The Perfect Mess (Part 1)
If there was such a thing as a charmed life, Kamenashi Kazuya was certainly living it. His life was perfect in every single way and things came easily for him. Wealth, intelligence, good looks, popularity - Kame had it all. Girls and boys fawned over him, and everyone wanted the privilege of being his friend. The way Kame led his life mirrored the way he keyed his schedule and appointments into his BlackBerry - meticulously well planned and up to the minute, with no miscalculations or overlaps. Kame had the best laid plans, and he followed his plans to the tee. Nothing was to disrupt the order in Kame’s universe.
Having always been interested in fashion, Kame, recently graduated from one of Tokyo’s most expensive and most esteemed private university, had decided, with his family’s blessings and trust fund, to strike out on his own in the form of a fashion label. One thing Kame lacked was artistic creativity, but what he lacked, he made up for with business smarts. That, and a university friend - Tanaka Koki, possibly Japan’s answer to the next Alexander McQueen, may he rest in peace. Tanaka Koki was as edgy as his designs, with just a touch of class that Kame respected. Tanaka Koki was the next big thing.
Home to the young Kamenashi was a modern, swanky penthouse in Roppongi that had an unobstructed view of the overrated Tokyo Tower. The penthouse was part of an apartment building so exclusive and heavily guarded that there are 3 different access codes just to get from the underground carpark to one’s apartment. But, just for the penthouse occupant, there was a private lift that led directly to home.
It was through the tinted bay windows of the loft bedroom of the penthouse that the morning sun now streamed, causing Kame to stir from his peaceful slumber. He opened his eyes just a second before his alarm rang, a melodious tune that told him, as it always did, that it was 7.03am. Everyday, even on weekends, Kame would wake up at precisely 7.03am. 7.00am would be too early, and 7.05am would be too late. “24 hours was given not to be wasted” was Kame’s chant-like mantra that everyone who knew him knew by heart.
Turning on his side, savouring his soft Egyptian, 300-thread count, cotton sheets, Kame was greeted with a sight that warmed him. A handsome man, still sleeping, hair tousled, mouth in a slight pout - Nishikido Ryo, Kame’s boyfriend for more than 3 years, a man who matched Kame in every way in terms of wealth and status. Ryo was the sole heir to a Japanese oil magnate, Kame’s mother did not hesitate to point that out at the social event she had dragged him to when he was still a freshman in university. Ryo was everything Kame wanted in a man. Kame liked that Ryo was kind and gentle, but not without sharp wit and an acid tongue. Kame liked that he could see Ryo’s love for him in his eyes. Most of all, Kame liked that Ryo travelled to the Middle East often. It made the relationship all the more special when they come together the rare couple of times a month.
Kame moved an arm to brush Ryo’s hair away from his face, frowning slightly at the small pool of drool on the pillow. When Ryo was in town, with all the bedroom activity they would have, Kame would arrange for the help to come in everyday to clean, he would not tolerate it otherwise. Ryo twitched and rolled to his side, baring his well-defined pectorals, and Kame mentally went through his schedule to see if there was time for some extra morning exercise as it were. He decided that there was not, he was due to meet his personal trainer in half an hour, 32 minutes to be precise. He settled for kissing Ryo on the cheek before getting out of bed, tossing his soiled Calvin Kleins into the laundry bin.
“Mmmm….?” Ryo muttered, waking up, and having enough senses about him to pull Kame back down next to him.
“Shh…sweetie, I’m going to the gym,” Kame coaxed, trying to free himself.
“Kame?” Ryo propped himself up with his elbow, giving Kame a full view of his morning erection.
“Really, sweetie, gym. You know that.” Kame tried again, but was held onto even tighter.
Ryo nuzzled his face into the crook of Kame’s neck, knowing that it would soften Kame’s resolve. “I also know,” Ryo breathed into Kame’s ear, “that I’ll be flying off this afternoon, and you wouldn’t get this for the next 2 weeks.”
Kame closed his eyes as he felt the lust swirl to his groin. He moaned when he felt Ryo’s lips on his pulse. “Ok…” He whispered, half getting up and reaching for his BlackBerry on the nightstand.
“What are you doing?” Ryo lay back down, incredulous.
“I have to cancel with my personal trainer, silly,” Kame retorted, typing furiously with his thumbs on the ridiculously small QWERTY keyboard.
“God! Will it kill you to be irresponsible for once?”
“That would not be me, and you love me…..” Kame’s voice was laced with seduction as he leaned down to kiss Ryo after placing the BlackBerry back on the nightstand.
“Oh, I do, I really do…..” Ryo’s reply was muffled by Kame’s soft, curvy lips.
Coming up for air, before he rolled onto his back to give Ryo better access, Kame said, “We have till 8.45am. I have to be in to work at 9.28am.”
“What?!”
“Relax sweetie, it’s only 7.15am. We have plenty of time for two rounds. And a half, to be exact.”
*
“Jin, I swear to God, I cannot bring you anywhere!” Tanaka Koki exclaimed as dark brown coffee formed a rather intricate design as it streamed down a piece of very expensive it’s-not-white-it’s-pearl fabric spread out unsuspectingly on the designer table. “Quick, help me clean it up! Kame will have a fit if he sees this!” Koki proceeded to grab a mish-mesh of fabric from the waste pile to dab up the mess. The offender, one Akanishi Jin, continued to smirk and sip his now half a Styrofoam mug of coffee.
“I think it looks pretty inspired. It’s a nice design for the Fall/Winter collection don’t you think?” Jin drawled lazily, running his hand through his messy curls.
“Shut your trap and help!” Koki tossed Jin a pile of rags, which Jin caught with finesse.
“Chill, it’s only 9.15am, Mr rod-up-his-ass is not due in for another 13 minutes,” Jin joined Koki in the cleaning, but all Jin did was make things worse.
“Dab Jin, not wipe! God! Why did I bring you here? I never learn my lesson,” Koki muttered as he used a pair of tailoring scissors to cut away the portion of the fabric that was soiled. Better to start anew than to clean up the mess.
“You promised Yamapi to keep me out of trouble, and I’m here to see that you keep your promise. No one is allowed to break their promises to my boyfriend,” grinning, Jin balled up the incriminating fabric and threw it into the large bin, putting the lid tightly on for good measure.
“Just…..just…..don’t touch anything. Play like one of the mannequins over there and don’t move,” Koki raked his black-fingernailed fingers through his short crew cut, his frustration hardly disguised.
Finding Koki highly amusing, Jin did as he was told and walked over to the mass of mannequins. Jin stood among them and went on to make lewd faces, asking Koki which facial expression he should freeze in. Koki could not help laughing. Jin, for all his reckless, clumsy behaviour, was a clown and a ham, in the most endearing way possible.
“What’s so funny so early in the morning?” Kame’s smooth voice was heard, at exactly 9.28am, from the reception area before Koki even caught a glimpse of him. Koki heard the usual scuttling, which he knew was Kame’s bespectacled, very young, very good looking and very male, assistant (Kame’s hiring policy was not to hire people whom he did not like to look at) trying to keep up with Kame’s bag, coat, morning do-not-disturb instructions and lunch order. Finally appearing in Koki’s line of sight, Koki could not help but acknowledge, once again, that there was no one else like Kamenashi Kazuya. Kame had a glow about him made even more luminescent by his immaculate dress sense. Today, he was wearing a well-fitted gun powder grey suit, teamed with pointed patent shoes, and a crisp white open neck shirt, showing just enough chest to tease. Around his neck, in place of a chain, was a unique patterned tie, one of Koki’s private designs.
Pushing his movie star sunglasses up to rest on his perfectly coiffed hair, Kame was just about to smile at his friend and star designer, when he frowned. There was a disturbance in the force, the peace and order of his world was off tangent. Kame felt his skin prickle as he turned in the direction of the disturbance. There, among the forest of plastic faces was a real one, eyes shining, and mouth curved in a ridiculous grin, reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat. However, from the way Kame grimaced, it could well have been a mangy, damp, smelly stray.
“What is that doing here?” Kame addressed Koki, tilting his head to indicate the that he was talking about.
“A pleasure, as always, Kamenashi,” Jin stepped out from the mass of bodies, all floppy and shaggy like a golden retriever, grin still on his face.
“I can’t say the same, Akanishi,” Kame deadpanned, eyes rolling as he deigned to speak to the man before him who Kame was sure did not know of a wonderful contraption called the iron, judging by the unforgivable creases in his clothes.
“Oh, I’ll bet all you want to do is to have sweaty, muddy sex with me,” Jin approached with sloppy confidence. Kame recoiled at the thought and bumped hard into Koki.
“Now, now, you two….” Koki tried to intervene, but as usual, to no avail.
Directing his words to Koki, Kame threw his insult, “You have such a kind heart, Koki. If it were me, I would first neuter the stray before handing him to the pound.” Kame made a snipping motion with his fingers.
Jin, to his credit, winced a little.
“Since you brought him here, yet again, be sure you keep him on leash, and see that he does not come even a mile within the radius of my office,” Kame finished with flourish, grabbing his custom blend coffee from the hands of his assistant.
Both Jin and Koki watched as Kame strutted through the glass doors of his glass office, fleetingly admiring the view before them. Just before Kame shut the door however, Jin said, in a voice that carried, “It’s a wonder Nishikido can get it up for the likes of him!” Kame turned and the last thing Jin and Koki saw was Kame’s murderous eyes before the blinds came down to cover them.
“Shit Jin! I should just stick ‘return to sender’ on your forehead and ship you off to Yamapi! Only you can rile Kame up like that.”
“There’s nothing I’d like more,” Jin was once again fidgeting and playing with Koki’s tool kit, “only thing, I don’t think he can accept care packages while he’s piloting that damn plane.”
“Jin…..Put. The. Scissors. Down!”
*
With his bath and moisturizing routine done, Kame was unwinding in nothing but his Calvins on a chaise lounge chair in his vast living room, nursing a glass of red and gazing at the twinkling lights of Roppongi. His alone time was precious to him, he had little habits that he liked to do away from the eyes of other people, even away from Ryo.
He sipped his wine and thought back on his day. Even though Akanishi Jin was in his face the whole time, Kame managed to completely ignore him and got the work he had planned out all done. There was nothing like completing everything on his schedule to make his day. On top of that, Koki had shown him some preliminary designs for Spring/Summer 2012 and they looked promising. In fact, Kame had reserved a piece or two to be made just for him, and he was happy at the prospect of new, one-of-a-kind clothes. Kame closed his eyes and chuckled to himself when he recalled how his hapless assistant, on Koki’s strict instructions, kept a watchful eye and followed Jin around righting all his wrongs. Kame had to admit that Jin was rather funny when the mess Jin usually made did not affect Kame in any way.
Akanishi Jin. Kame’s mind flooded with the memory of their very first meeting about a year ago. Kame had just started 1582 Designs, and had wanted their first advertising campaign to be of real people, real yet sexy people. Koki had called in a favour with his pilot friend, Yamapi. Kame had never really learnt his full name. Koki had assured Kame that Yamapi was sexy, and then some, and Koki was right. When Yamapi stepped into the studio, fresh from the plane, in his pilot uniform, it was as though the whole world stopped just to look at him. Kame, however, had been distracted by the person behind Yamapi stumbling over thick camera cables. Kame had never seen anyone so impossibly disheveled, and yet looked like he stepped out of Time magazine’s 100 most sexy people. Kame’s attraction towards Jin was instantaneous, up until the moment when Jin, holding a piece of cake he had gotten from the free buffet on set and giving full attention to Yamapi posing for the camera, tripped over yet another cable onto Kame. The entire studio gasped and then fell deathly silent as Kame came to terms with the fact that his obscenely expensive suit was soiled with chocolate mousse.
“No big deal,” Jin had said, with nary an apology as Kame tried to compose himself. Koki had already stepped up and handed Kame one of the outfits from the photoshoot to change into, mouthing frantically to Jin not to say anything more. It was then that Kame decided to have nothing to do with Akanishi Jin. He had his perfect life, with his perfect job and perfect boyfriend. Jin would just smudge everything, and Kame would not allow that.
However, Jin was impossible to get rid off, like a stubborn stain. He kept appearing intermittently to shake up Kame’s life just that little bit. Kame did not even know what Jin did, or where Jin stayed. He only knew that Jin was alone a lot, with Yamapi flying all the time. It seemed as though Jin has chosen to barge rudely into Koki’s life, and by default, Kame’s too. It was infuriating, but Kame, being the magnanimous person that he was, tolerated it. For Koki’s sake, he constantly told himself.
The intercom chimed. Kame glanced at his wall clock. It read 11.01pm. Who could it be at this hour? It was definitely not Ryo. Ryo had better sense than to surprise Kame. Kame hated surprises.
He got up, placing his wine glass carefully on his glass coffee table, and walked the monitor. He pressed the viewfinder and almost choked on his own saliva in shock when a familiar face with a full head of unruly hair appeared in monochrome.
“Kame? You home?”
“How did you get my address, Jin?”
“Your assistant. He got sick of me and traded information for one minute of peace. I was generous, I gave him two.”
Kame groaned, “Go find Koki.”
“I did. He has friends over, if you know what I mean,” Jin raised his eyebrows at the little glowing light in front of him.
“Go home,” Kame tried again.
“Kame, please, let me up! The security guard here gives me the creeps. He looks like a diluted version of Keanu Reeves in the Matrix! Kame….” Jin whined.
Knowing full well that Jin would cause a ruckus if Kame did not let him up, Kame pressed his index finger to the big button, hearing it buzz in reluctant welcome. He threw on a robe and stood in front of the elevator doors, waiting for them to part and reveal what Kame deemed to be a rubbish heap.
*
Kame watched with uptight nervousness as Jin heavy-footed around his penthouse, whistling in unconcealed awe at everything Kame owned. There was actually nothing very much, Kame liked space, and hated clutter. His penthouse looked like it came out of a home décor magazine with the theme space age minimalism. The interior had a clean feel to it, the main colours being black and aluminum. Anything even remotely unsightly or deviating from the colour scheme was cleverly hidden in storage spaces disguised as walls.
“Would you quit it? It’s as though you’ve never seen furniture before,” Kame flinched as Jin picked up a clear crystal bauble that cost an arm and a leg.
“Oh, I’ve seen furniture,” Jin replied as he set the bauble down to Kame’s visible relief, “just nothing so…so…erm…..blatantly pretentious? I’m impressed.”
“What kind of guest insults his host?” When it came to Jin, Kame did not even have the energy to feel insulted. He sat down measuredly on his black leather settee, crossing his legs gracefully, and bringing a finger to his temple to rub that throbbing vein.
“It wasn’t an insult,” Jin looked offended, “did you not hear me say that I was impressed?” Jin eyed the wine glass on the coffee table. He made a grab for it and finished whatever Kame had left in one go, “Anymore where this came from?” Jin raised the empty glass absentmindedly as his thoughts got lost at the view of the Tokyo tower through the bay windows.
“That was the last drop,” Kame lied, “Jin, Jin?” He waited until Jin turned around and gave him his attention, “why are you here?”
Jin shrugged without saying a word. He sat next to Kame and placed his head on Kame’s shoulder. Kame sighed, thinking that he had just taken his bath, and wondered if Jin had washed his hair before arriving, but knowing Jin, probably not. Kame’s skin was gradually prickling with discomfort and he was just about the snap at Jin when Jin made a small sound. It was so soft that Kame was not sure at first if it was really there, but then, Jin began to speak in a distracted, barely there voice.
“He broke up with me.”
Not knowing what to say, Kame simply sat there and allowed to Jin to glean any comfort his body was emitting, which Kame doubted was a lot. Suddenly, Jin lifted his head to look at Kame with a beaming smile. There was something oddly out of character in that smile, and Kame raised his eyebrow in question.
“Let’s go out!” Jin exclaimed, springing to his feet and tugging on Kame’s arm.
“Jin, I don’t have ‘going out’ on my schedule. It’s 11.22pm, and I’ve already had my bath, and I have to be at work at 8.16am for an early morning meeting, so I don’t think……”
Kame’s eyes widened as Jin casually ascended the stairs to his loft bedroom. He ran after Jin in trepidation.
“Jin, what are you doing? Leave my things alone…JIN!” Kame watched in horror as Jin rummaged through his wide and deep wardrobe, taking clothes out, examining them, and then putting them back in the wrong order.
“Jin, stop it, just stop it!” Kame was having the beginnings of a panic attack.
“I’m trying to look for something for you to wear to go out,” Jin said with his head buried in the racks.
“I didn’t say I was going!” Kame squeaked, cringing at how Jin simply shoved his well-pressed Prada shirt back in a way that guaranteed creases.
Jin stopped, and turned to Kame. He had a puppy-dog look, one that was heartbroken and pleading. Kame’s resolve melted and he relented. What is it about Akanishi Jin that made him do things, granted with much force and reluctance?
“Move! I’m choosing my own clothes! Stay still in that corner and don’t touch anything!”
Like a puppy that just got rewarded, Jin did as he was told.
*
Oh good God! There was a reason why he avoided places like this like the plague. At the moment, this place they were at could very well be full of the diseases that Kame so feared. He tried to lean on the bar counter, but it was sticky to the touch. The bar stools, once bright red, looked like they were made of dried soil. Kame shuddered, wanting very much to go home.
But he could not. He was the designated driver to the now very drunk, and very affectionate Akanishi Jin. And Kame, for reasons he could not fathom, particularly in this situation, took his responsibilities very seriously. It was this flaw and nothing else, or so he told himself, that had stopped him from leaving half an hour ago. However, when Jin slung a heavy, sweaty arm around his shoulder after coming back from gyrating shamelessly with everything that moved on the dance floor, Kame seriously considered leaving Jin’s sorry ass.
“Kame~~~ Drink with me! Bartender, tequila! For my friend and me!” Jin giggled.
“I’m not drinking. I’m driving you home, remember?” Kame tried to free himself but it seemed like Jin had channeled all his weight into that one arm.
Jin shook his head wildly, messing up his already unruly hair, “Not going home, not tonight, NOT EVER!” Jin raised his voice over the din, causing more than a few heads to turn. Jin proceeded to take a bottle of tequila from over the counter, and started twirling, bumping and hitting the other patrons in the club.
“Hey!” the gruff bartender shouted across the counter, “Control him, or LEAVE!”
“I wish,” Kame muttered under his breath as he acknowledged the bartender’s words with a nod. He managed to move Jin and himself a couple of feet to the private room he had insisted on getting the minute they set foot into the club. It did not matter if they were not going to use it, because, to Kame, a private room was always a good idea. Jin had laughed and called him pretentious yet again, but as it turned out, Kame was right. Kame was rarely wrong.
They would have hit the floor if not for Kame’s quick maneuvering. He turned his body, and they tumbled onto the gaudy plastic love couch instead. Someone has got to talk to the management of this establishment about aesthetics, thought Kame as he tried, once again, to free himself from Jin who was now sprawled right over Kame, seemingly knocked out cold.
It was futile. Jin was immovable. Kame was feeling pretty miserable. He wanted so badly to be in his pristine apartment, under his clean sheets, sleeping his usual dreamless sleep. Instead, he was getting crushed by this buffoon who had dragged him out and yet, did not even spend a single moment with him. He was about to deliver a huge smack on Jin’s head when he felt Jin move. Kame looked down to see that Jin’s shoulders were shaking, and when Kame placed a gentle hand on Jin’s shoulders, Jin really broke down and sobbed.
Sighing for the millionth time that night, Kame wound his arms around Jin as Jin cried his heart out. Kame’s fingers threaded through Jin’s hair, so soft, as he unconsciously rocked and made hushing sounds. It was a long while before Jin finally quietened, having fallen asleep, snoring just slightly. Typical that he snores, thought Kame, having lost all feeling in his body. He brought his wrist up to look at the time. 2.14am. Kame half wanted to push Jin off and leave him to his own devices, but the other half did not really have to heart to, seeing how Jin was finally having a little bit of peace after an emotionally hard day. For the million and first time, Kame sighed and made a grab at the tequila bottle from Jin’s slack hand. Kame took a swig from it. It was going to be a long night.
*
“Errrr…..gentlemen, he’s never late. Something important must have come up,” Koki was trying his best to manage the corporate suits seated around the oval conference table. The meeting was supposed to commence at 9.00am sharp, because Kame did not stand for tardiness, but it was already 9.15am and Kame was still nowhere to be seen.
“You do understand, Tanaka-san, that the corporate sponsorship of your new luxury line is at stake here.”
“Yes, sir, he will be here really soon. Maybe more coffee and doughnuts?”
“If Kamenashi-san is not here in 10 minutes, consider this deal forfeited,” the head of the suits boomed sternly, and Koki swallowed a lump in his throat.
“Of course, he’ll be here, just….just….let me…..” Koki backed slowly out the door before turning on his heels as fast as he could towards Kame’s assistant.
“Anything?” Koki asked in panicked hope.
“I can’t get him. He’s not picking up his cell. And the security desk at his apartment said that he left late last night and has not returned,” the assistant had a similar panicked look on his face.
Koki paced up and down, almost creating a trench out of the lush carpeting. He eyed the suits through the glass walls of the conference room and saw that they were packing up, getting ready to leave. God, what was he going to do? He can’t conduct the meeting by himself, Kame was the business brain. He had to stall them, the line was important to him, he had put a lot of work into it. If it did not launch, it would set plans back at least 5 years, and the label could not afford that. What was he to do? What was he to do? WHAT WAS HE TO DO?
“God, Koki, don’t make a hole in the carpeting. It will be hard to get it replaced.”
Almost tripping over himself, Koki recovered to see Kame walking quickly towards him, hardly put together by Kame’s standards and spotting hints of stubble on his chin. Very untypical, and hence, very worrying.
“Good Lord, Kame, what the hell happened to you?”
“I shouldn’t even be speaking to you. How long have they been in there? And how to I look?” Kame took off his aviators and tucked them in his back pocket.
“20 minutes, and you look like shit.” The eye bags and lackluster eyes told Koki that Kame did not have a normal night.
Kame clicked his tongue, obviously torn between dealing with the devastating fact that he was late and trying to suppress his inner desire to just go home and get into a shower, and fix himself up.
“Suzuki-kun, comb and mirror,” to which Kame’s assistant immediately provided.
Kame slicked his hair back, and combed it till it finally looked somewhat normal. Koki watched as Kame straightened his fitting black shirt paired with grungy jeans that made Kame look so hot, but so unsuitable for a morning corporate meeting.
“Suzuki-kun, jacket and files! Hop to it! You’ve been here long enough for me not to tell you these things!”
“Y-yes….sir!” The assistant literally sprinted to Kame’s office and was back in a flash.
“What happened to you?” Koki could not help but ask as Kame put himself together the best he could.
But, Kame ignored him and grabbed the files from his assistant.
“Suzuki-kun, top up the coffee in the conference room and make me a strong one. Also, two aspirins on the side, discreetly! God! I have the mother of all hangovers! Koki, you ready?”
“Errr…yeah…?”
“Ok, good,” Kame pushed open the conference door, “I’m sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen…..”
*
“You do realize that it is your fault.”
The accusing statement flew out of Kame’s mouth right after he had come back from hitting the showers at his exclusive gym a couple of blocks away. The morning meeting had gone smoothly, even though Kame had to initially manage a roomful of angry clients. Once again, he had to thank his natural charm and handsome looks for captivating his audience, and the deal went down without a hitch. All despite the fact that his skin was crawling and his world on a tilt from the disruption in schedule. Now, nice and clean, and his afternoon back on track except for a slight throb in his head, he was feeling much better and ready to deal with Koki’s questions.
“How is it my fault? I wasn’t even with you last night. What on earth did you do, anyway?”
“It is your fault. You had friends over.”
Koki had the decency to blush, “It was just Ueda and Nakamaru, you know, and they brought a few girls, and we just did what we usually do….”
Kame raised a hand to stop Koki mid-ramble, “I don’t really care about your nocturnal activities. You could have a harem and I couldn’t be stuffed. What I care about is how my life gets ruined when your activities send Akanishi to my apartment!”
“Jin?”
“Do you know of another Akanishi?”
“So, it was Jin at the door last night,” Koki remarked, more to himself, but Kame frowned and went into a signing frenzy with a stake of documents.
“I should learn from your example and not open the door to weird people in the middle of the night,” Kame said mid-scribble.
“How did he even get your address?”
“That’s a bone I have yet to pick with Suzuki-kun. I have a good mind to fire his ass,” Kame shot a look of annoyance at the back of his assistant’s head.
“Right,” Koki sat himself down on one of the white guest sofas Kame had in his office.
There was silence for a while, with only the sound of Kame’s Mont Blanc scratching the surface of papers. Just as Koki wondered if he should excuse himself, Kame spoke.
“Yamapi broke up with him and he was looking for a friend.”
From Koki’s lack of a reaction, Kame could tell that Koki was not surprised. Maybe Yamapi had said something to Koki, but Kame did not want to prob. Koki remained silent, and Kame did not want to say anything more. Particularly, he did not want to answer any questions about what had happened with Jin the night before, or more specifically, early that morning.
*
He had been in a dream-like state when he felt the caress of warm lips on his own. Those lips had moved and urged, until, Kame, in his sleep, responded. He had pulled the other person down, hugging the person tighter to him.
“Ryo…” Kame had thought in his foggy mind, but as the kiss progressed, his mind cleared. The taste was not Ryo’s taste, but a taste more musky and intoxicating. The shoulders he was griping was not Ryo’s shoulders, but shoulders that were broader, thicker. Kame had snapped his eyes open in shock to find himself face to face with endless eyelashes on closed lids. Soft curls cascaded around the face that was kissing him, and Kame had gasped into the kiss.
Jin.
Realising where he was, Kame had reflexively kneed Jin the stomach, sending Jin, clutching his stomach, off the love couch they had been tangled in all night onto the cold, dirty floor. Kame had tried to sit up, but the sharp pain that shot from the back of his neck through to his head made him wince and lie down again. He did not have to see the empty tequila bottle that had rolled itself to the corner of the room to remember what had happened. After Jin had fallen into a deep sleep, Kame had continued drinking, what else was he to do when he was trapped, until he himself passed out, thinking, as he got progressively more drunk, how nice and warm Jin’s body was.
“Fuck, Kamenashi, that hurts,” Jin grimaced on the floor, pulling himself up into a sitting position right next to Kame on the couch.
“Are you crazy? I have Ryo, and I know you’re heartbroken and all, but I’m not Yamapi….how could you? I don’t want a repeat of the last time. I thought I made myself clear. I’m not Yamapi…..” Kame had stood up and flailed around the room.
“I know you’re not Yamapi,” Jin replied in a calm, sober voice that made Kame stop. “I’d known it then, I know it now.”
They stared at each other and Kame felt each second of time passing, rising his temperature to almost boiling point. Jin’s eyes were crystal clear, not in the least murky. There was something in those eyes that made Kame’s heart palpitate more so than an unexpected shift in his schedule.
Speaking of schedule.
“What’s the time?”
“Huh?” Jin had not expected those words from Kame’s lips.
“What is the time?” Kame had repeated with more force, and then, having remembered that he had a watch on his wrist, he glanced at it and shrieked so loud it could have woken up a bear in hibernation.
“I am so fucking late, and it is all your fucking fault, where is my damn car key?!” Kame had begun a frenzied search around the room.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down….KAME! CALM DOWN!”
Jin’s loud voice had stopped Kame in his tracks. Kame had turned to look at Jin who was still seated on the couch. He had not been able to tear his eyes away from those plump lips, pursed in a frown.
Jin reached under the couch and pulled out a key belonging to a Porsche, “here it is.” Jin had held it up, and Kame had hesitated to take it. But, the cataclysmic fact that Kame was late, and Kame was never late, had made him move. His fingers had brushed Jin’s a little as he took the key.
Without one more word, Kame had walked towards the door. Just as he was about to walk out, Jin had called out, “Kame….I…..”
“I do not have time for this, Akanishi, nor do I have time for you,” Kame had said, with his back still turned, before he shut the door behind him, leaving Jin alone in that room.
*
Phone sex with Ryo never took longer than 33 minutes. Kame knew exactly what to say to get Ryo hot and bothered, and he knew exactly what noises to make for Ryo to think that he was on the same page, so to speak. Often, during phone sex, Kame would be sitting at his desk in his study area, reviewing work or simply organizing his time. Kame did not enjoy phone sex, what was the point of making a mess on himself by himself? He only did that in the shower, when he really had to, where he could wash himself soon after. Phone sex could not be done in the shower, his phone would short circuit. But, Ryo liked it, said that it brought them closer together in spite of the distance, so Kame humoured him.
Now, however, Kame was distracted. Hearing Ryo’s grunts over the phone made him recall the soft hums he heard when Jin was kissing him, even through the haze of sleep. Kame did his best to focus on Ryo, on Ryo’s voice, trying to summon up Ryo’s face before him, to allow his memory of Ryo’s touch and smell infuse his senses, but somehow, just like how he did in real life, Jin kept popping up everywhere - his relaxed, goofy grin, his head of thick out-of-control hair, his unbelievably clear skin, his fleshy smooth hands. Kame moaned over the phone, unaware that his eyes were now closed, his head tilted back to meet with the plush headrest of his black leather desk chair. Kame reached for his erection through his Calvins, already hard and proud from the image in his head. He sighed from the contact and followed the rhythm of the breathing on the other line, his mind, unbeknownst to him, thinking about a whole other person. Kame flicked his wrist, and arched a little off his chair to the sound of the other voice tightening. A hitch in breath, and then a low moan. Kame opened his eyes to stickiness on his left hand, and a voice in his right ear.
“Oh, Kame,” Ryo panted on the other line, “that was the hottest session yet! I could really feel you with me.”
Fuck. Kame looked down at his mess and wished that his hand was clean enough for him to bury his face in.
*
The runway launch of Koki’s very first line with 1582 Designs was held in an abandoned warehouse in the Tokyo Bay area. Fashion shows were a dime a dozen, and Kame did not want to be lost in the crowd. He was Kamenashi Kazuya, and he deserved more than that. Sure, his name would have guaranteed full media attendance, but he did not want the event to be a 5-liner in the society pages headlined as yet another one of those whimsical fancies that rich brats with obscene trust funds get into. No, he wanted recognition for Koki’s talent, for his company. Kame wanted spreads in world-renowned fashion magazines, and a whole long list of clients and investors clamoring to have something to do with 1582 Designs.
It was Jin who suggested this abandoned warehouse. He had come into the office with Yamapi to look at the raw pictures of the advertising campaign. Yamapi had insisted on picking his own pictures as a condition for his favour. Kame had no reason to say no, all the pictures of Yamapi looked close to perfect anyway. Kame was trying to minimize contact with Jin after the chocolate mousse incident, making his intentions clear by not directing any of his words to the man.
But, when conversation suddenly steered with Koki telling Yamapi how they were still deciding on the runway venue and concept for the launch, Jin suddenly piped in with his suggestion. Kame turned to Jin in question, immediately seeing the potential. Jin expounded on how the venue can be transformed to exude a gritty, edgy charm that suited 1582 Designs target clientele. And it would be different enough. A fashion show by the docks, which media would not jump at the chance to cover it?
Kame did not know why he did it, but when Jin said, “leave it to me,” Kame had listened. Maybe because Jin sounded so sure of himself, maybe Kame did not expect this serious side of Jin. Whatever it was, Kame had let him, even though, true to his nature, Kame was worried about it no end. But, somehow, when he started to get anxious because he had heard no word from Jin with regard to the preparation, a well put-together file would appear in his in-tray, detailing explicitly the progress. Flipping through one of the files a month before the show, Kame saw that Jin had managed to secure a big sponsorship, from one very renowned Wonder Records. The sponsorship provided the strobe lighting, the sound system and the music for the event. 1582 Designs took care of the rest - stage set-up and the after-party reception.
During that period, whenever Kame saw Jin, it was in a social context. Koki would drag Kame to dinner locations, where Jin would already be there waiting, sometimes with Yamapi if he was grounded for the night. Sometimes, if Ryo was in town long enough, Kame would bring him along. Jin was his usual chilled-out self at these dinners, dressed shabbily in what Kame deemed lazy fashion - clothes simply thrown on haphazardly on the body. Somehow, the style, or lack thereof, suited Jin. It was who he was. What frustrated Kame was that Jin refused to talk about the launch, no matter how much he probed. Even when he brought up Wonder Records, it was Koki, not Jin, who had something to say.
“Wow! Wonder Records! The music they produce is just right for 1582 Designs!”
“You know,” Yamapi piped in, “I heard that the executive producer is so mysterious that no one knows who he is! How did you manage it Jin?”
“I just know someone, that’s all,” Jin shrugged, stuffing a gyoza into his mouth carelessly. The black vinegar trickled down his chin. Kame could not stand it, he handed Jin a napkin and indicated he should clean it off, which he did, but it did not prevent some of it to stain the collar of his polo t-shirt.
“It must be someone pretty high up for you to have such an influence,” Ryo commented between bites, “although, I’m sure Kame here has more than enough dough to entice the executives at Wonder Records, with or without your help.”
“Not everything is about money, Nishikido,” Jin smiled a smile that hardly concealed his disdain towards Ryo’s comment.
“Touché,” Ryo countered, picking up a gyoza and putting it on Kame’s plate, “I was simply pointing out that Kame is very capable.”
“In any case, thank your friend for me,” Kame expressed as he ate his steaming hot gyoza neatly, trying to diffuse the subtle tension that seemed to have settled over their table.
“No problem, he’s happy to help, besides, a collaboration with 1582 Designs wouldn’t hurt the business either,” Another gyoza and another stain on Jin’s shirt. Kame rolled his eyes, thinking that this man before him would never look smart, not matter how hard he tried.
Which was why, on the day of the launch, when Kame was beside himself with anxiety even as he tried his best to cloak it behind cool, professional calm, he had to do a triple take at a man wearing, and looking very fetching, in a trendy Hugo Boss suit, no tie, open collar.
“Akanishi, I barely recognize you,” Kame attempted to be casual but could not help skim his eyes up and down Jin’s finely cut body, now very distractingly obvious in the well-fitted suit.
“This monkey suit only makes an appearance once in a blue moon, Kamenashi,” Jin’s eyes sparkled in the dimly lit warehouse, “don’t get used to it.”
“I don’t ever intend to get used to you, Akanishi,” Kame retorted to Jin’s chuckle, turning his eyes onto the runway to keep a keen watch on the crew putting on the last minute touches. He hated to admit it, but the execution of the show was exactly how he imagined it. Jin had gotten everything spot on.
“Jin, it’s…” Kame began.
“Thank me later. It’s not over yet,” Jin said in a low voice right into Kame’s ear. If Kame did not know any better, he would have melted a little, but this was Akanishi Jin, a man completely opposite from who Kame was, and that thought helped Kame maintain his wits about him.
“It’s 6.18pm. The show will start at 7.00pm sharp. I have to find Koki and make sure all the models are prepped. I have to be out at 6.45pm to meet all the guests,” Kame rambled, walking towards the back stage area.
“Kame!” Jin called out.
Kame turned, with question in his eyes.
“Congratulations! The show is going to be great!” Jin gave a thumbs up, looking inappropriately silly. Kame could not help but smile back.
*
Part 2
Having always been interested in fashion, Kame, recently graduated from one of Tokyo’s most expensive and most esteemed private university, had decided, with his family’s blessings and trust fund, to strike out on his own in the form of a fashion label. One thing Kame lacked was artistic creativity, but what he lacked, he made up for with business smarts. That, and a university friend - Tanaka Koki, possibly Japan’s answer to the next Alexander McQueen, may he rest in peace. Tanaka Koki was as edgy as his designs, with just a touch of class that Kame respected. Tanaka Koki was the next big thing.
Home to the young Kamenashi was a modern, swanky penthouse in Roppongi that had an unobstructed view of the overrated Tokyo Tower. The penthouse was part of an apartment building so exclusive and heavily guarded that there are 3 different access codes just to get from the underground carpark to one’s apartment. But, just for the penthouse occupant, there was a private lift that led directly to home.
It was through the tinted bay windows of the loft bedroom of the penthouse that the morning sun now streamed, causing Kame to stir from his peaceful slumber. He opened his eyes just a second before his alarm rang, a melodious tune that told him, as it always did, that it was 7.03am. Everyday, even on weekends, Kame would wake up at precisely 7.03am. 7.00am would be too early, and 7.05am would be too late. “24 hours was given not to be wasted” was Kame’s chant-like mantra that everyone who knew him knew by heart.
Turning on his side, savouring his soft Egyptian, 300-thread count, cotton sheets, Kame was greeted with a sight that warmed him. A handsome man, still sleeping, hair tousled, mouth in a slight pout - Nishikido Ryo, Kame’s boyfriend for more than 3 years, a man who matched Kame in every way in terms of wealth and status. Ryo was the sole heir to a Japanese oil magnate, Kame’s mother did not hesitate to point that out at the social event she had dragged him to when he was still a freshman in university. Ryo was everything Kame wanted in a man. Kame liked that Ryo was kind and gentle, but not without sharp wit and an acid tongue. Kame liked that he could see Ryo’s love for him in his eyes. Most of all, Kame liked that Ryo travelled to the Middle East often. It made the relationship all the more special when they come together the rare couple of times a month.
Kame moved an arm to brush Ryo’s hair away from his face, frowning slightly at the small pool of drool on the pillow. When Ryo was in town, with all the bedroom activity they would have, Kame would arrange for the help to come in everyday to clean, he would not tolerate it otherwise. Ryo twitched and rolled to his side, baring his well-defined pectorals, and Kame mentally went through his schedule to see if there was time for some extra morning exercise as it were. He decided that there was not, he was due to meet his personal trainer in half an hour, 32 minutes to be precise. He settled for kissing Ryo on the cheek before getting out of bed, tossing his soiled Calvin Kleins into the laundry bin.
“Mmmm….?” Ryo muttered, waking up, and having enough senses about him to pull Kame back down next to him.
“Shh…sweetie, I’m going to the gym,” Kame coaxed, trying to free himself.
“Kame?” Ryo propped himself up with his elbow, giving Kame a full view of his morning erection.
“Really, sweetie, gym. You know that.” Kame tried again, but was held onto even tighter.
Ryo nuzzled his face into the crook of Kame’s neck, knowing that it would soften Kame’s resolve. “I also know,” Ryo breathed into Kame’s ear, “that I’ll be flying off this afternoon, and you wouldn’t get this for the next 2 weeks.”
Kame closed his eyes as he felt the lust swirl to his groin. He moaned when he felt Ryo’s lips on his pulse. “Ok…” He whispered, half getting up and reaching for his BlackBerry on the nightstand.
“What are you doing?” Ryo lay back down, incredulous.
“I have to cancel with my personal trainer, silly,” Kame retorted, typing furiously with his thumbs on the ridiculously small QWERTY keyboard.
“God! Will it kill you to be irresponsible for once?”
“That would not be me, and you love me…..” Kame’s voice was laced with seduction as he leaned down to kiss Ryo after placing the BlackBerry back on the nightstand.
“Oh, I do, I really do…..” Ryo’s reply was muffled by Kame’s soft, curvy lips.
Coming up for air, before he rolled onto his back to give Ryo better access, Kame said, “We have till 8.45am. I have to be in to work at 9.28am.”
“What?!”
“Relax sweetie, it’s only 7.15am. We have plenty of time for two rounds. And a half, to be exact.”
*
“Jin, I swear to God, I cannot bring you anywhere!” Tanaka Koki exclaimed as dark brown coffee formed a rather intricate design as it streamed down a piece of very expensive it’s-not-white-it’s-pearl fabric spread out unsuspectingly on the designer table. “Quick, help me clean it up! Kame will have a fit if he sees this!” Koki proceeded to grab a mish-mesh of fabric from the waste pile to dab up the mess. The offender, one Akanishi Jin, continued to smirk and sip his now half a Styrofoam mug of coffee.
“I think it looks pretty inspired. It’s a nice design for the Fall/Winter collection don’t you think?” Jin drawled lazily, running his hand through his messy curls.
“Shut your trap and help!” Koki tossed Jin a pile of rags, which Jin caught with finesse.
“Chill, it’s only 9.15am, Mr rod-up-his-ass is not due in for another 13 minutes,” Jin joined Koki in the cleaning, but all Jin did was make things worse.
“Dab Jin, not wipe! God! Why did I bring you here? I never learn my lesson,” Koki muttered as he used a pair of tailoring scissors to cut away the portion of the fabric that was soiled. Better to start anew than to clean up the mess.
“You promised Yamapi to keep me out of trouble, and I’m here to see that you keep your promise. No one is allowed to break their promises to my boyfriend,” grinning, Jin balled up the incriminating fabric and threw it into the large bin, putting the lid tightly on for good measure.
“Just…..just…..don’t touch anything. Play like one of the mannequins over there and don’t move,” Koki raked his black-fingernailed fingers through his short crew cut, his frustration hardly disguised.
Finding Koki highly amusing, Jin did as he was told and walked over to the mass of mannequins. Jin stood among them and went on to make lewd faces, asking Koki which facial expression he should freeze in. Koki could not help laughing. Jin, for all his reckless, clumsy behaviour, was a clown and a ham, in the most endearing way possible.
“What’s so funny so early in the morning?” Kame’s smooth voice was heard, at exactly 9.28am, from the reception area before Koki even caught a glimpse of him. Koki heard the usual scuttling, which he knew was Kame’s bespectacled, very young, very good looking and very male, assistant (Kame’s hiring policy was not to hire people whom he did not like to look at) trying to keep up with Kame’s bag, coat, morning do-not-disturb instructions and lunch order. Finally appearing in Koki’s line of sight, Koki could not help but acknowledge, once again, that there was no one else like Kamenashi Kazuya. Kame had a glow about him made even more luminescent by his immaculate dress sense. Today, he was wearing a well-fitted gun powder grey suit, teamed with pointed patent shoes, and a crisp white open neck shirt, showing just enough chest to tease. Around his neck, in place of a chain, was a unique patterned tie, one of Koki’s private designs.
Pushing his movie star sunglasses up to rest on his perfectly coiffed hair, Kame was just about to smile at his friend and star designer, when he frowned. There was a disturbance in the force, the peace and order of his world was off tangent. Kame felt his skin prickle as he turned in the direction of the disturbance. There, among the forest of plastic faces was a real one, eyes shining, and mouth curved in a ridiculous grin, reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat. However, from the way Kame grimaced, it could well have been a mangy, damp, smelly stray.
“What is that doing here?” Kame addressed Koki, tilting his head to indicate the that he was talking about.
“A pleasure, as always, Kamenashi,” Jin stepped out from the mass of bodies, all floppy and shaggy like a golden retriever, grin still on his face.
“I can’t say the same, Akanishi,” Kame deadpanned, eyes rolling as he deigned to speak to the man before him who Kame was sure did not know of a wonderful contraption called the iron, judging by the unforgivable creases in his clothes.
“Oh, I’ll bet all you want to do is to have sweaty, muddy sex with me,” Jin approached with sloppy confidence. Kame recoiled at the thought and bumped hard into Koki.
“Now, now, you two….” Koki tried to intervene, but as usual, to no avail.
Directing his words to Koki, Kame threw his insult, “You have such a kind heart, Koki. If it were me, I would first neuter the stray before handing him to the pound.” Kame made a snipping motion with his fingers.
Jin, to his credit, winced a little.
“Since you brought him here, yet again, be sure you keep him on leash, and see that he does not come even a mile within the radius of my office,” Kame finished with flourish, grabbing his custom blend coffee from the hands of his assistant.
Both Jin and Koki watched as Kame strutted through the glass doors of his glass office, fleetingly admiring the view before them. Just before Kame shut the door however, Jin said, in a voice that carried, “It’s a wonder Nishikido can get it up for the likes of him!” Kame turned and the last thing Jin and Koki saw was Kame’s murderous eyes before the blinds came down to cover them.
“Shit Jin! I should just stick ‘return to sender’ on your forehead and ship you off to Yamapi! Only you can rile Kame up like that.”
“There’s nothing I’d like more,” Jin was once again fidgeting and playing with Koki’s tool kit, “only thing, I don’t think he can accept care packages while he’s piloting that damn plane.”
“Jin…..Put. The. Scissors. Down!”
*
With his bath and moisturizing routine done, Kame was unwinding in nothing but his Calvins on a chaise lounge chair in his vast living room, nursing a glass of red and gazing at the twinkling lights of Roppongi. His alone time was precious to him, he had little habits that he liked to do away from the eyes of other people, even away from Ryo.
He sipped his wine and thought back on his day. Even though Akanishi Jin was in his face the whole time, Kame managed to completely ignore him and got the work he had planned out all done. There was nothing like completing everything on his schedule to make his day. On top of that, Koki had shown him some preliminary designs for Spring/Summer 2012 and they looked promising. In fact, Kame had reserved a piece or two to be made just for him, and he was happy at the prospect of new, one-of-a-kind clothes. Kame closed his eyes and chuckled to himself when he recalled how his hapless assistant, on Koki’s strict instructions, kept a watchful eye and followed Jin around righting all his wrongs. Kame had to admit that Jin was rather funny when the mess Jin usually made did not affect Kame in any way.
Akanishi Jin. Kame’s mind flooded with the memory of their very first meeting about a year ago. Kame had just started 1582 Designs, and had wanted their first advertising campaign to be of real people, real yet sexy people. Koki had called in a favour with his pilot friend, Yamapi. Kame had never really learnt his full name. Koki had assured Kame that Yamapi was sexy, and then some, and Koki was right. When Yamapi stepped into the studio, fresh from the plane, in his pilot uniform, it was as though the whole world stopped just to look at him. Kame, however, had been distracted by the person behind Yamapi stumbling over thick camera cables. Kame had never seen anyone so impossibly disheveled, and yet looked like he stepped out of Time magazine’s 100 most sexy people. Kame’s attraction towards Jin was instantaneous, up until the moment when Jin, holding a piece of cake he had gotten from the free buffet on set and giving full attention to Yamapi posing for the camera, tripped over yet another cable onto Kame. The entire studio gasped and then fell deathly silent as Kame came to terms with the fact that his obscenely expensive suit was soiled with chocolate mousse.
“No big deal,” Jin had said, with nary an apology as Kame tried to compose himself. Koki had already stepped up and handed Kame one of the outfits from the photoshoot to change into, mouthing frantically to Jin not to say anything more. It was then that Kame decided to have nothing to do with Akanishi Jin. He had his perfect life, with his perfect job and perfect boyfriend. Jin would just smudge everything, and Kame would not allow that.
However, Jin was impossible to get rid off, like a stubborn stain. He kept appearing intermittently to shake up Kame’s life just that little bit. Kame did not even know what Jin did, or where Jin stayed. He only knew that Jin was alone a lot, with Yamapi flying all the time. It seemed as though Jin has chosen to barge rudely into Koki’s life, and by default, Kame’s too. It was infuriating, but Kame, being the magnanimous person that he was, tolerated it. For Koki’s sake, he constantly told himself.
The intercom chimed. Kame glanced at his wall clock. It read 11.01pm. Who could it be at this hour? It was definitely not Ryo. Ryo had better sense than to surprise Kame. Kame hated surprises.
He got up, placing his wine glass carefully on his glass coffee table, and walked the monitor. He pressed the viewfinder and almost choked on his own saliva in shock when a familiar face with a full head of unruly hair appeared in monochrome.
“Kame? You home?”
“How did you get my address, Jin?”
“Your assistant. He got sick of me and traded information for one minute of peace. I was generous, I gave him two.”
Kame groaned, “Go find Koki.”
“I did. He has friends over, if you know what I mean,” Jin raised his eyebrows at the little glowing light in front of him.
“Go home,” Kame tried again.
“Kame, please, let me up! The security guard here gives me the creeps. He looks like a diluted version of Keanu Reeves in the Matrix! Kame….” Jin whined.
Knowing full well that Jin would cause a ruckus if Kame did not let him up, Kame pressed his index finger to the big button, hearing it buzz in reluctant welcome. He threw on a robe and stood in front of the elevator doors, waiting for them to part and reveal what Kame deemed to be a rubbish heap.
*
Kame watched with uptight nervousness as Jin heavy-footed around his penthouse, whistling in unconcealed awe at everything Kame owned. There was actually nothing very much, Kame liked space, and hated clutter. His penthouse looked like it came out of a home décor magazine with the theme space age minimalism. The interior had a clean feel to it, the main colours being black and aluminum. Anything even remotely unsightly or deviating from the colour scheme was cleverly hidden in storage spaces disguised as walls.
“Would you quit it? It’s as though you’ve never seen furniture before,” Kame flinched as Jin picked up a clear crystal bauble that cost an arm and a leg.
“Oh, I’ve seen furniture,” Jin replied as he set the bauble down to Kame’s visible relief, “just nothing so…so…erm…..blatantly pretentious? I’m impressed.”
“What kind of guest insults his host?” When it came to Jin, Kame did not even have the energy to feel insulted. He sat down measuredly on his black leather settee, crossing his legs gracefully, and bringing a finger to his temple to rub that throbbing vein.
“It wasn’t an insult,” Jin looked offended, “did you not hear me say that I was impressed?” Jin eyed the wine glass on the coffee table. He made a grab for it and finished whatever Kame had left in one go, “Anymore where this came from?” Jin raised the empty glass absentmindedly as his thoughts got lost at the view of the Tokyo tower through the bay windows.
“That was the last drop,” Kame lied, “Jin, Jin?” He waited until Jin turned around and gave him his attention, “why are you here?”
Jin shrugged without saying a word. He sat next to Kame and placed his head on Kame’s shoulder. Kame sighed, thinking that he had just taken his bath, and wondered if Jin had washed his hair before arriving, but knowing Jin, probably not. Kame’s skin was gradually prickling with discomfort and he was just about the snap at Jin when Jin made a small sound. It was so soft that Kame was not sure at first if it was really there, but then, Jin began to speak in a distracted, barely there voice.
“He broke up with me.”
Not knowing what to say, Kame simply sat there and allowed to Jin to glean any comfort his body was emitting, which Kame doubted was a lot. Suddenly, Jin lifted his head to look at Kame with a beaming smile. There was something oddly out of character in that smile, and Kame raised his eyebrow in question.
“Let’s go out!” Jin exclaimed, springing to his feet and tugging on Kame’s arm.
“Jin, I don’t have ‘going out’ on my schedule. It’s 11.22pm, and I’ve already had my bath, and I have to be at work at 8.16am for an early morning meeting, so I don’t think……”
Kame’s eyes widened as Jin casually ascended the stairs to his loft bedroom. He ran after Jin in trepidation.
“Jin, what are you doing? Leave my things alone…JIN!” Kame watched in horror as Jin rummaged through his wide and deep wardrobe, taking clothes out, examining them, and then putting them back in the wrong order.
“Jin, stop it, just stop it!” Kame was having the beginnings of a panic attack.
“I’m trying to look for something for you to wear to go out,” Jin said with his head buried in the racks.
“I didn’t say I was going!” Kame squeaked, cringing at how Jin simply shoved his well-pressed Prada shirt back in a way that guaranteed creases.
Jin stopped, and turned to Kame. He had a puppy-dog look, one that was heartbroken and pleading. Kame’s resolve melted and he relented. What is it about Akanishi Jin that made him do things, granted with much force and reluctance?
“Move! I’m choosing my own clothes! Stay still in that corner and don’t touch anything!”
Like a puppy that just got rewarded, Jin did as he was told.
*
Oh good God! There was a reason why he avoided places like this like the plague. At the moment, this place they were at could very well be full of the diseases that Kame so feared. He tried to lean on the bar counter, but it was sticky to the touch. The bar stools, once bright red, looked like they were made of dried soil. Kame shuddered, wanting very much to go home.
But he could not. He was the designated driver to the now very drunk, and very affectionate Akanishi Jin. And Kame, for reasons he could not fathom, particularly in this situation, took his responsibilities very seriously. It was this flaw and nothing else, or so he told himself, that had stopped him from leaving half an hour ago. However, when Jin slung a heavy, sweaty arm around his shoulder after coming back from gyrating shamelessly with everything that moved on the dance floor, Kame seriously considered leaving Jin’s sorry ass.
“Kame~~~ Drink with me! Bartender, tequila! For my friend and me!” Jin giggled.
“I’m not drinking. I’m driving you home, remember?” Kame tried to free himself but it seemed like Jin had channeled all his weight into that one arm.
Jin shook his head wildly, messing up his already unruly hair, “Not going home, not tonight, NOT EVER!” Jin raised his voice over the din, causing more than a few heads to turn. Jin proceeded to take a bottle of tequila from over the counter, and started twirling, bumping and hitting the other patrons in the club.
“Hey!” the gruff bartender shouted across the counter, “Control him, or LEAVE!”
“I wish,” Kame muttered under his breath as he acknowledged the bartender’s words with a nod. He managed to move Jin and himself a couple of feet to the private room he had insisted on getting the minute they set foot into the club. It did not matter if they were not going to use it, because, to Kame, a private room was always a good idea. Jin had laughed and called him pretentious yet again, but as it turned out, Kame was right. Kame was rarely wrong.
They would have hit the floor if not for Kame’s quick maneuvering. He turned his body, and they tumbled onto the gaudy plastic love couch instead. Someone has got to talk to the management of this establishment about aesthetics, thought Kame as he tried, once again, to free himself from Jin who was now sprawled right over Kame, seemingly knocked out cold.
It was futile. Jin was immovable. Kame was feeling pretty miserable. He wanted so badly to be in his pristine apartment, under his clean sheets, sleeping his usual dreamless sleep. Instead, he was getting crushed by this buffoon who had dragged him out and yet, did not even spend a single moment with him. He was about to deliver a huge smack on Jin’s head when he felt Jin move. Kame looked down to see that Jin’s shoulders were shaking, and when Kame placed a gentle hand on Jin’s shoulders, Jin really broke down and sobbed.
Sighing for the millionth time that night, Kame wound his arms around Jin as Jin cried his heart out. Kame’s fingers threaded through Jin’s hair, so soft, as he unconsciously rocked and made hushing sounds. It was a long while before Jin finally quietened, having fallen asleep, snoring just slightly. Typical that he snores, thought Kame, having lost all feeling in his body. He brought his wrist up to look at the time. 2.14am. Kame half wanted to push Jin off and leave him to his own devices, but the other half did not really have to heart to, seeing how Jin was finally having a little bit of peace after an emotionally hard day. For the million and first time, Kame sighed and made a grab at the tequila bottle from Jin’s slack hand. Kame took a swig from it. It was going to be a long night.
*
“Errrr…..gentlemen, he’s never late. Something important must have come up,” Koki was trying his best to manage the corporate suits seated around the oval conference table. The meeting was supposed to commence at 9.00am sharp, because Kame did not stand for tardiness, but it was already 9.15am and Kame was still nowhere to be seen.
“You do understand, Tanaka-san, that the corporate sponsorship of your new luxury line is at stake here.”
“Yes, sir, he will be here really soon. Maybe more coffee and doughnuts?”
“If Kamenashi-san is not here in 10 minutes, consider this deal forfeited,” the head of the suits boomed sternly, and Koki swallowed a lump in his throat.
“Of course, he’ll be here, just….just….let me…..” Koki backed slowly out the door before turning on his heels as fast as he could towards Kame’s assistant.
“Anything?” Koki asked in panicked hope.
“I can’t get him. He’s not picking up his cell. And the security desk at his apartment said that he left late last night and has not returned,” the assistant had a similar panicked look on his face.
Koki paced up and down, almost creating a trench out of the lush carpeting. He eyed the suits through the glass walls of the conference room and saw that they were packing up, getting ready to leave. God, what was he going to do? He can’t conduct the meeting by himself, Kame was the business brain. He had to stall them, the line was important to him, he had put a lot of work into it. If it did not launch, it would set plans back at least 5 years, and the label could not afford that. What was he to do? What was he to do? WHAT WAS HE TO DO?
“God, Koki, don’t make a hole in the carpeting. It will be hard to get it replaced.”
Almost tripping over himself, Koki recovered to see Kame walking quickly towards him, hardly put together by Kame’s standards and spotting hints of stubble on his chin. Very untypical, and hence, very worrying.
“Good Lord, Kame, what the hell happened to you?”
“I shouldn’t even be speaking to you. How long have they been in there? And how to I look?” Kame took off his aviators and tucked them in his back pocket.
“20 minutes, and you look like shit.” The eye bags and lackluster eyes told Koki that Kame did not have a normal night.
Kame clicked his tongue, obviously torn between dealing with the devastating fact that he was late and trying to suppress his inner desire to just go home and get into a shower, and fix himself up.
“Suzuki-kun, comb and mirror,” to which Kame’s assistant immediately provided.
Kame slicked his hair back, and combed it till it finally looked somewhat normal. Koki watched as Kame straightened his fitting black shirt paired with grungy jeans that made Kame look so hot, but so unsuitable for a morning corporate meeting.
“Suzuki-kun, jacket and files! Hop to it! You’ve been here long enough for me not to tell you these things!”
“Y-yes….sir!” The assistant literally sprinted to Kame’s office and was back in a flash.
“What happened to you?” Koki could not help but ask as Kame put himself together the best he could.
But, Kame ignored him and grabbed the files from his assistant.
“Suzuki-kun, top up the coffee in the conference room and make me a strong one. Also, two aspirins on the side, discreetly! God! I have the mother of all hangovers! Koki, you ready?”
“Errr…yeah…?”
“Ok, good,” Kame pushed open the conference door, “I’m sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen…..”
*
“You do realize that it is your fault.”
The accusing statement flew out of Kame’s mouth right after he had come back from hitting the showers at his exclusive gym a couple of blocks away. The morning meeting had gone smoothly, even though Kame had to initially manage a roomful of angry clients. Once again, he had to thank his natural charm and handsome looks for captivating his audience, and the deal went down without a hitch. All despite the fact that his skin was crawling and his world on a tilt from the disruption in schedule. Now, nice and clean, and his afternoon back on track except for a slight throb in his head, he was feeling much better and ready to deal with Koki’s questions.
“How is it my fault? I wasn’t even with you last night. What on earth did you do, anyway?”
“It is your fault. You had friends over.”
Koki had the decency to blush, “It was just Ueda and Nakamaru, you know, and they brought a few girls, and we just did what we usually do….”
Kame raised a hand to stop Koki mid-ramble, “I don’t really care about your nocturnal activities. You could have a harem and I couldn’t be stuffed. What I care about is how my life gets ruined when your activities send Akanishi to my apartment!”
“Jin?”
“Do you know of another Akanishi?”
“So, it was Jin at the door last night,” Koki remarked, more to himself, but Kame frowned and went into a signing frenzy with a stake of documents.
“I should learn from your example and not open the door to weird people in the middle of the night,” Kame said mid-scribble.
“How did he even get your address?”
“That’s a bone I have yet to pick with Suzuki-kun. I have a good mind to fire his ass,” Kame shot a look of annoyance at the back of his assistant’s head.
“Right,” Koki sat himself down on one of the white guest sofas Kame had in his office.
There was silence for a while, with only the sound of Kame’s Mont Blanc scratching the surface of papers. Just as Koki wondered if he should excuse himself, Kame spoke.
“Yamapi broke up with him and he was looking for a friend.”
From Koki’s lack of a reaction, Kame could tell that Koki was not surprised. Maybe Yamapi had said something to Koki, but Kame did not want to prob. Koki remained silent, and Kame did not want to say anything more. Particularly, he did not want to answer any questions about what had happened with Jin the night before, or more specifically, early that morning.
*
He had been in a dream-like state when he felt the caress of warm lips on his own. Those lips had moved and urged, until, Kame, in his sleep, responded. He had pulled the other person down, hugging the person tighter to him.
“Ryo…” Kame had thought in his foggy mind, but as the kiss progressed, his mind cleared. The taste was not Ryo’s taste, but a taste more musky and intoxicating. The shoulders he was griping was not Ryo’s shoulders, but shoulders that were broader, thicker. Kame had snapped his eyes open in shock to find himself face to face with endless eyelashes on closed lids. Soft curls cascaded around the face that was kissing him, and Kame had gasped into the kiss.
Jin.
Realising where he was, Kame had reflexively kneed Jin the stomach, sending Jin, clutching his stomach, off the love couch they had been tangled in all night onto the cold, dirty floor. Kame had tried to sit up, but the sharp pain that shot from the back of his neck through to his head made him wince and lie down again. He did not have to see the empty tequila bottle that had rolled itself to the corner of the room to remember what had happened. After Jin had fallen into a deep sleep, Kame had continued drinking, what else was he to do when he was trapped, until he himself passed out, thinking, as he got progressively more drunk, how nice and warm Jin’s body was.
“Fuck, Kamenashi, that hurts,” Jin grimaced on the floor, pulling himself up into a sitting position right next to Kame on the couch.
“Are you crazy? I have Ryo, and I know you’re heartbroken and all, but I’m not Yamapi….how could you? I don’t want a repeat of the last time. I thought I made myself clear. I’m not Yamapi…..” Kame had stood up and flailed around the room.
“I know you’re not Yamapi,” Jin replied in a calm, sober voice that made Kame stop. “I’d known it then, I know it now.”
They stared at each other and Kame felt each second of time passing, rising his temperature to almost boiling point. Jin’s eyes were crystal clear, not in the least murky. There was something in those eyes that made Kame’s heart palpitate more so than an unexpected shift in his schedule.
Speaking of schedule.
“What’s the time?”
“Huh?” Jin had not expected those words from Kame’s lips.
“What is the time?” Kame had repeated with more force, and then, having remembered that he had a watch on his wrist, he glanced at it and shrieked so loud it could have woken up a bear in hibernation.
“I am so fucking late, and it is all your fucking fault, where is my damn car key?!” Kame had begun a frenzied search around the room.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down….KAME! CALM DOWN!”
Jin’s loud voice had stopped Kame in his tracks. Kame had turned to look at Jin who was still seated on the couch. He had not been able to tear his eyes away from those plump lips, pursed in a frown.
Jin reached under the couch and pulled out a key belonging to a Porsche, “here it is.” Jin had held it up, and Kame had hesitated to take it. But, the cataclysmic fact that Kame was late, and Kame was never late, had made him move. His fingers had brushed Jin’s a little as he took the key.
Without one more word, Kame had walked towards the door. Just as he was about to walk out, Jin had called out, “Kame….I…..”
“I do not have time for this, Akanishi, nor do I have time for you,” Kame had said, with his back still turned, before he shut the door behind him, leaving Jin alone in that room.
*
Phone sex with Ryo never took longer than 33 minutes. Kame knew exactly what to say to get Ryo hot and bothered, and he knew exactly what noises to make for Ryo to think that he was on the same page, so to speak. Often, during phone sex, Kame would be sitting at his desk in his study area, reviewing work or simply organizing his time. Kame did not enjoy phone sex, what was the point of making a mess on himself by himself? He only did that in the shower, when he really had to, where he could wash himself soon after. Phone sex could not be done in the shower, his phone would short circuit. But, Ryo liked it, said that it brought them closer together in spite of the distance, so Kame humoured him.
Now, however, Kame was distracted. Hearing Ryo’s grunts over the phone made him recall the soft hums he heard when Jin was kissing him, even through the haze of sleep. Kame did his best to focus on Ryo, on Ryo’s voice, trying to summon up Ryo’s face before him, to allow his memory of Ryo’s touch and smell infuse his senses, but somehow, just like how he did in real life, Jin kept popping up everywhere - his relaxed, goofy grin, his head of thick out-of-control hair, his unbelievably clear skin, his fleshy smooth hands. Kame moaned over the phone, unaware that his eyes were now closed, his head tilted back to meet with the plush headrest of his black leather desk chair. Kame reached for his erection through his Calvins, already hard and proud from the image in his head. He sighed from the contact and followed the rhythm of the breathing on the other line, his mind, unbeknownst to him, thinking about a whole other person. Kame flicked his wrist, and arched a little off his chair to the sound of the other voice tightening. A hitch in breath, and then a low moan. Kame opened his eyes to stickiness on his left hand, and a voice in his right ear.
“Oh, Kame,” Ryo panted on the other line, “that was the hottest session yet! I could really feel you with me.”
Fuck. Kame looked down at his mess and wished that his hand was clean enough for him to bury his face in.
*
The runway launch of Koki’s very first line with 1582 Designs was held in an abandoned warehouse in the Tokyo Bay area. Fashion shows were a dime a dozen, and Kame did not want to be lost in the crowd. He was Kamenashi Kazuya, and he deserved more than that. Sure, his name would have guaranteed full media attendance, but he did not want the event to be a 5-liner in the society pages headlined as yet another one of those whimsical fancies that rich brats with obscene trust funds get into. No, he wanted recognition for Koki’s talent, for his company. Kame wanted spreads in world-renowned fashion magazines, and a whole long list of clients and investors clamoring to have something to do with 1582 Designs.
It was Jin who suggested this abandoned warehouse. He had come into the office with Yamapi to look at the raw pictures of the advertising campaign. Yamapi had insisted on picking his own pictures as a condition for his favour. Kame had no reason to say no, all the pictures of Yamapi looked close to perfect anyway. Kame was trying to minimize contact with Jin after the chocolate mousse incident, making his intentions clear by not directing any of his words to the man.
But, when conversation suddenly steered with Koki telling Yamapi how they were still deciding on the runway venue and concept for the launch, Jin suddenly piped in with his suggestion. Kame turned to Jin in question, immediately seeing the potential. Jin expounded on how the venue can be transformed to exude a gritty, edgy charm that suited 1582 Designs target clientele. And it would be different enough. A fashion show by the docks, which media would not jump at the chance to cover it?
Kame did not know why he did it, but when Jin said, “leave it to me,” Kame had listened. Maybe because Jin sounded so sure of himself, maybe Kame did not expect this serious side of Jin. Whatever it was, Kame had let him, even though, true to his nature, Kame was worried about it no end. But, somehow, when he started to get anxious because he had heard no word from Jin with regard to the preparation, a well put-together file would appear in his in-tray, detailing explicitly the progress. Flipping through one of the files a month before the show, Kame saw that Jin had managed to secure a big sponsorship, from one very renowned Wonder Records. The sponsorship provided the strobe lighting, the sound system and the music for the event. 1582 Designs took care of the rest - stage set-up and the after-party reception.
During that period, whenever Kame saw Jin, it was in a social context. Koki would drag Kame to dinner locations, where Jin would already be there waiting, sometimes with Yamapi if he was grounded for the night. Sometimes, if Ryo was in town long enough, Kame would bring him along. Jin was his usual chilled-out self at these dinners, dressed shabbily in what Kame deemed lazy fashion - clothes simply thrown on haphazardly on the body. Somehow, the style, or lack thereof, suited Jin. It was who he was. What frustrated Kame was that Jin refused to talk about the launch, no matter how much he probed. Even when he brought up Wonder Records, it was Koki, not Jin, who had something to say.
“Wow! Wonder Records! The music they produce is just right for 1582 Designs!”
“You know,” Yamapi piped in, “I heard that the executive producer is so mysterious that no one knows who he is! How did you manage it Jin?”
“I just know someone, that’s all,” Jin shrugged, stuffing a gyoza into his mouth carelessly. The black vinegar trickled down his chin. Kame could not stand it, he handed Jin a napkin and indicated he should clean it off, which he did, but it did not prevent some of it to stain the collar of his polo t-shirt.
“It must be someone pretty high up for you to have such an influence,” Ryo commented between bites, “although, I’m sure Kame here has more than enough dough to entice the executives at Wonder Records, with or without your help.”
“Not everything is about money, Nishikido,” Jin smiled a smile that hardly concealed his disdain towards Ryo’s comment.
“Touché,” Ryo countered, picking up a gyoza and putting it on Kame’s plate, “I was simply pointing out that Kame is very capable.”
“In any case, thank your friend for me,” Kame expressed as he ate his steaming hot gyoza neatly, trying to diffuse the subtle tension that seemed to have settled over their table.
“No problem, he’s happy to help, besides, a collaboration with 1582 Designs wouldn’t hurt the business either,” Another gyoza and another stain on Jin’s shirt. Kame rolled his eyes, thinking that this man before him would never look smart, not matter how hard he tried.
Which was why, on the day of the launch, when Kame was beside himself with anxiety even as he tried his best to cloak it behind cool, professional calm, he had to do a triple take at a man wearing, and looking very fetching, in a trendy Hugo Boss suit, no tie, open collar.
“Akanishi, I barely recognize you,” Kame attempted to be casual but could not help skim his eyes up and down Jin’s finely cut body, now very distractingly obvious in the well-fitted suit.
“This monkey suit only makes an appearance once in a blue moon, Kamenashi,” Jin’s eyes sparkled in the dimly lit warehouse, “don’t get used to it.”
“I don’t ever intend to get used to you, Akanishi,” Kame retorted to Jin’s chuckle, turning his eyes onto the runway to keep a keen watch on the crew putting on the last minute touches. He hated to admit it, but the execution of the show was exactly how he imagined it. Jin had gotten everything spot on.
“Jin, it’s…” Kame began.
“Thank me later. It’s not over yet,” Jin said in a low voice right into Kame’s ear. If Kame did not know any better, he would have melted a little, but this was Akanishi Jin, a man completely opposite from who Kame was, and that thought helped Kame maintain his wits about him.
“It’s 6.18pm. The show will start at 7.00pm sharp. I have to find Koki and make sure all the models are prepped. I have to be out at 6.45pm to meet all the guests,” Kame rambled, walking towards the back stage area.
“Kame!” Jin called out.
Kame turned, with question in his eyes.
“Congratulations! The show is going to be great!” Jin gave a thumbs up, looking inappropriately silly. Kame could not help but smile back.
*
Part 2