Promises and Treachery 3 (1/3)
May. 14th, 2014 08:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wendyjolyTitle : Promises and Treachery III
Author : WendyJoly
Pairing : Guess who~
Rating : NC-17
Length : Chaptered
Beta : My precious![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chibipinkpetals
Genre : Poker, tricks and Love
Disclaimer : I own nothing but Arashi owns surely my soul
Summary : Ninomiya Kazunari and Sakurai Sho are partners in spite of them to steal a famous paint to a yakuza…
Note : This is the third part of a trilogy, you don’t need to read the two previous one to understand this part, however to fully grasp the situation, I’d advise you to do ♥
CHAPTER I
The two men were facing each other, the messy desk between them and only the tick-tock of the clock could be heard.
Neither of them was particularly bothered by the unusual silence, sometimes they even craved for it but yet the time was flying by.
« So… ? » Began the doctor, taking a sip of the coffee he poured himself in a big mug where a “Don’t let the muggles let you down” was written beside a round pair of glasses.
« So. »
« Usually you’re pretty talkative, Ninomiya-san.”
“I was thinking, Sensei.” Nino took off his pink cap and tousled his hair absentmindedly.
“What about?”
“Did he tell you something about me?”
“I can’t tell you. It’s a confidentiality matter. How do you feel?”
“About him? Confused, to be true. We’re officially working together since three months ago. They asked us to steal paint. A very valuable one, even if I don’t know the purpose, guess that’s none of my business. Though, I don’t give a shit, since I’m paid and they are helping me for a personal issue. Meanwhile, I play the art student, in case our client was observing us.”
“And Sakurai?”
“He’s working on his own. Once or twice a week we meet in a hotel to play the happy couple. But we barely talk. He takes a room and I take the other one.”
“How do you feel about it?”
The younger smirked doubtfully and put on his cap back, the cap-peak on his nape.
“…Are you really doing it?”
“Doing what?”
“Your psy thing, answering to a question by another, hoping I will find a solution by myself?”
“Did you meet a lot of psy in your life?”
“Some of them, I’m not really fond of it, though. But I like you.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“I’m not hitting on you or something like that, don’t worry, you’re not my type.”
“What’s your type?”
“Muscular, taller than me and I tend to have a weakness for the control-freak guys.”
“Like Sakurai-san?”
“You stole my line!”
“And this partnership?”
“I think he could not be any colder with me. Step by step, I have the feeling to be working with a block of ice.”
“You deceived him, is that not the reason?”
“I…? He did it first! He’s a sore loser, that’s all. And after so many times, he could give up.”
“Did you try talking to him?”
“He said he will never touch me again.”
“I said talking!”
“I try but since I failed, I tried another method, more…persuasive.”
“And you failed again?”
“The ‘again’ hurts me somehow, but yeah, he turned his back on me. Yet, he’s very professional and that’s the most frustrating thing for me. He plays his part and sometimes I could believe his sincerity, the next moment he’s so frigid.”
“What did you expect?”
“Don’t know. Of course, I was aware that he would need a few weeks to accept me but it’s been three months now and I'm beginning to think that it’s hopeless.”
“Did you apologize?”
“What for?! My ass! We’re players, you win some, you lose some. It’s all part of the game. Can you blame a scorpion because he bites you? It’s his nature, he can’t help it.”
“Keep on thinking like that and you will never get along.”
“Do you have a miracle solution in your sleeve, Ohno-sensei?”
“An advice. Give him a good reason to trust you, you can’t work with a partner you don’t trust.”
“It makes sense.”
“Do you trust him?”
Nino nibbled his lips then nodded.
“So let him know. Beyond the sexual attraction or the game you’re still playing, you will have to put your lives in each other’s hands, you need to be able to count on one another.”
“I’ll follow your advice, thanks. May I take my leave now, I have a course in less than one hour.”
“Absolutely. How is it going, the studies I mean?”
“Pretty well, it’s funny and against all odds, interesting.”
“Fine. Have a nice day, Ninomiya-san. See you in one month.”
Nino stood up and raised his hand to wave goodbye, then walked to the door.
“By the way, Ninomiya-san! He said it too, that you were his type.”
The thief smiled and blushed nicely.
“He said you sucked as psy, I don’t agree.”
“Thanks.” Said the man with a sarcastic smirk.
♦♣♥
The sun was high in the sky and Nino enjoyed wandering on the campus, hands in his pocket, his large bag weighing heavily on his shoulders. He didn’t expect to be paid to follow a university program, but thanks to Sakurai’s lie, it became part of the role he had to play.
He entered the class room and sat behind one of the potter wheel. When Matsumoto asked him which courses he wanted to follow, nothing popped in his mind, except the pottery one. After all, it was the only lessons he ever took.
He put on his blouse and skilfully turned on the wheel as he began to warm the clay into his palms.
He crossed the teacher’s gaze and this one smiled benevolently then walked around the class, spreading his knowledge to the students. Nino has been tested by the man to have the authorization to join the class in the middle of the semester, but this one asked him who his master was and when Nino spoke his father’s name, he simply nodded and patted his shoulder friendly.
“Nino?”
“Hm?”
He didn’t raise his gaze at the woman’s voice and stayed focus on his task.
“Do you have a partner?”
His hands clenched by themselves on the clay and he cursed noisily. What a mess.
“What are you talking about?”
Riisa was gentle but too persistent and she clearly had a crush on him since their first meeting.
“About the piece Yushio-sensei asked, what else?”
“I’ll do by myself.”
“But he asked~”
“We’re 9 students. One of us will be inevitably alone.”
“Okay, I see.”
He turned the wheel once again and resumed his task. When he went out, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned around to look at the woman, irritation bubbling inside.
“Shota-kun will be alone. I guess we could work together if…wow, who’s that guy?" She pointed a man in black suit, wearing glasses, his hands negligently in his pockets. He was leaning back on his sports car and was visibly waiting for someone. Nino’s heart skipped a beat and he froze as the man walked to him.
“Hey babe, how was your day?” Sho pecked Nino’s lips, then seemed to notice the girl at his arm. “Oh excuse me, I can be so blunt sometimes, I’m Sakurai, Kazunari’s boyfriend and you are?”
“Ri…Riisa. Naka Riisa.”
“We have to go. Say goodbye, Kazu.”
“Goodbye, Riisa-chan.”
Sho opened Nino’s door and started the engine quickly taking the downtown direction.
“Something’s come up?” Asked Nino blankly. It was the very first time that Sho set a foot on the campus and it meant necessarily something bad.
Sho’s face as closed, his seductive smile now vanished.
“They are watching us. It’s good news.”
“Why?”
“They’re investigating us and if they followed you on the campus it’s because they are biting to the bait.”
“So now?”
“We’re playing our roles and tonight, we’re going out for the final show.”
“Where?”
“There’s a party downtown. We’re heading to the hotel where you will dress. I took the liberty to retrievean outfit.”
“Where?”
“At your place. Where could I take your clothes otherwise?”
Nino frowned and looked outside to hide his vexation. Sakurai never came at his place of course, and somehow he was silly enough to think that he couldn’t find it.
They took the elevator, smiling amorously when they were in a crowded place, keeping their distance when they were all alone.
Sakurai entered the suite he used to lend and threw the card on the table then grabbed the hotel phone.
He ordered a meal and Nino looked at him puzzled.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You should eat, believe me. You can’t go to this party with an empty stomach.”
“I’m neither a child nor a beginner. You don’t have to be so condescending with me.”
“Trust me. For once.”
Ohno’s advice popped in his mind and he murmured.
“I trust you.”
“Good.”
The result was not very significant, but at least he tried…
He ate the delicious meal brought by a waiter. After waiting for a good thirty minutes, without doing anything other than looking out the window and wondering what it was that he was expecting when he announced that he 'trusted' him. Soon, he was dressed, pants, shirt with a tie, all black, without seeing Sakurai again. Like always when they were in this bedroom, they were apart, Sho keeping the bedroom part when Nino was in the living room.
At 11 PM he suddenly appeared and simply put his coat after an appreciative look to Nino, then showed him the way to the car.
They drove through the dark city and Nino took the opportunity to try to fathom him once again, in vain. Sakurai wore one of this leather black pants he sounded to love and a large cotton V-neck cardigan under a dark coat. As he was turning his head to look outside, Nino found out that a part of his hair was shaved. He was gorgeous like always, but he was more than that, he was totally fascinating and somehow frightening now that he knew him better.
“It’s here. Get out of the car.”
“Where are we?
“Somewhere in town.”
Nino chuckled to hide his uneasiness and looked around to understand why this place was emitting such a disgusting stench. It was a slum obviously, like the one you avoid at all cost when you’re not forced to live in it.
He stared at Sakurai and his leather gloves which surely cost more than half a year of rent for one of this rat hole.
So, it was the new place to be for rich men searching for thrilling sensation? What a sick world.
“Come on, let’s go or we gonna be spotted.”
They crossed the street, got down a hidden stairs and then Sakurai knocked at a red door. A huge man larger than the door opened it and stepped back to let them in.
“Put that on” Said Sakurai handing a black mask to Nino.
“Again?! What’s with these masks?”
“Shut up, just put it on. Please.”
He finally did what he was told and they made their way in the red corridor. It was clearly an old squat, a basement built like a maze; the perfect place for this kind of event. Nino heard some typical noises, saw a threesome fucking behind an open door and intuitively he froze but Sakurai grabbed his wrist and brought him to the bigger room where a crowd was dancing languidly under the dazzling strobes lights. Men, women mixed, some were already half naked, this room was the place to select one or several partners, without any ambiguity.
Sho walked through the dance floor, dragging Nino behind him and they sat at a table in a corner.
“What’s this place?” hushed the smaller.
“Didn’t you guess? A party organized by Nagase. Don’t look around, it’s a mine field, if you’re too insistent, they will kick you out. And mine, of course. But you surely spotted the woman dragging a guy with a leash, it’s the mayor’s wife, and the charming threesome at the entrance, her husband though I didn't really saw the faces of the others.”
“I see. What are we doing here?”
“We’re taking contact.”
Nino took a quick glimpse around him and he trilled when he understood that they will have to join a group sooner or later. They couldn’t quietly sip a glass in a corner and observe this brilliant assembly without taking part. Fuck. He did a lot of things during his thief’s career, deceived a lot of people, fucked some of them, but avoided at all cost to fall in such a shady trap.
He met Sakurai concerned gaze.
“Breathe, it’s gonna be fine. We’re in the same boat, never forget it.”
“I’ll do what I have to do, don’t worry.”
Sho leaned back on his armchair and found his icy look again.
“Hope so.”
The younger was especially wondering how he would react if one of this woman or man tried something with him. Since three months, Sakurai never laid a hand on him and if he had some one-night-stand, he kept unsatisfied feelings about those disappointing inter-courses. He still craved for Sakurai and the more he treated him bad, the more he wanted him. Was it part of the revenge? He really wondered.
“He’s here, come on.”
Sho grabbed Nino’s hand and led him to the dance floor.
“I’m not a very talented dancer.”
“You move really well, don’t worry. Let yourself go.”
Nino swallowed a gasp and cursed in silence for being so emotional with him. When he talked to him like that, he melted idiotically.
Sho put his hands on Nino’s hips and the latter put his arms on Sho’s shoulder, closing his eyes to focus on the music and not on their neighbors who were leering at them.
“Focus on me. Look me in the eyes,Nino.”
He slid a leg between Nino’s thighs and moved his hips suggestively in rhythm with the music, a kind of broken lullaby, obsessive and strange. Nino moved with him and forgot the crowd around, too affected to finally feel Sho’s body against his. He felt his breath on his face, his flat belly against him, his hands firmly holding his hips like he did when they made love. He caressed Sho’s nape, raised up his mask and leaned forward to kiss him but Sho stopped him.
“What are you doing?”
“I play my role.”
“Tonight we had a lover’s fight, we don’t kiss.”
“So tell me, my love, what's the hard thing I’m feeling against my thigh?” whispered Nino at his ear and he sensed the man frozen.
“What a sexual tension…”
Nino turned the head to the man who spoke and felt Sho’s hands leaving him.
“Nagase-san.”
“Sho-kun and…Ninomiya-kun if I remember.”
“What a memory.” Smiled Sho, amused by the bad actor play.
“It’s a great surprise; I didn’t think you would do it.”
“Nino is working for his final exam, he needed a break. I thought that a little outing would help him to relax.”
“Are you looking for a partner?”
Nino gazed at Sho, astonished and this latter caressed his hair.
“It was a surprise I wanted to do, but yeah, we’re looking for someone. A woman.”
“I see. There’s a lot of charming ladies tonight. Did you make your choice?”
“Not yet.”
“Okay, I leave you to choose quietly, I’m pretty sure that any of them will be delighted to join an attractive couple like yours.”
“Thanks Nagase-san. I hope so.”
The yakuza walked away and after a few steps, turned back to them.
“By the way, Sho-kun, I was wondering if you played poker.”
“From time to time, I’m not an expert, though.”
“I organize a game next week, would you join us?”
“It will be an honor.”
“Perfect, I’ll send you a driver. And of course, Ninomiya will be with you?”
“Of course.”
They bowed at him and Nagase left them.
“It’s good, ne?” murmured Nino.
“Yeah, that’s perfect.”
“Where are you going?”
“Looking for a woman to spend the night with…”
Nino clenched his fists and kept a “bastard” for him.
♦♣♥
“Since the departure, you will stay together.”
Nino stared at Jun then Sho stood up to take a glass of whiskey. They were in the suite late at night and Jun disguised as a waiter was sitting on the couch, his laptop opened on the low table.
“You ought to be acting as a couple, you should learn to know each other little habits.”
Sho sat on the armchair, avoiding Nino’s gaze.
“We’re not living together and he knows it. Plus, I’m not the kind of man who used to share his daily routine with a lover. Don’t need to know what his favorite book is, we’re not going through an interview for the migration department.”
Jun sighed and after a look at Ninomiya, decided to leave Sho taking the lead. After all, he was a man who could be trusted and if he said they were ready it was surely the truth.
“Do you have the slightest idea of the place where the game will be?”
“He said he would send us his driver and asked us to prepare a suitcase for a few days. It could be anywhere. Here, this is the bet required to enter the game.” Said Sho handing Jun a black envelope.
“Okay, I’ll give you a long-range device to communicate and the money will be ready the previous day. Are we establishing the plan now?”
“I’ll do it with my new partner, after all we will have to execute it together.”
“Just…let me know where you are and how things are going. Guess it’s time for me to go back home. My wife is waiting for me.”
Jun closed his PC and stood up. He patted Nino’s shoulder to cheer him up and took his leave.
“Seems I’m really a horrible person to work with.” Chuckled ironically Sho.
Nino grabbed a chair to turn it and sat, his leg each side of the sit.
“Admit that you’re not the most liable man on Earth.”
“I’m not, true. I’m not used to work with someone, but since you’re here we don’t have the choice but to move forward together. Even if it’s a game, we will not have a second chance.”
“How do you plan to steal the paint?”
“Every stealing is kind of magic trick. First we spot the place where the pieces of Art are, then you’ll play the pretty girl who distracts the audience while the magician does his trick.”
“Wait, wait…I’m not here to be your assistant, I’m your partner. Are you really planning to use me as bait?”
“That’s what you are since the beginning. That’s what Jun made of you, don’t play the offended guy, you accepted it.”
“And you, what’s your part?”
“I’ll be there to protect you. He will not touch you. Whatever I could say later, keep this in mind. Trust me and everything will be fine.”
“That’s what you keep saying, but is mutual, do you trust me?”
“Frankly?”
“Frankly.”
“You never did anything for me to trust you.”
“Are we still playing the blame game? You have to get through this Sho otherwise we’re heading for a fall.”
Sho raised his gaze on him and intertwined his fingers in front of his mouth, taking the time to give a sincere answer.
“…okay. I’ll try.”
“That’s all I ask.”
♥♠♣♦
The two men were waiting in front of the huge hotel, strict suits and sunglasses covering their eyes, a light suitcase beside them on the sidewalk, a large leather tube on Sho’s back.
Sho raised his sleeve and looked at his clock nervously. Nino smirked and lighted a cigarette that he put between Sho’s lips.
“Nervous?”
“He’s late.”
“Barely, don’t worry, you said everything will be fine.”
Nino brushed Sho’s collar, cleaning an invisible stain.
“Nino, you know about what you told me, the other night~”
“Mister Sakurai and Ninomiya? Your car is here.”
The doorkeeper interrupted them, elegantly showing the Berline which just stopped in front of them.
“Thanks.”
The driver opened the car’s door and they got into it without asking where they were heading to, not like it would make a difference.
Half an hour later, they left the town and Sho kissed delicately Nino’s neck.
“We’re heading to the airport.” He whispered at his ear.
Fuck. Where was this lunatic planned to send them? In other circumstances, Nino would have slid his hand in Sho’s but their relationship was still too complicated, too unclear for him to dare such an intimate movement. Yet, he would have needed to lend Sho’s strength in this moment of doubt. Nino was not a freak of self-confidence like Sho sounded to be. He was just pretty skilled to pretend it. He used to prepare his missions enough to not be surprised and to shut his angst down, allowing himself some fanciness from time to time. Like this first night with Sho at the hotel…though it was not a real coincidence after all, Jun surely played the puppet master.
He would have given anything to know what was in Sho’s mind right now. The more he was around him, the more he was losing every belief concerning him. Who was he really? Why did he choose to be a cop, and especially this kind of cop? Why this dragon tattoo on his back like the yakuza’s?
Will he have the chance to obtain an answer one day? Still, he admired him, 'I’m the one you’d dream to be' he said at the airport the first time they met. It was surely true…no, he didn’t want to be like him, he wanted to be with him and leave him taking the lead, it was so comfortable to find someone able to take all those boring decisions, to partake those risks he was forced to take every day of his life.
Like Sho predicted, the car entered the airport but rather than park in front of a terminal, the driver left them on a private area where a luxurious plane was waiting for them.
Author : WendyJoly
Pairing : Guess who~
Rating : NC-17
Length : Chaptered
Beta : My precious
chibipinkpetalsGenre : Poker, tricks and Love
Disclaimer : I own nothing but Arashi owns surely my soul
Summary : Ninomiya Kazunari and Sakurai Sho are partners in spite of them to steal a famous paint to a yakuza…
Note : This is the third part of a trilogy, you don’t need to read the two previous one to understand this part, however to fully grasp the situation, I’d advise you to do ♥
CHAPTER I
The two men were facing each other, the messy desk between them and only the tick-tock of the clock could be heard.
Neither of them was particularly bothered by the unusual silence, sometimes they even craved for it but yet the time was flying by.
« So… ? » Began the doctor, taking a sip of the coffee he poured himself in a big mug where a “Don’t let the muggles let you down” was written beside a round pair of glasses.
« So. »
« Usually you’re pretty talkative, Ninomiya-san.”
“I was thinking, Sensei.” Nino took off his pink cap and tousled his hair absentmindedly.
“What about?”
“Did he tell you something about me?”
“I can’t tell you. It’s a confidentiality matter. How do you feel?”
“About him? Confused, to be true. We’re officially working together since three months ago. They asked us to steal paint. A very valuable one, even if I don’t know the purpose, guess that’s none of my business. Though, I don’t give a shit, since I’m paid and they are helping me for a personal issue. Meanwhile, I play the art student, in case our client was observing us.”
“And Sakurai?”
“He’s working on his own. Once or twice a week we meet in a hotel to play the happy couple. But we barely talk. He takes a room and I take the other one.”
“How do you feel about it?”
The younger smirked doubtfully and put on his cap back, the cap-peak on his nape.
“…Are you really doing it?”
“Doing what?”
“Your psy thing, answering to a question by another, hoping I will find a solution by myself?”
“Did you meet a lot of psy in your life?”
“Some of them, I’m not really fond of it, though. But I like you.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“I’m not hitting on you or something like that, don’t worry, you’re not my type.”
“What’s your type?”
“Muscular, taller than me and I tend to have a weakness for the control-freak guys.”
“Like Sakurai-san?”
“You stole my line!”
“And this partnership?”
“I think he could not be any colder with me. Step by step, I have the feeling to be working with a block of ice.”
“You deceived him, is that not the reason?”
“I…? He did it first! He’s a sore loser, that’s all. And after so many times, he could give up.”
“Did you try talking to him?”
“He said he will never touch me again.”
“I said talking!”
“I try but since I failed, I tried another method, more…persuasive.”
“And you failed again?”
“The ‘again’ hurts me somehow, but yeah, he turned his back on me. Yet, he’s very professional and that’s the most frustrating thing for me. He plays his part and sometimes I could believe his sincerity, the next moment he’s so frigid.”
“What did you expect?”
“Don’t know. Of course, I was aware that he would need a few weeks to accept me but it’s been three months now and I'm beginning to think that it’s hopeless.”
“Did you apologize?”
“What for?! My ass! We’re players, you win some, you lose some. It’s all part of the game. Can you blame a scorpion because he bites you? It’s his nature, he can’t help it.”
“Keep on thinking like that and you will never get along.”
“Do you have a miracle solution in your sleeve, Ohno-sensei?”
“An advice. Give him a good reason to trust you, you can’t work with a partner you don’t trust.”
“It makes sense.”
“Do you trust him?”
Nino nibbled his lips then nodded.
“So let him know. Beyond the sexual attraction or the game you’re still playing, you will have to put your lives in each other’s hands, you need to be able to count on one another.”
“I’ll follow your advice, thanks. May I take my leave now, I have a course in less than one hour.”
“Absolutely. How is it going, the studies I mean?”
“Pretty well, it’s funny and against all odds, interesting.”
“Fine. Have a nice day, Ninomiya-san. See you in one month.”
Nino stood up and raised his hand to wave goodbye, then walked to the door.
“By the way, Ninomiya-san! He said it too, that you were his type.”
The thief smiled and blushed nicely.
“He said you sucked as psy, I don’t agree.”
“Thanks.” Said the man with a sarcastic smirk.
The sun was high in the sky and Nino enjoyed wandering on the campus, hands in his pocket, his large bag weighing heavily on his shoulders. He didn’t expect to be paid to follow a university program, but thanks to Sakurai’s lie, it became part of the role he had to play.
He entered the class room and sat behind one of the potter wheel. When Matsumoto asked him which courses he wanted to follow, nothing popped in his mind, except the pottery one. After all, it was the only lessons he ever took.
He put on his blouse and skilfully turned on the wheel as he began to warm the clay into his palms.
He crossed the teacher’s gaze and this one smiled benevolently then walked around the class, spreading his knowledge to the students. Nino has been tested by the man to have the authorization to join the class in the middle of the semester, but this one asked him who his master was and when Nino spoke his father’s name, he simply nodded and patted his shoulder friendly.
“Nino?”
“Hm?”
He didn’t raise his gaze at the woman’s voice and stayed focus on his task.
“Do you have a partner?”
His hands clenched by themselves on the clay and he cursed noisily. What a mess.
“What are you talking about?”
Riisa was gentle but too persistent and she clearly had a crush on him since their first meeting.
“About the piece Yushio-sensei asked, what else?”
“I’ll do by myself.”
“But he asked~”
“We’re 9 students. One of us will be inevitably alone.”
“Okay, I see.”
He turned the wheel once again and resumed his task. When he went out, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned around to look at the woman, irritation bubbling inside.
“Shota-kun will be alone. I guess we could work together if…wow, who’s that guy?" She pointed a man in black suit, wearing glasses, his hands negligently in his pockets. He was leaning back on his sports car and was visibly waiting for someone. Nino’s heart skipped a beat and he froze as the man walked to him.
“Hey babe, how was your day?” Sho pecked Nino’s lips, then seemed to notice the girl at his arm. “Oh excuse me, I can be so blunt sometimes, I’m Sakurai, Kazunari’s boyfriend and you are?”
“Ri…Riisa. Naka Riisa.”
“We have to go. Say goodbye, Kazu.”
“Goodbye, Riisa-chan.”
Sho opened Nino’s door and started the engine quickly taking the downtown direction.
“Something’s come up?” Asked Nino blankly. It was the very first time that Sho set a foot on the campus and it meant necessarily something bad.
Sho’s face as closed, his seductive smile now vanished.
“They are watching us. It’s good news.”
“Why?”
“They’re investigating us and if they followed you on the campus it’s because they are biting to the bait.”
“So now?”
“We’re playing our roles and tonight, we’re going out for the final show.”
“Where?”
“There’s a party downtown. We’re heading to the hotel where you will dress. I took the liberty to retrievean outfit.”
“Where?”
“At your place. Where could I take your clothes otherwise?”
Nino frowned and looked outside to hide his vexation. Sakurai never came at his place of course, and somehow he was silly enough to think that he couldn’t find it.
They took the elevator, smiling amorously when they were in a crowded place, keeping their distance when they were all alone.
Sakurai entered the suite he used to lend and threw the card on the table then grabbed the hotel phone.
He ordered a meal and Nino looked at him puzzled.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You should eat, believe me. You can’t go to this party with an empty stomach.”
“I’m neither a child nor a beginner. You don’t have to be so condescending with me.”
“Trust me. For once.”
Ohno’s advice popped in his mind and he murmured.
“I trust you.”
“Good.”
The result was not very significant, but at least he tried…
He ate the delicious meal brought by a waiter. After waiting for a good thirty minutes, without doing anything other than looking out the window and wondering what it was that he was expecting when he announced that he 'trusted' him. Soon, he was dressed, pants, shirt with a tie, all black, without seeing Sakurai again. Like always when they were in this bedroom, they were apart, Sho keeping the bedroom part when Nino was in the living room.
At 11 PM he suddenly appeared and simply put his coat after an appreciative look to Nino, then showed him the way to the car.
They drove through the dark city and Nino took the opportunity to try to fathom him once again, in vain. Sakurai wore one of this leather black pants he sounded to love and a large cotton V-neck cardigan under a dark coat. As he was turning his head to look outside, Nino found out that a part of his hair was shaved. He was gorgeous like always, but he was more than that, he was totally fascinating and somehow frightening now that he knew him better.
“It’s here. Get out of the car.”
“Where are we?
“Somewhere in town.”
Nino chuckled to hide his uneasiness and looked around to understand why this place was emitting such a disgusting stench. It was a slum obviously, like the one you avoid at all cost when you’re not forced to live in it.
He stared at Sakurai and his leather gloves which surely cost more than half a year of rent for one of this rat hole.
So, it was the new place to be for rich men searching for thrilling sensation? What a sick world.
“Come on, let’s go or we gonna be spotted.”
They crossed the street, got down a hidden stairs and then Sakurai knocked at a red door. A huge man larger than the door opened it and stepped back to let them in.
“Put that on” Said Sakurai handing a black mask to Nino.
“Again?! What’s with these masks?”
“Shut up, just put it on. Please.”
He finally did what he was told and they made their way in the red corridor. It was clearly an old squat, a basement built like a maze; the perfect place for this kind of event. Nino heard some typical noises, saw a threesome fucking behind an open door and intuitively he froze but Sakurai grabbed his wrist and brought him to the bigger room where a crowd was dancing languidly under the dazzling strobes lights. Men, women mixed, some were already half naked, this room was the place to select one or several partners, without any ambiguity.
Sho walked through the dance floor, dragging Nino behind him and they sat at a table in a corner.
“What’s this place?” hushed the smaller.
“Didn’t you guess? A party organized by Nagase. Don’t look around, it’s a mine field, if you’re too insistent, they will kick you out. And mine, of course. But you surely spotted the woman dragging a guy with a leash, it’s the mayor’s wife, and the charming threesome at the entrance, her husband though I didn't really saw the faces of the others.”
“I see. What are we doing here?”
“We’re taking contact.”
Nino took a quick glimpse around him and he trilled when he understood that they will have to join a group sooner or later. They couldn’t quietly sip a glass in a corner and observe this brilliant assembly without taking part. Fuck. He did a lot of things during his thief’s career, deceived a lot of people, fucked some of them, but avoided at all cost to fall in such a shady trap.
He met Sakurai concerned gaze.
“Breathe, it’s gonna be fine. We’re in the same boat, never forget it.”
“I’ll do what I have to do, don’t worry.”
Sho leaned back on his armchair and found his icy look again.
“Hope so.”
The younger was especially wondering how he would react if one of this woman or man tried something with him. Since three months, Sakurai never laid a hand on him and if he had some one-night-stand, he kept unsatisfied feelings about those disappointing inter-courses. He still craved for Sakurai and the more he treated him bad, the more he wanted him. Was it part of the revenge? He really wondered.
“He’s here, come on.”
Sho grabbed Nino’s hand and led him to the dance floor.
“I’m not a very talented dancer.”
“You move really well, don’t worry. Let yourself go.”
Nino swallowed a gasp and cursed in silence for being so emotional with him. When he talked to him like that, he melted idiotically.
Sho put his hands on Nino’s hips and the latter put his arms on Sho’s shoulder, closing his eyes to focus on the music and not on their neighbors who were leering at them.
“Focus on me. Look me in the eyes,Nino.”
He slid a leg between Nino’s thighs and moved his hips suggestively in rhythm with the music, a kind of broken lullaby, obsessive and strange. Nino moved with him and forgot the crowd around, too affected to finally feel Sho’s body against his. He felt his breath on his face, his flat belly against him, his hands firmly holding his hips like he did when they made love. He caressed Sho’s nape, raised up his mask and leaned forward to kiss him but Sho stopped him.
“What are you doing?”
“I play my role.”
“Tonight we had a lover’s fight, we don’t kiss.”
“So tell me, my love, what's the hard thing I’m feeling against my thigh?” whispered Nino at his ear and he sensed the man frozen.
“What a sexual tension…”
Nino turned the head to the man who spoke and felt Sho’s hands leaving him.
“Nagase-san.”
“Sho-kun and…Ninomiya-kun if I remember.”
“What a memory.” Smiled Sho, amused by the bad actor play.
“It’s a great surprise; I didn’t think you would do it.”
“Nino is working for his final exam, he needed a break. I thought that a little outing would help him to relax.”
“Are you looking for a partner?”
Nino gazed at Sho, astonished and this latter caressed his hair.
“It was a surprise I wanted to do, but yeah, we’re looking for someone. A woman.”
“I see. There’s a lot of charming ladies tonight. Did you make your choice?”
“Not yet.”
“Okay, I leave you to choose quietly, I’m pretty sure that any of them will be delighted to join an attractive couple like yours.”
“Thanks Nagase-san. I hope so.”
The yakuza walked away and after a few steps, turned back to them.
“By the way, Sho-kun, I was wondering if you played poker.”
“From time to time, I’m not an expert, though.”
“I organize a game next week, would you join us?”
“It will be an honor.”
“Perfect, I’ll send you a driver. And of course, Ninomiya will be with you?”
“Of course.”
They bowed at him and Nagase left them.
“It’s good, ne?” murmured Nino.
“Yeah, that’s perfect.”
“Where are you going?”
“Looking for a woman to spend the night with…”
Nino clenched his fists and kept a “bastard” for him.
“Since the departure, you will stay together.”
Nino stared at Jun then Sho stood up to take a glass of whiskey. They were in the suite late at night and Jun disguised as a waiter was sitting on the couch, his laptop opened on the low table.
“You ought to be acting as a couple, you should learn to know each other little habits.”
Sho sat on the armchair, avoiding Nino’s gaze.
“We’re not living together and he knows it. Plus, I’m not the kind of man who used to share his daily routine with a lover. Don’t need to know what his favorite book is, we’re not going through an interview for the migration department.”
Jun sighed and after a look at Ninomiya, decided to leave Sho taking the lead. After all, he was a man who could be trusted and if he said they were ready it was surely the truth.
“Do you have the slightest idea of the place where the game will be?”
“He said he would send us his driver and asked us to prepare a suitcase for a few days. It could be anywhere. Here, this is the bet required to enter the game.” Said Sho handing Jun a black envelope.
“Okay, I’ll give you a long-range device to communicate and the money will be ready the previous day. Are we establishing the plan now?”
“I’ll do it with my new partner, after all we will have to execute it together.”
“Just…let me know where you are and how things are going. Guess it’s time for me to go back home. My wife is waiting for me.”
Jun closed his PC and stood up. He patted Nino’s shoulder to cheer him up and took his leave.
“Seems I’m really a horrible person to work with.” Chuckled ironically Sho.
Nino grabbed a chair to turn it and sat, his leg each side of the sit.
“Admit that you’re not the most liable man on Earth.”
“I’m not, true. I’m not used to work with someone, but since you’re here we don’t have the choice but to move forward together. Even if it’s a game, we will not have a second chance.”
“How do you plan to steal the paint?”
“Every stealing is kind of magic trick. First we spot the place where the pieces of Art are, then you’ll play the pretty girl who distracts the audience while the magician does his trick.”
“Wait, wait…I’m not here to be your assistant, I’m your partner. Are you really planning to use me as bait?”
“That’s what you are since the beginning. That’s what Jun made of you, don’t play the offended guy, you accepted it.”
“And you, what’s your part?”
“I’ll be there to protect you. He will not touch you. Whatever I could say later, keep this in mind. Trust me and everything will be fine.”
“That’s what you keep saying, but is mutual, do you trust me?”
“Frankly?”
“Frankly.”
“You never did anything for me to trust you.”
“Are we still playing the blame game? You have to get through this Sho otherwise we’re heading for a fall.”
Sho raised his gaze on him and intertwined his fingers in front of his mouth, taking the time to give a sincere answer.
“…okay. I’ll try.”
“That’s all I ask.”
The two men were waiting in front of the huge hotel, strict suits and sunglasses covering their eyes, a light suitcase beside them on the sidewalk, a large leather tube on Sho’s back.
Sho raised his sleeve and looked at his clock nervously. Nino smirked and lighted a cigarette that he put between Sho’s lips.
“Nervous?”
“He’s late.”
“Barely, don’t worry, you said everything will be fine.”
Nino brushed Sho’s collar, cleaning an invisible stain.
“Nino, you know about what you told me, the other night~”
“Mister Sakurai and Ninomiya? Your car is here.”
The doorkeeper interrupted them, elegantly showing the Berline which just stopped in front of them.
“Thanks.”
The driver opened the car’s door and they got into it without asking where they were heading to, not like it would make a difference.
Half an hour later, they left the town and Sho kissed delicately Nino’s neck.
“We’re heading to the airport.” He whispered at his ear.
Fuck. Where was this lunatic planned to send them? In other circumstances, Nino would have slid his hand in Sho’s but their relationship was still too complicated, too unclear for him to dare such an intimate movement. Yet, he would have needed to lend Sho’s strength in this moment of doubt. Nino was not a freak of self-confidence like Sho sounded to be. He was just pretty skilled to pretend it. He used to prepare his missions enough to not be surprised and to shut his angst down, allowing himself some fanciness from time to time. Like this first night with Sho at the hotel…though it was not a real coincidence after all, Jun surely played the puppet master.
He would have given anything to know what was in Sho’s mind right now. The more he was around him, the more he was losing every belief concerning him. Who was he really? Why did he choose to be a cop, and especially this kind of cop? Why this dragon tattoo on his back like the yakuza’s?
Will he have the chance to obtain an answer one day? Still, he admired him, 'I’m the one you’d dream to be' he said at the airport the first time they met. It was surely true…no, he didn’t want to be like him, he wanted to be with him and leave him taking the lead, it was so comfortable to find someone able to take all those boring decisions, to partake those risks he was forced to take every day of his life.
Like Sho predicted, the car entered the airport but rather than park in front of a terminal, the driver left them on a private area where a luxurious plane was waiting for them.
