reflections of all the lights on in the thousands of tiny apartments as
people settled in for the evening. “Truly the city that never sleeps.” Wataru
thought as he stood motionless and mesmerized before the window. He barely
heard the door click closed behind him as Nakahashi came in.
“It’s
beautiful isn’t it?” Nakahashi said seating himself in front of the large
desk on the far side of the room.
“Hmm? Yeah…” Wataru whispered,
he snapped out of his daze as he heard the president’s
deep chuckle echo throughout the office, “Oops, sorry!” He hurriedly took a seat in front of Nakahashi and removed
all the folders he needed from his satchel of he of the shoots he’d taken previously that day. Spreading them out on the
desk he separated the photos into three piles.
“These one’s are
of the crowd, these one’s are of the building and basic landscape, and this last
pile…well it’s supposed to be the pile with pictures of all the speakers,
but…” Squirming a bit in his chair he spread out the photos of the third pile
individually in front of him, “They’re mostly just of you.”
Few of the photo’s actually depicted anyone else other than Nakahashi,
feeling somewhat embarrassed he watched silently as Nakahashi observed each
picture from the third pile slowly. Whereas for the pictures of other people he
muttered his approval and complimented them with a light nod or gesture, his
face was completely unreadable as he picked up his own photos. His face
reddened a bit and he’d cover his mouth with his hands like he was trying to
conceal a frown/ “Or a smile for all we know,” Wataru bit his lips nervously as
the president picked through the photos, yelp when he selected one photo and
abruptly stood up.
“This one,” Nakahashi turned
the photo towards Wataru, “it’s amazing, how’d you manage to get my eyes to sparkle like that?”
“What?” Puzzled Wataru stood
and examined the picture, “I don’t know, haven’t they always been like that: silver, stormy, captivating,
etc. what’s the problem---oh…umm…”
Nakahashi gapped at him
incredulously, shoving his chair from behind his desk he rushed over to stand beside
Wataru and grabbed both of his hands.
“So, you do remember?”
Nakahashi eyes bore into his own, and drowning sensation that Wataru had
fantasized about for months finally rippled through his body. It was
magnetizing the more he stared the more he wanted to lean forward and cling to
him, at the same time his embarrassment was doubled considering he was already
drunk and the heat of their hands touching was truly making him lose his mind.
“You remember me from the plane don’t you? We met in front
of the bathroom didn't we? Fuyori-san?”
“I, uh, I just…” Wataru’s eyes began to water
heavily and tears poured out little by little. “Jeez, his eyes are silver they’re like a werewolf…magicallll”
“Fuyori!”
“I, guh, muu---“ Losing control
of his neck Wataru felt his body fall forward as the world started to spin
around him. “Maybe he’s an angel or something fallen from heaven cursed to seduce
humanity for eternity? Hehe.”
“Fuyori are you alright? Are
you sick? Hold on, I’ll get you some water!” Feeling his legs fall from
underneath him, he fell down on top of a surprised Nakahashi who was already
struggling to keep him standing
“Why are you spinning
Nakahashi-kun I thought we were frie—“ Then suddenly everything was black.
Chapter
10
Wataru passed out, his hat sliding
off his head, fell letting his full body fall on top of Nakahashi who was
already struggling to keep even half of him up.
“No, no, no, no.” Heaving
Wataru’s body up onto his shoulders he could he carried him over to
the couch in the center of the office and laid him down. Wataru’s head lolled sideway’s hanging off the couch
while Nakahashi tried to get the bottom half of Wataru’s
body to stay still on the couch instead of drooping off. Nakahashi swore, with
a final pull he dragged Wataru’s torso up onto the
couch he managed to get his body to stay completely on the couch.
“We definitely don’t want you to catch a cold and have a hangover at them same
time.” He said taking off his suit jacket and draping it gently over Wataru’s shoulders. “There, now don’t
move.”
Shaking his head, Nakahashi
raked his fingers through his hair, “I knew I’d get
stuck with the kid, so much for counting on Evan.” Picking up the hotel phone
on his desk, he dialed for room service. A bored woman’s
voice responded on the other end.
“Good evening, Ritz Hotel
operator, my name is Amanda how may I be of service to you this evening?”
“Good evening, this is Amamiya
Nakahashi from office and suite 1-C,” loosening his tie, he slumped down into
his black desk chair and began to swivel from side to side, “In my office,
there is a guest who is…asleepon my couch-“
“Would you like me to dial for
security sir?”
“Oh no, it’s
nothing like that!”
“Then how may I be of
assistance?”
“Umm, Could you please send
somebody up to…” Lowering his voice and he coughed lightly, “move him to my
suite?”
“I’m
sorry sir, could you please repeat that?”
“…Would it be possible for him
to be moved to my suite?”
“Of course sir, and might I ask
if you need us to prepare your suite for your guest? Will another towel be necessary?
Or a late changing of your sheets?”
“No!” He cried, his fingers
white from his tight clutch on the receiver, “No, that shall not be necessary,
just please have someone up as quickly as possible.”
“Yes sir, someone will be up to
help you shortly.”
“Thank you.” Dropping the
receiver back in its holder he tentatively ambled back to Wataru.
“What’ve I
gotten myself into?” Bending down, he gently brushed aside the golden
hair covering his face and studied Wataru’s features intently, and
watched Wataru’s mouth open and close slightly with each breath he took,
“He’s so relaxed…“I feel like some sort of pervert…”
Nakahashi yelped and fell
backwards as Wataru groaned and nudging his head forward so that their faces
were almost touching. Wataru’s mouth quirked into a
smile and relaxed completely snuggling the suit and bringing it up to his face
and nuzzling it like a child nuzzles their favorite toy, mumbled, “Naka-kun,
smell good…” and returned to his comatose like slumber.
“Naka-kun?” Nakahashi stared at
the drooling golden haired Adonis snoring away on his couch, “Nakahashi-kun?”
“Is he dreaming about me?” Blushing intensely he moved back to his previous
position and whispered into his ear, “Say it again. Say Naka-kun again.”
Leaning in once again he traced Wataru’s light pink lips with
his finger and though they were gathering drool at their corners, they seemed
just as inviting as before.
“Say my name please…” Closing
his eyes, Nakahashi tenderly kissed Wataru’s
forehead, his eyelids and slowly moved down to the nape of his neck, he paused
at the lips waiting for to see if there’d be any response to his
affections, but Wataru remained in his comatose slumber.
“If there is a god, please let
him forgive me for all this.” Nakahashi thought as he pressed his lips
softly against Wataru’s, they were soft and tasted sweetly of wine. The
sensation of their lips meeting was euphoric and stroked a fire deep within the
pits of Nakahashi’s stomach. Wataru stirred a bit, and without waking his
mouth began to move along in unison with the movements of Nakahashi’s. Tilting Wataru’s chin up and his
placing his hands on either side of Wataru’s
shoulders, Nakahashi deepened the kiss much to Wataru’s
apparent pleasure. Then, Nakahashi’s mind went blank, the
tingling from their feeling completely scorched on the inside he was surprised
to find that Wataru’s kiss, even while asleep, was incredibly passionate and
“effective”, with each subconscious moan and mumbled syllable of his name
Nakahashi grew bolder in their embrace. He almost neglected to here the knocks
at his door as the room service had arrived. Ending their kiss, Nakahashi
pulled back and smiled crookedly as Wataru frowned his lips pursuing and
un-pursing searching for the source of the heat that had enveloped them moments
ago.
“Naka, where’d you go?” He heard Wataru mutter, as he stood up to go open
the door, his face burned as he bent over and gave Wataru’s lip
one final peck, ruffled his hair and whispered “I’m
right here, you stupid kid, you just sleep.”
Opening the door, he watched
the room service guys to enter and quietly lift Wataru, who was still clutching
his suit like a newborn and carry him with ease all the way to his suite where
they let his body fall gently into canopy bed, his head placed comfortably against
the goose feathered pillows. Tipping the men, he thanked them for their help
and shut the door behind them leaning against the door, he remembered that he
still had a party to attend, glancing at the now snoring body on his bed, he
smirked and shrugged “I’ll see you around anyway, Wata-kun. Sleep tight.” Quickly
straightening his hair and tie in the bathroom, he grabbed as spare suit from
his drawer and left shutting the door quietly behind him.
Sunlight drifted in through the
partially opened curtains, turning back and forth in the snug bed he was
sleeping in, Wataru realized he wouldn’t be going back to sleep anytime soon,
sitting up he stretched in the bed and rubbed his eyes vigorously. Still wearing the clothes he’d had on
since the night before, he found himself surrounded by piles of beautiful
decorative pillows and soft green comforter sheets, sliding of the large canopy
and admired the large room. The theme was obviously green in the bedroom as
everything in the room from the pale olive wall color to the dark forest green
of the carpeted floor varied in shades of green. There were two additional
rooms; one was a sort of dining room with white walls inscribed with golden ivy
vines where a large television was hung up on the wall in front of the table
and at the end of the table there were large pale yellow curtains that covered
a huge door leading to balcony. The other room, was obviously a bathroom but it
had a large Jacuzzi bathtub with a whirling water switch and a “step-in” shower
where a glass screen had been fit to have a TV built into it’s wall. “Who
watches television when they shower? Jeez, what a waste of a television.” The
rest of the bathroom was pretty standard but they cream colored ceramic tiles
really made it look dazzling.
“That being said…” Striding
back into the dining hall and examining the extravagant room, “Why am I in
here?” A light tapping at the door disrupted his thoughts.
“Ex-cu-se me, Mr. Fu –yo-ri?”
Inquired the maid, when he opened the door she pronounced every syllable then
looked up at him and beamed.
“Does she think I’m some sort
of illiterate idiot because I have an Asian name?”
“Yes, that would be me? Are you
here to clean the sheets?”
Spitting out every syllable just as slowly.
She cringed, her hands began to
tremble as his light green eyes shot daggers at her, “Yes, well um, no, I’m not
here to clean, I mean I am, but…” Taking the small envelope she’d been holding
out with her trembling hand, he watched with amusement as she hurried back down
the hall with her giant yellow cleaning cart.
Chuckling, he closed the door
to the room, he went out to sit on the balcony. It wasps beautiful and
captivating as the view from Nakahashi’s office but , as he dangled his legs
through the black iron rails that were preventing from falling off and feeling
that warm summer breeze flowing thorough his hair, he decided that the balcony
was ten times better. Ripping open
the envelope, it read:
Dear Fuyori-san,
I’m afraid last night you had a
bit of a mishap in regards to maintaining your conscience state while presenting your photos to me. I
hope it wasn’t to bold of me, but I had you placed in my suite and you spent
the night there. I’m sorry I cannot be present to review the photos with you
this morning, but as you know today is the second day of our new store’s grand
opening campaign, so I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone our next meeting until
next time. I hope we can continue to work well together, feel free to contact
me anytime and I’ll have my secretary arrange a meeting for just the two of us.
Till then airplane boy, I look forward to our next meeting.
Best regards,President
Nakahashi Amamiya (the one with silver eyes)
Crumpling up the paper in
embarrassed frustration and throwing it back into the apartment he stuck his
head in between the rails and pouted. “What on earth did do after that? I can’t
even remember!” His brain boiled trying to recall what happened after he’d let
slip his “airplane boy”, identity he smacked himself in the forehead, “What was
I thinking! How could I get so drunk?” Pulling his head out from between the
rails he slid his feet back onto the balcony and went inside. Sitting on the
couch in the living room he grabbed his satchel and rifled through the bag till
he found his cell phone.
“Hopefully Miles will back awake by now.”
To:Miles
4/8/2013 11:44
Subject: Come and get me you
unfaithful ass
Message:
You left me all alone last
night, when you told me you wouldn’t. See if I ever invite you out ever again,
pssh, some date you were. Anyway, come and get me, I’m still in the hotel and
I’m hung over, and you’re the one nursing me back to health. All of this is
your fault. Be here in 20, I’ll be waiting.
Wataru (your jilted lover)
(4/8/2013 11:44am)
Leaning backwards letting his
head hit the base of the bed, Wataru closed his eyes and let out and
exasperated breath. He thought of Nakahashi’s surprised face after he’d
supposedly passed out, “If I’d fallen on the floor I’d probably have some
bruises or something right? But, nothing hurts…did he catch me?” Redressing
himself in the couch, he imagined Nakahashi carrying him into the suite and
placing him gently on the plush bed, his lips began to tingle intensely,
picturing the older man slightly bent over him and leaning over his body to
kiss him gently, the faint smell of tabacco and a faint musk filling nostrils
as he felt Nakahashi’s lips move down from his mouth to graze over the
sensitive spots around the nape of his neck. Letting his mind wander, he felt Nakahashi’s hands moving up
and down his skin and his silvered eyed gaze lit up with passion as he also
became aroused.
“Humm—Wait!” “Why on earth am I
getting turned on here? What’s wrong with me?” He opened his eyes and put his head between his knees, “That’s
right Wataru, Nakahashi is a BUSINESS PARTNER! Aha ahahahaha!” Body shaking and
eyebrows furrowed together, his erratic laughter filled the air with
self-inflicted tension. “What on earth is wrong with me?” Head hung over in despair he checked
his phone. He had one new message from Miles:
To: Wata-melon
4/8/2013 11:53
Subject: RE: Come and get me
you unfaithful ass
Message:
OH DEAREST LOVER FORGIVE ME,
*leans you backwards like that move in the tango, leans in real close and
whispers* I’m sorry my love, I shall never leave you again. Just kidding, and fine I’ll come save
you from your dungeon. Which by the way, totally isn’t a dungeon cause you’re
in one of the finest rooms in the Ritz. Jeez, you should be grateful that I
lost you! I’ll be there in five, get your dress on my lady I don’t want to open
the door to see you in an indecent state.
To: Miles
4/8/2013 11:52
Subject: RE: Come and get me
you unfaithful ass
Message:
*Waits patiently in tower for
absolutely brain dead prince “charming” to come get her with his dashing blue
horse (aka your ugly stinking Prius)* You’re late enough as it is, no need for
the snaky role play. Besides, who’s indecent? I’m totally dressed, and how do
you know that I’m in Nakahashi’s suite?
Wataru (you hung-over and
totally annoyed princess)
To: Wata-melon
4/8/2013 12:04
Subject: RE: Come and get me
you unfaithful ass
Message:
A prince is never late, his
princess is simply early. I got an email from his secretary this morning; I was
able to get back home last night to check it. It basically says, that the photo
presentation was disturbed due to very vague reasons. But wow, you’re telling
me he got you up to his suite? Jeez, I know you’re in love with him but you
were pretty easy weren’t you? How much did you actually drink last night? Did
you get to confess?
Miles (I’m in on my way to your
room)
To:Miles
4/8/2013 12:06
Subject: RE: Come and get me
you unfaithful ass
Message:
WHAT ON EARTH DO YO…
Three knocks on the door,
letting Miles in, Wataru deleted the unfinished text message. Miles stood in
the doorway, casual his denim jeans and white t-shirt totally contrasting with
the intricate and elegant design of the room. Sweeping off his black fedora,
Miles bowed and took his hand, “Your prince has arrived my lady,” he smirked as
Wataru whacked him, “So? How was it?”
“I have no idea how you found
out about my feelings for Nakahashi and I don’t particularly care, but--“
“I may or may not have
witnessed your absolutely horridly red colored,” Miles tapped his cheeks and
Wataru felt his own heat up, “and stuttered introduction to the president. Put
anyone else in front of Nakahashi, sure they’d be nervous but they wouldn’t be
blushing like a bride on her wedding day at every word he’d said. Plus you said
someone from your country was going to be at that party, Nakahashi was the only
Japanese guy that I’d seen in the ballroom that wasn’t completely irrelevant or
in a couple so, put two and two together and it was pretty obvious that he’s
that old Japanese girlfriend you were talking about.” He shrugged nonchalantly
and grinned at his own cleverness.
“If you’re talking about sex,”
Wataru continued glaring at him, hearing Mile’s laugh while he grabbed his
satchel and scanned the room for any other forgotten objects, “there wasn’t any
because, 1. I didn’t get to confess, and 2. Nakahashi would never do something
like that because he’s probably straight, and 3.,” Whacking Miles again roughly
with his arm, “Because I passed out!” He picked his beanie up off the bedroom
floor and continued his room check.
Miles’s knees buckled as he
began laughing, tears had even managed to find their way to the corners of his
eyes and dribble down his cheeks, he repeatedly hit his thigh, his laughter
grew softer and softer as he lost his breathe. Wataru rolled his eyes and went
to check in the other rooms for stuff he’d forgotten.
“Oh, my, goodness, you are such
a kid!” Wiping away the remainders Miles stood up and walked over to the bed,
he quirked his eyebrow as he picked up a black suit coat that was mixed up in
the jumble of sheets around the bed. A smug crooked smile stretched across his
face, “No sex, huh? You’re sure about that?”
“Of course I’m sure you dolt,
you think I wouldn’t notice if I had-“ Striding back into the bedroom he
stopped in his tracks as he saw the coat, “Is that yours?”
Miles shook his head, his eyes
glowing even brighter with obvious and devious amusement.
“Didn’t think so…” He mumbled
softly snatching the coat out Miles’s hands, “Get your grubby mitts off of it,
I have to return this, it looks really expensive…” He slid the cloth around in
his fingers, forgetting Miles’s cocky smile and hesitantly sniffed it.
Indulging in the feel and the scent of the coat, Wataru distinguished the
traces of Nakahashi’s smoky fragrance mixed with light hints of alcohol that
lingered on the fabric making him recall his morning daydream. His face heated
up with embarrassment and frustration when he saw Miles stifling a chuckle with
his elbow. He threw a pillow and
knocked his friend’s fedora right off his head.
“Let’s just go!” Tugging his
beanie over his disheveled bed-head with one hand, clutching the coat tightly
against his chest he stalked out of the room.
“You are so flipping weird,
you’re like what stalkers are before they become stalkers in the first place.”
Miles called, chuckling while he shook his head slowly, closing the door to the
suite and followed his flustered friend down the hall.
“Oh shut up already you lousy
prince and take me home. I need an Advil, your disgusting laughter has plagued
me with a serious headache.”
“As my lady wishes.” Miles
snickered as Wataru’s loud and annoyed groan echoed through the hallways.
“You and your stupid role
playing I swear.”
“I only do it with those I love
most,” He pulled Wataru closer by draping his arms around his shoulder, “Right,
princess-san?”
“That’s 姫様 to you peasant.” Both of them grinning
they checked out of the hotel, each of them cracking a silly royalty joke here
and there while Miles drove him home. After walking up four flights of dirtied
warehouse stairs with a wicked hangover, Wataru opened to doors to his loft,
took off his shoes, dropped his satchel next to his own couch and with the suit
coat in hand plopped down onto his bed. “At least I’ll get to see him again…”
He thought bringing the coat back up to his nose and inhaling. “Next time I
won’t mess up…I can’t wait to see you again Nakahashi…” Closing his eyes he pulled his blankets
around him and slept.
Chapter 12
Wataru’s smile shone brightly
in the sunlight his laughter making the flowers flair up around them, the grass
was green and comfortable, and pink cherry blossom petals rained down from the
trees above, isolated on an old country field in his hometown Nakahashi served
Wataru some tea and fed him little Japanese pastries. With every bite the cute
blond took, Nakahashi thought he kept getting more and more adorable.
“Naka-kun, I love you!” Wataru
smiled and leaned forward so that Nakahashi could kiss the crumbs that he’d
purposefully left on his lips. Their lips met and the scenery changed they were
exiting a haunted house ride at a carnival and Wataru’s light mossy green eyes
were filled with tears, “Naka-kun, that was so scary! I was so glad that you
were there to protect me from all those scary monsters!” Nakahashi pulled him
into his arms and kissed the top of Wataru’s head as the young man nuzzled
himself against his chest. He held him close and Wataru looked up at him his
wide eyes now dazed; he leaned up and kissed him
“I’d never let anything happen
to you Fuyori-san.” Nakahashi whispered into his ear softly, breaking their
kiss momentarily. Another scene change, and now they were lying in his
apartment kissing on his couch as they “watched” a horror movie. This time
Wataru seemed distracted and Nakahashi stopped, concern filled his voice as his
partner shifted underneath him with unease, “What’s wrong Fuyori? Did I do
something wrong?”
Wataru slid out from under him
and tapped his lips lightly, reaching up he pull his hand tenderly through his
black hair “No, I mean, it’s nothing Naka-kun just my name…” Wataru shifted
positions and was now straddling him.
“Hmm? What about it?” Caressing
his face with his two hands he felt Wataru push his cheeks against the warmth
of his palms.
“My name, you always call me,
Fuyori-san like we’re back in Japan.” He blushed his face heating up and buried
his head in the nape of his neck, “Can’t we call each other by our first names
instead?”
He grabbed Wataru’s chin with
index finger and thumb and pecked him lightly on the lips, watching as Wataru’s
eyes opened and looked at him expectantly.
“Alright, then from on I’ll
call you Wataru-“
“Wata-kun!” Eyes brimming with
happiness Wataru threw his arms around Nakahashi and locked lips with him
excitement guiding their embrace; scene change they were now in his bed…
“Sir?” Stevens tapped him
lightly rousing him from his nap; imprints of folders lined his crumpled face.
“Sir, do you just want to take the day off? You seem exhausted and you’ve been
working non-stop for a week…all of your appointments were cancelled today,
because you wouldn’t wake up earlier, so you’re basically free to-- ”
“Wataru? Where’d you go?” He
mumbled disoriented, squinted and his eyes focused on a dark green suit, then
he the outline distinguished his secretary’s face, “Stevens? What on earth are
you doing here? Shouldn’t you be…at work?…” He sat up, his desk and his
piles of paperwork were amassed
around him, and he realized he’d fallen asleep for the fourth time that day
while working, “I fell asleep again, didn’t I?” Stevens nodded tentatively as he pulled off a paperclip
stuck to his forehead. He let out an exasperated breath and massaged his
temples. “Stevens?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Please arrange an appointment
with my masseuse, I’ll need at least an hour, and as for the meetings, ”
Stevens opened his agenda and hastily started writing in the rescheduled
appointments and when he was about to shut the books and go back to his desk,
Nakahashi added “Oh, and Stevens?”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Please bring me some coffee
and arrange a meeting with Mr. Fuyori from the photography company it’s urgent.
Have him meet me at that restaurant I like, you know…what’s the name?” He waved
his hand in the air and prompted Stevens to flip through his agenda.
“Uh, that would be Aureole?
Right?”
“Yes that one, please make
reservations for two tonight if at all possible.”
“Alright Sir, but what if Mr.
Fuyori isn’t available?” He pushed his glasses up, and clearly puzzled he
thought, “Mr. Nakahashi only takes his high class female business associates to
Aureole…why on earth would he want to take a young man from a photography
company there?”
Nakahashi let his head fall and
hit the desk with a loud “bang”, Waving his hand towards the door and with a
tired voice muttered, “Please just figure something out Stevens, I just need to
meet with him soon.”
“Alright, I’ll let you know by
the end of today if he’ll accompany you this evening to Aureole…” Stevens
grasped the doorknob to go back to his office but hesitantly turn around,
“Sir,” he beseeched, “If you’re not feeling well enough to work right now,
please consider taking a quick repose on your couch? I’m sure it’ll do you some
good.” Closing the door lightly he hurried out of the office.
“The problem isn’t falling
asleep it’s staying awake.” Nakahashi thought as he began filing through the
hundreds of documents on his desk, he groaned and began stacking and reviewing
the papers. About thirteen project proposals later, in his boredom he let his
thoughts drifted once again to Wataru. “I’ve never been bored at work before,
what’s happening to me?” Throwing his pen down he stared out his window in
frustration; even the beautiful scenery couldn’t calm him. “I should just tell
him how he makes me feel at least that way if my advances disgusted him, he
could get away from me before I put myself in a coma because of my desire for
him.” He stacked his completed work and handed it to Stevens who came back in
with a coffee and an appointment slip from his masseuse and confirmed
appointments for three rescheduled meetings.
“Nothing from Fuyori?” He asked
burning himself lightly with the scorching beverage.
The secretary picked up the
papers he’d stacked for him and scuttled towards the door, “I haven’t called
him yet sir, it’s taken me two and a half hours just to re-arrange your agenda,
please be patient.”
“I’d like to know within the
next hour please.”
“Yes, sir.” Tittering and
tottering he made his way through the door and barely managed to close it
behind him. The clatter of scattered papers falling from the other side of the
door was unmistakable as well as one or two swears following from his usually
mild mannered assistant. Nakahashi chuckled and felt himself relax a bit. He’d
waited two weeks for Wataru to call, drop by, or at least leave a message, he’d
even called his company’s office to schedule a meeting only to be told that
Wataru had been sick and was going to take some time off. “They said he’d be back this week, but
the kid hasn’t so much come out from underneath his rock of a hiding place since
our meeting…” He frowned and singling out a project proposal and stamped it
with his “REJECTED” stamp. “He still has my coat, I mean, I left it there so
he’d have to bring it back! I mean I guess I wasn’t too clear about that, but
you’d think,” He tossed another file into the garbage angrily and busily
started signing un-finalized contracts, “That he’d at least say thank you for
it!” He began slamming down the
“REJECTED” stamp on some of his proposals so hard that on one of the forms that
the ink began to bleed through the paper. Swearing loudly he tossed the form
into his growing re-print pile, letting out a frustrated growl, swerving
himself in his chair and slapping his hands over his face, “Why couldn’t he
have just been fully awake during that damned kiss? I wouldn’t have to feel
like a stupid elementary kid who’s pining after some other stupid kid anymore!”
A long sling of swears followed suit before he saw a trembling Stevens gaping
at him in the doorway.
Nakahashi drew a deep breath
and fiddled with his tie, “What is it Stevens?” he grunted, looking down and
aimlessly shifting his papers around his desk.
Stevens’s loud gulp could be
heard from the other side of the room, he pointed to the phone and squeaked,
“Line two sir, there’s Miss Patrica Lo’ffet, and umm…” he hesitated hearing his
boss’s exasperated moan, “Sir?”
“Yes? What else Stevens?”
Smiling tentatively, he
shuffled over to Nakahashi’s desk and placed an appointment card in his hand,
“You have reservations for two tonight at Aureole, and Mr. Fuyori will be
meeting you there at 7:30.” Bowing
lightly he hurried back out of the office, closing the door with a tiny *click
* behind him.
Nakahashi stared the little
white card blankly for a moment and then felt himself light up and fill with
warmth, “He said yes…it’s…a date…sort of. Kind of.” He picked up the card and
held it against his chest and sighed softly, closing his eyes “Maybe it wasn’t
a date or a meeting but it was something…it was going to happen…tonight!”
“Shoot! I’ve got to finish this
work!” Flustered he began to sort out his piles again and straighten up his
desk, checking off appointments, files to be sent to the printing company and
circled the people he needed to call in his agenda, “I still have to figure out
what I’m going to wear and what scent I’m going to put on and…” Face steaming
he stopped, he leaned his head against his hand and thought, “Wait, I’m not a
girl…what on earth am I saying…” Hearing Stevens chuckling softly on the other
side of the door he jerked off his shoe and threw it, it hit the door with a
loud *smack* and Stevens yelped, there was a thud once again the sound of a
knocked over paperwork resounded from beyond his end of the door.
Nakahashi got up from his desk
and opened the double-fogged glass doors to see Stevens groaning and rubbing
his behind while he got up from the floor.
“Now, now Stevens.” Nakahashi
mocked with a sly smile from his doorway, “One mustn’t take such breaks with
all the work we have to do. Please do hurry and clean up this unsavory mess.”
Stevens glared at him and
Nakahashi snickered loudly retreating to his office, watching his secretary
pick up all the papers with an almost sadistic pleasure through an open door,
“That’ll teach you to eavesdrop you little mouse.” He thought and calmly began finalizing his work. “Till
tonight Wataru.”
Chapter 13: Wataru
His trembling hands clutched his cell-phone,
verifying that there had indeed been a five minute where he’d been invited by
Nakahashi’s secretary to a special business dinners to one of the finest
restaurants in New York City, he gulped loudly running fingers through his bed
head and glancing down at his ratty white t-shirt and boxers. “This is a dream…there’s no way this is
actually happening.” Quickly checking the time on his cell, 4:37, he threw his phone on his wreck of a bed.
Stripping, while trying to run into the bathroom he tripped several times
before he was able to limp into the small walk in shower. Washing his hair with
his sweetest smelling shampoo and scrubbing every inch of his body twice over,
he stepped out with his skin glowing a light red hue and feeling almost raw. “I wonder if he’ll notice,” he thought,
mindlessly plastering himself with a mango smelling lotion. Wrapping a towel
around his waist he dried his hair and spiked it. “I look like a kid.” He scrunched his face with disgust and mused
his hair rapidly letting fall around his forehead, “Something’s missing…” Stepping out of the bathroom he opened the
draw next to his bed dug out his gray beanie, standing in the doorway of the
bathroom he looked in the mirror; patting his hair down flat he shoved his
beanie on his head, positioning his bangs so they stuck out in an orderly
fashion from under his hat he smiled, “There
perfect. He’ll probably think it’s a refreshing younger style! He might even
think its attract-…” Wataru gave his head a light slap, “No! Focus!” Pulling on a pair of random
boxers and swinging open his wooden wardrobe, he hurriedly began sifting his
hands through his numerous suit and tie ensembles, “It’s just a business meeting, just a place for two professionals to
meet and discuss business, right? Or maybe it’s something else?” His
daydreams popping up he gripped his suits and pulled them off their hangers,
they clumped together at the bottom of the already cluttered wardrobe, “It’s for business Wataru, don’t you dare
think otherwise!” His frog
shaped clock’s blinking lime green lights flashed the time, quarter past six,
“Forget the suit Wataru!” He growled in annoyance at the wrinkled mass in his
closet he’d created. Agitatedly he yanked out a pair of black skinny jeans, a
gray short-sleeved vest with black buttons, and a long sleeved white button up
shirt, pulling them on quickly he rolled the cuffs of the white shirt up to his
elbows. “Ok, and a tie to stay classy.”
He thought as he knotted a diagonally striped black and white tie
around his neck. Throwing the files with the pictures in them, grabbing his
keys, cell phone, wallet he raced out the door to his loft and practically
leaped into the taxi waiting for him below. After reciting the address of the
restaurant from the piece of paper Stevens had faxed him to the cabbie, Wataru
sank back into his seat. His heart racing as they drove over the Brooklyn
Bridge into Manhattan, the city glittered, the gaggle of people walking around
on the streets made the entire borough seem like a crowded party, lights
flashed brightly as they maneuvered their way through the myriad streets of
Manhattan. Pulling up to a brownstone with an iron gate surrounding it, with a
chic heading “AUREOLE” with letters that shone silver, Wataru paid the cabbie
and stepped out of the taxi. Looking in through the large glass window, Wataru
admired the beautiful and modern styled restaurant, it screamed upper class
only and its extravagant decor with all its fashioned wood and sculpted iron
would probably make any interior designer pass out in awe. Suddenly turning
around at the sound of his taxi’s tires as they screeched away from the curb
made him uneasy, “Stevens said to go in
ahead of Nakahashi if I didn’t see him walking in but I’m a bit early, plus I’d
look a bit out of place if I walked in and ordered by my self wouldn’t I.” Turning
back around to look into what he had thought had been elegance and beauty,
Wataru gulped uncomfortably at the sight of the restaurant, “Did he want me to
go in ahead because he didn’t want to risk being seen with me?” He eyed the people sitting inside, their
outfits all fit within the black tie dress code perfectly without exception,
glancing down at his casual dress he felt a creeping unease, looking again he
saw the men in suits laughing at their glamorously gowned female companions
conversations, “There’s probably not two
men eating together casually in that restaurant.” He thought and dismay
washed over his entire being, he couldn’t go in there, not with all those
people, let alone couples, who’d probably all stare him, a silly misplaced
commoner down. Wataru felt his hands tremble against his satchel, which hung on
his waist, what would he say to Nakahashi? Maybe Nakahashi would call him foolish
and just tell him not to bother with the whole dinner in general and leave him
there without a second thought; or maybe he’d make him eat in there anyway
because he couldn’t digest anything that his rich palette was used to. “What am I even doing here?” Taking a final glance at the fancy
eatery, he crossed to the other side of the street and paced indecisively, “If I leave now Nakahashi’ll probably be
insulted, heck he might not even speak to me again!” Squatting down on the
steps of another brownstone he leaned his head against the iron railings. “But if I stay, I might embarrass him in
front of a whole restaurant of people who might be important clients or friends
of his.” Sighing despairingly he watched as a sleek black Porsche parked
itself in front of Aureole. A familiar silhouette stepped out and Wataru saw a
finely dressed Nakahashi stepping out of his car taking a worried glance at his
silver wristwatch and scanning the sidewalk. “Is he looking for me?” Tentatively standing up Wataru slipped behind
the cover of a car and watched as Nakahashi paced earnestly in front of
Aureole, then stop open his car door pull out a bouquet flowers, stare at them,
shake his head and then shove them back onto his car seat. “Did he buy me roses? Don’t you buy roses for your girlfriend? Is
someone else supposed to be coming? No, Steven’s said a private meeting so…Oh
my god. No way.” Wataru grinned and barely contained his laughter as he
watched Nakahashi brush the pollen from his suit. “We’re both men, but he bought me roses!” He slid down against the
car to the hard concrete sidewalk, “He bought me roses…” Clutching his satchel
to his chest he felt his face heat up, and he giggled, “Amamiya Nakahashi, the president of
one of the largest international fashion companies in the world bought me
flowers. He’s now worriedly walking in front of a restaurant we’re supposed to
be eating at together like a nervous teenage boy waiting for his first date to
begin…” He stood up abruptly and waited to cross the street, “And even though I’m a man he seems to like
me enough to buy me flowers. I shouldn’t be this nervous, I’ve been gay my
entire life and for the first time, the supposedly straight guy I’ve liked is
attempting to make the first move.” Red light, time seems suspended and
with every step across the black pavement Wataru felt his heart beat faster and
faster, “Who am I to stick him up on the
first date.” A couple more
steps and he’d be face to face with Amamiya Nakahashi, President of Yokohama
Threads, a dashing bachelor who’d been sought after by hundreds of wealthy
heiresses for years now, the man who’d been kind enough to buy him flowers, the
guy who was attempting to spoil him with lavish foods and the one who cared for
him when he was completely out of it. Tapping on his shoulder he smiled widely as Nakahashi turned
around and smiled back at him nervously his face tunring slightly red as his
eyes flitted between his car seat and Wataru.
“Sorry I was late, I-I umm, let’s go inside shall
we?” His shy smile amused Wataru as he pulled open the door for Wataru.
“Thanks.” Wataru stepped into the reception area
and standing next to Nakahashi smiled to himself and thought, “He’s the guy I love.”
Chapter 14
Take Me Places!
Chapter
1: Wataru
The plane had a disgusting
odor, as Wataru stepped on, like newly applied car wax. He scrunched up his
face and attempted to shove his way through the crowed plane aisle to get to
his seat. "I swear I'd never do this for fun if this wasn't my job"
he thought as he flopped down into the window seat. Looking through the sad
excuse of a window, he sighed as he saw all the other planes taking off.
"What I wouldn't give just to stay home..." He sighed again and
pulled his headphones over his ears, turned up the music to the maximum volume.
He closed his eyes in the hopes that he'd be able to fall asleep and wake up
when the flight was over, though those dreams were short lived as a flustered
looking flight attendant came up to him. "Excuse me, sir?" Her chubby
cheeked face turned crimson as Wataru openly glared at her through his light
green eyes, “I’m sorry sir, but you’re going to have to turn
off your music until we’re fully in the air.” She smiled nervously as he removed them
reluctantly. "Thank you sir, I hope you enjoy your flight!" Her light
blue skirt fluttered as she turned around and continued down the aisle.
“Idiot,"
Wataru thought as he slowly slid his headphones back over his ears, "How
can anyone be enjoy being in a plane, all the noise and these stupid people
everywhere?" He tugged his beanie over his head; he pulled his headphones
back over his ears and closed his eyes once again: "Why did things have to
turn out like this?" And he let himself be carried off by sleep.
After about two hours, Wataru
grudgingly opened his eyes, his legs were aching from sitting in the same
position and his head was pounding because he'd fallen asleep with his music
volume to the max. He let out a low moan as he stretched himself out as much as
he could in his seat and then prodded awake the man next to him muttering
"Gotta pee…”. "Oh, sure,”
The man groggily stood up and Wataru slid out of his seat, he grunted his
thanks to the man before he walked down the narrow airplane aisle and entered
bathroom.
"It's good to get up once
a while," he thought as he examined his tired looking face in the
minuscule bathroom mirror. His normally tan skin looked pasty and pale in the
bathrooms florescent lighting. "I look like a mess,” he groaned, splashing
water on his face, he took off his gray beanie and combed through his thick
blond hair with his fingers; he traced the bags under his eyes and grimaced.
"This trip is destroying my looks and we haven't even landed yet! Why’d I even agree to go to New York anyway!" He slapped
his hand against the bathroom cabin wall, and sighed.
A light "knock-knock"
came from the door, "Sir, are you alright in there? Do you need some
assistance?" asked a worried stewardess. Wataru rolled his eyes in
disbelief and opened the door to the bathroom; the stewardess hurriedly stepped
backwards to avoid getting hit. "I'm fine, now go away” he gnarled, pulling
the door shut again once more and preceded to take his time cleaning himself
up. Two minutes later another knock came on the door as he was readjusting his
pants. His face twisted with annoyance as he pulled open the door only to hiss
"GO AWAY!" into the face of the most handsome men he'd ever seen in
his life. The man was wearing a black suit and had a musky fragrance, smooth
alabaster/ivory skin, hair black as night that graciously arranged to frame his
rectangular face, his cheekbones were well defined and his mouth was well
rounded, but stern. Though, what really took Wataru's breath away were his
stormy gray eyes. It felt as though he could drown in them. His face turned
crimson as the man before him took a step back, "Oh," said the man,
"I'm terribly sorry, I'll wait until you're done…" he blushed a bit
as he ran his hand through his hair and glanced at the floor.
"No, no, no," Wataru
shook his hands in the air, making the man look even more uncomfortable
"I'm sorry, it's because, you see uh, I thought you were the stewardess
and-" As Wataru glanced once more at the man once more and saw how flustered
he looked so, clasped his hands together and bowed "Anyway, I'm terribly
sorry!" the man relaxed a bit as he watched Wataru stand up straight again
and offered him his hand.
"It's quite alright young
man," the corner of the man's lips twitched lightly as he held back a smile
"It's good to be, 'woken up' after such a boring and tiresome flight, my
name's Amamiya, Nakahashi" He released Wataru's hand and really smiled
this time. Wataru felt his throat close up with nervousness, Amamiya-san's face
could probably light up the entire world with it's beauty.
"I'm, uh, I'm" Wataru
swallowed deeply "Fuyori Wataru, it's nice to meet you Amamiya-san?"
he smiled at Amamiya-san tentatively.
"Please call me
Nakahashi."
A silence fell over the two of
them as Wataru realized that Nakahashi-san was still waiting to use the
bathroom.
"Oh, well it was nice to
meet you!" He blushed again, as he step sided past Nakahashi-san
taking one last subtle inhale of his musky scent before speeding back to his
seat.
Once he'd sat down he couldn't
help but daydream about the possibilities between Nakahashi and him if they
hadn't met on a plane,which after they’d left they'd probably
never see each other ever again. Wataru let out a weary sigh and attempted to
suppress all of his thoughts concerning his future Nakahashi-san as he drifted
back to sleep.
Chapter
2:
Nakahashi brushed back his hair
in bewilderment as he returned to his seat; he’d
never been so drawn in by a person in his life! “I practically stalked him with
my eyes when I was walking back,” tapping himself on the forehead, slumping
down into his chair in first class, he murmured “Idiot. You’re too old for this.” Remarking a flighty stewardess coming
his way he waved her over, “Would it be possible to have a glass of wine?”
Batting her eyelashes, she
leaned on the corner of his seat and hushed, “Of course sir, one moment please”
before walking back to the helm of the plane; Nakahashi couldn’t help but noticing her awkward hip bounces as she tried to
draw his attention. “Women truly don’t change from one
country to the other do they?” frowning he closed his eyes. His thoughts
drifted back to “…Wataru…that’s right, his name was
Wataru” repeating his name he traced his lips with his fingertips, imagining
the feel of Wataru’s lips on his own, the gaze of those grassy green eyes
meeting his own, the touch of his hands running through Wataru’s hay colored hair—“Whoa, get a hold of yourself you old uncle, he’s just a kid, he’d never like an old man
like you. Never mind the obvious age difference.” After turning thirty-nine in
the past year, Nakahashi was finally experiencing the fatigue that came with
age and had even more difficulty completing his growing workload. “Being a
company’s vice
president isn’t so bad, but my silly ambition
to become president might kill me!” Loosening his tie, he leaned back into his
seat; his transfer from Okinawa to New York was really wearing him down.
Popping open his travel kit, he twisted open an Advil bottle and swallowed two
pills; he’d grown tired of working in Tokyo and his divorce was a
perfect excuse to transfer. Unfortunately at the time all that had been running
through his head was “If you get out of Japan maybe you can start over again,
get a new wife and family, and get rid of all the strange feelings you have!”
but then again at the time he hadn’t realized how difficult
starting anew might be… ”Well at least that means there’s a
chance I might meet Wataru again…” Realizing where his train of thought was
taking him once again he tsked himself as he crossed his arms. “What am I a pervert? What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I
just stop thinking about him? I can’t be interested in him,
we just met in front of an airplane bathroom!” He raked his hands through his
hair once more “It’s these kinds of feelings that made me lose my wife and here
they come again! Why can’t I just stop these
feelings completely and do my work in peace!” The stewardess came back and
tapped him on the arm, her manicured nails pulling him out of his thoughts.
“Here you are sir, and I’ve given you and extra packet of pretzels courtesy of our
airline, I hope you enjoy the rest of your flight.” She smiled and as she
turned to walk away, she looked back at him “I’m
Natasha, if you need anything else please, don’t
hesitate to ask.” She then winked, and flounced her way back down the aisle.
His face twisted in disinterest, even with the aid of the Advil, he slowly felt
his headache returning. “Darn it, when well this flight be over?” he thought as
he struggled to get comfortable in his seat.
Chapter
3:
A year had passed since Wataru
had landed in the busy city of New York and started working as a professional
photographer. After arriving he’d installed himself in a
loft in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn and started working for his new agency,
“Picture That!”. Shaking his head as he climbed out of bed, he strode over to
his mirror proudly admiring his newly acquired features; within the year, his
hair had grown longer, his muscles were thicker but his physique was still
lean, his eyes, surprisingly enough had also changed into a more oval shape
which only made his green eyes more seductive, so now instead of looking like a
young adolescent fresh off the plane, he'd grown into a mature 24 year
old looking man. Slamming his bedroom door open Wataru laughed out
loud as he threw himself down on his couch, "Which picture did they use
from me today?" he smirked while flipping through one of the many
newspapers. He’d known a great success since he’d
arrived in New York and his artworks were being published in every magazine,
heck, half of the fashion industry wanted him as a full time photographer! As
it was a Friday morning he searched for his most recent photographic conquests
in the business section of the New York Times, he happened upon an article
concerning a very popular clothing company's grand opening. The article read:
YOKOHAMA THREADS MAKES A
COMEBACK!
"Yokohama Thread's makes a
stunning grand opening on 5th
avenue after the company’s last store burnt down, toasting all its merchandise
to a crisp! With a new company president, Nakahashi, Amamiya the companies
stocks have skyrocketed and sales have never been better! With it’s newly added teen section and it’s refreshingly new architecture style, people have just been
flooding into the store non-stop! After receiving over $70000 on it’s initial reconstruction plan in a day the investors within
the company are certainly getting what they paid for! One of their sponsors,
Mr. Evan Green was kind enough to spare a moment of his day to tell us a little
more about the future project ideas of the company---“
“Blah, blah, blah, blah,
expanding in size, hoping to add another section by next fall” Drawing out
every syllable he skimmed through the rest of the article to find his picture,
but his eyes wouldn’t let him focus on his art as they kept drawing him back to
two words within the article.
“Amamiya...Nakahashi?”
Flicking back his newspaper, he stared at the article blankly, “Where have I
heard that name before?” Furrowing his eyebrows and frowning, he wondered
where it was he’d heard the name before…“Oh well,” he shrugged and sipped
his coffee “if he’s that important I’ll meet him at tonight’s opening party.” He smirked, folded the newspaper, and
contentedly threw it against his coffee table. He got up from the couch and
mussed his wavy bed head hair “Alright, time to move out.” Pulling off his
pajama top, he strode back into his room and tugged open his wardrobe, “Right
Wataru, today you’re shooting the grand opening of Yokohama Threads new store,
you want to look laid back but,” Wataru gleamed, pulling out a dark red long
sleeved shirt and a sleeveless vest “Classy.” Rummaging around the rest of the
room he managed to find a pair of black skinny jeans, a matching striped red
tie, a couple of varying leather bracelets, and his own addition to fashion,
his mark, and his constant accessory, his gray beanie. Sprinkling himself
lightly with cologne, he brushed his teeth, smoothed down his hair poking out
from under his hat, stuck a piece of buttered bread in his mouth, grabbed his
camera bag and keys and , slamming his apartment door
shutwith his foot, ran hurriedly out of his loft. His face was lit up with
excitement as he raced to begin his day with his usual goal in mind, “I’m going to be even more famous today than yesterday!”
Chapter 4: Nakahashi
Blinds drawn, lights out, a
glass of alka seltzer and Advil on his right, arms covering his head, Nakahashi
rested his head on his desk. After pulling three all nighters in a row while
sorting last minute files for today’s grand opening, he’d gone a little over board in his little celebration last
night. No one had drunk as much as he had, his friends couldn’t stop him, and now he was paying for it ten fold. His
headed throbbed as three light taps came from the door, he moaned in pain as
his secretary tried to tiptoe his way towards him.
“Sir…” Stevens stood in front
of his desk, he usual dark green suit and black tie perfectly in position, his
hair swept back, and with his young face it turned into a rather dorky looking
bowl cut. He’d hired the kid as a favor to his old neighbor and he seemed
to be doing well except for his incorrigible shyness when it came to speaking
with him, “Excuse me, President Amamiya, Sir,” He timidly tapped his arm.
“Probably checking to see if I’m not dead, poor kid,
stuck working for an old geezer like me” Nakahashi thought. “Hmmm?”
“You have a call on line one
from Mr. Green, Sir…” Nakahashi could hear the boy pulling at the edges of his
suite readjusting his shirt subtly, the obvious anxiety in his voice as he
stood before the president of one of the largest fashion companies in the world
and he chuckled softly. He urged his mouth to at least crook in the same
sense of a smile at the boy, but it seemed that it only scared the poor squirt
more. He sighed and recalled that he wasn’t presently living
through one of his best moments, “Thank you Stevens, I’ll
pick up, I apologize for my appearance, please transfer the call to line 4”
“Y-Yes Sir!” Stevens stammered
as he attempted to hurriedly walk out of his boss’s
darkened office, but it became more of a stumble when Nakahashi called out
before he could reach the door “And while you’re at
it Stevens, bring me a coffee!”
“O-of course Sir!” He bowed and
shut the door softly behind him as he left, an audible sigh of relief following
his escape. Nakahashi grinned as he quickly took a swig of Alka seltzer and his
two Advil then picked up his phone on line 4.
“Amommyiyyaaaaa! My Japanese
protégée! Welcome back to the real world! How was the rest of night?” Evan’s
smug voice hit his pounding headache like flaming projectiles. They had been
friends since university and they were about the same age, now is business
partner and best friend, Evan’s loud voice mocked him through the phone.
“First of all Evan Green, you
know for a fact I’m hung over you lousy excuse for a best friend, abandoning
me completely out of my mind in front of a bar at the mercy of New York City
the night before our company’s grand opening, without
a way to get home just because you wanted to chase after some chick leading you on.” Evan’s hearty and well amused
laughter was extremely nerve wracking through the phone, “I swear to you the
next time we go out you’re paying for psychological damage if that happens again!”
Nakahashi gritted his teeth as
Evan’s laughter turned into one of wild cackling, he could just
imagine the tears of amusement falling down his angular face.
“What are you even saying? I
paid for your taxi home! Come on, don’t
tell I’m not a great buddy I made sure you were safe on your way
home before I left with Janice!”
Nakahashi
scoffed, “Yeah, only after you found me
completely passed out in the alley beside the bar!”
Nakahashi pulled the phone away
from his ear, Evan’s laugh couldn’t get any louder and
Nakahashi could hear him gasping for air between his cackles. “I’ll hang up this phone if this is all you’ve called me for, I
have other more important calls waiting,” he twiddled his pen around in his
finger. “ I don’t really, they’re all just people
calling to congratulate me before the actual opening this afternoon, but that
doesn’t mean I have all morning to waste you.And the girl you took
home, her name was Jenny not Janice.”
Evan’s sarcastic gasp echoed through the receiver and his
laughter died down, “Who cares, she’s one girl of many that
I won’t even remember by tomorrow-“
“You’re an
enemy to woman kind everywhere, you know that?” Nakahashi imagined Evan’s sly grin on the other end of the phone line and groaned as
Evan was chuckling again.
“Come on Miya, bare with me, I’ll settle down in a couple of years, then you’ll see.”
“Right, now was there a point
to this ridiculous call?”
“Oh, that’s
right!” Evan exclaimed, Nakahashi swiveled in his chair as he buzzed Stevens,
who peeked in, he motioned for more Advil and the boy nodded and closed the
door “Guess who managed to snag the best and most popular photographer in New
York, for someone who’s been calling me a jerk all morning?”
Nakahashi scratched his head;
as far as he was concerned he’d hire at least a
hundred photographers why would one make a difference? “
You?”
“BINGO!”
“OW, DAMN IT EVANS KEEP IT
DOWN!” He rubbed his ears, Stevens stepped in and placed a saucer of tea
with two more Advil on the side next to him, Nakahashi nodded gratefully, “
What’s so special about this photographer anyway? And how’d you manage to snag him if no one else could?”
Evan tsked him, “Now, now, I
didn’t embezzle any money in hiring him-“
“So what did you promise him?”
An unusual silence, “Evan Green, what did you promise him?”
“…I gave him access to tonight’s exclusive opening party.”
“Evan.”
“Amamiya.”
“It’s
supposed to be for business partners and close friends and family! What are we
going to do if he shows up and is some sort of commoner? It’s not really a party then is it?”
“I KNOW, oi Miya, I’m not stupid, but I’m telling you his work
is worth it he has an extraordinary talent with a camera, his photos will be
hung all around and will mark our company’s history!” Evan’s
loud pleas were finally starting to get the best of his pounding headache.
“Fine, fine, he can come, but
you’re responsible for any indiscretions caused by him”
“Egg-cellant.”
“What?”
“It’s a
breakfast pun, I’m starving”
“You’re an
idiot.”
“I know, but at least I got you
to watch my little rich boy back!”
Nakahashi
chuckled, “Yeah, you loser of course you
do.”
“Alright, old man I’m going to go to the kitchen and as for some eggs, I’ll see you at the opening in three hours.”
“Three hours—ITS 1 PM HOW LONG
WAS I ASLEEP?“ Nakahashi jerked up from his chair and saw his mounting
collection of paperwork to be done before the ceremony “ARGH, STEVENS WHAT IS
THIS? WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP!” He could hear stacks of papers falling
from the young boys desk outside his office and then the shuffling of
adolescent feet shuffling across the office as they ran away from their desk.
Nakahashi recoiled from his outburst his head throbbing in pain.
Evan’s cackles emerged once more “Alright Amamiya, I’ll
leave you to your work,” Nakahashi’s groans were drowned
out by Evan’s insolent laughter “Oh, and the photographers name is
Wataru Fuyori, make sure to put him on the list.”
“Wait, Wataru Fuyori, I’ve heard of him before…”
“Of course you have he’s famous! I have to go otherwise Cook’s
going to yell at me! Have fun!” The line cut off as Evan hung up, but Nakahashi
just let the phone sit on his desk. “Wataru Fuyori…I’ve
heard that name somewhere before, not from the magazines but…where?” Nakahashi
frowned; he didn’t have time to think about the name now. He groaned and
dropped a stack of paperwork in front of himself. “I swear, when I think I did
this to myself I have to wonder about my mental health!” He then hung up his
phone and began to fill out his forms. “I don’t know if three hours
let alone three days will be enough for this! Someone save me!”
Chapter 5: Wataru Fuyori
“Excuse me, I’m sorry, if I could just get to the front!” Wataru coughed
as he was finally able to breach through the mob of people forming in front of
the new Yokohama Thread Store. It had taken him a half an hour just to push his
way through the crowd all the way from his bus stop two blocks away. His
company had called him suddenly as he was getting off the bus and told him that
they’d sent Miles, his photo development partner along with an
album they needed him to authorize before they sent it to the printers, “Is
this really the time and place to call me out for minor working details? That
stupid company of mine!” He swore once again as he skimmed the crowd for
the top of Mile’s head, even if African man was someone who stood out with
his ridiculous height and loud voice, but this crowd was just too much!
“Humph, forget about meeting up with him, the ceremonies about to start and I
have to take my place, I’ll find him later.”
Turning back towards the gated area of the makeshift podium, he went and showed
his “back stage” access to the guard and made his way to the isolated
photographer section.
“Fuyori? Wataru Fuyori?”
“Yes?”
The man walking towards him
smiled, wearing a black trimmed suit with matching shoes, a light blue tie and
glasses, the guy reeked of a high society bourgeois. Wataru grasped the man’s outstretched hand and caught a whiff of extremely potent
(but excellently chosen) cologne.
“It’s a
pleasure to finally meet you I’m
Evan Green,” He released his steel tight
grasp on Wataru’s hand.
“I’m
pretty sure he’s broken at least four of my fingers! He was too close to
breaking my tools of trade!” Wataru thought as he rubbed his hands and ground
his teeth together to keep him from yelping in pain.
“The pleasure’s all mine, I want to thank you again for offering me this
wonderful opportunity and-“
“Oh, no that’s where I have to stop and thank you,” Mr. Green his smile
growing even wider, Wataru was even sure that he’d
vaguely seen the face of a grinning fox in his light hazel eyes, “I’m so glad that you were available at the last second and
were willing to come through this large crowd in order to get here! I apologize
that I wasn’t able to find the subventions to fund your whole team.”
“Yeah right you creepy fox-man,
you’re lucky that I like parties you big ol’ cheapo.”
Wataru grinned back at him devilishly, “Oh, no Mr. Green I’m
afraid you’re apologizing for nothing, I was glad to come - never mind
the team, and your pay is it’s own benefit even if it’s not necessarily direct cash.”
Evan saw the wicked gleam in
Wataru’s cat like eyes and right away this new feisty little cat
would make the perfect addition to the Yokohama Thread family. Evan’s sinister sniggers filled the air as he clapped Wataru on
the back.
“Please, call me Evan,” Wataru
buckled under the larger man’s whack on the back and
ended up being bent over out of breath, “Welcome to the family Fuyori-san.”
Wataru glanced up in surprise as Evan’s greeted him in
Japanese.
“Why, t-thanks I look forward
to working with you…” He replied in Japanese as well. This was the first time
anyone from America had even uttered a word in his native tongue other than
cheesy anime catchphrases or silly songs.
Evan’s eyes lit with amusement as he watched Wataru’s confused gaze fall on his mouth, he seemed to be verifying
if what’d he’d
heard was true.
“A friend of mine that I used
to go to school with got tired of speaking English with me, so he forced me to
learn Japanese,” Pushing his glasses, Evan’s
began emitting some sort of strange ‘cool guy’ aura, and switched back
to English, “What you’re hearing is the practiced result of 4 years of nagging and
hard work.”
“Oh, I see well that’s very impressive Mr. Green-“
Evan frowned, his cheery
disposition turning somewhat haunting while he quickly corrected Wataru, “Evan.”
“Evan, right my apologies.”
“Right then, now that the
introductions have been done,” His lips crooking into a small smile, and light
humor returning, “I leave you to your work, I can’t
wait to see the results.” He waved as he began to saunter away, “Make sure to
get good shots of our press/president?, he gets very touchy about pictures.”
Wataru lost sight of him, as he was lost in the large crowd.
“Maybe he’s not
as bad as I thought…” Wataru smirked as he scratched his head, and stuck out
his tongue in his direction, “Still a bit weird though.”
An upbeat music suddenly filled
the air through the over speakers overhead, the music riveted the street and
sunshine bounced off the shimmering silver walls of the new Yokohama building.
The blowing wind matched the force of the chattering crowd as the
unveiling began.
“Right, time to get ready!”
Wataru quickly set up his camera and placed himself directly in front of the
president’s podium and focused his camera. Loud cheers filled the air,
the speakers boomed, “NOW PRESENTING YOKOHAMA THREAD’S NEW
ESTABLISHMENT, EVERYONE PLEASE WELCOME OUR COMPANIES NEW PRESIDENT MR.
NAKAHASHI!” A tall man walked on to the stage and waved at the crowd, his
bright smile warmed the crowd, and Wataru hastily adjusted his camera focus
just as the president’s face came into full view. His camera shutter clicked
wildly taking as many shots of the man as possible. Fingers nimbly adjusting
the light settings, he tried to get one close of shot of the president. Wataru’s gaze finally took in the face of the man who was standing
behind the podium, arms stiffening, he moved the camera aside he absorbed the
president with his eyes. His breath completely taken away by him, stunningly
good-looking, his handsome features had refined themselves in the passing year.
Even his eyes had changed, instead of a storm they now caged in a whirling
tempest. His eyes widen in astonishment, lips barely moving, the next almost
winded eight syllables fell out of his mouth like heavy stones, softly
murmuring the name of the man with tempest’s
eyes that he’d longed for 3 months after he’d
gotten off the plane that had brought him here. “Naka…hashi…Ama…miya?”
Chapter
6: Nakahashi
Besides almost passing out from
exhaustion while exiting the podium, the opening ceremony had gone off without
a hitch; he’d made his opening speech, waved and had leaving the stand
for the next speaker, blowing kisses. “Now, all that’s
left is tonight’s party.” Nakahashi thought as he stepped out of the shower.
Ruffling with his head with his towel, his black hair dripped water everywhere.
He lounged on his sofa a towel wrapped around his waist. “Ahhhh…” he
moaned, “there’s no way in hell I’m going to make in
through tonight.” Covering his face he groaned, he’d
tried taking a nap several times but sleep wouldn’t
wash over him like it usually did. “Ok! Think positive Amamiya, its only
one night, you’ll say hi to some people, greet some wives, accept a
bouquet, look over photos…” he groaned once again, “Shoot, I forgot to inspect
the Fuyori kid before the ceremony, I have no idea what he’s
like! He might be a liability to the evening.” Slamming his fist on the counter
he swore. “I never should’ve let Evan make such a
ridiculous bargain! All of our backers are going to be at that party tonight!”
Shaking his head he paced around his kitchen. “No, no, no, calm down Nakahashi,
you’re a full fledged business man, you can organize a whole
company in two minutes flat! You can deal with a stupid kid…or wait.” Stopping
in his tracks he grinned, “No, you, you can deal with a kid no problem, but
EVAN IS THE ONE WHO’S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIM, HA!” Howling with laughter he
snatched his cell phone and flipped it open. Fingers tapping away furiously, he
texted Evan:
‘Oi, Evan…you’re the one who’s responsible for the
kid, I don’t want see him, AT ALL during the evening. If you fail, I’ll kick you off the board of directors. Good luck!’
Exhaling he felt his shoulders
drop and his calm returned; not only had he gotten his vengeance on Evan, he’d gotten rid of dealing with the kid. A wave of drowsiness
engulfed him. He yawned loudly, “I could use with a nap…” glancing at the clock
mounted on his wall, 5 o’clock, “I’ve got time, three hours should be enough to get my face back
to normal.” His cell phone vibrated suddenly, it’s
screen flashing rapidly as texts from Evan began flooding in.
‘Aww, come Miya don’t do this to me! All of the belles of the world are
going to flooding into that party, don’t stick me with the
kid I’m begging you!’
‘Miya, I know you’re there answer me!’
‘I’m
sorry I left you the other day! REALLY SORRY! PLEASE DON’T
LEAVE ME WITH THE KID!’
‘You’ll
see his photos were really well done! Plus he seems like an extremely well
behaved guy! He doesn’t need a guardian!’
‘You rotten jerk; you’re doing this on purpose. There’s
no way I’m taking care of that kid’
‘OI, MIYA ANSWER ME’
‘手名輪 あなた輪 大機だい!I’M EVEN WRITING IN
YOUR STUPID LANGUAGE ANSWER ME’
Nakahashi’s
grin was ear to ear; he closed his bedroom door on his friend’s distressed messages. “Ahh, victory the sweetest platter
served by text.” Donning a pale blue pajama after setting his alarm clock for
8:30 he slid into bed.
“Tonight will be just
fine.” He murmured into his pillow before a warm feeling washed over as
he fell asleep.
Chapter
7: Wataru
“Wataru? Are you alright man?”
Miles jabbed him in the ribs bringing him back to reality. After the ceremony
was done he’d tottered mindlessly into a café where Miles had found him
after searching for 2 whole hours and they were now heading back to the office
in a cab.
“Yeah, no, I’m totally fine…”
Miles’s
long dreads bobbed along with his head, leaning forward he tried to meet Wataru’s distracted gaze, obvious concern etched the contours of
his angular face.
“Wataru, you’re not sick or anything right? ” Miles brought his hand up
to forehead, and Wataru nudged it off.
“I’m
totally fine!”
“Well then start acting like
it,” Miles leaned back into his seat and crossed his arms, “You’re really starting to freak me out.”
“Huh?” Wataru’s confused regard fell on him and then went right back to
being completely zoned out again.
“See? That’s
what I’m talking about!” Miles frown as he pulled on Wataru’s cheeks, the cabbie staring at them with curiosity scoffed
from the front seat; they were acting like a mother and son.
“What!”
“Wataru, you’ve been staring into space since I found you!” Miles sighed, “Wataru, I found you as you were about spill coffee all over
your camera, it's like a child to you! I’ve never seen you this
dazed!”
“I’m not
dazed, I’m just thinking…there’s nothing wrong with
that.” Wataru huffed; he slid down as much as he could so his knees were
hitting the chair in front, and stretched his beanie down over his eyes. He
couldn’t help it, seeing Nakahashi-san again was…incredible. His
cheeks turned red as they burned with anticipation. Tonight he’d see him again, he’d definitely be at the
party, “I wonder if he even remembers me… I’d
totally forgotten about him months ago until now…what should I do when I see
him?”
Miles patted him on the head
lightly and said “Don’t worry man, I’m sure what ever it is that you’re
worrying about will turn out fine in the end.” Wataru peeked up at him from
under his beanie, lips quivering and eyes beginning to tear up, he yanked at
his friends t-shirt and hugged him. Miles though initially shocked at such an
obvious sign of affection from his friend shrugged and hugged him back.
“ I’m so
nervous…what should I do, Miles. It’s been months!” He cried
into his friend’s shirt, excitement was out weighed by his frustration at
his own reaction; the fear of potential rejection was completely overriding his
brain and the outcome, an even heavier flow of tears. “I don’t
even know why I’m worrying! There’s no way Nakahashi-san
is gay, and he’d never be into someone as plain as me!”
“Oh, I see,” Miles a deep
throated chuckle erupting from his mouth, his dark face lit with delight, here
was one of the most confident people he knew, crying, over a girl, “Is there
someone you like coming to visit you here from Japan? An old fling?”
Wataru stopped his hiccupped
crying momentarily and feebly replied “Sort of, I guess you could say I haven’t seen them in a while…and they are from Japan…”
Turning his head back into the
crook of his friends arm “But he’s not my girlfriend and
he’s most definitely not a girl.” Recalling Nakahashi’s eyes, Wataru felt his face grow warm yet again.
“Well, if they’re here today, why don’t you invite them to the
Yokohama party? Your invite did say you could bring someone.”
“They’re,
they’re already going to be there…”
“Oh really? A wealthy
girlfriend then, and you’re going to see each
other tonight? ” Miles wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, they looked like
dancing caterpillars. Wataru smacked him in the gut, giggling as his friend
struggled to suck air back into his lungs.
“Shut up you perverted Rasta,”
Miles’s annoyed look, penetrated through his turmoil of emotions,
making him beam, his stuck out his tongue, “All that teasing you definitely had
it coming.”
The taxi pulled over next to
their office, Wataru jumped out and Miles paid the driver, together they walked
into the large red building and went all the way up to the fourth floor.
Entering the office all one could see were stacks and stacks of paper, piled
up, fluttering in the air (people dropped their piles very often), and
scattered on the floor. This, was PictureThat! one of the top photography agencies
in New York City let alone America and here it was looking like a pig’s pen.
“What’s
going on in here?” Wataru watched with annoyance as an intern knocked over one
of his many framed paintings on the wall.
“Just ignore it, unlike you a
lot of the photographers don’t get their work done
before the deadline and have to rush their photo developments in order to get
their albums done. It’s been like this since last month after you left for paid
vacation.” Miles answered signing them both into the company attendance book.
“Oh.”
“ Either way, we’re not even going near that section of the office,” Hitching
his arm under Wataru’s, Miles directed them towards the editing room “ Since you
already took the photos today we can go directly to editing!”
Sitting themselves down in one
of the larger editing cubicles, Wataru uploaded all of the photos from the
opening ceremony on the computer.
“Wow, you took some top quality
one’s today…” Rubbing his chin Miles scrutinized the photos in
detail, “Especially of President what’s his name, Nakakna-“
“Nakahashi…” Wataru’s eyes were glued on the screen, hundreds of pictures of
Nakahashi, all of them flooding in to the computer system, each and every one
capturing his face, his eyes, the sway of his hair in the wind—
“Wataru? Earth to Wataru,
anyone there?” His partner waved his hand in front of Wataru’s face snapping him back into reality.
“Sorry, I was just looking at
the…” His eyes unfocused and Wataru lost himself once more in his dream world.
Miles followed his gaze to the
computer screen where his friend’s eyes traced every
aspect of the president’s angular face, lingering on the man’s
eyes. He smirked, stroking his chin, “So, this is the cute Japanese girlfriend
we were talking about earlier…hmm, interesting…”
“Look Fuyori, you have less
than two hours to get you ready and then present these photos to,” roughly
pressing his fingers against the computer screen Miles tapped the image of
Nakahashi “That guy right there,” Pulling down on his partner’s ear gently, he watched Wataru’s
gaze shift and refocus on him, his face turning a bright crimson red, beaming
Miles ruffled his hair through his beanie “So, would you mind getting it
together?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~So this is where the blog preview ends guy owo sorry! Im doing this because my book has finally reached completion and is now availble online to purchase! I thank you for all the support i've gotten from you up to now, and i hope you'll continue to support me by considering to buy my book and continue reading my future stories! I love you guys very much, and thanks again!
Raindrop <3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~So this is where the blog preview ends guy owo sorry! Im doing this because my book has finally reached completion and is now availble online to purchase! I thank you for all the support i've gotten from you up to now, and i hope you'll continue to support me by considering to buy my book and continue reading my future stories! I love you guys very much, and thanks again!
Raindrop <3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~