What if… the curiosity gets the better of you, but with no results
"What do you mean you are leaving?" Alex sat behind the table in the Staff's apartment, having late lunch with Aika, like they had almost everyday since he arrived. A lot of times they had company in Kato, Siva, James, and John, if they were present, but not today. "There's still one week left."
"Yes, I know." Aika said. "This last week you are on your own."
"But…" Alex played absently with his spoon. "I can't … I'm not ready to be on my own." And he wasn't. He needed her here, there was still so much to learn from her and he could just see himself without her guidance, lost and confused, messing everything up.
"Alex, you need this week to see if you can do it and if you decide that you can't, that this isn't for you, you can still pack and say bye-bye." She leaned over the table and patted him on his shoulder. "But I think you'll do just fine"
They are going to toss him into the water and see if he can swim. "I think I'm going to drown."
"You won't. You're resourceful, you'll shine." Aika smiled, grabbed her forgotten spoon and started to eat.
Yeah, right, he'll shine. He didn't even know where she ordered lunch from, not to mention the language thing. Oh, god. "Aika, please. Don't leave me. Onegai shimasu. (I beg you.)"
"Stop worrying." Aika choose to ignore his doubts.
"How can you be calm like that? I don't even speak Japanese properly." Alex shoved away his plate. "And I don't know anything about Japanese etiquettes."
"You don't really have to. You are his personal assistant, not manager. You are not here to conclude business, you are here to take care of his little needs, to make his life easier and if your lack of Japanese is getting in the way, it's his fault, he's the one that insist in employing you. Also if you haven't noticed almost everybody around Kato knows English and he doesn't really live like a normal Japanese. Did you see any tatami, futon or Japanese traditional low tables?" Aika took a spoonful of Kare Raisu and put it in her mouth.
"No." Now that she mentioned it, he had to admit that he didn't see anything like that. The whole apartment was decorated with 'Western' style furniture and except the weird layout of the bathroom and the bathroom's green slippers, there was nothing out of the ordinary. And… he was in Japan for almost three weeks now and he still didn't eat any of the traditional Japanese food, it was like he was living in the 'western' bubble. "Why not?"
Aika swallowed her food. "Long story."
Which she wasn't about to share; talk about injustice.
They continue to eat in silence because Alex was trying to accept the fact that the silver palm pilot with all the phone numbers, with all the contacts and all the information Aika gathered over the years of working with Kato, was going to be his.
The food was eaten, the plates washed, and cleaned away. They were sitting behind the table, huddled together before the laptop's screen, going through Kato's and the band schedule for upcoming month, when the building's intercom rang.
"I'll get it." Alex went in to the hallway where, by the living room's door, was an intercom's phone. He lifted the receiver. " Moshi moshi."
It was the receptionist. Somebody by the name Mikumi Shoji was demanding to see Mikumi Kato and insisted to come up even when he was told that Kato was out.
"Aika." Alex yelled. "There's some man, Mikumi Shoji, at the reception and he doesn't want to go away." He heard quick steps and the receiver was taken gently out of his hand.
There were hurried words in funny mixture of English and Japanese and a lot of rolling of eyes before the receiver was put down and Aika turned toward him. "He's coming up. I'll let him into Kato's apartment and you stay here."
"Who is he? Is he Kato's relative?" He must have been, as he had the same last name as Kato. But was he as good-looking as Kato, too? Well, that was a good question.
"Yea." Aika went into the living room and grabbed the cell phone from the low cabinet; she started to dial the numbers of Kato's mobile phone.
"A father? Brother? Cousin?" Alex followed two steps behind her.
"Brother." Aika was on her way toward the entrance door, the phone by her ear. " Moshi moshi! Aika desu. (Hello. Aika here). Anatono oniisanwa kokoni imasu. (Your brother is here)."
She was through the door and Alex behind her.
"Chotto matte kudasai. (Just a moment please)." She turned and put her palm on Alex's chest and pushed him softly back. "Where do you think you are going?"
"To see Kato's brother, where else?"
She pointed toward the opened door. "Go back inside and stay put." She put the phone back on her ear. "Nani. (What?)"
"Just a peek." Alex pouted. Just a tiny little peek.
"Alex-kun wa anantono oniisanga mitai desu. (Alex wants to see your brother.)" A few more nods followed and then she pushed the phone into Alex's hand. "Kato wants you."
"Hello." Alex put timidly the phone on his ear.
"Alex?"
"Hai." Alex nodded like Kato could see him.
"Be a good boy and do what Aika says." Kato said.
"Just a little peek, to see if he's hot like you."
Aika turned Alex around, pushed him through the door and closed the door behind him, while Alex was too busy cursing himself and his long tongue.
"You think I'm hot?"
"Ermm." Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Pink bloomed on his face.
"Is that a yes?"
"Ermm." Alex went into the living room. He wondered if cutting the line and then pretending that he never opened his big mouth would help.
"I'll take that as a yes." Even when Kato's smirk couldn't be seen, Alex could hear it in his voice. "Why… Thank you, Alex."
"Hmm." Alex sat down on the blue/white couch and pulled his knees on his chest, with the phone tightly compressed on his ear and with redness on his cheeks.
"Are you blushing?"
"What?" Alex put his palm on his hot cheek. "No."
"I bet you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Alex, how can you lie to me like that?" Kato chuckled and then in the next minute his voice was serious. "Tell Aika that I'll be there in fifteen."
"You mean in thirty." There was no way Kato would only need for fifteen minutes, not in Tokyo's traffic.
"Fifteen. You can time me," Kato said and put down the phone without a goodbye.
Alex didn't time him, but maybe he should have, because about twenty minutes later when he finally got around to telling Aika that Kato was on his way, said man appeared in the living room.
Kato threw the helmet he carried under his arm on the couch. He cast a quick, small smile in Alex's direction, and then turned toward Aika, some words were exchanged in low voices and then he said: "I'm going there now." He started to walk out of the living room.
"I put some refreshment on the table." Aika escorted him through the door into the hallway. She looked so small and petite beside Kato.
Alex followed them. In the past Kato switched to English whenever Alex was around and it seemed that this was a subconscious thing. Otherwise, why would Kato make an effort to talk in English about things that weren't any of Alex's concern?
"If I'll need anything, I'll call you, so have your phone and also your laptop near by. It would probably be a good idea to have a cheque ready." Kato said. "I have a feeling we'll need it." He was out of the apartment.
"I'm on it." Aika turned on her heel, almost colliding with Alex. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Go. Do something."
"Yes, m'am." Alex saluted.
Aika just rolled her eyes and shook her head. Her black hair, cut to her ears, flew with the movement. She went into the living room picking up her cell phone from the couch on her way toward the computer that was still on the dining table. She also stopped at the painting that was left by the TV, removing it and how cliché, there was a safe behind it. She typed the numbers on the little keyboard on the metal surface of it and after it opened, took narrow slips out of it.
Alex sat on the couch and waited; his eyes never wavering from Aika, watching how she closed the safe and went behind the computer. That in her hand must be the cheques; he thought that nobody used them anymore.
Ten minutes passed, then after another five Aika's phone rang.
"Hai."
"Ikura? (How much)."
"Hai. Hai." Aika typed something on the computer.
"I'm going on the balcony to have a smoke." Alex stood up.
Aika nodded and took the narrow slip, wrote something on it and then was on her way out of the living room.
Alex went on the balcony, gently closing the door behind him. He pulled the cigarette and the lighter out of his pocket and lighted himself a stick. He leaned with his elbows on the rail of the balcony, his long hair falling in his face, annoying him. He should have made a pigtail or braided them. He tucked them behind his ear.
He absently wondered if it was a common occurrence for Kato's brother to show up unannounced and for Kato to drop everything because of that. And the cheques, that meant money, didn't it? So, besides dropping everything for his brother, Kato supplied him with money too. Not that that was anything strange; a lot of rich people supported their family. Didn't they give their brothers or sisters money to help them?
He looked on his left into the direction of Kato's apartment. The low barrier divided the part of the balcony that belonged to Kato's apartment and the Staff's apartment; while on his right side of the balcony was a ceiling high barrier.
He stepped toward the low barrier and took a deep drag of the cigarette, his eyes examining the one-meter high fence. It was low enough for him to climb over it.
Should he?
He should try.
He threw the cigarette into the tin filled with water he had on the balcony for occasions like this and then he went toward the fence, grabbed the edge of if and clumsily climbed over it, almost falling down on the other side. He should be more careful.
He passed Siva room's balcony door and stopped at the beginning of living room window. There were two windows on each side of the balcony door, a piece of beige transparent fabric dancing though the slightly opened door in the light breeze.
He stood there with his back leaned to the wall. To peek or not to peek? He turned, glued himself on the wall and slowly leaned forward toward the beginning of the window. There were two figures in the living room, one standing by the door while the other one sat on the couch turned toward the door. He couldn't see well because of the curtain, but maybe… maybe if he could peek through the door.
He kneeled down on the floor and crawled toward the balcony door. Damn him and his curiosity for forcing him doing things like this. He carefully grabbed the edge of the fabric that was intruding through the door, slightly lifted it, and peeked in.
Kato sat on the couch, his face hidden in his palms and he was alone. Damn, so much trouble and he missed his brother.
He turned and started to crawl toward the barrier. His right foot kicked something, the tin he used as an ashtray, and the fall of it caused a metal thud. Damn it. He shouldn't have them all over the place.
"Alex?"
Maybe, if he'll ignore it...
"Alex! I know you are there."
Alex sighed and turned. He popped his head through the door. "Yeah?"
"Come in." Kato's face was blank as he patted the space beside him.
Alex stood up; with slumped shoulders and with resignation on his face he went through the door over to Kato and sat down on the patted spot.
"You aren't an obedient boy are you?" Kato voice was soft, quiet.
"No. And I know, I'm too curious for my own good." Alex adjusted his glasses on his nose and then fidgeted in his seat: "Are you going to fire me?"
"Technically, I can't really fire you, there's still one week of the probation left." Kato turned toward Alex and leaned with his cheek on the back of the couch, his eyes missing that warmth that was always there. "And no, I'm not going to let you go that easily."
"Oh." His eyes were so sad; Alex never saw him like that, was it his fault? "Are you alright? I'm sorry if I…"
"It's ok." Kato eyes focused on something behind Alex.
"O." Alex inched closer. Should he give him a hug? Hugs are always good when one's feeling bad. Of course, he had to give him a hug. What kind of a personal assistant would he be if he couldn't make his lovely, nice boss feel a little better? He leaned forward, wound his arms around Kato, timidly as if Kato was a fragile glass and pulled him carefully close, watchful for anything that might look as rejection.
Kato put his chin on Alex's shoulder and sighed, his hands sneaking around Alex's waist. "I'm alright, you know."
"Of course you are." Alex palm slide up and down Kato's back.
"You smell nice." Kato snuggled closer, he pressed with his weight on Alex and they slid down.
"Huh?" Alex's back hit the flat surface of the couch and Kato's head found its place on Alex's shoulder.
"Fresh, like lemons." Kato threw his arm over Alex's abdomen.
"It's… it's Lush's massage tablet." Alex lay there all tense, his legs dangled down from the couch. His arms felt awkward, heavy and long, and like they don't belong to him, like the body with the extra weight on it isn't his.
"It smells good." Kato's hand started to play with Alex's fingers that were resting stiffly by Alex's side.
The warmth of Kato's body slowly slipped into Alex and he slowly started to relax. He lifted his free hand and entangled his fingers into silken red hair, the fingertips massaged gently Kato's scalp.
Kato leaned into Alex's caress and a soft mewling sound escaped from his throat.
Alex repressed the chuckle that threatened to spill forward. He never knew, but Kato really was a large version of a kitty. Ok, maybe not a kitty kitty, but definitely something cat related; something majestic and elegant. Maybe a black puma.
Yeah, a black puma sounded about right: beautiful, slick and graceful.
"Your heart is beating really fast." Kato entwined their fingers together and lifted their hands, bringing them toward his face and he pressed a kiss on Alex's fingers.
Alex's fingertips stopped their administration on Kato's scalp. "Why did you do that?"
"And now it's beating even faster." Kato tucked their hands underneath his chin.
"You just kissed me." Alex tried to lift himself.
"Just your hand." Kato looked up. "I wonder… "
"What?" The weight on him prevented him from lifting himself up.
"I wonder how fast your heart would start to beat if I…" Kato inched up; his face was almost parallel with Alex's.
"If you what?" Alex could feel his heart in his throat and Kato's breath on his cheek.
A naughty smile embellished Kato's features and he pushed himself up an inch so that now they were parallel. He leaned closer, his lips so close to Alex's face that he could almost feel them on his skin.
Something started to vibrate in Kato's pants.
Kato released Alex's hand. He raised his upper body up and dug his hand into his pocket, fishing the phone out of it. He flipped it open and carried it toward his ear.
"Moshi moshi. (Hello.)"
Alex turned toward Kato.
"Hai." Kato used his arm as a prop for his body. His brown eyes were looking down on Alex.
Alex looked away from those burning eyes.
"Hai. Hai." Kato then flipped the phone shut and put it back into his pocket. He lifted himself into sitting position and straddled Alex.
What was he doing? Alex blinked.
"I wish we could continue, but I have to go. Siva called that they can't proceed without me anymore." Kato bent down and pressed a quick kiss on Alex's lips. "Thank you."
"Thank you for what?" Alex watched Kato's getting up. He lifted himself into a sitting position, his finger going to his lips.
"For giving me what I need."