Deceptions

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

"Another day, another dollar." Hiroshi Yamamoto said to himself as he walked into the luxurious loft apartment, the luxurious apartment that was cold nad lonely just like the clients he worked with everyday. The clean smell opened his senses as he walked from one room to the next, taking his way to the bedroom where he took a seat on the edge of his queen sized bed. He slipped out of his shined Gucci shoes and stared in front of him into the large walk in closet where he was greeted by rows of pressed black, grey, and pinstriped suits for work. The house was so empty and he wanted to fill that void by going out for the evening. He grinned and pulled off his black blazer and unbuttoned his shirt as he headed towards the bathroom where he was quick to disrobe and get into the steaming hot shower, after of course he turned on his player to allow the empty void to be filled by some contemporary swing. It was going to be a change of pace, he knew, much later, but now he was just trying to get ready.

Hiroshi was a man of class and style and had various patterns of how things were to be done. After the shower he had walked back into his large closet to pull on some semi-tight torn jeans followed by a white button up shirt. He stared in the mirror a while as he picked out his boots after spending too long trying to decide between the black or the brown. Air drying was something he enjoyed, but he knew that the night was too young to be worrying about rehydrating his skin. He walked out of the bedroom back into the unsteamed bathroom to start on his new ritual of gelling his sleek black hair, spiking the thick hair in different directions, followed by a quick shave, a splash of after shave, and then a few spritz of the highed priced cologne on the market. If his outfit didn't show it off then the smell would. He gave a spray on the neck, then the ripped chest, and below.

He buttoned up the shirt and grabbed the black blazer on his bed and flipped the collar up knowing that not even the sexiest man in the world could top his style. He was rich, he wanted everyone to know, which was why he purchased ripped jeans for over 300 credits. It was all a tactic to keep his competitors at bay because he knew that if he flaunted money the others would pay more attention to him and give him what he really wanted.

Like usual, Hiroshi gave himself the once over in the tall mirror in the living room before heading out the door. He raised his black eyebrows, right, left, right, left, turned his head from side to side, checking out his outift making sure it was prestine and perfect. After all, class was something to be desired and shown. He licked his lips and gave a smile. It was Friday night and it was time for a little rest and relaxation. He was going to go to the place that offered him alysium from his hectic work days and to brighten his senses and allow him to be frugal with some of his hard earned dollars. It was the end of the week! He earned it!

Hiroshi flipped his collar a few more times and adjusted himself and shook his head knowing why he had purchsaed those jeans he had only worn once, in the store. His butt looked fabulous! He gave himself a wink and then a kiss and grabbed his leather wallet and keys. Tonight, he thought to himself, he was gonna let lose and get a little fun in before dawn. If anyone was to resist him, they were gonna be out of a lot of credits and a lot of love.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko Arai was burning alive. He'd barely had time to leave his day shift at a little diner eight blocks from his house, take a shower and get redressed and get to his nightly job at Raoul's ten blocks the other direction. His hair was still damp, even though he had taken two seconds before he'd left to hairdry and style it a little. He had dressed in three minutes flat--"It's a record, babe," his boyfriend had said from the bed--and his had been out the door and on his hover board, speeding much faster than was allowed, down the walkway.

Yasuko's life wasn't so bad. He was a middle class guy with a nice sized flat, two good jobs, an in tact family, and an amazing boyfriend. He never expressed his happiness in his life openly, one of his boyfriend's biggest pet peeves, but he was really happy with where he was at this point in life. The only complaint he had was that his significant other wa moving way too fast for him. Aaron was talking about moving in with him, getting married, things Yasu was not even close to being up for yet. He was only nineteen. Yet Aaron was the one best thing that had happened to Yasu in the past year. It was just...

Yasu's hover board stalled as he tried to push it to a stop much faster than it was usually accustomed to. He nearly mowed down two customers who were heading in. He smiled at them as he jumped off and grabbed the board up. He pulled open the door of Raoul's and nodded to them.

"Sorry..." he muttered. Slowly he followed them inside, glancing around as the lights flashed around him. The night festivities had already begun and men and women alike were whooping and hollering at a dancer on stage. Yasu didn't even bother to look as he picked his way through the crowed to the bar that was just opening to his luck.

"You were almost late, Yasu," said someone as they passed. Yasuko didn't turn to see who it was. He made his way behind the bar, closing the counter behind him and beginning to get things in place before horny guys saw that the cute bartender was here and decided to come get a drink and flirt a little.

Yeah, this was Yasuko's life.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

So, the party had begun and he was still sitting at the stage, drinking droplets of water spawning from his ice, not cracking a smile, not truly enjoying himself just yet since the night was still so fresh and young that anyone could walk through that door and bust him good. Sad he was still feeling like a child when he was a grown man and could do what he pleased with his money, spare time, and heart rate. He was already turned on that was a given, but the man on stage was too absurd in his routine trying to hard to turn the heads of every man, woman, and alien alike. He was sick of him and he hadn't even been on for more than three minutes. Sadly the man still had a few more to go. Hiroshi sighed out and moved his head to the left as he scooted up in his seat from his nice lounged position to lean on the stages bar, agitated at the man bouncing around on stage who, to his dismay, was bouncing right his way. He glanced up barely and gave him a glance that was annoyed and told him to back off. He slowly tossed the boy a few credits knowing that, despite his frehsness at the bar, he still was working hard and he wasnt doing this all for free.

The door could be heard creaking open then slamming shut. he gave it a passing glance, still hiding in the shadows in case one of his female workers dropped in, after all those women were hornier than he ever was. Guess being a lawyer was a turn off for most men! The stories he had heard put a smile on his face and brightened his mood slightly. He needed more to drink, he thought as he looked up at the boy showing off the goods he offered. Hiroshi was going to give him the benefit of the doubt, yes more to drink would definitely make him care more about what he was doing.

Once the new tender was set up he'd get himself something ro drink and wait around for a while until the next act showed up. Too bad Tatsuki quit when he first found the place. They could have been good friends. Real good friends.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko watched as people began to come through the crowd to be seated at the bar, three men, an alien Yasuko didn't know, and a woman. He nodded as people began to order a regualar asking for what he always got. Yasuko got to work, filling orders as quickly as he could. He always thought that the bar needed two tenders instead of one, but as it stood he was the assigned tender.

As he brought one man his drink the tall guy grabbed Yasuko's wrist, preventing him from moving back. Yasu looked up at the brawny man who looked drunk already. He smiled stupidly at Yasu who blew a bit of his hair from his face, unimpressed with the huge man's advances.

"You gonna let me...show you...a good time tonight?" the man slurred at Yasu who raised an eyebrow. He slid his small wrist from the man's hand and smirked as he turned away.

"Yeah..." he said, walking down to the opposite end of the bar, hopping up on it and leaning back flipping a few credits to the stage not a foot away as the dancer spun over to him, and dipped backwards, smiling down at him. Yasu grinned up at him, scooting back a little to place a peck on his lips. "Doing great, Gong. Keep it up," he said as the young man scooped up the credits and continued on. Yasu chuckled, sliding off the bar and going back to his work, tucking some more hair behind his ears as he made sure no one was in need of his tending skills.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked around the room taking in the faces noticing nobody familiar so he was a bit more confident in walking around and checking out those who were offering services tonight and showcasing what was offered. He raised his eyebrow and watched a cute little boy walk up behind the bar and he immediately got a sense of gratification knowing he could get a refill on his scotch and get fresh ice cubes.

He slowly immerged from the darkness, not truly wanting his identity to be known, but he almost knew every face by know and knew everyone who stumbled into the very open and friendly club he knew the newbies came in early. He sighed as he got to his feet and held the glass by its rim and slowly and sexily moved over to the bar, leaving his blazer behind on the bacl of the chair letting everyone know that he had the good seat in the house tonight. Luckily he had gotten off work early tonight to enjoy every act that happened to touch the stage. He watched the boy working hard, something he had to admit, he never paid much attention to the tenders unless they were multi talented, which lately they hadn't been offering services other than that at the bar. Shame, they could be making so much more money. Hiroshi sighed out as he slid under the ledge of the bar and put his feet onthe step and turned the seat sideways so he could get what he needed and still keep his eye on the show, but after a few minutes he realized he needed a cigarette and a break from the flashy dancer who was wearing so many feather boas that he wondered if there was a shortage in the bird population. He cleared his throat as he put the filtered end of the white cigarette in his mouth and lit it quickly sensing the tender walking his way.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasu's eyes caught the well dressed man who had slid into a seat at his bar. He shifted his eyes away as he carried four glasses down to four rowdy guys at the end of the bar. He passed the man up to lay the drinks out and ask if they needed anything else. When he was assured the only thing they needed was him tied to a bed, he turned his attention the smartly dressed guy a few seats down.

He walked over, knocking a string from his black vest that must have come off his button up unerneath. He stood in front of the man and leaned his elbows on the bar, looking up at him and lifting his eyebrows. For a second, he looked him over.

Clean, white button up, expensively torn jeans that hugged the thighs in all the right places. The smell of a cologne that was not the kind Yasuko could ever afford in this lifetime, and a pake of cigarettes laying out next to him, one between his teeth. And hair styled to perfection. This guy was much too fancy to be in a place like this. Yasuko figured he was a government ant maybe, or an office slug. Either way, he had enough money on him to buy out the place of its whores, not to mention as many drinks as he wanted. Yasuko looked up at him.

"Hey, Cat. Can I get something for you?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

He looked around, frowning slightly as he wondered mindlessly if there was anyway he could get the guy watching the whole show to strip. He shook his head slightly and glanced up at the boy and smiled.

"Cat?" He let out a gentle roll of laughter and looked around for a moment wanting an ash dispenser. "I'll have a scotch, please." He looked around and saw a nice clean one a few seats away from him. He stood up and bent his body to the right as his left leg lifted up slightly, allowing him the stability to grab the crystal ash tray to put out his ever growing ashes. How he needed to quit. He watched the boy turn and his eyes trailed down his back and to his butt, he wasn't one to stare, but this boy was so pretty that he wanted to take his picture, put it in his pocket, and save it for a rainy day.

"Think you'll have a good night?" Hiroshi sighed out in a question of interest, just to make small chit chat while the boy worked. Hiroshi wondered if these tenders ever got tired of the hackling they got from drunk horny men and women who wanted a good romp in the sack. Sometimes he even wondered if some of them were equpped to even be a tender due to their sexiness. He wondered if the owner had a master plan to blind the customers with the sexiness while they just filled their glasses up with cheap alcohol.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasu's ear turned back to the man as he asked him a question and he got the scotch for him. He shrugged at no one in particular, snatching a napkin from the shelf that was just almost too tall for him to reach. Damn his Asian stature. He turned back to the man walking to quick step back to the bar, setting the glass down on the napkin and sliding to the man.

"This is Raoul's. It's unpredictable," he said with a shrug, flipping some hair from his face and licking his lips. He looked from the glass to the man's face. He watched him for a moment, his curiosity getting the better of him. This guy was definately not like most of the things that wandered through here. He must have a really good reason for being here. Maybe he was meeting someone. But why would a high class cat like this agree to meeting in a place like this with people like these around. Yasuko heard a whistle in his direction and glanced down the bar to the big guy who had grabbed his wrist earlier. The man winked at him. Yasuko smiled, turning back to the man in front of him. He leaned on the bar again.

"Why are you here?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi head the men set the cup down and slide it to him. He looked at the hand that touched the corner and up the thin arm that was attached to a magnificent creature. He wanted to keep the impure thoughts out of his head but it was kind of heard when he hadn't been able to get any in quite some time, even his girl was holding out on him thesee days. He was under enough stress as it was, he didn't need blue balls in the process. He took the cup and took a quick sip and looked up at the boy wondering why he even worked there.

"Why am I?" Hiroshi smiled and took another drink, followed by a drag of his cigarette. "Why is anyone here?" It wasn't an answer, he knew, but he was never one to talk about himself even though it was one of his favorite subjects! He decided to turn the tables and requit the question in a different form.

"Why bartend here? I am sure you are over qualified."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasu shook his hair back as he stood straight again, leaning on the counter with the heal of his hand and putting the other hand on his hip. He lifted an eyebrow at the man. He was either fishing or fending off Yasu's question, either way the teenager was smarter than he looked. He shook his head looking over the others at the bar. Then he looked back at the man.

"Come on, Cat. Nobody wanders into Raoul's with that get up on," he said nodding to his outfit. He smiled a little more. "Let me guess. The shirt you got at Kaye's--I have one just like it. The jeans...White Wash? No...not classy enough. Asunder," Yasuko chewed his lip as he leaned back a little to see the shoes the man had. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He stood straight again. "And the boots. Those probably came from Canaan's, in the high class quarter of the PARIS District..."

Yasuko leaned back slightly, chewing his lip a little harder to make sure there was nothing he missed. Then he nodded, satisfied and leaned back on the counter, smiling at his new acquaintance.

"You think people who have that kind of money frequent this place? If you do you're wrong," he said with a nod. "You're one in a million, Cat."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi frowned softly as he held his drink in his left hand, watching the boys eyes travel over his body, it was kind of nice to get the attention he had been craving, especially from this fine specimen of male, but the way he was looking at him wasn't quite the survey he was wanting. Either way the boy was making him laugh. He chuckled and watched him bite his lip.

Hiroshi wasn't one to hit on the bartenders, the only one he talked to frequently had been an old friend of his who, in the end, got fired for stealing from the register. After that incident he strayed away from the criminals considering he defended them every day. Now all he had to deal with were like the fairies who pranced around on stage with their glitter and feathers, praying like hell they didn't break their neck in their platform shoes. But, as bad as he hated to think it, this boy was cute as could be. So cute in fact he was hot. No man with looks that could kill and resurrect the dead worked at a dumpy place like this. Hey, with all due respect Raoul's had given him many great nights he couldn't care to remember, and he came there quite a bit, but come on...this guy was selling himself out for something brighter and better. A job that wouldn't have men, much like Hiroshi, thinking how much they'd spend on getting a good nights worth with him.

"Well it got your attention now didn't it?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko chuckled a little, shaking his head. Someone, down the bar, made a loud noise, then shouted his name as loudly as it seemed was possible for them. Yasu's brow furrowed and he looked down the bar to the rowdy bunch he had served earlier. One of the group had thier glass held high, laughing like a psychopath and weaving like a rocking chair. Yasuko rolled his eyes.

"Coming, Braye!" he yelled, turning back to the drinks. He grabbed another glass that matched the one the man had and filled it with his drink of choice, once again standing on his tip toes to reach a napkin on the shelf. He leaned down, turning off the spicket and holding the napkin under the glass. He glanced at the well dressed man sitting behind him. He winked.

"Sorry, Cat. Duty calls."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi grumbled to himself, like usual everything good had to leave. He bit back the urge to do something about that wink, like give him a number or a few credits for being cute as helll, but he declined and turned on the chair and headed back over to the stage where the guy was finishing up and heading off stage. Quickly music blasted from the speakers allowing people to dance around, mingle, buy or sell a few guys, Hiroshi opted to sit at the stage, drink, smoke, and just enjoy the sights and sounds that Raoul's was giving him. If anyone eknew he came in there he'd be in so much crap that he wondred why he even still came there despite knowing the dangers he could face.

Hiroshi leaned back and sighed out, no need in thinking about negative right now. All he needed to do was get a good buzz going and perhaps get a little lap dance on the side. There was a lot of options tonight and that made him happy, but for some reason he kept thinking about that bartender. How come his face looked familiar? Sure he visited this place often, but he had never paid much attention to who served his drinks. Why had this cutie been so different? God, what was he thinking? Cutie? Since when did he look at a guy and think of that tag nickname? Hiroshi knew how to fix it though, a little more scotch. He drowned down the rest and stood up and headed back over to the friendly bar the burn still lingering by the time he reached it.

He looked down at the end of the bar to the boy who was smiling and filling drinks. His eyes couldn't help but travel up and down his back, his lean and shapely back. Suddenly he wondered what he looked like without the shirt. Again he shook his head with a stifle laugh. He definitely needed more to drink.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko shooed away his friend who had lit on the counter and whose backside was getting in the way of his rag that he was cleaning it with. His friend--Ahmed--seemed to be enjoying getting on Yasuko's nerves as he proceeded to flip his legs over the bar and lean down right in his best friends face.

"Come on, Ahmed! I have things to do," Yasu said with a grin as he cleaned through his friend's legs. The other teenager laughed at him then leaned down to speak in his ear over the music.

"That snazzy guy up the bar is checking you out, Yasu...ask him to dance," he muttered. Yasuko leaned back looking at Ahmed then glancing back over his shoulder. The well dressed man he had been talking to a few moments before was looking his direction, but Yasu couldn't tell if he was looked at him or one of the other patrons. He looked back at Ahmed.

"Don't you have somewhere to be? Aren't you dancing next?" he asked. Ahmed shrugged, jumping into the tender's box with Yasu and moving around behind him and further down the bar. Yasu followed him with his eyes. Ahmed brandished a fat tube of green eyeliner.

"I need your help applying this," his friend said, hopping onto the bar farther down and observing the makr up tube. Yasu rolled his eyes.

"Ask Yaman to do it, I'm busy!" he grumped, moving back towards his friend who had suspiciously parked himselfg just to the left of the smartly dressed guy, whose glass, Yasu noticed was empty. He walked over leaning around Ahmed taking the guy's glass. He smiled. "Hey again. Need some more?" But he didn't wait for an answer, he simply turned and began filling more scotch.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi was taken off guard by his voice but his heart jumped and he looked up and smiled, nodding even though the boy didn't see it. He moved his eyes around to the man nearby, his get up was that of a dancer and he wondered if perhaps he'd be any better than the last act. Either way Hiroshi quickly looked back to the bartender who, unwillingly, caught hsi fancy tonight. Hiroshi clenched his jaw and heard the dooray to the bar open, the unmistakable sound of hard metal scraping against street concrete spine tingling, in the worst way as well. He looked at the facese coming in, a few in drag, some in costumes, a few laughing and ready to have a party. Relief flew through his tense body and he suddenly began wondering if anyone knew him, wondered if anyone happened to be one of his clients or one of his fellow co-workers. The temperature was slowly rising and he was already unbuttoning two buttons at the top of his shirt and rolling his sleeves up. Looking sexy was going to have to take a back seat to comfort at this moment. Already he was uncomfortable considering his pants were tighter than he had remembered when he left the house, then again they had a good reason. A cute reason as well.

He cleared his throat and his body temperature rose again and a bead of sweat was trying to form. He needed more to drink and pronto. If he was going to relieve himself tonight he needed to be drunk enough to try and forget about what he was doing. But he wouldn't mind being a bit sober for a little fun with the bartender who he needed to stop looking at. Hiroshi popped his neck in another failed attempt to keep himself from going over the edge and he bit his lower lip and tried to keep his mind set on giving away some cash and getting some drinks, nothing more and nothing less.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko set the glass on the bar in front of the man, not looking at him as he took the tube of green eye liner from Ahmed. He opened it up and pulled his friend on the floor to apply it evenly. He put one hand on his cheek and rested the other on his forehead to steady his grip.

"'Kay, hold still..." he muttered. It only took a few moments, he was used to applying liner to himself and others and when he finished, his friend took the tube back and tucked it in a pocket inside the leather jacket that he barely wore.

"Thanks, Yasuko. Wish me luck!" Ahmed said as he turned to leave. Yasu pushed his shoulder blades.

"Luck! You look beautiful! Even I would screw you!" he called after his friend who yelled back a witty remark that Yasuko couldn't hear. He shook his head and rubbed a forearm across his forehead, looking down at it. He was sweating, a fine sheen over his body. Raoul's was infamous for being the hottest place in the ISLAM District, both figuratively and literally. He turned and retrieved himself a bottle of water, the whole alcohol drying him out more than quenching his thirst. He pulled his tender's stool from the back of the bar and pulled it up to the counter, hopping up on it and popping open the water.

After drinking in a few gulps, he sat it down on the counter, looking up at the well dressed man who was still sitting there. Yasu had to admit, the guy was pretty cute. Even for an office slug. Aaron was a pristine dresser, but this guy was surreal. Yasuko couldn't afford the kinds of things he was wearing, but after seeing him in them, the teenager didn't know if he would be able to do them justice. Unfortunately, the guy was probably straight as an arrow, if he was anything like the office slugs that came in the cafe during the day.

"Looks like its just me and you again, Cat...nobody else sober enough to speak," Yasuko said. Then he leaned forward on the bar, getting closer to the man's face. "Unless you're wasted on three glasses of scotch?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked him up and down, perhaps a bit longer than he had intended. Damn he was getting finer and finer the more he stared, the more he wanted, the more he knew he couldn't have. He took a drink and suddenly realized it was gone. Had it been three glasses already? Perhaps he was feeling a buzz, that or this guy was doing things to him that he wasn't wanting to give in to yet. He reached into the glass tumbler and grabbed an ice cube and ran it across his lips enjoying the coldness and licking the water and reminents of alcohol off. He stared at the boy, suddenly illicit thoughts jumped into his head and he realized that licking the ice cube wasn't perhaps the straightest thing to do. He quickly put it back into the cup and licked the water off his fingers and looked around before finding the mans eyes again.

"I guess so." He smiled and shook his head. "Three glasses of scotch is like drinking water, but I will admit..." He grabbed the collar of his shirt and unbuttoned it a bit more, purposely to get atttention and to get air. "It is hotter than hell in here." he plucked the collar a few times before dropping his hand on the bar. Hiroshi looked him up and down once more before continuing the casual chat.

"So, have you worked here long? I don't recall seeing you here yet your face looks familiar."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko leaned back a little waving a hand in front of his face. He considered the question a moment. Come to think of it, the guy did look a little familiar, but he never remembered him coming to the bar on his shift. He licked his lips and then chewed his bottom lip, swallowing once before leaning back on the bar.

"I've been working here about two months, in the evenings only. Got a tip from my friend, Taro," he said deciding to act on his urge and reaching into the guys scotch glass, picking up the ice cube he had been holding and sliding it into his mouth. It was harmless flirting. Besides, if it offended the guy he'd get up and leave. He sucked on the ice cube absentmindedly for a moment while he put his chin in his hand and set his elbow on the bar. Then he thought he remembered seeing him.

He'd been in an expensive suit at the back of the room with the bride and groom, talking jovially with both. Yasuko had been making his way over, but the man had moved on by the time Yasu had gotten over there. Yasuko remembered noting that the guy was Asian and that his hair looked really good. The teenager sat back a little.

"Taro and Jesimae's wedding. You were there," he said, licking his lips and moving the ice cube from one cheek to the other. "I knew I recognized you."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

For a moment he had been distracted by the lips that were suddenly wet, luscious, pink, ripe, ready to be sucked dry by him. God the things he suddenly wanted to do! Luckily he snapped out of it.

Okay, he was just trying to make chit chat...he really wasn't serious that this guy would remember any place where he would have seen him. Even more so at his good friends wedding! God if she found out....if anyone for that matter found out about his being there the problems that could occur would be horrific and could cause him a lot of strif and troubles in the long run. Not only would Jesimae kick him in the butt for cheating on his girlfriend, not telling her the truth about certain nights he ditched on her, but he would lose one of the most precious women in all his life. Lydia, his beautiful girlfriend. She'd be devastated. Wait? What was he thinking? Everyone was allowed to go clubbin' every now and then! He wasn't hurting anyone! Although there were many places he could go for a few good tunes and some good dancing and drinks, he prefered Raoul's because they had other points of interest.

Hiroshi moved in his chair and let out a laugh as his mind flashed with the sudden problems. No job, no apartment, no clothes, no money, no girlfriend...he'd end up just like the pathetic people he defended. He was much better than that! This guy didn't know him! He saw many faces every night he couldn't point him out in a lineup if he was paid to! He looked at the boy and shook his head.

"I-I'm sorry?" He smiled and shook his head. "No, I don't know any Taro's or Jesimae's. I guess I mistook you for someone else."

[Yasuko Arai]

"I dunno..." Yasu said, hopping onto the bar and sliding back, swinging his legs over the man's head and jumping off the other side. "I remember thinking you were pretty cute." Then he shrugged. "But whatever you say, Cat." He waved his hand at a waitress that was walking through the crowd. "Hey, Callie! Can you cover for me? I gotta have a smoke!" he called to her. Knowing he much preferred his cigarettes in the cooler outside air, she waved back at him. Yasu looked back at the man.

"I'll be outside, Cat. I'm sure Callie will entertain you," he said with a wink. He turned to the crowed, reaching up and immediatelt undoing the buttons on the vest, pulling it off and rolling his sleeves up. He picked his way through the crowd, patting his pockets to make sure his cigarettes, lighter and wallet were still there. The three most important things. The crowd was thing and moved as almost one unit, but he soon found his way out of the bar and to the cool street beyond.

Taking a breath of the clear air after being in a hot bar talking to an hotter person was refreshing, and the taste of his light cigarettes was even better. He looked up at the hover traffic above him and the stars above them. He could have sworn it had been that guy at the wedding. He looked over his shoulder back into the bar at the guy inside. He turned back. He could have been wrong. Yasu's memory was not anything special. But he didn't think it was that bad.

Oh, how he wished that guy weren't so damn straight. As long as Aaron never knew, a little make out session with a hot guy would make his mood a lot better.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi watched him walk out and he couldn't help but stare. If he didn't watch himself, things could and would get out of hand as quickly as possible. He sighed out and took out his pack of cigarettes to see two left. He just blankly stared as he moved them around with a flick of his wrist. He thought a moment and wondered...he didn't know anyone here and vice versa. He worked high enough up to destroy people's reputations as much as they could his. He nodded and put the pack back into his pocket and walked over towards the door he had seen the cute boy walk out of. He was needing some fresh air anyhow, actually he was just chasing after what he liked which was something he usually did. Plus, this man had said he was cute. Damn.

Hiroshi put that aside and walked out of the door and glanced around to see the boy smoking away on his cigarettes. He coyly walked beside him and looked at him, noticing the way he smelled and how hot he suddenly had become, especially when he looked at his jawline that was hidden behind his hair. It was so sharp and shimmering with natural sweat. How much he wanted to just...Hiroshi looked up at the sky and let out a sigh.

"Mind if I bum one? Callie...she's not my type."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's eyes shifted over as the man came out, telling him Callie wasn't his type and if he could bum a cigarette. Yasu smiled, pulling his pack. He pulled one out, lighting it off his own and handing it over without looking at him. When the man took his, he stuff the pack back into his pocket. His vest was laying idle on metal box attached to the side of the building whose use was unknown to Yasu. He turned towards the man, tapping some ashes off his cigarette and leaning against the wall, watching as a guy on a hover bike flew by. He hissed a breath in through his teeth.

"God, I'd sell myself for one of those," he said, looking after it as it blazed down past them and turned into Far East Tattoo parlor. He shook his head, taking a drag. "Damn things cost an arm and a leg. I don't know who I'd have to blow, but I'd do it," he said in a sigh, the smoking coming from his lips in a long line. He was just talking now, he figured if the guy had followed him out here, then he deserved whatever boring chatter he got. Because he obviously wasn't going to show any interest in Yasu. The teenager dropped the cigarette, watched it burn for another moment, then crushed it with his toe. He gave the man a sidelong look. He grinned.

"If I'm going to have my own personal stalker, I think he ought to have a name, don't you?" he said playfully, walking around to face the man who was not that much taller than he. He offered a hand. "Arai Yasuko, hajemimashite."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked at the bike then heard the comments the boy made. God, how suddenly turned on he was. He knew that thoughts like that was going to get him into some serious trouble. He wished he could have said he could blow him for free and he'd give him whatever he wanted, even if that was his body! Hiroshi grinned as he took the cigarette and stared at the man through the smoke that rose into his eyes. He was so sexy and it was beginning to show through Hiroshi's mannerisms. He wasn't one to follow a guy and ask for a cigarette when he had two left to smoke.

He slit his eyes and looked around trying to not stare, but how hard it was to fight urges her rarely gave into anymore. He blew out a line of smoke and then glanced back at the boy who started talking again.

"Do I strike you as a stalker?" Hiroshi stood tall and looked down at him, how he wanted to just give in! He shook it off and laughed lightly and looked at the man and saw the hand he offered. "Hajimemashite." He said taking his hand and bowing politely. "Yamamoto Hiroshi."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko shook his hand and nodded to the man's bow, dropping his hand back to his side. He turned slightly, crossing his arms over his chest and glancing down at his watch. His shift would be over in an hour, but if he coud get Callie to cover him, he could leave and twenty minutes. He wanted to go home and sleep, he was bushwhacked and tomorrow was Saturday. Then again, another hour with this guy didn't seem like such a bad thing either. He glanced over his shoulder.

"Yamamoto-san," he said quietly to himself, the word a purr in his throat. How nice it felt to say a Japanese name again. He missed living in the NIHONGO District and chattering in Japanese all the time. With Aaron and his co-workers not being of that origin, Basic had become his main way of communication. Unless he was talking to his parents, or Taro. "Yamamoto Hiroshi-kun. Yamamoto-kun. That sounds better," he said, throwing a smile over his shoulder at the man. He probably thought Yasu was psychotic, saying his name over and over. But Yasu liked the name. He liked it a lot.

"You don't know how nice it is to hear a little Japanese again. Especially spoken so well," he said with a sigh. "Do you speak it fluently?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi wasn't complaining! Since he began repeating it he was imagining him saying it in the midst of a passionate "meeting" so-to-speak. Damn this boy was fine. He moved closer to him and nodded in response even if he didn't see it.

"I speak it fluently, yes. My parents are of Japanese decent. They live in the NIHONGO-District of Coruscant. A lot of nice looking guys down there." He let it slip. He knew that would happen one of these days. He'd be so turned on by one man that he would just let his sexual fantasies go free. He was lucky it wasn't in company that would find it offensive, at least he thought.

How Hiroshi wanted to look at him and say How about you and I go speak it fluently somewhere else? Like my bedroom. Damn how he wanted to do all the things he knew he shouldn't. To his dismay his cell phone began to ring.

"Gomen." He said to his newfound friend and reached into his pocket. he didn't truly remember bringing his cell phone, but he took it everywhere it was like an extra arm, considering he already had the third leg. The number that glowed made him hiss, made him hit reality. He looked up at the boy and smiled as he answered the phone.

"Yeah?" It was his girlfriend.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko watched him for a moment as he conversed but turned away and took a step or two away to give him some privacy. He couldn't help but let a big grin spread across his face. The guy wasn't straight, or at least he liked guys too. That was a plus...plus, plus, plus. Although, Yasu knew that even if the guy was interested in guys, he probably had a boyfriend. Nothing that nice looking could stand being snatched up by something equally fine.

Yasuko weighed the merits of calling his boyfriend and having him come pick him up. Aaron wasn't the hot business guy at the bar, but he was his boyfriend, and a night with him would probably make the Hiroshi's memory disappear. Although for some reason, the thought did not sound very appealing. He heard the sound of a door slam on the alleyway and glanced over to see one of his friends emerge in a jacket and decent clothing. He looked up and smiled at Yasu.

"Hey," he said, keeping his voice down so as not to disturb his friend. The other teenager smiled, walking up to him and giving him a quick hug.

"Closing in about a half hour," he said. Yasu cocked his head.

"Closing? This early?" he asked. His friend nodded.

"DJ's had some problems with the PA system. They have to reboot it all and they're gonna use the last half hour to do it," he explained. Yasu nodded. That PA system had been giving them problems for weeks. Hopefully they would be able to get it fixed. His friend nodded to the door. "Callie wanted me to tell you that Raoul's got the bar and you can go on home. Told me to tell you night for her."

"Thanks, dude. See you Monday," Yasu said, hugging the other teen again. The other hurried off down the street his form slowly dissipating in the darkness. Yasu turned his gaze back to Hiroshi who was still on the phone. He'd have to depart from his friend for the evening, unless Hiroshi would walk with him till they had to split ways.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

"Look, I'll see you tomorrow. Yeah. You too. Bye." Hiroshi hung up severely annoyed. Lydia had a problem with calling him at random moments to tell him he was thinking of her, the girl had no tastes or tact when it came to what others were doing. What if he was in the middle of a movie? What if he was learning news of a death in the family? What if he was...doing...someone. She was so annoying at times he wondered how the hell he even stayed with her. Lord knows she not only had bad timing but she was clumsy, and had horrible taste in clothes. Hiroshi rolled his eyes and looked back over to his new friend.

"Famiily." He lete out a sigh of relief and glanced at the ground. He raised the phone to his mouth and for a moment he thought. After he decided it was harmless and passed the idea to Yasuko.

"Hey, I don't know if you would want to, but, could I give you a ride?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko glanced at the ground. God, what a tempting offer. But what would Aaron say if he found out? No, he wouldn't. He was at his own flat by now. No one at Raoul's would tell, that was for sure. And his shift was over. It couldn't hurt anything. He looked back up the man, working his mouth a little, as he thought. No, it couldn't hurt anything at all. He smiled nodding.

"Yeah, thanks. Let me grab a couple things," he said. He jogged back into the bar grabbing his hover board from the floor and his cell phone from a table. He checked it quickly. One messege from Aaron. It could wait. He jogged back out, retrieving his vest from the metal box. He stuff the cell into his pocket and folded his vest over his arm, tucking his hover board under the other arm. He nodded.

"Sorry," he said with a smile. "Thanks, Hiroshi."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled warmly. What the hell was he doing? Lydia was at home bored out of her mind watching late night television, thinking of him, wanting him to drop by whenever he was done doing whatever he was doing. He loved her, lord knew, but there was just something she couldn't give to him. He nodded to Yasuko and pointed around the corner of the building.

"My hover craft is right around there. Don't worry I am not going to jump you for your money or anything." He winked at him. But I might jump you in general. The perverse things he thought was killing him. He needed to figure out how to stop. This kind of behavior wasn't right, he was wanting to do things with a stranger, a hot one at that, while he had someone who loved and trusted him somewhere else. It was just a friendly ride! God where was his mind going? So being nice to someone suddenly turned into a sin for which he'd burn in hell for?

"No problem. I have nothing better to do tonight, it will keep me a bit busy and cause me to avoid going home." Yes, this man was so cute and because of this it made things all the harder to deny.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned at him as they made thier way around to his hover car. When they rounded the corner, Yasu immediately saw the one that was his. It was black and sleek and its price probably would have dismembered Yasuko on the spot if he had asked it. He lifted his eyebrows as Hiroshi approached it, unlocking it. Yasu kept his mouth shut as he stowed his things--that looked so poor next to this vehicle--in the back seat.

But when he climbed in the front seat and settled back in the seat, he felt out of place. He was suddenly thinking this wasn't such a good idea. Even if Yasu hadn't had a boyfriend and was looking to be with this guy, his money alone would run him off. Yasu didn't have this kind of cash, and guys with this kind of money only dated other people with this kind of money. Yasuko shrunk slightly in the seat as he listened to Hiroshi get in. Suddenly he felt like a street urchin getting a ride with a kind person who would wash thier seats for weeks trying to get his smell out.

Yasu looked out of the window as he hugged himself in the seat that felt much too big for him to be sitting in. It was so nice of this really cute guy to do this for him, but Yasu knew that this was where it ended.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi started his car up and listened to it purr silently as the expensiveness of the car showed in the way it ran so smoothly. He pulled out into the lane and was well on his way to...well..he wasn't so sure! He looked over to the seat that Yasuko barely took up. He smiled and leaned towards him and touched his knee.

"Relax, I am not going to eat you! Nor is the car!" He smiled and laughed happily and caressed the mans knee far too long for his liking. He moved it and put his hand on his lap and looked around and drew in a deep breath and exhaled lightly. "So!" He said in a happy tone as if he did this everyday, although inside he felt incredibly guilty and incredibly turned on.

"Where are you headed? Don't tell me some address and then have to walk another two blocks! I am not letting you wander alone out here in these dangerous streets. I should know...I help put them all back in their place." He grimaced. He could've kept htat comment to himself as well. Tonight he had done three things. Hit on a guy, ignored his girlfriend, and dissed his job. If he didn't watch it pretty soon he was going to say he hated his money!

[Yasuko Arai]

Heat crawled across Yasu's body when the man touched his leg and let it linger there. His face reddened and he couldn't help but hear blood rush in his ears. He liked that feeling and he liked the way this guy made him feel. But this guy was a total stranger. He turned in his seat to look at his as he drove through traffic. Yasuko smiled.

"Well, I could give you the address to apartment buildings that aren't mine in hopes to make you think they are," he said playfully. Then he turned and looked out of the window, thinking for a moment. He didn't really want to tell him where he lived. Not that he lived in a dumo or anything, but it wasn't the ritz either. He's a stranger, Yasu told himself. A perfect stranger. You'll never see him again most likely. Just grow a pair.

"Umm..." he pointed out of the window like Hiroshi would see it. "Its about ten minutes as the crow flies. Fifteen for traffic allowance. North Estate Flats," he said, looking over at the man. "You can't miss 'em." He leaned back in the seat a little the consideration of the man just striking Yasu. He ould have been playing around, but still he had seemed a little worried about Yasu's safety, which was not what the teenager would have expected. He figured the man would simply drop him wherever and let him go on his own. Yasu smiled. He felt safe.

The thought made his face redden a little, but it was true. Hiroshi was hot and rich and suave and all of those things, but Yasu felt safe with him. And that scored him very high points. Yasu looked over at the man, his face concentrating on the traffic. He looked cute when he was concentrating.

"Thanks, Hiroshi. You don't know how much I appreciate this..." he said, more to himself, as if he was almost afraid the man would hear. He smiled a little. "I'll have to do something in return sometime," he said. Then he smiled a little wider. "And now that you know where I live, you can keep up your stalking duties and make sure I do, right?" he said lightheartedly, touching the man's arm.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi drove with a smile. For some reason he wasn't feeling too guilty about this, he wasn't continuously looking over his shoulder, he was just driving a friend home and he was actually enjoying doing it. He looked over at his new friend and continued to smile, perhaps a bit too much. He liked how the guy touched him in return, but he seriously wasn't expecting his heart to skip and body heat to rise.

"No problem!" He said coyly as he looked back to the traffic ahead. He gave Yasuko a quick glance and continued to smile. "But there is something you could do for me. Let me give you my number in case you need a ride again sometime, huh?" He knew it was pushing his own limitations when it came to talking with dancers and those he met up with at Raoul's but for some reason he was more than willing to risk everything on this guy, just this once. Besides this guy could simply say no and put a stop to it all anyhow.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's face reddened again when the man told him to take his number. He smiled a little, shifting sideways in the seat to get his cell phone out of his pocket. He flipped the thing phone open, being greeted by the familiar beep that he had a messege waiting for him. It was Aaron's messege still. Yasuko ignored it and moved to his contact list that seemed to grow longer by the day.

He looked over at Hiroshi, smiling again before looking back down at his phone and getting a new entry for a new number. He quickly pressed in Hiroshi's Japanese characters, then got to the numbers. He glanced over.

"Yeah...shoot."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled happily that he didn't get shot down, which wasn't a surprise considering he never had anyone say no to him before! He rubbed his chin with his hand and tried to stop smiling so much, it was just a friendly gesture and this was a friendly exchange. He sighed out the butterflies and looked back at Yasuko and quickly told him the numbers, watching his tiny fingers press in the numbers quickly, apparently this boy did it quite a bit, which wouldn't have surpised Hiroshi at all since he was quite....quite sexy if his mind would be so blunt.

"Go it?" He asled in case he needed to repeat it, but he doubted it. He couldn't believe he had just done this! Okay, guilt was now trying to set in, but he was actually going to ingore the pain in his stomach because he wasn't honestly doing anything wrong! It was just a friendly thing! Guys were allowed to have friends and give numbers just as much as chicks. His girlfriend seemed to know everyone. Damn! He was supposed to head by her apartment, but he was actually going to pass tonight it had been eventful and good enough. He was sure she'd just nag him about how bored she was and how late he was. God, that woman....Hiroshi moved his attention back to Yasuko and grinned kindly at him.

"Call me anytime. My phone is always on."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko pressed the enter button to set the numbers in stone in his phone. He snapped the phone shut and stuck it back into his pocket. He was going to take Hiroshi up on that offer. But not immediately. He would call him in a day or two, to give the man time enough to forget about it. Maybe they could do something together sometime. As friends of course, otherwise, Aaron would have an early heart attack.

Yasu grinned as he saw his apartment building in the distance. They would be there in five or so minutes. Yasu reached over, touching the sensetive window controls causing the glass to slide down. Yasu scooted over closer to the door and poked his head out of the window, looking up to the higher hover ways and the undersides of the hover cars and the stars in the sky beyond. The sky had a yellowish glow to it, due to all the city lights. Yasu let the cold air characteristic of this height to blow his hair off his face and neck, and cool the flush out of his cheeks. This was the least safe thing to do in a hover car, but Yasu liked it. He laughed thinking how strange he must have looked to Hiroshi behind him.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

"What are you doing?" Hiroshi looked over at Yasuko and suddenly burst into laughter. What was he? Some sort of animal? He kept his eyes on the apartments nearing, but he had to give the boy several passing glances because of what he was doing. How cute he was! Did he know how cute he was? Of course, nobody with that kind of body and that kind of face acted like they didn't know. Suddenly he felt kind of bad. What if Yasuko had a boyfriend? Hiroshi let Yasuko go and put his hands back on the controls and tried to get that thought out of his mind as quickly as possible.

Hiroshi was happily in a relationship....with a woman! Yasuko was his friend and that was it. Luckily he didn't let anything like slip.

"Trying to escape so soon?" Hiroshi diverted his mind back to being friends considering he wasn't in the mood to have his thoughts overrun by morals and denial, he did that enough already. But who was to say he was in denial? Of course he wasn't! A man was allowed friends. Hiroshi mentally sighed, how many times could he think that?

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko looked back in at Hiroshi, his hair blowing crazily around his face. Seeing the man smile made him laugh and he slid back down into the seat, laying his head on the window, the air still rushing over him. He closed his eyes and grinned.

"I needed oxygen!" he called over the rushing wind. He reached up, knocking some hair from his face, only to have it blown back in his eyes a moment later by the wind. He sat forward, and laughed a little, rearranging himself in the seat and rolling the window back up. He took in a deep breath and sighed as he saw the white bulding of his apartments coming ever closer. He looked over at Hiroshi. "You're car goes faster than my hoverboard does. And there is nothing like a fast car and wind in your face!" Yasuko said through a laugh. That had just put him in the best mood ever. Or was it because of the man in the driver's seat? Yasu had been in a good mood since they had met at the club and the prospect of getting out of the car and off of his cloud wasn't very appealing. He sighed.

"Sorry. I guess your car is too expensive to play around in," he said with a shrug looking out the window. "I'm used to dumpy things, like my friends God-awful 75 Knight. Not used to this kind of thing."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and shook his head. "Eh, it is just a car." He didn't want to flaunt his money to this man, which was a first considering he loved his money and his acheivements that gave him that kind of money. Was this a first for him or what? Actually, to Hiroshi, tonight had been the beginning of a lot of firsts and he wondered if he should be scared for what this all meant. He decided a little break from his money flaunting life wasn't a bad thing since he did it all the time and it was actually beginning to feel like work.

He couldn't stop looking at the boy nor could he stop thinking about how excited he was to have given him his number. Suddenly he was beginning to think when he wa going to call, if he was even going to. THen he moved on to think of what they could talk about when he called, would they do something? Would they go somewhere together? EIther way Hiroshi just knew he liked the idea of giving out his number to him,

"Here we are!" He was a bit sad that they had finally reached his apartment, but it was just one day closer to when he'd call and they'd go do something. Now he was getting excited and was ready to go home, pass out, and wait for him to call. "Thanks for letting me drive you home. You working tomorrow?" He wasn't planning on going to Raoul's tomorrow night, but there was no harm in asking. If he was...who knows! He might actually have an excuse to go see him.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled, pushing the door open and pausing at the question. He shook his head.

"Nope. I work on Modays, Thursdays and Fridays," Yasuko shared, even though that wasn't what man had asked. He shut the passenger's side door and opened the back seat door to fish out his stuff. He pulled his vest on and tucked his hoverboard under his arm standing straight and shutting the door. He opened the passeneger's side door again and leaned down. He leaned on the seat, nodding back to the apartment building. "I'd invite you in, but I'm gonna hit the sack. Plus the place is a wreck. You'd get scared," Yasu said with a smiled. He tucked some hair behind his ear. "Thanks again for the ride, Hiroshi, I really appreciate it..." he paused, then grinned at him and nodded. "Night."

He stood straight and closed the door, turning and bounding up the steps to the door, keying in the code. He turned and waved once more to Hiroshi before opening the door to the apartment building and closing it behind him, a big grin on his face. He'd never get to sleep tonight.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi watched him get out and close the door, he leaned in the comfort of his seat and put his right arm over the seat to glance back at Yasuko, not wanting to truly end their meeting, but knowing he had no choice. He moved quickly and to his surprise he opened the passenger side door and peered in, for a moment his mind flashed a passionate kiss they'd share, but he quickly shrugged it off by sitting straight again and giving him a sideways glance, enjoying the way he looked at night when bright lights caused his face to be thrown into certain shadows. It seemed to add to his beauty, if that was even possible.

He smiled and nodded, too bad he didn't get the invite to his apartment, who knows what might have happened. He watched him lean out and shut the door, his smell resonating the car from the gusts of wind. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to not fantasize what he wore to bed. Hiroshi watched him go to the door and give a quick wave. He simply grinned and lifted his hand barely giving one back, he watned to make sure that he got into his apartment safely, plus just to make sure this was his place. He smiled brightly when he was out of sight. He leaned back and let out a laugh as he puled out of traffic and headed on home.

Tonight had been something of a rareity! He hadn't given his number out to someoen in what felt like years, actually it had only been two years considering any other time he gave out his numbr was for professional reasons only. He was quick to dodge the traffic and hit a shortcut back to his apartment. By the time he made it upstairs and into his empty bredroom he was surprised to see he had been gone for quite some time. Hiroshi smiled and quickly took off his shirt suddenly realizing he had left his jacket behind by accident. He stifled a curse and quickly let his clothes fall to the floor. He'd get it Monday when he went back to the club. Sure it was a work night, but he just wanted to see that bright shining face again. His face grew warm and he couldn't stifle the smile that was bright on his face. Hiroshi was in deep with this guy and they hadn't even spent but a few hours together. Oh well, he didn't care. Hiroshi was surprised that he wasn't even feeling guilty or concerned about all of this, it was kind of nice.

He slid into his bed and stared at the ceiling trying to get undizzy by the whirl of events that brightened his day and his mood. He had louds of fun tonight and all he did was talk to a guy and give him a lift home. Suddenly he remembered his girlfriend. He muttered a curse and sat up in bed and flipped on a light. He frowned and grabbed his pants that were on the floor and fished out his cell phone, seeing she had left him three messages already. He groaned and simply tossed the phone back onto the pants and turned the light off. The only person he wanted to talk to, was Yasuko.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko shut the door to his apartment, leaning on it slightly and sighing out heavily, his cheeks puffing out slightly. He kicked off his shoes in favor of house shoes and moved through the living room to the kitchen. He flipped on a light, looking around. He eyed a note on the table and snatched it up, looking down at it. The handwriting was his boyfriend's. Aaron must have left it before he had taken off back to his own apartment. Yasu sighed reading it over. It said the things it always said, telling him to call when he got back into his apartment, that Aaron loved him and that he would see him later. Yasu crumpled it up and tossed it out. He had kept the first hundred of these he had recieved when they had first begun dating, but now, they were just repeats.

All Yasuko was thinking about now was Hiroshi. He was kind, handsome, funny. He was outgoing, stylish...and rich. Not that that was important, but it was hard to miss. Hiroshi was a lot of things that Yasu was not. But that was alright. Yasuko liked it.

He stripped off his vest and dress shirt, depositing them on the table and opened the refrigerator. He pulled out a can of something carbonated and popped it open, drinking it down a little as he got to his bedroom and shut the door behind him. He set the can down and pulled off his trousers, pulling on black exercise pants and getting into bed. He reached over, getting his apartment phone and dialing Aaron's number. He put the phone to his ear as he took another drink of his soda. No one picked up, but Aaron's answering machine did and Yasu waited for the tone to tell him to start talking.

"Hey, Aaron. It's Yasu. I just got in from work and got your messege. I'm going to bed now. I'll see you later. Love you," Yasu said quickly, hanging up and laying the phone on the bedside stand. Yasu reached over, turning off his light and drinking his soda in the dark for a long time. After awhile Yasu slid down under the blankets and fell asleep with Hiroshi on his mind.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Give me a break! Hiroshi stared oblivious next to a rotating rack that Lydia was turning with great enthusiasm, not shutting up once about how much liked this, how her butt looked big in that, how she needed some more money to get those...he was ready to kill her. All the while as he pretended to listen to her he was thinking of Yasuko. Where was he at? What was he doing? Did his better half treat him like this a lot? Did he ever want to just look at that person and wrap their fingers around their neck and squeeze so tight!?

Hiroshi let out a sigh and rubbed his temple with annoyance. She wasn't shutting up and if he didn't watch himself he'd be needing a defense lawyer pretty soon. Her high pitch squeals of joy were so irritating to him today and he had told her that at least nine billion times! He just wanted her to shut up! Hiroshi heard another shrill and he closed his eyes tightly and opened them up with fury, He looked over at his girlfriend to find her pulling a shirt that barely was a shirt. She held it up to herself and made comments about how good it would look on her, all he could do was smile, nod, and tell her to go try it on. Luckily she was one who loved to look at herself.

She trotted off to his pleasure and he leaned against the nearest wall of the dressing rooms and grabbed his cell phone. This had been the twentieth visit to the dressing room and everytime he grabbed his cell phone in a desperate search to find a new call, or a missed call, or a voice mail. Something that would indicate to him that he was needed elsewhere. Well, in all reality he was hoping it would be from Yasuko.

Again another shrill and the girl nearly fell out of the stall to prance around in circles in front of him asking him if she were cute. He could only smile. He didn't want to respond for it'd be about her cellulite, or how her boobs were starting to sag, or how her hair was flat, or how she was wearing way too much make up for her own good. Hiroshi realized what he was thinking by the time she made another shrill of joy when she was going to buy it. He was in a sour mood today! The love of his life was doing something she enjoyed and normally this made him happy, but today...all he wanted to think of was Yasuko. How much he wished he was shopping with him!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko had woken up late--if one considered nine thirty late--and he had stumbled out of bed, into the shower, into some clothes and to the kitchen in one peice. He was beat to hell and he needed food. Unfortunately he had nothing in his apartment. Sighing as he searched fruitlessly for something he stalked back to his room to pull on an undershirt and loose red jacket, grabbing his cell phone and satchel. He was going out for breakfast.

He made his way through his apartment and to the lifts outside, sliding into clogs on his way out. He punched in the ground level and leaned hard against the back of the lift, snorting at it as if it had been resposible for his lack of food. It jolted to a stop at the bottome and he went out, rounding the corner and waving to the front desk clerk as he went by.

The street outside had people walking on it, the hoverways covered up as usual. Yasu glanced both ways and began down the street, checking his bag for credits. Yasuko sighed out as he walked down the street towards a cafe just down the way from his apartment. He felt a little guilty, since the cafe he always ate at was the one that was in opposition to the one he worked at. But he just hated going there and being needled by his coworkers who had to work on the weekends.

Yasu dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone flipping it open. He had been wanting to call Hiroshi since before he had left him the evening previous, but he was afraid the man was still asleep. He had told Yasu to call anytime. The teenager bit his lip and chewed it for a moment. Maybe they could meet somewhere else for breakfast...or lunch...or dinner...or something. Yasuko glanced up to make sure he wasn't going to run into anyone, and he went to his contact list, picking out Hiroshi's name off of the list.

His finger overed the call button for a moment or two before he decided it was now or never. He pressed it down and raised the cell to his ear. He heard it connect, then begin to ring. His heart started beating quicker as it rang. He half hoped Hiroshi wouldn't pick up, yet he wanted him to more than anything.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi leaned his head against the wall as he finally was tired of standing and took a seat. Lydia was still trying on eight more partial shirts and he was ready to just leave her and tell her he had to be somewhere, but out of his good frotuen his cell phone finally rang.

He quickly fiddled his pocket, hearing the ring echo throughout the tiny cubby hoeo f a place. He shook his hand furisouly when it wasn't coming out of his pocket. He dropped the bags he had been holding for Lydia and provided help for himself and grabbed the phone to see an unfamiliar number. His heart jumped and he quickly asnwered.

"Yamamoto?" He prayed it was Yasuko, matter of fact he prayed it was anyone who was going to give him a good excuse to get him outta there. But when he heard the boys voice a smile cross his face and suddenly his fury and agitation was gone within an instant.

[Yasuko Arai]

"Hiroshi-kun," Yasu said, his heart ready to leap out of his chest and onto the ground. He had to stop walking a moment to collect himself before continuing again. "Um, its Yasuko. I didn't know if you would be up," he said watching his feet as he walked and looking around at the people as they passed him. He was quickly weighing the merits of inviting the man to have breakfast with him. He was afraid the man was doing something terribly important and wouldn't have time. But he figured he might as well ask.

"Um...I got up this morning to the amazing realization that I have no food at my apartment," he laughed, fixing his satchel across his chest. "And I thought, if you weren't busy, we could go have breakfast together...I mean, only if you aren't busy. My treat."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled at a few girls who hurredly ran into the dressing room. He moved out of the hormone infested room and walked furhter out of ear shot of Lydia.

"Yasuko-chan! It is so nice to hear from you! Believe me..." He looked around realizing where he was and how badly he wanted out of there, especially after hearing his enticing offer. "I am doing nothing of importance. Nothing, at least, that could keep me from eating breakfast with you." He smiled feeling stupid for even saying such a thing, but it was true! He was so happy that he was calling him now!

"Give me the directions to a place and I will be there." He waited a few moments and heard where Yasuko was at and quickly hung up with a sweet janna and a bright smile and a feeling of great pride within. But how quick was his high doused when he realized he was with Lydia.

He chewed on his lip for a moment then turned into the dressing room. "Lydia, I just got a call from my couselor. We have to do some thing sback at the office. Sorry but I have to go this is imprtant. I'll call." Before he could hear her vocalize her disapproval and disappointment he jogged out of the store and towards his hover craft. He felt bad for leaving her, but if she called up a few of her girls then they'd be there all day without a second thought of him.

He dangerously moved into the traffic at high speed, as if something were on fire. He just knew that he wanted to see Yasuko in such a hurry that he didn't care if that meant running over people.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko sat at one of the tables outside the cafe, a big decorative overhanging shading the small tables that were outside of the nice cafe. He had already gotten tea, but had told the waitor to come back, that he was waiting for someone. Yasuko had realized too late that he had dressed for a breakfast alone, not a breakfast with Hiroshi. But he couldn't do anything about it now.

He crossed his legs under the table, continuing to read the Japanese newpaper he had retreived from a stand. This close to the NIHONGO District and the news bots still sold Japanese papers. He was reading but not comprehending anything he was looking at. He had so far picked up that someone had wrecked in the PARIS District, and there was a counsel meeting next Friday, and that was about it.

Yasu leaned back in his seat and took another drink of his tea, as he searched the hover ways for Hiroshi's car, whose appearance he had committed to memory.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi sighed as he parked his hover craft and hopped out as quickly as possible and practically jogged around the block where he was quick to slow down and take a breather. He saw the boy looking around and sudden;y a smile crossed his face, as well as a red flush. He was much cuter than he had remembered, but he knew that this was just a friendly breakfast nothing more and nothing less. He straightened his shirt and got a little comfortable and walked happily over to the table he sat at. He bent over him and placed his mouth close to his ear.

"Ohayo." He said happily as he moved around him and over to take a seat. "Sorry if I am late. I made it here as quickly as possible."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko jumped when the breath puffed against his ear, the word exploding in his brain, and voice with which it was spoken even more so. Yasu sat forward and grinned as Hiroshi came around and sat across from him. He nodded, picking up the newspaper and leaning over to stuff it in his satcel.

"It's impossible to be late when you're dealing with me," Yasuko said with a grin. He leaned his elbows on the table and looked Hiroshi up and down a moment. He looked even more handsome in the daylight. His smile was so charming, if he didn't have a girlfriend or a boyfriend or something just on that attribute, Yasuko would be blown away.

"I hope I didn't wake you...or take you away from anything important, Hiroshi."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and leaned back in the airondack chair and crossed his legs and waved a hand at him, smiling so bright that he swore he had a coat hanger in his mouth.

"No, no. You took me away from absolutely nothing! I was actually happy you called I was in a bit of a predicament so you helped me get out of it." He frowned and suddenly realized he might have thought he was thanking him for getting him out of a problem and that he wasn't really wanting to be there. He knew he was overanalyzing things but he didn't want to make any mistakeswith Yasuko.

"Plus I wanted to see you." He said that a bit lower than he had intended, but he was glad he kept it on the dl for he hadn't paid any attention to those who were eating there. But he actually didn't look once the realization hit him.

"How has your morning been?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko listened to his cheerful voice as if it held something that he didn't hear every day. But something about Hiroshi's voice when he was happy sounded so much better than when everyone else was happy. He nodded a little.

"Good," Yasu said simply. He was thinking of all the things he wanted to talk about. There were so many things he wanted to know about Hiroshi he couldn't decide what to ask him first. Knowing what he did was important, family probably was too, seeing what they had in common was definately something. Yasu just wanted Hiroshi to start talking and never stop. The more Yasuko could soak up about the man, the better. He smiled a little and then looked over as the waiter nodded to him, letting him know he would be over soon. Yasuko looked back over at Hiroshi and shook his head, putting his chin in his hand.

"Okay," he said through a laugh. He looked down at his watch and grinned. "In one minute, tell me everything you possibly can about yourself and your life. You seem to be a pretty good talker. Let's see if you can do it," he said with a wink.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi leaned his head back and let out a full laugh, perhaps he projected it far more happily than he had wanted, but if only he knew how odd it was to have someone ask him about himself when he was the one who did all the questions. He leaned forward and frowned softly at Yasuko, who in the daylight looked so young and fresh it practically screamed perfection.

"In one minute?" He shook his head and sighed out quickly thinking about everything in his life that was important and wasn't. "Lets see..." He drew in a deep breath. For some reason his life seemed far more boring and uninteresting than he always thought it had been. Perhaps he wanted it to sound perfect for Yasuko, but either way he was sure to try and find something to make it interesting. Sadly the harder he thought the more boring he felt his life was.

"Well, I am an only child born to two Japanese parents. I am a defense lawyer here in the city, I made several good decisions and lies and I've gotten a lot of money doing so, as you can see I love the finer things in life." Suddenly he groaned that was not how he wanted to make his life sound. How boring it was!

"Not very interesting! Last night was one of the highlights of my life!" He laughed. "Not only did I make a good friend, but I am having breakfast with him." He winked and stared. How hot this man was!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko leaned back in his seat and laughed, putting his hands over his face as the man groaned and told him how uninteresting he was. How cute! So he was a lawyer. Being a lawyer on Coruscant meant big money, especially defense lawyers, considering there were far more guilty people who needed to be defended than there were innocent people. Yasu leaned back on the table, brushing some of his hair from his face.

"No! You're interesting!" he said through a laugh, his naturally loud Japanese personality coming out in the daylight and the happiness of the moment. How Hiroshi had lifted his mood so much, the teenager would never know. He chewed his lip then nodded. "And I could see you like the finer things, but that's not so bad. At least you aren't flashing it around to everybody," Yasu said, grinning. Even though Yasu could tell that he was rich because he had an eye for clothing, it didn't mean everyone did, and most people didn't. And Yasu hadn't yet seen Hiroshi be stuck up about it. The more Yasu heard, the more he liked Hiroshi.

"Come on, Cat. Let's just always tell everyone we met here! Telling them we met at...you-know-where would be awful!" Yasuko laughed, covering his mouth. "I mean, unless lawyers routinely visit there."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed but couldn't help but feel a tad bit uncomfortable when thinking about other lawyers and some of his friends knowing that they were out and about during the day. If any of them saw them he was sure they wouldn't think anything of it, but if they knew where they had actually met...

Hiroshi laughed a bit more knowing that he didn't need to be so paranoid. It was just breakfast and so far he wa enjoying his company. He leaned forward and raked his fingers together and stared at Yasuko in the most lustful way he could inagine. How bad he wanted to just...he stopped himself right there. This guy was just a friend, nothing more. But damn how he was having a hard time believing that.

"Okay, how about you. One minute and I'll be timing with my rolex!" He joked and looked around suddenly becoming at ease with himeslf and being there with him.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko groaned a little putting a hand on his forehead. He thought quickly for a moment before hold his hands up.

"Okay, I was born in the NIHONGO District, and I have a younger sister and an older brother. My dad is a shop owner, my mom makes dumplings for a Japanese cafe. I work in a little cafe down the street here, and also at you-know-where. I have one best friend named Ahmed, and I have--" he almost said 'a great boyfriend named, Aaron', but quickly said something else. "--an allergy to any animal with fur. I met Hiroshi Yamamoto last night by chance, and he bummed a cigarette and took me home and he is my friend and I am eating breakfast with my new friend!" he finished the last part in one breath. He grinned.

"I'm not too interesting either!" he said with a laugh.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed and sat back taking in the boys appearance. Not only was he so damn cute he wanted to put him in his pocket, but he was so damn funny. It had been a while since someone had made him laugh that full and that comfortable. Not even...Lydia. How even thinking of her name was beginning to become a parasite! He knew that he needed to keep his mind on one thing and one thing only, Yasuko and he was sure that wouldn't be that hard to do.

"No you are very interesting! I am enjoying myslef already. What do you say after we get something to eat we go wandering around in the PARIS District and do some window shopping? Unless, of course you don't like to shop? I don't mean to be a push over or anything! Just want to get as much time with you as I can." Hiroshi wondered if he should have held his tongue on that last comment, but it was so true.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko glanced over seeing the waitor headed thier way. He couldn't help but grin, and nod, then shake his head, then nod again.

"I love to shop! After eating and sleeping it's survival!" he laughed. Then he lowered his voice as the waitor got closer. "I don't think I can afford anything in the PARIS District. Stuff's high as a kite there," he said. Then he chuckled as the waitor asked them what they wanted. He winked. "I can watch you spend though." He looked over at the waitor and smiled. "Umm...you have breakfast rice right?" he asked. When the waitor nodded Yasuko confirmed his order. He waited for Hiroshi to order before continuing what he was saying.

"Anyway, yes. I'd like to go with you," he said. "You might have to hold my hand though. I've never been that far North of the NIHONGO District, I'll be totally lost."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed yet again. Was he always this happy? He doubted it, but for some reason this guy was turning his day into something he was enjoying when this morning he figured it would be very long and dreadful. Then again almost all his days with Lydia were becoming dreadful and boring. Hiroshi stroked his chin as he slit his eyes and stared at Yasuko taking in his appearance a little more now that he had finally calmed down and had learned to breathe normally.

"No, when you come shop with me you end up getting things! If you find anything you like, you have to promise me that you'll scream and tell me! This might come quite as a shock to you, Yasuko, but I enjoy spending money." He laughed lightly and leaned in, wanting to keep this conversation private and just to get closer to him.

Then he nodded in response after the two had ordered and smiled kindly at him. He liked him, he was so cute and modest and this appealed to Hiroshi, which was probably why he caught himself moving in too close to him. Had he not snapped out of his daze of finding him attractive he would have been over the table and in his lap.

"Hold your hand..." He frowned softly and moaned as if he were actually contemplating the idea. "Deal!" He smiled and looked away after he realized he was staring too much and for too long. He took the cop out and glanced at his cup of water and drank pretending that he hadn't been staring.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned at him, watching him look down at his water and he looked down at his own drink. Yasu felt bad. Hiroshi said he liked spending money. He had said that when people went with him shopping they ended up getting things. Those weren't the problem. Yasuko already felt bad enough about not having enough money to live up to this man, but he was feeling worse that the man was having pity on him. Like he knew that Yasu didn't have the money so he was going to feel sorry for him.

But Yasu knew that Hiroshi was just being nice. He tried to ignore his insecurities as he took a drink of his tea and looked around at the cafe and then out as a group of teenagers from his apartment building came by on thier hover boards and waved at him. He nodded and watched them go by, looking back at Hiroshi. He hadn't asked this yet...and to tell the truth he was afraid of asking it, but he wanted to know if Hiroshi had a girlfriend, or a boyfriend.

After a moment of considering he decided against it. They were just friends after all. It wasn't any of Yasu's business if he had a girlfriend or a boyfriend, or anything of that sort. Although if he did have one, he was keeping it under wraps very well. Then again, so was Yasu. He shook he head. He just wanted to enjoy breakfast with him and enjoy shopping with him.

Shopping was one of his favorite pastime. He was looking forward to this.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi had directed his hover craft perfectly to the Paris District where the clothes were finesse, the cost was pricey, and the ego was lifted. He was excited to have Yasuko in his car again, have him with him again, and even better have him going shopping with him! He knew how Lydia was when she shopped, how ignorant and stupid she got and how girly she ended up being, he just wanted the same...except...with a man. Boy, even in his own mind Hiroshi thought that sounded gay. But...who was even saying that he was gay? That this was....nevermind.

Hiroshi had parked the hover vehicle a few blocks away from one of his favorite stores and as he walked beside of Yasuko speaking about the best places to eat, to buy art, to see modern day architecture, and the best places to shop. He was so excited to have a new friend and even more excited that he had never been there before. He felt like a child in a candy store! This was an adventure for him and for Yasuko for he could be repulsed by this place and even more repulsed that Hiroshi had brought him there. Suddenly everything that could go wrong popped into Hiroshi's head. Why was he so nervous about shopping with Yasuko? How hard could it have been?

"I am glad you want to go shopping my girl...pal loves shopping and she is such a pain!" He felt fearful that he even said that. Would Yasuko know? Catch on? Hopefully not. Great! Hiroshi thought as he pointed out a great place for desserts, he was already denying his girlfriend of two years, he was thinking of other people, actually another man! He was becoming obsessed with pointing out her faults. Was it normal for his feeligns to change after one evening with someone?

"So, what kind of clothes do you like? I am sure you can find it here! This place has so many stores that I wonder how it hasn't spread out into other districts."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko looked around him, arranging his satchel on his hip. He was grinning from ear to ear. He had never been to the PARIS District, but he had heard stories from his friends that had friends that worked here. He had heard great stories and horror stories. But he had always wanted to come. Aaron was too much of a stickler. He detested shopping and hated spending money, unless it was absolutely necessary. He only spent money on Yasu on birthdays and anniversaries if he took a mind to. And he would never have accompanied Yasu here if it had been the last thing on the planet to do.

But Hiroshi seemed to know everything about this place. He pointed out the best places to eat, and get dessert--Yasu hoped there was ice cream around here somewhere--and he pointed out clothing shops, accessory shops, everything anyone could ever want. Most of the people Yasu had seen walking around here were as sharply dressed as Hiroshi was, but Yasu didn't care. He wasn't exactly dressed for this kind of outing but he still felt happier than he ever had shopping with Aaron.

Yasu almost immidietely admonished himself for that thought. Aaron was his boyfreind and he shouldn't think so poorly of him. But Aaron just didn't get him. Hiroshi did.

"God, its...great here..." Yasu said, his words fading off as he got distracted by a pair of jeans professionally ripped with designer names on them. It was exactly the kind of the guys in the NIHONGO District wore and the kind of thing Yasu loved. He grinned wide at them as he looked at the name of the store. Then he looked over at Hiroshi. "You shop here on a regular basis?" he asked with a laugh.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi raised his eyebrows when he heard the boys voice trailing and when he saw his eyes find a store he immdiately wanted to give him the biggest kiss that ever was! That was one of his favorite stores!

"Beauté!" Hiroshi smiled as they both came to a stop to suddenly peer into the large store window at stylish clothing that could literally be found anywhere, but not this well made, not this perfected, and not this expensive! "It means beauty in French! It is one of my favorite places to shop." He turned and looked at Yasuko, overexcited by the whole common interest. "Yeah, those jeans? Bought those right here, two days ago! They fit perfectly! Oh..we gotta!" He grabbed Yasko's hand without even thinking and drug the little Asian into the large posh store that had classical french music playing and had women wandering around as if they were just models pretending to work.

"They have jeans, shirts, shoes, socks, suits, ties...underwear!" He smiled as he looked over his shoulder as he drug him to a section where they had high class fashionable clothes that made a statement of being a trendsetter but also screamed money by the small printed name on the seat of the pants.

"These clothes fit so well! They hug you in all the right places. Oh, god! This is so hot!" Hiroshi finally let his hand go to walk over to a rack holding stylish black shirts with random words written on them. Something he had seen a lot of people wear. Hiroshi felt like he had just talked so fast that he hadn't breathed in like a year. He finally stopped and stared at Yasuko and he hissed.

"I've scared you haven't I?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko hadn't stopped laughing since Hiroshi grabbed his hand and pulled him through the store. Yasu was thoroughly enjoying himself. When Hiroshi asked him if he had scared him, Yasu pushed him away from the rack and snatched up the first shirt on the rack. He stuck his tongue out a little.

"No, but you're in my way," he said, laughing then winking. He looked through the rack of shirts. Most of them had words on them that were in French, or Spanish, but near the very back he saw one with Japanese on it. He grinned reading the words. He squinted a little at them. "'This makes me cooler than ever'," He translated, looking back at Hiroshi laughing. He pulled it off the rack and looked at the tag. He needed and extra small, but medium seemed the only one they had. He grinned and replaced it.

Slowly he turned back to look at Hiroshi. He licked his lips then grinned wide as he looked around the bright store. Hiroshi didn't know how happy this made him. He had more in common with an all but complete stranger than he did his own boyfriend. That was sad. Yasu couldn't look at everything in one sweep, so he looked around several times before looking back at Hiroshi. He lifted off his satchel and slid off his jacket, tying it around his waist. It was warm in here, and his undershirt would suit him better. When he had secured it, he replaced his satchel over his shoulder.

"This is great..." he said, glancing around again. "I can't believe you shop here. My...best...friend wouldn't even touch this place with a fifty foot pole," Yasu said, stumbling over the first part, trying not to say boyfriend. He hoped Hiroshi had not picked up.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi stood there waiting for him to tell him yes, but the when he pushed him out of the way he laughed light heartedly and stepped back as he watched the tiny boy grab and sift through the shirts, expressing his joy at random as Hiroshi just stood back, hand in his pocket, and a smile on his face. Had he ever had this much fun shopping?

The boy would pause to find something else and suddenly when he whipped around to smile at him and speak of his friend, Hiroshi knew immediately that he wanted to do something for him and let him know that he was doing it out of love for a fellow shopper. He smiled and shrugged and stepped over to him with such a wide smile that his face was actually hurting.

"This store won't kick you out if you want to go look around and try things on." He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know I just met you, but...I would like to buy you something. I am not wanting to blow money, no not today, I am wanting to give you something. To show...my...appreciation for a fellow shopper who has good tastes. Plus...okay I wanna blow money!" He laughed lightly and put his arm around Yasuko's shoulder in a friendly and in the most manly manner he could muster. He pointed around the room to where certain items were, enjoying the closness and also enjoying telling him about the store as if he had been raised in the store!

"They have the best belts, studded, leather, suede, oh! They even have marquee belts that you can program to say things on! It is so awesome!" Hiroshi began to walk over towards the marble aisles wandering just for fun.

"Oh they even have these fabulous necklaces, wrist straps, just the greatest accessories!" Hiroshi stopped and looked at Yasuko with a very stern and serious look. "I...love...accessories!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko followed him through the store. He felt very shy when Hiroshi said he wanted to buy something for him. Yasu thought it was really sweet, but he hated spending other peoples money. Every once in awhile his friend would lend him a credit or two, but generally, Yasu like to spend his own money. But he also felt really nice when Hiroshi said he wanted to buy something for him just for the hell of it. Aaron never would have done that. It made Yasu feel...different.

Yasu wandered through the store, looking at the belts and accessories that Hirohsi talked about, admiring one white belt with studs. He passed it up however when he saw a pair of worn jeans with holes in the knees and in the pockets. It said 'Cocolulu' on the back. It was a very famous Japanese company that Yasu had never seen in a store anywhere. He grinned going over and looking through the sizes.

He grabbed the smallest size he saw, then went to catch up with Hiroshi. He held them up to him.

"I think I am gonna go try these on okay? I'll be right back," he said with a grin. He didn't think Hiroshi would really want to hang around outside the fitting room while he tried to decide if he liked the jeans or not. So he thought he'd let Hiroshi go shopping while he tried them on. He ran to the fitting rooms, looking at the tall mirror and the small rooms that only had curtains in front of them. Yasu guessed people didn't need that much privacy since there weren't that many people in the store. He went in one and pulled the curtain mostly to.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled with joy and with a feeling of pride and happiness. He had never seen anyone enjoy shopping this much without making so much of a peep about whether or not he could afford it or whether or not it would make his butt look big! He was enjoying shopping with him, even though he hadn't done any looking for himself. Something caught his eye and he smiled to himself. He saw the same shirt he had pulled out and looked at earlier in a very tiny size. He grinned as he pulled it off the rack. If he wasn't going to let him buy it, there was no harm in doing it before he realized! Hiroshi smiled and walked back over to the dressing area and walked to the one he had gone into.

"Here, try this as well. I think it'd work perfectly with your jeans. I wanna see you in it too so show me when you have it together." He hung the shirt on a tiny metal hook on the solid wood fram holding up the curtain waiting for him to take and put it on. Hiroshi stood there in silence wondering to himself what he would look like. He knew that it would be sexy, but he just couldn't fathom how sexy he'd be without having him walk out and strut his stuff, lord knew he had a lot of stuff to strur.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled at him as he left, then hoisted his satchel off his shoulder, laying it on the floor. He slid off his clogs and then undid the jacket from his waist. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his excercise pants, dropping them to his boxer shorts, then pulling off his undershirt. He pulled off the jeans, holding them up to him first. They looked like they might be a little big.

He stepped into them, pulling them up then buttoning and zipping them. They were definately drooping, and sat on his hips, his pelvis clearly visible over the top. Yasuko looked at himself in the mirror in the jeans alone. They were definately what he had wanted for a long time, and even if they were a little big, it was nothing a belt wouldn't cure. He cursed his tiny waist quickly before picking up the shirt that Hiroshi had given to him. He pulled it off the hanger and then pulled it on, getting his hair from under it. He looked at the whole thing together, considering it. It did look nice together. Hiroshi certainly had an eye for fashion.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi bit his lower lip in anticipation. How was he going to look? Was he going to look like a sexy Japanese rocker? A fashionable teen? An absolutel peice of sex? Hiroshi grinned to himself and looked down at the ground as if Yasuko could see his reddened face. He heard the sound of the hangers hitting together letting him know that he was putting the outfit together, suddenly he was getting nervous and excited like he was experiencing something for the first time in his life. He smiled waiting for him to walk out.

"You almost done? I wanna see!" He probably sounded like a desperate freak, but he really didn't care! He wanted to see that sexy body in something even sexier. "I am sure yo ulook great!" He didn't know why but he wanted to add that in there somewhere. Hopefully he wasn't being too open and too opinionated?

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasu straightened the shirt and grinned to himself. He looked through the crack in the curtain at where Hiroshi was standing. He wanted to make sure he didn't run into him. He took a start at the curtain and slid out on his socks, playing the air guitar. He spun once then laughed at Hiroshi, going to the large mirror and looking at himself in it. The shirt fit pretty well. Just snug enough, but not a second skin. He looked in the mirror at Hiroshi, pulling the pants up a little.

"Pants are a little big," he said with a laugh. Then he grinned. "I dunno, I might just out do Miyavi in this one," he said playfully, stretching his arms up in the air to see how far the shirt came up when he did so. His stomach and pelvis showed, but that was mostly because the pants were drooping enough to see his black boxers. He let his arms down, pulling the pants up, a little embarrassed. Then he turned, looking at Hiroshi. He shrugged. "I dunno. What do you think?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed gleefully at his entrance, how sttylish he looked! Much more so than he had imagined. The shirt fit perfectly and the pants...well they couldv'e been a lot tighter for his taste, but he kept that thought to himself. He smiled and circled him, wanting to see that pelvis again, wanting to see his skin again, wanting to just....

Hiroshi frowned and grabbed his shoulders and turned him around to face the mirror, he picked at the shirt seeing its stretchiness, seeing if it would shrink, how to wash it, how much it cost. He was inspecting it wanting it to be the best for Yasuko. He nodded in approval and moved to his pants. He lifted the shirt tail a bit and tugged on the belt loops and touched the leg of the pants feeling the material.

"Comfortable?" He questioned as he looked up at him as he looked at the bottoms of the pants. He sighed out and stood back up and grabbed the pants by the waist and pulled them up slightly. He nodded and let them droop, catching a glimpse of his boxers yet again. He glanced at his butt and then up at hte mirror seeing the shadow of the nice "V" shape of his pelvis, damn how sexy.

"Those are great. A belt will do just the trick, and they may shrink a little when you wash them. But I think they'll fit you perfectly!" He smiled and walked back around in front of him and nodded once more. "Yes, perfect. Hop out of it. It is yours."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko raised his eyebrows. Then he chewed his lip. Then he went into full blown self-defense mode. He was definately not used to someone just saying "It's yours". He waved a hand in front of his face, giving a laugh that he hoped didn't sound as nervous as he felt.

"No, no, don't worry. It's nice to look at," he said with a smile, glancing back down at the pants and shirt. Then he looked back at Hiroshi and bowed deeply. "Arigatou gazaimasu," he said, the straightened. "But I have plenty of jeans and shirts. Besides..." he said, twisting slightly to try and see the tag on the pants. He couldn't see it really, but he knew it was not cheap. He looked back at Hiroshi. "It's too expensive. You should spend it on yourself. I mean, I think you would look good in anything you pick up. So..." he nodded, bowing again and smiling a little. He felt nervous for no reason, and a little embarrassed and a little guilty for refusing the gift. Yasuko could see a little trinket of some sort, maybe even a lower priced accessory, but not an entire outfit. Not at this price. It was ridiculous. These were the kinds of clothes Yasu saw people wearing, smacked Aaron on the arm and said "I wish I had a pair of pants like that." They weren't the kind of clothes he actually bought. Especially not with someone else's money. He chewed his lip, nodding and slipping past Hiroshi into the fitting room.

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Hiroshi-san," he said, his head still poked out of the curtain. "Gomenasai."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi rolled his eyes knowing he would probably object to his purchasing it, but it was too bad, he had the money to spend it on, he had more clothes than god, and he really wanted Yasuko to wear something that looked so good on him. There was no arguing, he was going to walk out of that store a proud owner of items from that store.

"No, no! You are not going to leave this store without it!" He laughed when he watched Yasuko peek out and apologize. He just smiled and shook his head knowing that there was no way he was going to win this argument and there was no way he was going to not own that shirt and those pants.

"I want you to have it because you like it, because you deserve it. I am sure your boss pays nice, but you deserve better. You desrve that outfit!" Hiroshi moved out of someones way who passed only to turn and walk out once they realized the other stalls were clean. He simply smiled and nodded at the young lady. He drew in a deep breath and looked over his shoulder at the stall Yasuko was in. He paid no mind and looked away, but suddenly he thought he saw something. A very nice something. He frowned and looked over his shoulder a little slowly and cautiously as if his eyes were deceiving him. He bit his lower lip when he realized that he had just become a peeping tom.

Yasuko had taken his shirt off and even better his pants as well. Hiroshi could see him fooling around in the stall in just his boxer shorts and all Hiroshi could do was stand there, gawking, jaw open, and feeling some movement inside of his stomach and other places on his body.

His skin shimmered brilliantly under the lighting, he could see the hip bones, the pelvic V, the soft ripple of his pecs and abs, probablky due to how skinny he was. Either way he was no complaining. This was absolutely wrong and he knew it! But yet he was not looking away. How he wanted to just walk in there, kiss him all over, run his hands over his body, do things to him that he needed to have done.

He muttered his approval through a simple sekushii in Japanese, barely above a whisper. Sexy didn't even begin to describe what he saw.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko folded the pants and shirt, standing in his boxer shorts and nothing else trying to negotiate the small space. He felt so guilty. Even if Hiroshi had the money, Yasu still felt bad, like he was making the man spend it simple because he had expressed and interest in it. He laid the shirt and jeans down and pulled his own clothes on, tying the jacket around his waist, hoisting his satchel over his shoulder again and putting his clogs on. He gathered up the shirt and jeans, and set his mind to thanking Hiroshi profusely.

He pulled the curtain back, glancing around then going over to Hiroshi who was standing a few feet away. He held the clothes under one arm and with the other he carefully placed it around the man's waist, squeezing just slightly, in a half hug. He smiled over and up at him.

"Thanks, Hiroshi..." he said, not wanting to move away from the warmth of the other body, but knowing he had to. He bowed to the man. "I mean, you really don't have to. I will pay you back, don't worry. My pay checks aren't much, but...I will," he said with a laugh. Then he bowed again, feeling his cheeks redden. He suddenly felt like an idiot for hugging the other man. Why the hell had he done that? "Arigatou."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi wanted to cry liek a girl. He had b0ught people many things before, endless amounts to show his love, apprecitation, friendship, but never received a thanks more genuine than the one Yasuko had just given to him. The only person that thanked him like this were murderers, rapists, pedophiles, creatures who were vile and deserved to die! But he had always gotten them off the hook and free. He gave him a hug back and smiled, happy that a simple gift and a simple ability to be frugal with money made someone so thankful. How nice it was. As well as the hug!

"Douitashimashite." He responded in a low voice almost afraid of it cracking as he fought back the urge to cry and to thank him for being so kind and accepting it! He suddenly felt alive again and he smiled. "Iie!" He said giving him a friendly poke in the stomach that he had so wanted to touch. "You will not pay me back. Yasuko, I enjoy buying things and I have so many things as it is I want to just spend money on someone else. My friends have their own money, not to mention bad tastes, but you...you are one in a million and I am going to keep you! I am also going to spoil you!" Suddenly Hiroshi wa becomming to comfortable with Yasuko. Not that that was a bad thing, but he just needed to back off and be careful.

This man he barely knew and he was a quick friend to trust, but he didn't need to make Yasuko think he was giving him pity, or was purchasing these items for him to gain trust or to gain love. He simply did it because he wanted to, because he knew that there was something about Yasuko that nobody else had. Plus, there was an immense sense of guilt for checking him out wihtout his knowing so the least he could do was allow the boy to splurge on anything he wanted!

"Consider this a...Welcome to Paris kind of gift!" He smiled and put his arm around his shoulder again. "Now, on to the accessories!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned when Hiroshi put his arm around him and told him it was a welcome to Paris gift. Yasuko couldn't have a gotten a better welcome present, not to mention such a kind person at his side. Out of habit--since he did it so often with Aaron--he reached up with his hand and took hold of Hiroshi's hand that was draped over his shoulder. A moment later he realized what he was doing, but he figured the damage was already done and did not move his hand.

They were walking through the large store, and Yasuko was looking around at everything. He still couldn't believe that Hiroshi was about the blow several thousand credits on him on just a shirt and pants. Yasuko knew he had never been bought anything this expensive before. None of his friends had that kind of money, and he wasn't worth that much to any of them anyway. But somehow, Yasuko's mind kept going back to Aaron. The other man was kind to Yasu, loved on Yasu, told him he missed him when he wasn't there. But Aaron had things that Yasu couldn't stand about him. He was half Chinese, but never used his last name of Hsu. He didn't like Asian culture and that always irked Yasu, since he was full blown Japanese and wanted to share his culture. Aaron wasn't bad to him, on the contrary, he was the best boyfriend he had ever had. A far cry from the controlling one he had before. But Aaron still never really wanted to do anything with Yasu. Not like this. Yasu felt guilty for thinking bad about him, but he couldn't help it.

Yasuko let out a sigh, trying to forget about his boyfriend for the time being. Since he wanted to enjoy Hiroshi's company, and enjoy his favorite pastime with him. They had way more in common so far than Yasu had with anyone else, and he was enjoying himself immensely. He wasn't going to let sour thoughts about his boyfriend ruin it.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi felt a shiver of guilt and a shiver of fear run up and down his spine when he felt Yasuko grab a hold of his hand. He wasn't sure if he was enjoying it or if he wasscared of it, either way he knew he wasn't about to jerk it away. It wasn't unusual in Paris to see two ment holding hands, they were very liberal and very...different.

Hiroshi's mind wandered to how much fun he was having spending money on Yasuko. He was sure Yasuko aws thinking of him as crazy, buying expensie thigns for someoene he barely knew, but that was his habit his trade, his kindness. He was a good ghuy and if he had money to share, then that was just what he'd do. But for some reason he hadn't been wanting to share his money with the one person he should've been, his griflriend.

Lydia was well off ,but for some reason she was so stuck up and prudish that she would only spend money on herself and nobody else and he was sick and tired of it. At least he had the decency to spend his money on things for others instead of thinking about himnself all the time, despite knowing how much he loved to! Yasuko was modest, kind, and so simplistic and wonderful to be around he was so drawn to him, like a moth to a flame. The only thing he had to wonder about Yasuko was if...well...was he single or taken?

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko paused when he saw one of the marquee belts Hiroshi had mentioned earlier. He glanced at Hiroshi, pulling on his hand and pulling him over, grinning.

"These are cool. I've never seen them before," Yasuko said, using the hand that wasn't holding Hiroshi's to fiddle with the controls. It had eighty old languages, and over a thousand other world languages you could program in. Yasuko swtiched it to Japanese, typing in several characters, finishing so the scrolling words said, "screw you" in Japanese. He figured few people around here spoke the old Japanese language and anyway, a little discreet visual vandalism wouldn't hurt anyone. He laughed, looking over at Hiroshi. "Hope the attendants don't speak Japanese," he said winking at the man.

Hiroshi was unlike anyone Yasu had so far met. He was kind, funny, cute as hell, and he didn't seem at all perturbed by Yasu's lack of a fortune, which was Yasu's worst area of embarrassment. Hiroshi had everything that Yasu had always looked for in someone. He reminded Yasu a lot of someone he used to know. Someone he used to care a bout greatly. Much before he had meet Aaron or Hiroshi, he had known someone much like Hiroshi, and Yasu had loved him very much.

Shaking his head, and backing up a little to let someone by, he was surprised when he felt his back press up against Hiroshi's chest, the warmth of the other man's body coming as a shock. He glanced over his shoulder as the person excused themself and moved by. Yasu smiled a little at Hiroshi.

"Gomenasai."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi watched Yasuko play around and he could do nothing but smile and admire him. He was so fresh and young and it seemed like he had no cares or worries in this world, all he was doing was having fun. Hiroshi slightly wished it would rub off for it had been so long since he had been able to do something on his own and be free and just enjoy whatever. He was usually too tired to do anything or preoccupied with entertaining Lydia and serving her needs and fulfilling them. Yasuko struck chords inside of him that he hadn't been able to feel before. It was like a sickening feeling but a good sick feeling. It was like he had butterflies and that Yasuko had put them there, nobody else. He liked this guy and that, as far as Hiroshi was concerned, was going to be his own little secret.

Hiroshi smiled at him as he put things into the marquee he wasso likeable and so cute! Hiroshi looked away for a moment to see a person walking towards them and Yasuko backed up, a bit too far. Hiroshi had a second to contemplate on stopping him but he didn't really want to, nor did he actually have the reflexes to catch him before their bodies met. Either way, when he turned around and looked st him, he wanted to grab him and kiss him. How sexy this guy was as well! Cute just couldn't cover it all.

"It's okay." He said with a broad smile. He liked him a lot and if he didn't watch himself he'd be in far deeper than he could imagine.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko let out a breath, ducking under Hiroshi's arm, but twining thier fingers together and starting off through the shop again. He realized how friendly he was getting with this man. Then again, in the NIHONGO District, it wasn't strange for two guys to hold hands, if they were friends. It didn't necessarily mean that Yasuko was being forward, or flirting, just that he was being friendly. The fact that the former was true he would never tell. Instead, he just glanced back at Hiroshi and nodded up to the woman at the front who was checking customers out.

"There's a lot of Paris still left. What d'ya say we take off?" he asked. He wanted to see as much of this district as thier legs could manage without falling off. He also wanted to spend more time walking and talking with Hiroshi. The more shops they visited, the more he would see if they had other things in common. Plus, he had a sweet tooth that wouldn't go away and a few credits in his satchel just begging to be used on strawberry ice cream. He grinned at Hiroshi. "But actually...you haven't gotten anything for yourself."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

hiroshi smiled at the friendly way t hey were walking with each other, it was almost like a dream for him walking with a guy without thinking....certain things like how other people viewed him. That was very interesting for him. He let out a chuckle and looked down at Yasuko and shrugged.

"It is up to you, this is your trip! We can see what yo uwant to see, do waht you want to do, I am here at your expense! Remember though, see something you want! I get!" He winked and took a moment to think, where could they go next? Shoe stores? More accessorie shopes? Clothes stores? Food? Art? Anything!

"Well there is a good shoe store nearby, umm..food is great here, art..anything and everything is here! Whatever your heart desires we'll do!" He kept his voice upbeat and excited. He had been to this district and million and one times and yet he had never been so excited or ready to look around than he had been at that exact moment. He had actually began to dread it for it reminded him of Lydia and her tantrums she always had whenever seh didn't get waht she wanted. God, here he was actually telling Yasuko to throw tantrums and to actually get what he wants. Why was he treating him so differently? Better? Kinder? With more patience and understanding? And actual desire to do all of the above? He wasn't going to argue it at this moment, he'd have plent of time to toil over it later. Way later.

"Up to you!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko groaned slightly, he hated making decisions when there was another person involved. He just wanted Hiroshi to tell him where to go. Yasuko didn't know this place very well, and he didn't know exactly where he wanted to go next. Shoes, art, accesories, food. It all sounded fine to him, he just wondered what Hiroshi liked to look at. The other man was telling Yasu to go wherever he wanted, but he didn't know that wherever Hiroshi wanted to go, that's where Yasu wanted to be too.

He glanced around the shop once, making sure there was nothing left to look at. He decided that anything else he wanted today would have to be small enough that he could buy it himself. Having Hiroshi buy everything for him wasn't very thoughtful and he never would have dreamed of doing it. Even though it made him feel nice...special. For once, he felt actually special to someone. His boyfriend made him feel so, on occasion. But generally, Aaron was just...Aaron. He didn't really have an excited side, or a hyper side, he was just calm, collected, distant most of the time. Yasu had seen him get really happy about one thing, and that was when they had first started dating. But that had been months ago, just after Yasuko had graduated high school. Yasu had always wondered if Aaron ever felt joy that would make him feel like yelling. Like Yasu was feeling right this moment...with another person. Aaron didn't really make Yasuko feel like this, or at least, he didn't anymore. They were comfortable in thier relationship and Aaron didn't really try to make Yasu feel special anymore, even though Yasuko tried hard to make his boyfriend happy. Aaron was just...Yasu smiled to himself. Aaron was just Aaron.

Yasuko was about to tell Hiroshi that they could check out and go somewhere else when he heard his cell phone go off, the little tune singing from his satchel. He grunted a little dropping Hiroshi's hand to dig it out and look at the number. To his surprise, it was just the person he didn't really want to hear from. Aaron.

Flipping the phone open and giving Hiroshi an apologetic look, he put the phone to his ear.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey, babe. I...thought you were gonna be at the house today. You decide to go out?" said the deep voice on the phone. Yasu sucked in a breath through his teeth.

"Sorry...are you there now?" he asked.

"Not anymore. I'm in my car headed somewhere. Where are you?"

"Shopping," he answered, chewing his lip a little. He heard Aaron laugh a little.

"I should have known. Anyway, thought we could do dinner this evening before my night classes," he said, sounding a little distracted. Yasu imagined it was because he was driving and talking at the same time. Then he made a sound. "You with someone?"

"Um, no," Yasu said, giving Hiroshi a breif glance before looking back ahead of him. "I just thought I'd go for a lone spin today. And about later...I can't, I already have something planned. Sorry," he said. He heard Aaron laugh again.

"Okay, no big deal. I'll see you tomorrow, baby. Love you, bye," Aaron said. Yasu barely got a bye in before he heard the line disconnect. Aaron was annoyed with him. Yasu had been putting off dinner plans for a week now, he just never felt up to eating out with him anymore. He sighed, stuffing his cell back into his satchel and turning back to Hiroshi.

"Sorry. That was my friend. He's been trying to get me to go somewhere with him for a week," Yasu said with a smile. Then he nodded. "But, I think that you are my schedule for today. Let's check out."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi heard the a cell phone tone and then Yasuko dropped his hand and picked up his cell phone. Hiroshi smiled at him letting him know that it wasn't going to kill him if he got a phone call when they were out. He winked and pointed at the counter where he was quick to walk over and lay the two items on the counter, watching the thin woman behind the counter ring up the items and smile at him when she told him the expensive price of the clothes. It was like music to his ears to hear that it was going to cost him 2, 395 credits. How money was so nice to spend! He smiled and reached into his pocket and grabbed his wallet and handed the lady his card for her to scan and charge. She was glad to do so and as she allowed the transaction, Hiroshi leaned on the counter and glanced over at Yasuko talking on the phone, looking a little annoyed. Who was he talking to? why was he so annoyed looking? Was it someone he didn't like? Someone who annoyed him? Or was it...he frowned softly and wondered if perhaps he had actually had a relationship with someone, like he did. Hiroshi knew how annoyed he got whenever thinking about Lydia whenever he was with Yasuko and even more so when he thought about her calling...again! He heard the young lady speak to him and he glanced at her, she was holding out his card with a smile when she handed him the vinyl bag with the embroidered label on t he front. Not only was the store expensive but you got vinyl bags that were fashonable as well as the clothes.

He walked over towards him and watched him hang up. He smiled and acknowledged that he had a friend who had called, even though he was beginning to wonder if they were both in a predicament that they weren' allowing themselves to see yet. He liked Yasuko, yet he had a girlfriend. Was it possible that Yasuko liked him, but yet had a boyfriend? Either way he didn't want to bring it up just yet!

"Here you go! Beautiful clothes for a more beautiful boy." He happened to let that comment slip, but for the first time he really didn't care. It seemed fitting to say and it didn't even feel weird to tell him.

"Okay, I have an idea. We can go look around for some accessories and then, what do you say, we go to a nice place for dinner?" Hiroshi wanted to do that for so long. Lydia had never wanted to go to dinner without having to dress up. Although Hiroshi loved dressing snazzy and expensively, there were times when he wanted to eat somewhere very nice, but yet didn't have to worry about a dress code. After all, formal clothes were just that..formal. But there wasn't anything wrong with dressing sharp and being comfortable at the same time.

"I know all the greatest places and an even better place for dessert! Lots of chocolate!" He licked his lips as if he could taste it now and even his stomach grumbled with joy at the thought of food. He grabbed his stomach and shyly looked away as if this were embarassing!

"Gomen, hungry."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko bowed slightly when he took the bag from Hiroshi, his cheeks pinkening at what the man said. Yasuko felt very flattered by the comment, and the thought of his boyfriend immediately leaving his mind. He stood straight again, nodding at what Hiroshi said and smiling when the man's stomach growled. He chuckled a little walking towards the door with Hiroshi next to him. He nodded at him.

"Yeah, let's eat together," he said as the emerged from the store and he looked around him. The sunnyness of the day took his eyes off guard and he had to squint for a moment before he could get his sight fully back. For a moment they walked down the walk in silence. Yasuko's mind was one whether or not Hiroshi had a boyfriend or girlfriend. He wanted to know, he really did, but he wasn't going to ask. If Yasu was keeping his boyfriend a secret, it was entirely probable that Hiroshi was keeping someone secret too. But he didn't want to open that door and ruin anything. He knew if he had to talk about Aaron, it would ruin his mood totally. Instead, he glanced over at Hiroshi.

"Umm..." he said, the idea coming to his mind so fast, he almost spat it out without thinking about it. He looked over at Hiroshi and laughed a little. "Um, I was wondering...tomorrow night, there's this club over in the NIHONGO District that plays Japanese music all night. I don't know if you like dance clubs, but I was wondering if you'd like to go hang out. Maybe save a couple dances for me?" Yasuko smiled a little. Dancing was one of his favorite pastimes, besides shopping and if Hiroshi liked it too, it would only be another plus to his already perfect self.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi liked the sound of that, especially when it came from his cut little mouth. He had suddenly given him a sense of excitement and sheer joy! How much Yasuko was doing to him was literally unexplainable, but no matter how much he could do this all day...week...year...he had to be careful. He couldn't do anything that would jeopardize his already stable and happy romance with Lydia. Somehow as he thought of that so-called happy romance he wanted to immediately wish that they weren't together anymore. He knew why too...because of Yasuko. Suddenly his stomach cramped and not due to hunger. How come, all of a sudden, he was feeling certain things for Yasuko? He was a straight man, living in a straight apartment, with straight friends, and a straight job! He wasn't gay! Sure he had enough confidence in himself to say whether or not another man was attractive, which is what he was doing with Yasuko, but he could never...do anything else!

Too late. Hiroshi made a slight face in objection to his own thinking. Okay so he had fooled around...a lot. But that didn't make him gay! He enjoyed freedom with other people! Did that necessarily make him a homosexual? Certainly not. He wasn't in a relationship with a guy, he was in a relationship with Lydia! The love of his life! Yeah, he was sure that he was straight. So...why...was he so drawn to Yasuko? And why had he gotten a rise out of him last night? And why did he turn into a perverted peeping tom two minutes ago? And why was he holding hands with him and finding all the reasons to touch him? Friends didn't do that. Boyfriends did.

"We shall eat at the best place in town. It is very sweet, romantic, and it has soft music. You'll love it!" Hiroshi tried his best to put his mind as ease by thinking about his stomach rather than his sexual excapades and orientation. He knew what he was, so did everyone else, adn that was all that matter...right? Suddenly Yasuko's voice drew him back into the real world again. He smiled and looked down at Yasuko, ignoring the thought to tell him he looked really cute today after all one mistake was enough for one day.

"Dance?" Hirohshi was about to take this man home with him and keep him in his closet. He was too good to be true! He loved dancing! Loved it so much he would have done it for money if he knew he had no other job! He laughed excitedly and looked up for a moment, but was quickly drawn back to Yasuko.

"Babe, you got a date!" Okay, he wasn't doing as he said. Hiroshi Yamamoto was getting himself into trouble and he was liking every minute of it.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned at him and nodded his head. He liked the way it sounded when Hiroshi called him babe. The only person who did that was Aaron, and for a few moments, Yasuko could pretend he had someone like Hiroshi as a boyfriend instead of who he actually had. Then he blushed a little thinking about the setting with which he described the dinner. Sweet, romantic? Yasuko's experience with such places was few a far between.

His old boyfriend had taken him once, and Aaron used to take him to nice places when he was still trying to get Yasu to date him, but anymore Yasuko had settled for what he bought and quick food from a cafe or a fast food place. Plus he could never afford a nice place. Eating at a romantic place with Hiroshi sounded like a plan.

He was glad that Hiroshi wanted to go dancing with him. Yasuko loved to dance, and he was such a slut when he did so. If Aaron knew how he danced with other people at the dance clubs, the man would probably hit him, but as of yet, his boyfriend had not found out. Yasuko looked over at Hiroshi and grinned.

"Okay, Cat," he said, shaking some hair from his face. "I'll have to call you tomorrow, to..." but his words trailed off again as he saw a shop on the corner of a block labeled "East Asia Fashion". He pointed, grinning a little wider. "Tell me they have Japanese stuff in there?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled appeased with his decision to eat with him and even more so when he said he'd give him a call. He just didn't know how many times he'd be looking at his cell phone all night and tomorrow. Now all he had t odo was avoid his girlfriend and he was homefree for the night...a night with Yasuko how great it all sounded.

"I'll be looking forward to it." He said to him as they walked glancing at shops as if they did this everyday and if they had more money than god. It was such a nice feeling and it was an even better feeling when he began to think about it and all they could do. Hiroshi let out a silent sigh of relief and he frowned at Yasuko's question about the influence of Japanese style here in this district. He tilted his head and thought for a moment.

"I am not really sure, Paris offers a lot of everything that is expensive and stylish. Until it goes out of style they'll keep it here at high prices that are just cheap knock offs. As much as I love this place, I like buying things that are from the true District. I buy Asian items at their proper districts other than a place that just wants to make money from rich people who are too afraid to go into those places!" He laughed and looked down at him.

"In this place, business is business!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko rolled his eyes and nodded. He understood it. His brother was trying to work his way up in a business and it was cut throat. Yasuko had gotten calls from him when he was about to have a mental breakdown and Yasuko had to talk him into staying at the job. Out of all the Arai children, his elder brother had it best. Of course, his younger sister was still in high school, but still, Yasuko had not made anything of himself yet.

He shook his head, ignoring it, and yawned, swinging the bag from the last store in his hand. This place seemed so much brighter than the NIHONGO District did, even the HWANG district. Then again it held mostly rundown places. Yasuko loved his home, but it was much further down on the food chain. Then he glanced around at Hiroshi.

"You live around here? I mean, you know where I live. I think I should have the same advantage," he said with a smile, bumping Hiroshi's shoulder playfully with his arm. "A stalker's gotta do his job."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi let out a large laugh, echoing onff the walls of the district and catching a few peoples attention who were trying to enjoy their over priced lattes at a crap cafe downtown. He lowered his laugh to a chuckle finding Yasuko's humor a little too funny for his own good, this had been the second time today he had let out an over joyous laugh. Damn his Japanese heritage!

He let it all out and finally he calmed himself and looked around, the bright sun blinding him for a moment as they passed a floral shop that wasn't as high as the other buildings.

"I live downtown, not too far from here, but then again it is located in such a great place I am not far from anywhere." He smiled at a few people who passed them and continued on with his speech, giving the man what he wanted to hear. "I live in a penthouse by myself. How about you, Yasuko? Live in the Nihongo District?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko shrugged, wiggling his hand from side to side to indicate a middle ground. He looked back over at Hiroshi, smiling the man's laugh giving him an adrenaline rush for no reason.

"I live just between the HWANG District and the NIHONGO District," he said, shrugging a little. "I live about eight years from the club in one direction and my day job, three weeks in the other direction. I do a lot of running these days, so I am not home much, except on weekends and days off," he sighed out through his nose. "And like you saw, it's nothing nearly as nice as what's around here. I mean, it's not the dumps, but it sure isn't...this," he said, sweeping a hand around. Then he shook his head. "I'll have to have you over sometime, you can see what I mean."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled as he talked, it was a nice occurence being able to talk to someone without having to give them compliments everytime you turn around or have to plead some guilty mans innocence. It was a strange occrurence of things and he was enjoying every moment of it. He felt like he was on a vacation from his work, his girlfriend, and himself.

"Sounds good. I'd love to see where you live." He didn't mean to say it but in all truths he actually did. He wanted to get to know this man as a friend and probably more, even though he wasn't quite ready to admit this to himself...or others. He looked back to Yasuko and nodded.

"I shall have you over to mine as well! I cannot complain about where I live for it is quite nice, but then again with having nice things comes a great deal of...loneliness. I am rarely home as well and when I am I don't like being there. I sit in an office most of the time and I don't like it that much." Hiroshi wondered if there was actually anything he did like about his job, and life, anymore. After meeting this man it was a shock that he was suddenly contemplating everything he had worked so hard for and loved so much.

"So, tell me Yasuko do you have any family? Girlfriends? Boyfriends?" He was getting bold he knew, but he wanted to know before he did something really stupid, like fall for him.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko heard the combination of words that he had not wanted to hear all day. Do, you, have, and boyfriend. He chewed his lip. He was suddenly making excuses to himself. He complained about Aaron so much, that they might as well not have been together. But he knew that it was because he didn't want to tell Hiroshi he was attached. So he opted not to. He licked his lips and shrugged.

"I've got my parents, a sister and brother. Sis is still in school and Brother is...well, he's working. He hates it but he's doing it," he said with a chuckle. Then he swallowed. He'd tell him he had just broken up with his boyfriend. It wasn't a total lie. He really had. Months ago. "As for a boyfriend, no, I broke up with him a little while ago..." then he paused, and laughed. "I guess I didn't lay it out for you. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I am actually gay," he said with a laugh. He could remember a time when he had been so secretive about it. Now, he didn't really care who knew. Then he glanced over ar Hiroshi. "What about you? Surely you have a girlfriend? I mean, right?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi's stomach churned so quickly he was about ot pukle on himself then Yasuko. That news scared him and yet, at the same time ,excited him. He had never been so happy to hear someone was single! He smiled brightly, probably too bright for his own good. He looked around and shook his head when he knew that question was going to be asked in return, all he had to do was either tell him the truth, fudge it a little bit, or just lie! He didn't want to do any of those really, but he might as well get the painful truth over with as soon as possible.

"I have a girlfriend, name is Lydia. We've been dating for far too long and here recently I've been contemplating on breaking up with her. I need a new girl. A new person to look at and actually enjoy it." He sighed out. That was the first time he actually said he wanted someone new to anyone! Not even his closest friends and relatives knew that much about him and his personal thoughts. Yasuko should be very honored to know this! Hiroshi made a face and groaned.

"I have been plagued by her complaints and needs for so long that I am wanting to have someone else do it. I amm sure that if someone else did it I wouldn't be as miserable as I am now." He let out a tiny laugh and looked at Yasuko.

"Surprisingly you aren't making me miserable. You, as a matter of fact, have made my year by allowing me to do all these things with and for you. I highly enjoy it." Hiroshi smiled brightly and looked forward yet again keeping his eyes peeled for anything he'd think Yasuko would like or enjoy. This boy was suddenly becoming a top priority and he was surpassing his girlfriend an Hiroshi was more than happy to accept this and happy to do everything he wanted.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko dropped at the news. So he had a girlfriend. Yasuko mentally scratched Hiroshi off of the list. He sighed, like there was a list. Aaron was his list. He'd be stuck with him forever. Yasuko admonished himself. He loved Aaron, he had to keep telling himself that. He tried to remember the feeling he had gotten in the pit of his stomach when he had first seen the man walking down the hall of his school--a student teacher. It was totally against policy for a student and a teacher, even a student teacher, but Aaron had been so beautiful, so different from everyone else Yasuko had dated.

Yasuko tried to remember how he had felt when Aaron had kissed him the first time. They had been standing outside of Yasuko's apartment building, and they had just come back from dinner. Yasuko recalled his stomach flipping obscenely, but now, he couldn't remember that rush anymore. He knew that he had been so happy with Aaron, so ecstatic when he knew he would see him, so turned on by him. But Aaron had changed so much since they had begun dating. And now, he was just that guy that came over sometimes. That guy Yasuko slept with sometimes. That guy that called him "Babe." Yasuko blew a bit of hair from his face.

"Well, its good to know that I am not," he said a little quieter than he had intended to, letting his inner disappointment reflect in his voice and manner for a moment. He chewed his lip a moment, masking his emotions as quickly as he could--he was good at it by now. The put on a grin. "Then I have to mee Lydia, right? I bet she's awesome."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed in a tone that made it sound like he had no clue what he was saying. He shook his head and looked down at Yasuko.

"Believe me...no you don't. She is cold, heartless, thinks of herself, and even thinks about what others could do for her." Whoa, where had that come from? Why was he being so harsh on Lydia? What was it about Yasuko that had changed everything about his life. He hadn't even known him for more than 24 hours and already he was wanting to sign everything he ever owned away just so he could spend time with Yasuko Arai. Was that a good thing? Or a bad thing?

"I stay with her because..well...I don't know. I am sure that our time is limited and if I had any sense I'd call her right now and tell her to take a hike...but I can't." Hiroshi hissed at that thought. He wanted to do that so much, he was almost willing to look at Yasuko and tell him to calll her and tell her they were sleeping together. He almost laughed at the idea, but first he had to enjoy it.

"If I had the nerve I think I'd call her and tell her I met a wonderful man!" Hiroshi smiled. What was wrong with him? Did he actually just say this him? He was beginning to question whether or not he wanted the best of both worlds...women and men!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled a little. It was a nice thought, but Yasuko's brain had finally kicked into gear. Hiroshi was a friend. And that was where it stopped. He ought to tell the man about his boyfriend. Ought to tell him that he and Aaron had been dating for nearly a year, that Yasuko had almost given everything to be with Aaron. To Hiroshi, all Yasuko would be was a "wonderful man". A wonderful kid more like. Yasuko was at the point in his life where he didn't know which way was up or down, and Hiroshi? He already had a life, a career, a girl, a nice home, more money than he probably knew what to do with. He was finished with college, and Yasuko hadn't even decided if he wanted to go.

The more Yasuko looked at it, the more he realized how different they were. They belonged to two separate worlds, two worlds that didn't belong together. Two worlds that would never be able to mix. Yet that thought drew Yasuko more to Hiroshi than any other. The more Yasuko compared Hiroshi and Aaron, the more he wanted to stray outside of his class. The more he looked at Aaron in his mind's eye, and Hiroshi through his real eyes, the better Hiroshi looked.

Yasuko didn't say anything to Hiroshi, but continued to walk next to him in silence. After a little while, he would get over the disappoinment of knowing that Hiroshi had a girlfriend. It didn't matter how much Hiroshi said he wanted to break up with her, he hadn't yet, which meant he must of cared for her in some way or another. Yasuko would eventually be able to look at Hiroshi and just see a friend, and not a guy he'd like to date.

Glancing around the street, Yasuko tried to look at everything that wasn't Hiroshi Yamamoto. He hadn't hidden the thoughts in his eyes yet, and he didn't want the other man to see them.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi's grin began to fade after a moment of silence, a silence that was killing him deeply. He wasn't one to actually come to a stand still in conversations, especially when concerning his girlfriend considering he tlked about her an wful lot. Hiroshi wondered if had spoiled a great thing by even mentioning it, but he couldn't leep it a secret for that would make him an even biggerliar than he already was. His girlfriend was a pain, a pain that wouldn't go away until he actually put a stop to everything before they got any worse. He didn't actually think they could considering she was already pushing marriage on him. Hey he wasn't saying it was a bad thought, but he just thought it was bad idea to do with her. If he barely could spend time with Lydia without looking at his cellphone every three minutes perhaps it wouldn't have been so frustrating and ridiculously boring and painful, but one night driving home a stranger had sudden'y thrown his world into upheaval, so upheaval that he was enjoying every minute of it and wanting more.

Hiroshi enjoyed everything about Yasuko because he offered modesty, kindess, selflessness, and he didn't lie, unlike him and all his bad qualities. Hiroshi wondered how anyone could be his friend after just thinking those things about Yasuko Arai. This guy had it all! Why didn't he have a boyfriend?

Hiroshi looked at him and wondered yet again. He was young, sexy, stylish, what man wouldn't flock to his side? Hiroshi was and he wasn't even wanting to admit it, yet he knew he couldn't. Hiroshi knew that Yasuko was offering him a freedom that he could not even imagine! Hiroshi felt comfortable around him and he knew he didn't have to lie about anything, he could be himself without having to worry about stepping on someones toes. Yes, Yasuko was bringing the best out of him! He didn't want to lose that either, so now considering the fact he had brought Lydia into the whole conversation...it was beginning to sour. Lydia was a stupid woman who complained and whined, Yasuko was a beautiful boy who lived and laughed, what more could Hiroshi have wanted with his relationship choices?

Hiroshi ran his right hand over his head and began to scracth his head, fearing the worst that this friendship, based on the information he had given, was over.

"I uh...I ruined it didn't I?" He let out a nervous laugh and looked at Yasuko. He was sure he'd ask what he meant so he felt the liberty to be more specific. "With Lydia I mean. I should have told you I was single..."

Okay..he knew that this wasn't solving or helping anything. He might as well just tell him he wasn't comfortable being..g...g...gay. Damn, he couldn't even get his own mind to think how was he ever going to come to terms with it? But...who the hell was saying he swung that way? Played that field? Nobody! But how he wanted to after meeting Yasuko.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko didn't look at him for three more heartbeats after Hiroshi spoke. He was choosing his words very carefully, if he didn't he might actually tell him that it had hurt him to hear about Lydia. And he might let it slip that he had a boyfriend. Yasuko suddenly felt terrible for lying to Hiroshi. Obviously, Yasuko wasn't in a position to be lied to, since Hiroshi had not. Obviously, a girlfriend or boyfriend was not a sticking point for the other man like it was Yasuko.

Finally, Yasuko looked over at Hiroshi and gave him a shrug, then a little smile.

"Nothing's ruined," he lied. He was doing that more often than he wasn't today, and it was beginning to bother him. So he decided to at least make one thing right. He reached over, taking Hiroshi's arm to stop him. He faced him and shrugged again. "Earlier, I didn't exactly tell you the whole truth..." he said pausing. "I did break up with someone, but it was months ago. Theoretically I have a boyfriend...name's Aaron Hsu," he said in a sigh, then he shrugged again. "But I never see him, and I rarely talk to him, and we agreed to be like...a long distance couple since he lives and teaches over at the Nicolai University in the RUSSIA District, and I see him barely on weekends and..." but he stopped. He was blabbing now, trying to cover his butt, trying to make it look like he hadn't lied. He shook his head, waving a hand in front of his face. "Thing is...you didn't ruin anything, I did. I should have told you first off about Aaron and I. But I didn't think it was that important, since...I haven't kissed him in like three months, since I haven't seen him..." he sighed. "We're an internet, phone couple and it sucks. We have nothing in common, he hates everything I like and he never wants to do anything and..." blabbing again. Yasuko ran a hand through his hair.

He stepped back on a foot, shifting his weight from one to the other, and looking down the street at the other passersby. Some of them glanced over--probably thinking he and Hiroshi were having a lover's quarrel, which would have been better than what they were having...which was nothing. He sighed out again.

"Look, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you, it's not exactly the most intelligent act a kid can pull on a lawyer," he said, scratching his cheek. Then he rubbed his face in his hands, shaking his head. The point had been driven home. Hiroshi was from a place where lying wasn't necessary to get people to like you--money was. And Yasuko had never known anything but a life where lying was what kept you alive. And money was just an ethereal idea everyone liked to have in thier minds. He puffed his cheeks out and let out a breath. "Maybe I should just shut up..."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi stood tentively and nodded as he processed the information, surprised that his heart skip a few beats at the news that had hit him right in the stomach. Why should he have been so surprised to hear such ingormation? He was a looker, an attractive boy with a good job, great sense for fashion...there was so many good things about him that one could see at a first glance that it shouldn't have been such a surprise to hear this kind of news. Yet, here he was, watching him speak and wishing that he wasn't actually hearing it.

When he watched Yasuko finish his speech about lying and about pulling one over on a lawyer he realized it was his turn to say something. He simply nodded and then let out a soft laugh. Putting a hang on his shoulder he leaned forward slightly and smiled, allowing his laugh to soften as he began to speak.

"Yasuko..." He frowned softly still smiling. He placed his palm on his chest as he squeezed Yasuko's shoulder kindly. "I am a lawyer, I am the KING of lying!" He removed his hand off of him and let the other drop to his side.

"I make a living off of lying, even worse, making people believe those lies." He shook his head and looked to his right, followed by his left as he continued to think. What was he to say? That he was glad that they "broke up" yet were still together? Was he supposed to act like he was happy that he and his boyfriend were on the rocks, or almost about to be over? Hiroshi was a good lying and actor, but when it came to something he liked there was no way he could act such a way. He was dissappointed, but he knew that Yasuko was probably uninterested anyhow. Hell, he doubted he'd want a man in denial anyhow.

"How about this, we'll start over!" Hiroshi pointed down the street and put an arm Yasuko's shoulder, as he had done before in the store. It was a friendly getsure, nothing funny, gay, or whatever one would want to take it. Friends did this kind of thing...right? Who cares, Hiroshi thought to himself as they walked onto a large crowded street.

"We are both plagued with bad relationships. I lie about my status almost half the time. We are dating...but we really aren't. I think she keeps me around for my compliments and money." Hiroshi smiled and stopped for a moment.

"Hey! We have another thing in common! We're both in crap relationships." He sighed and shook his head. "You are by far the best person I have met in a while. If we like denying our significant others, or whatever you wanna call them, we can complain about them."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko couldn't help but grin up at him and wrap and arm around his waist, nodding up at him. That made him feel better about everything. Even if they did have girlfriends, boyfriends, whatever, they were still friends, and Yasuko would take a great friend over an okay boyfriend any day. Even though he wanted it to be so much more.

"Crap relationships in common?" he said, considering a moment, then laughed. "I can handle complaining about him, if you can handle complaining about her," he said with a nod. He still felt bad about lying to Hiroshi, he shouldn't have done it. But Hiroshi had been so funny about it, brushing it off like it was nothing. He couldn't help but like this guy more and more with every moment that passed.

He was getting a crush on Hiroshi Yamamoto.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi leaned his head back and laughed, rolling his eyes. "Please!" The way he said it would have made any straight man wonder his sexuality for it was overtly...gay. Hiroshi looked down at Yasuko and smiled.

"I could complain about that woman any day. She is a leach! A fungus! God knows what she is! She is so horrible and she had awful taste in clothes!" Hiroshi realized how fast he had just talked, how good it felt to let it out, how rejuvinated his body felt to tell someone how much he couldn't stand one person!! Suddenly he cleared his throat and stood upright and looked ahead of him like he had just embarassed himself.

"Sorry." He said trying to contain his hyperness and happiness. He liked Yasuko an being able to tell him how much he couldn't stand the woman he was with made him feel good, made him a little bit more closer to his new friend. Was it possible that he could have a normal relationship? A relationship with a man? A man that was gorgeous, smart, stylish, and was gay?

"I have a lot of complaints with her! Maybe it is becaues of my unhappiness..." Hiroshi softened his frown and looked back at Yasuko, perhaps a bit too...lovingly and smiled. "How about you, complaints about your boyfriend?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned at Hiroshi, covering his mouth as he laughed hard. He certainly did have so many complaints about this girl Lydia. But that was alright, Yasuko felt like he was suddenly coming to grips with the fact that there was more about Aaron that he didn't like than he did. He thought a minute, putting a finger to his chin, moving the back to the bend of his elbow and holding his arm up to keep it there. He waved a hand next to his head.

"Well...Aaron?" he said, then he rolled his eyes. "He hates shopping. He only says he loves me in notes or on the phone. When I go around with my friends, he gets so jealous," Yasuko explained. Then he shook his head again. "He's like twenty-seven, right? So, he treats me like I'm one of his students and then when he comes over he expects me to..." but he stopped and laughed. "I don't know. The only thing we have in common is that we're Asian. And like the same music..."

What Yasuko did not tell Hiroshi was Aaron's kind side. The side of him that kissed Yasuko on the forehead and told him goodnight. Drove him home in the middle of the night when Yasuko was afraid to drive in the dark. He didn't say that when Yasuko got clumsy and knocked over Aaron's coffee cup, did the man just laugh and tell him how cute he was. These were sides of Aaron that Yasuko longed to see so much. But that he rarely ever showed. He was standoffish, annoyed more often than he wasn't.

"I think...I am too young for him."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed trying to calm himself, laughing due to the fact that Yasuko had laughed loudly and was now having to contain himself by placing his hand over his mouth. This was the best day Hiroshi had been able to have in a while. He wax normally busy with work or serving Lydia, with Yasuko they were just...there...floating amongst everyone and enjoying themselves. It was so easy being with him, so easy liking him, and so easy to trap himself in a quick web of emotions and liking. Hiroshi knew he had to slow down! He had to!

He looked at Yasuko as he thought, if course having to think of him as attractive and even question himself and his relationship with Lydia. The two walked comfortably down the street as if this were an everyday occurence and inside Hiroshi wanted it to be, everyday, all the time. He had never had a feeling to take care of someone or be around them like this...it was very nice to feel yet at the same time it made him worry and made him scared.

"Too old?" Hiroshi retorted. Was he crazy? If he had his way age would have nothing to do with being in a relationship. Sure if they were a significant age difference he'd reconsider, but ten years or a little more wasn't half bad. Besides, how old was Yasuko?

"How old are you?" Hiroshi turned his thought into a question for he wasn't truly sure if they had this conversation or not. Even if they had it never hurt to be reminded. Besides if Hiroshi didn't keep his mind straight he was in for a long friendship of regrets and worries. Hiroshi wanted this to be friendly so odd outbursts of how cute he thought Yasuko was, how he would walk to ends of the earth for the newfound friend, how he'd do anything he ever wanted....all of this needed to be confined until a later date at least. If he let any of that slip now Yasuko would rightfull call him a stalker and a freak and run off.

Why did Hiroshi have the strong urges suddenly? They hadn't know each other long enough, for all he knew Yasuko could be a golddigger! But something told Hiroshi that was a wrong thought. Yasuko was a good guy and for a man who spent his career with the bad...it was easy to tell who was who.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko cocked his head. That they not had this conversation? He thought they had, but maybe not. And suddenly he was afraid to say, afraid that his youth would run Hiroshi off. He smiled a little and shrugged.

"I am..." he paused, counting a moment deciding how old he was in normal terms. "Nineteen," he said, glancing over at Hiroshi. Then he shrugged and laughed. He leaned over to Hiroshi. "Here's a secret you can never tell my parents," he whispered as if someone who passed them would care. "Aaron was a student teacher at my school. In my Coruscant Through the Ages class," he said with a chuckle. "We totally started dating when I was eighteen and it was so against the rules you don't even know..." then he paused, leaned away and sighed, looking away. "But Aaron was different then. He was...different." Yasuko glanced over at Hiroshi.

"Let me guess, you're...twenty-four, twenty-five? You're outta law school..." he said, trying to guess, grinning at the man.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi leaned into Yasuko, a bit more happy to do so than he realized. He smiled after Yasuko confided in him. This somehow made him feel very special, like he got to dive into a part of Yasuko that nobody else had, he was diverging secrets amongst him and this gave him a rush, a rush in his body feelings, his head, spine...everywhere because it made him another step closer. If Hiroshi didn't stop thinking "one step closer" he was going to end up beating himself up whenever he got home for this was apparently his new obsession. Not...thinking that Yasuko was...his...obsession. Right?

Hiroshi looked down at Yasuko after he attempted to guess his age. It was very close shot, but he had over shot by one. He smiled and shook his head.

"Twenty three, actually. Yeah...I am so old!" He rolled his eyes dramatically and smiled at him. His heart was fluttering like a butterfly and he liked the feeling Yasuko was provoking. It was very liberating from all the things he had recently experienced with Lydia.

"I met Lydia when she and I bumped into each other at a store. Of course after doing so she immediately latched on to me. I haven't been able to shed her since." He sighed not really wanting to hate on her too much, but it was kind of hard when you found something and someone so much better.

"You look older than nineteen, not that that is a bad thing!" He smiled and let out a comfortable sigh and an attempt to rid his stomach of butterflies. "You act nineteen though and I love it! Makes me feel not so old." He looked around seeing a look that suddenly made him uncomfortable. A man glanced at the two as if their actions were repulsive. Suddenly Hiroshi had to tell himself that they were friends, that he didn't find Yasuko attractive...but he wasn't able to convince himself. He needed to calm down. He was too tense and he was sure that Yasuko would sense it sooner or later.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled. He felt good that he looked older than nineteen, not so much that he acted it, but at least he acted his age instead of younger. He looked around them his sweet tooth suddenly returning after all this sudden boyfriend, girlfriend stress. He looked around, looking for somewhere they could sit and get ice cream. But he didn't see anything right off the bat.

"Hey," he said, looking back at Hiroshi. "I don't know about you, but I could use something sweet. Any places around here where I can make that happen?" he said, smiling at the man and knocking a bit of hair from his face. He bit his lip, suddenly uninterested in shopping and only interested in sitting down and talking with Hiroshi. He couldn't wait to eat dinner with him later. The day will have trickled down to a quiet restaurant where everything would be toned down and they could talk quietly, more intimately.

Intimacy. It was something Yasu wanted so badly. He wanted someone to love him. Not that his boyfriend didn't. But Aaron's version of loving him was kissing him now and then, hugging him as little as was possible, and getting sex every time he came over. Yasu knew that Aaron cared about him more than just that, he just didn't show it like Yasu wanted him to. He wanted someone who would just come over to sit on the couch with him and look at the city out the window and who would make him laugh. Someone he could go out with romantically or friendly. Someone who was not only his lover, but his best friend. That was what he and Aaron were missing.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

"Hai!" The word came out of his mouth particularly faster than he had intended, but it was kinda nice to throw in a word every now and then that was of his own race. Something he and Yasuko had in common. He smiled and pointed blindly up ahead and leaned down slightly to say the location to Yasuko.

"Up ahead we can take a right into a great place where the food makes your mouth water and your stomach eat your back bone. We can have something here and we can wander around so more before we went and grabbed something to eat. Sound good, Yasuko?" he looked down as they walked.

Hiroshi was spending a lot of his thought process thinking about how much he enjoyed having Yasuko by his side and having him near and against him. Sure it was a friendly gesture but Hiroshi truly was wondering if that was why he was actuall doing it. Like it was some subconscious movement to make a move on the boy. He understood that the both were off the market...but yet not really. They were in miserable relationships, yet he was sure they still had some sort of feeligns left about their better halves. Yet, Hiroshi had completely blocked out all the good about his girl and forced the bad in its place. While, in the meantime, Yasuko was quickly filling in those places that Lydia used to be.

"This is sorta out of place, Yasuko, but now is a better time than any." He glanced away for a moment before looking down at him and grinning like a fool. "I am glad you are here with me. This day is just...it keeps getting better. Thanks for inviting me to have breakfast." He smiled feeling like a fool. His face must've been getting red.

"Ah!" Hiroshi let out a laugh and covered his face with his free hand feeling like an idiot. He sighed out and dropped his hand. "Gomen! Gomen!" He laughed due to his loud noise of being embarassed. Damn his Nihongo roots.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko couldn't help but smile at the man. How handsome he had become to Yasuko. From the first time he had seen him in the bar the night before, to now, he had just gotten better looking. And his personality was better and better every moment. He stepped away from Hiroshi and reached up to move a bit of Hiroshi's black hair that had slid in his face when he had covered it with a hand. He moved it from his eyes and nodded.

"Zannen gaattehaikenai," he said quietly with a smile.

Whoa. He had just way overstepped the boundaries. Where had that come from? The urge to touch his face had come out of nowhere and now Yasu's face was getting pinker and pinker and he stepped away and dropped his hands. He licked his lips and then bit his lip, looking away. "Gomenasai...Yamamoto-san..."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed stilly by his sudden outburst of feelings. So far he was failing at 'watching himself' like he had kept mentally reminding himself.

"Daijobu." He responded as he tried to stop smiling. How great it made him feel inside to speak their own language. It made him feel connected and not so out of touch with who he was and where his family came from. He loved it and he was beginning to come to terms with the fact that no matter how he cut it...he was going to end up liking Yasuko the more they hung around. In just a few hours he was ready to make out with him. He wanted to pinch himself for thinking that already. Truth be told, he had thought about doing it last night.

"How about that food, huh?" He decided to move the subject along knowing that the more he continued to stare the harder this was going to be for him to keep his mind in the realm of goodness and without sin. He smiled and ran a hand through his hair feeling the gelled spikes moving slightly due to his sudden sweating while feeling his body under pressure to stop his impure thoughts and to keep things moving without more of this girlfriend/boyfriend thing going on. Before he knew it he would be asking this guy to be his boyfriend before long!

"My stomach is growling so we should go get some chocolate or anything you want. Remember, money isn't an option! Get anything ba...boy!" Okay, strike one of a million. He almost called him babe.

[Yasuko Arai]

--------

Yasuko didn't know where they were going for this dinner, but that ice cream they had had earlier that day had not beaten off the hunger this long. It was seven o'clock, Coruscant time, and his stomach was growling. The darkness had already taken over the city, the lights in the PARIS District lighting up, giving the streets a soft, yellow, but cheery glow. People were still out and about, restaurants had thier doors open due to the warm weather, and shops were still open, more young people in them now that it was later.

Yasuko's day was just a blur in his mind. So many words had been spoken, so much information about the other man to take in that he wasn't sure he would be able to retain it all. The streets were quieter at night, even though there were more people about, there was a quieter atmosphere. The sounds of the hover cars far above them was the loudest sound, and the quiet conversations of other passerby was heard. But it was all soothing. Even the smell of the city was different at night. Warmer, thicker, but better. Yasuko love Coruscant. Loved every part of it, but loved it at night most of all. And now, he loved it even more with Hiroshi Yamamoto next to him.

Yasu couldn't help but feel flattered for having the man take him like this. To shop and eat together at a nice restaurant--something Yasu had not done in a long time. He felt good. He felt...no, he couldn't feel like that. He and Hiroshi were just friends. But he couldn't help thinking about dinner, and beyond. What if invited Hiroshi into his apartment? Made tea for them? Sat on the couch together? What would happen then? What if Yasuko lost his mind and kissed Hiroshi? What then?

But he shook his head. He couldn't think like that. They were friends. That's all.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi breathed in the relatively nice air in the district. He always fancied this place at night for the atmosphere was soothing and slow paced and romantic. He loved it here and he also loved the food it had to offer at night when everyone was open for business.

"Here we are." Hiroshi stated to Yasujo as they approached a large building with the doors wide oen and a man greeting them in a thick accent. Hiroshi spoke quickly telling the man he wanted a place that was quiet, nice, and had a great view of the city. The man had complied and Hiroshi grabbed Yasuko by the arm as if he were hsi date...even though technically he was. They were directed in between sections, chairs, tables, and up a pair of mkarble stairs to the second level that was all glass and was filled by high class society and was quiet and played soothing ethnical music to soothe those eating.

Hiroshi was proud to have been able to take Yasuko here. The food was fabulous and expensive and it waws one of his favorite places to eat. He had always wanted to bring someone here, but never had. Not even Lydia who he used to think was his world. Now he just knew that she was his world of trouble.

The man seated them and Hiroshi thanked him and quickly pulled out a chair and pointed at it for Yasuko to take a seat. He smiled brightly. Was this pride he felt? Or was it something else? Either way he just couldn't wait to take a seat, order food, and talk the night away with Yasuko considering he hadn't been able to shut up since they met!

"This is a great place." He said to him. "I hope you'll like it! They have every thing you can think of. Even their dessert it fantabulous!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's mind tried to wrap around such a nice place. Nowhere he had ever been taken by any of his boyfriends had been this nice. And when he had been in the closet, he never would have taken his girlfriends to a place this nice. He used to think he had the urge to take Aaron places like this, share this kind of beautiful, romantic atmosphere with him. But as he sat down, watching as Hiroshi sat across from him, he knew that Hiroshi was the only one that would ever be able to hold a place in him special enough to make Yasuko want to give him everything. Even if Yasuko was not paying for this, had not taken Hiroshi here, he couldn't bear the thought of Aaron sitting across from him, looking at him over his thin silver-rimmed glasses, waiting for Yasuko to start a conversation.

Yasuko could imagine Aaron sitting right where Hiroshi was. His hand folded, his mouth resting on his hands, his legs cross under the table. He still had his suit on from the day at the high school he taught at, his tie undone just slightly, that silver cross glinting from the choker around his neck. A present from Yasuko. Yasuko could imagine Aaron's voice--quiet and unreadable--telling him that his day had been fine, but he didn't want to talk about it, he didn't want to talk about his students, about his co-workers, his life, because Aaron never wanted to talk about anything with Yasuko. Aaron never wanted to talk. He wanted Yasu to do all the talking, he wanted to sit and tune Yasu out while he ate. He wanted to do everything Hiroshi was not doing. Treating Yasuko like he was barely there.

Yasuko shook his head, the image of his stoic professor fading from his mind in wisps that blended into Hiroshi, a broad smile on his handsomely oval face, the short black spikes on his head framing his beautifully slanted eyes. Yasuko couldn't help but be relieved that he was sharing this with Hiroshi and not Aaron. He felt guilty, but it was true. He wanted to be with Hiroshi so much more than just as his friend.

"It's nice in here," was all he managed. How dumb that sounded. How uneducated--since he was about this type of thing. He doubted he would be able to pronounce half the things on the menu, but that was alright. Even if he got something disgusting, he knew that he would crack up and Hiroshi might even laugh too, and then it wouldn't be gross anymore...because they had laughed about it. He grinned. "Thank you for...doing all of this with me, Hiro-kun. I've...never had someone be so kind to me..." he said nodding. "I've never known someone like you."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi breathed in through his teeth as he smiled and leaned back in his chair as he glanced at the menu that had been left. He let out a slight laugh and nodded.

"It is a very nice place!" He glanced up at Yasuko who seemed enthralled with it all and this made Hiroshi more content in his decision to bring him here. The few people that he had ocassionally met here or had dinner with were very cold and over how fabulous this place was, some were even bored with it, so it was great to see Yasuko enjoying it so far...or at least he hoped he was liking it in case the look of wonderment was a look of worry.

"Everything is good here!" Hiroshi stated as he moved closer to the table so he wouldn't have to be too loud when talking to him. "If you don't like something we can send it back." He smiled at Yasuko. "You must think I am just wanting to spend money and don't care, don't you?" he shook his head and sat the menu aside for a moment.

"I am well off, I am not going to lie, so I of course splurge when I know I can. I hope you don't think I am just this...money flaunting guy. You don't...do you?" He hoped not! That would be awful! Hiroshi was rich and he had no problem sharing or spending, but one thing he didn't want to be labeled as was a rich snob who flaunted himself in bad tastes. He did it in a way that low key and subtle, but Yasuko was being tossed into it all and he didn't want to give him a bad impression like he was trying to win him over with gifts and expensive foods. He wanted Yasuko to like him for him. Who he was, was a good guy with a good job, and with good tastes!

"I just...want to give you what you deserve." Okay he knew this was pushing the friendship boundires and finally Hiroshi was okay with it. This day had gone by so fast and they were getting al ong so well that it was just so easy to continue things in a direction he was becoming more comfortable with when thinking about their friendship. Having Yasuko be his first...boyfriend was a good thought. Perhaps he could teach him the ways of easing out of denial, because ever since he met him he had only done it a little.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled a little, looking down at his hands that word folded in his lap under the table. I just...want to give you what you deserve. The words rung in Yasuko's head like the line of a song that was lodged there, Hiroshi's voice as the tune. How did Hiroshi know what he deserved? They had only just met. Not even Yasuko knew what Yasuko deserved. Yet, Yasu felt at once unsettled by the words, and comforted by them. He felt like no one else in the universe would be able to know what he needed and didn't besides Hiroshi.

Yasuko had not spent forty-eight hours with him, and he was ready to give away his heart, his soul...his body.

The teenager was willing and ready to forget about Aaron, make Hiroshi his world, make him Yasuko's center, what his life revolved around. He had thought that's what Aaron had been, but now, he had seen something so different. He had seen kindness, comfort, protection. He had known what it was like to simply be friends with someone with whom he had common interests. He had shared secrets with an almost perfect stranger that he would never had dared told his boyfriend. And that was okay with Yasuko. He knew that it was a long shot thinking that Hiroshi would ever want to be with a guy, and such a young guy at that. But it was a shot Yasuko was ready to take, if he felt that Hiroshi seemed open for it. But that wasn't going to happen right this moment. Right this moment, they were just sitting together, talking, having things in common, complaining to each other...enjoying each other.

He finally looked back up at Hiroshi, his moment of reflection going on a moment longer than he had intended it to. He looked back up into the man's face, smiling a smile as if he knew something no one else did.

"I don't think that about you, Hiroshi," Yasuko said, choosing his words carefully so he didn't actually say what he thought--which would have been inappropriate dinner conversation. He chuckled. "It's true, you have money and I don't. You can buy things off hand I could never dream of standing next to," he continued. "But you haven't rubbed it my face, and you've been more than willing to just give away your money all day today. To a teenager, at that," he said with another chuckle. Then he shook his head. "I appreciate everything you've done for me. You and I have more in common than anyone I know, and I like you a lot." Okay, he let that slip, but hopefully Hiroshi would take it in a, I like you a lot as a best friend sort of way. Then he grinned.

"But I have to say," he said in a teasing tone. "A rich lawyer can be a daunting experience," he said with a wink.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled a bit relieved that he hadn't run anyone off yet. He liked Yasuko and that was a bit frightening to him for he had never really experienced a friendship so quickly. He was already wanting to ditch Lydia, come out, and date the boy! This thought alone was horrifying enough for a man in denial, but it was a lot harder to actually not try and think of something else.

"I'm glad." Hiroshi was actually unable to think of something to say for he was liking Yasuko so much that he was willing to take his comment the different way. But he didn't. His liking went as far as friendship, sadly.

"Well, you think a lawyer is daunting...honey...try me out for a while." Okay that was far more pushing the boundries of friendship more than he had wanted it to. At that moment Hiroshi wanted to die. How dare he have said that.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko bit his lip, looking down at the table, sure that his cheeks were as pink as they could possibly be. He licked his lips to wet them and looked back up at the man. Yes, Yasuko would like to try him out for awhile. In more ways than one. But he wasn't going to approach that subject right this moment. After dinner, maybe he would invite Hiroshi to his apartment, make him some tea, talk with him in the privacy of his living room. After that...he supposed the sky was the limit.

Yasuko could not say he didn't love his boyfriend. He cared about him, really. But Aaron could not hold a candle to this sweet, charming man that had totally pulled Yasu's mind off of everything having to do with his boyfriend. Yasuko was ready and willing to forget about Aaron and simply succumb to all of Hiroshi's charms. For better or worse. Yasu knew that getting a crush on someone so quickly could be potentially dangerous. What if Hiroshi was abusive? What if he insatiable in the bedroom? What if all he wanted was to get into Yasu's pants? There were so many if's, and's, and but's, but somehow, Yasu didn't think Hiroshi was like that at all. Not from what he had seen.

Yasuko almost said, I'll try you out anytime, but that was exactly the appropriate response. Instead he gave the man a smirk.

"Maybe you'll change my mind about lawyers," he said, nibbling a lip. He had meant to say it, even though it was probably a little farther than was necessary. Yasuko kept pushing the envelope a little farther every time he opened his mouth. He was going to shove it off any moment now.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi leaned back in the comfort of his chair and smiled, playing idly with the white table cloth that had covered the prestine table. This conversation was taking quite a turn of events from earlier this morning, they had started out as friends, but now Hiroshi wasn't so sure if that was his motive anymore. He was liking Yasuko far too much to actually say that all he was wanting was friendship. Although he wouldn't mind being just friends, there was just always something else whenever he was around Yasuko. Not saying that was a horribly bad thing...right? He sighed out and looked around wondering where the waiter was. He was so wanting to continue playing along, but he knew he couldn't it was going to get them both into some kind of trouble that would be irreversible.

"Do you know what you want?" Hiroshi asked swaying the conversation slightly. He was almost positive the second they ordered and the waiter left they'd be talking and flirting like this once more. He didn't care, flirting was harmless. Hiroshi bit his lower lip when his mind replayed that same question. Did he know what he wanted? He tried to stifle the grin and the laugh he was wanting to exude. Hiroshi knew what he wanted alright, sadly it was sitting right across from him.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko took a deep breath and nodded, looking over as the waitor approached their table. He ordered quickly, unsure if what he had chosen would be any good at all. But he hoped that it would.

Yasuko watched the waitor jot down the order and nodded, smiling at him and handing him the menu. He folded his hands in his lap, watching as Hiroshi ordered. The man was so...pristine. Everything about him was perfect. The way he dressed, the way he walked, even the way he talked and laughed. Yasuko wondered if this man had any flaws. So far, nothing had caught Yasu's attention. He seemed the nicest, funniest, prettiest guys Yasuko had ever known. He longed to know what Hiroshi really thought about him. Sure the man said he liked Yasu, but did he really? Or was he being just nice? Yasu wanted to just...

Yeah, he wanted to rip his clothes off. But that was just his teenaged hormones talking. More than that, he wanted to know Hiroshi. Know him intimately. Know him inside out. Know him in every way, physically, mentally, emotionally. Yasu was ready to just give himself to a stranger and somehow, that seemed alright.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

"Thank you." Hiroshi mindlessly handed the menu to the waiter for his gaze was stuck on Yasuko. He smiled as he looked at his appearance, his mouth, his beautiful almond shaped eyes, his nose, the jawline, his neck, how it all was so appealing to him. He wanted to touch every part of him...he wanted to kiss his mouth and jaw, touch his hair, look into his eyes, see every part of him like he had earlier. Whew. Hiroshi thought to himself as he ran his hand over his forehead, when did it become so hot in that place? He frowned softly trying to keep his cool but that just wasn't happening not when he conitued to stare admiringly at the boy right across the table. It was natrual beauty, he knew, but the dim lights insde the restaurnant was just enhancing it all. Everything at that moment was enhanced! Even his voice and his clothes. He wanted so much to happen he wanted Yasuko so badly that he could taste it.

Now when a lawyer wanted soemthing they fought for it until they got it, but was it going to work with Yasuko? Hiroshi knew that it was going to be a hard thing to do, a very hard thing to come around to, but he knew that he couldn't hide forever. Surprisingly for the first time he had felt a bit free and comfortable with Yasuko whenever thinking about being who he actually was. The only true reason, he figured, for staying inside was because of the repercussions he could face. He could get fired, he'd lose his girlfriend (although he even wondered if that would be a loss), he'd not be able to live as wealthily as he did now, he wouldn't be able to buy Yasuko nice things. All that combined made it truly easy to keep the truth inside, the lies outside, and things not so apparent.

Hiroshi suddnely decided to take a look at Yasuko as a person instead of this huge piece of sexy flesh. He seemed stiff, uncomfortable, and trying to be a bit proper. He smiled and let out laugh. He was already loving this guy!

"Relax!" He said happi;ly as he leaned across the table to say this to him quietl. "Relax! You'll love your food! You'll love everything, promise! I wouldn't dare lie to you!" He smiled and looked around suddenlyl revitalized with a new sense of excitement and hyperness. He was wanting Yasuko to try everything on the menu, he wanted him to tell him all the things he loved and hated! He wanted everything for Yasuko! The good thing was, he had all the time in the world to let that actually happen.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko shrugged a little leaning back in his seat a little more comfortably. Hiroshi was lucky he had leaned back because if he had continued to lean in so close, Yasuko was going to grab his face and kiss him, right here in front of everyone and God. He licked his lips a little, unable to contain himself. How much he wanted to just...deep breaths, Yasuko. Deep breaths, he coached himself in his mind. He needed to cool off.

He swallowed and took a deep breath, letting it out. He felt so much pressure to be faithful to his boyfriend. But how could he be faithful to a stiff professor who wore silver rimmed glasses and only spoke when absolutely necessary? Yasu had only heard him raise his voice in the bedroom. He wanted someone who got excited about things, someone who just lifted their voice when they got happy. Someone who was just...there, who cared. Yasuko couldn't even hold Aaron's hand anymore. He was always too afraid what everyone else thought.

But not Hiroshi. He was just...everything Aaron wasn't. Sweet, funny, loud at times, giving, outgoing, interested in things around him, charming. He spoke his opinion, gave Yasu a run for his money in the mouth department, and Yasuko loved it. Loved every bit of it. Every moment he was with Hiroshi, he liked him even more. He leaned forward in his seat, leaning in towards the man wanting to be as close to him as was possible without jumping his bones right here in the restaurant.

"If I don't like it, I'm blaming you," he said with a laugh. "And I want to try yours," he said, unable to wipe the stupid grin off his face. "Is this okay?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi moved as close as he could half willingly and half trying to contain himself. His chair was going to flip forward and let everyone know that they were getting so close that at any given moment Hiroshi was going to tackle him and give him the ride of his life. Not that he was gloating or anything of the like! He smirked evilly, playfully, loving where this was going, loving how much fun he was having, loving being able to be himself.

"Absolutely!" He said with a smile of glee. He was so comfortable with Yasuko, even being this close. He wasn't giving two flying farts about what everyone else was doing, what they thought, what they were whispering. All he could do was look at Yasuko and scream in his mind for those who didn't like it to stuff it up their rears.

"I am sure you'll love your food. If you don't..." He leaned back a moment nad held his hands in the air and laughed. "I am to blame. But trust me....I always have the best tastes in food..." His eyes ran over Yasuko and in his mind he was simply smiling and laughing. Best tastes in my food and in my men.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled nodding. Yasuko wondered suddenly what Hiroshi tasted like. His lips, his chest, his stomach, his body, everything, everywhere, Yasuko just...he bit his lip. It kept getting warmer and warmer in here the more he thought. Yet the warmer it got, the more he thought. Yasu's mind was just working over everything. He needed to cool it off.

"You always have good taste in food," Yasu said playfully. "I'll bet once or twice you've gotten something that didn't quite agree with your tastebuds." But you certainly would agree with mine, he couldn't help thinking, a michievous smile playing on his lips.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and let out a soft chuckle that was from deep inside his throat. Yasuko was teasing him, he could tell in his words and in his eyes. That was okay, to Hiroshi that was the best thing he could have ever heard. It was burning up in there. Was it the air? Was it just him? Or was it because of Yasuko Arai? He pondered on saying something about the heat, but he opted to let it pass for he didn't want to break this sudden enjoyment of his.

"Sure." He said nodding his head knowing that not all things were what he wanted. "A few here and there, but trust me...I have an eye for what I want." He bit his lower lip trying his hardest to keep his thoughts clean and pure, but he knew that this was going to be impossible at this moment. He looked at Yasuko and continuted to smile. He didn't recall having any other expression that whole day.

"Something you should know: I get what I want and what I want I get."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko wanted to throw him on the table right then at that remark. But he decided that he should simply laugh. He chuckled in his chest and looked down at the table. Yasu bit his lip and looked up, his eyes meeting Hiroshi's. They were a deep brown color, the trademark color of the Neo-Asian races, yet somehow, Yasuko had never seen anyone's eyes such a deep brown color. Yasu's brow furrowed as he looked as deeply into the other man's eyes as he possibly could without totally losing himself.

The man's eyes held more emotions and thoughts than he had seen in anyone's before. He chewed his lip, his impure thoughts at bay for the moment as he studied the man's eyes and face, committing every part of it to his memory as if he might be forgetting it sometime soon. If Hiroshi looked at Yasuko one certain way with those eyes, Yasu was sure that the man would get anything he wanted from him. Anything at all.

"I suppose you do..."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and just stared at him with a lust beyonf his imagination. It had been quite some time since a man had put such a feeling inside. Lydia had done that to him once, but whenever he went out to the clubs for a little 'fun' the men had given him a rush, but it only lasted as long as their appointment. Yasuko wasn't even being paid for being with him yet he was giving him such a feeling that was making things seem so different. He was so excited and so happy to be there.

Hiroshi was definitely having a hard time controlling urges, but he knew he had enough willpower to not act on them, afterall he had perfected that art! He couldn't dent that he was wanting so bad to not push the feeligns away, but he had a serious career to think of. But then again he was good liar, he kept a lot of things secret. Surely he could keep Yasuko his dirty little secret as well. Hiroshi let out a laugh after a moment of silence. He loved his response, he really did.

"You can almost garauntee it." He was suddenly turning this conversation into something friends usually don't discuss. He was loving it as well. He was so tempted to just go ahead and ask Yasuko if it was working, if he was somehow winning over what he wanted. But he kept it out of his mind. Sadly.

"So, is there anything that you want?" Hiroshi wasn't exactly sure whether or not that had anything ot do with their conversation, but he couldn't resist. He had to ask.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled, shaking his head in response, leaning back in his chair and letting out a sigh. He was thinking about everything. Aaron, and Hiroshi and himself. He wondered if Hiroshi was interested in a relationship. Did he want someone to be with like Yasuko did? did he want that closeness, the intimacy that only came from two people who really cared about each other? Yasuko wondered if he was looking for more than Hiroshi was willing to give. Maybe Hiroshi just wanted to have Yasuko's body for a night. Maybe that was all it was. It wouldn't have been the first time for Yasuko.

But he tried not to think about the if's, and's, or but's. He tried to just think about this moment. If it came to that, then it came to that and if that was all Hiroshi wanted then Yasuko could refuse him then. But right now, he just wanted to enjoy the other man's company. If he was acting all of this, then he was an amazing actor. And that would have been heartbreaking. But Yasuko hoped that Hiroshi was not like so many other people Yasu had known and liked.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi watched Yasuko slide back into his chair so he took note and did the same. He let out a sigh of happiness and relief that finally it began to cool down and he could breath properly again. Yes, it had been the closeness that had caused it all. He looked around for the first time since they had gotten there. He rested his arms on the rests and felt the air from the vents hit him. He was needing to breath and cool off and to understand that whatever he wanted with Yasuko, he wouldn't get. To his dismay. he was sure that Yasuko was really content with his boyfriend and that anything that could come of this friendship would be just that. Friendship. But he could at least give it a few shots, right? He was a man who loved hard tasks! Yasuko might not have been that complicated, but it didn't mean things would be easy. First and foremost he had to think of how he could drop the hints that he was very interested, interested beyonf a one night stand.

"So, are you and..your boyfriend, I apologize I don't remember his name." He scooted his chair forward to at least close a little bit of the space. "You and your boyfriend...are you two....content and happy together?" He knew what he had shared with him earlier but they never made it apparent as to whether or not he wanted someone else. Like, oh...say..Hiroshi!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko watched him a moment considering the question. He wanted to yell NO times a million but he didn't think that would be quite right for the subdued atmosphere. He looked away from Hiroshi for a moment and two a couple across the way from them. He considered them a moment before looking back at Hiroshi.

"Well...Aaron thinks we are..." he said with a light chuckle. But it covered up a deeper hurt. He shrugged, leaning forward a little. "Aaron is under the impression that now that he has me, he will never lose me..." Yasuko said with a nonchalant shrug. "So he just, doesn't try anymore. I mean, when we first started dating he was just what I thought he would be, then...his job started becoming his obsession...his co-workers, his students, became more important to him than anything else," he said quietly. "Not that a job isn't important, but after awhile he barely came over at all, and he was always too busy for me to go see him," Yasu looked away and sighed. He tucked a tendril of hair behind his ear and shrugged again.

"Aaron...comes over maybe once a week, and..." Yasu bit his lip. "We don't really...talk..." he said, turning pink, glancing at Hiroshi, hoping he got the idea. Then he looked away again. "Like I said before, he hates everything I like, shopping, going out with friends. He spends the night with me and works on his laptop when we aren't doing other things..." he sighed out quietly. How awful this sounded all of a sudden. Was Aaron really that bad?

Yes. He was. He had been so for months. Yasuko just hadn't had the courage to face it until now. He licked his lips, sighing out again. Then he laughed to cover up his emotion.

"He used to be..." Yasuko shook his head, smiling feebly. "Something else."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Oh Hiroshi was loving every minute of this. Not meaning he was enjoying the horrible torture that he must've been feeling inside, the love that he was so used to being take naway. It wasn't a goodfeeling, but he was glad for it seemed to be working in Hiroshi's favor for another date. Well, techinically a first real date together instead of going out as just friends. He suddenly realized that he wanted to give him a hug and let him know that he wasn't alone in the horrible relationship hell. He was suffering too for he was in love with the same sex and was afraid to admit it to anyone. Yasuko would be the only person to know, aside from all those no-names he had slept with several times at the right price.

"Sounds a lot like Lydia." He moved on not wanting to bring down the conversation, but to keep it focused on the two of them and their predicaments. "She does nothing but whine nowadays. I think she loves me for my money. Lord only knows that I love her because she likes to shop. Other than that I love her as human, if you'd want to call the monster that!" He laughed lightly and shook his head as he put his chin into the palm of his hand, glancing over at Yasuko. If that pose wasn't gay he didn't know what was!

"What are we going to do?" He asked in an even gayer voice! God he hadn't even come out yet and he was acting gayer than he ever had. What was wrong with him? He needed to stop acting like a princess waiting for her knight in shining armor! He cleared his throat as if he had just done something horrible.

"I mean, about...our relationship troubles." He said in a more manly voice and in a less gay gesture.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko chuckled. How gay that had sounded. Granted, Yasuko could be pretty gay when it came to shopping, but generally, he didn't talk or act gay, and most would have probably said he was straight unless he told them otherwise. Yet somehow, Yasuko found it cute when Hiroshi had been so gay right then. He shook his head, and leaned forward as he saw the waitor coming towards them with thier food. He licked his lips, his mouth opening and beginning to speak before he had the mind to stop it.

"I guess we'll have to spend more time together dissing on them," he said. Oh God, if that wasn't obvious to Hiroshi that Yasuko wanted to be his boyfriend, than nothing Yasuko could do would get it through to him, unless he screamed it in his face, or raped him right here. Yasuko laughed at that thought and bit his lip almost hard enough to draw blood.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked at him and smiled so wide that he probably blinded everyone with his professionally whitened teeth. He didn't care! Oh he felt like a little girl right then getting a piece of candy. Hrisohi leaned back and collected himself, he could have moments when he acted more girly than his girfriend, it was just few and far between. It happened to him every now and then! Who cares! Hiroshi was having the time of his life and he wasn't about to stop anything he was doing even if it saved him from a bit of embarassment, like his queer moment just then!

"Oh, food!" He stated when the waiter smiled at them and asked who got what. Hiroshi fessed up to the exotic dish with oranges, peanuts, and chicken. He smelled it and heard his stomach growl. He looked at Yasuko and waited happily for him to look at his mean and see whether or not he'd want to eat it.

"Looks good, yeah?" He questioned after a moment. If he didn't like it, Hiroshi could think of a few ways he could force him to eat. Sadly it onlty involved strawberries and whipped cream.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko looked down at the food. It consisted of molasses rice, vegetables, and a fish that Yasuko was not familiar with. But he it smelled good, and his stomach was hungry. He smiled and nodded at Hiroshi, the smell of the other man's reminding him of food he used to eat back home with his family.

He swallowed once before before choosing the chop sticks to eat with, as thier had been a choice of several utensils that could be used to eat this particular meal. Yasuko nodded to the waitor who told them to enjoy and moved on. He looked up at Hiroshi, and chewed his lip.

"Okay," he said as if he was about to go into battle. Then he laughed. "Gonna try it."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and waited to get a response before even touching his. He lifted his glass of water at Yasuko. "Itadakimasu!" He took a drink and sat it back down. He was so damn cute that it was suddenly beginning to pain him physically to watch him do anything. He hadn't felt this way about someone before. It was quite nice to experience.

Hiroshi knew he couldn't wait. He lifted his fork an brought a piece of chicken up to his mouth and quickly bit into it feeling the hot juices fill his mouth. He looked up at Yasuko and watched him pick at it then pick some up with his chop sticks and eat it. He seriously was waiting on his very words before he could breathe. Did he like it? Did he hate it? Was he going to turn his nose up at it? Was he going to toss it at Hiroshi and call him a meanie for bringing him there? Either way Hiroshi waited in suspense and in anticipation.

"Well? What do you think, dear?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko chewed the food carefully. He had picked up a little of everything to taste it all. The taste of the slightly sweet molasses rice with the saltiness of the vegetables and the fish taste was all a mixture he had never experienced, but he liked it. He squeezed his eyes shut and made a "mmmm" sound, still chewing a little. When he swallowed, he opened his eyes and grinned.

"Oishi!" he said in response, feeling his cheeks pinken a little at being referred to as dear. He nodded. "It's so good, I didn't think it would be at all," he said with a laugh, taking another small bite, then nodding again. "But it's really good," he smiled. He watched Hiroshi. "Is your's alright?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smled with such a relieved feeling. He had taken people to dinner before and couldn't have cared this way or that way if they liked their meal, but for some reason his liking the food meant the world to Hiroshi. He knew it was silly, but he didn't care eerything had to be perfect! He smiled and nodded.

"Mine is fabulous! Here!" Hiroshi grabbed his fork and scooped up a little of everything and stood up slightly and leaned over the table and held his hand underneath as to not drop anything. "Take a bite, it is to die for!" He bit his lower lip knowing that he had just paraded his gayness and his sudden comfort in front of God and everybody by offering his fork and food. But for some reason he didn't care! He just wanted to share with Yasuko, perhaps a bit too willingky, but still! It meant a lot to Hiroshi to have even gained the courage to walk around town with his arm draped around him.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko stood slightly, placing his hand on Hiroshi's to steady the fork and placing his mouth around the food, leaning back and sitting back down, chewing thoughtfully. How good it was! Both things were so good, Yasu couldn't remember eating anything that good. He chewed it, then swallowed and then smiled.

"How good," he said with a nod. He bit his lip. "You're tastes are...amazing," he said with a laugh. "You really do have the best tastes in...everything. How the hell do you live with such great taste," he said teasingly. Yasuko wanted to ask him if he was busy after dinner...but he would wait and see how things went when they were finished eating. He knew what he wanted to ask the other man, he just hoped Hiroshi accepted.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed lightly at his response. It was so real and so honeset that he wanted to just kiss him right then and there! He hadn't met someone who actually apprecitated a good meal before and it was so nice to know that he meant every wrod he was saying.

"It's a divine gift!" He teased giving him a wink. He looked at his plate and quickly took a few bites before looking back up at Yasuko. "Is there anything you'd like to do afterwards? We can eat dessert here or we can go somewhere else in the district. Or...if you know someplace!" Hiroshi smiled and took a drink of his water.

"I'm up for anything." He wanted to giggle at how he could take his comment pervertedly. "I am sorry to say but, I quite don't want the night to end so soon."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko bit his lip as he continued to eat. In a little while they would be finished eating and honestly, he didn't want the night to end either. He chewed another bite before swallowing and smiling. He took a deep breath, trying not to be nervous about asking. If he said no he said no, and if he said yes, then...

"Well," he began glancing around him as someone passed by them, giving him a friendly nod. He watched Hiroshi inquisitively for a moment before posing the question. He leaned back slightly. "If...you want, you can come back to my place," he said quietly, almost as if he didn't want the man to hear him. He chuckled. "You can see how tiny the place is." He laughed. His apartment was not that small, but he always described it as so. God, he hoped Hiroshi said yes.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi picked at his food, frowning softly when he heard Yasuko's voice. He loved how it sounded, so smooth, deep, sensual, sexy. Hiroshi liked a lot of things about Yasuko an it was actually nice to have someone to like so much, he had forgotten what it felt like! Lord knew he and Lydia had lost that feeling a long time ago, now they were just an obligation he knew! He chewed and looked up at Yasuko speak and suddenly his stomach did a flip.

Something he had been expecting was a response that led him to believe they'd have dessert here, somewhere else, or somepleace Yasuko suggested, but he hadn't been expecting an invite back to his apartment. For a moment he was speechless and he couldn't even swallow. He was going to make a noise indicating he hadn't heard correctly, but he understood exactly what he had asked and he couldn't get out his response quick enough.

"Sounds great." He said after he swallowed and gave him a smile. "I'd love to, Yasuko." He said making it a little bit more reassuring for the both of them. Suddenly fear set in. What was going to happen? What were they going to do? Either way he was actually going to not press the matter any further. He was going to Yasuko's home!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding and grinned. How happy that response made him. His stomach had already been twisted into knots, but now that he had said yes it was worse. He didn't know what he planned on doing when they got back to his place, he supposed it would just come to him. He'd have to keep himself in check or the moment they were through the door of his apartment, he would jump Hiroshi's bones.

He licked his lips and continued eating, feeling kind of embarrassed. Didn't people only ask other people to thier apartments when they had known each other longer? Yasuko thought so, so why had he just done that? Suddenly he felt stupid for asking. He just wanted to rewind and ask him at another time, a few days in the future. But no, it was going to happen tonight. He just had to keep himself--not to mention his hormones--in check.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi ate quickly now having a realy reason to hurry. But he didn't want to seem too desperate. His hands were shaking, his stomach was churning, his heart was skipping beats, and he was burning alive. He needed air and he was almost positive that Yasuko had a good pair of lungs. Perhaps later he could give him some mouth to mouth. Okay, Hiroshi knew that thought was crossing the line! He had tried to keep his mind in check, to keep everything from going haywire inside, but he was wondering if he had good self control for it was not working at that moment in time. He wanted to just forget the food and the bill and run of literally into the sunset with Yasuko in tow.

"Wanna stop to get some dessert on the way there?" It was a suggestion but in his mind he was hoping that Yasuko was his dessert.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled and shrugged a little, still eating. He had sped up a little, mostly from nerves. He had stopped being hungry when he had asked if the man wanted to come over because his stomach had twisted into so many knots. Now, he was just trying to get through the meal.

It didn't matter one way or the other to Yasuko what happened enroute to his apartment. Just as long as they got there and he hadn't raped Hiroshi by the time they did. He gave Hiroshi a little smile and another shrug as his answer.

Yasu had not thought about his boyfriend possible coming over. But then he remember the phone call he had gotten earlier. No, if Aaron thought Yasu was doing something, he certainly wouldn't bother to come over and surprise him. He probably had too much work to do. And anyway, if he did come, Yasu would have to buzz him up, and he could sufficiently hide Hiroshi before he did that.

Yasuko couldn't help but smile a little at that thought. The image of him trying to get his clothes back on, while also trying to shove Hiroshi into a safe location--probably in his bedroom closet--while talking to Aaron on the overcom and assuring him that everything was alright was a funny picture. Yet somehow, it was something Yasuko could see he and Hiroshi pulling off, and laughing about it. But Yasu knew that id anything came of his and this man's relationship, he didn't want to do it behind Aaron's back. He still cared about the other man, enough to not want to hurt him like that. He would break it off with Aaron before he would date Hiroshi. That didn't mean Yasuko wouldn't jump him at the apartment.

"Six of one, half dozen of the other," Yasuko said after swallowing a bite of food, smiling at him. "Your decision."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked down at his food and heard Yasuo's answer and he wanted to laugh. That was something he had never really heard before in his life. He looked up and smiled as he began to jab his fork into his food continuing to eat at a safe pace taking note to his anticipation and trying to calm himself, but that really wasn't happening when the sexy man was sitting right across from him.

Hiroshi could think of all the things he wanted to do whenever they got to Yasuko's apartment, jumping his bones being at the top of the list, making him breakfast the next day at the end. He smiled. Wouldn't that have been a dream come true to him? Staying the night and giving him the best breakfast Yasuko ever tasted in all his life the morning after. He was a romantic guy, he loved being a provider and taking care of things, but he had actually never done any of that with am an before, not like he was with Yasuko. It was kinda nice to think about for he wasn't having to hide a single thing. It'd just be he and Yasuko. The way it should always be. Hiroshi bit his tongue and cringed a bit. That thought surprised him. He hadn't truly intended to spend the rest of his life with this man despite knowing he'd like to be around him for a long time. It was just a thought. A thought that he was just knocking around in his head not truly needing to be politically correct. It was just...

Great. Hiroshi thought as he leaned back slightly chewing a mouthful and glancing up at Yasuko eat. I'm beginning to argue with my own thoughts.. Yasuko was a friend that he found attractive, a few hours couldn't give him the kind of impression that would lead him to beleive they'd be together forever! It was a fruedian slip.

"We can do that, I suppose. It is all up to you, this is something I want to do for you." Hiroshi smiled and grabbed his glass of water and took a sip.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko placed his chop sticks on the edge of the plate, half of the food gone, the other half he being unable to eat. He leaned back and took a deep breath. The food had been wonderful, but he was too full to eat anything else for the rest of the night. Or was it that he just didn't want to stop before they got to his apartment? Either, or, he got the urge to not stop anywhere. He shook his head.

"I'm too full," he said with an apologetic nod. Then he put a hand on his stomach. "This was so good," he said, sitting forward again. "I have never eaten anything like this before...actually, never been anywhere like this before. Thanks for such a great..." he paused, then laughed. "Everything." Yasuko wanted to grab Hiroshi's hand, pull him out into an alleyway, and have at him right here. But that would be...inappropriate. Although quite hot, if he did say so himself. He couldn't help but smile at the other man.

"Thank you so much for all of this, Hiroshi."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and watched him put his chopsticks down letting him know that he had run his course and could no longer consume the food that was still on the plate. He just smiled and nodded.

"That is okay. I am getting quite full myself." Hiroshi hid his sudden excitement and his fear. He hadn't been this nervous, yet happy, at the same time in quite a while! He was ready to just run out of the place and head straight to his apartment. Hiroshi knew that this was just a friendly thing, they weren't going t obe doing anything after all they both were taking by their significant others...miserably so. He smiled and sat his fork down and let out a groan to express his stomach.

"This was good, yes?" He waved a hand in front of him and continued to smile at Yasuko. "No need for the thanks. We are friends! Friends do this all the time. Plus now you can go and brag to all your friends that you shopped and dined in Paris!" He winked and let out a soft sigh of happiness. He didn't think he had actually enjoyed himself so much at that restaurant before.

"What do you say we head out of here, hmm?" He smiled uable to contain his excitement any longer.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko nodded, leaning forward and standing, stretching a little to let the food settle in his stomach a little more. But that would be impossible. His stomach was churning so much, he didn't know how he was keeping the food down. But he didn't feel sick. He felt so excited he could barely contain himself.

He followed Hiroshi to the front, and as the man stopped to pay, Yasuko stepped outside the open doors, looking up into the sky. The view of the stars was obstructed slightly by the hoverways and the lights from the massive city shining up and almost overcoming thier light. But Yasuko could still see them and still appreciate how pretty they were. He stuck his hands in his pockets, arranging his satchel on his hip as he listened to the hum of the hovercars, and the sound of people's conversations as they passed him. Humans and aliens alike, all thier voices sounding different as some spoke Basic, others thier given language, or whatever was common between two different races. He wet his lips as he watched a couple pass him across the street.

He shivered a little, half from being a little cold and half from excitement.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi stepped out into the street as he put his wallet into his back pocket, enjoying the nights atmosphere. He sighed out and looked over at Yasuko and smiled.

"Ready?" He asked stepping beside of him and hooking his arm with Yasusko. "You cold?" He asked noticing the nippy night as people brushed by and went their own ways, not once looking at them. Hiroshi didn't wait for him to respond he simply put his left hand into his pocket and put his arm around Yasuko and pulled him tightly to him and sighed out, walking joyously down the street as if this were an everyday occurance for these two.

"I am glad that yo ucame with me tonight. I had a blast. I would love to do it again some time. How about you?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko snuggled a little closer to Hiroshi as they walked. Yeah, he wanted to stay like this for the rest of forever. Or at least till they got to his apartment. The feeling of Hiroshi's arm around him, the warmth of the other man seeping into his body felt...right. Yasuko couldn't deny that he liked the feeling of being so close to the man. He liked the feeling of the man's arm around him, the prospect of cuddling up to him on a couch sounding very nice indeed.

Yasuko's emotions were all over the place. He liked this guy so much--after only knowing him a little while--and yet, he felt bad for liking someone when he was still with Aaron. God knew Yasuko had adored Aaron at some point. Yasuko had been head over heals for him for so long, and then they started dating and...he didn't really care anymore. Aaron had just lost everything that Yasuko had thought he had. And now, Yasu was seeing something new, something better, something fresh, and he wanted it. Bad.

"Yeah, I'd really like to," he said with a nod, moving a little closer as they walked, trying not to be too obvious about it. "You can stop into the cafe any time. I'll have to show you where it is," he said with a laugh. "I can get you coffee or tea, or whatever," he said, grinning over at the man. How odd it felt to be inviting the man to come see him whenever he wanted. Yasuko knew that if Aaron happened to wander into the shop while Yasuko and Hiroshi were together, he might get...jealous. But Yasu suddenly didn't care. He laughed a little.

"I can't beleive how much fun I've had, Hiroshi," he said, looking over and up at the man who was slightly taller than he. He wrapped an arm around the man's waist and squeezed him just a little in a small hug. "Thanks...again."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi loved how close he got it seemdto eliminate any space between he and reality and he was liking every single minute of it! He wouldn't mind having that by him all the time. The way that they walked together made him feel so good inside, it was like he never had any prejudices about himself or being able to express himself. He loved it! He wanted to do more of it, but the thing was he didn't think he could...not with anyone else at least.

Yasuko was his first for many things, a casual date, a public display of his affections, purchasing things at the drop of a hat, inviting him to the nicest restaurant in town...it was all so nice to have and all so new. He didn't want tit to stop any time soon and as long as Yasuko was williung to stick with him and gladly do so, Hiroshi could do it all the time without any guilt. Oh, but there was some pang of guilt deep inside of him. It was a tumor of sorts, a huge pulsating tumor that went by the name Lydia. He couldn't get rid of it for it could cause serious damage, but he couldn't live with it either it was causing strain on him. He just needed the right treatment to make it slowly go away, Yasuko seemed to be the perfect remedy for it all.

"My pleasure." Hiroshi said giving him a tight hug back. "This has been a great night! I don't think anyone could live up to this as long as I live." He smiled and let out a laugh. Hiroshi was enjoying himself so much and it wasn't actually thinking too much about Lydia. He knew that was a sad thing, but he couldn't care less. Lydia was yesterdays news.

[Yasuko Arai]

By the time they reached Yasu's apartment, the teenager knew that the other man could probably hear his heart pounding in his chest. Yasuko was nervous to have the man up, nervous like he had never been nervous before. He didn't know why. He was keeping himself in check, friends had friends to thier homes regularly. He had his friends from school come over all the time, and he was never nervous about that. But something about having a man there that had never been there before, and also happened to be someone he liked very much was nerve racking.

Yasuko could remember very clearly what had happened the first time he had invited Aaron into his apartment. Of course, it had started out fine, friendly, comfortable. But by the time an hour had passed, Yasuko's clothes had been off, and Aaron was carrying him to the bedroom.

Yasuko shook his head. He didn't need to think about that. It wouldn't make his nerves feel any better. Besides, he didn't think Hiroshi would attack him like that, although Yasu was afraid he, himself, would jump the other man's bones. Mounting the steps, he jumped up them, smiling back at Hiroshi and digging his key card from his satchel. He ran it through the slide, and a female voice identified him and the door buzzed, allowing Yasuko to open it. He pushed it in, and beckoned to Hiroshi to follow.

The lobby was brightly lit, cheerily noisy with a small monitor going on the right wall with news of the senate and other things on it. Yasuko glanced at the man at the tall desk, an alien, Yasuko didn't know what, and smiled at him. He recieved what was tantamount to a smile. He looked back at Hiroshi and waved his hand around.

"My apartments way up on the fiftieth floor," he said, pointing to the lifts. "I get privacy at least."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed at the thought of living so high up. He was one who loved high places, especially apartments, but he was also smiling at the sudden burst o f energy he was having. He was nervous for the first time to actually see someone elses apartment and he was wanting to bounce off the walls, but he sustained himself like the good paiten boy he could be.

"Great! The higher the better!" He stated with a laugh as he walked quickly behind Yasuko trying to keep his excitement contained. He was far more excited about seeing an apartment than he was about winning his first hard case as a lawyer and that must've been saying something important!

"So far I like it! I think you have missjudged your place, Yasuko. It is very bright, much different from my dull place. Everyone walks around like they have some sort of rod stuck up their butts." he et out a laugh that was perhaps a bit too loud. He bit his lower lip and sighed out. why was he so nervous? He just needed to keep calm and remember that this was just friendly. Just....friendly.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko boarded the lifts with the other man, pressing in for the fiftieth floor. The lift jerked slightly, but took them up in a moment or two, making a tone when they had reached the floor, and the doors opening onto a quiet hallway. Lights were set into the walls, doors on the right side of the hallway. Yasuko had gotten a hall apartment, the entire left side was one long window. He waved for Hiroshi to follow and walked down the hall to about the sixth door, the doors being quite spaced out due to the type of apartments they were.

He ran his card through the lock again, and the door popped, indicating it was unlocked. He took a deep breath. This was it. Pushing the door in, he stepped inside the dark apartment, the window at the opposite side of the room looking out onto the city. He toed off his shoes, pushing them away from him, and flipped on the light. He glanced around to make sure he hadn't left anything embarrassing laying about, but he saw nothing. The apartment was nice and open, and was a little out of Yasu's price range, but his parents helped him pay every once in a while. He had white and black suede furniture, and white carpet, the walls tinted a light greenish. Yasuko had not thought it was going to work when his brother suggested it, but between he, his brother, sister, and best friend, they had made the color just light enough that it looked nice. Yasuko turned to Hiroshi, pushing the door closed behind him.

"This is it!" he said with a laugh, the nervousness increasing, for some reason. He pointed to a door on the left hand wall. "That's the kitchen over there..." he looked around the glass bookshelf near to the door and pointed to the two doors on the right wall. "In through my bedroom there is the bathroom, and this is a study and laundry," he said, pointing to the door next to his bedroom door, that, luckily, he had shut. He didn't remember if he had tossed his boxers in the laundry that morning. Or made his bed, or cleaned up at all in there, for that matter.

"It's not much," he said with a laugh. "But it's home."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi was a bit surprised at how great the place looked. The colors matched perfectly, the furniture was to die for, and the view was fabulous! Needless to say he was surprised at how wonderful it all was, he had actually been thinking of something smaller and less stylish all due to Yasuko's words. He smiled wide and looked at Yasuko and gave him a smack on the arm.

"This place is fabulous! It is great!" Hiroshi stepped in after taking off his shoes and looked around some more, enjoying how masculine the place felt and how it just seemed to wrap around him like a comfortable blanket. He loved this place, it seemed to fit Yasuko perfectly.

"I must be honest," He stated with a bit of a shy laugh. "I thought it was agoing to be horrid!" He shook his head and laughed. "But it truly is something else. I love it. My apartment is too big, open, and bare. But this place is absolutely wonderful. I love it." He smiled brightly wondering if perhaps he was overdoing it. He did love it and he was sincere in his words, he just didn't want Yasuko to think he was pretending to like it for his benefit.

"Home is where the heart is, right?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed, a little bit of his nerves ebbing away when the man assured him that he liked it. He nodded, then waved to the furniture. He moved towards the kitchen, smiling over his shoulder at Hiroshi.

"Make yourself comfortable. I will go make some tea," Yasuko said. He moved to the kitchen, pushing through the swinging door and flipping on the light. The bright light of the black and white tiled kitchen was comforting to him. But when he looked up and saw that he had receieved a recorded messege from someone, his stomach flipped. He moved to the stove, beginning to heat some water. Yasuko went over the the message moniter and flipped it on. A woman's voice told him in Japanese that he had one new messege. Flipping to the new one, he played it.

"Hi, babe. It's Aaron," said the voice. Yasuko had thought that's who it was, he listened as the man took a breath and laughed a little. "I'm gonna be seven districts over for about a week for Professors' Conference. I won't be able to see you for awhile. I wish I could have seen you, but you weren't home, as we see now. I tried your cell, but you didn't answer. Anyway, I thought I'd tell you. I'm leaving early tomorrow morning, I might stop by the cafe real fast to kiss you goodbye. Alright, well, love you, talk to you soon. Bye." The sound of the man hanging up was like music to Yasuko's ears. He didn't need Aaron ruining this.

Shaking his head, he went back to the door and stuck his head out.

"Anything in your tea?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi nodded at Yasuko's directions to be comfortable and did just that. He slowly took a seatand let out a sigh, finding this couch to be more comfortable than the one he owned. He sighed out in comfort and watched Yasuko walk out of the room and towards his kitchen. He heard the door close and he grabbed his cellphone and saw that he had missed seven messages. He rolled his eyes nad quickly scanned the number on his phone. All were from Lydia. He wanted to just throw the thing away and buy another one and give the number to jusy Yasuko. He smiled at that thought. How simple it all would have been on him had only one person known his phone number. He'd be a lot less stressed!

He heard Yasuko open the door behind him and ask him if he wanted anything in his tea. He frowned and looked over at him and smiled at the very sight of his face. He shook his head 'no' and simply smiled at him. This was interesting. He hadn't been there for more than three minutes and already Hiroshi was more than willing to play house with his host. He wanted to go in there and help, btut somehow he couldn't move. He was bit fearful to ask, yet at the same time he was trying to keep things simple and less stressful on his body sicne he was already craving something.

Hiroshi looked back at his phone and turned it off and put it back into his pocker.

"Need any help?" He couldn't help himself he had to ask! He had to be polite. He just hoped he didn't. If he was trapped in a tiny kitchen with Yasuko the chances of someone getting jumped were very good.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled and nodded, waving for him to come in. He really didn't need any help, he made tea every day, but for some reason, he wanted the man to just be in there with him. He turned to go back into the kitchen, standing over the oven and watching the built in water heater. The water was almost boiling, but seemed to be having a hard time doing so. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and looked over as Hiroshi came in.

"Hi," he said, a little breathily unable to keep his voice from sounding like he wanted to jump Hiroshi's bones. He licked his lips and smiled, trying to look as innocent of the thoughts as possible. But it was hard. His kitchen wasn't big, barely built for two people. And even though Yasuko could move comfortably in it, he hated having Aaron in there to crowd his space. But the idea of Hiroshi in their crowding his space seemed much more...he didn't let his mind finish that thought, because he knew that it would only lead to other thoughts, and more thoughts after that, until he had ripped his clothes off and attacked Hiroshi.

"Umm...I have mugs in there," Yasuko said, trying to think of something for Hiroshi to do since he had asked to help. He pointed to a small door a few feet away from him and down on the floor. "You can just grab any of them."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked around his eye never seeing something so interesting and small. The color was also perfect in the tiny kitchen as well. He looked over his shoulder and closed the door and suddenly realized how hot iwas in there due to the steam and boiling water. Also it was hot because of the young man standing within inches of him. He smiled and said hi back and looked at the door where the mugs were being hidden behind. Hiroshi gladly walked over and grabbed two and sat them on the tiny counterspace that was available.

"This place is just suited for you and one other person. The kitchen is tiny, but I must say I like being here....in it...with you." He couldn't hide it any longer. He was out of tjhe public eye, nobody was going to see him, nobody was going to be offended...it was just these two. He wasn't confessing his love for Yasuko since all he loved, so far, was his appearance and face. He just gave the inclination that he wouldn't mind being more than friends if that problem, er situation, ever arouse.

"How did you find this place? I could have used this back when I was in college!" He laughed lightly and leaned on the counter and crossed his arms, how hot it was in there! How hot Yasuko was!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's cheek went pinker than they had in forever at that comment. He bit his lip as he pulled out the water heater as it sounded and poured it into the cups over the green tea powder. He swallowed hard, his stomach churning, his heart beating. How tiny this kitchen seemed to be suddenly. Yasuko always felt fine in it, but now, it felt eighty-three times smaller than normal.

He stirred the tea with a spoon, mixing it sufficiently, and tapping in a suger and honey mix into his own. Shaking some hair from his face, he scooted the other mugh towards Hiroshi, leaning on the counter as well, realizing then just how close they were--mere inches. Yasuko couldn't back up due to the stove and he couldn't go forward due to Hiroshi, and he wanted to just reach over and unbutton that stylish dress shirt that covered something Yasuko wanted very badly.

Instead, he took a drink of his tea and smiled a little, trying to ignore how hot it kept getting. He'd be pouring the sweat any moment and he wasn't even doing anything.

"My, um, brother lived here when he got out of college and we just moved me in when he got a job a few districts away from Nihongo. I took up the rent and," he shrugged, sitting his tea down, the heat of it making things worse. He glanced around, trying to see the climate control from here. But he couldn't see it.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi stared at the tiny beats of sweat beinning to form on his neck, how he was just wanting to go over and lick them off. How he wanted to just create his own body heat between the two. The room seemed to be getting a bit smaller the longer they stayed in there and it seemed to get hotter as Hiroshi sipped the tea that tasted heavenly, but it was only expected of the person who made it! He smiled at his own thought and nodded in response to Yasuko's story.

"and?" He asked after a moment when he sawYasuko looking around the room like he had lost something. He smiled happily at him whenever he got the boys attention. "Well I see that you both took good care of the place. It is really nice. I will have you over sometime soon and I'll cook you some dinner and give you some of my favorite...dessert." he winked. Okay again he was pushing things along. But it was harmless. He was a great cook and made killer dessert! It was just to keep the playfulness in it all. Even though, now that he thought about ripping things off of Yasuko's body and eating strawberries together, dessert didn't sound too bad about now!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko felt a breath escape him in a much more labored way than he had expected it to, the breath sounding like a siren in the room. That statement had had more of an effect on Yasuko than he had thought it might. He shook back his hair, unable to touch the mug of tea anymore. He licked his lips and smiled, laughing a little, trying to pass the breath off as a laugh rather than what it really was--Yasuko trying desperately to put a good reign on his nineteen year old hormones, and keep his body from reacting so damn much.

It wasn't working.

"I'd like to," he said quietly, looking down at his feet. God, it was so hot in there. He looked at the climate control again, but could just not see it from his position. He looked down again, the space between he and Hiroshi seeming smaller. His hips, that were bent forward as he leaned on the counter, and Hiroshi's hips as he leaned back, could have belonged to dancers getting as close as was possibly for them to. A few more inches and Yasuko would be in Hiroshi's lap. He looked back up at the man, biting his lip. Damn it, he hated being so young and full of...hormones.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled at him as he drank the rest of his tea down. The boy was sweating and it was looking very delicious on him. His jaw was slightly shimmering from the wetness that had yet to turn into droplets. It was just like a slight condensation hugging onto a clear glass before it became too heavy and had to fall. It made his jawline appear sharper, sexier, as did everything about the sudden closeness, the heat, and the literally burning desire to get Yasuko out of those clothes and onto the floor, where he knew they'd look their best.

"Great. We can do that whenever you have time." Hiroshi sighed out and shook his head. "This was great!" He said as he leaned off the counter and over to Yasuko. He stopped and leaned against him as he placed the cup in the sink. He looked out of the corner of his eyes to see Yasuko's face being shadowed by his body that was just centimeters from touching his own. He smiled and made sure to linger there for quite some time before leaning away and finding the counter again.

"Tea is so good after dinner. Too much of it, though, and I am bouncing off the walls. One mugfull is enough for me, arigatou." He bowed slightly and smiled a bit pleased at himself for taking quite a risk and rubbing against Yasuko like that. It had been on his mind all day and now his little dream came true.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko thought his body was literally going to implode upon itself when Hiroshi's body touched his own. And what was more, Hiroshi didn't move. He just sat there leaned against him, for what felt like eighty bazillion decades. Not that Yasuko minded, but he felt that if he didn't do something, anything, then Yasuko's body would melt from the heat, melt to the floor, seep through the cracks, and reform somewhere on the fifteenth floor.

He watched Hiroshi lean up, and didn't hear a word he said when he began talking. Something about tea, and walls...or maybe it was dinner and bouncing? Yasuko didn't know, he was just caught up in Hiroshi's lips, the way they moved, the way his body had felt pressed against Yasuko's.

And before he had time to think another thought, he was doing what he had wanted to all evening, horror coursing through him that he was actually doing it, and releif that he finally was.

His hand curled around Hiroshi's neck and his mouth pressed against the other man's, his eyes shut. He didn't linger there long, the horror of the moment kept him from doing so. He pulled away, the sound of thier lips parting echoing in the silence. Yasuko took a step back running the small of his back into the oven, hard, causing a pot to tip and clatter noisily to the floor. His jaw was on the floor. Why the hell had he done that!? He put his hands in his hair, tripping back over the fallen pot and shaking his head.

"Kuso..." he muttered, squeezing his eyes shut as he made a beline for the kitchen door. He pushed through it, unable to believe what a stupid idiot he was. "God! Oh my...god!" he said, turning and looking at the kitchen door as if he might not have actually done it. "Why, Yasu you moron!" he said, crouching down a moment on the floor, trying to gather himself. "Geez...you..." but he didn't finish it. He was still trying to deny that he had actually done it.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshis world spun at incredible speed and the moment a loud crash and bang disrupted the peacefullness he felt...he simply wanted t omutter a curse, but Yasuko was doing it just fine without his help. He watched him rush out of the kitchen, talking to himself and loudly admiting that he had made a mistake. Hiroshi just stood there smiling as if he had just won some sort of lottery, not like he needed it! He shook his head. That was by far the best thing that had happened to him in quite some time. He bent down and grabbed the pot handle and put it back onto the stove and tried to gather up his emotions. He wasn't actually nervous about it for he hadn't initiated the kiss, it was actually the first time he had received one. It was the first time the other part willingly gave it to him. How he loved it!

Hiroshi rolled his shoulders trying to relax. He drew in a deep breath and walked out of the kitchen to see, to his surprise, Yasuko crouching down shaking his head. Hiroshi laughe and bent down and touched Yasuko.

"Don't be upset you did it. I liked it. But, if you so want, I can pretend it never happened and be on my merry way home." Hiroshi sucked in a deep breath and let it out. "I can't say I am fond of that idea, but it is up to you, Yasuko. Everything will be easy with me. Nothing will be complicated or in the dark. It will always be known to us."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasu didn't flinch away from the touch like he thought he would. He didn't move away like he had the first time he had kissed Aaron. He had felt like a moron then too, but he had been frightened of what Aaron would do. And when Hiroshi told him that things wouldn't be complicated, that they would be easy, everything out in the open, Yasuko wanted to cry. He wanted to curl into a ball and just cry like a kid.

He tilted over and sat hard down on his butt, steadying himself with one hand on the floor. He ran a hand over his neck, ridding it of the sweat from earlier. He had to gather his emotions, they were everywhere but right where he needed them at the moment. He chewed his lip hard, surprised when he tasted something foreign on his own mouth. He tasted Hiroshi. It made him shiver a little, and after a moment, he gathered himself enough to look at the other man, letting out a sigh as he blinked, trying to make sure this was all actually happening.

"But I..." he began, but he didn't know what he was trying to say. He was a mess. Hiroshi had made him into a mess in a day and a quarter, and somehow, that was alright with Yasuko. He ran his tongue over his lips again, clenching his jaw and shaking his head slowly. "No...don't go..." it sounded so pitiful, even to himself, but he was everywhere except right here, and it was the best he could do.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked at him and smiled feeling so happy that what happened just did. For a man in denial it was quite a liberating experience! He ran a hand over his hair and pushed a few strands out of his eyes and bent down slightly to look into them. Hiroshi smiled kindly and shook his head.

"I won't go. What happened in there can't be changed or reversed. I liked it a lot. It felt nice. God do you know what it is like to kiss someone you are repulsed by? Finally getting a kiss from someone you'd want a kiss from was....great!" He laughed lightly and realized that perhaps he wasn't taking into consideration Yasuko's feeligns in all of this. He was probably mortified and wanting to crawl in a hole and die. Hiroshi sighed out and sat down on his butt as well and looked at him.

"We are friends. We can set that in stone right now that that is all we will ever be...or...we can....it can be our little secret." He meant every word he said. It would never be known to anyone if they decied to make their friendship a little more. Hiroshi wanted it to be more, it was too good for him to pass up.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasu didn't want to hear him say that they were just friends. He wanted Hiroshi to say that he wanted to be Yasuko's boyfriend. That they could just make it thier little secret, as he had put. That sounded like a great idea to Yasuko. He watched Hiroshi for a moment, unable to take his eyes off the man. Yasuko swallowed again, his body a little more under control now. But he had to get out of this jacket, it was burning him up.

Shedding it and leaving it on the floor, he worked his mouth a little, his eyes eyes working over Hiroshi's face. Then he shook his head, and laughed a little. For a moment he looked down at his own hands. Finally, after he thought about it, he looked back up at Hiroshi and blinked once, then again, and nodded. God, how he wanted to just attack him again. Now that he knew Hiroshi had liked it, he wasn't so afraid to do it anymore. He glanced at the kitchen door, his mind thinking of Aaron. But when his eyes found Hiroshi's again, he might as well not have had a boyfriend. Because this man was all Yasuko could see.

Closing his eyes tight for a moment as if he were making a life changing desicion, Yasuko stood, and moved around Hiroshi, sinking back to the floor behind the man. Leaning forward, Yasuko placed his arms around Hiroshi's shoulders and put his cheek on the man's shoulder blade.

"Be my secret..." he muttered, dying for Hiroshi to say yes. "No one has to know."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and felt a quiver run all around his body. This was by far the best thing he had ever done in his entire life. He wasn't in denial, or so it seemed at that moment. He liked Yasuko and apparently they were both on the same wavelength. They had a lot in common, it was scary! They both loved the same things and both had bothersome pairings. It was only perfect to get together without anyone else knowing. They could pull of being friends, while in the meantime knowing otherwise. They did it today without even knowing it! He smiled and let out a sigh of relief.

Hiroshi leaned back into Yasuko and put his left hand over the boys hands that were clutched together. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. This wasn't going to be as easy as it sounded, he knew, but he was good at keeping things tight lipped. This was a task and a job he was willing to take head on. At least he had Yasuko to go down in flames with him if anything were to take a turn for the worst.

"Yes. My dirty little secret." He said with a soft grin. So far things were going pretty well!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled, leaning back slightly, putting his hands under the man;s head and lowering him slowly until Hiroshi's head was resting in Yasuko's lap. He leaned down over him, smiling down at him. One hand was on the man's shoulder, the other was running through his hair. How natural this felt.

Two minutes ago, Yasu had been terrified of what Hiroshi was going to say about the spur of the moment kiss, but now, he felt comfortable. He felt like this was what was the natural movement from what they had done today to what they were doing now. He watched Hiroshi silently, smiling a little as he ran his hand down through the man's slightly stiff hair. He messed with it, freeing it of the hold the gel had on it. He chewed his lip and then laughed.

"Alright," he said. "Let me do it right this time..." he muttered. Slowly, he leaned down over Hiroshi and touched thier mouths together again, parting his lips just slightly to draw Hiroshi's bottom lip into his mouth a little.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi was more than willing to lay down as Yasuko was instructing him. He laid there looking up at him and he simply smiled. He never realized how good it felt to just be himself and to be with someone else who wasn't afraid to be themselves as well. He giggled slightly when Yasuko let it be known that he was going to kiss him correctly, however he wasn't expecting to get such a rise out of it. The way he kissed perfectly, the way he sucked in his bottom lip, it were as if Yasuko could read what he liked.

Hiroshi only groaned in response to how much he enjoyed it. He lifted his hand and put it on the back of Yasuko's head and wanted to let him know t hat they had no time constraint. They could make out as much as their little hearts desired.

Hiroshi's heart, however, desired a lot of time consuming kisses!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko sneaked his tongue into the other man's mouth, unable to help it. The feeling of Hiroshi's hand on the back of his head applying more pressure to the kiss spurring him on. Yasuko moved a little under the man's head, getting more comfortable. As far as Yasuko was concerned, they had all night tonight, and all day tomorrow, and he had to be nowhere until ten o'clock on Monday.

He ran his hand over Hiroshi's shoulder to his chest running it across his collarbone to touch a little of the exposed skin that was showing in the V of his dress shirt. He liked the way it felt to touch Hiroshi's skin, finally, after agonizing over this the entire day. With his other hand he cupped Hiroshi's cheek, repostioning his lips on the man's. God, how nice it felt to be kissed passionately again. Yasu had wanted to be kissed like this for a long time, and Aaron just didn't kiss him like he cared anymore.

But this was a kiss. And Yasuko was getting warmer and warmer every second.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

His face flushed a bright red as he drove home after being abke to experience the most libderating thing since his last case having been won. Thinking back on the whole day brought a smile to his face along with a rush of blood to his head. It was almost surreal and he could do nothing but wish to have it happen all over again. He was on cloud number nine and nothing could have brought him down, nothing but the annoying ringing of his comlink.

He had been ignoring it all day and now that it was almost three in the morning and still ringing it made him nervous. Was it Lydia? More than likely it was, but he still had a little incling to check it in case a family member was hurt. Hiroshi let out a long sigh of disapproval and reached into his blazer jacket in the seat of his hover craft to fiddle until he pulled out his sleek comlink. The number flashed red in his mind and he quickly dropped it into the seat. It was her. He had at least thirty-five missed calls, all from the lady who was now becoming a stalker in sorts. He had been with Yasuko all day and making out with him on the living room floor had felt like seconds, but it ended up being almost five hours. Again his face burned and he let out a laugh and tried to conceal it by putting his left hand over his wide grin.

How was he to work tomorrow when all he was going to think about was the precious teen who made him feel so good in many different ways? How was he going to think straight when all he wanted to think about was how perfect their day had gone.

[Yasuko Arai]

--------------

Yasuko filled his cheeks with air and puffed it out in a long sigh as he floated lazily towards the cafe near his home where he worked. His mind wasn't on the road, or the hover, but on something entirely different. His mind was totally and completely on a young defense lawyer who had thrown Yasu for a loop.

Hiroshi Yamamoto had done nothing but occupy Yasuko's thoughts since the night before when they had made out for hours, Yasuko barely keeping himself in check and not tearing the other man's clothes off. It had been difficult, but he had controlled himself. The last thing he wanted to do was go work, but he needed the money.

Yasuko buzzed in the front of the cafe, jumping off his board and stacking it in a cubby at the side of the door, and went inside, glancing around the small, but higher class shop. He waved to another boy who worked with him and pulled the black apron over his head and ducked behind the counter, taking up his place.

"Ohayo!" he said to his coworker who was standing near him.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi yawned lazily as he leaned back in the oversized leather chair listening to a few people blab about some evidence in a new case, a case that he had no interest in. Things were getting boring around the office and he had been trying to deny it for quite some time, except now it was evident due to Yasuko. That whole morning he had done nothing but think of him, wish to be with him, kiss him, anything that would get him the hell out of that crowded office, boring meeting, and near that boy. Was it normal to be this obsessed, well not obsessed but infatuated with, someone he had recently met and made out with?

Hiroshi wondered what he was doing. Was he at work? Home? Was he eating? Showering? Helping someone? That was all his mind was consumed with, Yasuko Arai! It wasn't a bothersome thing, but it was getting very difficult to concentrate, such as this meeting for example. He leaned foward and cleared his throat and raised his hand, interrupting suddenly as one of the female leaders talked about some incriminating evidence that might bring this case down.

"AH, sorry! I have to make a call. Be back." Without much else he stood up and walked towards the glass door and grabbed the silver handle and walked into the hall and down towards his office, finding alysium inside as he shut the door and pushed a button on his desk for the glass walls to tint to a low opacity, almost black. He sighed out once he found his own comfortable leather chair, leaning back loungingly and propping his sharp black shoes onto his mahogany desk, frowning when he saw a speck of dirt on the edge of his pant bottom. He licked his index and middle finger and leaned forward and rubbed it clean before leaning back and grabbing his desk phone. He sniffed and looked at the ceiling momentarily.

"Yes, Mister Yamamoto?" He frowned softly and was very stern in his orders, making it sound more important than it was.

"I need you to connect me with a Yasuko Arai. This is very important. Could you do that for me please?" The woman on the other line agreed and quickly responded by dialing the number and connecting the call. If anyone were to wonder who he called it would look as if he were conducting business and that was just how he liked it. Personal calls were forbidden during work, so it was best to be seen tying up a line once a meeting was out.

He heard the line ring and he prayed he'd answer.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko heard his phone and glanced at the number. He didn't recognize it, so he finished up with a customer before hurrying over to grab it and open the line. He cleared his throat.

"Mn, moshi moshi?" he asked absentmindedly, propping the phone against his shoulder as he cleaned a few of the carefully tiled tables. He hoped it wasn't a wrong number, he didn't really have time to tell anyone that he wasn't whoever they were looking for. And if it was one of his friends, he didn't have time to talk to them either. But most everyone he knew, knew that he was at work at this time, and wouldn't call him anyway. He glanced around and his manager caught his eye. The older man wagged his finger at Yasu good-naturedly, and made a kind signal to make it short. Yasuko smiled, nodding back.

"Yeah, hello?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

"Hello, baby!" Hiroshi laughed lowly as he sang this line to him. The voice on the other end sent his heart racing and the pace of his breath to quicken. Hell this man was somewhere else and still he was causing bodily functions to go awry! Seeing him at all today would definitely cause him a trip to the hospital.

"What are you up to, doll?" He leaned back in his chair after grabbing a pencil to play with while hearing him breathe. How much he enjoyed just hearing the man on the other line even if he wasn't saying a word.

"Thinking about me, I take it?" He laughed lightly and looked at the windows seeing a few shadows pass by, none paying any mind to him in his office considering they knew that dark windows meant privacy. Which made Hiroshi sigh with relief. This was something he wanted to do all morning, be alone with Yasuko, even if it was on the phone.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned, stopping in his wiping down of the table and standing, putting a hand on his hip. He moved to the counter, waving to his coworker to cover him for a few moments. He moved into the employee room and shut the door behind him.

"Hey," he said cheerfully. Then he shrugged as if Hiroshi could see him. "Actually, you hit it on the head. I'm thinking about you and not working," he laughed. Then he shook his head. "God, I hate working at this cafe. All the customers are rich and know it, and never look at you when you speak to them," he said, breifly giving Hiroshi and idea of how his day was going to go. He shook his head.

"How are you?" he asked. "Working hard, right?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi stuck out his bottom lip to pout for Yasuko's situation. Poor thing! If he could he'd brighten his day. Well....hey! Why couldn't he! Suddenly he smiled widely and let out a chuckle.

"The same." Hiroshi wasn't sure what time his breaks were, but he just knew that if he was having a bad day then he, by all means, wanted to fix it by giving him a little lovin'...well..in the most controlled and appropriate manner in public. Again he continued to smile. "I have been sitting in a meeting for over an hour and the whole time I've been thinking about you and all we've done." He pulled his feet off the corner of his desk and scooted up to it, leaning his elbows on the desk and playing with the pencil while holding the phone inbetween his right ear and shoulder.

"I needed a break from hearing this woman blab and interrupt my daydreaming. Right now I am supposedly making an important phone call, not saying this isn't cause it is!" He laughed again. Boy how Yasuko brightened his day with his voice!

"I wanna see you. I want you to make my day better by gracing me with your beautiful prescence."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed, leaning a hip on the table and fiddling with the apron around him. He knocked back some of his hair and sighed. God, he had never had anyone call him to tell him that. He hadn't had anyone say they wanted to see him in ages. Yasuko liked the way it sounded coming from Hiroshi.

"Mmn," he groaned. "Well, my cafe's about eight years away from your firm," he laughed. Then he shook his head. "And my boss doesn't give me breaks really. We kind of call it by ear." He smiled again, glancing back as his coworker poked his head in and waved at him to hurry. Yasuko waved at him. Then he turned back around. "I'd love to make your day better, Hiroshi. Love it..." he paused then shrugged. "I can hop a cab over there...sometime."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed lightly. GOd this was something Lydia never did with him and for the better! That woman had been getting on his nerves far too much and the morning wasn't even half over! Twelve calls since 6 AM and already he had people tell her he was out for the day! His mind wandered happily back to the other man, the man on the phone.

"Mmm..." He said crinkling his forehead as if this were some hard decision. "How about I pop in on you? I need a break from this mad house, I could use some coffee, cheering up, and maybe a kiss or two!" He leaned off the desk and dropped the pencil finally and grabbed the phone with his hand.

"And eight years away is nothing. I can be there in seven!" Hiroshi felt stupid for flirting so shamelessly, but yet at the same time he was loving every single moment! God, even if people knew about his love affair he'd still feel stupid for saying half the things he did to this man and they had barely known each other for two days. Either way he was enjoying it, loving every passing minute.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned and nodded at the phone, moving to the door and then out, seeing that the shop was buzzing again. His coworker waved to him urgently. He needed help, there were too many people for him to handle alone. Yasuko sighed.

"Okay," he said with a laugh. "I'm timing you."

Yasuko moved to his place at the counter, not even able to fathom how happy seeing Hiroshi today would make him. It was awful how attached he had become to the man in such a short amount of time. Hiroshi was everything Yasuko loved, he just feared if his boyfriend ever found out. The wrath they would both feel. It scared Yasuko. He grinned.

"I have to go, beautiful. Bye."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled warmly, so happy that they had just had this conversation although nothing important had truly been said. Well, to Hiroshi Yasuko's day was very important to him. He having a bad day made him want to fix it immediately. He wanted everything to be perfect for him, even if he knew that was highly impossible, it was bad to try! He looked at his desk and hung up the phone, a swell deep inside of him causing him to feel so happy that not even God Himself could stop his happiness. He stood up and stretched and walked out of his office to see that the meeting had finally disbanded. He frowned and suddenly turned his face serious. He walked over to the director of the meeting and quickly conjured up a BS story to excuse his absence and to make her happy with his phone call. He even decided to make a little lie up about how he was going to check out this lead and touch base with her a little later. The woman had happily accepted and gave him a pat on the shoulder telling him he never let anyone down. Normally he would have felt a little bad for lying, but right now he was too concerned with Yasuko.

He ran into his office, grabbing a few things that made it appear as if he were working and quickly headed to the lifts to get the hell out of dodge. It took him only five minutes to get out of the building and into a taxi on their way to the shop. He was anxious to get there, anxious to see that precious face, to see that boy that had been plaguing his mind all morning. He smiled when he saw it just up ahead. The ride had taken all of fifteen minutes, twenty at the most, and he couldn't have paid the credits and jump out of that taxi quick enough.

He held his breifcase in his left hand, his coat over top of it. He grabbed the door with his free hand and pulled it open hearing the sounds of everyone inside. The bustling little coffee shop was quaint and very relaxing and suddenly Hiroshi wondered how he never happened to venture into it. He found a seat in the corner farthest from everyone and quickly put his things beside the chair. He took a seat and assessed the situation and quickly found Yasuko. He smiled brightly as he muffled it with his right hand that he leaned on and held over his mouth. How cute he looked in his uniform, smiling at the customers, pleasing them with coffee and warmth. Hiroshi decided to wait out the sudden rush before approaching him. Quietly stalking him wasn't a bad idea! He chuckled to himself. He should do it more often!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko was anxieous for Hiroshi to get there, but he hadn't seen him yet. Though he hadn't been watching, he had been attending to customers, giving them coffee, or tea or whatever they wanted, and conversing with his coworker who was whining about something going wrong with his girlfriend. Yasuko and he always compared boyfriend/girlfriend notes, and he had been informed fully about Hiroshi and gave him the thumbs up, even though he didn't know him.

Yasuko handed a man in a suit his cup of coffee and took his credits, smiling and bowing a little as he walked away from him. Yasuko leaned on the counter, his eyes wandering around the shop to see if anyone needed anything. But he didn't look long. His coworker tapped his shoulder and leaned over to him.

"The office slug needs attending to. Back table," he said. "It's your turn." Yasuko looked up, his eyes searching for the back table. When he found it, his face brightened and he grinned. He smacked his coworker in the stomach and looked at him.

"That's Hiroshi, dude," he said and the other man squinted in Hiroshi's direction. For a moment he seemed to consider. Then he smiled and pinched Yasuko on the arm.

"Not bad, for a guy. Take as long as you want with him," his friend said, winking and turning to go back to his station. Yasuko rolled his eyes, ducking under the counter and moving past a rather large alien who came by him to walk over to the back table where Hiroshi was sitting. Yasuko leaned down on the table and smiled at him.

"Can I help you, sir?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi leaned back with a satisfied grin. He put his hands behind his head and let out a sigh.

"I don't know...can you?" He laughed lightly and sat up and gave him a playful tug on his shirt. "Have a seat. I am picky so this might take a while!" He winked and leaned on his elbows watching him take a seat.

"Looks busy in here." He observed giving the room a nod and furrowing his brow softly. "You doing any better since we last talked? I would hate to have to get nasty on some of these people. I am very persuasive and if you need me to get you anything, baby I am your man. Got a jerk bugging you over a latte? Give me two seconds with him and he'll tell you it is the best he's ever had!" He let out a breath and sat back as if that whole sentence had taken all of his energy, but it had!

Hiroshi had been wanting to talk to him all day long in person and now that he was there he knew he was probably on a short leash and would soon be whipped back to work for the jerks who didn't know how to respect other hard workers.

"You look beautiful, if I may say so myself. Stress looks good on you. Actually everything looks good on you, but I always have better. Nothing at all would look good on you!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko felt his cheeks redden considerably, and he leaned back in his chair, looking away for a moment to hide it. Then he looked back and smiled, glancing up and down Hiroshi's form.

"Ditto," he said. Then he leaned forward again on his elbows, shaking some hair from his face. God, Hiroshi looked nice in a suit and tie. Very businessman-like, very sophisticated, very...perfect. Yasuko liked what he saw sitting in front of him. But he needed to cool down, they had only made-out, Hiroshi wasn't exactly confessing his undying love to Yasuko just yet. For all Yasuko knew, the man could be playing him for a fool. It was possible, but Yasuko didn't want to think about that at all. He just wanted to think about right now.

"So, I imagine you don't just snap your fingers and your boss lets you run over to see your nineteen year old distraction," Yasuko said with a smile. "Under what pretense are you completely distracting me?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi wanted to laugh loudly and smack himself for feeling so feverish at that little comment back at him. God how bad he wanted to, but how at the same time he wasn't allowing himself to. Not yet, at least. Hiroshi laughed lightly at Yasuko's quandry. He leaned forward and slit his eyes and glanced out the window.

"Well..." He said bouncing his head from side to side before finding the angels face and grinning. "At this moment I am investigating some evidence. That isn't a lie, for I am investigating someone...just...not a few papers that don't really exist." He sighed and shook his head. "You know I was always a good civilian and a hard worker and never lied. But then I met you. Work means nothing right now! Isn't that bad!" He laughed and slightly moved his hands to the middle of the table, so desperately wanting to touch his skin and hold his hand, but public pressure kept him from actually doing so.

"Besides if my boss saw you she would definitely allow me more time to see you. She has good tastes in men." He winked and licked his dry lips, dying to just suculantly plant one right on his mouth. But again, he resisted the temptation. How good he was getting at this!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed a little louder than he meant to, causing some of the more snooty patrons to look over and sniff in disapproval. Yasuko snickered behind his hand and turned back to look at Hiroshi. His eyes were so dark and nice, that Yasuko could have stared into them all day. He could have just stared at Hiroshi all day and been as happy as a lark. But he didn't know how well that would go over. He nodded in agreement.

"Well, you are doing a great job at investigating," he said seriously. "I mean, you're bound to win a case with this information." He grinned, looking down at the man's hands on the table. He wanted to reach over and hold one, but he didn't dare do it without Hiroshi asking him to, or doing it first. After all, everyone and his brother knew that Yasuko was gay. But no one seemed to know that Hiroshi was. And he knew what it was like to have someone do something like that. Something that could oust you when you didn't want to be ousted. He shook a little more hair from his face and grinned.

"Well, then let me meet your boss," Yasu said. "If it means more time with you, I am all for it."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi, in turn, laughed loudly throwing those who weren't happy with the noise a look that told them to take up the problem with someone else. He let his laugh end in a sigh as he glanced back over at Yasuko finding him so damn precious as he smiled that he wanted to just stick him in his pocket and take him home.

"Can't do that!" He said with all seriousness. "If you met her you'd never see daylight again. You'd be in her closet for all eternity, which, come to think of it, isn't a bad idea!" He winked playfully at him and pushed his fingers against his hand. It was a subtle gesture, but it was also friendly and playful enough for those around them not to get that suspicious. Hiroshi had gotten comfortable with Yasuko at night and in the privacy of his home, but he wasn't able to pounce that territory in daylight, with people who might see him.

"So, work okay? My day is much better being able to see you!" He smiled at Yasuko his eyes finding his eyes and the rest of his face. He loved looking at him. He was so young and fresh that it was almost envious! THe beauty that surfaced....it was all natural and he absolutely loved it! It was almost like breathing fresh air!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's fingers and hand tingled as he felt Hiroshi press his fingers there to his skin. It was a gesture that showed affection, but that wouldn't be suspected by the people around them. Yasuko wet his lips and nodded a little, glancing around him. Then he looked back over.

"Yeah, yeah, it's work. If it were up to me I would still be in bed," he paused considering a moment. Or in your bed, he thought sneakily, getting a laugh from it. Then he shook his head. "But I am glad I got to see you today..." he smiled. His eyes wandered down and around on the floor. For a long moment, he didn't say anything. Then he glanced over his shoulder and to the large window in the front of the cafe.

And his heart stopped.

His boyfriend, tall and scholarly, was striding past the window. And right for the entrance to the cafe. Yasuko had never moved so fast in his life. He snatched his computer pad from his pocket and the stylus that went with it and tried to appear as if he were taking Hiroshi's order. He glanced back over his shoulder as his boyfriend walked in and looked about. Yasuko gave Hiroshi a panicky look.

"It's my boyfriend!" he hissed, looking out the corner of his eye as Aaron strode over and sat a table away from where Hiroshi was, waiting. Yasuko chewed his lip, and then smiled. "I'll be back with your oder in a minute, sir!" he said cheerfully, turning on his heel and walking away. Unfortunately, Aaron spotted him and took his wrist as he walked back.

Yasuko looked down and gave him a smile like he was glad to see him.

"Thought I'd stop in. Classes got called off today," he said with a nod. Yasuko smiled.

"Oh, I see."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi giggled like a school girl when he heard him tell him how it was work. He so knew that feeling! If he had his way he'd be in bed too, preferably wherever Yasuko would be staying. Then, a change in pace and plan happened. To his dismay, but entertainment, the other man was dropping by to either check in on him or to say hi. Whichever came out of his mouth first.

Hiroshi smiled happily as Yasuko trotted off and over to his boyfriend. He would play along as to not get either one of them caught, but he also would check out hte other species that he was apparently competeing with. He grabbed his breifcase and fooled around until he grabbed his PDA and checked his e-mail, trying his best to hear what was being said. Sadly, Hiroshi was sidetracked by the horrid outfit he was wearing and how he was wearing it. The colors were off, the lines were off, the hair was messy and unfashionably so! This man was in dire need of the fashion police. But just as Hiroshi was getting comfortable picking apart his wardrobe he did have to take a moment and get his own vanities in check. The man wasn't bad looking, matter of fact he was very attractive, but a little too manly for his tastes. He wondered why Yasuko had turned to him and it suddenly made he realize that no matter how attractive he considered himself, he would always second guess a few times. Especially when it came into comparison with Yasuko's boyfriend.

He played around a little longer and took another break to stare. Yes, as long as Hiroshi pointed out the bad in his looks and clothes he was feeling a little bit better about himself.

[Yasuko Arai]

"Sit down for a minute, babe," Aaron said, looking up at Yasuko. Yasu glanced at his manager--who recognized his boyfriend--and gave him the thumbs up to sit for a while. Yasuko sighed and walked around the table, trying his best not to look at Hiroshi. He sat down across the small table from his boyfriend who was looking like his normal self. He wore his t-shirt under a collared blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of wrinkled jeans and his clunky black boots. The necklace Yasuko had given his was in its usual place around his neck, and his silver glasses were on his face, his hair messy. Yasuko smiled.

"You never come here," Yasuko said, shrugging. "Why the change of heart?"

Aaron watched him for a moment before getting a rather unhappy look on his face. He leaned forward a little, and Yasuko knew something was coming. He furrowed his brow as he watched Aaron consider something.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you what you've been doing for the past few days," he said in a tone that told Yasu he wasn't happy. "You won't return my phone calls, and when I want to see you, you conveniently have somewhere else to be." He paused watching Yasuko, who was afraid that Aaron was going to ask him to leave and push him around a little where no one would see. Then his boyfriend shook his head. "I don't like now knowing where you are, Yasuko, and who you're with."

"I've just been with friends, Aaron. You know them all," Yasu tried in his defense. Aaron was keeping his voice down, but people could still hear him.

"But who, Yasuko. I want to know who, exactly," Aaron insisted. Yasuko licked his lips and looked around.

"Do we have to do this here?" he asked. Aaron nodded a little angrily.

"Yeah, Yasuko, we do."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi sat back playing solitare, trying his best to keep his mind occupied on the hearts and spades, red and black, high number, low numbers....but his mind was just urging him to get up and knock that guy out for giving Yasuko the grand inquisition. But he knew that was not his matter or affair and they would somehow deal with it. Soon hopefully otherwise Hiroshi might get a little overprotective and overstep his bounds this early on in a relationship, a secret one at that.

He bit her lower lip having to restart a whole other game for the nineteenth time. What was it with this guy and being a bully? Hiroshi wasn't wanting to complaing since he did know that, well, Aaron had a reason to question and suspect, but they had been safe and it had only been two damn days! When he figured that enough time had passed his anger and jealousy got the best of him. He frowned and looked over at Yasuko. He hated to do this, but he just had to!

He raised his left hand and snapped loudly.

"Hey, waiter! I'm waiting!" Hopefully he'd conjur something up and give it to him just to give him a break from the questioning.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's ear perked at the sound of Hiroshi's voice. He glanced over and nodded to him, waving at him, letting him know he heard him, as a waiter would do. He looked at Aaron.

"Hang on a minute, okay?" but Yasu didn't wait for an answer. He got up and went to the tea machines, mixing a caramel green tea, especially sweet for Hiroshi for getting him a moment's peace. Aaron had always been like this. Always needing to know when and where Yasuko was, what he was doing who he was with. Usually, Yasuko staved it off by just calling him periodically to tell him what was going on. But Hiroshi had turned Yasu's world upside down and he had not called Aaron for a couple of days. He knew his boyfriend would be on the warpath.

Yasuko went back around the counter, walking past Aaron and to Hiroshi's table, leaning over a little closer than usual, to sit the coffee down on the table.

"Thanks, this one's on the house," he whispered, before leaning back and smiling cordially. "If you need anything else, let me know."

Yasuko gave him an extra smile before turning back to where Aaron was sitting, tapping his finger impatiently. Yasuko sat back down across from him and his boyfriend gave him a look that demanded Yasuko to tell him everything.

"Well?" Aaron asked, watching him critically. Yasuko shrugged.

"I don't know what you want to hear, Aaron. I was with friends, I forgot to call you, I'm sorry," Yasuko said. His boyfriend shook his head.

"Yasuko, you don't forget to call your boyfriend, unless you're with someone with whom you're cheating on your boyfriend," Aaron said shaking his head. "I was nineteen too, Yasuko, I'm not an idiot."

"No, you're a math teacher, there's a difference," Yasuko said, the smartass words tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop them. Aaron made a move like he might hit Yasuko, but he didn't. He only eased back a little and shook his head.

"I swear to God, Yasuko, you're going to kill me one of these days," Aaron said. He was still angry, but for the time being seemed to be calling off the dogs. "Just don't do it again."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi felt a sigh of relief when he watched him stand up and go over to make him...something! He didn't care what but he was almost positive that if Yasuko made it, it would taste perfect. He watched him work and suddenly he had a new love for coffee and those who worked there for he made it look so good. He grinned to himself as he looked down at the datapad in his hand, playing with it some more trying ot look busy, every so often glancing up at the enemy to find him staring at Yasuko impatiently. This pissed Hiroshi off. Boy if he ever had a moment alone with that man...

"Thanks..." Hiroshi felt a swell of happiness take over him as Yasuko brought him a drink and thanked him. Hiroshi could only smile and he wanted to yell at him the only thing he needed was a kiss from him and a few moments alone together. He drank what he had received and his mouth burst into an orgasmic pleasure. Whatever that was it was now his favorite thing in the entire world.

He glanced up at the happy couple and bit his lower lip, judging Aaron's every move. Then the crap almos hit the fan. Hiroshi felt an anger inside of him like never before. That jerk was almost about to hit him. He knew it. Sensed it. Felt it. Anything and everything that would send off alarms in his brain that mean abuse....they were blaring.

"Baka....watch it.....just you watch it." Hiroshi looked away as he said this through a clenched jaw. Any harder his jaw would break and he would fly off the handle. But he was cool. He had always had a good temper. His boy could handle it, he was sure.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko sat back in his chair and he watched Aaron for a long moment. His boyfreind was still calming himself down. Aaron had an awful temper. He hadn't actually ever hurt Yasuko, per say, but he had taken swings, had hit him once or twice. Yasuko had learned never to make him that mad, and he hadn't been in a long time. Today was just a special day apparently.

"Anyway, I originally just came by to tell you I wanted you to come over or vice versa some time this week," Aaron said, his voice less strained that it had been before. "I need you."

Yasuko chewed his lip. His plans for this week were to work during the day and be with Hiroshi during the evenings. He didn't want to make time to go over, or have Aaron come over so that the man could get his kicks and leave. It suddenly repulsed Yasuko. He gave a shrug.

"I dunno, when were you thinking?" Yasuko asked half-heartedly. Aaron shook his head.

"Anytime. I can come pick you up from Raoul's sometime," he offered. Yasuko shook his head.

"No, I can take a cap from there," he said. God, how much he wanted to look over at Hiroshi instead of the man sitting in front of him. He brushed some hair from his face. "I don't know if I am free this week. Me and Ahmed were wanting to go to a couple new dance clubs in the area. I mean, I know you don't like to go. And then Sari and I were going to go shopping a couple of nights...so..." Yasuko was pulling this out of his ear, neither thing being true, but the thought of having sex with Aaron just to have him be gone and just a note the next morning made Yasuko ill. Aaron sighed, leaning back and rolling his eyes.

"Apparently, your schedule's too full for me these days, eh, Yasuko?" he said meanly. Yasuko rubbed his forehead.

"Look Aaron, I have a job to do, I can't discuss domestic matters here at work, its against policy," Yasuko said, a little begging in his voice. Aaron sighed again and stood.

"Alright then. I'll call you tonight. Bye," he said coldly and turned striding to and through the door disappearing down the side of the building. Yasuko leaned his forehead on the heals of his hands before shaking his head and standing. He walked back over to where Hiroshi was and flopped wearily down in the chair across from him.

"Hi."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi was tired of pretending to care about his datapad. He set it aside and drank his drank happily, watching the two lover birds wanting to go pour hot honey in his eyes for the scene was disturbing him that much. Finally when he watched the loser of a boyfriend stand up and leave without so much as a hug or a kiss, Hiroshi wanted to jump up and go give Yasuko the biggest kiss of his life! But he was still too chicken, too stupid to not do anything. Yasuko's stress was easily picked up by Hiroshi, he always being one for people watching and knowing how people acted. Suddenly he got this distinct feeling that he wanted to hunt that Aaron guy down and beat the living pulp out of him for treating people like that. Hiroshi shifted in his chair. That was something he had never thought in his life.

He smiled happily as Yasuko traipsed over to his table and took a seat. Suddenly all cares went out the window for Hiroshi. He just wanted to make Yasuko happy. He leaned forward and smiled happily and grabbed his hands.

"Everything will be good! Don't worry about him! Together we'll figure something out!" He smiled and let one hand off of his and grabbed the cup and drank the last little bit down. "I would visit you everyday if time permitted, annd I like you more than words can say...but you have a competitor!" He raised his eyebrows and grinned, followed by raising his empty cup. "Whatever you just gave me, we are now in a relationship!" He laughed and sat the cup down and he glanced around for a moment. Nobody was looking at them, nobody was paying any mind and he was still holding Yasuko's hands. Now, that wasn't so bad? He smiled and looked back at the precious boy.

"Hey, when you get off work, call me. I'll come get you and take you out to eat somewhere. Get your mind off of that...thing." He jabbed his thumb to the right, offering it as a point to where Aaron had gone. "Just us. Sound good?" He smiled hoping to God he'd say yes. That boy needed some good food and some love after dealing with that schmuck.

"By the way," He said leaning in close. "Just between you, me, and the table...he's got some serious fashion issues. I am disappointed in you! You never wanted to clean that up?" He shivered and shook his head. "Don't answer that! I wouldn't want to clean or touch it either!" He laughed trying to make things better. He wasn't sure if he was offending Yasuko or what, he just hoped it was working. He winked and let out a sigh.

"Well, I have to head back to the office. Look, call! We'll eat. Who knows, we might even make out."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed. The words eased his heart a little, even though it hurt to be treated so kindly by a man he had only known a few hours when his own boyfriend didn't treat him this way. He nodded at Hiroshi squeezing his hand slightly and standing up.

"Alright," he said, giving Hiroshi a smile he hoped looked normal. "I'll do that." Eating with Hiroshi, just the two of them, being with him, listening to his voice, hearing him laugh, just being in the same room with him would have made Yasuko's day brighter. He smiled a little the thoughts of making out with Hiroshi again just causing his body heat to rise.

"Have a good day, Hiroshi."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi frowned and held out his arms as he sat in the chair.

"Aww? Want to get rid of me that bad, huh?" He smiled and grabbed his things and stood up. He was being bold today, but that was okay. He was actually comfortable to do the things he had done today, and this was just another step in a good direction.

"Come here!" He smiled and put his arms around Yasuko and gave him a hug that was meant to be passionate as possible, but still appear as friendly as two brothers. He leaned back and gave him a pat on the head and smiled. "Don't you worry about me, my day can't be ruined. I saw you. I am happy." He smiled brightly and he just wanted to hug him again, but resisted. Once was enough. Once got the point across.

"Be good! Remember, call!" he pointed at Yasuko as he walked backwards towards the door, pointing and smiling at Yasuko. "I'l be waiting!" He added. "Don't make me cry!" He continued. "I mean it!" Before he knew it he bumped into a large man and he frowned and looked over his shoulder. The guy he had bumped into was not pleased, but like Hiroshi had said, nothing was going to ruin his day. He smiled apologetically to the man and walked out.

Even outside of the window he was yelling at Yasuko to call, laughing and embarassing himself. He winked and waved before running off towards a taxi. He laughed as he ran, the wind on his face and tossing his hair. Yes, today was the best day of his life.

[Yasuko Arai]

------------

Yasuko had done nothing but think about Hiroshi all day. Think about how he had yelled at him through the window and told him to call. Yasuko had laughed at him for at least twenty minutes after he had left, unable to get that image out of his mind.

Now that the shop was closing and he didn't have to go to Raoul's, Yasuko wanted to go home and clean up before he called the other man. He waved goodbye to his coworker as he left and Yasuko was right behind him. He locked up for the evening and got his hoverboard, gliding to his apartment and jumping in the shower.

He cleaned up quickly, drying his hair, and just leaving it. He pulled on white button down, rolling the sleeves to his elbows and then pulled on the pants that Hiroshi had bought him the day before. He cinched a belt around him and then finished it with a pair of black boots--his favorite. He moved to his kitchen where he picked up his comlink and dialed Hiroshi's handheld number.

The line beeped and Yasuko waited.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laid in the bathtub, a hot towel draped over his eyes. So that day had gotten bad. He had been stuck in long drabby meetings, had a little quarrell with a co-worker and was in such a dire need to see Yasuko that it was literally depressing him. He never really thought it was possible to get so attached to someone in such a short amount of time. The comlink beeped loudly and almost scared the crap out of him. He frowned and reached his hand over the tub and felt around until he felt it.

"Yamamoto." He said professionally, never knowing who was calling anymore. He then wanted to drown himself. What if it was Lydia? He sat up and felt the towel drop off his face and all was good when he heard Yasuko. He smiled so bright and so relieved.

"Hey there! I don't know what gave you the inclination to call!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko purred a laugh.

"I dunno!" he said cheerfully. Hearing the man made his mood eight times better. He walked over to his mirror and leaned over, brushing his hair to the side so it looked at least semi-done. Then he leaned a hip on the table. "A little birdy told me you wanted me to call." Yasuko smiled to himself and looked out the window at the darkness over Coruscant. It was pretty, even though Coruscant never really got dark per say. The city always lit the sky a deep orange color. But Yasuko had never known anything else, and loved it deeply. He turned his attention back to the man on the phone.

"It may have been a really cute guy that came to see me this morning at work. I won't name any names, but his initials are Hiroshi Yamamoto," he said, hopping up on his table and crossing his legs. "Could have been."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed loudly, perhaps more so than was needed for poor Yasuko's ears. He leaned up in the bath and leaned against the side of the porcelain tub.

"Hmm, cute huh? Yeah. He must be really hot." He laughed again and sighed out. "Glad you called. My whole day has been revolving around it." She leaned forward and pulled the plug out of the tub and watched the water drain quickly. He stood up and sighed, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his hips before stepping onto the floor and walking out into the bedroom.

"You still up for going out with me tonight? You can say no if you wan't, I might kill myself, but still! No pressure!" Hiroshi's face grew red as they talked. What wa it about this man that gave him such good feelings inside? He didn't even remember feeling this for Lydia back in their early days and that was saying something.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed, hopping off the table and walking around in circles in his kitchen, listening as Hiroshi moved about in his home. It was like they were standing right next to each other, but they were miles apart. It was an odd feeling. Yasuko grinned.

"Oh let me think about it," he said as if he were going to say no. "I could always call up my charming Aaron and have a lovely dinner with him," Yasuko said sarcastically. Then he shook his head. "No, I think I'm gonna spend my time with you tonight." And every night, he wanted to say. But he restrained himself. The possibilities for this evening were endless. They could have dinner, and then who knew. Yasuko knew a few really great dance clubs, if Hiroshi was into getting hot and sweat on the dance floor. He also knew that Hiroshi might have plans to go somewhere. Of course, Yasuko's or Hiroshi's apartment would have suited the teenager just fine.

"Any thoughts on the evening?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi made a noise as he walked into his larg closet to be greeted by himself walking inside, dripping wet from his bath and his ab muscles slightly flexing as he walked. he scared himself almost everytime he walked into that closet, that mirror cuasing mor psychological problems than anything! He smiled as he looked away to view some clothes for the evening out.

"Good choice." He said with a laugh. "Mmm, I figured we could go eat somewhere...then you can come here, or we can go there, have some desert and hang around. Unless of course that is too drab and boring for you?" He was keeping things low key after last time. He enjoyed spending money and treating Yasuko like the Prince he was, for that was just how he was, but he also wanted to show Yasuko that he wasn't always about money and spending. He was also about quality time together. Hanging out, eating, watching movies, playing games, whatever...he wanted Yasuko to know that he was a diverse person andwanted to do not only things he wanted to do, but what Yasuko wanted to do also.

"Unless you have something else in mind? I'm open for anything really. I'll be with you, that is all that matters to me."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled, his cheeks going beet red. God, he was acting like a kid with a school boy crush. He needed to cool out. They were adults, who felt for one another and were just going to spend some time together. That was all. But oh, how great it was going to be. Yasuko was sure that even if he was just sitting, not speaking and they were staring at each other that he would have fun.

"That sounds great," Yasuko said. He was also up for anything, anything and everything. If Hiroshi said he wanted to do it, Yasuko would follow happily. It was pathetic, but he really liked this guy. Really wanted to spend time with him. As much as he could. "Naw, I'm up for whatever. Dinner sounds good, after that it's all up in the air. Here or there, or wherever!" Yasuko laughed. He felt like just hanging around would be okay. Hiroshi was right. As long as they were together, Yasuko was fine with whatever went down.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi frowned and there was a break in the conversation. Suddenly he smiled.

"Hey, how about this. I come get you, bring you back to my place, we can order some Chinese, watch a movie. Sound good?" That usually made for a bad date, at least he always thought so, but for some reason doing that with Yasuko was like a dream come true. It was time they'd spend together without others staring at them, no people to worry about, and no getting caught. That was the best part. Freedom.

"Hey, I like that idea. Wanna do it?" He bit hs lower lip and put his hand over his eyes to wipe away sweat and water. That wasn't perverted, but he was making it so. The room temperature went up about 80 degress and before he knew it he was dropping that towel and wandering around trying to cool off. God! Hiroshi thought. If only Yasuko were here with me now!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned. He had never--ever--done that before. Of course, he had heard about his friends doing it with thier girlfriends or boyfriends, but Aaron never wanted to do that. If they weren't eating out somewhere, they were screwing, and the rest of thier relationship was conducted over the phone. Yasuko grinned even wider.

"Yeah!" he said, a bit too happily. He stifled himself. "That sounds fun, actually!" It probably wouldn't have sounded so fun if he wasn't doing it with Hiroshi. But anything done with Hiroshi sounded okay. He nodded again. "Yeah. I'll wait outside for you, is that okay?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi bit his lower lip trying to keep the true scream of happiness from slipping. He frowned and tried to be serious.

"Yeah!" He said happily. "That sounds awesome. Hey, I'll be there in a flash! See you in a minute babe." He hung up quickly, hissing before even gving Yasuko a chance to say anything. It was a bad habit he brought home from work. Hopefully he didn'tjust tick Yasuko off. He'd explain it later if he did. He ran over to his shirts and grabbed a snazzy blue t-shirt with faded university letters on it in a darker blue. He grabbed some jeans and some sneakers and headed out of the closet towards his keys. He grabbed them but ran into the bathroom to spray some cologne and mess up his hair a bit before jogging down the hall and out the door. He was hyper, excited, vamped, ready to go! This was going to be the best date ever, even if they didn't do anything but hang out...he swore this was going to be a great night!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned, tossing his phone onto the table. He went back to his room, deciding to put something a little less dressy on. He dug in his drawers a moment before finding a white t-shirt--a little bit snug but his favorite--that had "Classic" written on it in loopy, chipped and faded, red letters.

He shook hair from his face, grabbed his satchel, and headed out the door, locking it behind him. He remembered half way down the lifts that he had forgotten cologne, but he figured that if Hiroshi didn't like the smell of his soap and shampoo, he didn't have to sit next to him. Yasuko waited impatiently for the lift to his ground level, and sighed with relief when it did. He left it, waving to the man at the desk who knew all the tenants by name, and then went out the door.

The air was warm, but not muggy at all. It put Yasuko in an even better mood than he was and that was saying something. Yasuko stomped his foot, pushing his heal down into his shoe, and pushed his satchel strap up on his shoulder. He messed with his hair a little. He hoped it looked okay, he hadn't fixed it, or really even brushed it. It was messy looking, and suddenly Yasuko was selfconscious about it.

He tried to forget it and waited anxieously for Hiroshi to be there.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi had never drove that fast in his life! He had sped almost all the way there and had almost been pulled had another jerk not been more reckless! He didn't care, but he gave a simple 'thank you' to whoever was watching out for him and turned a corner sharply, seeing the building just ahead. Hiroshi let out a sigh and tried to calm himself down. Yasuko probably didn't want to spend the night with a guy who was anxious and hyper as a poodle! He smiled happily as he slowed down when he saw the boy standing outside just screaming sexiness. He rolled down the window and leaned over.

"Hey there, sexy. How much?" He winked and unlocked the door. "I've got a few strips of gum, will that do?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned his approval as Hiroshi drove up and threw a smart comment out the window at him. Yasuko shrugged as he opened the door.

"I dunno..." he said, looking as if he were considering. "I don't even know if I'm worth that much," he said teasingly. He pulled his satchel off his shoulder and slid into the car, it still feeling too big and too expensive for him to be sitting in. He stowed his bag in the floor between his feet and closed the door with a soft, expensive sounding thud. Then he smiled over at Hiroshi, and did something that he wasn't sure he should have done. He leaned over, placing a warm, comforting kiss on Hiroshi's lips before leaning back into his own seat.

"Hi again."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi sat there and looked at Yasuko, a smile on his face. That wasn't something he expected, but by all means he loved it! He smiled and let out a sigh.

"Hello!" He moved out of the space and quickly drove down the road and took a turn so they could head towards his apartment. He glanced over at Yasuko seeing that he was still taken aback by his vehicle. If he thought this was nice and he was out of place...he could only imagine what was going to happen once they got back to his apartment.

"I have been dying to see you all day since we last met. Sounds crazy doesn't it?" He frowned and drove with one arm on the wheel, the other propped in the middle console leaning his chin on his right fist, leaning near Yasuko.

"I had such a bad day after I saw you, I was literally counting down till tonight. I think today has been the longest day of my life!" He smiled at the boy and couldn't help but take in his sexy appareance. He looked casual, comfortable, and he smelled great!

"You look good. Sexy."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's cheeks reddend again. Damn, why did Hiroshi have that effect on him. He dipped his head, looking over and giving him a sympathetic look.

"Well, don't think about it now," he said reassuringly. He gave Hiroshi the once over as well. Sneakers, jeans, t-shirt, and oh God, his cologne. If Yasuko hadn't had any morals whatsoever, he would have jumped Hiroshi's bones right here, just becuase of how good he smelled. Yasuko grinned at him, watching him drive, then nodded. "You look good, too. Very sexy."

He turned, getting comfortable in the big seat and watching the other hover cars that went by on the hoverways. His stomach kept flipping at the thought that in a few minutes, he was going to go to Hiroshi's apartment and they were going to sit around and do what couples did. It made Yasuko nervous, and he felt like he would puke, but he knew it was just the butterflies. He gave the man a sidelong glance.

"And no, by the way. You've been on my mind since you walked out of the shop today."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi let out a laugh. "I knew that! I could see it in your eyes!" He looked over at him and winked, teasing him as he always did. He didn't know why but he absolutely loved spending time with Yasuko. Everything was so easy, nothing was left to guess, and he really loved that! Plus, they got along, they had a lot in common, they were both sexy...it was perfect! He grinned and looked out the window and pointed.

"See that big building? That is my apartment. Loft apartment. Rather large for my tastes, but it is great and the view is even better!" He looked over at Yasuko and smiled. Damn, how big that place actually seemed. Since he met Yasuko all he had been thinking about him and how he wished he was there at his apartment. The place was cold and empty, but the thought of having Yasuko inside and livign with him...that was just the best thought! Hiroshi bit his tongue. He was thinking too far ahead. These two were just on the border of a couple. They hadn't even really talked about relationships when concerning these two. That had to come soon when they finally established what they were, although Hiroshi was considering Yasuko as his boyfriend whether or not he realized it.

"We can get chinese, won't take but a few minutes! I know the best place! They know me so well that I swear, they have me on speed dial!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed out loud, nodding to him in the affirmitive. His eyes peered at the big building Hiroshi had pointed out. It certainly was expenisve looking, but then again, Hiroshi was a defense lawyer on Coruscant. That was like being the owner of a gold mine. He couldn't imagine how much money Hiroshi had, and he wasn't going to ask. He didn't want to know. It would probably make Yasuko reel.

He glanced over, looking Hiroshi up and down again. How sexy he was. He seemed to get more so by the moment. Yasuko smiled to himself. God, he wanted this guy to be his boyfriend. But he kept remembering that he did have one, and he Hiroshi might not be up for that yet. Plus, Hiroshi had his own attachment. Then again, neither of them wanted to be with who they were, and if Hiroshi didn't at least like Yasuko a little, he wouldn't have asked him to go out.

They would have to cross that bridge when they came to it.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled, smiled for good measure, smiled just because, smiled for Yasuko...he was just all smiles. He pulled into a reserved space in the hotels secured garage and hopped out rushing to Yasuko's door before he remembered how to open it. He smiled down at him and gestured for him to climb on out.

"A gentleman always opens the door for his lovely date!" He smiled and watched him fall out of the large hover craft. He closed the door and grabbed him by the arm, making himself right at home as if they were a happy couple going home from doing something rather important. Yasuko had made Hiroshi feel so free and happy that it was something he never wanted to get rid of. Lydia had never made him feel half as good as Yasuko did and they had only been together for such a short period of time.

"Thanks for coming tonight. I don't want to seem too forward or desperate or...whatever...but I really like you. I want us to keep seeing each other, okay?" Hiroshi was taking the lead, like he normally did, and felt that it was as good a time than any to bring up certain things that might otherwise be uncomfortable in other situations. He smiled at Yasuko and laughed.

"If you don't want that, then I am okay with that. Just know that I know where you live and I will still continue to see you, whether or not you know it!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed, his cheeks going maddeningly pink at both the feeling of Hiroshi so close, and the words he said. He chewed his lip, leaning in a little closer and running his hand down Hiroshi's arm. He laced thier fingers together, holding his hand securely, even though Hiroshi's was bigger than his. He gave a little nod.

"Yeah," he agreed. "I'd really like that."

Wow, that had been decidedly unpainful. It had just happened, and like that, Yasuko suddenly felt like he had a boyfriend. A real one, not whatever Aaron was. No longer was he calling Aaron his boyfriend. He was just the guy that came over sometimes. The guy that called him babe.

Yasuko shook his head, not wanting to think about that right now. He only wanted to focus on Hiroshi, and the way his hand felt wrapped around his own. Without thinking about it, he leaned up again and placed another warm kiss on Hiroshi's jaw, a smile spreading across his face as they continued to walk.

"Somehow, the thought of you stalking me, isn't weird."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed and nodded.

"Good! Cause I've been meaning to tell you I've been doing it for a while. Oh yeah! I've taped it and sold it. You are quite the money maker!" He laughed again and looked down at him. "Matter of fact, you taking a shower bought me this place!" He nudged him and laughed. God, just joking with him was easy and he never took it the wrong way! This man was just so good to be true that it was almost like a shock for him. Suddenly a life without Yasuko was like....a life without air. You just couldn't do it.

Hiroshi sighed out as they made the way to the lifts. They entered it and he quickly pushed the button to his floor and looked down at Yasuko. That kiss was still burning his flesh and he wanted him to do it again, and again, and again! If Hiroshi had one dream at that moment it was to kiss Yasuko forever and be happy because at this moment, he was both. He let his hand go and turned to face him. He grabbed his face within his hands and smiled kindly, warmly. He bent down without a care in the world and kissed him on the lips, slow at first, but suddenly more passionate and with more force and desire than he had felt in a long time.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko's mind reeled at the passion in the kiss. He felt his body heat fly up, as the only sound was that of the lifts moving slowly upward. Yasuko returned the passion, the pressure, running his hands up Hiroshi's chest, lifting his shirt just a little, to tease the skin he felt underneath. He ran his arms around the man's waist, pressing in closer to him as they kissed.

He had never been kissed like this before. Not from anyone. It was like electric surging through his body, starting from his mouth, spreading out over his face, traveling down his spine, into his arms and legs. It made his knees weak slightly. It was like a drug that made Yasuko feel more than he had felt in ages all wrapped up in the lips of one man.

Hiroshi Yamamoto.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi had just died and gone to heaven. Today had been the first for many things in his life, he hugged a man in public, held his hand, and now he was kissing a man in a lift that could stop at any given moment and give it all away! Yet, he didn't care. Not at that moment at least. He slowly moved away and let out a sigh and then he smiled.

"We'll figure it all out." He said to him meaning they'd figure their other partners out, figure how to tell them, figure out how to dump them. It was suddenly Hiroshi's goal to have Yasuko dump that guy from today. He treated him badly! And sneaking around could only go so far before something happened. But he didn't really want to think of that at that moment. He smiled with honesety and with all the reasoning in the world.

"We'll straighten it out and we'll be fine."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko nodded, leaning forward, laying his head on the man's chest, holding him close. He just wanted to stay there, stay with Hiroshi until God came back and pulled them apart. He couldn't think of anything that he would like more than that.

He felt the lift coming to a stop and pulled away, not wanting the door to open and someone who knew Hiroshi to see and freak. But the doors slid open and no one was there, and Yasuko sighed. This was a strangely liberating experience. He felt like a different person. Like somehow, Hiroshi had made the Yasuko come out that hadn't come out in forever. That had been waiting for the right person to come along.

How Yasuko hoped it was Hiroshi.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled happily content to stay right there in that elevator holding him, but then it stopped and he moved away as if he were the plague. He smiled. So he wasn't the only one with some issues on being seen. He grabbed his hand and smiled pulling him out into the hall.

"Come on, right this way." He was excited! This was the first time someone new was getting to see his apartment and above all ele this visit was most important. He ran to the door and unlocked it and quickly pushed the door open. "Ta-dah!" He said happily. He walked in and quickly pulled off his shoes and ran around like a crazy person, wanting Yasuko to get excited for seeing his apartment, get happy that Hiroshi was happy.

"What do you think? Great, yeah? OH! Look at this view!" He ran over to the window and spread his arms out as wide as they could go. "I think this is why I moved here." He looked over his shoulder and smiled. This was the best day ever! Yasuko was now getting his DNA in his house!

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned as his boyfriend showed him his apartment. It certainly was something Yasuko wasn't used to. It was nice, roomy expensive looking. Yasu toed off his shoes at the door, and left his satchel on top of them, moving into the apartment in his socks, walking to the window and peering out.

It was an amazing view, better than the one Yasuko's apartment had. He leaned in close to the window, being able to see practically all of Coruscant from here. He felt a little out of place here, but having Hiroshi so happy about showing him made Yasuko feel better about it. He looked over at the man and smiled.

"Wow."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed lightly and raised his eyebrows smiling from ear to ear.

"Yeah!" He said with a sigh of happiness. He finally dropped his arms from his dramatic act and moved closer to Yasuko. "I am so happy that you are here to enjoy it with me." He looked at him and just smiled softly. Hiroshi stood there basking in the beuaty of the man that had suddenly changed his life for the better. It was an amazing few days and he had acomplished so much more than he had ever done in his entire life. It was interesting how happy he could be just being himself and being free.

"Lydia never appreciated it as much as you do. Matter of fact she appreciated what I did for her rather than anything else." He sighed and shook his head, glancing away from Yasuko back to the city. How had he been so wrong all this time with Lydia? How had he even brought himself to date her? Sure she was beautiful and sexy and funny, but her faults outweighed everything nowadays that it was getting on his nerves. He realized what a plague she actually was to have around.

"Luckily," He said in all seriousness. "I found you."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko smiled at him, looking down at his feet and crossing his arms over his chest. Luckily, I found you. they were simple words, words anyone could have spoken and meant. But somehow, when Hiroshi said them, they seemed so sincere, so kind, so meaningful, that Yasuko believed them easily. And it was alright.

He looked back up at Hiroshi and gave him a smile, feeling his cheeks get red again. He enjoyed being with Hiroshi more than anything else, and having him here, being here with him, being able to enjoy being alone, and laughing and having fun just the two of them, no expectations, was something Yasuko had never been able to do with another person before. He smiled and looked back down at his feet a moment, before nodding back to the man.

"I'm glad you did."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and wrapped his left arm around the boys neck and brought him into his chest, wrapping his other hand around him. He kissed his head and felt his body grow ten times hotter. Yasuko dug up certain feelings he had never felt before it was such a great and exhilirating thing to feel. Yasuko would never know how much he meant to Hiroshi. He only could explain it to him in actions and simple gesutres that Yasuko deserved. Hiroshi grinned as he thought of the many things he could do for Yasuko. Things he had, at one point, done for Lydia but quickly stopped when she did not appreciate the time and the effort he put into doing things that showed nothing but love. He was excited, he wanted to do things for Yauko that he would never imagine, starting with tonight. After all, they were now....boyfriends!

His heart skipped a beat and he moved out of holding Yasuko. He looked down at him and smiled, ready to go take on the world!

"I'm starving! Lets get some food, yeah?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko nodded at him and watched him to to retreive something. While he waited, Yasuko went over to his satchel, pulling out his cell to turn it off. He didn't want to talk to anyone. He glanced at the display. Three missed calls, once voice mail. All from Aaron. Yasuko chewed his lip, weighing the merits of calling him back.

Yasuko shook his head, turning it off anf stuffing it back down into the bag, checking to make sure everything was in there. Wallet, cell, apartment key, work schedule, pens, notebook, some credits that were loose in there. Yasuko, shut the flap and stood straight again, wondering breifly if Aaron would go looking for him if he didn't call back.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi talked quickly in the link, ordering everything under the sun for the two of them to eat. Rice, noodles, low mein, won ton, chicken, everything that would fill them up to the rim nad leaving them busting at the seams. He smiled at the thought as he hung up hearing the price and nodding as if the person on the other line could see. He said his goodbyes and hung up and tossed it in the air happily and almost skipped to the living room where he heard Yasuko moving around. He caught the com in his other hand and lingered into the living area with a bright smile.

"Ten minutes." He raised his eyebrows and tossed his com on the coffee table and sighed. "The are good to me, let me tell you." He drew in a deep breath and slapped his hands together and rubbed.

"So!" He looked over at Yasuko and bit his lower lip. "I got movies galore, I have games, cards, puzzles, whipped cream, strawberries...anything and everything! This night, my dear, is all about you and I am here to grant your hearts desire!" He smiled and dropped his hands looking at Yasuko and taking in the beauty, it always seeming to get better when he looked away for a moment. Staring at him never got old.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko gave him a wicked smirk. Oh, the things he could do with whipped cream and strawberries. But he wasn't going to let his mind wander onto that subject. He was certain if he did a rape might occur in this apartment, and Yasuko certainly wouldn't be the victim.

He made his was over to where Hiroshi was standing and cocked his head once. He didn't really have an opinion on what was done that evening, he was just along for the ride. He glanced around, seeing the big monitor mounted on the wall. It was one of the more expenisve kind. Yasuko also saw the movie file player sitting below it, tiny and compact. He saw a few movie files laying on top of it, one was blue, one was red, one was yellow, and they were labeled, but he couldn't see from here what they were. Then he turned back to Hiroshi and gave him a shrug.

"Whatever," he said happily. "Whatever you want is fine with me."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed and shook his head and waved his hands.

"Oh no, I am not falling for that. You tel me what you want. This is your date." He smiled. Oh this was fun. They were already having their first lovers quarrel.

"You decide. My mouth is close. Your decision. I've got all night." He laughed lightly and crossed his arms, watching and waiting. Damn, how good Yasuko looked tonight! He was almost ready to just say 'to hell with it' and give the man a wild night to remember, but this was far more exciteable by any means.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed, then groaned and put a hand on his head. He waved a hand in front of his face, shaking his head.

"No, it's your date too," he said, laughing. God, Aaron would have smacked his face by now. "Come on, you know more about what is fun around here than I do!" he laughed then shrugged again. "I'm never home, so I don't do most of this stuff. You know if it's fun or not, come on, Hiroshi."

Yasuko smiled at him, trying to look as helpless as possible. He was getting a kick out of this for no good reason.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi frowned and titled his head.

"Aww, poor thing." He walked over to him and put his hansd on his face. "Okay, want me to decide?" He smiled and shook his head.

"No!" He laughed and moved away and took a seat and let out a groan. "Ah," He said putting his hands behind his head watching Yasuko, just wishing he'd jump him at any given moment. "Like I said, I got all night babe. You decide."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko stuck out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout as he watched Hiroshi sit down on the couch. Then he chewed his lip, watching him with mock anger on his face. Then he smiled mischievously and walked over to the couch, moving to stand with his legs on either side of Hiroshi's knees.

"I have one idea," he said, leaning down over him and placing a kiss on his cheek. "But you have to sit still." Another kiss, this time on his other cheek. "The only rule is that you stay sitting right where you're at. I get to kiss you wherever I want to." Yasuko smiled at him, and then pressed his lips to Hiroshi's, slipping his tongue into the other man's mouth for a moment, before leaning back.

"Wanna play?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked at him seeing nothing but seduction. God how wonderful this sounded!

"Where do I sign up?" He said in a low laugh that was deep in his throat. He looked at Yasuko and allowed his eyes to trace his face and all the patterns on it, taking it all in and loving every minute of it. The little redness that was on his cheeks made him glow, Hiroshi was loving the view and loving the position he was just now put in. Hell, he was loving everything that somehow involved Yasuko being near to him.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed and leaned back in to place a few more kisses on Hiroshi's face. This was fun. Yasuko hadn't ever had so much fun with one person. In the few days they had spent together, Yasuko was already head over heals for him, ready to just hand over everything to him and love every second of it.

And this was just another plus. Aaron wouldn't ever play around like this. Aaron wanted sex or nothing. He wasn't interested in fooling around just because. He wasn't really interested in kissing Yasuko if he didn't have to. Come to think of it, Aaron wasn't really interested in anything besides sex and work. Yasuko didn't know why he had begun dating him. He guessed it was just because Aaron had been so much different in the beginning. Everyone changed throughout the course of a relationship, but no one changed that much.

Yasuko pushed away the thoughts, and planted a few more kisses on Hiroshi's neck and collarbone.

"No need to sign up," he said. "It's exclusively for you."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi was dangerously close to just tossing Yasuko on the floor and having his way with him and just never stopping until the sun came up, but he was good a being patient and he was just enjoying the feeling of wanting something he couldn't have. It was good for ones soul he was sure.

He let out a little groan when he felt the plump lips find his collarbone, the place he loved most to be kissed. Lydia had been good at doing it, but then again Lydia was a sex goddess. Sadly he wasn't turned on by her anymore. He grinned to himself. All that she had taught him, he was going to have fun teaching Yasuko!

"Yeah?" He finally said, shifting slightly on the couch for his pants were getting a little too tight in his netherregions. He bit his lower lip and sighed. "I am glad I found such an incredible deal. I didn't even have to do anything special, like pay for anything." He frowned and looked at Yasuko. "Or am I having to pay with the gum sticks?" He smiled and winked at him and gave him a look that told him not to dare stop now.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed against the man's neck as he trailed his mouth to his ear, kissing it, then his temple. He found his lips again and pressed another kiss there just for good measure before leaning back as if considering his last remark.

"Well..." he said, thinking. "I don't know if gum sticks are gonna be the asking price...I might have to think about that one a little more." He leaned down to run kisses down his jaw and back to his neck, where he was too interested in the Adam's apple to leave it be. He laughed again. "But I'm thinking it might just be a free deal, just because I like you so much."

Yasuko would have been horrified to do this with Aaron. Yasuko was naturally playful when it came to his boyfriends. He always had been. Before Aaron, Yasu had always been that way, always able to joke and mess around with his boyfriends like this. But when he had begun dating Aaron all of his playfulness had gone out the window. But Hiroshi was bringing it back, and Yasuko like it.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi laughed and let out a sigh, loving how this felt and loving how much he was enjoying it. Apparently, Yasuko was too for he wasn't slowing down any time soon. He frowned when the doorbell rang.

"Kuso." He said looked at Yasuko and giving him a huge kiss on the lips. "Hold that thought, we have to eat. Believe me....this is not over!" He laughed and jogged towards the door, digging into the back pocket and grabbing his wallet.

His smile faded slightloy when he answered the door to get the bag of food and pay the man, leaving a nice tip because he was in that kind of mood. Yasuko, as it was safe to say, made Hiroshi happier than anything.

"Food time!" He said walking back into the room to set the bag down. "Dig in, portions are not limited!"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko flopped back on the couch to watch Hiroshi get the food. Yasuko couldn't help but look at the view from behind Hiroshi. Which, naturally, was just as good as the front. He smiled, watching Hiroshi pay then walk back in. Yasuko smelled the food, and he felt his stomach growl unpleasantly. He hadn't really realized how hungry he was until he had smelled the food.

He moved down onto the floor, sitting on his knees and inspecting what had been bought. Noodles, rice, and chicken were the three things Yasuko spotted and already he knew he was going to be happy. Noodles and chicken were his favorite foods, and thinking about it at the moment he realized he hadn't had it in forever. He was used to eating at the cafe in the mornings, and in the evenings, he was either eating fast food or Ahmed at Raoul's brought him something for him to eat after his shift. Yasuko almost never cooked, even though he liked to and was okay at it.

"Mm..." he said. "Looks good."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi sighed out pretending to be annoyed. He dropped one of the boxes of rice and lifted a hand up at Yasuko.

"Look...I know I am hot, okay? But it does get a little tiring to hear it over and over again." He looked at him seriously for a moment then laughed. "Just kidding." He said as he pulled more boxes out of the white bag with huge 'THANK YOU's on the side.

"Yo ucan tell me I am hot anytime. I never tire of it." he laughed again. He loved this. Eating with Yasuko at his home, goffing around, kissing each other, all in a few days time as if they had been doing this for ages. Which was something he wanted, desired, needed. He just wanted Yasuko from now until eternity. That wasn't so hard to ask, was it?

"What can i get you to drink? I got water, tea, sake, and wine. I am going with the latter." Hiroshi stood up from sitting on his knees across the table from Yauko. He looked down at him waiting for an answer. "or I can surprise you?"

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko grinned at him. Certainly, Hiroshi was hot. And now that he had permission, Yasuko was probably going to call him hot every moment of every day. He looked up as Hiroshi stood, telling him the choices. Yasuko shrugged.

"Yeah, go ahead and surprise me," he said nodding as he broke his chosticks apart so that he could get some food. He was now starving to death, and the food smelled really good. He watched Hiroshi walk back to the kitchen, and smiled to himself, getting some noodles, rice, and chicken. He looked down at it for a moment as if it might come alive on his plate before picking up a peice of chicken with his chopsticks and taking a bite.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi smiled and let out a little cough just to do something as he walked into the kitchen to grab two glasses out of his cupboard. He bit his lower lip as he searched his drawers for his cork opener his mind rummaging with thoughts of Yasuko and how attractive he was, about all they had accomplished in a few days, about how Yasuko was his first boyfriend...ever! Sure he had had those imaginary ones like celberities and what not, but this was the first one ever.

He smiled and his face grew red. Today had been awesome and it seemed it could only get better! He grabbed a bottle of his finest wine, aged to perfection and expensive as could be and walked into the living room sitting down the two glasses. He fell to his knees and sighed, putting the opener on the corker and screwing it in, quickly turning it to hear it pop loudly. He looked over at Yasuko and how quick he was eating.

"Slow down, it isn't going anywhere!" He laughed lightly and poured a nice half glass and pushed it over to him. "Here, see if y you like this. If you don't I can move onto something else."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko eyed the glass of wine for a moment. He had never been one for wine, or alcohol in general, mostly because it dried him out more than anything, and he had the distinct feeling that he had a poor tolerance for it. But he would try it. What the hell? With Hiroshi he had had so many firsts, he might as well go ahead and see if he liked it.

Leaning back slightly and picking up the glass, he smelled it slightly first before putting it to his mouth and taking a small drink, afraid he wouldn't like. However, as it entered his mouth he found the taste was actually quite good, and the slight burning at the back of his throat was interestingly pleasant. He set the glass down and blinked once at Hiroshi before nodding.

"No, that's good," he said. "Thanks."

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi grabbed some chopsticks and pulled so lo mein onto a plate and was quick to eat it, looking over at Yasuko who was smelling the deep crimson colored contents. He laughed lightly, amused by the action. Apparently he had either never tried it or didn't like it. He waited in anticipation to see what the verdict was. Then he told him. Hiroshi was releived almost scared that having him dislike it would displease him. Hiroshi wanted everything to be perfect and have him like everything. Although that sounded obsessive and a bit domineering, he just wanted Yasuko to enjoy every moment with him.

He smiled and nodded.

"Great! I was getting kind of worried! I mean...it isn't like I am wanting you to get drunk off your butt and not remember the night!" He laughed and shook his head as he ate and chewed his food, forgetting manners.

"Actually, if there is anything I'd want you to do is remember tonight! Besides...being drunk and passing out...after having a night alone with me...nobody can forget!" He winked playfully and continued to eat.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed, leaning back down a little to pick up some noodles and eat them. He thought for a long moment, trying to think of something to talk about. Then he thought of something. He leaned back, swallowing his food and looking at Hiroshi.

"Okay," he said. "So, tell me how you stumbled upon law school. I mean, is it like a family business, or was it just something you wanted to do?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi chewed away playing with the noodles in his chopsticks, laughing at the question that seemed to fit the whole scenario. God! If Lydia had ever given him the time of day to talk about himself once in a while perhaps he'd be able to stand her! He slit his eyes and looked up at Yasuko, thinking of how he actually wanted to go into law.

"I don't know. I guess I got it from watching television, wanting to help the underdog! I was good at talking, good at pursuading, good at looking snazzy in a suit!" He laughed and dropped his utensils to get a drink of wine. He sighed and licked his lips. "I liked reading as well so it all kind of seemed right. Plus the money!" He laughed again and leaned back slightly to look at Yasuko.

"What do you want to do? I am sure you don't want to work at that coffee shop for the rest of your life do you?" Hiroshi was interested in Yasuko, not only physically, but on an emotional and connectiviyty level. He was interested by him and he loved it for Lydia was nothing but as interesting as a wet rag. God, Yasuko was everything lydia was not and he was loving every minute of it.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko nodded at his explanation, but hadn't expected Hiroshi to turn it on him. For a long moment, he chewed, thinking about it. He swallowed, taking a drink of the wine and leaning back to take a breath before answering.

"Well..." he paused and laughed. "If my brother had his way I'd go to work with him handling government documents and that kind of thing," Yasuko said, then shook his head, scrunching his nose as if he had smelled something bad. "No thank you," he smiled. "I'd like to do something with graphic design, film file editing...write on the side," he said with a shrug. "But no way I'm affording college and my parents can't do it either. So, if I don't go work with my brother, I might just be working at that cafe and club forever!" he laughed nonchalantly, even though it was a sad thing for him.

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi frowned as he drank the wine in his glass, listening happily to his story as sad as it was to hear. Hiroshi had a problem with saving people, it was something he enjoyed doing, making others happy as well. But this was a different situation and he was more than willing to boost Yasuko's ego and tell him that there were more other ways. He smiled and shrugged.

"Do it. WHo cares about affording it. Hell, you want...I'll give you the money!" He drank his wine and swallowed knowing that he was going to object quickly but he quickly made things clear. "I would love to see you do something you love. It would be a loan...it;d be a good investment."

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed and shook his head.

"Oh, no, no!" he said, laying his chopsticks down. His eyes widened and he shook his head emphatically. "No! Oh God!" then he laughed and waved a hand in front of his face. "No. My dad knows I would like to go, we're working it out. My brother's gonna see what he can do. But if all else fails, I'll just go an work with my brother," Yasuko said, dipping his head. "I mean, it pays good. It'd get me out of Raoul's," Yasuko said, cringing. "That alone would be an accomplishment. I'd sell limbs to get out of there. God bless my friends that have worked there forever, but it's awful," he said smiling, then shook some hair from his face, wanting to change the subject. These were kind of tender ones for him.

"So..." he paused, then looked unsure. "How did you meet Lydia?"

[Hiroshi Yamamoto]

Hiroshi looked away to his food and nodded, understanding the situation. But it wasn't like he was going to listen to Yasuko! He had the money and the means and he would be more than willing to loan him the cash, no problem for he knew that Yasuko would do good by him and pay him back, in time. Which Hiroshi didn't see any rush! He looked at him and smiled. That would be something he'd work on a little later, giving him the money that is.

"Lydia?" He laughed loudly and shook his head trying not to choke on his food. "God! Don't even ask! It was so bizarre that he himself couldn't believe it had happened. "Mistaken identity. She thought I was someone else, we kept bumping into each other, then we figured we couldn't go anywhere without meeting, why not meet someplace for dinner, no surprises!" He laughed remember the good times. But then it soured.

"She was a very haughty girl. Frugal, naive, stupid. Bitter. Ugh, I am glad i met you because you blow her out of the water!" He leaned foward and got another few bites in.

"You and Aaron, tell all!" He smiled and looked at Yasuko.

[Yasuko Arai]

Yasuko laughed nodding at him. Then he laughed a little louder when Hiroshi asked about Aaron. God, his was so weird, and so against the law it wasn't even funny. He chuckled and sat back a little, running a hand through his hair.

"Well..." he laughed again and shrugged. "I...was seventeen when we first met. He was a...student teacher at my high school," Yasuko said, his cheeks turning red. This was embarrassing. He laughed. "Um...I had him in a History of Coruscant class and in a General History course class." He paused a moment and furrowed his brow, trying to think about it. He shook his head. "God, don't ask me how we started dating. He just wouldn't leave me be, and I thought he was cute..." Yasuko waved hand in front of his face. "God, we could have gotten into so much trouble. But, that's how we met at least."

Yasuko laughed, thinking about the times he had first known Aaron, how fun it had been. He didn't understand how it had gotten so bad so quickly. He shook his head and looked back up at Hiroshi.

"He's possessive. And has anger issues, and can't carry on very good conversations...and..." he laughed. "He's stupid, and you're perfect, so."