aroma -- chapter 03
Title: Aroma
Chapters: 03/??
Author: invisiblehabits
Genre: Angst/Romance
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Malexmale sex, abuse, character death, violence, murder, fluff
Pairing: Tora/Hiroto, Saga/Shou
Disclaimer: Don’t own, don’t know. Won’t make money, unless you feel like paying me to read.
Summary: Somehow they had ended up in the bathroom and they’d declined to open the door to other guests, so to say.
Comments: Sorry this took forever! First Easter got in the way, then LM.C. Aiji is gorgeous, in case you didn’t know, and his pick now resides in my apartment. Yay! But here, finally; chapter three.
- - -
The sun was shining brightly down upon the outdoor restaurant. They were hard to come by in central Tokyo, but if you knew where to look and had that little bit of extra to spend there were some real jewels hidden in the city. Hiroto was practically bouncing in his seat as he kept looking around.
“Calm down,” Tora laughed and stubbed his cigarette in the ashtray. “They’ll be here. You twisting your neck back and forth won’t speed it up.”
“Aren’t you excited?” the younger asked astonished. “I mean, he’s been talking about this guy forever!”
“To you maybe. I only heard about him a few weeks ago.”
The phone call Tora had insisted Shou make had gone beyond well. As it turned out this mystery man, Saga, was just as interested in Shou as Shou was in him. Needless to say they’d gone from friends to lovers in no time. The side effect was that their common friend had been more or less completely absent for three weeks, cooped up somewhere doing what lovebirds do best.
“Hiroto! Tora!”
Both of them turned towards the staircase leading up to the restaurant from the street below. Shou was positively glowing in the sunlight, dressed for success and fabulous in that flamboyant way only he ever pulled off. But neither of them was looking at him, because two steps behind Shou walked a true vision.
Saga, or so they had to presume, was absolutely stunning. With sunglasses pushed up on what perhaps should’ve been a too big nose and dressed in dark tight fitted clothes he was the epitome of beauty. Dark, but obviously dyed, hair hung down around his smooth face and he looked at the same time confident and oddly shy.
“Hey, quit staring,” Shou laughed and pulled out chairs for the two of them.
“If you intend to date this man you better get used to it,” Hiroto said bluntly.
That comment caused the newcomer to laugh softly. “It’s fine Shou. Perhaps you should introduce us?”
Shou shook his head and rolled his eyes dramatically. “Darling, this is Hiroto and this is his boyfriend Tora.”
Both of them smiled, Hiroto childishly overjoyed as he waved his hand and Tora more coolly as he bowed his head slightly.
“As I thought,” Saga said took of his sunglasses, revealing dark intelligent eyes. “You described them very well, Shou. It’s nice to meet both of you. My name is Sakamoto Takashi, but everyone calls me Saga.”
“Nice to meet you too, Saga,” Tora said.
A waitress came by and took their orders; a light lunch and drinks. Saga picked up a pack of cigarettes and asked if anyone minded, which of course was declined and the action copied by both Tora and Hiroto.
“Watch out Shou. You just might end up joining us in our vice,” Hiroto joked.
“No way!” he exclaimed. “If anything I intend to make him quit.”
“You’ve been working on that one since we first met,” Saga smiled. “What makes you think you’ll manage now?”
“Because now I can refuse to sleep with you if you don’t.”
“As if!” three people echoed.
All four of them looked at each other and burst out laughing hysterically; Hiroto and Shou a bit more so than Tora and Saga. It was quite clear who wore the pants in the new relationship and Shou had wanted Saga since the first time be saw him. There was no way he could deny the dark haired man anything in bed. It was unlikely anyone ever refused Saga anything when it came to sex.
“So,” Hiroto said once they’d all calmed down and their drinks had arrived. “Are you a musician, Saga, since you met at a class on musical history?”
“No,” Saga shook his head and put his beer down. “It’s just an interest, a hobby or whatever you want to call it. I’m a lawyer.”
Shou beamed with pride and Tora nodded, impressed. “Tough job, especially for one of us.”
But Saga just shrugged. “I can pass for straight whenever it is needed, though I try to avoid it and stay true to myself. I’m good at what I do. That’s the only thing that counts in the courtroom.”
Hiroto sighed sweetly. “I think I’m falling in love.”
“Hey!” Tora stated with a grin and Shou slapped the younger at the back of his head.
“You stick to your banker,” he said and possessively moved his chair closer to Saga’s.
“Don’t worry,” Hiroto said and beamed up at Tora with so much love in his eyes it was impossible for anyone to ignore. “I have no plans of letting him go.”
Their food arrived and they spoke about this and that while eating. It was nice, Saga fitted into the group nicely and conversation flowed flawlessly. A lot was, of course, centered around Shou and Saga and how they liked being lovers instead of friends, but they all shared stories and thoughts on pretty much every subject thinkable.
“How long have the two of you been dating?” Saga finally asked. “It might be a stupid question, but Shou has been talking about both of you since I first met him and I’m not sure if you were lovers from the start or not.”
“It’s not a stupid question,” Hiroto said with a smile. “Our first anniversary is coming up in two weeks.”
“Wow, that’s right,” Tora said with something akin to a chuckle. “I didn’t realize it’s been that long.”
The two of them looked at each other, soft smiles and even softer eyes. Saga and Shou shared a secret smile of their own. The more established couple looked awfully cute together. Shou was happy they’d accepted Saga right away and Saga - he felt like he’d definitely made two new friends this day.
- - -
Hiroto fisted his hands in the sheets, sweat glistening on his skin as Tora thrust into him steadily. He’d long ago given up on holding back his moans, not caring if the neighbors heard them. It felt so good. Better than with anyone else he’d ever been with.
“Tora… Ngh… Right there, Tora…”
He needn’t say it, a year later Tora knew exactly how to angle his hips to make the younger fall apart at the seams. But he was purposefully avoiding that spot, choosing to let his cock graze Hiroto’s prostate with every stroke but never hitting it dead on. He wanted this to last - wanted to torture his lover in the sweetest of ways.
“Please, Tora.” Hiroto wrapped his small legs around the older’s hips and tried to change the angle himself. “Please…”
“You want this?” Tora panted, slightly winded himself, and angled a single thrust just right.
Hiroto tossed his head back as best he could and cried out shortly as white hot bliss shot up his spine. It wasn’t enough, not nearly enough to get him off and merely left his body trembling in unfulfilled pleasure and desire.
“Tora, for fuck’s sake…” he was all out pleading. “This is torture…”
“That’s the plan.” Tora leaned down and connected their lips in a short kiss. “You know you love it.”
It was true, of course. Hiroto did love the sweet torture that coursed through his body. Loved how Tora knew exactly where to touch and how to thrust. How he could find sensitive spots on Hiroto’s body that he wasn’t even aware of himself.
“Please, Tora, please!”
No matter how he pleaded Tora just smiled and kept his game up for quite a while longer. Hiroto even tried to play games of his own, clenching his muscles and aiming for spots he knew Tora liked to have touched, caressed or bitten. But tonight Tora was in absolute control and it wasn’t until he felt himself closing in on his limits that he began to truly give Hiroto what he wanted.
“Yes!” the younger cried out as he felt the angle change. “Oh fuck, yes, yes, yes!”
Tora was amazed at how beautiful Hiroto looked just then. Or perhaps even more so of his ability to recognize that beauty when he himself was so caught in the moment. Then again, his entire being was focused on Hiroto in that moment. How the younger looked, how he felt, how he smelled. God Tora loved how he smelled.
Burying his nose in Hiroto’s damp neck, he made sure to get the most of that scent as he aimed his final thrusts carefully. “Come for me baby,” he begged.
There was little Hiroto could do but comply. He couldn’t have held back had he wanted to, but the fact was that he wanted nothing more than to come. So he did. He came hard and didn’t even lament the fact that he couldn’t keep his eyes open as he did so. Tora could see him and that was the most important thing.
He gasped as Hiroto arched into his touch and lifted his head just in time to see the beautiful features screw up in pleasure. If that was not the most erotic sight ever… It was easily enough to make him come, but he held back just a moment more to allow Hiroto time enough to regain enough sense to open his eyes. He knew Hiroto liked to see him climax as much as he liked to look at the younger.
As soon as deep brown eyes met his own he closed them and let go. Most of the time they used protection still, but tonight Hiroto had asked to go without and Tora had complied without any fuss. Somehow it was more intimate to go bareback, but it was safer with protection so they saved these times for special occasions. A one year anniversary was definitely a special occasion.
Hiroto moaned as Tora released an absolutely predatory sound and came deep inside him. It was warm, intense, and so real he almost wanted to come all over again. He couldn’t of course, but he could keep dreaming.
They remained entangled in each other for several long moments, enjoying the afterglow and each other’s presence alike. Finally, Tora pulled out and rolled to the side. Hiroto more or less instinctively followed the movement, curling up close to his lover and wrapping his small arms around the strong chest.
“Has it really been a year since we did this the first time?” he asked with a content sigh.
“Yeah,” Tora breathed. “On the first date.”
Hiroto chuckled at that. “It feels like it was only yesterday. Yet, at the same time, I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
“I know what you mean. And I agree.”
The younger remained quiet for so long Tora almost thought he’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t unusual for Hiroto to pass out after sex. He was the kind of person who indulged himself fully in everything he did, be it photographing or intimate encounters. Sex tended to leave him drained to the point where he simply couldn’t stay awake, a trait Tora found most adorable and one he thought had occurred now. But suddenly the younger spoke up again.
“Tora… I’ve been thinking about something.”
“Okay.” He waited for a continuation but none came. “What is it, Hiroto?”
“You still manage my bank accounts and so on,” the younger began. “There’s quite a bit of money in there now, isn’t it?”
Tora nodded. “Considering it’s only been a year I’d say you’ve saved up an impressive sum, yes. Why? What are you thinking about?”
“I was…” It was hard to tell whether Hiroto was nervous or just tired. But due to the constant worrying of the lower lip Tora would go for the first. “I was thinking of asking you if… If you’d want to use that money and…well…”
“What is it, Pon?” He deliberately used the nickname reserved for private situations such as this one. “Just tell me what’s on your mind, okay?”
Hiroto propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at his lover. “I wanted to ask you if you’d like to move in with me. And I was thinking we could use my savings to get a bigger place. If you’d like to, that is.”
Definitely nerves and worry, as understandable as unnecessary. Tora smiled and pulled the other down for a chaste kiss, licking the bitten lip in a soothing manner without trying to deepen anything. The gesture was meant to calm and he could feel Hiroto’s entire body relax next to him as their lips touched.
“I’d like that very much,” he said just to confirm. “We spend more or less every night together as it is. I think a common home sounds perfect.”
“Really?” Hiroto beamed in that way only he ever could. “I was a bit hesitant to ask tonight, was afraid it might ruin our celebration.”
“Why would it?”
“I don’t know. I thought perhaps you’d think it too soon or whatever. It’s not wise to cage a tiger, right?”
The joke worked wonders in shattering the last of whatever worry lingered in the air. Tora laughed and pulled Hiroto down to rest on top of his chest. “You didn’t have a problem putting a leash on me, now did you?”
“I did no such thing,” the younger protested with a grin and placed a kiss on Tora’s chest. “You called me, remember? All I ever did was grasp the leash you so willingly offered me.”
“Oh shut up,” he laughed and smacked Hiroto’s pretty little ass. Hiroto just laughed with him and cuddled closer. He was so happy just then, a feeling that was very mutual.
- - -
Tora leaned against the wall and watched as Hiroto directed Saga with expertise. Not that much direction was needed. Saga seemed to be a natural before the camera. Unlike Shou, who had gone before his boyfriend and just been utterly awkward most of the time. There was a long line of men and women waiting to have their picture taken. Some were classic beauties, others unique like Saga. There were people with piercings and tattoos and many more without. Lolitas and visual kei kids mixed with businessmen and mothers. The diversity was just incredible.
At the opposite side of the room those who had already been photographed were filling out blankets with their names and other short information. All of it was for Hiroto’s next exhibition. The art gallery where Tora had first met him had asked him to come back and this time the younger had decided to bring portraits of all the types of people in Tokyo. By the looks of it, he’d gathered a pretty good spectrum indeed.
“Thanks Saga. That was perfect!” Hiroto said enthusiastically as he stepped back from his camera. “You should’ve become a model instead of a lawyer. That was just brilliant!”
He merely smiled that secretive smile of his, one Tora knew would have had his body tingled had he not been so completely hooked on Hiroto already. “Don’t mention it, sweetheart,” he said and got up from the chair he’d been seated on. “It was fun and I’m looking forward to seeing the result.”
“You can see your own pictures right away if you want to.”
The two of them walked over to a computer monitor and quickly went through a few of the frames. Even Saga seemed slightly impressed by the result, but you had to really know him to be able to tell. Standing back up from his slightly hunched position Hiroto groaned and bent his back at an almost awkward angle.
“People, do you mind if the photographer takes ten minutes?” he called out into the room. One or two looked a bit annoyed, but most just laughed and shook their heads no. “Thanks. I really need to find myself some nicotine and caffeine if I’m to make you all as pretty on picture as you are in real life.”
Tora grinned again as everybody in the room laughed softly. Some even blushed. Such social skills. It was enviable really. Tora could seduce more or less any man with gay inclinations and pretty much every woman he came across, but he also had a tendency to intimidate people. And as aware as he was of that trait within himself, as aware was he of the fact that Hiroto could make any man or woman on the planet feel comfortable and confident. In front of the camera or just out on the street. It was definitely enviable.
As Hiroto turned towards the corner where he knew Tora was waiting he groaned. His lover was holding up a thermos and a cigarette.
“I love you,” he whispered as he grabbed the cancer stick and immediately snuck out the backdoor.
Tora followed him and poured the younger a cup of coffee before lighting up a smoke of his own. “The photos are turning out really good. I think the exhibition is going to be a hit.”
“I was going to ask you. Will you let me take your picture?”
“Mine? I’m not sure I’d make a good model.”
Hiroto made big eyes and nearly choked on his coffee mixed with smoke. “Are you kidding me? If I can capture your essence in a picture it’ll be the hottest one in the entire exhibition!”
“I think you’re a bit biased there.”
Still, the older couldn’t help but to grin at the statement. So he was a bit vain, sue him. There was something appealing in the idea, at least up till the point where the picture would be displayed in big format at the art gallery.
“I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll persuade you.”
Hiroto grinned confidently just as the door opened and one of the heavily pierced faces peaked out. Tora had no idea who the guy was, but apparently it was a friend of Hiroto’s because they shared a conversation about the other’s whereabouts and why he needed his picture taken within the hour.
“I’ll be there in a second,” Hiroto promised. “Just let me finish this.”
The black and red haired man disappeared inside and Hiroto leaned against the wall again. He looked tired. Tired, but happy.
“You won’t be home till late, right?” Tora asked and dropped his finished cigarette to the ground.
“No, sorry. Don’t wait up, okay?”
The older nodded and handed his lover the thermos. Hiroto looked thankful and reached up to plant a kiss on the other’s lips. Without further sentiments Tora said his goodbyes and headed back home to their brand new shared apartment. Hiroto took a deep breath, plastered a happy upbeat grin on his face and returned to work.
- - -
Shou looked around one last time, content and nervous at the same time. He loved how the apartment had turned out. They’d gone for warm colours and a lot of fabrics, cushions and carpets without abandoning the Japanese culture entirely. It was something like a mixture between oriental and traditionally Japanese and he really liked it.
“Stop fussing.”
Saga’s soft voice filtered through to him as he once again rearranged the pillows on the couch. The shorter man wrapped his arms around Shou’s waist from behind and leaned his chin on the other’s shoulder.
“Everything looks great. You look great and everyone will love it,” Saga reassured him for the millionth time.
Shou laughed nervously. “I’m just… I don’t even know what I am. It’s only our friends after all, but your friends are so…”
“They’re not that different from you or me. It’s not like I invited my slightly homophobic co-workers.”
That had the blonde laughing for real. “I think that would’ve been a bad idea, yes.”
The doorbell interrupted the moment and Saga released his lover to go open the door. As expected, Tora and Hiroto were the first to arrive. They were Shou’s closest friends as well as their common ones, which was sadly rare even now. Saga couldn’t say he blamed the other too much for his nervousness, not after how skeptical his own friends had been the first time he introduced the rather flamboyant man.
“Welcome,” he said and held the door open. “I’m glad you’re here. Please make sure to mention how nice and neat everything looks.”
Both of the new arrivals laughed under their breath. They understood perfectly well and were somewhat impressed over the fact Saga hadn’t fled the field already. Then again, for all they knew he could’ve hidden himself at work all day.
“Oh, Shou,” Hiroto laughed as he entered the living room and found Shou nervously overlooking everything. “You are such a copycat you know.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?!” the blonde squeaked, which naturally only had Hiroto laughing harder.
Walking over he reached up and hugged his old friend tightly. “You move in with your boyfriend two months after I move in with mine. That’s just so unoriginal.”
That earned him a smack on the head and a long speech on love and mature relationships. Tora and Saga observed from the door, both shaking their heads lovingly at the sight of the other two.
“You want a drink before the others arrive?” Saga asked and Tora happily complied.
They left the two jibber jabbers to their bickering and retreated to the spacious kitchen.
Half an hour later the apartment was buzzing with life and chatter, soft music playing in the background and Shou’s voice floating over everything as he played the perfect host. The nervousness had filtered out of him more and more as people arrived and complimented the design of the place.
“Why didn’t we have a housewarming party?” Hiroto asked as he suddenly appeared by Tora’s side.
“We did, just not such an organized one,” the older explained. “I can’t really see us sending out glittery invitations and style our place so well it could be cut straight from a design magazine.”
Hiroto chuckled. “I think you’ve got a point there.”
Their own apartment was much more rock than Shou’s and Saga’s designer home. Both of them owned an acoustic guitar and Tora also had two electric ones, which now served as living room wall decoration when not being used. The colors were darker without getting depressing and the place was completely littered with CDs, music DVDs, and Hiroto’s pictures and photography equipment. It was nice. It was them.
“Saga’s friends are nice,” the younger continued after a while.
“For the most part,” Tora agreed. “A bit stiff, some of them, but that might just be nerves.”
“Can you blame them? Many of them are straight and they’re tossed in with Shou’s most flamboyant acquaintances.”
As if to prove a point three of Shou’s glittery friends waltzed up to them to begin an interview on their life. How long had they been seeing each other now? Where did they live? How did the place look? Was Tora as good in bed as he looked to be? It took them quite a while to escape that company with their dignity intact.
- - -
“You sure you don’t want us to help cleaning up?”
Both Shou and Saga shook their heads no. The party had been a huge success. Good food, good company, good music ,and many laughs. Hiroto had, naturally, taken pictures and they had made both Hiroto and Tora play guitar on an acoustic owned by Saga. The couple had tried to make Saga show off his own skills, since he obviously knew how to play when he owned the instrument, but he had refused in the face of their playing.
“You helped us get everyone out,” Saga laughed. “That’s more than enough.”
He was referring to a slight incident taking place in the bathroom. One of Shou’s friends had taken a little too much interest in one of Saga’s less straight ones. Somehow they had ended up in the bathroom and they’d declined to open the door to other guests, so to say. Finally, Tora had picked the lock, a skill he refused to tell where he’d learnt, and with mild force, escorted them off the premises.
“Yes!” Shou agreed. “Can you imagine they wanted to do it on the bathroom counter?!”
“Now now, Shou,” Tora said with a grin and the blonde paled slightly. “Don’t step on thin ice, here.”
“At least those mirrors were already stained!”
Saga looked at Tora and Hiroto. “Do I even want to know?”
“Don’t look at me,” the younger said and turned to his tall lover. “Do we want to know?”
“No,” Tora laughed. “Definitely not. Trust me.”
Shou mumbled something completely incomprehensible and blushed deeper with every syllable. He all but shoved his two laughing friends out the door and unceremoniously slammed it shut. It wasn’t like they’d take offence or anything. And besides, they’d see each other again tomorrow - that much had already been decided. Saga just looked at him and chuckled, still amused by Tora’s semi-revelation.
“That wasn’t very polite of you,” he remarked.
“He had it coming!” Shou grumbled and finally stepped away from the door. “Besides, I kind of wanted you for myself now.”
“And here I thought we would be cleaning,” the lawyer joked, an amused glint lighting up in his eyes.
“Cleaning can wait.” Shou closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around the shorter man. “I have much more interesting suggestions on how to end this evening.
Saga didn’t complain as he was lead to their nowadays common bedroom. Really, why would he?
Chapter 04
Chapters: 03/??
Author: invisiblehabits
Genre: Angst/Romance
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Malexmale sex, abuse, character death, violence, murder, fluff
Pairing: Tora/Hiroto, Saga/Shou
Disclaimer: Don’t own, don’t know. Won’t make money, unless you feel like paying me to read.
Summary: Somehow they had ended up in the bathroom and they’d declined to open the door to other guests, so to say.
Comments: Sorry this took forever! First Easter got in the way, then LM.C. Aiji is gorgeous, in case you didn’t know, and his pick now resides in my apartment. Yay! But here, finally; chapter three.
- - -
The sun was shining brightly down upon the outdoor restaurant. They were hard to come by in central Tokyo, but if you knew where to look and had that little bit of extra to spend there were some real jewels hidden in the city. Hiroto was practically bouncing in his seat as he kept looking around.
“Calm down,” Tora laughed and stubbed his cigarette in the ashtray. “They’ll be here. You twisting your neck back and forth won’t speed it up.”
“Aren’t you excited?” the younger asked astonished. “I mean, he’s been talking about this guy forever!”
“To you maybe. I only heard about him a few weeks ago.”
The phone call Tora had insisted Shou make had gone beyond well. As it turned out this mystery man, Saga, was just as interested in Shou as Shou was in him. Needless to say they’d gone from friends to lovers in no time. The side effect was that their common friend had been more or less completely absent for three weeks, cooped up somewhere doing what lovebirds do best.
“Hiroto! Tora!”
Both of them turned towards the staircase leading up to the restaurant from the street below. Shou was positively glowing in the sunlight, dressed for success and fabulous in that flamboyant way only he ever pulled off. But neither of them was looking at him, because two steps behind Shou walked a true vision.
Saga, or so they had to presume, was absolutely stunning. With sunglasses pushed up on what perhaps should’ve been a too big nose and dressed in dark tight fitted clothes he was the epitome of beauty. Dark, but obviously dyed, hair hung down around his smooth face and he looked at the same time confident and oddly shy.
“Hey, quit staring,” Shou laughed and pulled out chairs for the two of them.
“If you intend to date this man you better get used to it,” Hiroto said bluntly.
That comment caused the newcomer to laugh softly. “It’s fine Shou. Perhaps you should introduce us?”
Shou shook his head and rolled his eyes dramatically. “Darling, this is Hiroto and this is his boyfriend Tora.”
Both of them smiled, Hiroto childishly overjoyed as he waved his hand and Tora more coolly as he bowed his head slightly.
“As I thought,” Saga said took of his sunglasses, revealing dark intelligent eyes. “You described them very well, Shou. It’s nice to meet both of you. My name is Sakamoto Takashi, but everyone calls me Saga.”
“Nice to meet you too, Saga,” Tora said.
A waitress came by and took their orders; a light lunch and drinks. Saga picked up a pack of cigarettes and asked if anyone minded, which of course was declined and the action copied by both Tora and Hiroto.
“Watch out Shou. You just might end up joining us in our vice,” Hiroto joked.
“No way!” he exclaimed. “If anything I intend to make him quit.”
“You’ve been working on that one since we first met,” Saga smiled. “What makes you think you’ll manage now?”
“Because now I can refuse to sleep with you if you don’t.”
“As if!” three people echoed.
All four of them looked at each other and burst out laughing hysterically; Hiroto and Shou a bit more so than Tora and Saga. It was quite clear who wore the pants in the new relationship and Shou had wanted Saga since the first time be saw him. There was no way he could deny the dark haired man anything in bed. It was unlikely anyone ever refused Saga anything when it came to sex.
“So,” Hiroto said once they’d all calmed down and their drinks had arrived. “Are you a musician, Saga, since you met at a class on musical history?”
“No,” Saga shook his head and put his beer down. “It’s just an interest, a hobby or whatever you want to call it. I’m a lawyer.”
Shou beamed with pride and Tora nodded, impressed. “Tough job, especially for one of us.”
But Saga just shrugged. “I can pass for straight whenever it is needed, though I try to avoid it and stay true to myself. I’m good at what I do. That’s the only thing that counts in the courtroom.”
Hiroto sighed sweetly. “I think I’m falling in love.”
“Hey!” Tora stated with a grin and Shou slapped the younger at the back of his head.
“You stick to your banker,” he said and possessively moved his chair closer to Saga’s.
“Don’t worry,” Hiroto said and beamed up at Tora with so much love in his eyes it was impossible for anyone to ignore. “I have no plans of letting him go.”
Their food arrived and they spoke about this and that while eating. It was nice, Saga fitted into the group nicely and conversation flowed flawlessly. A lot was, of course, centered around Shou and Saga and how they liked being lovers instead of friends, but they all shared stories and thoughts on pretty much every subject thinkable.
“How long have the two of you been dating?” Saga finally asked. “It might be a stupid question, but Shou has been talking about both of you since I first met him and I’m not sure if you were lovers from the start or not.”
“It’s not a stupid question,” Hiroto said with a smile. “Our first anniversary is coming up in two weeks.”
“Wow, that’s right,” Tora said with something akin to a chuckle. “I didn’t realize it’s been that long.”
The two of them looked at each other, soft smiles and even softer eyes. Saga and Shou shared a secret smile of their own. The more established couple looked awfully cute together. Shou was happy they’d accepted Saga right away and Saga - he felt like he’d definitely made two new friends this day.
- - -
Hiroto fisted his hands in the sheets, sweat glistening on his skin as Tora thrust into him steadily. He’d long ago given up on holding back his moans, not caring if the neighbors heard them. It felt so good. Better than with anyone else he’d ever been with.
“Tora… Ngh… Right there, Tora…”
He needn’t say it, a year later Tora knew exactly how to angle his hips to make the younger fall apart at the seams. But he was purposefully avoiding that spot, choosing to let his cock graze Hiroto’s prostate with every stroke but never hitting it dead on. He wanted this to last - wanted to torture his lover in the sweetest of ways.
“Please, Tora.” Hiroto wrapped his small legs around the older’s hips and tried to change the angle himself. “Please…”
“You want this?” Tora panted, slightly winded himself, and angled a single thrust just right.
Hiroto tossed his head back as best he could and cried out shortly as white hot bliss shot up his spine. It wasn’t enough, not nearly enough to get him off and merely left his body trembling in unfulfilled pleasure and desire.
“Tora, for fuck’s sake…” he was all out pleading. “This is torture…”
“That’s the plan.” Tora leaned down and connected their lips in a short kiss. “You know you love it.”
It was true, of course. Hiroto did love the sweet torture that coursed through his body. Loved how Tora knew exactly where to touch and how to thrust. How he could find sensitive spots on Hiroto’s body that he wasn’t even aware of himself.
“Please, Tora, please!”
No matter how he pleaded Tora just smiled and kept his game up for quite a while longer. Hiroto even tried to play games of his own, clenching his muscles and aiming for spots he knew Tora liked to have touched, caressed or bitten. But tonight Tora was in absolute control and it wasn’t until he felt himself closing in on his limits that he began to truly give Hiroto what he wanted.
“Yes!” the younger cried out as he felt the angle change. “Oh fuck, yes, yes, yes!”
Tora was amazed at how beautiful Hiroto looked just then. Or perhaps even more so of his ability to recognize that beauty when he himself was so caught in the moment. Then again, his entire being was focused on Hiroto in that moment. How the younger looked, how he felt, how he smelled. God Tora loved how he smelled.
Burying his nose in Hiroto’s damp neck, he made sure to get the most of that scent as he aimed his final thrusts carefully. “Come for me baby,” he begged.
There was little Hiroto could do but comply. He couldn’t have held back had he wanted to, but the fact was that he wanted nothing more than to come. So he did. He came hard and didn’t even lament the fact that he couldn’t keep his eyes open as he did so. Tora could see him and that was the most important thing.
He gasped as Hiroto arched into his touch and lifted his head just in time to see the beautiful features screw up in pleasure. If that was not the most erotic sight ever… It was easily enough to make him come, but he held back just a moment more to allow Hiroto time enough to regain enough sense to open his eyes. He knew Hiroto liked to see him climax as much as he liked to look at the younger.
As soon as deep brown eyes met his own he closed them and let go. Most of the time they used protection still, but tonight Hiroto had asked to go without and Tora had complied without any fuss. Somehow it was more intimate to go bareback, but it was safer with protection so they saved these times for special occasions. A one year anniversary was definitely a special occasion.
Hiroto moaned as Tora released an absolutely predatory sound and came deep inside him. It was warm, intense, and so real he almost wanted to come all over again. He couldn’t of course, but he could keep dreaming.
They remained entangled in each other for several long moments, enjoying the afterglow and each other’s presence alike. Finally, Tora pulled out and rolled to the side. Hiroto more or less instinctively followed the movement, curling up close to his lover and wrapping his small arms around the strong chest.
“Has it really been a year since we did this the first time?” he asked with a content sigh.
“Yeah,” Tora breathed. “On the first date.”
Hiroto chuckled at that. “It feels like it was only yesterday. Yet, at the same time, I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
“I know what you mean. And I agree.”
The younger remained quiet for so long Tora almost thought he’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t unusual for Hiroto to pass out after sex. He was the kind of person who indulged himself fully in everything he did, be it photographing or intimate encounters. Sex tended to leave him drained to the point where he simply couldn’t stay awake, a trait Tora found most adorable and one he thought had occurred now. But suddenly the younger spoke up again.
“Tora… I’ve been thinking about something.”
“Okay.” He waited for a continuation but none came. “What is it, Hiroto?”
“You still manage my bank accounts and so on,” the younger began. “There’s quite a bit of money in there now, isn’t it?”
Tora nodded. “Considering it’s only been a year I’d say you’ve saved up an impressive sum, yes. Why? What are you thinking about?”
“I was…” It was hard to tell whether Hiroto was nervous or just tired. But due to the constant worrying of the lower lip Tora would go for the first. “I was thinking of asking you if… If you’d want to use that money and…well…”
“What is it, Pon?” He deliberately used the nickname reserved for private situations such as this one. “Just tell me what’s on your mind, okay?”
Hiroto propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at his lover. “I wanted to ask you if you’d like to move in with me. And I was thinking we could use my savings to get a bigger place. If you’d like to, that is.”
Definitely nerves and worry, as understandable as unnecessary. Tora smiled and pulled the other down for a chaste kiss, licking the bitten lip in a soothing manner without trying to deepen anything. The gesture was meant to calm and he could feel Hiroto’s entire body relax next to him as their lips touched.
“I’d like that very much,” he said just to confirm. “We spend more or less every night together as it is. I think a common home sounds perfect.”
“Really?” Hiroto beamed in that way only he ever could. “I was a bit hesitant to ask tonight, was afraid it might ruin our celebration.”
“Why would it?”
“I don’t know. I thought perhaps you’d think it too soon or whatever. It’s not wise to cage a tiger, right?”
The joke worked wonders in shattering the last of whatever worry lingered in the air. Tora laughed and pulled Hiroto down to rest on top of his chest. “You didn’t have a problem putting a leash on me, now did you?”
“I did no such thing,” the younger protested with a grin and placed a kiss on Tora’s chest. “You called me, remember? All I ever did was grasp the leash you so willingly offered me.”
“Oh shut up,” he laughed and smacked Hiroto’s pretty little ass. Hiroto just laughed with him and cuddled closer. He was so happy just then, a feeling that was very mutual.
- - -
Tora leaned against the wall and watched as Hiroto directed Saga with expertise. Not that much direction was needed. Saga seemed to be a natural before the camera. Unlike Shou, who had gone before his boyfriend and just been utterly awkward most of the time. There was a long line of men and women waiting to have their picture taken. Some were classic beauties, others unique like Saga. There were people with piercings and tattoos and many more without. Lolitas and visual kei kids mixed with businessmen and mothers. The diversity was just incredible.
At the opposite side of the room those who had already been photographed were filling out blankets with their names and other short information. All of it was for Hiroto’s next exhibition. The art gallery where Tora had first met him had asked him to come back and this time the younger had decided to bring portraits of all the types of people in Tokyo. By the looks of it, he’d gathered a pretty good spectrum indeed.
“Thanks Saga. That was perfect!” Hiroto said enthusiastically as he stepped back from his camera. “You should’ve become a model instead of a lawyer. That was just brilliant!”
He merely smiled that secretive smile of his, one Tora knew would have had his body tingled had he not been so completely hooked on Hiroto already. “Don’t mention it, sweetheart,” he said and got up from the chair he’d been seated on. “It was fun and I’m looking forward to seeing the result.”
“You can see your own pictures right away if you want to.”
The two of them walked over to a computer monitor and quickly went through a few of the frames. Even Saga seemed slightly impressed by the result, but you had to really know him to be able to tell. Standing back up from his slightly hunched position Hiroto groaned and bent his back at an almost awkward angle.
“People, do you mind if the photographer takes ten minutes?” he called out into the room. One or two looked a bit annoyed, but most just laughed and shook their heads no. “Thanks. I really need to find myself some nicotine and caffeine if I’m to make you all as pretty on picture as you are in real life.”
Tora grinned again as everybody in the room laughed softly. Some even blushed. Such social skills. It was enviable really. Tora could seduce more or less any man with gay inclinations and pretty much every woman he came across, but he also had a tendency to intimidate people. And as aware as he was of that trait within himself, as aware was he of the fact that Hiroto could make any man or woman on the planet feel comfortable and confident. In front of the camera or just out on the street. It was definitely enviable.
As Hiroto turned towards the corner where he knew Tora was waiting he groaned. His lover was holding up a thermos and a cigarette.
“I love you,” he whispered as he grabbed the cancer stick and immediately snuck out the backdoor.
Tora followed him and poured the younger a cup of coffee before lighting up a smoke of his own. “The photos are turning out really good. I think the exhibition is going to be a hit.”
“I was going to ask you. Will you let me take your picture?”
“Mine? I’m not sure I’d make a good model.”
Hiroto made big eyes and nearly choked on his coffee mixed with smoke. “Are you kidding me? If I can capture your essence in a picture it’ll be the hottest one in the entire exhibition!”
“I think you’re a bit biased there.”
Still, the older couldn’t help but to grin at the statement. So he was a bit vain, sue him. There was something appealing in the idea, at least up till the point where the picture would be displayed in big format at the art gallery.
“I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll persuade you.”
Hiroto grinned confidently just as the door opened and one of the heavily pierced faces peaked out. Tora had no idea who the guy was, but apparently it was a friend of Hiroto’s because they shared a conversation about the other’s whereabouts and why he needed his picture taken within the hour.
“I’ll be there in a second,” Hiroto promised. “Just let me finish this.”
The black and red haired man disappeared inside and Hiroto leaned against the wall again. He looked tired. Tired, but happy.
“You won’t be home till late, right?” Tora asked and dropped his finished cigarette to the ground.
“No, sorry. Don’t wait up, okay?”
The older nodded and handed his lover the thermos. Hiroto looked thankful and reached up to plant a kiss on the other’s lips. Without further sentiments Tora said his goodbyes and headed back home to their brand new shared apartment. Hiroto took a deep breath, plastered a happy upbeat grin on his face and returned to work.
- - -
Shou looked around one last time, content and nervous at the same time. He loved how the apartment had turned out. They’d gone for warm colours and a lot of fabrics, cushions and carpets without abandoning the Japanese culture entirely. It was something like a mixture between oriental and traditionally Japanese and he really liked it.
“Stop fussing.”
Saga’s soft voice filtered through to him as he once again rearranged the pillows on the couch. The shorter man wrapped his arms around Shou’s waist from behind and leaned his chin on the other’s shoulder.
“Everything looks great. You look great and everyone will love it,” Saga reassured him for the millionth time.
Shou laughed nervously. “I’m just… I don’t even know what I am. It’s only our friends after all, but your friends are so…”
“They’re not that different from you or me. It’s not like I invited my slightly homophobic co-workers.”
That had the blonde laughing for real. “I think that would’ve been a bad idea, yes.”
The doorbell interrupted the moment and Saga released his lover to go open the door. As expected, Tora and Hiroto were the first to arrive. They were Shou’s closest friends as well as their common ones, which was sadly rare even now. Saga couldn’t say he blamed the other too much for his nervousness, not after how skeptical his own friends had been the first time he introduced the rather flamboyant man.
“Welcome,” he said and held the door open. “I’m glad you’re here. Please make sure to mention how nice and neat everything looks.”
Both of the new arrivals laughed under their breath. They understood perfectly well and were somewhat impressed over the fact Saga hadn’t fled the field already. Then again, for all they knew he could’ve hidden himself at work all day.
“Oh, Shou,” Hiroto laughed as he entered the living room and found Shou nervously overlooking everything. “You are such a copycat you know.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?!” the blonde squeaked, which naturally only had Hiroto laughing harder.
Walking over he reached up and hugged his old friend tightly. “You move in with your boyfriend two months after I move in with mine. That’s just so unoriginal.”
That earned him a smack on the head and a long speech on love and mature relationships. Tora and Saga observed from the door, both shaking their heads lovingly at the sight of the other two.
“You want a drink before the others arrive?” Saga asked and Tora happily complied.
They left the two jibber jabbers to their bickering and retreated to the spacious kitchen.
Half an hour later the apartment was buzzing with life and chatter, soft music playing in the background and Shou’s voice floating over everything as he played the perfect host. The nervousness had filtered out of him more and more as people arrived and complimented the design of the place.
“Why didn’t we have a housewarming party?” Hiroto asked as he suddenly appeared by Tora’s side.
“We did, just not such an organized one,” the older explained. “I can’t really see us sending out glittery invitations and style our place so well it could be cut straight from a design magazine.”
Hiroto chuckled. “I think you’ve got a point there.”
Their own apartment was much more rock than Shou’s and Saga’s designer home. Both of them owned an acoustic guitar and Tora also had two electric ones, which now served as living room wall decoration when not being used. The colors were darker without getting depressing and the place was completely littered with CDs, music DVDs, and Hiroto’s pictures and photography equipment. It was nice. It was them.
“Saga’s friends are nice,” the younger continued after a while.
“For the most part,” Tora agreed. “A bit stiff, some of them, but that might just be nerves.”
“Can you blame them? Many of them are straight and they’re tossed in with Shou’s most flamboyant acquaintances.”
As if to prove a point three of Shou’s glittery friends waltzed up to them to begin an interview on their life. How long had they been seeing each other now? Where did they live? How did the place look? Was Tora as good in bed as he looked to be? It took them quite a while to escape that company with their dignity intact.
- - -
“You sure you don’t want us to help cleaning up?”
Both Shou and Saga shook their heads no. The party had been a huge success. Good food, good company, good music ,and many laughs. Hiroto had, naturally, taken pictures and they had made both Hiroto and Tora play guitar on an acoustic owned by Saga. The couple had tried to make Saga show off his own skills, since he obviously knew how to play when he owned the instrument, but he had refused in the face of their playing.
“You helped us get everyone out,” Saga laughed. “That’s more than enough.”
He was referring to a slight incident taking place in the bathroom. One of Shou’s friends had taken a little too much interest in one of Saga’s less straight ones. Somehow they had ended up in the bathroom and they’d declined to open the door to other guests, so to say. Finally, Tora had picked the lock, a skill he refused to tell where he’d learnt, and with mild force, escorted them off the premises.
“Yes!” Shou agreed. “Can you imagine they wanted to do it on the bathroom counter?!”
“Now now, Shou,” Tora said with a grin and the blonde paled slightly. “Don’t step on thin ice, here.”
“At least those mirrors were already stained!”
Saga looked at Tora and Hiroto. “Do I even want to know?”
“Don’t look at me,” the younger said and turned to his tall lover. “Do we want to know?”
“No,” Tora laughed. “Definitely not. Trust me.”
Shou mumbled something completely incomprehensible and blushed deeper with every syllable. He all but shoved his two laughing friends out the door and unceremoniously slammed it shut. It wasn’t like they’d take offence or anything. And besides, they’d see each other again tomorrow - that much had already been decided. Saga just looked at him and chuckled, still amused by Tora’s semi-revelation.
“That wasn’t very polite of you,” he remarked.
“He had it coming!” Shou grumbled and finally stepped away from the door. “Besides, I kind of wanted you for myself now.”
“And here I thought we would be cleaning,” the lawyer joked, an amused glint lighting up in his eyes.
“Cleaning can wait.” Shou closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around the shorter man. “I have much more interesting suggestions on how to end this evening.
Saga didn’t complain as he was lead to their nowadays common bedroom. Really, why would he?
Chapter 04