Kareshi (01/11)
Title: Kareshi - Boyfriend for Rent
Author: Fabi & Dani ( dani_mathoz )
Translator: br_arashi Thank you ♥
Pairing: Junba (main), Ohmiya (mentioned)
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG-13 (This chapter)
Summary: 'One need a lover, the other need money... The only condition? Don't fall in love.'
Disclaimer: I don't own them, sadly ;-;
Just a reminder, English is not our first language so please be kind ♥
CHAPTER 1
The first evidences of the morning joyfully penetrated the crevices of the doors and windows in that end of November.
Matsumoto Jun opened his eyes and stretched his body lazy and slowly. He smiled, blessing the new day; after all, he had been waiting for it for seven months already.
He glanced with satisfaction at his clock over his bedside table. As expected, there was still five minutes before seven, when the alarm would sound. It wasn’t that he enjoyed waking up early. Actually, his usually inconstant mood worsened whenever he was forced to leave the comfort of his bed in the first hours of the morning. Nonetheless, that day he was anxious and more than willing to follow his meticulous schedule.
He closed his eyes once again, anticipating the events of that promising morning that he hoped it would be very special. Mentally, he reviewed every step of his planning, because he was decided to make everything perfect. He was so entertained that he almost startled when the alarm finally rang.
********************
With his eyes closed, Aiba Masaki rummaged over his bedside table with his long and slim fingers. He easily reached his cellphone, but even then, listened to the loud music for a few seconds before finally looking at the screen.
Seven o’clock.
“Just five minutes…” he thought lazily before he turned off the alarm and snuggled even more into the warmth of the blanket. It felt so good…
***********************
Jun turned off the shower and let the water run down over his slim body before reaching for the fluffy white towel. As soon as his body was enough dry, he dressed a robe and placed himself in front of the mirror. He turned on the dryer and let the hot air dry his silky black hair.
Then, he opened his wardrobe and carefully chose the clothes he would wear that day. Something casual, but elegant.
When he was ready, he went to the kitchen and took a cup of the fuming coffee that was boiling in the coffee maker. After drinking it, he washed the cup, dried it and put it back on the cupboard. The old and expensive wall clock of the living room was showing seven o'clock and a half. He dressed his coat, adjusted the scarf around his neck and left the house with his car keys dangling on his fingers.
*********************
It was almost seven o'clock and a half when Masaki opened his eyes again. Damn it! He had slept for too long and, in spite of the protests of his exhausted body, he had his rent to pay. Therefore, arriving once again late to work was not in his plans. He couldn’t risk having his already compromised salary reduced.
He washed his face in a rush and brushed his teeth. With the aid of a special product, he straightened his brown hair the best he could.
He opened his closet and dressed the first clothes he found: beaten jeans, a white shirt, a dark hooded coat and a leather jacket.
In the kitchen, he opened the fridge and drank an orange juice from the package itself, all that was left from the night before.
He checked his watch as soon as he closed the door. Forty past seven. If he ran, he would still be able to catch the ten to eight o'clock bus.
*******************
“All right! Fifteen minutes for the next session!” Sakurai Sho announced, handing the camera to his assistant in order to have its battery replaced. Then, he approached the beautiful man who was impatiently adjusting his black hair with his hands. “You are too restless today, Jun. Something wrong?”
“Is this going to take long?” he asked him, instead of answering the question.
“As long as it takes. You know my reputation. I will not do a crappy job just because the owner of the campaign is feeling bored.
Not even if the said owner is extremely gorgeous and my favorite among all the others I have worked with,” answered the photographer, carefully fixing the collar of the striped shirt that Jun was wearing.
“I would be flattered if these compliments weren’t being said by my best friend,” Jun retorted with a friendly smile.
“Do you think I’m lying? In spite of your arrogance and your terrible temper, I really believe you are the best professional I know. Besides, you pay me well.”
Jun smiled.
“I wouldn’t be successful if I wasn’t so rigid. As for paying well… I only do so when the service is worth it. And you, Sho, are the best photographer of the industry nowadays.”
“I’m aware of that. Therefore, don’t worry about how long it will take. If you have another appointment, you may go ahead. I’ll take care of everything, as usual.”
“I still have a couple of hours. Shun’s flight will only arrive at four.”
“Shun… of course! Now I understand the reason for your restlessness. So, he is returning to Japan? How long has it been since he is gone?”
“Seven months.”
“Will we finally see Matsumoto Jun acting like a human again? Smiling around us as a fool?”
“What do you mean by ‘acting like a human’? Am I an alien, by any chance? Moreover, I don’t smile around you when he is here, but… I confess I missed him a lot while he was away.”
“Don’t you think it’s already time for you to be together?”
“Don’t you think it’s already past the fifteen minutes you have mentioned? I am not going to pay you for extra hours…”
Sho smiled, getting his message and calling his staff back to work.
Jun went back to his position, organizing the combinations of clothes from his brand that the models should wear. Every ten minutes, however, he checked his clock feeling the time passing slowly.
All of a sudden, he felt his cellphone vibrating on his pocket. He went to his office in order not to be bothered. Sliding his fingers over the screen of the device, he smiled when he heard the voice he knew so well.
“Jun! I thought you wouldn’t pick up… Are you too busy?” Shun’s voice crossed the space until it reached him, making him shiver with emotions.
“I’m never too busy for you. How are you?”
“I’m fine. I miss you! Will you be free in about an hour from now?”
“An hour?” Jun asked, confused. “I thought that your flight would only arrive here at four. I organized my entire schedule to fetch you at the airport…”
“Don’t worry about this. I’ve arrived yesterday night.”
“What? Why haven’t you told me?”
“I wanted to make a surprise.”
“And you did…” Jun commented, a bit disappointed.
“What about having lunch together in about an hour? I need to talk to you so much. I have so many things to tell you…”
“I also have something quite serious to tell you. I have been thinking a lot and I believe it’s time for us to make some decisions.”
“That's exactly why I need to see you. I want you to be the first person to know about my decision.”
“Decision?” Jun asked, hopefully. “I can barely wait. I see you in an hour, then… Where?”
“In our special restaurant, ok? Don’t be late!”
Jun waited for the other man to hang up the call and sighed. It wasn’t exactly like this he had planned to see Shun again after seven months of separation. He had departed to take a Doctoral course in Literature in the United States and, in the last time they had talked, three days before, he told him he would arrive around four o’clock in that afternoon. According to his plans, he would fetch him at the airport and invite his friend to dinner after he had rested from his trip. During the conversation, he would finally propose him.
The truth was that there was no formal commitment between them. However, even though they had never given a name to their relationship, they were always together and had shared the bed for almost two years. Since then, Jun didn't get involved with anyone else. Besides, he was already on his thirties and he was starting to feel lonely. Not that he needed anyone to be happy.
Actually, he believed he was probably much happier on his own. He wasn’t someone to be attached easily, but things were different with Shun. With him, Jun was able to consider a more serious relationship. He loved him, after all. He was a dear and indispensable friend; he was also very good in bed. Shun completed him more than anyone he had ever met.
Wasn’t it then the perfect time for them to make a commitment?
***********************
Masaki smiled satisfied after he had aligned the breads on the counter. The batch had just come out of the oven and the scent was spreading through the air, invitingly.
“Delicious! You have outdone yourself this time, Riida!”
“Thank you, Aiba-chan. Your compliment doesn’t count, though… You like everything,” his boss yelled from the kitchen.
“It’s true. I am honest, however, when I say that none of the breads and cakes sold around here can compare to yours, Ohno-kun.”
The older man just smiled, flattered, and turned his attention back to work.
Masaki inspected the store again, organizing the cookies packages and other groceries. While walking towards the back of the counter, he felt his cellphone vibrating on the pocket of his pants.
“Hi, Nino!”
“Aiba-chan! Why isn’t Satoshi answering his phone?”
Masaki glanced at the kitchen. The chef’s attention was focused on a food mixer that was shaking fervently.
“He is preparing a cake. You know he never uses his phone when he is working… Do you want me to send him a message?”
“No. Actually, I was looking for you. Our sax player woke up with a cold. As you know, we will be making a performance in the bar where you work tonight. Wouldn’t you like to fill in for him?"
“Tonight? Is it paid? I have to pay my rent.”
“I will pay, Aiba-chan. It isn’t much, but…”
“All right! You can count on me. Today is my night off, anyway. Send me an e-mail with the song list. Some clients are coming and I need to hang up.”
“Right, thank you. Tell Satoshi to call me when he is free.”
As soon as he hung up, Masaki gave his best smile to the group of schoolgirls who were entering the bakery.
“Welcome!”
*********************
Jun checked his looks in front of a gigantic mirror decorating the entrance of the restaurant.
He was informed that Shun had already arrived and was waiting for him. He sighed deeply before following the attendant. In spite of his confidence, he couldn’t deny his nervousness. He rehearsed a smile while approaching him, but it fade away in the moment he realized his friend wasn’t alone.
“Jun!” without ado, the beautiful writer stood up and threw himself in his arms, hugging him tightly.
“I’ve missed you so much!” exclaimed Jun, hugging him back.
“Me too! What is this?” asked Shun while squeezing his arms through the fabric of his suit. “Are you working out?”
“A little,” Jun admitted.
“You are as handsome as ever! Come on, I want to introduce you to someone!” Shun said, excitedly while making him turn towards his companion.
Jun faced the intruder. What was that woman doing there? She was pretty; he acknowledged this. She had dark hair, joyful eyes and she knew how to dress with elegance.
“This is Hara Mayumi, my fiancée.”
It was like a punch on his stomach. Jun felt the air leaving his lungs and his legs losing their strength. He rested against the backrest of his chair, feeling a bit dizzy. He was surely not prepared for something like that.
“How do you do?” he managed to ask, disguising his disappointment with a fake smile. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Matsumoto Jun,” he introduced himself politely.
The woman smiled, greeting him back.
“Please, have a seat and make yourself comfortable. It’s nice to finally meet one of Shun's friends.”
“Isn’t she delightful? I first met her when I attended her lecture about Impressionism. Mayumi is an amazing artist.”
“You have your own brand, right?” she asked him. “Shun told me a lot about you. I must confess that, if he hadn’t sworn to me that you two are like brothers, I wouldn’t be able to handle my jealousy.”
“There is no reason for this. As you can see, I am not as important to him as you think…”
“Jun...”
“I just mean that if you considered me that important, you would have told me about Hara-san before,” Jun said, interrupting Shun with a fake smile. He didn’t want him to notice how disappointed he was. “I could have prepared a better welcoming event.”
Shun seemed relieved, making him feel even more pathetic. Has he never cherished whatever they had shared? Has he meant nothing to him but pure fun?”
Ridiculous.
His situation couldn’t be more ridiculous.
“Don’t worry about this, Matsumoto-san. We will have plenty of time to know each other better” the woman said, graciously.
“Yes, sure. Now, tell me, how did you two started dating?”
Although it was he to make the request, Jun barely paid attention to the couple’s blabbering, their voices sounding like an annoying and unnecessary noise. He wanted to leave that place as soon as possible. His pride was hurt, he was feeling betrayed. Shun could, at least, have had the decency of telling him he had met someone else.
They exchanged a few more frivolities before Jun managed to announce he had to get back to work. The couple seemed disappointed, but, fortunately, didn’t insist for him to stay. He paid the bill and left the restaurant without looking back. He didn’t want them to see the tears of frustration falling from his eyes.
*******************
Nino looked at Masaki, giving him the cue for his solo. The sax player took his instrument to his lips and, as expected, let all the audience delighted with his skill. He had started playing in childhood, but a condition on his lungs prevented him to turn his hobby in a career. Only occasionally, he gave himself the luxury of performing like that.
Nino was the boyfriend of his best friend and boss. He was the singer and the guitar player of a jazz band and, whenever he needed, he asked him to play with them. Masaki never refused, more so if there was money involved.
“Thank you for your attention! We will be back in half an hour,” said Nino, as soon as the song was over. Masaki saw him approaching a table where there was a handsome man who had arrived with him.
Considering what he could see from the stage, he hasn’t stopped drinking since the moment he had arrived. Apparently, he was having a very bad day.
“You are overreacting, J. Go easy with the wine.”
“I’m fine, Nino.”
“Are you sure? Don’t you want to get back home?”
“No,” Jun stated trying to stand up. He lost his balance, though, and ended up on Masaki’s arms.
“I’m fine…” he repeated, trying to recover himself.
“Aiba-chan, could you help me?” asked Nino, helping him to seat back his friend on his chair. “Jun is horrible with alcohol. When he starts, he can’t hold on. We need to take him home.”
“What happened to him?”
“Heartbreak. He isn't handling the rejection quite well.”
“I was not rejected!” yelled Jun, almost unconsciously. As soon as he raised his head, Masaki noticed his perfect face, his long eyelashes, his thick eyebrows and his plump lips.
“It’s all right, Jun. Everybody goes through something like this… It’s no big deal…”
“I… was not… rejected…” Jun repeated slowly as he approached the musician. Nino didn’t move away, facing him with his eyes full of emotion.
He had never seen his friend in such a bad state. Sho had told him that he was in a bad shape, but he had never guessed that he could be so devastated. He was aware of his feelings for Shun, but he didn't imagine that these feelings were so intense. He got closer to his friend and enveloped him in a comforting hug. He regretted it a few moments later, when he felt a cold liquid running down his chest.
“Oh, no, Jun-pon! I still have an act to perform!” he yelled hysterically. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“You still have some time. Nothing that a good soap and a new blouse can’t fix.”
“Satoshi!” he shouted, as soon as he heard the voice behind him. “What took you so long?”
“I had an important appointment with a new supplier. I told you I would be late,” he pecked his boyfriend’s lips. “Come on. Let’s fix this situation,” he said, pushing Nino towards the bathroom. The musician, however, halted, turning towards his friends.
“Aiba-chan, could you take Jun home for me?” he asked, scribbling the address in a napkin that he got from the barman. Then, he searched through his drunk friend’s pockets and found a silver key holder. “His car is on the parking lot.”
“What about the performance?”
“Don’t worry; I’m still paying what we have agreed before.”
Masaki nodded, helpfully. With the assistance of Nino and Satoshi, he guided Matsumoto to his car with difficulty. Before turning on the car, he read the address once again. It wasn’t that far away from there. Maybe he could manage to return for the final performance.
**************************
Masaki whistled when he stopped in front of a luxurious building twenty minutes later. The janitor helped him taking Jun to his apartment.
He was reeking of alcohol, after having spilled the rest of the wine on his own clothes before leaving the bar. Therefore, Masaki decided to help him taking a bath before going back to work.
“Who are you?” Jun asked him in a flash of lucidity, holding the briefs that the other man was trying to take from his body.
“I am Nino’s friend. Don’t worry, Matsumoto-san. I won't attack you, but I need you to help me, ok? You need to clean yourself up,” he informed him, pushing him towards the shower.
After a few minutes, Jun finally relaxed, throwing himself on his arms. With no way out, Masaki ended up supporting him against his body, enveloping him in a protective hug.
He let the water fall over Jun’s body while the man hugged him tightly, embracing his neck with his heavy and warm breath next to his ear.
“Shun...”
Masaki was about to tell him he wasn’t Shun, but when he opened his mouth, he felt the man’s lips covering his.
Caught by surprise, Masaki put no resistance in a first moment, his body feeling the first reactions of having a naked man at his mercy. However, what kind of person would he be if he took advantage of such situation?
Slowly, he freed himself from the kiss and the hug. Nonetheless, as soon as Jun felt the loss of contact, he searched for shelter on his body, enlacing him by the neck.
“Don’t leave me, Shun…” Jun asked him, falling into a painful weeping.
Masaki only supported him, allowing the man to get closer to him as if searching for protection. When finally his tears ceased, he turned off the shower and took Jun to bed. He dried his body as well as he managed, his well-defined body already sleeping when he covered it with the black silk pajamas that he found folded in the first part of the wardrobe.
He took off the water excess from the black hair and positioned his head over the pillow.
Then, he took off his own wet clothes and got dressed with one of Jun’s t-shirt and black briefs. He cleaned the mess and put their clothes to wash. Tired, he threw himself on the sofa, planning to rest for a bit while waiting for their clothes to dry.
It was morning when he opened his eyes again. The smell of coffee was overpowering.
“Good morning,” said a sober voice behind him.
He turned around, finding Jun at the table, peacefully enjoying a cup of coffee. He didn’t look at all like the drunk and disoriented man from the night before.
“Good morning,” he answered, sitting up lazily.
“You snore, you know?”
“I’m sorry… Did I wake you up?”
“No,” was the dry answer. “About last night… thanks for the help.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes,” Jun answered simply, standing up and dressing the coat positioned on the chair beside him. “I am leaving for work, but you can make yourself comfortable. Your clothes are already dry in my room and I believe you may find something to eat on the fridge… You can hand the key to the doorman when you leave.”
“Will you leave me here alone?” Masaki asked him, surprised. “What if I was a thief?”
For the first time, he saw his host’s smile.
“If you were, you would have taken advantage of the moment I was defenseless. Besides, you are Nino’s friend. He wouldn’t confide me to someone he didn’t trust.”
“Nino!” Masaki yelled, remembering his commitment. “I didn't go back to the bar…”
“I’m sorry. He must have found a way, nonetheless. Well… thank you. I… I didn’t mean to be such a burden,” Jun said, while offering him his hand.
Masaki stood up to accept the hand and, with his movement, the blanket that was covering his body slipped to the floor, revealing his slim and naked legs. He squeezed the man’s hand and smiled at him.
They stared at each other for the first time.
“Jun?” asked a third voice.
They both looked towards the door where a tall man was looking at them with curiosity.
“What are you doing here, Shun?” Jun asked the newcomer, in disbelief, remembering he should do something about the copy of the key to his apartment. It made no sense for the man to keep it, after all.
“We have agreed to eat breakfast together. Have you forgotten?”
Masaki retracted his hand, trying to avoid a misunderstanding. Jun, however, pulled it back, entangling the slim fingers with his own.
“Oh, right…” he said, with pretended indifference. “I am ready to leave. Before we go, however, I would like to introduce you to… to my boyfriend.”
Next >
Notes: Hello minna! As promised here we are starting a new project… We said that before, but this story was already posted in Portuguese 2 or 3 years ago and thanks to br_arashi we will post here in English.
That is part as apologize to Jun and the readers who was cheering for him in Kagefumi, poor baby we suffered as well but Sakuraiba owned us…
This is a short serie if you compare with Kagefumi and will be a romanic one, really easy going… After a lot of angst we thought you would like something like that xD
So we really hope you could enjoy this new project and follow us till the end ♥
Comments are ♥