Kagefumi (11/29)

When it was over, he looked around the room and he felt satisfied. Not that it was too different from when he arrived at the apartment with Ninomiya, but at least things weren't randomly spread around anymore, as if he hadn’t been there for weeks.

He opened the CD he had been given and inserted it in the stereo. He smiled when the first accords sounded, approving Raiden’s new band. As expected, the quality of the guitar overshadowed the other instruments in sovereignty, even if they were playing in harmony.

He sat on the sofa and read the titles of the songs, anticipating the kind of melody behind them. He liked the more agitated ones, but he would rather listen the romantic ballads, with a more classic and melancholic tune.

— Haven’t I told you he was better than ever?

Ohno was startled with the sudden intervention, not being used to having someone around. It was true that Sho would visit him frequently and, once or twice a year, his mother and sister would show up to see him, but they rarely slept there; only when his mother had a business in town that took longer than a day.

With Nino, though, things would be different. He had no idea how long the bleached-haired youngster would remain there, sharing the small apartment with him. Actually, considering things then, he realized he invited him more out of an impulse than in solidarity, even if he knew he would do it any other way. He would never allow the boy to be at such a violent man’s mercy.

— You are right — he smiled. — The CD seems to be amazing.

— Yes, it is, especially the guitar solo on track 9. It’s my favorite — Nino added, going to sit beside him, the smell of the soap overpowering everything else. He seemed lost in a mix of insecurity and embarrassment. He said nothing about his stepfather’s attack, apart from what Ohno had seen and, despite his curiosity, the cop decided not to insist on the subject.

— Let me see this… — he asked, pulling Nino’s chin gently to him in order to analyze the bruise around his left eye. — It’s quite bad… are you sure you don’t want to go to a hospital?

— There’s no need of that. I’m fine, Ohno-san.

— If you say so, I’ll believe you. — He shrugged, while opening a first aid box that he had previously left over the center table. — But we should keep an eye on it.

His fingers opened a small flask, with a green compond inside.

— It’s only an arnica balm — he explained, while applying it gently over the bruise.

— You have an entire pharmacy inside that box — Nino joked, avoiding his host’s eyes, while he worked on his face.

— Well, in my job you can’t help suffering a few damages…

Ninomiya smiled, his expression softening.

— Is there any other place that need to be treated? — Ohno asked, helpfully.

The young man denied with his head.

— Nino… I don’t know what prompted you to fight on that bar… — the older man said, closing the flask and placing it on the first aid box. — I don’t even know what kind of relationship you have with your stepfather. I confess I’m curious, but I won’t ask you a single thing — he rushed in telling him, under the lad’s anxious stare. — I don’t wanna play the cop with you, but I want you to know that I’m here if you need or want to open up…

Caught by surprise, he couldn’t show any reaction under the mouth that covered his, shyly. It wasn’t a romantic kiss. In reality, it was just a peck, almost innocent.

— Thank you — Nino whispered, staring at him with grateful eyes.

— You don’t have to thank me…

— I’ve missed you so much, Oh-chan… — the younger cut him, in an unexpected confession.

— I though I would never see you again — Satoshi admitted, melting. — I’ve searched for you for days.

— I’m so sorry. I couldn’t contact you and I never got your messages…

— It doesn’t matter anymore… We are together now — he enveloped Nino in a tight hug. How long had he been wanting to hold him like that? He felt him shivering and the feeling of the soft scented skin against his, with that music around them, boosted his desire.

This time, the kiss was anything but innocent. His lips fought in a desperate and urgent duel. Their bodies fit in so naturally in such an intimate and needy way that he barely noticed the moment they laid down on the sofa.

So good!

However, as soon as Satoshi’s conscience brought him to reality, he moved away, unwilling to give the wrong impression. He didn’t want Ninomiya to believe he had sheltered him in exchange for sex.

— I’m… taking a quick shower — he stood up quickly. — I’ll be right back to take care of our dinner. Do you mind if we ask for a pizza?

— No, I…

— Can you take care of it, then? — he cut him, handing him a handful of folders from restaurants and pizzerias he collected for his lonely nights.

He didn’t even wait to hear Nino’s reply, going to the bathroom in frustration. He took more than ten minutes there, cursing at his sinful thoughts. After all, what kind of pervert would take advantage of the lad’s frailty in such a moment?

He put on a pajama pants and a marine blue t-shirt and sighed, rehearsing a casual expression before going back to the room.

— How much was it? — he asked, opening his wallet to pick upthe money, but he had no answer.

Nino was asleep, hugged to one of his cushions. He got closer, admiring his young and beautiful face. Helpless and hurt like that, he looked even younger, almost a boy. He felt pity when he noticed his face wet from the tears he let fall in silence. Or maybe he only hasn’t been able to listen, lost on his own thoughts.

He wanted to wake him up so he could sleep more comfortably in bed, but the exhausted expression of the lad prevented him to do so. Then, he went to the room and covered his delicate body with a futon. Before leaving him, however, he caressed his soft face with the back of his fingers, promising himself that, if it depended on him, Nino would never get hurt like that.

A vain promise, he would find out not much later.

**********************

The scent of coffee reached him as soon as he opened his eyes. He stretched his body, before sitting up in bed. He caressed his sore knee, remembering he had to reschedule the physiotherapy session he had lost the day before.

He sighed, lost in the mental battle between the need to stand up and the lethargy of his body, which wasn’t yet ready to leave the bed. If it was in any other day, his laziness would surpass the obligation, but in that morning, specially, he had reasons to ignore his fatigue.

He entered the kitchen around fifteen minutes later, after taking his first cares of the morning.

— Good morning, Ohno-san!

The joyful greeting cheered him up. There was still a glimmer of sadness in those expressive eyes, but his looks barely reminded him of the frail boy from the night before.

— Good morning. How did you spend the night?

— Well, considering I have slept like a log — Nino answered, sincerely. Satoshi had watched him sleeping, attentive to any suspect movement, but he kept his heavy sleep and deep breathing almost through the night. — I hope you won’t mind, but I took the liberty to mess in your kitchen. There wasn’t much, but I tried to improvise something for your breakfast…

— Thank you — he smiled, while pulling up a chair, waiting for the lad to serve him a cup of coffee. — I’m sorry for the nuisance. Until yesterday I lived on my own and never bothered in making my own food. Most of the time, I bring home a bentou. However, now that I have company, I need to go shop for groceries urgently.

— Don't worry about me, Ohno-san. I don’t want you to change your habits because of me, I won’t stay around forever. As soon as I get a new job, I will look for a place for me.

— No need to rush. You can stay for as long as you want.

— I don’t want to be a nuisance.

— Never thought you would be — the cop said, honestly. — I like the idea of having you here with me… Please, take off this worry from your face and make yourself comfortable, ok?

Nino smiled, grateful.

— I just don’t want to bother you, invading your personal space…

— I’ve already told you it’s not the case. Forget about that and come have breakfast with me — he asked, pointing with his head to the chair at the other side of the table.

— At what time do you go to work?

— I have to be in the police station at eight. And I usually leave work at five. Well, that is until I’m freed to go back to the streets to do what I really like. In my real position, I don’t have a fixed schedule… — he added, trying to justify the days he had looked for Nino in the time he was supposed to be working.

— Then, your work in the police station is temporary?

— Yes, until I’m released by my orthopedist. According to what he said in my last appointment, it might still take a few weeks. I can barely wait to go back to my job in the Narcotics Department.

— Narcotics? — a strange tone in Nino’s voice caught him by surprise.

— Yes, it’s where I’ve been working for three years.

— It seems interesting. — Nino bit a slice of toast. — Is there anything specific you wanna have for dinner? — he changed the subject, suddenly.
— Are you cooking? — the host asked, excited by the idea of eating something prepared by the lad.

— It’s the least I can do while I’m living here, right? I insist in helping you with the maintenance and the expenses of the house.

The cop was about to say it wasn’t necessary, but he didn’t want to hurt his guest’s pride.

— In that case, do you know how to prepare nabe? I have been wanting to eat it at home.

Ninomiya smiled.

— It was one of my father’s specialties when we had a restaurant in Sasakura. He was a chief of cuisine. I’ve seen him making this dish so many times… It’s my favorite.

— Then, it’s settled. I can't wait to taste your food….

— Please, don’t bear too high expectations. The chief was my father…

*******************
His working day seemed to drag on. Maybe because he was anxious, looking all the time at his watch, waiting for the moment to go home. He definitely wasn’t born for that kind of bureaucratic work and he only cheered up when he got a call from Sho, concerned about his absence on the physiotherapy session, and when he called Nino at luchtime.

He shivered briefly when he heard his voice on the other side of the line for the first time. The lad had eaten a quick snack downtown, where he was settling the matter of the return of his apartment to the Real Estate. He complained about the high fine, but he seemed to be satisfied for resolving it.

Afterwards, he would go to a supermarket to buy the ingredients for the dinner.

— See you later, Oh-chan!

The nickname made his heart flutter. He smiled as a fool and felt his face burning. He felt ashamed for blush as a infatuated teenager, but he couldn’t hold his emotions.

When he arrived at home, he could barely hold his desire to embrace Nino.

— Tadaima! — he said, enjoying the greeting. How long since he had said that, not having anyone at home to answer?

— Okaeri! — the lad greeted him back with a smile. — You are late!

— I’m sorry. I had to assist in a last minute incident.

— Well, I’ll finish up the dinner, then, while you are bathing. Don’t take long, ok?

He didn’t.

Actually, it was the quickest bath he had ever taken in his life.

The Nabe was delicious, much more than he had imagined. However, he took a while to express his opinion, enjoying Nino’s anxious look towards him.

— So?

— Delicious! — he answered, allowing his mouth to twist in delight. — It’s more delicious than the one that my mom makes…

— You don’t have to exaggerate, Oh-chan… — the lad complained, unable to hide his satisfaction.

After dinner, they sat together in the living room, in order to watch a baseball match to which they barely paid attention, entertained in a joyful conversation about their tastes and peculiarities. When they realized, it was past midnight.

— I’m sorry, Oh-chan. I was bothering you with my questions and didn’t even notice the time going by. You have to wake up early tomorrow.

— I’m used to sleep late at night, Nino. Don’t worry.

Even being true, his body betrayed his fatigue and he yawned.

— See you tomorrow, Oh-chan… — Ninomiya said, after coming back from the bathroom and fixing the cushions on the sofa.

— What are you doing?

— I'm getting ready to sleep.

— In the sofa? Don’t you wanna share the bed with me?

Nino raised an eyebrow at the comment, seeming not to understand what he had said.

— Don’t get me wrong… — he said fast, under the lad’s stare. — But the bed is wide…

Nino just nodded, seeming frustrated, but followed him to the bedroom and waited for him to make himself comfortable on his usual side of the bed.

They both laid there in silence, embarrassed by the situation.