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Out of the office drama: What if Ota Kisaki is right?

@whatdoyouexpectthistime @smile-smile-ichthys @hifftn 

Why Rose had agreed to meet Ryosuke here was beyond her.

Although, she couldn’t deny that it was closer to their planned date at the art exhibit than her apartment, the Ice Dragon headquarters and MJS AND it made sense for Rose to meet him here since he had to come back before he could leave for their date and his sense of direction was too terrible to just meet her at the art exhibit.

But still.

Rose never wanted to step foot in Tres Spades ever again in her life, yet here she was.

If it wasn’t for her puppy of a boyfriend she’d have got Miho to burn down the whole hotel by now – hopefully with Kisaki and Ichinomiya in it.

But her boss still knew nothing about the fact Ryosuke and Mr. Oh were part of the mafia syndicate ‘The Ice Dragons’ and whatever connection he had to the richest CEO in Japan, the ‘Angelic Artist’ and the test-driver that she only knew as ‘Baba’.

Sighing heavily.

Rose fished out the penthouse key card Mr. Oh gave to Ryosuke to give to her.

She wasn’t entirely sure why she needed it. She wanted nothing to do with the creeps that lived in a pointlessly huge penthouse in a hotel with a bunch of guys – from what Rose could tell anyway. Didn’t look like it had a ladies touch… she wasn’t sure what woman would want to touch any of them.

They were slimy.

But none-the-less, she was kind of grateful – she hated standing around loitering anywhere but somehow in the lobby of Tres Spades it amped up the anxiety to fifty thousand percent. Even just walking to the elevator she got snubbed by every fancily dressed person she passed by.

She was used to it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t put her on edge.

When she stepped into the elevator she hoped to god that Ryosuke was waiting for her or just there in general.

She may end up leaving as a murderess if he wasn’t there to drag her away.

It was strange, normally Rose was a calm person. Nothing really unnerved her or made her uncomfortable. But this place or more so the people who lived in the penthouse gave off a dark aura, there was something shady about the place despite its appealing and modern aesthetic.

When she got to the pointlessly huge penthouse, she turned the door knob and realised she hadn’t knocked before entering – the last time she was here Baba was with her and obviously he didn’t need to knock, he lived there after all.

Rose shrugged, it’d be weird to knock once she’d already turned the doorknob.

So she entered.

Mr. Ichinomiya was sat in the same chair as last time, Mr. Oh was as well, there was another man puffing away on a cigarette by the large bay window that she hadn’t met before – and from a distance she was sure she didn’t want to.

But no Ryosuke.

Rose cursed him under her breath. He said he’d be here when she arrived and would let her know if he was going to be late, now she had to talk to these idiots.

“Why do you have a key to my penthouse?”

A voice said distracting her.

She looked towards said voice and Mr Ichinomiya was glaring what could only be called a ‘death stare’ at Rose so she assumed it was him that asked – or better yet demanded.

Not that it phased her, she took a step forward, not shutting the door behind her as if it was some sort of childish stand against Mr. Ichinomiya.

She took his challenge head on, she could see from his stare and her previous encounter with him that he didn’t take kindly to anyone, especially a woman challenging his dominance.

She would love see him interact with Miho, she’d put him in his place.

Rose was ready to make a snide remark but she was interrupted before her lips even parted to speak.

“I gave her one,” Rose’s head snapped towards the man who was quick to defend her. “She might be useful to have around.”

Mr. Oh smirked but didn’t look at Rose.

She wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, these men were so cryptic. Although, they had to be if they wanted to be successful in their underground shenanigans. But she had to admit, it was kinda like his fatherly approval and she appreciated that.

Or so she thought.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder – due to the tense atmosphere she may have over-reacted by grabbing onto the hand and forearm and proceeding to flip whoever dared touch her over her shoulder like he weighed nothing more than a feather despite the assailant probably being twice Rose’s weight.

A thud and a yelp followed by a:

“Ow! It’s me, pretty lady!”

Made Rose finally look at the face of the groaning man under her, Rose immediately released the arm she still had twisted in her grasp that belonged to Baba.

Mr. Oh didn’t need to say anything. He’d obviously proved whatever point he was trying to make.

“Damn, you had that comin’ t’ya though ya perv. Don’t be touchin’ kids so freely.”

Said a voice she didn’t recognise, so she assumed it belonged to the smoking chimney in the corner.

Handing a whining Baba his hat that had fallen off in the commotion as he stood up, she whispered an almost unapologetic ‘sorry’. That was suddenly drowned out by an almighty cackle, one that sounded so sadistically evil it made her hackles go up.

“That was the best thing I have ever seen hahahaha.”

Her head turned to the voice she unfortunately remembered.

The strawberry blonde haired artist was hunched over, his arms wrapped around his middle as if he had just had the air knocked out of him.

Which Rose really wished he had. And she’d be more than happy to be the one to do it.

“Personally, I think it was funnier when she knocked you on your ass.”

Mr. Oh added, not looking up from what looked like his phone. And his comment immediately silenced Kisaki’s laughing fit.

“I was caught off guard.” Kisaki tried to casually to shrug off the comment.

Rose cracked her knuckles drawing all of the attention towards her.

“I’m ready for round two if you are?”

She said, her voice as serious as she looked – much like Mr. Ichinomiya prior to this little scene.

Boy, she would give anything to knock Ota Kisaki around a bit, although she was a little worried he’d end up enjoying it.

The artist didn’t respond but there was a slight sense of fear that spread across his face like wildfire. And Rose enjoyed it far more than she probably should have.

“While that would be entertaining, it does not explain why you are here, again.”

Mr. Ichinomiya stated and not asked.

“Inui.”

Mr. Oh, Baba and Kisaki all said in unison.

“What they said.” She confirmed whilst walking towards an empty seat far enough away from them, so she could see them all and have no more surprise attacks.

“Kids got bigger balls than the Kisaki brat.” Said the chimney.

“Kisaki has balls? I didn’t think he’d gone through puberty yet.”

Rose shrugged as she fell into the chair behind her.

Everyone else in the room let out a little chuckle except for the brooding young Artist and probably Ichinomiya but Rose didn’t care enough to look at him.

“Damn, I like this kid. What’s ya name?”

Rose eyed the man, there was something oddly sexy about him. His scruffy appearance and his accent to the way his cigarette bobbed in his mouth as he spoke. Although, the mere fact he was hanging with these assholes meant he probably had a shit personality which immediately made his appearance less attractive.

“Rose.”

She replied simply, crossing one leg over the other and resting her bag next to the chair. She held his gaze, he didn’t seem as threatening as the other men in the room – he looked too lazy for that. But Rose wouldn’t take a chance to let her guard down.

“This pretty flower has a boyfriend Mamo.”

Baba chimed from his seat next to Ota already completely recovered from the damage Rose inflicted on him. He sent a wink over at Rose and then beamed an all-knowing smile at this ‘Mamo’.

“I was just bein’ polite. She’s a damn kid, I ain’t no perv like you Lupin.”

Lupin?

Rose had only heard of the ‘Modern Day Lupin’ because of all the stuff on the news. Surely the Chimney calling him that was just an inside joke that hopefully Rose won’t stick around long enough to become a part of.

Or she’ll find out that Mr. Ichinomiya was involved in some black market auctions hosted by the mad hatter.

Yeah right, this isn’t an Otome game.

“He’d make a better puppy than a boyfriend.”

Kisaki said bitterly from his seat next to Baba.

“Jealousy isn’t cute, Ota.”

Baba patted the younger man on the shoulder but that did little to appease Kisaki’s pout.

“He isn’t cute in general.” Rose said.

It was odd. Despite the fact her hackles were up, this was almost comfortable the back and forth she had with these men. Like she’d been here before in a past life.

A shiver went up her spine, now that was a harrowing thought.

“If this woman is going to disrupt us every time she comes around, she and your lap dog aren’t allowed to step foot in my hotel again.” Mr. Ichinomiya said to Mr. Oh, swiping left on the tablet in his lap without looking at the man he was addressing.

“Fine by me.”

Rose replied for Mr. Oh, of course she’d be happy to avoid King Asshole and his entourage and she’d be even happier if Ryosuke had nothing to do with them as well.

“That goes for your parents too.” He added.

“I’m sure they give a shit.”

Rose rolled her eyes.

After the event that was held here for their debut into the fashion industry, they never came back – she remembered her Mother saying that Ichinomiya’s lilac shirt went out of style two years ago and he needed to invest in a hair brush.

Rose smirked as she lost herself to that memory. At least she knew where she got her smart mouth from.

“Better watch ya mouth, kid. Do you know who ya talkin’ to?” ‘Mamo’ asked.

“Eisuke Ichinomiya, the head of one of Japan’s top corporations – The Ichinomiya group. Owner of Tres Spades. A King amongst men.” Rose exaggerated yet her tone was completely flat and dry.

“At least she knows a King when she sees one.” Said the smug hotel owner clearly ignoring Rose’s sarcasm or not being able to differentiate between her normal tone and her sarcastic tone because he was a robot.

“Thank you for allowing me to be in your presence, King Asshole.”

Rose half bowed in her seat as she heard a few little sniggers around the room. Ever Mr. Oh had a little grin on his face for half a second before he was back to that stone-face he was famous amongst his peers for.

“Can we keep her around all the time? This might be the most fun I’ve had in this place.” Chuckled out Mamo.

“You’re usually asleep, you miss out on all our fun little escapades!”

Well, at least Rose now knew that Baba was eccentric and dramatic with everyone he knew, not just women. Although women seemed to enjoy his theatrics a lot more. Rose remembered how Miho and Jazz had said that he was very popular amongst the female clients at MJS.

“I gotta conserve energy.” ‘Mamo’ shrugged.

“You don’t do anything to need to conserve energy, slacker.”

Mr. Oh said a little bitterly, his eyes still on the device in his hand.

“Ain’t none of ya business what I do with my energy, evil eyes.”

Rose looked between the men, there was some sort of tension. She wasn’t sure if it was sexual or not but the tension was slightly on the sinister side.

His appearance agreed with Mr. Oh’s statement about him ‘not doing anything’. It made her wonder what his connection was with these men, he didn’t look like he had heaps of money or an illegal job or a wealthy family.

But then again, neither did Rose.

“Now, now, Mamo, Sor. There is lady present!” Baba tried to sooth the tension.

“Where’s Ryo?” Rose interrupted, completely ignoring Baba’s comment.

“Running late.” Mr. Oh said.

Rose sighed, of course he was.

While she adored her boyfriend, he wasn’t good at time management as well as his bad sense of direction. She twisted the watch on her wrist and looked down at the face. The art exhibit closed in two hours.

It’d take fifteen minutes to walk there, at least an hour to look around, then an exclusive Q&A with the artist before the gallery shut.

She couldn’t miss this. The artist was one of her references for her current project. And she’d already avoided doing it for far too long.

She got out her phone and wrote out a simple text:

‘I’ve gone to the art exhibit. Let me know when you’re done with work and we’ll meet up for dinner or something. Be safe.’

She stared at the text for a moment before deleting it and putting the device back in her bag. While it would be the courteous thing to do, she knew her boyfriend would feel guilty and be distracted and end up putting himself in danger.

She was still trying to work out how to be a good girlfriend in general. But it seemed even more difficult trying to figure out how to be the girlfriend of a mobster.

But she thought she was doing okay so far.

Rose began collecting her things without so much as a word. Not that she had much to collect and she was grateful for that. It meant a quicker escape from this hell hole.

“Where are you going, Princess?” Baba asked as he watched Rose.

“Away from here.” She replied.

“Are you not going to wait for your knight in shining armour?” He pried.

“Aya Takano’s exhibit won’t stay open forever.” She shrugged.

A scoff sounded and everyone turned to the pouting little off-ginger rat sat next to Baba.  

“Aya Takano? Her exhibit is garbage.” Ota huffed.

“Funny, I thought the same thing when I was walking around your exhibit.” Rose shrugged.

‘Mamo’ let out a hearty laugh followed by a coughing fit. And Rose rolled her eyes, serves him right, in the time Rose had been there he’d had two cigarettes– one after the other.

“You don’t need to announce your departure. Just leave.” Mr. Ichinomiya growled.

Rose had several snarky comebacks on her tongue, but she thought ignoring him would piss him off more. So she went with that, even going as far to pretend she hadn’t heard him speak in the first place as she continued to collect herself in order to leave.

She then turned to the stone-faced mobster who hadn’t looked up from his phone the entire time Rose had been there, as if this were his hotel rather than Ichinomiya’s.

“Mr. Oh, I know you’re not a messenger and I hate to ask, but can you tell Ryo to call me when he’s finished with work. I fear if I text him, he’ll take even longer.”

He looked up at her, her posture slightly bowed in front of him. He seemed to contemplate what she said before nodding his head in agreement.

“Thank you.” Rose bowed. “Goodbye Mr. Oh.”

“Bye Baba, Bye Chimney.”

Rose said throwing a wave over her shoulder as she left.

“Chimney? Was she referring t’me?” Mamo asked, stubbing out his cigarette and immediately searching his jacket pocket for another one.

“That girl is irritating, other than her kicking the Auction Sponsors asses, why did you give her a key card to my penthouse?” Mr. Ichinomiya questioned Mr. Oh.

Who luckily didn’t have to answer as his phone went off and he travelled to another room to speak to whomever was on the other end.

“She’s easy on the eye though and she’s not a weak or shy little flower. She’s got thorns.” Baba said, fondly thinking back to the lap dance battle and the underwear she was wearing under her shirt.

It was funny really. Baba seemed to remember that moment better than Rose. Well who could blame him? Two young, attractive girls he’d just met giving him a lapdance. It was like a perverts dream.

Rose remembered what happened after the lap dance.

Kyobashi.

The narrator promises to get round to writing a chapter about that instead of writing ‘But that’s another chapter’ in each chapter.

“I question if she is the daughter of Hiroka-Haute Couture in those rags.” Mr. Ichinomiya stated.

Thankfully Rose wasn’t there anymore, she may have put him on his ass.

“Even in a bin bag I think she’d still make my heart skip a beat.” Baba smirked still thinking about the flashes of skin between the intricately strappy bra.  

“You’re old enough to be her Grandpa.” Ota joked.

“That didn’t seem to bother her when she was grinding half naked in my lap.” Baba muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing~”

Baba was not a man to kiss and tell, well most of the time and especially when Miho and Jazz were involved. He’d end up a castrated man.

“I am surprised you’re so calm about it though, Boss. What if Alice discovers wonderland?”

He looked to Mr. Ichinomiya quickly changing the subject before his scowling artist friend went to enquire about his muttered comment further.

“Soryu will have to deal with the repercussions of that.” He said blankly still staring at the device in his lap as if Rose’s entire existence had no meaning to him – which it didn’t, she was beneath him like everyone else in the world.

“We all know the mobster won’t kill a kid, especially a girl. Y’know his bro code n’all.” Mamo said.

“Mamo’s got a pont.” Baba pondered.

“I could keep her as my pet, she does look like my koro.” Ota grinned.

Everyone looked at the artist before letting out a snort. Bar Mr. Ichinomiya of course, who almost certainly could be a robot.

“Yeah right, brat. I think she’s more likely t’make you her pet.”

Baba nodded at Mamo’s statement.

“She will not be a problem.” Mr. Oh said as he re-entered the conversation, his phone still clutched in his grasp perhaps a little tighter than before.

“And if she is?” Mr. Ichinomiya questioned.

There was a long pause.

Mr. Oh was a man of his word. He would not harm the innocent, especially a woman. And especially a woman that his young right-hand man was infatuated with.

“She won’t.” Mr. Oh said again.

This time with more conviction. He would not allow her to come to any harm and that involved keeping her out of the penthouse antics. One of the reasons he told Inui to give Rose a penthouse key-card was purely so they could keep an eye on her when she was in Tres Spades for her own safety as well as everyone else’s.

While she was quite subdued and laid back, there was a fire in her that could erupt if someone so much as looked at her the wrong way. She wasn’t quite a haywire but she wasn’t entirely predictable. And that could draw negative attention towards the hotel and its secrets.

And if that happened, Mr Ichinomiya would hold her accountable and send her to a watery grave. And Mr. Oh wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop that from happening.

That conversation ended.

Mr. Ichinomiya clearly putting his trust in the mobster that Rose wouldn’t cause any problems.

“The shipment has arrived in the basement. I’ll go and check inventory.”

Mr. Oh said a while after.

After his departure, Mr Ichinomiya went to his office without saying a word.

Ota and Baba were talking casually on the sofa they were sat on. Well, I say talking casually - Baba was eccentrically talking about something and Ota was rolling his eyes and groaning at him and frequently telling him to ‘shut up’. And Mamo was slumped in the chair he was sat in with his eyes closed.

It wasn’t long until that quiet was disrupted.

The doors flew open and a panting Inui was stood slumped over in the doorway.

“A…hah…Akane? I’m…I’m sorry I’m late.”

His head was bowed in front of him as he was trying to catch his breath so he couldn’t see who was in the penthouse.

“Sorry puppy, but your master left.”

A bitter Kisaki said somewhat bitterly although trying his best not to be.

Inui’s head bolted up and he looked around the room as if to confirm what the artist had told him. He then looked to Baba – who gave him a little nod of his head.

His whole body visibly slumped.

“Ain’t got no-one t’blame but yaself puppy. The kid waited and put up with these shit-twits for ten minutes. Lasted longer than most.” Mamo said, searching his pockets for his cigarettes.

Inui’s eyes widened.

He felt guilty, incredibly guilty. He asked for her to meet him here and she had to endure these tyrants of teasing because he’d spent far too long arguing with Samejima about whether it was quicker to go through downtown back to Tres Spades.

“But I promised I’d take her.”

He said to himself, his body managing to succumb to the guilt and slump even further.

“Couldn’t ya still get there in time if ya ran?” Mamo asked, a stream of smoke following out past his lips.

“I don’t know where the exhibit is.” Inui sighed.

“Ota probably does, don’t you Ota?” Baba said reassuringly as he turned to the young man next to him.

He still look grumpy mind, until a little glint sparked in his eyes and he smiled his signature angelic smile towards Inui.

“I do,” He said, leaning forward in his seat a little. “But I’m not sure if I should tell you.”

“What? Why not?” Inui pried.

Naïve as always to the plots to tease the poor boy and his innocence, Inui was confused at best.

“Well,” Kisaki started, returning to his previous lounging position now he had Inui’s attention. “You know what the exhibit it about right?”

He asked, although he knew full well that Inui would have no idea.

“Um, no.” A dejected Inui replied.

Kisaki had to bite back his sadistic smile, but thankfully for him he had trained himself to do it and to do it well. He sent a side glance to Baba, who looked at him with as much interest as Inui.

Although, he was aware that the young artist was up to something mischievous and the childish side of him wanted in too.

“I’ll give you a little insight into Aya Takano. She’s became a single mother at the young age of 22. The father of her child left her when he found out she was pregnant. The exhibit is about her struggles as a single mother.”

“That’s awful, that poor woman.”

Inui stepped into the penthouse his face contorting from disgust at Aya Takano’s ex-lover to confusion to what that had to do with why he shouldn’t tell him where the exhibit is.

“Don’t worry too much about her, her exhibit is doing extremely well. She is earning good money and she is now married and her husband has legally adopted her child.”

Kisaki said, waving off Inui’s concerns.

“What you should be focused on, is why your little girlfriend chose to go to see her exhibit.”

Inui cocked his head and stared at Kisaki like a confused puppy. Which he was.

“What? Isn’t it because she likes her art?” he replied.

Kisaki sat there an almost smirk on his face, spelling out this little lie was going to be so much fun for the sadist.

“Perhaps she does, but you need to read between the lines,” He paused. “Oh wait, puppies can’t read. I guess I’ll have to explain.”

The room was silent, each man waiting with anticipation for Kisaki to elaborate.

Meanwhile, Rose had just managed to finish looking round the exhibit and slide in to the room where the Q&A was being held.

She loitered at the back of the room, the seats were all filled bar the odd couple but trying to get to them was more effort than Rose wanted to deal with at this current moment in time.

She’d glanced at her phone a couple of times while she was there, each time a little disheartened when she didn’t see a missed call or text from her boyfriend.

She’d managed to avoid going to the darkest corner of her mind and assuming something bad had happened to him – although it was hard to stay clear of given his choice in career.

Thankfully Aya Takano’s art exhibit was more interesting than Rose could have hoped for.

The way she portrayed the pain of losing the man she loved and gaining a child whom she had to be strong for was incredibly beautiful. Each intricately designed piece made a mixture of emotions creep up into Rose she didn’t know she could feel.

She leant against the wall as a man addressed the audience.

“Welcome everyone, thank you for attending. We would ask that you are respectful with your questions and refrain for asking anything that isn’t related to the pieces of art that are displayed in this exhibit, Thank you.”

A moment later Aya Takano took her place at the podium.

She introduced herself, a warm smile on her face. Happy to see that her art had touched many people. Whether it be through similar struggles or appreciation for the messages she was trying to convey in them.

After some standard questions a microphone was passed down the row of chairs to a man Rose recognised even from the back of his head.

“Does your daughter understand the meaning behind your work?”

Rose frowned as she waited for Aya Takano to answer.

“She does, she’s a very bright little girl.” She smiled fondly.

“And she knows that her Father abandoned her before she was born?”

There was silence.

Aya Takano looked physically uncomfortable and she wasn’t quite sure on how to respond. While she would have to address these kind of questions given the symbolism and titles of her work and the openness about being a single mother, that didn’t give anyone the right to put her on the spot like that.

She waved to the woman closest to her who had another microphone, who quickly tottered over to Rose while glancing at the woman in the spotlight with a concerned look.

“She didn’t abandon her. Aya played both roles herself.”

Rose said, aware of how powerful her voice sounded through the speakers.

The man who asked such a heartless questioned looked around the room searching for the voice he obviously recognised.

She stared right at him, her expression telling him exactly unpleased she was with such a disrespectful question even if it was for his job.

Minato’s eyes widened slightly before he turned back to the stage where Aya Takano continued on from what Rose had to say.

“The young lady is right. I struggled more than she did with the fact her Father did abandon her, for her it was normal to just have me. She didn’t need a male figure to represent her Father because I did both,” She regained composure. “And if there are any more questions about this matter I will end the Q&A here.”

She stood taller, her face no longer smiling.

And Rose, while being a complete stranger to her felt proud.

After that, the questions were about her upcoming ventures and the rumour of her painting a royal portrait for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – which she neither denied nor confirmed.

When it came to an end, Rose slipped out as the scuffle of feet and chairs drowned out behind her.

“Rose, wait!”

Came a voice from behind her as she pulled the door to leave the building.

She stopped although she wasn’t entirely sure why. Except for wanting to karate chop him in the throat for asking such a tasteless question.

Rose turned to look over her shoulder, glaring from the corner of her eye when he managed to manoeuvre through a small group of people towards her.

“Can I help you, asshole?”

Rose responded although she walked through the door she opened. If she was going to hit him it wasn’t going to be in a place that had cameras – a nice little tip Miho gave her.

“I know asking that question made me look like a complete asshole. But I don’t even write the art column. You think I have any idea about art? This is Yuasa’s article, he’s sick at the moment so I had to fill in for him before we send the copy to press tomorrow. Look,” Minato showed Rose a piece of paper that had a list of questions on it and sure enough that question was written there. “See?”

Rose sighed.

“Fine, but you could have skipped that one. It was unfair.”

Minato rubbed the back of his neck – a sign Rose had realised meant that he realised he was in the wrong but didn’t want to apologise because he was Minato.

Rose checked her phone, still no call or text.

This only made her even grumpier.

“Hey, I know you’re probably pissed at me but it says here I need to interview a patron of the exhibit and ask their opinion. Can I get yours?”

He points at the paper and shoved it under Rose’s nose as she stared angrily at her phone.

She glowered up at him.

“There’s a bar round the corner. I’ll take you there, buy you a drink while you answer a few questions, deal?”

While Rose wanted nothing more than to go home right now, she also knew Minato was in a bind. He didn’t have long to write up an article before they sent it to print.

“Make it two and you’ve got a deal.”

Minato gave her his signature wolfish grin, one that once made her body little in goosebumps but now it made her miss her puppies smile.

“It’s him!” Inui exclaimed only to have his mouth covered by two sets of hands.

“If you bark like that you’ll give our cover away!” Kisaki hissed into Inui’s ear.

“Who is he?” Baba asked, casually walking out from their cover position when he was sure Rose and the man accompanying her weren’t aware of their presence.

“I don’t know his name, I’ve just seen him leave Akane’s place before and at some party.”

Ota walked up to Baba.

“This is too easy.” He whispered with an inane grin on his face.

“You realise she will slaughter you. And me too for that matter.” He replied but also shared the same grin as his friend.

“You agreed to come along old man,” He turned to Inui who was still stood behind the side of the building in cover. “Don’t you want to follow them?”

Inui bit his lip as he slowly stood up from his crouched position.

He trusted Akane, whole heartedly but ‘What If’ Ota was right?

Carefully they kept a safe distance and followed along.

After opening the door for Rose, Minato lead the way towards a little booth in the corner.

“I’ll get the drinks, you sit here. Whiskey right?”

“Na, just a lemonade please.”

While she had agreed only to answer his questions over a couple of drinks she wasn’t really feeling alcohol right now. She was still worried about Ryosuke. He’d still not contacted her and that made her hesitant to contact him. She needed her wits about her if she needed to rush off and save him.

Without any questions, Minato went to get their drinks.

And a few moments he was back.

He sat opposite Rose and got out his phone and opened the recorder app and set it on the table between them.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you work.”

Rose said.

“Prepare to be amazed.” He said smugly.

And Rose couldn’t help but chuckle. He was still an arrogant ass, although she never expected him to change. It was almost like he couldn’t help it.

He asked her some basic questions – nothing to be wowed by but then again he didn’t write them. Rose gave short answers, after all the questions didn’t really require anything lengthy.

“Is that it?” She asked when he pressed the record button again to stop the recording.

“Yep, told you it was only a few.” He said taking a sip from his beer.

“So you could have done this outside the exhibit?”

She arched an eyebrow.

“I guess.” He shrugged. “Also wanted to know how you were doing. Haven’t seen you since the Seasonelle party.”

So that was the real reason he asked her to come here.

“I’m fine,” she replied. “what about you?”

There was almost a coy smile before he spoke.

“I’m good, I met someone. Well, she kind of moved into my place as my step-sister and annoyed the shit out of me, then she started working at seasonelle and I couldn’t get rid of her we were basically dating anyway, so we just made it official.” He chuckled.  

Rose smiled.

The look on his face as he traced the rim of his beer glass was adorable even if his words weren’t complimentary of his new partner, there was a fondness in his voice. It was a side to him she hadn’t seen before.

“And she actually wants to date an asshole like you? That girl needs her head examined.”

Rose smirked as he looked up at her.

“Probably,” He smirked back. “She gives me a run for my money. Actually, I think you’d really like her. She’s a smartmouth pommy just like you.”

He grinned and Rose gripped her lemonade tighter at the mere mention of the petname he used to call her.

It wasn’t that it upset her, it was more that it was kind of inappropriate since he had a new ‘pommy’. And Rose had a puppy of her own. But at the same time, the way he said it was completely different so she didn’t address it.

“What? You wanna double date or something?”

Rose asked as she sipped her lemonade.

“No way! The thought of you and Mieke joining forces is some scary shit.”

Minato joked.

“Then we are definitely are having a double date. I want to meet this Mieke, she sounds like fun.” Rose smirked over the rim of her glass.

“Not happening.” Minato argued.

“If I have to come to your office and make Shusei convince you, I will.”

Rose said deadpan, spinning the cup in her fingers while staring directly at him.

“Okay, Jeez. Don’t do that, no one at the office knows about us, not yet anyway.”

That sounded about right. There were a lot of rules and regulations about work romances these days. It was never a simple case of lovers meeting at work anymore – no that was too distracting or some bollocks.

“Good, I’ll bring my puppy and you bring yours.”

After that, Rose told Minato to check plans with Mieke and then to send her a day and a time. For someone who once hated social interaction on a major scale, Rose was actually excited.

Hiding in a corner booth over the other side of the restaurant, Inui, Baba and Ota watched Minato and Rose with an interested eye.

“They get along quite well, don’t they?” Baba asked, before a pretty little brunette walked past him and caught his eye distracting him for a moment. “Isn’t he the one that wrote the article about MJS? Is that how they met?”

Inui looked to Baba before he looked back to Rose.

“I guess so, Akane did say they met through work.”

His heart was aching, he wanted to rush over there and drag her away and demand she never see him again.

But, something stopped him.

If Ota was right, he knew that he couldn’t do that. He had no right.

“She looks miserable though, don’t you think?” Ota chirped from his seat next to Inui. “Perhaps he’s listing off reasons that he can’t be around anymore sipping on his beer without a care in the world while she has to stick to soft drinks.”

Inui’s brow creased.

“But how could he do that? He’s not allowed to do that!” He yelled, only to have his mouth covered once more and his head pushed down as patrons of the bar looked towards them.

“Keep your damn voice down, if I have to I will muzzle you.” Ota growled.

“At least the puppy wants to defend his mistress’s honour. Very heroic.” Baba commended.

They kept quiet as they saw Minato and Rose rise from their seats and head towards the exit and carefully watched from the window as Minato lead Rose to a car down the street and drove her away.

A second later Inui’s phone beeped.

‘It’s getting late, so I’m heading home. I was hoping we could get dinner but I guess you’re still working. Feel free to swing by when you’re done. Hope you haven’t lost the FOB for my building. Be safe.’

Inui’s heart hurt and his head was split in two.

But he knew what he had to do.

Rose fiddled with her phone as she lay on her futon.

As soon as she got to her place, Minato practically pushed her out the car after checking his own phone - saying Mieke had ordered Pizza and put on the soccer and waffling on about ‘she was the woman of his dreams’.

She was happy for him somewhere inside herself.

But right now she couldn’t be happy for anyone. The thoughts of all the possible reasons as to why Ryosuke hadn’t responded to her were swimming around her brain to the point she’d forgotten she hadn’t eaten since the evening before.

Her stomach looked bloated from the lack of fibre and she pulled up her vest top and prodded and poked at her protruding tummy as if to deflate it.

“Are you sure you should be doing that so aggressively?!”

Came a shrill voice making Rose’s heart leap out of her chest and bolt up into defensive mode.

“Shit a brick and fuck me with it. Ryo! Oh my god.”

The adrenaline of the surprise he gave her and the relief of seeing him in front of her were at war with each other as she stood unsure on whether to hug him or slap him.

“What?”

He cocked his head, tentatively taking a step towards her.

“You scared me.”

His eyes widened and he rushed over to her.

“I’m so sorry, that won’t be good for either of you. Please sit down.”

‘Either of us?’

Rose thought watching as Ryosuke carefully escorted her back down onto the futon as if she were made of glass. Then he retreated to Rose’s kitchen to fetch a glass of water.

“What are you doing?”

She asked when he tried to make her take a sip of water and she refused.

“Taking care of you,” He placed his hand on her stomach. “Both of you. If he’s not going to, I plan to.”

Rose slapped his hand off her stomach and sat up better so she could look him in the face.

“Explain.” She demanded.

“I, I know. About you and that editor guy.”

Rose stared at him, completely confused.

“I know why you were so interested in that art exhibit. You wanted courage to raise yours and his baby on your own. But I want you to know, you won’t be on your own! I’ll be here every step of the way.”

He pressed a palm to her cheek and ran his thumb along her cheekbone.

“Um…What?”

“Shhh.” He pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay, Akane. Whatever happens I’ll be right here with you. We’ll have our own little family, even if the baby isn’t mine, I’ll raise it as if it is my own.”

She pushed him away.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. What baby?”

He looked at her a little hurt, but placed a hand on her stomach pushing through his own pain knowing she must be hurting more.

“This baby.”

Rose raised an eyebrow.

“Are you calling me fat?”

“What?! No!” He responded.

“Well it sounds like it because I’m not pregnant.”

There was silence for a moment.

“Y-You-You’re not?”

Inui despite being taller and bulkier than Rose seemed to shrink.

“No.”

Ryosuke was a mixture of feelings and Rose watched on in confusion. How on earth could someone so innocent come up with something so complicated?

“What on earth made you think I was pregnant?”

She asked when he remained quiet.

“I um, Well. Mr. Kisaki told me what the art exhibit was about and he said I needed to read between the lines of why someone so young would be interested in something like that and why you didn’t wait for me to see the exhibit. And he, I and Mr. Baba went to the exhibit and saw you arguing with the Editor guy and then you went to a bar but you were only drinking soft drinks and he was all smiley and happy and you were pouty and grumpy.”

Rose’s fist clenched as soon as Kisaki was mentioned and then her teeth began to gnaw together when Baba made an appearance.

“I was so angry. I wanted to go and give him a piece of my mind, but he was the father of the baby and I didn’t think I had any right to intervene.”

Rose sighed.

She wanted to be mad, I mean he listened to those fuck-wits before talking to her but she knew how easily he could be manipulated. Especially by the likes of Kisaki and Baba and especially when all those little ‘signs’ lined up and could make legitimate reasoning.

“I was ‘pouty and grumpy’ because you hadn’t let me know you were okay. I’m guessing Mr. Oh wasn’t in the penthouse when you got there or none of this would have happened.”

Ryosuke looked at Rose and cocked his head before he shook his head no.

Boy, he makes it really hard to be mad at him. But Rose managed to bite back a smile.

“What about the chimney?”

She asked.

“Chimney?” Ryosuke furrowed his brow before he realised who Rose was talking about. “Oh, you mean Mr. Kishi. Yeah he was there.”

“And he didn’t tell you that I left a message with Mr. Oh for you?”

Rose was growing increasingly irritated by the men that resided in the penthouse of Tres Spades, if that was even possible.

“No, all he said was ‘The kid is gonna kill ya’. But I assumed that was because they told your secret.” Inui shook his head, clearly baffled by how they managed to fool him.

“He’s included on my hit list.”

Rose had begun plotting each of their demise in her head. The anger bubbling inside her was only dulled by the cuteness on how Ryosuke responded to the situation.

She looked to Ryosuke when he went silent again.

“Hey, if it makes you feel better, I’m really happy that you were willing to be here for me despite this hypothetical baby not being yours.”

He gave her a shy smile as he glanced up at her.

“Really. When we start our own family, you’re going to make the greatest dad.”

He looked up at her, almost gawking.

“Our family?”

He asked, a whole movie playing behind his eyes.

“Mm,” Rose smiled fondly at him as he stared past her and into the future. “they’ll have my sass with your innocent face. The world won’t stand a chance with our little one.”

Rose chuckled imagining the cute little demon they’d create.

Ryosuke joined Rose’s chuckle before he wrapped himself around her and pushed her down onto the futon with a bit of force.  Their first practise of many baby making sessions with protection of course. While they both very much wanted a family one day now was definitely not the time.

“Hey, sorry to call you so late, Jazz” Rose paused to check Ryosuke was still in the shower before continuing. “Yeah, I’m good but I have a question. I need some help in plotting dishes of revenge.”

“Ohhh, sounds interesting. Who are we castrating?”

Rose grinned, even if Jazz didn’t want to get involved physically she could provide Rose with some good ideas, after all Jazz’s bestfriend was Miho – she would definitely learnt some things from her over the years.

“Ota Kisaki, Baba and Mamoru Kishi.”

[whatdoyouexpectthistime]

This tumblr is dead

I will work on adding various titles to the wordpress; if there are any titles you want me to readd to the wordpress, let me know - I’ll list the titles below.

Astoria: Fate’s Kiss

Astoria in Chaos - ongoing Sparks - completed three part series

KBTBB x HLITF x MPD:CTY

Choosing Sides - completed 27 part series

HLITF

Her Love In The Zombie Apocalypse - completed oneshot with audio narration

Various

MJS - Marriage Matchmaking Services - completed MANY part series collaboration with @hifftn and others.

Star Crossed Myth

Heaven Hath No Fury - completed multi-part series

Irresistible Mistakes

Shun smut

MPD

Kirisawa Smut

CRACK

Tres Spades First Annual Jello Tournament - completed multi-part series Katsuragi crack smut - completed oneshot

AUDIO

12 Days of Voltage Christmas Tumblr ‘Winter Wonderland’

Anything missing, or desired, hit me up at mihoandjazz.com

and or (we’ll see for how long since tumblr is a bitch) https://mihoandjazz.tumblr.com/ < REFOLLOW

<3 B

[sissearchkittpu-blog]

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[omcik-blog]

New Post has been published on OmCik

New Post has been published on http://omcik.com/interview-sabine-vanderlinden-making-the-insurtech-weather/

Interview: Sabine VanderLinden - making the insurtech weather

Startupbootcamp InsurTech managing director Sabine VanderLinden reveals the key to insurance innovation

In the shadow of Tower Bridge stands Rainmaking Loft. It is an appropriately named place for Sabine VanderLinden, managing director of Startupbootcamp InsurTech (SBC), to call work. She is charged with making the weather in UK insurtech: spotting and developing the trends and the talent that will revolutionise the insurance industry.

Based on the programme’s track record in its first 18 months, this Frenchwoman is succeeding – and with characteristic gallic flair. Embedded within her cohort of 11 insurance start-ups, VanderLinden coolly switches between clinical intensity and playful gesticulation, as if pitching to a potential VC, or participating in one of SBC’s wine-tasting socials.

“The question is: how can insurers become more relevant?” she exclaims. “People have 1.4 interactions with their insurer per year. They need to look at the whole equation differently.

“We often talk about millennials, but this is more than millennials. It’s about the simplicity and relevance of interaction, when I need it.”

Entrepreneur in chief

VanderLinden knows a thing or two about building businesses. Having started her career at Lloyd’s, she spent six years with IBM, then headed up market strategy and propositions for SSP. She later joined start-up Erudine as chief customer officer before founding her own innovation consultancy. She was a mentor with SBC before taking the top insurtech job.

We’ve seen thousands of start-ups. We’ve seen what worked and what didn’t. Some of our partners have done great things and have been empowered by their business leadership to make those small incremental changes.

Despite the impressive CV, VanderLinden doesn’t quite fit the typical business leader mould. But that’s precisely the point: the essence of SBC is doing things differently. Imposing yet approachable, she revels in the challenge of creating value; something she describes as ‘matchmaking’ or ‘synthesizing’ start-ups and insurers.

Like most insurtech luminaries, she emphasises collaboration as the market’s key trait.

“You will always find 80/20: 20% of startups are going to be disruptive. They are more likely to come from the US, where investment is easier to find.”

Insurtechs can help insurers improve customer engagement, transform their value chain digitally, or grow revenues with new products.

“The pattern is moving from product to service and software-based offerings,” she continues.

“This is when start-ups become interesting because they often come with sophisticated digital capabilities, able to help mature incumbents dabble.”

True innovation

VanderLinden is quick to point out what true innovation looks like – at least in financial terms.

“$680bn has been put into R&D investment for innovation by the top 1,000 companies. You have the usual suspects: Google, Apple and Tesla. 3M put 6% of their revenue into innovation. That’s $1.7bn.”

Total insurtech investment in 2016 was the same figure. It takes enormous sums to buy innovation outright; a better option for insurers is to sponsor it outside the corporate confines.

What is the position of the insurer of the future? Are we co-branding or white labelling? Or are we just becoming an underwriter or capital provider? These are questions insurers sometimes don’t want to hear. 

“Insurers don’t need to start doing things from within, or reinvent the wheel,” says VanderLinden. “With start-ups you can deliver amazing value and transformational outcomes.”

Incumbents have realised they can no longer hide.

“They need to at least observe. In any maturity curve you’re going to have to cross the chasm. You’re going to have the early adopters and fast followers.”

There is a second stage to the process which could prove transformational.

“[Start-ups can] help with cultural and mindset change – if corporates can learn to be more like them. Instead of doing massive projects, start with small bets, iterate, then move on. You’ll drive far more change.

“We’ve seen thousands of start-ups. We’ve seen what worked and what didn’t. Some of our partners have done great things and have been empowered by their business leadership to make those small incremental changes.”

Operational philosophy aside, there is an urgent business reason to innovate. “Insurers need to look closer to home to try and increase their top line because their core businesses are not making money.”

It is here that the nature of the perceived threat becomes most explicit.

“1% of companies in banking and insurance effectively go bankrupt each year – and it’s because they’re not responding to market needs.

“Maybe the relationship you have with the customer may not start with the insurance product,” she says. “The future might be – and we’re not talking two or three years – a more complete offering which starts where someone has a need, or makes a purchase and the insurance is wrapped around it.

“What is the position of the insurer of the future? Are we co-branding or white labelling? Or are we just becoming an underwriter or capital provider? These are questions insurers sometimes don’t want to hear. ”

SBC connects its 26 partners with their start-up network across the globe. Already active in 13 countries, insurtech is the most partner-engaged of all SBC programmes. It spent around 10,000 hours supporting the latest cohort, and its alumni have already raised over $100m.

“We want to do more,” VanderLinden says. “Growth opportunities for us may not be here,” she adds, eyes mischievously sparkling, “but in other markets. We looked at start-ups from 60 countries in 2016; we want to do 100 this year.”

How, in such a rapidly evolving landscape, and on the receiving end of hundreds of emails every day, does she stay focused?

“Ask my team whether they think I’m focused. I enjoy what I’m doing. I love meeting interesting people, seeing interesting business models and concepts. I feel privileged to work with our partners — some of them are here today,” she says, motioning toward the glass.

“But at the end of the day you have to trust your team. Without them I probably couldn’t sleep.”

We often talk about millennials, but this is more than millennials. It’s about the simplicity and relevance of interaction, when I need it.

She gets by on five hours during the week, and 10 on the weekends. Is there at least an opportunity between classes to take a breather? Hardly. As one startup graduates, scouting begins for the next.

“Match-making between those two worlds keeps the adrenalin going,” VanderLinden concludes, before breaking out into laughter. “When the bootcamp is finished, we all crash and go on holiday for two weeks.”

It seems unlikely, however, she’ll need more than a couple of days.

Sabine VanderLinden will be appearing at Insurance Times’ Innovation & Disruption 2017 on May 23rd. To buy your tickets, click here. 

The latest SBC cohort demo day took place last month. Click here to learn more about some of the cohort. 

Startupbootcamp InsurTech partners. Click here to enlarge

    What is Startupbootcamp?

Founded in 2010, Startupbootcamp is a global accelerator network with 18 programmes in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, London, Miami, Mumbai, New York, Rome, and Singapore.

It has a 3,000+ strong mentor and alumni network spread across over 30 countries. It runs general (horizontal) and industry specific (vertical) programmes. Verticals focus on innovations in e-commerce, FinTech, InsurTech, Smart City and Living, the Internet of Things and Data Tech. The latest venture, SBC Cape Town, is a horizontal program, and will include insurtech as an area of focus.

  SBC InsurTech launched in London in 2015. It focuses on ‘disruptive and collaborative insurance innovation’, running an intensive three-month programme that provides startups with mentorship and training via extensive network of insurers, angel investors, VCs and other resources. 

  Each SBC program runs for three years. At the end of the three years SBC decides to run another program in the same location or move the vertical elsewhere. 

  Participants receive support in a range of areas including business modeling, product development, pitching and marketing. They also receive €15,000 to cover expenses, $450,000 in value in exclusive deals from corporate partners, plus ongoing support after their course has completed. 

  More than 350 startups have been accelerated by Startupbootcamp. They have raised over €150 million and achieve a combined valuation of more than ���500 million. 80% of these startups are still active.

  SBC InsurTech programme sponsors include Admiral, Allianz, ERGO, Exponential Ventures, HDI, Intesa Sanpaolo, Lloyds Banking Group, LV=, Metropolitan, MJ Hudson, MMI Holdings, Momentum, Munich Re, Old Mutual Emerging Markets, PwC, Route66 Ventures, Scottish Widows, Swiss Re, Talanx, Tryg, UnipolSai, XL Catlin, and Zurich.

[smutmylifeup]

Out Of The Office Drama - Ride Him Until She Get’s Friction Burns.

@smile-smile-ichthys @hifftn @whatdoyouexpectthistime

“Ryo, what is going on?”

Rose asked jogging to keep up with the pace Ryosuke was walking or should we put it - stomping.

Her hand was still clasped tightly in his and Rose was reluctant to snatch it away despite being utterly confused with what was going on and a little frustrated at being dragged around like a rag doll.

This was the first time she had held his hand since they were kids or the first time she was fully aware they were holding hands. They were so much bigger than hers now. He really wasn’t a little boy anymore and she wasn’t a little girl either.

Her fully realised feelings for him made her heart thud against her chest. She had no idea what was going on but she loved the way her hand seemed to fit naturally into his.

Ironic really as it was the other way around when they were kids.

He’d dragged her out of the Shiki publishing building and they were now on the streets outside. It was dark but the city lights lead the way. It was a little chillier than when she’d first left to attend the Seasonelle party, good thing this isn’t a voltage game or she’ll definitely end up with a fever tomorrow.

Ryosuke hadn’t said a word since they left. Which was so unlike him, it was always a challenge to get him to shut up.

Something wasn’t right.

Rose dug in her heels – thankfully she wasn’t actually wearing heels or that would have been disastrous, and used all her strength to bring Ryosuke to a halt.

Luckily it worked and he turned to look at her.

She stood slightly shivering, her brow furrowed as she stared at the ground before lifting her gaze.

“Are you cold?”

He asked but he didn’t let her answer, he’d already let go of her hand and removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders and making sure there was no bare skin on show before he looked away.

“Thank you.”

It was like a mouse whispered in the wind. Rose’s voice was somewhat shy at his act of kindness and how he knew that she was cold before she’d really registered it herself. She’d lost all train of thought enveloped in his smell and his warmth that was still clinging to his jacket.

He took her hand again, this time softer and continued to walk but next to her rather than in front of her and at a pace that didn’t make her feet ache as they made contact with the pavement.

Nothing was said for quite some time.

Conks were turning in her head at the slowest pace ever. She couldn’t understand what had just happened. Miho showing up in a catwoman suit with Ryosuke?

‘You’re welcome.’

Why had Miho said that?

She wasn’t stupid enough to not figure out that this was some plan her boss had concocted.

Why else would she wear a superhero suit out in public?

But what she couldn’t wrap her head around was why Ryosuke was acting this way. He didn’t seem quite as angry anymore, but he also wasn’t himself either. There was a palpable tension in the air that Rose wasn’t a fan of.

With fleeting glances at him, she really wished she could read his mind right now.

Rose eventually recognised the neighbourhood and realised they were walking back to her studio.

“Well, you’re home safe and sound.”

He said looking everywhere but at Rose.

Rose didn’t say anything, just looked from his face to their hands. Their fingers were still laced together and seemingly reluctant to let go. She wasn’t pleased with what he said, it wasn’t any form of an explanation. So she tugged his hand and entered through the doors. Buzzing her key to let her into the building.

Surprisingly, he didn’t resist allowing Rose to pull him until they were into her apartment. She let go of his hand, shrugged off his jacket and placed it over an easel further in the room so he couldn’t grab his jacket and run off without bypassing her, and then turned towards him.

“So, are you going to tell me what that was all about?”

Rose asked, she had all the time in the world for Ryosuke but with some many questions snapping through her head she was starting to get a little impatient especially when he was making no effort to explain himself.

“I, I didn’t like the way that guy was looking at you or touching you. He has no right to do that.”

Ryosuke stated, his voice firm and full of something that resembled anger.

“What guy?”

Rose asked genuinely confused as to what he was talking about.

“That guy! Then one I saw leaving here before, he looked like a wolf ready to pounce on his prey!”

Minato.

Well, considering they WERE fuck buddies and GOOD fuck buddies at that. And he always had the eyes of a wolf looking at her, she wasn’t surprised to hear him say that.

“Why does that matter?”

Rose genuinely didn’t know. She’s never had the feelings of jealousy or possessiveness that Ryosuke was feeling, so she couldn’t quite wrap her head around Ryosuke’s feelings.

Miho would probably smack her across the back of the head if she was here.

“Because!”

He exclaimed but bit his tongue from saying anything else. He was breathing heavily through his nostrils rapidly before he took a few more slow, deep and soothing breaths. Then he closed his eyes for a brief moment.

“I, I love you,” Ryosuke was staring at Rose now, his eyes big and puppy like – full of hope and innocence. “And not just as a childhood friend, more than that. It’s always been more than that. I didn’t want to lose you to that guy, not so soon after finding you again. I’m sorry, I know you were probably having fun and it’s not my place to decide who you want to be with. I know it’s selfish but I want you to be with me and only me. I never want to have to share you, ever.”

Rose gulped and it was the only sound heard after Ryosuke’s confession.

People say you feel butterflies when you’re around the person you like. They didn’t say that your heart felt like a hamster on speed and the butterflies in your stomach felt like they were on steroids.

She was head over heels in love with him.

And that was quite scary.

Although that may be amplified by the whisky in her system too.

But she was definitely in love with him that was certain and even with the fears running through her mind, she was so happy she’d been rendered speechless.

This was all so surreal. This was like the mushy, gushy crap she’d seen in dramas or read in romance novels. She didn’t think that people actually felt like this.

“Please, say something?”

He begged, his voice that was strong during his confession now weak and childlike and Rose felt her heart clench.

“I love you too.”

Was all she could say.

She wanted to say about seventy different things but that one was on the tip of her tongue and the first in the queue to come out of her mouth.

“What?”

His head that had fallen forward slightly, ready for what he thought was going to be rejection, bolted up. His eyes wider than she had ever seen them before.

She couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I love you, you big, soft, idiot,” She walked until she was stood in front of him, his head following hers until he was looking down at her. “I want to be with you too.”

“R-really?”

He looked at her disbelievingly. And Rose wanted to frown that he doubted her, but with all her teasing how was he supposed to take her seriously.

“Really.”

She confirmed, she gripped onto the front of his white shirt and fiddled with a button as her eyes flitted from his face to her fingers. A little shy about her own confession.

It was her first one after all.

In all her life, she honestly didn’t think she’d ever get to say those words to someone. Especially to Ryosuke. But right in this moment she couldn’t imagine saying them to anyone else whole heartedly.  

A stray tear rolled down his cheek and Rose’s hand cradled his jaw in her palm and instinctively swiped it away from existence with her thumb. She cupped his cheek and pulled him down towards her.

“I’m never letting go of you again.”

She whispered just before their lips gently touched for the briefest of seconds.

A sigh left Rose’s lips. That was the most innocent kiss of her life. Normally when she kissed someone it was with the intention of more happening afterwards. However, this was a sacred moment.

Of course she wanted to ride him until she got friction burns.

BUT.

Sex wasn’t the most important thing right now.

Looking into his smiling face was just as damn good as any orgasm, if not even better.

“I like that look on your face.”

He looked relieved, worn out but overwhelmingly happy.

Rose smiled when Ryosuke rested his forehead against hers and wrapped his hands lightly around her waist and pulled her as close to him as he could without having to stop looking into her eyes.

“I like your face in general.”

Suddenly there was a cheesy taste on her tongue.

“Of course, how could you resist this face?”

Rose fluttered her eyelashes and pouted her lips slightly as if she were Marlin Monroe. She was initially just teasing him. Even if they were more than friends now, teasing him was just too much fun to pass up on.

Then an awkward kiss landed on her lips.

Her eyes widened at the forwardness of that one action and then she smiled widely when he began to blush about seventy different shades of red.

“You are so cute.”

Rose pecked his lips again before pulling away from him enough to lead him towards her futon. It was purely innocent on Rose’s behalf but a nervous Ryosuke followed behind her.

She let go and sat down so she was comfortable and waited for him to join her. But he didn’t.

He stood over her, his cheeks ablaze and his eyes looking at everything that wasn’t Rose.

“Ryo, you can sit y’know?”

Rose cocked her head as she watched him.

And then it clicked as to why he was being a little hesitant.

“Hey, I’m not gonna bite,” Not yet anyway, Rose thought but decided not to make him explode right now, “I just want to cuddle with you.”

Ryosuke’s head snapped towards her, his eyes that looked full of uncertainty now looked full of embarrassment.

“I-I’m sorry, I’ve never been in a girls room before other than yours.”

He tentatively sat down next to her. Close but not close enough for cuddling and Rose frowned at his words and the space between them.

“So you should feel comfortable sitting next to me right?” she asked.

“But, it’s different now.”

Rose stared at him, his head slumped forward slightly as he watched his fingers fidget.

“Why?”

She asked but she was pretty sure what he was thinking about.

“Because, girlfriends and boyfriends do more than just cuddling.”

He stuttered out, his voice soft and quiet.

“You haven’t technically asked me to be your girlfriend yet,” Rose teased but quickly wished she hadn’t when he seemed to tense up next to her, “Will you be my boyfriend?”

She changed what she was going to say and decided he’d made the effort to confess to her, so now it was her turn to show him just how serious she was about him too. That even though, she would love to do more than just cuddling with him, that wasn’t something she was going to rush into if he wasn’t ready.

“B-But isn’t it the guy who asks the girl out?”

He turned to her, his eyes wide.

“It doesn’t matter who asks who. Don’t keep me waiting for an answer, it’s not fun to be kept in suspense.”

She pouted when he answered her question with a question. She hadn’t had a boyfriend. She didn’t realise how hard it was to ask someone that question even if there was a confession of love beforehand.

The suspense was killer.

“Of course!”

He nearly shouted and the relief Rose felt was other worldly, despite already knowing his feelings for her.

“Good,” She smiled and took his hand into hers, “and as your girlfriend, I will not pursue more than cuddling unless you’re ready and you want to, got it?”

Rose said staring him directly in the eye and making sure he kept eye contact with her until he nodded his head in understanding.

“So will you cuddle me already?”

She frowned at him and pouted again.

“O-Okay.”

He waited for Rose to get into a comfortable lying position before he hesitantly and tentatively wrapped himself around her.

Initially his touch was barely noticeable, he was touching her that lightly but eventually he settled enough to let his limbs melt into hers.

Rose had her head rested against his chest, listening to his breathing and his heartbeat was so insanely soothing, it made every thought, every doubt, every fear of bad things happening melt away into nothingness.

She could have stayed in this moment for the rest of her life.

“I, I don’t want you to think I don’t want to do more than, um, just cuddling with you.”

Ryosuke said, his voice a little shaky and stuttering. Rose didn’t lift her head, she was sure if she looked at him he wouldn’t be able to say what he wanted to say.

“I’ve, I have never done anything with anyone before.”

Rose felt her heart thud against her chest.

He was so cute.

SO CUTE.

The urge to smooch his adorable face off was hard to resist but she did…barely.

“I don’t want to disappoint you.”

That sentence hung in the air for a moment before Rose pushed herself up to look at him directly under her.

“You, Ryosuke Inui, could not disappoint me,” she poked him in the chest and used the same finger to turn his chin back towards her when he looked away, “I will show or tell you what I do or don’t like.”

She smiled when he blushed and Rose wondered what he was picturing in his head.

“When you’re ready, we’ll take it slow. We’ll learn each other’s likes and dislikes together, okay?”

She waited for him to respond and he nodded and reached a hand to cup her cheek.

His hand was a little sweaty and shaky against her skin and she placed her hand over his in a reassuring way. And he slowly pulled her down towards his face. His eyes closed before Rose’s did and she could see that he was trying really hard to fight his nerves.

A soft kiss was shared.

A promise of the sweetness to come.  

Or was it?

[smutmylifeup]

Out Of The Office Drama: Rose Bangs Seasonelle. Client Profiles: Kaoru Kirishima x Akiyoshi Zaizen.  (MATURE)

MJS: @smile-smile-ichthys @hifftn @whatdoyouexpectthistime

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Rose smoothed down her dress.

That’s right, her dress.

She sighed. Dresses weren’t her thing, while she could admit the simple strappy, long length, black dress looked great on her. She just wasn’t a dress person.

Give her a pair of ripped jeans and a shirt and she would be happy with that. Unfortunately for Rose, the event she was going to required something a little more upscale than that.

Luckily for Rose, her parents being designers, she was often gifted with unreleased or handmade garments specifically made for her on special occasions – such as Christmas and birthdays. So she didn’t have to worry about making the effort to buy such items.

This one, she received earlier on this year as a birthday gift from her Mother. Her Father designed it and her Mother hand sewed it. They were a dream team when it came to this stuff – they worked so well together, like needle and thread.

Rose smiled, her parents were great and she really did appreciate and love them a lot. She’d have to take Ryosuke to see them soon. And hopefully she’ll get to introduce him as her boyfriend – it still sounded weird, but maybe that was perhaps because he wasn’t actually her boyfriend yet, not even close.

Ultimately, Miho and Rose hadn’t come up with a feasible plan to get Ryosuke to ‘bare his fangs’. All of Miho’s ideas where pretty X-rated and would probably kill him. Poor pup.

A little buzz from her phone snapped Rose out of her thoughts. Ah, speak of the devil.

Miho

‘Rooosseeee, I’m going to be a little late. So get the party started for me.’

Chuckling, as if she could actually hear Miho saying the words and fluttering her eyelashes unapologetically at Rose, she replied with a simple ‘Fine.’ She didn’t want to know why she was going to be late – probably something Goto related. They were even more inseparable than they were before, if that was even possible.  

Rose put her phone back in her bag and gave her appearance a once over before she got ready to leave.

This party was going to be a test for Rose, in more ways than one.

Getting out the taxi, Rose sighed. She wished Jazz and H or even Izumi had decided to come – they were invited after all. But she understood since the people hosting the party had only dealt with Rose and Miho.

Rose looked up at the familiar tall building and sighed again. She was here now, may as well get it over with.

“You actually showed up?” A voice said as soon as Rose walked through the door. “I was expecting you to bail.”

Rose turned to see Minato leaned against a pillar a few feet away from her.

He wasn’t wrong, she did want to bail initially. Parties and fancy dos along with dresses were not her thing but Miho had encouraged her to go – well, her actual words were ‘If you don’t go, I’ll fire you.’ So she really didn’t have much choice.

Although with Rose no longer being a test driver, she wasn’t exactly sure what her position at MJS would be or if she even had one. She’d have to ask Miho after her wedding, no use stressing her out about it now.

“Waiting for me like a good Master?”

Rose smiled a little sinisterly at the sudden panic on his face as he realised what it must look like him standing there and Rose showing up at that moment. He quickly composed himself and pushed off the pillar and leisurely walked towards her.

“Don’t get too big for your pommy boots. I just needed some air, that party is too loud.”

Rose linked her arm through Minato’s and ignored him. The gesture completely innocent on her part, she didn’t do it because she wanted to touch him, more because he was something familiar in the unknown. It may have been inconsiderate of Rose to do something so casually and not consider his feelings but she looked up at him and he didn’t look the least bit concerned or affected by it, just simply allowing it. As if he understood.  

It wasn’t as if she was afraid to walk into a party, it was more that while Miho hadn’t arrived she was the sole representative of MJS. And with Rose’s abrasive, blunt and somewhat lacklustre personality, it could negatively affect the others and MJS.

“Sorry, Mr Man of the hour,” Rose rolled her eyes, “Congrats on your article’s success by the way.”

She began to walk as she spoke, walking into the party would bode better with Minato than on her own, he could introduce her rather than she introduce herself. Especially, since as far as she was aware Minato was the only person other than Miho that she’d know at this event.

That wasn’t true and Rose was going to find that out very shortly.

The reason for the event was thanks to Minato’s article on MJS. The magazine had sold so many copies that they had to increase production. Rose remembered on a day of one of their trysts, Minato bringing her a copy of the magazine not long after it hit the shelves.

It was a really good article, tasteful and conveyed how professional and how much dedication everyone at MJS put in to finding each person the perfect match. Minato had a way with words that was quite impressive, he was a smooth talker under that arrogant side to him.

“Thanks, I couldn’t have done it without you,” Minato rubbed the back of his neck a little shyly as they walked through one set of doors. “And Miss Fujiwara.”

Rose nodded, that was true. Although, he should be thanking Miho more so than her. But Miho wasn’t here yet so she would accept it on Miho’s behalf.

The noise of the party started to ring loudly in their ears as they walked further down a corridor. Rose let Minato lead her, her last time at Seasonelle she barely managed to navigate the many different floors and corridors.

Although, they were still on the ground floor, makes for an easy escape – And Rose might just need it.

Words were sparse between Rose and Minato as they stood outside the doors to what Rose assumed was where the party was being held. It was awkward, they didn’t actually talk all that much. They just let their bodies consume each other.  

But it was comfortable that way. There was no reason to get attached when they didn’t know very much about each other. That’s why their fuck buddy relationship worked so well.

And now that it was over, they had to figure out what they were to each other which was the awkward part. Perfect strangers or friends?

It wasn’t like either of them disliked the other, after all – there was a mutual connection there through their lonely hearts and that connection wasn’t just through the insatiable lust to consume and be consumed sexually.

“Are we just gonna stand in front of the doors all night?”

Rose asked as she loosened the already loose hold she had of his bicep. She looked up at Minato and saw his brow was creased and his expression looked like he was having an internal war with himself. Perhaps he too was trying to figure their situation out.

“Showing up and looking like that after breaking off our ‘friends with benefits’ relationship,” Minato paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re really making it hard for me, literally.”

Rose chuckled.

There was no malice in his words, no underlying anger or upset with Rose and her decision just sexual frustration.

“Did you want me to show up in jeans and a t-shirt?”

Rose nudged his arm intending to make a joke of the situation.

“Wouldn’t have made a difference, I know what you look like underneath them,” Minato shrugged and looked down at Rose. “Although, I’m not sure I’m looking forward to every guy in that room creeping on you, so maybe jeans and t-shirt would have been better.”

“You’re being incredibly honest today.”

Minato shrugged.

“Shall we?”

Minato gestured as he placed his hand on the door, ready to push it open. Rose nodded back letting go of his arm and smoothing down her dress, she needed to get this over with so she could go back to figuring her love life out.

Lucky for Rose, when Minato pushed the door open, the atmosphere wasn’t as formal as she was expecting. This wasn’t a grand entrance and people weren’t staring or whispering as she stepped over the threshold and into what she thought was going to be hell.

Rose let out the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding and she scanned the room, searching mostly for Miho hoping that she was already here although she knew she wouldn’t be.

There were groups of people casually drinking and laughing and enjoying the success of their top dog editor. It was funny really, out of everyone that should be happy, the man of the hour looked like he was pouting.

“Minato, there you are!”

An all too familiar voice came from the right of them.

“Where have you been hiding? This is your party.”

The voice grew louder as he approached and Rose had almost forgotten that Minato and Shusei were from the same magazine.

“Went out for fresh air and bumped into this one.”

Minato had turned towards Shusei and motioned with his head backwards to Rose who was shielded from view by Minato’s broad upper body. Rose took that as her cue to step from behind Minato and into view.

“Hey.”

Rose said, her smile pleased to see him but wishing it was in a different environment.

“Rose! Minato said he didn’t think you were coming.”

Shusei stepped forward, bypassing Minato’s protective stance and ignoring the glare from his best friend. He bowed at Rose and she stared blankly back at him. Formal greetings like this were another of Rose’s least favourite things. Especially after being around three women who weren’t originally from Japan and didn’t use such greetings with people they were friends with or familiarly acquainted with.

“Don’t do that,” Rose said, touching his arm lightly. “I didn’t know if I was either, but Miho said I had to come.”

“Of course you did.”

Minato said, throwing his 2 cents into the conversation rather than watching idly.

“Minato’s right. Without you and Miss Fujiwara, the top dog wouldn’t have been able to write his article and the big bosses wouldn’t have thrown this party for us.”

Shusei smiled, that same beautiful boyish smile with a hint of mischievousness she remembered from about a month or so ago. Rose smiled back, she was happy to learn that after he picked one of the matches Miho and Rose had chosen for him, they began dating almost a week or so later.

“Did you get the flowers I sent you?”

Rose nodded, she remembered when they arrived at MJS. She had never seen such a large arrangement of flowers. All roses. Mostly red but there were a few white ones, it was beautiful and before reading the card attached to them, she somehow knew they were from Shusei.

“They were beautiful. I think that was the first time I’d received flowers.” Rose smiled.

Shusei had leaned in to have this private conversation, although the music and chatter of other guests probably masked their conversation very easily. But with a quick glance over Shusei’s shoulder at Minato, she could see that the closeness of them both pissed him off.  

“Shusei.”

A monotone voice came from behind Rose. She looked up to the sky scraper of a guy behind her and her heart nearly fell out her ass.

“Ah, Kaoru. Don’t worry, I found Minato.”

Out of every god damn crazy fucking coincidence in the world.

Rose was pretty short stood amongst these three men but she now wished she was even shorter or better yet, she wished she was invisible.

Noticing her gaze Kaoru looked down.

“Rose?”

“Hi.”

Rose said, her voice coming out as shocked as she looked.

“How do you know each other?”

Minato’s voice boomed through the awkward atmosphere.

But that was a question neither of them could answer without lawyers becoming involved.

-FLASHBACK-

Rose sat in the restaurant verified as a ‘safe place’ by Takao and H. Her client was sat opposite her, his face stoic but expressionless at the same time.

He read over the menu, aware but not phased by Rose’s gaze as if he was completely used to the attention of eyes on him.

His face was handsome and his eyes intense as he read over each meal option. Messy black locks, that looked untouched as if he’d just woken up, framed his chiselled bone structure. His upper body, even though he was sat down, still towered over Rose’s. He could certainly be a model if he wanted to be.

Yet, he was a journalist – that seemed to not to like to talk. Rose had a little chuckle in her head of the irony of a not so talkative journalist.

Which in reality didn’t bode well for the observer – who also wasn’t an extraordinary conversationalist. But this was work and she needed to know more about him in order to find his perfect match. And that required talking.

But first, the waitress arrived to take their orders.

Rose hadn’t even looked at the menu once, she was too buy gawking at her client. So she ordered the same as him – it sounded good enough. And all she really needed was something to fill the gas tank. It’s not like she enjoyed food all that much, unless it was with Ryosuke.

Rose shook her head, now was not the time to think about her childhood friend.

She was working.

“You okay?”

Rose’s head snapped up to the looming presence opposite her.

Staring at his expressionless face made Rose’s heart thud against her chest once. He was handsome while he was staring at his menu, he was even more handsome when he was directing his attention directly at her.

She wondered briefly why so many handsome men come to MJS. They clearly would have no problem finding a girlfriend.

“Yeah, sorry,” Rose said ignoring her own thoughts. “So Mr Kirishima, a journalist huh? That must be interesting?”

“Mm, it can be.”

And that was all the response Rose got. Well, getting him to open up will be pretty hard.

He didn’t seem uninterested or disappointed in her being his partner for the date scenario. More like he was just a quiet and reserved person. And Rose could respect that since she was similar in many ways. But that respect was only to a degree, she had a job to do after all.

“You can call me Kaoru.”

Rose was a little shocked as he shifted his gaze a little bashfully.

“You can call me Rose.”

She said back, looking directly at him and smiling as sweet as was possible for her.

“Rose.”

He repeated, an almost smile playing on his own lips.

After the awkward second introductions were made, things seemed to drastically change. The atmosphere wasn’t nearly as intense – more relaxed even with the silence.

“What are you looking for in a future bride?”

Rose asked, she toyed with the idea of getting her notebook out but that seemed too formal for a date. She could make mental notes for now.

“Likes cats.”

Kaoru said after a brief moment of him furrow browed and thinking hard.

Rose did a little squeal in her head – all animals were great but cats and dogs for Rose were like her kryptonite.

“Do you have a cat?”

Rose asked – definitely for the profile and not for her own sake…

“Yeah, her name is Tama.”

Kaoru smiled fondly as if she was in front of him right now and Rose’s hand that was fiddling with the edge of the napkin twitched slightly. His smile was unexpected but so beautiful.  

“Do you have a picture? If you don’t mind showing me of course.”

Rose asked, a little more eagerly than she had intended and it showed as Kaoru let out a dry chuckle as he reached for his phone in his pocket.  

He said nothing but complied with Rose’s request and it took him less than second to pass his phone over the table to her.

Rose’s hand damn near snatched the device out of his hand before he’d even reached it to her. She gave a small smile as an apology but quickly turned her attention to the screen.

A fluffy little grey tabby curled up in what looked like Kaoru’s lap – Rose hadn’t had a chance to look at that area yet but she assumed. She looked soft and sweet and totally comfortable being around him.

“You can tell how much she loves and trusts you even though she’s sleeping. She’s so cute.”

Rose smiled, her heart warm but also a little envious. Her parents never allowed her to have a pet. Before they moved away, they couldn’t afford one and always joked that Ryosuke was her pet anyway. And when they could – they didn’t think Rose was capable of looking after something when she was still so young. Eventually Rose just gave up on the idea all together.

She could get one now. But was that really fair when she was working and studying all the time? No, it wasn’t. Maybe after her degree.

“Do you have any pets?”

“No.”

Rose shook her head, mostly to get rid of the slight tinge of green lacing her bloodstream and passed his phone back over to him.

“I’m too busy and won’t be able to take proper care of one.”

Kaoru looked at Rose for a long moment. It was like he was looking at her for the first time. And Rose stared back, unable to look away from his hypnotising gaze.

“Are there any other qualities you’d like her to have?”

“Who, Tama?”

“Tama?”

Rose cocked her head before realising that he thought they were still talking about his cat.

“Oh, no I meant your future bride.”

He looked down again, his brow furrowing once more.

Rose rested her head on her hand as she watched him think. Perhaps he hadn’t actually thought that much about his future bride. He was only twenty-six after all, there was still plenty of time for him to figure out what he wanted.

The food came an interrupted both of their train of thoughts.

Dinner was quiet.

Rose ate whatever it was on her plate. Not really noticing the taste – like she expected, it tasted of nothing. Kaoru ate too, sitting tall and stoic.

Dinner really was quiet.

But somehow it was comfortably quiet, not intense or awkward, just quiet. The last question Rose had asked hadn’t been answered but she almost didn’t want him to. She could see the pain in his eyes each time he lost himself in thought. She didn’t want him to hurt.

She was not the person who could take that pain away. Maybe she could find someone to heal him though.

A broken heart needed patience and understanding. Rose knew that and she hadn’t even had her heart broken. Although she often wondered if she had a heart anymore. But she remembered to write it down in her report.

After dinner, they went up to the hotel room – Rose wondered if Miho had anything to do with this rule rather than H and Takao. Save money on expenses like travel and such. She wasn’t a cheap skate by any means, but with the increase on security since the stalker incident. Money was considerably a lot tighter.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Rose got out her sketchbook while Kaoru went and looked out the window at the beautiful view of Tokyo.

One flick of Rose’s pencil and she was off. She got lost in her drawing and in Kaoru’s profile. He was every artist’s dream – so beautiful on the outside but what was underneath the surface she wanted to scratch away with her pencil and capture completely. There was something so soft about him despite the distance he keeps between himself and other people. And maybe if Rose and he had met under different circumstances, she may actually want to close the distance.

“Oh, god damn it.”

Rose snarled in a English as she pressed too hard on the page and the led in her pencil snapped clean off.

“You speak English?”

Kaoru said suddenly, making Rose remember that she was working. She wondered how long she had been immersed in her drawing for a second before answering.

“Um, not a lot. One of the girls I work with is from England. She curses in English all the time and I kind of learnt it from her.”

Rose chuckled remembering H chunter and swear in English over that Butler she was having disagreeables with.

“Do you?”

Rose looked up briefly before she went in search for another pencil.

“Mhm. German too.”

Rose’s head snapped up again.

“No way? My other co-worker is German.”

Rose’s eyes sparkled with mischievousness as she stared up at Kaoru who was now facing her with his back leaning against the window.

“How do you say ‘Lost any knickers today?’ in German?”

Kaoru looked at Rose, if he was confused it certainly didn’t show on his face.

“Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

He spoke clearly but it went straight over Rose’s head.

“Hut shun dein Hosen verlor?”

Kaoru laughed, the first human like emotion she had seen on his face other than when he was talking about his cat. And that made her smile, instead of being embarrassed about her terrible attempt at speaking German.

“Nice try. But not quite,” He said after he finished laughing and came to sit next to her on the bed. “Heute.”

“Heute.”

Rose repeated.

“Schon.”

“Schon.”

“Dein.”

“Dein.”

“Hoschen.”

“Hoschen.”

“Verloren.”

“Verloren.”

Rose kind of regretted asking him to teach her such a long sentence. German was so much more difficult than she had anticipated.

“Now say the whole thing.” He instructed.

“Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

Kaoru smiled and patted Rose on the head. If this was anyone else she would feel incredibly patronised by this gesture but somehow she knew this was his way of saying ‘well done’ without actually having to say it.

Rose repeated a few times until she was sure she had it memorized – she even wrote it down, after finding her pen.

“Okay, how do you say ‘A Butler knows how to service their Master.’ In English?”

Rose knew what ‘Butler’ and ‘Master’ were in English. She just needed to fit them into a sentence. Plus, she knew this would piss H off and she’d go off into an angry tangent and they were kind of amusing to watch.

Seems like Miho was rubbing off onto Rose.

“A Butler knows how to service their Master.��

“A Butler knows how to service their Master.”

Rose repeated not needing any more help than that. She wasn’t fluent in English by any means but she could string an almost sentence together. Kind of.

“You got that easy.”

Rose beamed at Kaoru, her mischievousness satisfied for the time being. She’d say them as soon as she saw the girls the next day.

“Thanks, I can’t wait to use them!”

She looked at Kaoru who was now looking at her sketchbook that she had placed in between them while she wrote down notes for her language lessons.

“Ah. Sorry, I kind of draw people without asking. My hands kind of have a mind of their own.”

Again, Kaoru’s face was back into ‘expressionless’ and he was harder to read than Goto. She wasn’t really sorry, but she learned it was probably better to apologise in case he didn’t like the idea of being the subject of her artistry.

Before Rose had time to apologise again or offer to rip up the drawing, she was on her back. Kaoru’s large hands wrapped tightly around her wrists which he had pinned either side of her face. One of his knees lodged between her thighs.

If Rose wasn’t here for the purpose she was and didn’t want to sleep with him, she would had kneed him straight in the crotch. Rose didn’t push the sex part of the date scenario because it wasn’t like he had to and she couldn’t read him well enough for any signs that he did. But she also wasn’t going to stop him if he wanted to.

She wanted to say something, to ask him if he was okay, to check he actually wanted to go through with it. But he kissed her before she could.  

While his hold on her was rough and tight, his kiss was as gentle as kitten kisses. And Rose found herself moaning at the contrast. It was something that turned her on so much.

She clenched her fists, her fingers that had been desperate to capture the tornado of his beauty on paper now itching to just touch him. To feel the sparks of his feelings surge through her.

Clothes were shed quickly. Kaoru taking full control. Undressing her then himself.

Rose made a mental note that he liked to take the lead.

After clothes were gone. He held her again, this time he was on his side, his arm under her head as she laid on her back. It wasn’t quite as dominating as his first intimate touch but still wonderful all the same. There was something more than just sex lingering in his touches and Rose had to wonder if maybe he was imagining someone else.

His fingers that had left marks around her wrists were now dancing with persistence down her bare stomach. His lips hovered over her ear and his hot and heavy breaths echoed through her ear drums right down to her nether regions.

He was slightly teasing in the lowering dips of his fingers that immediately retreated back upwards when Rose’s body began to tremble with anticipation.

Small growls escaped from her to show her frustration and desperation to be touched lower than her belly button. And Kaoru chuckled sadistically in her ear as his response but seemed just as frustrated with his own teasing and made a beeline for her pussy.

The first touch was bliss on its own. His large finger pad touching her bundle of nerves with little to no pressure but it felt good. Then he began to move his finger anti-clockwise and it was so good even the narrator had trouble thinking of a word to describe the pleasure Rose was feeling.

He did this for a possibly twenty seconds, making her clit swell with desire before he moved his digits lower. Sliding his fingers through her wet folds and collecting some of her wetness onto his fingertips as lubricant before teasing her open.

Rose turned her head towards Kaoru when his finger was inside her. His digits were long and certainly reached further than anyone else’s fingers ever could. She wanted to say something, make an innuendo or some dirty talk but when their eyes locked, he began to move and broke Rose’s train of thought.

He knew what he was doing. He could read Rose better than she would have given him credit for. Especially after only meeting twice and barely speaking at all. That explains how he can be journalist without having to talk much.

The first few pumps of his wrist were soft but quickly gave way to faster and slightly rougher ones. Rose’s cries increased with each thrust and she needed to grab onto him, thankfully her hand was level with his crotch, she pressed her palm softly against his cock.

Already fully stood to attention.

That stuttered his continuous wrist action but he didn’t stop. He slowed his pace and waited for Rose to wrap her fingers around his length – which by the way matched his height, although was a little girthier than expected, and start to stroke him before he continued the previous speed of his movements.

Harmonies of their moans and deep breaths began to fill the room. The air con that was blowing silently in the air was null and void with the amount of heat radiating off them both.

They were still staring at each other while they continued. Kaoru occasionally kissing Rose or resting his forehead against hers when their paces began to pick up.

“Are, are you close?”

Kaoru whispered against her sweaty forehead.

“Y-yes.”

Rose replied, her hips bucking against his hand. Her eyes shutting ready to fall into abandoned bliss when he moved his hand so his palm grazed against her clit with his thrusts.

But she didn’t.

Kaoru removed his hand from her and untangled himself from their position.

Rose was almost there and then poof. She could feel the rush of blood circulating to her orgasm starting to thin. She opened her eyes when she felt the bed dip and his warmth leave her.

He padded over to where he’d thrown his trousers, searched through one pocket and then the other before pulling out a little foil packet and then returning to her.

“From reading the rules, this is over once I cum right?”

Rose stared at him for a moment before nodding her head slowly. That was the rule Miho and Jazz came up with. But Rose had heard many stories of them breaking their own rule.

The sadistic flicker in his eyes made an appearance for the first time. It made the blood in her veins thicken and head straight back to her pussy.

“Seems unfair if you get to cum as many times as you like but I only get to cum once.”

He smirked and Rose couldn’t hide the surprise on her face. She liked to pride herself in being able to read people very well. But Kaoru seemed to have become a master of poker face.

He ripped the foil, tossed it and rolled the condom over his cock. Rose watched, the anticipation making her heart thud hard against her chest.

Kaoru rolled Rose onto her front, her torso laid flat on the bed as he raised her ass upwards. When he was sure Rose was comfortable, he ran his cock from her clit to her entrance and back again before he sheathed himself inside her. Fractionally pushing her up the bed.

“No cumming without permission.”

Kaoru said and Rose nodded and whispered a ‘yes’ into the bedsheets.

Rose had experienced orgasm denial many times. It was one of Kyobashi’s favourite kinks and he specifically enjoyed teasing Rose about how much she actually loved it as well. Which she did but admitting it to Kyobashi was the same as admitting to Ota that he made a good piece of art.

Painful.

He was relentless from his entrance. His hips were fast and brutal with their thrusting. The sound of skin slapping against skin was loud and echoed throughout the room.

The soft and subtle moans that were once occupying Rose’s windpipe were now dry and hoarse as she nearly screamed with each pound from his hips. When he introduced his well-practiced fingers strumming a perfect rhythm on her clit, he was making it damn near impossible not to cum.  

When Rose would feel her orgasm coming close, Kaoru would feel it too. The increase of the clench of her walls surrounding him and he would stop and change position.

They ended up going at it for hours – against the wall, the window (curtains closed, Rose remembered that even in the heat of the moment), she rode him, she gave him a blowjob, he ate her pussy, each time they both felt their orgasms right around the corner they would deny themselves it.

Kaoru’s stamina was impressive, even with Rose’s alarm blaring in her bag that the date was over. They continued. Until finally, in the missionary position, kissing and holding onto each other’s hand in an almost loving hold. They came, Rose first followed seconds later by Kaoru.

In the end she didn’t need to ask for permission, it was like after how long they had been going at it, it didn’t matter anymore.

It was strange, after they’d cleaned up and got dressed. Kaoru was exactly how he was when they first met in the restaurant but he seemed a little lighter and like he wasn’t brooding anymore.

He handed her the drawing back that ended up somewhere on the hotel room floor.

“I want this when you’ve finished.”

He said, rubbing the back of his neck once Rose had accepted the sketchbook off of him. She looked at her drawing and tried to understand what about it made Kaoru make his move. She couldn’t see it, but she was often told she captured parts of people that they thought they’d mastered at masking.

“You got it.”

Rose closed her sketchbook and put it back in her bag. Satisfied physically and with how the date scenario went.

-BACK TO THE PRESENT.-

“She found my cat.”

Kaoru suddenly said, making Rose blink twice, remembering how she couldn’t walk properly for the next two days thanks to him, before going along with the story.

“Yeah, she was stuck up a tree meowing at me, so I got her down.”

Rose smiled slightly, as Minato stared at her, then looked to Kaoru for further explanation.

“I was looking for Tama and bumped into her getting her down from the tree.”

Kaoru shrugged, his face that emotionless canvas it was when Rose first met him. Suppose it was good that he had the face he did especially when these kind of situations pop up. He gave nothing away that he was lying.

Shusei however, smiled a little more than necessary as if he knew. Which he probably did. After all, he knew how MJS worked better than Minato. And he also knew that Rose was a test driver, which Minato didn’t.

“It’s great that we don’t need to introduce you or anything but we should probably introduce her to the Chief, don’t you think Minato?”

Shusei smiled at Rose for a second before looking at Minato.

Rose wasn’t that phased but was still grateful for Shusei’s attempt to change the subject. She’d been in more awkward situations than this before but she had to be careful what she said and who she said it to. If she somehow accidently breached MJS protocol that could cause some major trouble.

“I guess, just keep an eye on Yuasa. We all know he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Minato began to walk away, Shusei following behind, leaving Rose with Kaoru.

“Thank you for the picture.”

He said patting Rose on the shoulder before following the direction of Minato and Shusei. Rose walked behind him. She knew her little legs wouldn’t be able to keep up with his pace so she didn’t bother. She was actually surprised when he slowed down to walk beside her.

“It’s really good. When you have your own exhibit can I write a piece on it?”

Kaoru asked and Rose found herself smiling in response.

“Sure, you might be waiting around a while though. With work and doing art projects I don’t get much chance to do pieces for myself.”

They continued to walk, leisurely following Shusei and Minato as they hunted down this ‘chief’.

“Oh, thank you for teaching me the German and English phrases. They went down wonderfully.���

Rose chuckled as she remembered the way both the girls reacted.

-MINI FLASHBACK-

“Hey Jazz, Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

Rose said as soon as she walked through the office doors to MJS. She had been reciting these phrases the entire journey to work. Nothing would be worse than missing the pun because of mispronouncing a word or leaving out a word entirely so the sentence didn’t make sense.

Jazz, H and Izumi were all stood around his desk. Prime time for using the sentences in their natives tongues. Two of her victims in one place, it was perfect.  

“What the hell did you just say?”

Rose grinned before repeating the phrase Kaoru had taught her.

“I, I don’t know whether to be impressed or insulted that you know how to say that? Who taught you?”

Rose tapped her nose, implying that is was a secret.

“Avoiding the question huh? Guess it must be a few then?”

Rose shrugged her shoulders.

“I’ll have you know, now that I am happily in a relationship, I don’t lose them. Just misplace them in various places in the apartment.”

Rose laughed but then her attention turned to H and Izumi who were staring at them with a questioning eye.

“H, I figured out the solution to your Butler problems.”

Rose smiled, although it wasn’t a smile of sincerity, more of mischief. H eyed her, clearly expecting something unhelpful to come from Rose’s lips.

“A butler knows how to service their Master,” Rose said clearly in English “So you just have to become his Master.” The second part of her sentence was in Japanese.

Rose was surprised that nothing came flying at her like a pen or a ball of paper or Izumi – H was like the Hulk when she was angry. She didn’t hold back and that was something Rose loved about her. Women were still so reserved in Japan – not expressing the extent of their feelings. So coming across likeminded women was one in a million chance. But here she was surrounded by three of them.

“You’ve been waiting to use these since you learnt them, haven’t you?”

H said rolling her eyes hard at Rose before laughing at the grin she had plastered on her face.

Overall, it was a success. Neither were offended, quite the opposite they both seemed pretty impressed. Rose needed to thank Kaoru again for the language lessons.

-BACK TO THE PRESENT-

“Heh, I’m glad. You didn’t screw up the pronunciation then?”

Rose raised her eyebrow, the little tease in Kaoru’s tone was a nice change from the deep monotone voice she had grown to think was the only tone to his voice. She was also a little surprised by how chirpy and talkative he seemed in comparison to when they met.

He was obviously in love with the girl whose profile he picked. That was good.

“Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

Rose said, proud that even though she had used them and probably wouldn’t have need to say them again, she still could remember and pronounce them correctly.

“Impressive.”

Kaoru acknowledged.

“Ah, Rose. Over here.”

Rose turned to the direction of Shusei’s voice and saw him waving to her through a crowd of a couple of people.

“After you.”

Kaoru said, waiting for Rose to walk before he did.

Considering this was an event that she didn’t particularly want to come to nor did she want to be the sole representative of MJS. She was actually not hating it – she nearly forgot she was in a dress, nearly. Yet she still couldn’t wait for Miho to arrive.

Smiling as nicely as she could she stood next to Shusei and Minato and looked between them before looking to the other man they were with.

Rose’s heart had already nearly fallen out of her ass when she bumped into to Kaoru. Now it definitely had.

Her eyes widened but she kept a small smile on her face. The look on his face was professional despite his eyes widening the same as Rose’s.

“Rose, this is out editor in Chief – Akiyoshi Zaizen.”

Minato said and Rose nodded and bowed slightly. She had already admitted to meeting Shusei and Kaoru under false pretences, surely none of them would buy it if she made up another little lie about how she knew their boss.

Best to play dumb.  

“Nice to meet you, I’m Rose, from MJS matchmaking and wedding planning agency.”

Rose introduced herself even though he knew EXACTLY who she was.

“Pleased to meet you. Thank you for allowing one of our journalists to write a piece on your business.”

He bowed back. The politeness something Rose remembered well.

-FLASHBACK-

“Thank you for joining me this evening.”

Akiyoshi said, standing when Rose reached him at the bar he was sat at.

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Rose responded before going to pull a chair out to sit but Akiyoshi beat her to it and pulled it out for her and gracefully sliding her close but not too close to the bar once she had sat comfortably before reseating himself.

“What would you like to drink?” he asked.

“Whiskey please.”

Rose said and smiled at the little bit of shock on his face when she’d asked for such a ‘strong’ drink. He ordered both of them a drink and sat silently as the bartender poured them and then once the bartender had gone to serve some other customers, he turned slightly to Rose.

“This is my first date in a while, so please forgive my awkwardness.”

He said twisting the glass in his hand.

Rose smiled at him, the honesty from him was nice. He looked incredibly put together and sure of himself from first glance but she could see the fidgeting as signs as nerves.

It was cute.

“You’re not awkward at all.”

Rose smiled, he was six years older than her and maybe in his age and lack of dating lacked the confidence of her previous clients.

“But we should probably get all the ‘work talk’ out the way if you want this to be more like a date.” Rose said.

Although much of these conversations would have been had back at the office with Miho, it was best Rose had a clear idea of what kind of person he was and the kind of woman he’d like to end up with. Not just what she’s like in the sack.

He nodded his agreement and turned more fully and confidently towards her.

“What would you like your future wife to be like?”

Rose took a dainty sip from her whisky – which wasn’t her usual style of drinking but she had to be fully alert to be able to remember everything he said.

“She has to be patient and understand I am married to my job first.”

Patience, important for other reasons too.

“I don’t mind if she can’t cook since I can but she has to be willing to learn. I can think of nothing more homely than being stood side by side with my wife cooking dinner.”

He seemed a little bashful at his comment but continued anyway.

“She has to have drive and passion.”

“Are we talking about towards her goals or in the bedroom?”

Rose asked deadpan. It was a serious question after all.

Akiyoshi however was caught by surprise and a light sheen of beer that he’d sipped into his mouth sprayed out from between his lips and all over the bar surface. And he grabbed a napkin from the dispenser next to them to clean it up.

Rose cocked her head. Really? Twenty-nine years old and a woman saying something like that had him all shook? He was like a blushing virgin and somehow it reminded her of Ryosuke and she found herself smiling without even meaning to.

“Um, well both I guess.”

He answered as he scrunched up the used napkin.

“Well what about her appearance? Short, tall, curvy, skinny, ass, boobs?”

“I don’t have a ‘type’ when it comes to looks. She just has to be confident in herself and her appearance. That makes a woman one hundred times more beautiful.”

Rose nodded, she agreed. Nothing was sexier than a woman who loved herself.

“You for example are not the type of beautiful the media portrays.”

He started before Rose interrupted.

“Watch it.”

She glared but there was no anger behind her gaze but he wasn’t afraid of her reaction. He was right though, she wasn’t the type of girl you’d see in all the magazines and called the face of ‘2017’. She was sat with him in a plain pair of black jeans and a tucked in white polo shirt with bright red hair and simple make-up.

Not exactly what you see on the cover of magazines or on mainstream tv shows.

“But you are so beautiful because you are confident in what you have.”

Rose’s eyes widened slightly. Two compliments in one sentence. This guy was a real smooth talker and it looked like he didn’t even know it.

“Thank you.” Rose smiled.

“No need.” Akiyoshi smiled back.

This was more like a date than any of her other clients. It felt almost easy talking to Akiyoshi about anything, like when she was with Ryosuke.

You seriously need to stop thinking about him when you’re working, girl. Otherwise these weird feelings of guilt in the pit of your stomach are gonna make that whisky come back up straight into Akiyoshi’s face. – said the narrator to Rose.

“Shall we?”

Akiyoshi said bringing Rose out of her internal conversation with the narrator. He’d offered Rose his arm after they’d finished their drinks and like a true gentleman escorted her perfectly up to the hotel room.

Rose was quite amazed by how gentle, patient and kind he was to her. Once in the hotel room, he took her bag and her jacket and placed them sensibly and carefully on a chair by the door. They say romance is dead but Akiyoshi clearly didn’t get the memo.

Normally, Rose would have started drawing her client by now, this was the first time she hadn’t had her sketchbook close to her – especially when such a delicious model was stood in front of her.

She hadn’t really noticed in the dimly lit bar just how incredibly built he was. His shoulders were broad and looked toned and muscular. His neck was long and pale. She licked her lips thinking about how beautiful a pattern of hickeys would look on is skin.

Drawing him is a must.

“Feel free to say no to this request,” Rose started, heading towards her bag. “But would you mind if I draw you?”

Rose wasn’t one to normally ask for permission before drawing. She had a bad habit of letting her inspiration take hold of her before common sense. But with how polite Akiyoshi was, she had at the front of her mind the curtsey to ask first.

“That, that might be the first and probably the last time someone has asked to draw me.”

He said, a little unsure on the question and the answer he wanted to give.

“If you’d agree, I’d ask you to be my model all the time.”

Rose said evenly.

“That’s a big compliment from an artist.”

He nodded.

Rose nodded with him. It was a big compliment – she didn’t just draw anyone. There was something in everyone she met recently that made her want to draw. The inspiration hitting her like a truck and if she let it pass by she wouldn’t be able to create anything worthwhile.

“I don’t have problem with it but I can’t guarantee I’ll be a good subject.”

Akiyoshi seated himself on the edge of the bed while Rose shifted the chair into a good position and got out her equipment.

“That position doesn’t look comfortable, here.”

Before seating herself, Rose walked over to where Akiyoshi sat and encouraged him to sit against the headboard. He’d be much more comfortable and that would make his expression better.

She tipped his chin slightly up towards her as she stood over him. She had intended to move his face into a position where she could capture the length of his neck.

Their eyes met in a shojo manga style ‘almost kiss moment’. But unlike those kinds of stories, Rose wasn’t one to shy away from a kissing scene.

BUT.

She also didn’t like making the first move with clients, it was their decision to make. Not hers.

“Can I kiss you?”

Rose grinned, that wasn’t the first move she was expecting. But it matched the way he acted the rest of the date. And it was insanely adorable. Like they were on a real date.

Even though she was smiling and not opposed to the idea in the slightest, Akiyoshi didn’t bring his face any closer to hers or attempt to bring hers to his until she voiced her consent.

“Yes.”

Wrapping his hand around her neck and under her hair, Akiyoshi brought Rose’s face lower until their lips met.

It was just a peck at first, then another and another, until pecks gave way to making out. Rose naturally gravitated to seating herself in his lap.  

Adjusting himself, to get her comfortable first before worrying about his own comfort was another mental note Rose made. He said he was married to his job first before a relationship but Rose could tell in his actions even if he was busy with work, he’d do anything to make sure his woman was aware of how much he cared and loved her.

The woman he ends up with was going to be cherished.

He was even so gracious as to ask permission by licking Rose’s bottom lip before their tongues made an appearance into their kiss.

Rose still wasn’t used to soft and gentle sex. She didn’t dislike it, but rough sex didn’t complicate feelings quite as much. And while Rose was fully aware she didn’t have feelings for Akiyoshi, everything he was doing was something that she had lacked experience in and made her a little nervous.

Not in a bad way.

His hands eventually wandered from her hair and trailed down her back until he reached her ass and softly grabbed onto her. Grinding her hips into his using her ass as leverage.

Rose broke the kiss.

“Ass man, huh?”

She pecked his lips and started to grind on him a little harder. She couldn’t help saying something to perhaps spice it up, she would claim to herself that it was to see all sides of his sexual preference but it was more for her own.

“With an ass like yours, I don’t know a man alive who wouldn’t be.”

Rose smirked, she wasn’t known for her outrageously big ass or even her boobs for that matter. But she prided herself on them both being firm, well-rounded and perky. She could thank practicing martial arts since she was eight for that.

“And here I thought you were being a gentleman all night, but you’ve been staring at my ass.”

Rose ran her fingers through his hair, tugging slightly so his head tilted and his neck was on show to her, all while she continued to grind. Enjoying when she increased the pressure on his lap and the soft groans that escaped him.

She kissed his neck once, then twice.

“You make it hard to be the perfect gentleman.”

He groaned into Rose’s shoulder. And she smiled into his neck before nipping at his skin. She wanted desperately to bite down on the plain canvas of his neck and leave a bright red mark that would evolve into a beautiful purple, yellow and red flower but she knew she couldn’t.

“I know, I can feel just how hard.”

Rose breathed into his neck. Every so often she could feel the bulge under her press into her and it was teasingly wonderful.

Abruptly and almighty growl escaped Akiyoshi as he rolled her onto her back and positioned himself above her. The sound he emitted reminded her of the roar of a male lion laying his claim to his territory. It was a sound she was sure he could make, but she wasn’t sure it was one he would make in the throes of passion.

Rose giggled in response, not squirming but move sensually under him. Acting as enticing as a dying wildebeest to the king of the African plains. Her hands slowly travelling over her own chest before moving up to his. The feel of the firmness of his pecs under his clothes was solid and soft at the same time.

God, he was hot.

Akiyoshi kissed Rose again, this time not asking for permission to initiate it or the use of his tongue. He wasn’t forceful but he was dominate.

Clothes were slowly shed, he took his time in appreciating each part of Rose that was exposed to him. He was still tentative in his actions, allowing her the time to react if she didn’t like something he was doing.

VERY tentative – noted.

Once Rose was naked under him, it was her turn to undress him. He was busy kissing her chest and making his way to her nipples and breasts but she stopped him and he let her.

She pushed him up until he was kneeling on the bed and she joined him in that position. Ridding him of each article of his clothing. He kept contact the entire time, making sure to kiss her at every opportunity that presented itself.

Once he was as naked as she was, she pushed him down onto his back.

So he was okay with relinquishing control and letting his partner hold the reigns – noted.

Before Rose chose her position, she scurried over to her bag to retrieve protection. While most of her clients were the ones to bring the condoms, it was always safe for her to have some on herself in case they ‘forgot’ one.

Straddling his thighs, she took hold of his cock. Giving him a fair amount of attention before she teased the condom over him.

Jazz would have been proud.

Straddling him once more but this time directly over his cock and with her back facing him – so her ass was in his eyeline, she placed herself against his cock and began to run her pussy up and down the length of his cock. Raising her hips and repeating when he growled sexily behind her and gripped onto her ass much harder than his previous touch.

“That feels so good.”

Rose smiled to herself and continued for a few more moments before the almost infuriating friction she was causing on herself was just no longer enough. She raised her hips high enough to break contact between their intimate parts and used her one hand to steady herself on his thigh while the other she used to hold his cock steady herself onto.

His tip stretched her open to make way for the rest of him. Rose’s head fell back with each inch that entered her. It seemed never ending, when she was sure she was at the last in there was more. When she finally rested her ass against his hips, she let out the breath she didn’t realise she was holding in.

“Shit.”

Rose breathed out but didn’t allow herself to enjoy the sensation of him filling her up.

She moved her hips, grinding once more in his lap before she leaned forward, gripping onto his knees and raising her hips and bringing them the same speed back down.

Akiyoshi was a proper ‘growler’, the animalistic noises that came from him each time Rose thrust herself up and down on him was spurring her on more and more. She kept a change of pace going, grinding then riding then back to grinding. Keeping him of his toes.

His grip on her hips and ass area was bordering on painful – just like Rose liked.

Sweat coated both of their skin as she rode him, it wasn’t until she felt his thighs begin to quiver under her that Rose slowed down.

At that moment Akiyoshi gripped her arm, she looked behind her and down at the heavenly body under her.

“Turn, turn around. I want to look at you.”

Rose like the authoritive tone to his voice, it was superior to that of anyone she had ever heard before and it was like music to her ears but there was a sweet fondness there as well. One that she could certainly get used to hearing but knew she couldn’t and wouldn’t.

She complied and rotated herself to face him without disconnecting him from her.

As soon as she was comfortable he sat up just enough to pull her down to his face for a long heated and slightly sloppy tongue and saliva dominating kiss.

His hips moved before hers, bucking up into her and encouraging her to move along with him – which she did, more than happily. And she encouraged him to use a hand to give some attention to her severely neglected clit.

They remained in this position until they both reached their orgasm. Their gazes locked, occasionally their lips and at one point their hands too.

By the way, she got to draw him after their tryst – well a certain part of him, until it filled full of blood and needed some relief. But Akiyoshi was a gentleman and made sure she came first both times.

-BACK TO THE PRESENT-  

“It was a great article. You have a good team.”

Rose smiled and bowed back.

“Of course it was a great article, who do you think wrote it?”

Minato looked down at Rose with that shit eating smirk of his and Rose wished she hadn’t complimented him in front of other people.

It was at that point looked around herself.

She had slept with four people that worked for Seasonelle. She couldn’t help but feel like that was some kind of achievement. But she couldn’t understand why had Miho not told her that they all worked for the same damn magazine and that they would all be at this damn party?

She was just glad that they all didn’t know that she had slept with them. She could just imagine the headline:

‘Rose bangs Seasonelle.’

Obviously they wouldn’t actually write that as an article but she wouldn’t be surprised if Miho made a ‘fake’ magazine with that as the headline now that she was aware she’d slept with the majority of the Seasonelle editorial team.

“Would you like a drink?”

Akiyoshi asked and Rose nodded.

He turned to the table behind him with the various amounts of liquor sitting on it. After pouring a drink he turned back and handed Rose her drink.

Whisky.

Uh-oh. They were playing the ‘perfect strangers’ role but he remembered the drink she chose at the bar. This was bad.

“Whisky’s a little strong for a lady don’t you think, Chief?”

Shusei questioned.

“Is he trying to get her drunk so he can have his way with her?”

A blond haired man said as he entered the group. Rose glared at him, she remembered him from the day she came to the Seasonelle. He made her hackles go up back then and this time he made her hackles go up and her claws come out.

“No, but isn’t it obvious I don’t drink the frilly girly shit that’s obviously in your glass?”

Rose growled but immediately regretted it when she remembered where she was and that she was here representing MJS.

“Woah, defensive Pommy jumping to the Chiefs rescue.”

Minato said a little taken aback and disgruntled by Rose’s change in loyalty and Master to no other than his Boss.

“Looks like she is a little fond of the boss.”

Shusei joined in on the teasing.

“Knock it off, all of you.”

Akiyoshi growled that made all the men recoil and zip their mouths shut. It was a similar type of growl to the sound she made when Rose was riding him. And she had to sip her whisky to stop herself from smirking.

“I apologise. These guys are idiots, is whisky okay? I’m sorry I just assumed it was your drink of choice.”

Rose smiled sincerely.

“Whisky is my poison, thank you.”

After the close call, they stood huddle in a group chatting and getting acquainted for quite a while. Minato seemed to read Rose pretty well every time the blonde she found out was called ‘Chiaki’ spoke or got to close to her, he would purposely put himself into the conversation or physically moved between them both.

Rose however was almost at the tipsy point – she’d lost count of how many drinks she’d had to cover up the intensity of the situation and the uncomfortableness she felt of being here without Miho. She could feel her skin getting hotter and getting redder. She decided that was a good time to stop drinking, she wasn’t sure getting drink around four people she’d slept with was a good idea.

Miho would be mad, so it would definitely be a bad idea.

Overall though, the alcohol had given her the confidence to enjoy this as much as she could. She was chatting away and getting to know each man when they were amongst friends and their peers.

It wasn’t until she was chatting to Minato that she noticed that people were staring at direction of the door. She couldn’t see what everyone was staring at. Everyone around her seemed like giants in comparison.

The huddle of Seasonelle journalists she was stood with were too interested in what was taking place by the door.

Eventually the cause of the commotion made herself know.

“Miho.”

Rose looked her boss up and down and realised why her boss had made a wave in the crowd.

“Am I drunk or is she wearing a cat woman suit?”

Rose said to no one in particular, but Minato moved next to her.

“No, she’s wearing a cat woman suit.”

Rose sighed.

“If I’d had known this was the reason she was going to be late, I wouldn’t have given her that suit as a Bachelorette party gift.”

Rose let out a slight chuckle, sometimes Miho could be so unpredictable.

She let out a breath happy her boss was finally here but still a little taken back by her extravagant entrance. However her gratefulness of her boss finally arriving was short lived when a copper haired male that was following behind her came into her line of sight.

“Ryo?!”

Rose nearly shouted but managed to capture her voice. Her surprise but happiness to see him was shown on her face, she couldn’t hide the smile that began to take hold of her lips as she watched him sheepishly look around the room until he looked directly at her, his gaze intense and unreadable.

Unreadable.

That didn’t make sense, he was always pretty easy to read.

“You’re welcome.”

Miho stated when she got close enough before she walked back the way she came.

“What the hell, Miho?”

Rose called after, but Minato put his hand on her shoulder as if to stop her and pointed in the direction of Ryosuke.

Whose gaze intensified when Minato touched her. He made his way towards her, his footsteps full of purpose.

“Akane, we’re leaving.”

Ryosuke grabbed her hand – the touch as rough as his tone, and then turned dragging her behind him leaving behind a whole room of confused journalists and publishers.  

[smutmylifeup]

Out Of The Office Drama: Leave Him?

RP’d with @hifftn

MJS ladies - @whatdoyouexpectthistime @smile-smile-ichthys

Rose had been walking on cloud nine since Ryosuke confessed his feelings and they became a couple. Everything seemed airy and light and she didn’t feel like anything could go wrong.

But it could.

She’d not been into work since the day of the Seasonelle Party and spent most of that time cuddling with Ryosuke. And she was ready to jump on Miho as her thanks for setting them up. Although perhaps neither of their other half’s would like that.

Miho would though.

But that was beside the point. She needed to thank Miho, her plan worked and she was finally with someone she wanted to be with more than just physically.

“Hey Izumi, Miho about this morning?”

Rose asked, her tone more excited than Izumi had ever heard it and he stared at her as if she was complete stranger.

“Um, no. She’s out with Lieutenant Goto and his parents. She should be back later this afternoon.”

Izumi said after shaking off his initial shock and checking over the schedule he had in front of him.

“Thanks, I’m gonna make a coffee, want one?”

Rose nodded, she was sure she remembered Miho saying something about having a morning out with Goto and his parents. The wedding was just around the corner so it made sense that she’d be spending time with her family.

Rose went off the make coffees in the kitchenette but she didn’t get that far.

“Rose.”

A voice halted the spring her step. She recognised the tone to belong to Jazz, but she wasn’t familiar with the stern and almost formal was she said her name.

“Ya?”

She responded as she turned towards Jazz.

The look on Jazz’s face was quite unreadable, it was almost as if she was looking into Goto’s face instead of her ever bubbly co-workers. She looked burdened and almost a little guilty.

“Can we talk?” Jazz asked and when Rose nodded her head Jazz stepped back into her office. “In private?”

The good mood Rose was riding on seemed to die a little bit. Something was up but she had no idea what as she walked into Jazz’s office and she shut the door behind her.

Jazz had struggled long with her decision, but she couldn’t watch Rose walking into something that could be the biggest mistake of her life. Right now her emotions clouded her judgment – Jazz would have never thought that this was even possible.

But what if Rose already knew everything about her puppy? He wouldn’t lie to her, would he? But then again, would Rose stay with him if she really knew?

The really bad thing was that Jazz couldn’t talk to anyone else about this. Not even Miho. If there was one thing she didn’t want to risk it was that anyone got caught in the whole mobster mess Baba had gotten her into back then.

She couldn’t keep her mouth shut any longer.

But once Rose walked into her office, Jazz had no idea how to start.

“So, Rose… how are things? With your new – boyfriend?”

Rose stared at Jazz for a moment, she looked like she was going to chew her bottom lip off even though she wasn’t even chewing on it.

Of course Miho would have told Jazz about Ryosuke, they told each other pretty much everything. She wasn’t surprised by it, she was more surprised by the lack of teasing Jazz was doing.

“Good, a little dry in the sex department,” Rose shrugged expecting to get a little gasp or chuckle from Jazz considering Rose’s sex life before Ryosuke was VERY active but she got nothing. “He’s only just gotten comfortable touching me when he wants to.”

Rose smiled unconsciously, she remembered before he left for work this morning. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her. Off his own accord, no encouragement from Rose whatsoever.

He blushed like a tomato but she wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to stop blushing.

“I should bring him to meet you before Miho’s wedding.”

Rose gave a little smile at Jazz, hoping that it would calm her and she’d be able to get out whatever it was that she had to say.

Jazz squirmed in her seat, still not sure if it was her place to say something. But what if she didn’t say anything? God, this was so difficult!

“Good, good. It’s good that you – uhm, are happy.”

She briefly looked around the room, gathered her thoughts and her courage.

“I already met him once, do you remember? In that gallery? He was there with his boss… and hey, now that we are talking about it, what did you say he’s working? Your little boyfriend?”

Rose’s brow furrowed. Jazz was being extremely strange, she was avoiding what she wanted to ask or say directly and that was very unlike her, she was always straight to the point.

For most people, she would nip this in the bud and tell her to say it directly, but Rose liked Jazz, she had a lot of patience for all of MJS girls. She was clearly having a hard time with it, so she’d wait and answer her questions.

“He works in security at that Tres Spades hotel.”

Her brow un-furrowed as she said that and the furrow again when she finished. He was very evasive about his job, but Rose couldn’t justify it to herself to pry when she lied to him about hers.

She looked up at Jazz and her eyes shifted. She knew something about the question she’d just asked and Rose began to get a little worried as she waited for Jazz’s reply.

“Do you talk a lot about his work? Or yours?”

He wasn’t the only one who might have a secret after all, although Rose’s job wasn’t illegal nor morally problematic. Well, maybe a bit morally problematic, but not for Jazz or any of the others who really counted. But being a mobster and sleeping with people was a huge difference.

Rose sighed.

They didn’t. It was the one thing that they didn’t talk about. It was really obvious they were hiding something from each other but they were both so blind sighted by their newly confessed feelings that they ignored the elephant in the room.

“No.”

She said simply. Even if she did lie to Jazz about it, it wouldn’t ease the guilt about the subject she felt.

Jazz exhaled and closed her eyes briefly.

“Say, if someone knew something that might be important for another someone, but the first someone wasn’t sure how – or even if – they should tell the other someone… ah, fuck it.” She sat up straight again.

“I know something about the boss of your boyfriend and that might also apply to your guy – do you want to know it? Because it’s serious shit and I don’t want to ruin anything between you but on the other hand, I can’t just NOT say anything because it’s really, really serious… does that make sense?”

Rose’s eyes widened.

She knew Jazz knew Mr. Oh and it never occurred to her to ask Jazz about Ryosuke’s profession. She didn’t need to hesitate to answer, if Ryosuke was putting himself in danger for work. She wanted to know, and it didn’t look like he would tell her.

“Tell me.”

Her voice came out certain, her eyes fixed on Jazz’s showing her that this was her decision.

After another deep breath Jazz looked directly at Rose.

“As you know Mr. Oh was my first client. And that the whole thing went boom. What I never told you – or anyone else – is the reason why we decided to cancel the whole thing. I told Miho that Mr. Oh wasn’t the kind of client we want to have. And that was the truth. Because we can’t match up our clients with criminals.”

She watched Rose carefully.

“Rose, Mr. Oh is a mafia boss.”

It was like someone had pressed pause in a film, there was no noise, no movement. Like the whole world had stopped. She wanted to say something but she couldn’t think of anything. The shock didn’t even register on her face, she was just blank.  

If Mr. Oh was a mafia boss and he was Ryosuke’s actual boss…then that meant he was part of the mafia too.

The silence in the room was tense and dark. Even with Jazz fidgeting in her seat, something that would usually grab someone’s attention, didn’t make Rose move.

She was looking at Jazz but she was staring right through her, into a black abyss that now seemed like the whole world was being consumed by.

An image of smiling Ryosuke flashed in her mind.

How could he be in the mafia? He was too innocent and sweet for something so dangerous, dark and cruel. Surely he wasn’t right?

“I don’t wanna sound like I don’t believe you but are you sure?”

Rose asked, her voice completely lacking any enthusiasm she had only ten minute ago. She was still staring past Jazz and into the vortex that was just opened.

“I know that it sounds like a cruel joke, but it isn’t.” Jazz chuckled dryly. “Believe me, I was just as shocked as you are now. But I’m sure. You know, Baba was the one who told me – obviously he knew all along. Back then, in Soryu’s place… I found a gun. And I thought he was just a simple criminal. But Baba accidently told me the truth…”

She wanted to go over and hug Rose but she knew that Miho’s intern wasn’t too keen on physical contact. At least not with girls.

“Later Mr. Oh confirmed this himself. And I was afraid to get killed for cancelling the contract for months.”

Rose finally looked down into her lap.

She looked at her hands that felt so safe in his and couldn’t help but feel like that was maybe a lie. She thought he was exactly the same as when they were kids but Ryosuke as a child would never have become part of the mafia. He hated violence.

But his parents were still alive then. They would have steered him down the right path and he would have never met Mr. Oh.

Maybe that was why he joined Mr. Oh, he was on a quest for vengeance for his parent’s horrific murders.

She tried to justify it in her head but it just didn’t feel right.

Rose knew Jazz wouldn’t make such a tasteless joke, especially at the expense of Rose’s happiness and her relationship.

She couldn’t help but be confused.

Her head and heart hurt more than she cared to admit.

She looked up again and directly at Jazz and forced the most genuine smile she could.

“Thank you for telling me. It must have been hard for you to keep that in for so long and I’m glad that Mr. Oh cooperated in the cancellation of the contract.”

Jazz’s heart broke. The moment she saw Rose’s smile she hurried around the desk and hugged her as tightly as she could.

“I’m so sorry, Rose. I just couldn’t let you walk blindly into this kind of trouble. If there is anything I can do… if you need someone to talk about this, I’m here. I tried not to talk about it, I was so afraid to drag someone else into this, but you are in neck-deep now. Whatever you decide to do next, I’m here for you, okay?”

Rose sniffed, she wasn’t sure if she was crying or not. It wasn’t often she did but Jazz’s comforting felt nice and all her emotions seemed to seep out of her. It wasn’t often she got this kind of affection from people and it was incredibly soothing even though it made her sob.

“Thank you,” Rose said allowing her arms to reciprocate Jazz’s embrace. “and I’m sorry.”

Rose sobbed, she wasn’t sure why she was apologising. Other than maybe she was ruining Jazz’s dress with her tears.

“What, what should I do?”

Rose asked once she calmed down a little bit.

She loved Ryosuke, so much. Even if they weren’t dating, he was still an important person to her but could she just bypass the corrupt and morally questionable way a mafia group works?

She didn’t think so could.

But what were her options left?

Leave him?

Her first relationship with the only person she’d ever felt anything more than lust with over before it had even begun?

Unintentionally at that thought, she gripped onto the back of Jazz’s dress.

“Shhh, everything will be alright…”

It was more than empty words, Jazz would do everything she could to help Rose and Inui.

“You should talk to him, but don’t be too forceful. Don’t blame him, okay? If – god, I never thought I’d say something like that – but if he wants to get out of the whole mafia thing, I bet we can arrange something. Just think about it, we know a lot of people. If he wants out we can ask some people to pull some strings – I have no idea what I’m talking about, but we can get him out somehow.”

Baba was her biggest hope at this point, but what if Inui didn’t want to stop? What would become of Rose?

Rose had to chuckle at Jazz, she was sometimes like the mother of the group.

“Thank you,” She pulled back from Jazz, “Seriously, thank you.”

She knew Jazz was right, she couldn’t just walk away from Ryosuke without an explanation. Hell, she didn’t want to walk away from him at all. But this was a horrible decision to make even without all the facts, so with all the facts it was going to be damn near impossible.

“I’ll talk to him tonight. I will warn you now, that I may call you drunk if it goes badly.”

Rose’s joking default mechanism kicked in and she brushed off the fact she was just crying and the worst possible revelation was made to her.

Jazz chuckled briefly. “Hey, my husband has a bar, come to me if you want to get drunk.”

She only noticed what she had just said when the words had left her mouth. Fortunately Rose was too distracted to ask about the ‘husband’ part.

“But really, if there is anything I can help you with, even if it’s just a huge bottle of whiskey, tell me, okay?”

She really hoped that Rose would be happy in the end.

After her chat with Jazz, Rose returned to her studio not waiting for Miho to come back from her day trip with the Goto’s. After all, she wasn’t sure if she was good enough of an actress to hide the pain she was feeling with faked enthusiasm.  

Her brain was more or less fried. She’d thought about this issue non-stop all day as she waited for Ryosuke to stop by that evening.

He should be here at some point soon that’s how long she’d been consumed by her thoughts.  

Rose sighed as she stood up and went to the mirror in her bathroom.

They were only stood there earlier that morning, brushing their teeth together. Ryosuke’s head was two heads above hers. And they looked like a funny looking version of the American Gothic but instead of pitchforks, they had toothbrushes.

Her heart stung as she rubbed the bags under her eyes. That were thanks to all the crying she had done today and the fact her and Ryo had laid awake till early hours in the morning talking about nothing in particular.

She couldn’t think about those memories anymore without feeling some sort of hurt.

It was like everything was a massive lie.

Was he really still innocent and sweet or was that a persona he just put on in front of her?

Did he even love her?

All these doubts were scaring her more than the prospect of Ryosuke being part of the mafia. She took a deep breath and tried to filter out the negative thoughts. She needed to remain neutral while she let him explain himself.

If she didn’t have an open mind, then how was she supposed to make a clear decision?

The doorbell rang and Rose’s feet felt incredibly heavy.

But she knew she had to face this head on instead of allowing her emotions to rule her. She’d not let them before so she wouldn’t now.

She didn’t buzz the intercom, instead she buzzed to unlock the main entrance door.

Part of her was glad that she told Ryosuke to enter at his leisure, she’d leave the door unlocked for him when she knew he was here. She didn’t want to have to answer the door and face the awkwardness she was feeling.

“Akane!”

She heard him coo as the door opened and closed. She fell onto the futon behind her and pulled a cushion into her lap and hugged it.

All her insides felt tight and the bile that was gurgling in her stomach felt like it was going to erupt out of her throat any second.

She swallowed it down when he appeared in her peripheral vision but she didn’t turn to greet him afraid that so much as looking at him will make the tears fall.

“Hey.”

She said, trying to sound as normal and pleased to see him as she could.

Well, she was pleased to see him. Even with all these twisted emotions, seeing him still filled her with the same amount of glee and happiness.

She didn’t want to lose that.

She didn’t want to lose him.

Ryosuke, clueless and adorably naïve was very aware that Rose was not okay. A lot like puppy noticing its master’s mood.

He hurriedly made his way towards her and crouched till he was eye level in front of her. Rose had to bite back the sob that wanted to escape her when his concerned face was directly in front of hers.

“Akane, what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did something bad happen at work?”

He fumbled to ask every question that was running through his head and Rose lightly touched his hand that rested next to her on the futon.

It was her way of saying ‘gimme a minute’.

She needed to gather up her courage to possibly ruin their relationship and even their friendship. In her time thinking about it after she left Jazz’s office, she thought possibly if the MJS ladies or her parents were kept as far out of it as possible, she might be able to handle it.

But if there was even a miniscule chance of them ending up in some mess because of a mafia deal gone wrong, she would never forgive herself or Ryosuke.

She breathed in through her nose.

“I know you don’t work for Tres Spades security,” She breathed out, her eyes as tightly squeezed shut as the grasp on his hand. “you and Mr. Oh are part of some mafia group.”

Rose relaxed her hand after she finished but Ryosuke changed his grip so he could hold hers tightly as if she was going to let go forever.

The silence that followed was deafening and the fact he didn’t deny it made Rose’s heart clench. Of course Jazz wouldn’t lie, but she was hoping that maybe she was wrong.

“Akane, I, I.”

He started but Rose shook her head.

“I don’t want you to apologise. I want to know why, for a kid that didn’t approve of violence, especially considering what happened to your parents, would join into something that promoted all of the evil things wrong with the world?”

She opened her eyes and looked up at him and he stared at her. His eyes showing just how scared he was feeling now he’d been found out.

The promise to protect him she made as a kid seemed completely null and void. How could she protect him from all the villains of the world when he was one of them?

“It’s not like that!”

He exclaimed and it broke Rose’s heart to know that he was defending the things that the mafia do. So this wasn’t a simple case of helping him out of something he didn’t want to be a part of.

He wanted to be part of it.

“The Ice Dragons are here to protect people in Japan, Mr. Oh’s grandfather put in a strict philosophy which he still follows even though he is dead,” This time he tried to encourage Rose to look at him but she was stubborn and avoided his gaze. “Please, Akane, I know I lied and I know what I do is dangerous but we are the good guys.”

Rose scoffed.

“Is Mr. Oh Robin Hood and you’re his merry men? Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor?”

She was trying her best not to be angry and to listen to him and hear him out before she made a judgement but how can ANY mafia group be the ‘good guys’? It was a total contradiction on what the word ‘mafia’ meant.

Mafia – An organized body of criminals that have a ruthless, complex behavioural code.

She sighed, she recounted Jazz’s advice in her head ‘Don’t judge him.’

“I’m sorry.”

Rose apologised and looked at him.  

“No, I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, I really did. But I couldn’t, I didn’t want you to look at me the way that you’re looking at me now and I didn’t want you to become involved,” He seemed to whimper as he spoke but he continued through his emotions. “It was inevitable really though wasn’t it? Hah, I really am an idiot. I could never hide anything from you as kid, why would it be different now?”

He laughed self-deprecatingly as he rubbed his eyes with his free hand.

It was strange, Rose should be scared. She should be worried that now she knew, her life could be in danger and the hand on hers could be the danger.

But she wasn’t scared.

She knew Ryosuke saw the good in everything, especially people. And she trusted that he believed that Mr. Oh was a good man even if his judgement was clouded because he rescued him as a child.

“Can, can I…” Ryosuke started and looked at Rose intently to gage her reaction. “hold you?”

It was like he was asking for his final wish.

She nodded and he took her into his arms. No hesitation or embarrassment in doing so. Which was a side she’d yet to see from him.

If this was any other time, she would have been so happy but now she was conflicted. Everything felt exactly the same, she still felt the bouts of happiness flutter inside her when he touched her, yet somehow she still felt calm.

He felt like home.

Perhaps due to her emotions exhausting her, going from one extreme to another. It wasn’t long until she fell asleep in his arms. Much like they had the previous night.

When she woke to the first rays of day break shining through her unclosed window, she groaned. Her head hurt and her face felt sore.

Her body simply reminding her that what happened wasn’t some horrific dream her brain had concocted to sabotage her sanity.

She felt around behind her, searching for the limbs that were holding her before she slept. But she felt nothing. And she bolted up – the sudden movement doing little to help her headache but pushed through the pain to look around.

She felt the side of the futon Ryosuke was on when she fell asleep, only to notice that the sheets were cold. She began to panic, rushing about on still half asleep limbs to find the missing puppy.

He wasn’t anywhere in her studio.

His toothbrush in her bathroom was gone.

There was no note.

She rang his phone and no answer.

He’d taken it upon himself to get out of Rose’s life so she didn’t have to make that decision. She fell onto her knees in defeat. After all those years without him, to have finally found him and to connect on an even deeper level than when they were kids only for him to disappear again.

That wasn’t his decision to make.

Somewhere anger bubbled inside her. She was furious that he was being such a coward, that he’d run away rather than attempting to work through this. Running on that emotion, she got herself up and dressed in the shortest amount of time ever and stomped out of her studio.

She had no idea where he lived.

She had no idea where the ‘Ice Dragons’ hung out.

But she knew he went to Tres Spades a lot.

So that is where she would start.

Entering Tres Spades was something Rose never wanted to do. The luxurious lobby looked so…luxurious. It was pristine, everything gleamed and the smell of fresh flowers from a large bouquet by the front desk made her head throb.

It screamed pompous, rich assholes to her. And she was right. Every guest was dressed impeccably. Men in business suits, women in fancy day attire that one item of probably cost more than Rose’s whole outfit put together.

Everyone looked at the scruffy jeans and plaid shirt over a vest top and snubbed their noses up at her. She was used to it, but it looked like none of them were willing to help her.

She looked around again, hoping that she’d see that familiar copper coloured hair.

She didn’t.

But she did see a familiar fedora and maroon blazer.

She practically jogged over to the man she knew as Baba. She only met him the once at Kuni’s bar when she her and H had the lap dance battle. But he wasn’t someone she could easily forget. His flamboyant personality and strange dress attire made sure of that.

Rose remembered what Jazz had said.

He knew Mr. Oh.  

When she was close enough to him she called out his name and he turned to her.

“Such a pretty lady calling out to me, it must be my lucky day,” Baba cooed as tipped his fedora at Rose in recognition. “I’m surprised to see you here, what can I do for you?”

He looked Rose up and down, reminiscing of their first encounter.

“Where is Mr. Oh?”

She demanded. She had no time to be polite and exchange small pleasantries.  

“You want, Sor? I’m a little offended you’re not here to see me.”

He pouted and Rose snarled at him.

“I’m not messing around Baba, tell me where he is?”

Baba stared at Rose, he could see the fire burning behind her eyes and he knew not to mess with a woman scorned.

“He’s up in the penthouse with boss.”

Rose spun on her heel, searching for an elevator.

“Ah, wait Princess. You need a key to get up there.”

Rose spun back around.

“Then give me yours.”

She growled and walked straight up to him. If he knew what was good for him, he’d hand it over to her right this second.

“I can’t do that, but I can escort you up there.”

He said, offering an arm to Rose which she not so politely declined but agreed to him coming along. After all, Jazz had said that Baba could help if Ryo needed it, so he’d be handy to have up there if something went awry.

The elevator dinged their arrival.

She’d not paid any attention to whatever Baba was yammering on about or the fact she was in a completely glass elevator that travelled at least fifty stories.

She was focused on what she would say to Ryosuke if he was there or Mr. Oh if he wasn’t.

It wasn’t like she could just kick his ass, she’d sign her own death certificate if she did that. But if he cared about his employee’s happiness he’d answer her questions.

Baba lead the way as they walked out the elevator.

She breathed in.

What she was doing was stupid.

INCREDIBLY stupid.

And Jazz would probably make a point to lecture her when she found out, providing she makes it out of this alive. But that didn’t matter. Ryosuke mattered to her more than that.

That gave her her answer on what the outcome of hers and Ryosuke’s relationship would be.

“Baba what have I told you about bringing women to the penthouse.”

A man growled as soon they stepped through the doors of the biggest ‘lounge’ area she’d ever seen in her life.

What the hell did they need all that space for?

Rose had to guess that was Mr Ichinomiya, he looked like the man she’d seen in pictures of the event her parents held at the hotel. He didn’t look as friendly as he did in the photos though. Probably some fake persona he puts on for the media.

She looked around the room and didn’t see the man she was looking for but she did see the man who know where to find him.

He didn’t bother to look up but she watched him rolls his eyes when Mr Ichinomiya mentioned the word ‘women’.

“Unfortunately, this pretty lady isn’t here for me-“

“Mr. Oh.”

Rose said, pushing past Baba and not bothering to introduce herself to Mr Ichinomiya, it’s not like she wanted to be acquainted with him anyway.

Mr. Oh’s brow furrowed before he looked up.

“Miss Hiroka?”

He questioned, the surprise on his face a little evident.

“Who is this woman, Soryu and why is she in my penthouse uninvited?”

Rose stared at Mr. Oh, her eyes dead set on making sure he knew that she was on the verge of a murderous rampage and that Mr Ichinomiya would be her first victim if he kept acting as if her presence was unworthy of being in the same room as him.

When Mr. Oh only stared back she glared over her shoulder in the direction of the CEO.

“My name Akane Hiroka and I wasn’t uninvited, I told Baba I needed to see Mr. Oh, and he brought me up here.”

“Ahh, you didn’t leave me much choice princess! I heard what you did to Ota, I didn’t want you to do it to me in the middle of the lobby.”

Shit, Rose had forgotten about Kisaki. He would surpass Mr Ichinomiya on the victim list in her rampage.

Although, it appeared he wasn’t around right now.

Lucky him.

“Enough,” Mr Ichnomiya growled. “So the daughter of Hiroka-Haute-Couture assaulted on of my guests?”

He stared at her, as if he was threatening her with a lawsuit.

“Mr. Oh will tell you he was harassing me, so would a co-worker. I was within my rights to stop him from touching me without invitation. It’s not my fault he’s a weak child.”

Rose sneered. Annoyed that she was actually having this conversation.

He looked to Mr. Oh who nodded his head in King Asshole’s direction.

And now that conversation was done, she didn’t have time for this bullshit anymore.

“Where is Ryosuke?”

Mr. Oh crossed his leg over the other and leaned back in his chair.

“You’re his girlfriend, shouldn’t you know?”

Mr. Oh answered, leaning back in his chair. Rose clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles cracked and she saw Baba move out of the corner of her eye.  

“You’re the puppies girlfriend? So he does have eyes for someone other than Sor.”

Baba joked and Rose sent a glare in his direction over her shoulder and he put his hands up in defence of his poor joke.

“Ota lost that bet. He owes me 500000 yen.”

Mr Ichinomiya said still reading over whatever was in his lap.

“Shut the fuck up.”

Rose mumbled unsure of whether anyone heard her but she needed to let out the frustration mounting inside her. Her nails digging into her palm wasn’t sufficient enough. She wanted to defend Ryosuke, to kick each one in the face and force Mr. Oh to take her to him but she knew she was in over her head.

Time for a different approach.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to find her Zen. Then she opened them and stared straight at Mr. Oh.

“This philosophy of your grandfathers, what is it?”

There was a palpable tension in the air and the mafia boss gave nothing away, although his right eye twitched slightly.

This told Rose more than anything else could. She ruffled him, at least a little.

But he was quick as he stood up, Rose was closer to him than she realised and his presence as he loomed over her was nearly terrifying.

“Come with me.”

[smutmylifeup]

Out Of The Office (But In The Office) Drama: Soft As A Domo Plushie.

Roleplayed with @whatdoyouexpectthistime 

MJS: @hifftn @smile-smile-ichthys @whatdoyouexpectthistime @nitelotus

MJS was slowly but surely getting back to normal. Rose and H went back to the date scenarios with their clients but with the new rules put in place that were created by Takao and H. Jazz watched Miho like a hawk, even though the danger had passed. And Miho was almost back to her usual self now that Goto was back off his undercover work.

All was well.

For Rose, she was still at war with herself at this current moment. She was stood by the doors at the MJS offices waiting for Ryosuke to arrive so they could go out for lunch but she wanted to introduce him to the girls first.

With all the bad things that had happened recently and the very protective person Rose was, she stayed close to MJS and the girls. They needed each other in that time. But that meant she hadn’t seen Ryosuke since their Mario Kart date. And that was almost a week ago.

They spoke everyday on the phone, but it wasn’t the same.

She wondered several times if it was too soon to bring a stranger into MJS. Although he wasn’t a complete stranger – Jazz had met him at least. BUT she really wanted Miho and H to meet him.

“Akane!”

Ryosuke smiled as he walked through the doors snapping Rose out of her conflicted feelings.

He was here now, there was no going back.

The nerves of upsetting someone or causing a problem were really real. This was worse than when Rose first met Miho and Kyobashi forgot to mention that it was a job interview. God, she was still annoyed about that but she got the job and she enjoyed it. And she got to meet some great people. But a little heads up would have been nice.

She knew Miho wouldn’t be mad, she’d made it clear she was going to meet him whether Rose let her or not. But was it too soon?

“Hey you.”

Rose hugged Ryosuke and her worries seemed to simmer away. His presence made her feel calm and safe.

“Ready for lunch?”

He hugged her in return and his smile when they parted was so heart-warming, Rose nearly forgot why she was nervous in the first place.

All these new feelings were odd.

“Mm. But first I want you to meet everyone. You cool with that?”

Part of Rose wanted him to say he wasn’t but she knew him well enough to know that even if he was insanely uncomfortable he wouldn’t utter a word. He was so selfless in that way.

“Y-Yeah.”

The stutter of his voice made he clear he was nervous about it too.

“Kay. Let’s go then.”

Rose leaded Ryosuke down the halls. She popped her head into Jazz’s office but neither her nor H were in there. She asked Izumi where they were but he told her that they’d already gone out for lunch. He nodded and said Miho was still in her office.

Well she could introduce them all properly another time.

“Miho can be very forward. And she loves teasing people – but she’s really nice.”

Rose warned as she stood in front of Miho’s office door.

“O-Okay.”

Here goes – Rose said to herself before she opened the door.

“Hey Miho, I have someone I want you to meet.”  

Rose sighed.

“Seriously? I’ve been gone less than five minutes and you are already dry humping,” Rose glared. “On my chair.”

Goto sat in Rose’s usual chair opposite Miho’s desk and Miho sat sideway in his lap, her arms draped around his neck. Neither were quick to part. Miho wasn’t the least bit affected by Rose’s reappearance, but Goto on the other hand was a little more blushed – possibly for more than one reason.

“Well, normally people knock and wait for permission before entering my office,” Miho smiled easily, waiting a few seconds longer before standing and straightening her dress.

Goto’s expression smoothed over and he managed a nod for Rose, then turned his gaze to the unnamed name with her. He was, in his uniform, perhaps on his way to the academy, but it had become a bit of a ritual since the whole business with Daisetsu, to drop her off at the office in the morning if he was able - this was, however, the first time they’d been caught in a compromising position.

“So who’s the cutie?” Miho enquired, leaning back against her desk, while Goto stood and turned also to better scrutinise the newcomer.

Rose smiled a little, calling him a cutie was a good start. Hopefully this will go well.

“I'm, I'm Inui, Ryosuke.”

He stepped forward into the room and bowed until his torso was completely horizontal.

“Ryo is my childhood friend.”

Rose continued, but Ryosuke was still hunched into a bow and she had to nudge him to straighten when he started to border on awkward rather than respectful and polite. And nervously he did so.

“Ryo huh?” Miho grinned - that I could totally eat a man alive grin, and she approached Inui until she was standing right in front. “So I suppose you’re the one I go to for all the childhood dirt on Rose?”

Maybe Rose hadn’t meant for Miho to think of that - but she had - though she could tell given the bowing and the awkwardness, that getting the guy to talk candidly might be a bit of a challenge.

Meanwhile, Goto watched Miho do her thing, that silent stoicism the betrayed nothing of the thoughts running through his head. If he was bothered by the way Miho instantly adopted the very familiar name for Rose’s friend, it was certainly not evident.

“I think you'd be more likely to get dirt out of me than him. He knows I'll floor him if he breathes a word.”

Rose gave Ryosuke a side smirk that was jokingly threatening. And Ryosuke chuckled nervously and bent backwards as if he was trying to move away from Miho without actually taking a step back.

Rose had forgotten he'd never had a girlfriend, so being around a woman, especially one like Miho - beautiful, intelligent and a total tease would probably make his brain implode.

Poor puppy.

“Y-yeah I'd, um prefer to not have my face smooshed into the floor! It hurts too! She's so strong despite how little she is!”

Rose clicked her tongue - her usual warning of ‘say anything else and I'll make you wish you didn't know how to speak’ making Ryosuke bite his lip to stop him from nervously jabbering on.

“I see, so, she’s already thrown you down huh?” Miho beamed, cutting her gaze to Rose for just a split second before looking back to Inui.

But perhaps to save him from having to answer that - and clarify the context in which he was thrown down - she continued to speak.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ryo,” she said, her tone sliding back toward pleasant, rather than teasing. “This is my fiance, Lieutenant Goto Seiji.”

As prompted, Goto inclined his head, but he didn’t say anything, didn’t really feel the need at this point. Perhaps he was laying on the scary a little thicker than usual on account of how he and Miho had been discovered.

Ryosuke made an audible gulp and Rose presumed it was at the intensity of Goto’s presence as well as his authority.

“It's, n-nice to meet you, Sir.”

He bowed again and his body seemed to be as tense as a board. And Rose felt kind of guilty.

“Don’t mind him too much,” Rose interrupted and stepped closer to Ryosuke. “He’s as soft as a Domo plushie really.”

Rose stared at Goto completely deadpan. While they were by no means ‘best friends’, he was Miho’s soon to be husband. And it was hard to tease Miho since she was the teasing queen herself. He was the next best thing. And she'd seen so many sides to him within the time she'd been at MJS. Sides that weren't scary in the slightest.

However, even with Rose’s comment Ryosuke was still visibly intimidated.

“Soft,” Goto repeated, as if considering the word carefully, sliding her gaze from Rose to Inui, then back again. “That is the kind of man you like?”

Perhaps Goto had been taking comeback lessons from Miho?

“I suppose that is okay,” he went on, maybe allowing some of the intimidation slip - just a little. “So long as he knows if he doesn’t treat you well…”

And then the bastard left that sentence hanging. Luckily, Miho swooped in to the rescue… sort of… yeah she and Goto are just as bad as each other.

“... I’ll do a whole lot more than kick your ass,” she declared, but she was grinning.

“Okay, Mum and Dad you can stop with the scare tactics now.”

Rose sassed back but she was smiling too. But she wasn't quite sure what they meant by ‘treat her well’ but she didn't ponder on it too much when she looked at Ryosuke.

She was pretty sure he stopped breathing.

“Hey, they're joking.”

She touched his arm and he seemed to jump out of his skin but relaxed slightly when he looked at her smiling face.

“I, I know,” he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed a little. “They're just an intimidating pair. A match made in heaven. Congratulations on your engagement.”

Ryosuke turned to Miho and gave a smaller and more familiar bow and then nodded his head towards Goto but decided that wasn't polite enough and also gave a small bow as well.

“So adorable,” Miho chuckled, giving Goto’s arm a squeeze. “Oh, Rose you still don’t have a date for the wedding right?”

Yeah she wasn’t done quite yet.

“You should definitely bring Ryo. I bet he’d look absolutely stunning in a three piece suit.”

“S-stunning?”

Ryosuke stuttered out.

“You're right,” Rose turned back to Ryosuke and nudged him. “You wanna come to their wedding with me?”

Rose watched him as he looked at her, then Miho and Goto. He looked like he was about to turn down the invitation.

“Actually, you don't have a choice. If I have to be bridesmaid I definitely need you there to distract me from being paired with a groomsman that just has to be Goto’s brother and,” Rose’s body seemed to shiver, “and the fact I’ll be in a damn dress.”

“I'll be there.”

Ryosuke said barely letting Rose finish her sentence. His voice came out strong and loud. It was odd, it was like he wasn't a cowering, sweating mess anymore. He still was though.

“Wait, really?”

Rose cocked her head and looked at him. She was almost positive he'd be all ‘are you sure it's alright’ for at least two minutes before he said yes.

“Yeah, I...”

Now he was stuttering over his words again and his cheeks began to change from white to pink. “I know what happens between the groomsmen and the bridesmaids.”

At this, Miho laughed.

“It’s true, the Goto brothers are pretty slick,” she asserted. “Better to be safe than sorry, right Ryo?”

Rose looked between Ryosuke and Miho like she wasn't part of the inside joke. She wasn't naive, she knew what happened between groomsmen and bridesmaids but Issei wasn't her type or better yet Rose wasn't his type. Plus it was Goto’s brother and somehow it just seemed weird.

“Y-yeah!”

He agreed, a little bashful that Miho seemed to read the underlying message of his comment.

“Yeah, well with the line of groomsmen I'd rather go home with one of the bridesmaids.”

Rose shrugged.

“What?!”

Ryosuke screeched making dogs in a five mile radius begin to howl. His skin was already pink but now it was red.

He was going to pass out before they make it to lunch.

Miho let out a sigh, un-attaching herself from Goto’s arm - this time it was a little closer to Rose that she moved.

“Luckily,” she smiled, giving Rose’s cheek a light pat as she looked to Inui, “you can go home with him instead.”

Rose stared at Miho. And Ryosuke seemed to begin choking on air as he spluttered out a coughing fit.

Of course she'd go home with Ryosuke, she wouldn't invite him to a wedding and then take someone she hadn't come with home. Miho was still smiling at Rose as Ryosuke was practically dying next to them. It was as if she was trying to get Rose to realise something but without actually having to say it.

That's because she was but Rose wasn't taking the bait.

Eventually Ryosuke seemed to gather his bearings and stop his coughing. Rose finally turned her attention to him.

“You alright?”

Ryosuke didn't speak, his hand covering his mouth but he nodded and stared at a seemly interesting spot on the floor. His face redder than her own hair.

Poor guy. Maybe that was enough of Miho’s teasing for one day.

“On that note, we’re gonna head to lunch.”

Rose walked past Miho and grabbed her bag which was by Goto’s feet. She groaned when she noticed her sketchbook was flipped open. Miho had obviously been taking a look at Rose’s client R rated portraits.

Sighing, Rose got it out and closed it then secured it away back in her bag. Away from poor innocent Inui’s eyes.  

“Did you get an eyeful too?”

Rose looked at Goto when she slung her bag over her shoulder.

“They’re very good,” he replied in a monotone. “Perhaps I’ll have you draw me some time.”

To which Miho just about squealed in delight.

“I will not forget you just said that,” she told her fiance with a smirk - and she totally couldn’t believe he managed to say it without his face exploding. “We can discuss poses once these two clear out.”

Rose laughed. Ryosuke wasn't the only one who seemed to be a little red now. Goto may have learnt a thing or two about teasing from Miho but he was still not match for her.

“Yeah, I'm not sure I wanna be around for that,” Rose walked past them both and grabbed Ryosuke by the hand, “and I don't want you to make him catch fire.”

Rose threw her free hand up and gave a small wave with her back facing them. Her other hand began to drag Ryosuke with her as she made her exit.

“I’ll see you guys later, don't dirty up my chair.”

Ryosuke turned so he was facing them.

“It was nice meeting you, Ma’am, Sir.”

He managed an awkward bow as he reached the door. And Rose pulled it shut behind her, but she managed to catch something she wasn't sure she was meant to hear.

“The boy’s smarter than he looks,” Goto declared, “but I’m not so sure about Rose. You sure you want her profiling people for marriage when she’s missing the obvious right in front of her?”

As the door clicked shut. Rose’s brain began to process what Goto had just said. What did he mean ‘he’s not sure about Rose.’? Somehow her pride felt hurt, she wanted to spin on her heels and rip his throat out. Miho wouldn’t have hired Rose if she didn’t think she was able to do the job well. He should know that.

But she let go of Ryosuke’s hand and walked down the hall towards the entrance. She didn’t want to start a commotion at the MJS offices after all that had happened there recently, especially to Miho and Goto. And she didn’t want to drag Ryosuke into it. He was an innocent bystander in this.   “They are, um a, crazy bunch?”

Ryosuke chuckled, his cheeks still tinged a light shade of warm after all the interrogation and affection on Miho and Goto’s end. As they exited MJS, Rose chuckled with pushing what Goto had said to the back of her mind. Crazy was putting it politely. They were an insane bunch and the dynamics worked well and they all made a good team.

“Yeah. Sorry you had to witness Miho and Goto being so amorous. They’ve had it tough for the last couple of weeks. And they express how much they missed each other through physical displays of affection.”

Rose smiled, she’d rather see that than have to watch Miho cuddling a Domo plushie until the stiches burst.

“So anyway, enough about the love birds. Where are we going to eat?”

Rose nudged Ryosuke’s arm – the mood all light and delicate thanks to Miho’s approval of her best friend.

“Oh! Um, there’s this place not far from here. Just follow me!”

Ryosuke grabbed Rose’s hand and began pulling her along. And she happily followed enjoying the warmth of his palm against hers.

Although it would have been better if she had been the one leading the way since Ryosuke had been taking them in circles for the last ten minutes.

Rose shook her head. He still wasn’t very good with directions.

“Are we lost?”

Well not lost, they knew where they were. Just not where this restaurant was. And it didn’t help that Ryosuke couldn’t remember the name of the place.

“Hahhh…Yeah. I’m sorry. I was sure I’d find it!”

Ryosuke hung his head and Rose ruffled his hair.

“Oh stop that,” She looked at the buildings around them. “Look, there’s a café. Let’s go there.”

Ryosuke’s head bolted up and his eyebrows creased.

“But I wanted to take you to this place. It was really nice and even Mr Ichinomiya said it was good. And he knows his stuff.”

Rose shook her head.

“Honestly, I don’t care what or where we eat. As long as it’s with you.”

Rose smiled a little bashfully at how cheesy and voltage style MC she sounded and at Ryosuke’s blush.

It was true though. She’d had been to ample amounts of fancy restaurants since her parents made their break through with their fashion line. While the food was excellently made by some of the most experienced chefs in the world – it tasted of nothing because of the company she ate with, mostly her own.

She could only taste her loneliness, her bitterness.

She only ate to survive these days. Simple rice dishes were her favourite – bland and cheap. It reminded her of simpler times when she and Ryosuke had to feed themselves while their parents were at work.

Ryosuke was a hopeless cook, he was so clumsy and got distracted easily. He could even ruin rice. If that was even possible.

“Come on, you can take me there another time.” Rose tugged at his hand that was still clasped in hers.

Ryosuke’s eyes widened at that comment and willingly let her lead the way this time.

Upon entering they found a vacant booth in a corner and sat down. Rose looked around while Ryosuke went straight to placing a menu on the table in front of both himself and Rose. The café was nice. It was small quaint and quiet. It wasn’t busy but it wasn’t empty either.

After scoping out the place. Rose looked down on the menu – she wasn’t all that hungry, she often didn’t eat lunch with how busy she was all the time but she didn’t want to turn down the offer to see Ryosuke again.

A waitress approached them after a few minutes and asked to take their order.

Rose ordered the Yakitori and Ryosuke ordered the Sashimi and a cup of coffee each. It wasn’t extravagant or anything fancy and that was just fine with Rose. Although Ryosuke still looked a little glum about having to change his plans.

“Quit pouting.”

Rose nudged his shin under the table with her foot. And Ryosuke jumped to life.

“Ah. Sorry, sorry.”

Rose chuckled. He needed to stop apologising all the time.

“How’s work going?”

Rose asked, although it had just come to her attention she actually had no idea what he did. She’d been reunited with him via him and Mr Oh delivering Kisaki’s latest art piece. Perhaps a delivery service.

No. She was sure she remembered Mr Oh saying that they weren’t.

“Great! Mr. Oh hasn’t shouted at me yet today.”

Rose chuckled.

“That’s good. I’ve been meaning to ask, what is it you actually do with Mr Oh?”

Rose looked at him and he squirmed like he was being interrogated. That was odd, what could his job be that could make that question uncomfortable to answer? Then she remembered how she had to tip-toe around her job title.

He wasn’t a test driver for another Match making service?!

Rose’s heart thudded against her chest and she wanted to be sick.

A brief distraction of their coffees arriving did little to help the uneasy feeling Rose had in the pit of her stomach.

“Um, we, we’re personal security staff for Tres Spades.”

Rose cocked her head, she knew when he was lying or better yet ‘evading the truth’ – he was such a terrible liar. But she had no right to push further after all, she hadn’t told him the truth about her job and she probably never would – it was a breach of protocol.

“That’s impressive. Tres Spades is the number one hotel in Japan right?”

Rose asked, trying to mask the uneasiness in her stomach with chipper conversation.

Her parents once invited her to one of those VIP parties once. Mr Ichinomiya personally offered for them to hold the after party at his hotel after the grand opening of their boutique in Udagawa, Shibuya.

She turned down the offer. Nothing sounded worse than having to dress up in a ‘high fashion gown’ and pretend like she gave a shit about talking to the rich and famous.

“It is! Mr Ichinomiya holds these VIP parties on a monthly basis and so many rich and famous people show up. It’s really a sight to see. Maybe Mr Oh will let me take you to one.”

Rose smiled, well it sounded like he was telling her some of the truth.

“I doubt that, I’m sure he knows as well as I do how easily distracted you are.”

Ryosuke seemed to think about it, he was ready to deny it but ultimately he couldn’t. And while she wasn’t afraid of Mr. Oh, she wasn’t sure she wanted to upset him. Plus it might also mean she’d have to see Kisaki again.

The food arrived and they dug in. Mostly to cover the awkwardness of the previous conversation. Rose still felt a little off but maybe he would tell her more when they spent more time together.

She sighed after taking a bite of her Yakitori. The flavours burst in her mouth, the sweetness reminding her of the man sat opposite her. Maybe subconsciously that is why she chose it.

Food never tasted so good. And she took another bite.

“You never told me,” Ryosuke started him mouth full of Sashimi. “Why do you call yourself Rose?”

Rose swallowed the bite of Yakitori hard. It’s not like the question was a difficult one or one that brought up particularly unpleasant memories for Rose.

It was still hard to let people through the door she’d kept bolted shut all her life. She placed her chopsticks down and took a little swig of her coffee.

“Mm. People know me as Akane Hiraoka – daughter of the Hiraoka Haute-Couture. As soon as people knew my name that was it. They treated me differently. Either they would be super nice and give me advantages most people would never receive but were more deserving of or they would want something from me.”

Rose sighed. She hated it, growing up every time she thought she was either making a friend at her new school they’d all eventually ask ‘could you get me a discount at your parents store?’ or people would let her cut in line when there were people in front of her. Simple things like that she hated.

“Before entering the Musashino Art University, I travelled for a year. I went all over the world to study Western art. I’d made some acquaintances on my trip, a man from London referred to me as ‘Rose’ because of my hair colour and ‘my thorny personality’. And it kind of just stuck.”

Rose smiled, she remembered that man well. He was a bit of an asshole – he gave everyone a nickname without consent and some weren’t very nice. But she thanked him deep down for giving her a name that fitted her.

“I entered a competition under the name ‘Rose’ instead of my full name and I didn’t win.”

“What?! But you’re art is always the best!”

Ryosuke spluttered out through a mouthful of food.

“But if I had used my full name, I would have won. The judges would have been biased because they worked or knew who my parents were. The girl who had actually won, her art was so much better than mine and she deserved it. It gave me the boost to make the name ‘Rose’ into something for myself. Instead of earning things I wasn’t deserving of thanks to my name.”

Rose smiled again, since choosing to call herself ‘Rose’ she worked harder, she’d dedicated more time to improving her talent into what it is today.

“Do, Do I have to call you Rose too? It’s going to be so hard to get used to. I mean I’ve known you as Akane for so long. I don’t think I could call you anything else.”

Rose tuned out in his ramblings and thought about his question.

Did she want him to call her Rose?

No. She liked the way her name sounded when it left his lips. It reminded her of everything happy childhood memory they shared and reminded her that they’d get to make many more now they’d found each other.

“Na, I want you to still call me Akane.”

She interrupted him.

“Really? But will that make things difficult for you?”

Rose smiled at him, he was always so considerate of other people, especially her. She wondered what she deserved to have someone like him around her.

“Na, people only really recognise my last name. Plus it’s no different than a guy calling his girlfriend a ‘pet name’. And I like that only you call me Akane.”

Ryosuke began to fidget and blush profusely.

“B-But um, don’t your parents call you ‘Akane’ too?”

“No, they call me Rose too. After I entered a competition as ‘Rose’ and won as ‘Rose’, they decided that they’d call me that too. My mum said it suited me.”

Rose shrugged, she never asked her mum why it suited her. She assumed it was the same reason as the guy from London gave.

“I-It does. Although you’re prettier than a Rose.”

Rose’s eyes widened and she felt her heart leap with joy. What on earth was that?

“Eh?”

Rose gagged out.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. I mean you blossomed into a beautiful woman, like a Rose. Yeah, yeah.”

Ryosuke clamped his mouth shut realising he was making this worse for himself by adding ‘beautiful’ as a compliment into the mix.

Rose was a little perplexed. Why was he being so complimentary and why did it make her feel really happy?

“Thank you,” Rose said, swallowing down the weird feelings in her stomach. “You’ve grown up well too. You’re so handsome, I would never have imagined it from the mucky, scrawny pup you used to be.”

Not sure how to handle how she was feeling, Rose resorted to making a joke. It was a defence mechanism that she relied on an awful lot.

“Hey! Don’t you call me a puppy too!”

Ryosuke shouted before it dawned on him that Rose had just called him handsome and he blushed the same colour as her hair.

After that the atmosphere started to get a little bit tenser, but they both tried to cover it with random topics of conversation and discussions on the food. Until they finished both the food and coffee.

Rose went to get her purse out when the waitress brought them the check.

“No! I’ll pay!”

Ryosuke held his hands out in front of Rose and he waved them enthusiastically.

“Um, Y’know I may be a student but I can afford this at least.”

Rose cocked her head. Why didn’t he want her to pay? They always paid equal shares when they bought sweets as kids.

“That’s not what I meant! I mean it’s my treat, I invited you for lunch.”

Rose sighed, he wouldn’t let up and he’d pout if she didn’t let him pay. And while his pout was adorable, she knew she’d hurt his feelings and she never wanted to do that.

“Fine. But I’m paying next time, got it?”

“N-Next time?”

Rose stretched her pinky out towards him. She wouldn’t let him pay if he wouldn’t agree. When his pinky locked with hers and he nodded his head, Rose put her purse back in her bag.

Once they’d paid and exited the restaurant. They stood side by side and walked down the streets at an even pace much to the annoyance of the everyday workers rushing down the streets on their way to work and business meetings.

Rose didn’t care, the walk back to MJS wasn’t all that far and she wanted this walk to last for as long as possible.

Rose looked straight ahead, thinking about these feelings and what they meant. Too often she’d stuff her feelings in a vault inside her heart and leave them there, eventually forgetting about them. But these, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with these feelings – especially since they were towards Ryosuke.

A man came into her vision and distracted her. He was walking straight towards them, his presence making it quite obvious he wasn’t going to walk around them rather than through them.     

“Shit.”

Rose cocked her head. That was possibly the first time she’d ever heard Ryosuke swear. It sounded so weird and unnatural. She looked from him to the guy stopped in front of them.

He was tall, slender and very handsome. His features were captured by the striking black locks around his pale face. He was very similar looking to Mr. Oh. But he was definitely Japanese, Mr Oh looked foreign – and with a name like ‘Oh’ he was probably Chinese.

“Well that’s not a nice way to say hello.”

The other man said, his face as emotionless as his voice.

“That’s because I didn’t want to say hello to you!”

Ryosuke replied, his voice flaring a little. And Rose could sense there was competitive tension in the air between these two.

“Fine. Then I shall say hello to your lovely companion.”

He turned to Rose.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Samejima, Koichi. I work with Inui.”

Samejima bowed at Rose.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Rose, just Rose.”

This was kind of an awkward situation and Rose finally realised this might have been what Ryosuke was feeling when he met Miho.

Although Rose wasn’t the least bit phased by the intimidating guy stood in front of her. He was probably the same age as Ryosuke. He was respectful and didn’t impede on Rose’s personal space. She already preferred this co-worker to whatever Kisaki was to Ryosuke.

“What are doing here, Samejima?”

Ryosuke glared, he cheeks puffed out slightly.

“Mr Oh personally asked me to get something for him.”

There was a tone of ‘Hah he trusts me more than you’ to his voice and Rose was expecting Ryosuke to actually explode.

“What?!”

Well his voice did.

“You’re so loud.”

Samejima sighed and looked at Rose.

“How do you put up with him?”

Rose smiled, while these two obviously had their differences there was something in Samejima’s eyes that told Rose that it was more like sibling rivalry than a serious dislike to each other.

“He’s fun to tease.”

Rose shrugged.

“What?!”

“See?” Rose laughed, motioning with her hand to Ryosuke’s reaction.

“Hey! Stop talking about me like I’m not here!”

“Oh hush, you know I love you really.”

Rose touched his arm before pulling her hand towards herself. She didn’t look at his reaction – if she had, she may have seen his heart beating in his eyes. Instead she caught a glimpse of her watch and realised she had to finish her client report, this wouldn’t be a problem if she hadn’t left the profile she’d written at the office.

Miho wouldn’t be pleased if she left it there half complete.

“Oh shit. I better get back to the office.”

Rose blurted out before dragging Ryosuke into a quick but affectionate hug. She hated letting go – part of her wanted to buy him a collar and leash and adopt him from Mr Oh so she could take him with her everywhere. But that was a little too far, even for her.

She turned back to Samejima.

“It was nice meeting you, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again.”

With a quick bow, she rushed through the crowds of people back towards the MJS offices without so much as a glance back.

“Ah! I was going to walk her back.”

Ryosuke sighed, his hand still half reached out in attempt to stop her but she had already disappeared into to crowd.

“Is she your girlfriend?”

Samejima said, still staring in the direction Rose walked off in.

“N-No. She’s just my childhood friend.”

Ryosuke rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the ground.

“I see.” Samejima looked at Inui, then smirked a little. “Mind if I take a shot with her then?”

“WHAT?!”   

Rose got back to MJS and headed straight for Miho’s office, managing to give a little flash of a smile to Izumi as she passed.

She’d forgotten about what she overheard this morning thanks to Ryosuke taking her mind off it and waltzed into Miho’s office without a second thought.

However when she opened the door, she halted for a second when the person she didn't want to particularly see was sat at Miho’s desk instead of Miho. That brought everything rushing back and she immediately put up her guard.

Another part of her defence mechanism.

She gave nothing away as she walked into the office. The silence following her like a bad itch.

Goto watched her and she could feel it even without looking at him.

“Where’s Miho?”

“Not in my lap this time, thankfully,” he replied, and even managed a small and somewhat self-deprecating smile. “Though it seems you didn’t learn your lesson.”

If he had any ill will toward her, given what she overheard, he certainly wasn’t showing it - then again, he was an undercover specialist so he had to be good at acting.

Rose took a moment to collect herself. Although it didn't really work. She was still feeling unsure of how to act or respond.

“Yeah well, I guess I’m not smart enough to see what’s in front of me.”

She mumbled, not really caring whether Goto heard her or not.

In her mind, she knew it was stupid to be acting so petulant. But it hurt her pride when he insulted her capability to work at MJS. She’d spent her whole life reading other people’s emotions and expressions - to protect her own and create realistic art. She was more than capable to do this job and do it well.

Asshole.

Goto considered this a moment, before he slowly pushed himself up from Miho’s chair and moved around the desk - but his movements were not menacing or threatening, nor did he seem abashed that she had heard him… perhaps he had even meant her to hear him?

“Are you?” he asked evenly, no malice or condescension, just a question in search of an honest answer.

Rose snarled, ready to bare her fangs and rip Goto apart. But somewhere inside herself, she asked the same question and the answer wasn’t ‘yes’.

Instead she sighed and looked at him evenly as if his expression would tell her the answer to his own question.

But it didn’t.

“Miho seems to think not.”

She shrugged, really hoping her boss would walk through the door and end whatever this conversation was.

“Miho is very astute,” he nodded slowly, hands dug into his pockets as he came to rest back against the desk like he had that morning. “She knows a good worker when she sees one, and she knows people, and yet it took even her far too long to realise the truth about herself.”

Rose stared at him, her face as blank as a canvas.

“What does that mean?”

As far as Rose could remember, Miho was sure of everything in her life - her job, her fiance, her home, herself. But she didn’t know the Miho before Goto.

It suddenly clicked in her head. Yet she had no idea why he was bringing this up.

“I wonder if you have any idea what it’s like to love someone, but see they don’t even notice,” he mused, and as he spoke he cast his eyes to the floor - obviously he knew.

Then his gaze lifted.

“I think your Inui knows,” he added, his tone conveying some kind of sad kinship.

Ryosuke? Why was he bringing him up?

Rose shuffled on her feet, it was like she was getting into a defensive stance before a fight. It was an automatic reaction when Ryo was brought up in a conversation.

Watching Goto watch the way she moved, Rose too looked down and saw her fists clenched and her stature stiff at the mere mention of his name.

“And why do you say that?”

Rose asked lifting her head to meet his gaze, her heart beginning to wildly pound against her chest as if he was finally going to tell her what she already knew. How long was she going to keep acting thick?

The sound of Miho’s clicking tongue drew both their attention to the doorway Rose had left open.

“Oh for fuck’s sake Rose,” she dropped, rolling her eyes. “The boy is mad crazy in love with you.”

Leave it to Miho to take the tactful approach. Goto’s left hand pulled from his pocket and moved toward his forehead, but he managed to stop himself before he facepalmed.

“I was trying to be subtle, Miho,” he chided lightly, but he also looked a little relieved.

“Patience isn’t my strongest suit,” Miho shrugged with a grin, before focusing back in on Rose. “Heh, it’s going to suck to lose my very first intern so soon, but I don’t suppose it can be helped.”

For the entire of that conversation, Rose stared at Miho blankly. It was like a flashback of recent and past memories rolled through her mind.

Yet she wasn’t surprised because she knew, she lied to herself in an attempt to not ruin their rekindled friendship and to avoid something she’d never dealt with before.

She knew, because she felt the same. All the little excited, nervous and happy feelings that consumed her when she was around him, spoke about him or looked at him – they were clear signs but Rose pretended to be blind and not notice them.

Panic, excitement, relief, fear, dread, sadness, happiness all gripped hold of her. In twenty-three years of living, Rose had not had a single relationship.

‘Neither has Inui.’ - Her subconscious said.

What if it doesn’t work out and they are no longer friends after the break up?

‘Deal with that IF it happens.’

What if he can’t handle all of her baggage? And she can’t handle his?

‘Then you work together to overcome that.’

If Miho was inside Rose’s brain right now, she’d be beating it senseless.

“What’s this?” Miho asked, poking Rose in the middle of her forehead. “Tell me you don’t want to just tear his clothes of and tou…”

“Miho,” Goto interrupted with a gravelly cough, but Miho only grinned impishly.

“Not that you need my approval, but the kid is cute, and like a good puppy is certainly keen to defend your honour against nefarious groomsmen.”

Rose looked between Miho and Goto.

She got offended when Goto was just trying to make her accept rather than run away from her feelings. He saw Inui’s plight, the one Rose chose to ignore despite her promise to protect him.

She smiled subconsciously. The pair were seriously a match made in hell. And she wondered if she and Ryosuke could become like that.

“You two,” Rose started, her smile turning into a grin, “are such a meddlesome pair.”

But there was no malice to her comment, just genuine appreciation for them both.

“And if I actually tore off his clothes, I think he’d faint.”

Rose added, while thinking about how to tell him. And when. Did she wait for him? No, he might never confess to her if she left it up to him.

The intimacy aspect hadn’t even entered her mind - which was rare. But now she had to think about it. She wasn’t sure if Ryo was virgin or not – they hadn’t had THAT conversation yet. Not that it mattered to Rose. But her tastes were somewhat particular in the bedroom.

What if they weren’t compatible in bed? Would it be over before it started?

“I could have a chat with him,” Miho offered, not quite so teasing as before, but Goto was gently shaking his head. “Hmm what about we set you up?” she offered cheerfully.

She seemed to like this idea very much; Goto still seemed skeptical.

“Hey, how many successful marriages have I engineered?” she scoffed. “What I can’t quite figure though, is who will wear the collar in their relationship?”

“Are you serious?”

Rose looked at Miho.

“He’ll definitely be the one wearing the collar,” Rose then thought about Miho’s plan. “Your plan would be great but I’d have no idea how to get him to do it.”

There was no way Ryosuke would agree to a matchmaker date. He was way too innocent and nervous to know what to do in that situation. She didn’t want to kill him before she could confess to him.

“He doesn’t have to know he’s doing anything in particular, though I really would prefer just to sit him down and tell him like it is,” Miho asserted. “People get brought together in all sorts of ways. Doesn’t have to be a fancy dinner or a trip to an amusement park. Ugh or aquarium, who even does that?”

For a moment, it seemed Miho lost herself, before refocusing.

“There’s always the wedding, but if you want to be snugging him before that, then I’ll just have to concoct something.”

She seemed to be deep in thought, for all of two seconds before she narrowed her eyes on Rose again.

“Ha, and don’t you go thinking I’ve forgotten you like to wear collars too,” she smirked, drawing her finger lightly around her own neck where Rose’s hickey collar had been.

“Do you think Ryo would be able to put a collar on me without apologising or feeling guilty?”

Rose chuckled but then her face went serious.

“I feel I need to do it sooner rather than later, I may miss my chance. I mean he's handsome and adorable. Any girl would want him on their arm.”

She wondered if she deserved him for a moment but shook that off. Before the doubts crept in and made her run away again.

“Plus, the wedding is about you two.”

“Maybe the boy just needs some practice,” Goto stated, and both women looked at him.

“Well don’t look at me, I’m marrying you,” Miho snorted. “And I don’t think Rose would be too interested in having someone ‘teach him the ropes’ - I totally can’t believe you said that.”

Goto’s shoulders lifted in the slightest of shrugs.

“Clearly I’m now out of my league in this conversation,” he admitted with a chuckle. “I’ll just wait outside.”

Goto began to walk towards the door but Rose touched his arm, not afraid to push the boundaries of whatever kind of friendship they had. She was right about him being as soft as a Domo plushie after all.  

“Thanks.”

Was all Rose said and all she needed to say to him, and he looked a little sheepish, and gave her an acknowledging nod before exiting the office.

Rose then turned back towards Miho.

“I guess MJS should just write date scenarios out completely,” Miho murmured to herself, flopping down on the couch. “Might be safer that way. Mmph will talk with Jazz about it later, but for now, we need to figure out how to get the epitome of innocence to bare his teeth - I think we both know you like a good biting.”

Rose flopped down next to Miho, her body relaxed after finally letting go of all these feelings and embracing them rather than locking them away.

“Well, puppies like the bite right?”

Rose smirked as she looked at Miho out the corner of her eye. And Miho’s smirk matched. They began plotting together, but it wasn’t going to be that simple. Ryosuke had competition.  

[smutmylifeup]

Client Report: Shuichiro Momoi (MATURE)

“It’s so weird you sitting there smiling. I’m not sure I like it.”

Miho said from the other side of her desk, almost a little bitter since she didn’t have a reason to smile currently with Goto just leaving for an undercover operation.

Rose was sat in Miho’s office, writing up her last clients report. Well, this could be her last client for a very long time since all that had gone on at MJS recently. And while the atmosphere was tense and sombre. Everyone tried their best to remain positive at least – except for Miho who had been hugging her Domo plushie for the last hour or so.

Rose couldn’t help having a reason to smile. She’d found Ryosuke.

“Stop looking at me then.”

Rose sassed back although she wanted to wipe the inane grin off her own face because of Miho’s current situation, she couldn’t.

“Was the client that good? Or are you thinking about a certain puppy of yours?”

Miho’s eyebrow arched but she knew the answer to that question before she asked it.

“Don’t call him a puppy, it reminds me too much of Kisaki.”

Rose’s body shivered, that was one encounter she wished she could forget. But somehow, she had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last – especially since Ryosuke and Ota knew each other, even if it was through Mr Oh.

“I really wish I had seen that, Jazz said he deserved it,” Miho leaned back in her chair as if she was imaging it. “But don’t avoid my question. Tell me about him.”

“Fine, his name is Ryosuke. And actually he was the reason I learnt self-defence when I was younger. We were neighbours and he was the kind of annoying kid that just didn’t know when to quit. He’d hang around me like a – well like a lost puppy. He was always so happy go lucky and energetic, the total opposite of me. He was infectious and I found myself wanting to be around him.”

Miho nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips as if she knew something Rose didn’t.

“Eventually he didn’t annoy me anymore. And I actually started to look forward to seeing him after school. Since we went to different schools we only saw each other after. But he’d always have these odd scrapes and bruises on his hands and knees.”

Rose frowned, she remembered confronting him about them on several occasions. And he’d just say he was a ‘klutz’ and fell over. She wasn’t stupid – while he smiled and laughed it off, his eyes looked sad and his eyes never looked sad. But she couldn’t do anything about it or she didn’t think she could because they didn’t attend the same school.

“He was a scrawny, short boy and was so innocent and saw the best in everyone – that was his greatest quality.”

Rose smiled again, he was the only person that saw beyond Rose’s cold exterior. No one had ever broken her walls down as easily as he did – well not until the MJS ladies.  

“But kids are assholes. They saw his kindness as his weakness and pushed him around, literally. I wanted to protect him somehow. So I asked to join my Uncle’s Dojo.”

Rose realised she was rambling about part of her past that both made her who she is and haunted her. She knew that MJS knew she was kind of like a guard dog when it came to people she cared about but it was still hard for her, the metaphorical walls may have been knocked down but there was still rubble all around her.

“Long story short – I kicked some bully asses, nearly go kicked out of school and Ryo got mad at me for getting myself in trouble for him. He shouted at me, possibly the only time I saw him remotely close to being angry but in seconds I had him pinned to the floor.”

Miho chuckled and Rose looked at her.

“I know, it’s like a running theme right? But he wouldn’t listen to me so I had to take drastic action. I wanted to protect him, he was and still is extremely important to me.”

“So he’s basically like your puppy?”

Miho questioned as if she was trying to make Rose realise something.

“No. He might have been when we were younger but he’s not a puppy anymore, well not mine anyway.”

Rose felt a plunge of sadness strike her heart.

Why did that upset her?

“I see.”

Miho nodded well aware of the sudden change in Rose’s expressions. Miho was a woman of wisdom and she knew that some people needed to work things out for themselves rather than be told.

“You’ll have to tell me more about him at our sleepover tonight.”

Miho chirped, the sadness in her voice masked with a forced excitement attempting to cover up her upset but failing miserably.

I think it’s been said before but MJS seriously has some badass bitches who didn’t succumb to drama and angst easily.

“But for now, finish that client report. I’m going to grab a coffee, want one?”

Miho was more than a fair boss. There was an even mix of work and play – outside of the actual date scenarios, and it made for a great working atmosphere. And a great atmosphere meant happy employees.

“Yes, Sir.”

Rose saluted at Miho.

“Okay, just for the Sir comment I’m not bringing you coffee now. And don’t think I won’t kick your ass if you keep giving me lip. Don’t forget I was an assassin in a past life.”

Rose chuckled and waved her hand as if to admit defeat. After all, even if Miho wasn’t serious in her threat, she knew Miho was more than capable of handling herself in her past life and in her current life.

After that, Miho left the office to get their beverages and Rose picked up her clients profile again, thinking back to the beginning of the date.

“Hey, sorry to make you come all the way here instead of the bar we agreed on.”

He picked up the bowl full of icing and whisked it as if it was the lightest and easiest thing in the world – and from a disastrous experience of her own, Rose knew it wasn’t.

“No problem. Sounds like you’ve been pretty busy.”

She wasn’t lying when she said it wasn’t a problem. Although being here at all was kind of disappointing since she’d just found her best friend, she was still on an adrenaline rush that made it difficult for her to sit still or for her mind to be focused on one thing. But work was work. She had time for a social life later. Rose leaned over the counter trying to squash her jittery hands and watched him.

“You have no idea.” He sighed.

Shuichiro Momoi. 25 years old. Pastry chef and part owner of Pâtisserie Larme in Jiyugaoka. He was a very handsome man, still young, in good physical shape despite all the sweet treats around him every day, he could bake and he had his own successful business at such a young age.

He ticked all the right boxes for a lot of women. Although, it wasn’t as simple as that – she hadn’t witnessed much of his personality yet. Even at the brief meeting with him and Miho, he was quite serious and robotic about the entire thing.

Which wasn’t a bad thing.

“While you finish up, mind if I ask you some questions about your ideal wife?”

Rose said getting out her sketchbook – she had planned to makes notes but it was kind of becoming a theme for her to draw clients as part of their profile. And with the inspiration of such decorative cakes all around her, she was in her element. As well as to keep her focused on the job at hand.

“Go ahead. I’m almost done anyway.”

“Tell me about your ideal type? What specifically do you want in a woman?”

Rose flicked her pencil in the same motion as Momoi did when he iced the cakes he was making.

“Hm. Well, I think it’s easier to tell you what I don’t want and I don’t want to date another pastry chef.”

He said, his tone sharp but flat and deathly serious.

“Oh?”

It wasn’t meant to come out as inquisitive as it sounded but Rose couldn’t exactly suck back in the sound she just created.

“Bad experience.”

Was all he said, the end of his sentence making it quite obvious he didn’t want to go into any further detail. So, he had a wall up. Not willing to show someone his scars like a badge of honour. He needed someone patient to chip away his armour.

Noted.

“While I respect that it’s probably still a tough subject for you, you are aware that I need full honesty from you to find you the best match, right?” Rose said.

She glanced and him and he gave a nod but didn’t look at her.

There was silence for a moment only the sound of her pencil scratching against paper. Rose wasn’t sure what to say – he hadn’t really answered her previous question, well he had but there were millions of women who weren’t specifically pastry chefs. It was almost like he chose to end that conversation there. And so far, all of her clients had been more than honest with her since it was to their benefit. This was basically the first wall she’d walked into yet.

“What are you doing?”

His voice boomed over her head and the sudden appearance of his voice, much closer now made her head bolt up and straight into his chin.

“Shit.”

He grunted, stumbling back slightly.

“Ah, fuck. I’m so sorry, are you okay?”

Rose dropped her pencil and got up and briskly walked round to where Momoi stood. She pushed his hands out the way that held his possibly bruised chin and replaced them with her own.

“Jeez, you have a seriously hard head.” He grumbled.

But he allowed her to continue touching him and inspect his chin for any damage. She titled his head upwards to get a better look. His jawline was really something, it was sharp and strong. Surprising really that he hadn’t shattered Rose’s skull.

“You chin isn’t exactly soft.”

Before she even realised, her fingers softly followed the bone. When her eyes flitted up to his face, there was a tinge of pink to his cheeks and he seriously avoided eye contact. While she was here for more than a caress of his chin, she also didn’t want to step over any boundaries he had.

“Sorry,” Rose let her hands drop after making sure he was not seriously hurt. “and to answer your question. I was just drawing – I’m an art student.”

A deep intake of breath and Momoi looked at Rose. His brow furrowed into a scowl and while she would have assumed he was pissed, the slow arch of his eyebrow was the first expression she’d seen other than his resting bitch face.

“That doesn’t really surprise me,” Momoi eyed her from head to toe. “You have that whole artist ‘look’.”

“Is that an insult or a compliment?”  

Rose stepped back so she was able to look at him without craning her neck too much and crossed her arms under her chest. Effectively creating some impressive cleavage that poked out of her shirt. And she was rewarded with an obvious glance from Momoi.

“What would you do if I said insult?”

This was starting to get somewhere. While the banter was basic at best, it was still more than what she’d gotten out of him already.

Rose walked back slowly, not taking her eyes off his until she reached the almost empty bowl of icing. She gracefully, still looking at him dipped her finger into the bowl and got a generous amount of icing on her finger and raised it until she could lick it clean off.

Momoi watched, his stoic face shifting into the slightest of teasing smirks.

“You’re lucky I’ve finished icing the cakes or I’d make you pay for the icing you just ate.”

While Rose thought that perhaps if she wasn’t here for the reason she was, that threat would have been serious. After all, he clearly took a lot of pride in his work and the dedication it took to make and perfect each individual cake.

“You’re lucky it tastes as good as it looks or I’d need something to wash away such a dissatisfying taste.”

Rose gave her finger one final lick before she walked back towards Momoi.

“I’m so glad Aki isn’t here.” He sighed.

For a moment Rose thought that perhaps he’d be embarrassed by how openly they were just flirting in his work place and the innuendo that left her lips. But there was something about him that reminded her of Minato.

If he was anything like Minato, this was going to be fun.

However, he looked completely comfortable in his posture, in his gaze and in his movements as he tugged Rose into his chest.

His lips were on hers and their bodies pressed as close together as the height difference would allow. The kiss was warm and smooth. Their heads titled together as Momoi changed the angle. Rose’s hands were gripping tightly onto him for support, he was greedy in his kisses and even with her vast experience, Rose struggled to keep up with his pace.

“Hah…Not – Not here.”

He panted as he took a moment to catch his own breath before he kissed her again.

While Rose was starting to get into the heat of the moment – she also knew it wasn’t very sanitary to have sex in a kitchen that was used to make cakes for mass human consumption. And reluctantly she pulled back.

She looked at him with lustful eyes and waited for him to show her in the direction of where he wanted to continue.

He took her hand and escorted her to a set of stairs and with his eyes motioned for her to go up them. However, he did not follow and just watched her as she continued.

“Enjoying the view?”

Rose called as she peered over her shoulder.

“Would be better if your shirt wasn’t in the way,” He dismissed but his tone still teasing. “I’m just gonna lock up, I don’t think we want any unexpected visitors.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Rose smirked thinking back to the time her and Kyobashi were just about to reach their orgasms and his bedroom door burst open, and what she could only assume was his friend/co-worker walked in. She never caught his name but he was pretty hot and the way he blushed was extremely adorable.

She continued up the stairs with that memory replaying in her head and went into the room where Momoi told her to wait.

It was really hot upstairs. The room was probably directly above the kitchen so the heat from the ovens seeped into this room. She undid her shirt, popping each button – while she would have endured the heat for any other reason, her shirt would probably be coming off anyway so she may as well make a head start.

With her shirt thrown over the back of the sofa, Rose sat back in position and a few moments later Momoi entered.

“Sorry, the guy who ships our deliveries just showed-“

Momoi cut off his sentence when he lifted his eyes from the floor to Rose. And Rose smirked in response, it always made her feel really good when she removed her clothes and she got that kind of reaction.

People always didn’t expect her to have the figure she has from the baggy shirts and t-shirts she wore.

“Something wrong, Shu?”

Rose hadn’t asked if she could be so informal, not that she normally did but with what was to come calling him “Mr Momoi” seemed a little strange, unless he asked her to call him that.

“Jeez.”

He whistled out in a deep exhale. He shut the door behind himself and began to undo his uniform on his way to where Rose was seated.

“I like a mature woman, but you,” he said wrapping a hand loosely round her throat and pulling her up. “Are pretty damn impressive.”

He kissed her again, not allowing her to respond to his compliment. And Rose fell into the kiss.

The rest of their clothes were shed without any hesitation. Although, Rose’s underwear was left on. Perhaps her intricate strappy mesh bra and panties combo was a good choice because Momoi didn’t seem the least bit interested in taking them off.

“Like doing it with underwear on?”

Rose queried as he pushed her into a sitting position on the sofa.

“Mm, if the underwear is this sexy – yes.”

He responded but still stood.

Rose made a mental note that he was a fan of sexy underwear and waited for him to make the next move. She looked at him through her lashes and blinked sensually – she knew what she wanted to do next and she was hoping her eyes were doing a good job at asking for permission as well as her sneaky hand that was running down his stomach.

“Uh-uh. You have to vocalise what you want.”

He smirked, pushing her hand away.

“I want to suck your dick – please.”

Rose didn’t hesitate to answer to his terms. It wasn’t as if she was ashamed of wanting to blow him.

“Good girl.”

Momoi brushed his hand through her hair and encouraged her to slide off the sofa and onto her knees by putting a little pressure on the back of her head. And she complied happily.

“Looks like it’s not only your cakes that rise well.”

Rose said – she couldn’t miss the opportunity to make a pun out of his job and his semi-erection.

Abruptly, before Rose could even get his boxers down and around his ankles, Momoi pulled her hair back and made her head tilt up to his towering form.

“You’ve got a lewd mouth.”

“You’re going to find out just how lewd.”

Rose moaned, enjoying the pain on her hair follicles.

Momoi let out a growl and encouraged her once more to get down to business.

So he enjoyed dirty talk too – noted.

Rose pulled his boxers down and the semi she had seen protruding through his boxers was now a full blown erection. And she subconsciously licked her lips – it was amazing how a little dirty talk could turn someone on so much.

He wasn’t huge, Rose would say about average but he was thick and girthy. Each vein seemed to stick out and throb against his skin. And it was all cased in the delicious chocolate colour of his pubic hair.

“Don’t just stare at it.”

Momoi said, his tone impatient under Rose’s gaze.

And Rose wasn’t one to keep someone waiting. She gripped the base of his cock and watched Momoi’s body tense at the contact.

Once he relaxed again, Rose gave one stroke with her fist before she leant in to kiss his tip. It was a feather light brush on her lips and she stared up at him to watch his response.

His eyes tightly shut before opening and he stared down at her. A stern expression as if to say ‘don’t keep me waiting.’

Rose shut her own eyes and sucked his tip between her lips. The salty taste hitting her savoury pallet in the dribble of the pre-cum that she swiped at with her tongue. Rose opened her eyes again as she began to bob her head. One thing she loved about blowjobs was watching a man enjoying her mouth.

Their eyes met for a brief moment until Rose grazed her teeth along the top of his cock. Momoi’s eyes squeezed shut and the grip he had on her hair tightened. Rose did that one more time before continuing to bob her head.

She continued like this for perhaps ten more seconds before switching it up. She removed him from her mouth with a lewd pop. Tilting his cock up towards his stomach – Rose licked the underside of his cock from base to tip and back down again.

And next was the focus on his balls, which seemed to throb against her tongue as she traced small circular patterns before sucking on one then turning her attention to the other.

Rose gripped onto his thigh for support and dug her nails in when he gripped her and pulled her once more to put his cock back in her mouth.

But this time he set the pace – thrusting his hips forward into her mouth, pushing as far back as her gag reflex would allow. When she began sputtering, he held his position and looked down at her.

“Swallow.”

Rose swallowed, although she wasn’t actually swallowing anything – it was the contraction of her throat muscles that contracted around the head of his cock that pressed against her tonsils. Momoi groaned and pulled back out of her mouth.

“You weren’t wrong when you said your mouth is lewd.”

Momoi panted, releasing his tight grip of her hair and smoothing it down. And Rose smiled, one of things she enjoyed about rough sex was the softness that was hidden under all the pleasurable pain.

“But if we keep that up, I’m not gonna last much longer,” He said bending to wrap his arms around her and pick her up. “And I’ve got to an inspection of your pretty little cake before I do that.”

Momoi grinned, obviously pleased with his own baking pun.

Rose chuckled, wobbling slightly as Momoi helped her stand. The pins and needles made her legs ache but she couldn’t asked for a moment to walk it off – it would spoil the mood.

So instead she decided to turn and kneel on the sofa and lean against the back of it. Her ass perched up and ready for inspection. And she was rewarded for her position by a little spank on her behind.

“You’re such a good girl.”    

Rose wiggled her ass in response. The ache between her thighs from the make-out sessions and the blowjob was bordering on painful. And the little wet patch on her underwear showed that.

“Did you enjoy sucking my dick that much?”

Rose nodded as he gripped each of her cheeks.

“Say it.”

He slapped her ass again but this time with a little more force. And Rose threw her head back in enjoyment.

“I loved sucking your dick.”

She panted, she was already extremely turned on – the lack of friction was starting to get realllllly frustrating. She gasped when her underwear was pushed to the side and the air hit her damp pussy, a buzz of a shiver ran over her body from head to toe.

The intrusion of a finger into her wet glove was not unwelcome but still made Rose moan out her surprise. The much needed friction satisfying the frustration he’d caused making her blood pulse around her body faster than before.

He leaned over her form and brushed her hair to one side of her neck and kissed softly against the other side. A complete contradiction to the almost pounding his hand was doing as he thrust in and out of her pussy adding a second finger after two thrusts.

For a moment, he just breathed against her neck and her ear as he continued to fuck her with his fingers.

“I’m not allowed to mark you, am I?”

He asked, his teeth grazing her already bruised throat – the marks Minato had left still not fully healed.

“My – My boss wouldn’t be happy if I showed up with more visible bruises.”

Rose moaned out, struggling to form a sentence with the pleasure he was still bestowing on her. But she emphasised on the ‘visible’ part.

“Well then,” His teeth continued to graze down her neck until her reached her shoulder. “I guess I’ll just have to leave some only where you and I know about them.”

Momoi bite down onto her shoulder and sucked harshly. A rush of pain jolting her forward and her moans muffled into the back of the sofa as he made sure he’d leave a sufficient hickey.

“I can’t, I can’t hold back anymore.”

Momoi said as he released her skin.

He retracted from her, the heat from her back making her sweaty skin shiver. But as he pulled his fingers out of her, her pussy was still hot and begging to be cooled down.

Rose stayed in position panting out the lingering pleasure she was feeling.

She leaned on her arm and peered behind her as she watched Momoi head to a locker – which was probably his. After some fumbling he pulled out a small foil package. And Rose was thankful because her bag was still in the kitchen and she’s not sure her legs were stable enough to go and collect them.

Momoi returned to her but instead of continuing this position, he sat on the sofa and made her straddle his lap.

With the condom on, Rose held the base of his cock and began to lower herself onto him. His width stretching her in ways that made her sting but in a pleasant way.

She let of on his cock when his tip was inside her and she gripped onto his shoulders to support her as she engulfed the rest of him. Momoi gripped her hips and pushed her down on this cock with a gentleness that was refreshing in comparison to the roughness he’d showed her so far.

After full insertion, for a moment they sat still and panted. Their breaths mingling into a hotbox of sexual heat.

Then they began to move, and Rose’s hips lifted Momoi pulled his back to the slammed her back down into his lap. The desperation in both of their movements were evident. It was so blissful and gratifying. Each thrust reaching further and further each time – or that is what it felt like.

“God, I – I want you to cum.”

Momoi said, releasing one side of her hip so he could play with her clit.

At the contact Rose’s head flung back and only didn’t fall off his lap thanks to the hold her nails had on the skin of his shoulders.

It wasn’t long till they’d both reached their orgasms.

She was first to cum, and gladly let Momoi use her pussy until he’d found his own.

Rose was putting her clothes on, while Momoi went downstairs – luckily after putting on his own clothes, probably wouldn’t look good if someone saw a naked man wandering around inside of a cake shop – especially since it had peaked in popularity, mostly due to the ‘prince of pastry’.

Once she was presentable, Rose went back down too.

“Here, these are for you.”

Momoi handed Rose a pale pink box.

“Oh and Miss Fujiwara.”

Momoi said as an afterthought.

Rose placed the box on the counter and opened it.

In the box sat six cupcakes, all pale pink and white. Each intricately decorated into symmetric and tasty looking butterflies.

“Oh my god. These a beautiful.”

Rose smiled at Momoi and he blushed. How cute.

“I almost don’t want to eat them,” Rose’s smiled intensified. “Almost. Thank you, are you sure it’s okay for you to just give these to me?”

Momoi nodded, his cheeks still a little pink.

“That’s really sweet of you. Hey, how about when I finish my drawing, I give it to you as a gift? Fair trade.”

Rose offered as she picked up her sketchbook and put it back in her bag.

“Deal. Maybe I’ll have to get you to design some cake for me sometime.”

He smirked as if he hadn’t even give Rose the option to say no.

Rose’s phone began to ring – telling her that the date was over.

“That’s my cue to leave.”

Rose smiled, and Momoi’s disappeared but he nodded.

“Would you like me to take you home?”

Rose shook her head. While she was pretty sure Momoi was a good guy under his abrasive personality, after all that had gone on at MJS she couldn’t allow him to do that.

“I’ll get a cab, thank you. It’s getting late, I’m sure you’d like to go home.”

Rose smiled as she collected her things and then picked up the box of other sweet treats she was itching to wrap her lips around.

“Thank you for this evening and the cakes. You’ll be hearing from either myself or Miho in the next few days.”

Rose said as she headed towards the door. Momoi following closely behind.

When she opened the door, she turned towards him and stepped onto her tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek, more of western style goodbye than a traditional Japanese one but she felt rude just bowing after what they’d just done together.

“Good night.”

And that was the end of the date.

Rose had just finished writing up Momoi’s report when her phone rang. She didn’t recognise the number but answered anyway.

“Hello?”

“Akane?”

The use of her first name and the almost shy but puppy like voice used made Rose smile instantly.

“Hey Ryo. I’m so glad you actually called. I was half expecting you to forget, you were always good at that.”

Rose chuckled.

“I’d never forget to ring you!!!”

Ryosuke exclaimed, very defensive.

“Yeah, yeah. So what’s up?”

“I, I, Um. Was wondering if you wanted to hang out tomorrow? Mr. Oh gave me the day off and I want to see you. But Don’t worry if you’re busy!”

Rose smiled, he was so adorable.

“I’m not busy tomorrow. What did you have in mind?”

“Really?! Yay. Um, I dunno I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” There was silence on Ryo’s end for a moment. “Oh I know, can we play mario kart?”

Rose’s smile turned into a grin.

“Didn’t get enough of me beating you when we were kids?”

“Hey! I’ve had a lot of practice. I know I’ll be able to beat you this time!”

Rose laughed. He was always so energetic, it was so refreshing.

“We’ll have to see about that. Do you want to come to mine?”

There was another pause on the phone and Rose wondered if she’d asked anything strange.

“Is, Is that really okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”

Rose was puzzled, he came her house as a kid all the time. And she went to his all the time. Why wouldn’t it be okay?

“N-No reason! Ya, what time should I come to yours? Is it the address on the card you gave me? Do you want me to bring snacks or anything?”

Rose laughed.

“Calm down, Ryo. I can only answer one question at a time. Yes it’s the address on the card and shall we say about one PM ish? And no, I’ll swing by the grocery store after I leave work today.”

“Okay! I can’t wait to see you. Oh, and to finally beat you at Mario Kart.”

Rose shook her head. He was still the same person she knew as a kid and that was such a relief, she was always worried if she found him he’d be completely different.

“Bring it on.”

Rose could hear another voice in the background and by the tone, assumed it was Mr. Oh.

“Ah, yes. Sorry Boss, right away,” Ryosuke’s voice was muffled but Rose could still hear what he was saying. “Akane, I’ve got to go. Mr Oh needs me. I’ll see you tomorrow!”

“Heh, okay. Have a good day!”

Rose hadn’t realised that just by talking to Ryosuke just how much he could affect her mood. She almost didn’t recognise the excitement that came out of her voice as she said goodbye. But she wasn’t bothered.

She was just thinking about what snacks to get for hers and Ryosuke’s Mario Kart date.

Date?  

MJS: @whatdoyouexpectthistime​ @hifftn @smile-smile-ichthys @nitelotus 

[smutmylifeup]

Out Of The Office Drama: Not A Little Boy Anymore.

This chapter takes place before @whatdoyouexpectthistime‘s latest chapter. Which you can find here. 

Rose sat impatiently in her studio. It was half past twelve and Ryosuke would be coming over in about half an hour.

She was really grateful despite the beers that piled up at Miho’s sleepover the night before hadn’t left her with a hangover. This day wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable if she had to contend with a headache.

She’d tidied up as much as she could in her studio – canvas’s, paints and brushes all pushed to one side. Her futon bare for them to use as seating.

Everything was clean enough for when he arrived.

Although, she wasn’t entirely sure why it mattered what state he saw her place in. After all, he saw how messy her room was when he was a kid.

With one glance over her appearance in the mirror, she began to prepare bowls of snacks. After all knowing them they’d end up playing for hours due to their competitiveness. And she’d be an awful hostess if she didn’t feed her guest.

But she still wasn’t sure why she was so giddy and going to efforts she didn’t normally make for anyone, for Ryosuke.

Ding-dong.

Rose glanced at her watch and then looked up. 12:42, he was early. With a quick glance at her appearance in her wall mirror, Rose scuttled and buzzed him up without checking it was him.

She shifted on her feet in front of the door and watched it open like it was slow motion.

“Aw, look at you being a good Pommy and waiting by the door for your master.”

The disappointment on her face was evident. And Minato scowled in response.

“Alright, I get it. The pommy jokes are getting old.”

Rose sighed, letting the disappointment wash out of her system and going with that she was actually annoyed with his dog related jokes.

“Thought you were coming over tomorrow?”

Rose queried, walking back to continue what she was doing. Minato followed her.

“I am, I just couldn’t find my cufflink. This is the only place it could be, since you didn’t allow me to get changed from work before I came here.”

Rose didn’t need to see it to know he was smirking.

After their first roll in the hay, they’d met several times after for no strings attached fun. He was the opposite of Kyobashi and it was a nice change of pace. But she wasn’t sure she liked this impromptu visit. He could of text her in advance.  

“I tidied earlier. If it’s here, it’ll be in that bowl by the futon.”

Rose said motioning with her chin to the ‘living’ area but not making any attempt to find it for him. While they were only fuck buddies, they had a connection – of twisted and lonely hearts, and they trusted each other more than they’d probably care to admit but they both knew it since being ‘fuck buddies’ meant trusting another person.

Minato followed Rose’s instruction and searched in the little bowl of odd titbits she’d find on her floor when she’d actually decide to clean.

“Since when did you tidy?”

Minato called to her.

“I do tidy from time to time. I’m just too busy to do it every day.”

Minato found his cufflink the bowl and then returned to Rose.

“Well whatever. Fancy messing it up again before I head back to the office?”

Minato wrapped his arms around Rose from behind and kissed her neck. And while Rose was never one to turn down an offer of getting her fill of the good stuff. And Minato knew how to fill her with the good stuff.

She wasn’t after that today and it was the furthest thing from her mind, for once.

“Tempting, but I have a friend coming over in about,” Rose checked her watch. “Shit, any moment now.”

Rose wiggled out of Minato’s hold and put the bowls of snacks on the table by the futon.

“You have friends?” Minato said.

“Har Har. Yes I have friends.”

After placing the bowls down, Rose spun around directly into Minato. She looked up at him and he was slightly pouting and that made her chuckle.

“Not the kind of friends we are, you don’t have to get jealous.”

Rose tiptoed and placed a kiss on his cheek as if to appease his possessive side. Not that she had to explain or apologise for anything. They were only fuck buddies after all.

“I’m not, I’m just surprised a Pommy like you has friends.”

Looks like the kiss didn’t appease much because he was still grumpy. And Rose rolled her eyes in response and ushered him to the door.

“You can have me all you want tomorrow.”

“Ugh, you are making me not want to leave.”

Minato responded and dug his heels in as he reached the door.

“You’re coming tomorrow?” Rose asked double checking that just in case he left more hickeys on her she could prepare to hide them from Miho in advance.

“We both will be.”

Minato smirked before planting a quick kiss on Rose’s lips as if to seal his promise and he left as quickly as he showed up.

Rose sighed and was about the shut the door when a familiar and timid copper haired man entered her field of vision.

Man.

It was weird to call him that, but he definitely was not a boy anymore.

“Ryo!” Rose exclaimed.

Her almost exasperated expression quickly turning into one of delight and opening the door as wide as possible to invite him in.

Ryosuke was almost sheepish as he entered Rose’s place. Tiptoeing his way in and looking around like a nervous little puppy.

“Something up?”

Rose asked when his usual happy smile didn’t light up his face when she greeted him.

“Oh! Um, your neighbour was leaving as I arrived and let me up, so I thought I’d surprise you. But, I um, I, I saw that guy leave and thought maybe you were busy.”

He sounded awfully sad. And that made Rose’s heart sting a little.

“Is he your boyfriend?”

Ryo spat out, his eyes looking everywhere but Rose’s as if he didn’t want to hear the answer.

“Er, he’s not.”

Rose said, cocking her own head trying to read the sudden almost shoujo manga style reactions.

“He-He isn’t?”

Ryosuke’s eyes flew open and his mouth hung open a little as he stared at Rose.

“No. The only guy I stand for longer than five minutes is you.”

Rose said matter of factly. And to her answer, Ryosuke blushed about fifty shades of red but he giggled shyly.

“Don’t stand there, come in.” Rose said.

Ryosuke followed, his eyes wide and childlike as he looked around her studio. She gave him a short tour, since there wasn’t much to show him. He sat on Rose’s futon but only after she instructed him to. And Rose sat beside him.    

“I always loved your art. But you’ve gotten so much better. Even better than Mr. Kisaki!”

Ryosuke said proudly as he looked over at the array of canvases leaned up against the wall to the side of him.

“Thanks, I might tell him you said that.”

Rose smirked and waited for-

“No! Please don’t, he’ll make my life a living hell. Even Mr. Oh wouldn’t be able to protect me from his teasing!”

Rose laughed, just as expected. He hadn’t changed a single bit.

“Don’t worry, if he does anything to you, I’ll kick his ass.”

Rose ruffled Ryosuke’s hair but her touch lingered a bit longer than a friendly touch. His hair was so soft, he’d obviously taken good care of it over the years.

“No! I’m not a little boy anymore, I can fight my own battles!”

Ryosuke almost shouted and Rose let her hand naturally fall away from his head. She was a little taken aback by his tone but he was right, she couldn’t keep treating him like the child he used to be.

“Okay, sorry,” Rose said, giving a little chuckle. “You’re important to me though, I can’t help wanting to protect you. Especially since I’ve finally found you again.”

Rose shifted her position on the sofa and leant her head on his shoulder. Why was she being so affectionate? It was like she couldn’t handle not touching him in some way.

She couldn’t see his face but she felt his body tense and relax after a few deep breaths.

“F-Finally?”

Ryosuke said his voice a little flustered.

“Mm, after we moved away – probably about three or fourth months later I ran away from home.”

Rose hadn’t told this story to anyone but Ryosuke needed to hear it. After all he needed to know that she never forgot about him.

“Right back to my old house. It was a bitch of a bus journey and I used all of my allowance to get back to there. When I got to your house I knocked on the door and a strange old lady answered.”

Rose closed her eyes. This memory was still so vivid, like it happened yesterday.

“I thought maybe she was your grandma, so I asked if you were home but she had no idea who you were and shut the door on me. I remember being really pissed off and knocked again but she shouted for me to go away through the door.”

Ryosuke shifted next to her but Rose continued.

“So I went to your neighbour on the other side. And she told me that you didn’t live there anymore and I should go home. I didn’t understand, I ended up sitting outside your house for nearly three hours waiting for you before my parents showed up and took me home. They helped me in my search for you, but we couldn’t find anything. You were gone without a trace.”

Rose paused, it sounded like she gave up.

“But something in my heart told me I’d find you and I never gave up hope. We always said we were connected by the red string of fate.”

She never gave up.  

“I’m sorry you had to go through all that.”

Rose lifted her head. That was so like him to apologise for something that wasn’t even his fault.

“I guess you never found out what happened?”

There was a sadness in his eyes that made Rose gulp as she waited for him to continue.

“I still don’t know the full details but this is what I found out when I got older. One night, probably about a month after you moved. My, my parents were on their way home from work and they were ambushed by a group of men who intended to rob them using a knife as a threat. My dad tried to protect my mum and he ended up getting stabbed. And since my mum was a witness, they stabbed her too.”

Rose’s heart shattered into a million pieces. She knew his parents well, they were wonderful people. So devoted to each other and their son.

Before she knew what she was doing, she’d thrown herself into his lap and was hugging him as tightly as she could without restricting his breathing.

“I, I had no idea,” Rose didn’t even know it, but she was crying and her words were coming out in muffled sobs against his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

“F-for someone who didn’t like hugs, you’re sure hugging me a lot!”

Ryosuke chuckled through his own sobs, his own arms rapping around her without hesitation. Rose had no idea what to say, she’d never dealt with death before. Nor someone dealing with a loss so great. He must have been hurt so much and she wasn’t there to protect him in the most vulnerable moments of his life.

She knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault except the bastards who took two innocent lives. And ruined a child’s life in the process.

“Are-are they?”

Rose said. Already knowing the answer.

“Yeah, they both died at the scene. The paramedics had no chance of saving them.”

It scared her how cold his voice sounded – so unfamiliar, but she couldn’t imagine it sounding any other way. She hugged him tighter his own hold on her tightening too.

He nudged her head out of his shoulder so he could look at her.

“Don’t be sad for me, my parents wouldn’t want that.”

He smiled, with tears streaming down his face. And it was genuine - Rose knew the difference between his fake and genuine smile after all.

“They taught me a lot and I was grateful for how much the loved and cherished me despite our circumstance. After their deaths, I was put in an orphanage since I had no living blood relatives. And I was on the streets a lot and I didn’t go to school much. I’d lost my best friend and parents – I was in such a dark place and some days I didn’t care whether I lived or died. And that’s how I met Mr. Oh he saved me from a gang of men who tried to beat me up.”

He smiled fondly at that memory.

“He was so strong and fierce. He took them all on by himself and only ended up with a cut on his lip.”

Rose would forever be indebted to Mr. Oh.

“He actually reminded me of you,” He said and Rose arched and eyebrow. “No, I didn’t mean I thought of you as a man!”

He quickly defended himself, although Rose didn’t think that at all.

“He had that sense of justice in his eyes and the compassion and warmth that was always around you.”

Rose smiled sadly.

“He took me in and I’ve been with him ever since!”

He beamed, despite what had happened to him. He still remained innocent, grateful and happy.

“He sounds like a good man.”

“He is! He’s the greatest. I hope you can get to know him like I do. Most people don’t look past his scary face.”

Ryosuke’s brow furrowed.

“I’d like that. You’ll have to introduce us properly next time, so I can thank him.”

Rose was torn in half but she took the lead from Ryosuke’s acceptance of what happened.

“I will! You’d really like him, Akane. And I know he’d like you too! I mean he was pretty impressed how you floored Mr. Kisaki. He told Mr Baba and Mr Ichinomiya about it, they teased Mr. Kisaki mercilessly. I tried so hard not to laugh. He was already soooo angry with me.”

Ryosuke chuckled softly, the tears and heartache drifting away into the past to the sound of his laughter.

“It wasn’t hard.”

Rose shrugged as she wiggled into a more comfortable position in his lap. She rested her head against his shoulder and they talked about the years they’d missed out on. Reminisced about old times and Rose teased him like crazy, enjoying his shrill cries of denial and embarrassment.

“So, do you have a girlfriend?”

Rose asked abruptly. And it dawned on her if he did, she probably shouldn’t be sitting in his lap like this but there were no ‘sexual’ undertones so it was okay, right?

“What?! Why do you ask that?”

He screeched in her ear.

“Why not?”

Ryosuke fidgeted under Rose and she chuckled at his reaction. Still so innocent, so the answer was probably-

“I, I don’t. I’ve never had a, a girlfriend.”

His words were quiet and if Rose wasn’t resting her head so close to his mouth she wouldn’t have heard him.

For some reason, that made her a little bit happy.

Perhaps because she wasn’t ready to share him since they’d just been reunited. Yeah that was it.

“Do-Do you have a boyfriend?”

Ryosuke blurted out.

“I don’t. Didn’t I tell you that earlier?”

“N-No! You just said that guy wasn’t your boyfriend! Who was he anyway? Ah! You don’t need to tell me if you don’t want to!”

Ryosuke asked and flustered. Rose laughed. He still asked so many questions. But her brow quickly furrowed as she tried to find a way to describe this without making him think any less of her.

“A business associate.”

That wasn’t a lie really, after all she met him through MJS.

“What kind of business are you working in?”

Now that was a harder question. She didn’t want to lie to him but she also wasn’t allowed to divulge the protocols and confidentiality agreements that she signed when she joined MJS not matter how much she trusted him.

Best to be ‘vague’.

“Matchmaking and wedding planning agency.”

Ryosuke laughed and Rose lifted her head to look at him.

“What’s so funny?”

“You! I can’t picture you helping people fall in love. You hate people.”

Rose wanted to tell him off but the sound of his laughter was too adorable to be mad at.

“I guess, but I don’t have to deal with too many people. And the people I work with are great. The women I was with at the art gallery works there – her name is Jazz and she’s as feisty as they come. I’ll have to take you to meet Miho, although she’d tease you senseless.”

Rose said thinking that maybe her boss would have a field day with how puppy-like Ryosuke was.

“Wh-What?!”

He exclaimed but Rose continued.

“You’d like H. She’s real sweet and friendly.”

Ryosuke watched Rose smile and smiled along with her. He never imagined the loner she used to be would grow up to be a little social butterfly.

“Maybe I can bring you by the office sometime. I’ll ask Miho when I’m next there.”

Rose said to herself more than Ryosuke. It was only the sound of him yawning that drew her attention away from her plans of her childhood friend meeting her work family.

She lifted her watch towards her eyes and notice the time 7:29pm.

Shit. They’d been talking for nearly eight hours. It was amazing how much catching up they had done and there was still so much more they hadn’t said.

“Are you tired?”

Ryosuke shook his head but yawned again. Much like a child trying to stay awake past their curfew.

“Well you gave yourself away there,” Rose sighed and pushed herself up ready to get a blanket so he could nap. “Do you want to take a nap?”

Rose was pulled back into his chest in his sleepy state.

“Nooo! Don’t move, you’re warm!”

His hold on her grew tighter as he wailed his displeasure of Rose trying to move.

“You’ll get neck ache if you sleep like that.”

Rose chuckled, she couldn’t help it. He was so cute.

“Shhh. Sleeping.”

He nuzzled his face against her hair and then his movements stilled and his breathing got heavier.

“Fall asleep really fast still? Jeez.”

While Rose was complaining, she didn’t mean a single word of it. She was just happy to be sitting here with him. She took a deep breath through her nose and caught a wiff of his cologne. It was manly, oaky with a twist of something fruity. Nothing like the sweet and candy like smell she remembered him smelling of as a child.

Rose smiled at the memory as she closed her eyes and nuzzled into his arms.

She always wanted to be the one to protect him, even if he grew bigger and stronger than her – which he had. The tense of his biceps against her back were a clear indicator despite his gentle touch. However, sitting in his arms like this, she felt so safe, secure and protected.

She didn’t see him as a little boy anymore.

That was her last thought as she began to fall asleep.

She awoke to the sound of cheerful humming. The desire to roll over and get away from the noise since she was so cosy and warm was restricted by a firm hold.

Lazily, her eyes opened. The darkness that was around told her that is was the middle of the night and the desire to return to sleep grew greater. However the humming reverberated against the chest she was snuggled against and made it difficult for sleep to come to her again.

“Why are you so happy?”

Rose said, her voice coming out as dull and as sleepy as she felt.

“Wah! You’re awake?!”

Ryosuke shouted in response, his body becoming stiff and less comfortable.

“Hard not to be when you’re humming in my ear. And don’t answer my question with a question.”

While her words were lacklustre, she smiled at his reaction.

“I’m sorry, I, I didn’t mean to wake you. Ah, I just woke up and you, you were still sleeping in my arms and I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful and cute – Ah I didn’t mean cute.”

Rose chuckled as he continued to fumble over his own words.

“So I’m not cute?”

Rose lifted her head enough to look at his face and thanks to the city lights sparkling through her window, she could see the blush all over his cheeks. And his eyes widened after Rose asked her oh so innocent question.

“Um, no! I mean yes, you are cute. But Ah.”

Rose leant her head back against his shoulder and sighed contently. One of her favourite past times was teasing this little bundle of cuteness but that wasn’t why she was happy. No one had ever called her cute before and it made her happy – not that she’d tell anyone that. Miho would have a riot teasing the ever stone faced Rose about being ‘cute’.

She could feel him fidgeting under her and decided while she was probably insanely comfortable and could stay in this position forever, he probably had pins and needles in every part of his body.

Getting up and out of his lap she stood and stretched. Her relaxed muscles reluctantly coming back to life.

“Are, are you mad?”

Ryosuke stuttered from his sitting position. And Rose turned towards him mid-stretch. Her heart swelled when she caught a glimpse of his crestfallen face.

“No.”

She said genuinely and thankfully Ryosuke beamed back at her. Only to be interrupted by the alien gurgling in her belly.

“We should probably eat though.” Rose chuckled.

The snacks she had prepared earlier weren’t going to sufficient enough to sustain both of them until breakfast. So she whipped up two simple rice dishes she’d learnt to make as a kid when her parents weren’t around.

“I should probably get going soon.”

Ryosuke said scratching the back of his neck like he didn’t really want to leave.

Rose scowled and looked at her watch. It was just after midnight and with all the recent going on’s at MJS, the idea of him not staying the night hadn’t entered her head.

“No.”

She said simply, clearing away the dinner plates.

“No?”

Ryosuke repeated.

Rose wasn’t facing him and she was glad – she was sure the worry on her face was probably evident. But she couldn’t tell him about the dangers her job had put on one of her co-workers recently. That was a breach not only of the MJS protocol but Police protocol too.

She wasn’t worried for herself, she didn’t want anything to happen to him. No matter how much he’d grown up, how much stronger he had gotten, he was still so very precious to her. No one at this point knew what this weird creeper wanted or was after. He had only targeted Miho so far but that didn’t mean he wasn’t watching all of them. And if she was the reason for him getting in danger – she would never be able to forgive herself.

But it wasn’t just that. She didn’t want him to leave, not just because of the creeper.

“We haven’t played a single game of Mario Kart.”

She shrugged, hoping her voice hid the truth from him.

“You’re right! I haven’t shown you just how good I’ve gotten!”

Rose sighed in relief.

“Mhm, I wanna see this so called improvement.”

Rose had put the dishes on the counter and returned to Ryosuke who was still sat at the small dining table. She took his hand without a second thought and let their hands mould into one before pulling him back towards the sofa.

It was simple and innocent but it was something Rose wouldn’t dream of doing with anyone other than him. It made her heart palpitate and made her skin tingle to touch him. What that meant, Rose sure as hell wouldn’t be able to explain.

As experienced and attune to people and their emotions and feelings – she could not understand her own. Instead she chose to ignore them for the moment. So much had gone on recently – she’d attribute it to that. Even if it didn’t make sense.

For now it seemed easier to brush off the complexity of the emotions she felt and focus on the positives. She was just pleased to be sitting next to Ryosuke and still whooping his ass at Mario Kart until the early hours of the morning. Until they both fell asleep – laying down side by side this time, curled up in each other’s arms. Nothing like how they’d fall asleep next to each other when they were kids.  

MJS - @whatdoyouexpectthistime @smile-smile-ichthys @hifftn @nitelotus

[smutmylifeup]

Out Of The Office Drama: Badass Bitches.

Role-played with @hifftn . 

Jazz quickly smoothed down her dress and took a deep breath. This gallery was in a nice street, nothing shady, so she wanted to look nice, too. When Rose told her about some of Jinpachi’s photos shown in this gallery Jazz really wanted to see them. It had been ages after all and she was curious if his work had changed. And since Rose was an artist, too, Jazz hoped she could point out the finer details of the pictures and paintings there since Jazz had no clue when it came to art. She knew what she liked and what not, but it was more gut feeling, not knowledge.

She smiled when she entered the gallery, spotting Rose immediately.

The SCAI Bathhouse art gallery Rose had come to was tucked away in an old neighbourhood in Taito-ku. While it was still a busy district, it was a far cry from the central regions. While she waited for Jazz to arrive. She looked around - Although the 200-year-old former bathhouse had been renovated as a white-walled art space, it retained evocative details such as the wooden lockers where bathers would have stored their shoes before going for a soak. It was exactly what Rose expected. And it fitted the whole contemporary ambience.

She was a little surprised when Jazz asked to join her - she wasn't sure art was Jazz's thing. But as soon as she mentioned Jinpachi's latest exhibit she made it quite apparent that at some point he had been her 'thing'.

It was an impressive gallery, old interior meeting new purpose.

“Hi. Sorry I’m late, I had a last minute call about some flowers for a wedding tomorrow. Did you wait long?”

Jazz hugged Rose briefly, something the younger woman just let happen without showing much of a reaction. Jazz always marvelled at her straight face. For someone who studied expressions so seriously Rose was really level-headed herself.

“Mm not really. You find this place okay?”

Rose wasn’t really one for affection unless it was during or after sex, but even then she’d only allow it on her terms.

She liked Jazz so she didn’t mind.

She handed her a brochure of the exhibits in the gallery but left it open on the page she knew Jazz was only really here to see.

“Yeah, thanks. I’ve been around here before, ages ago.” Actually the last time was for the same reason – Jinpachi had an exhibition and brought her along. Was that really already four years ago? She briefly shook her head.

“Is there a bar somewhere? I could need a glass of wine.” Maybe to gather the courage to actually look at the pictures. The brochure said they were from that Africa-trip Jin had left for back then.

Rose looked at Jazz for a moment. It was almost like she was nervous but not in an ‘I don’t want to do this’ way. It wasn’t her place to ask – so she didn’t. Instead she turned her attention to the brochure to look up the answer to Jazz’s question.

“There’s a bar in the garden area. Wanna start there?”

She didn’t need a verbal answer to that question as Jazz began to walk in a direction that could have lead them anywhere. She was like a bloodhound on the scent of a fox. And Rose had to hold in a snicker as she followed behind.  

With a glass of wine in her hand Jazz felt more at ease.

“So, tell me about the part of the exhibition you came for. It was a painting, right?” She took a sip and looked around. Paintings, sculptures, photographs – everything in one gallery. And Jazz had no clue about anything of this.  

They slowly walked through the rooms until they reached the photos. There was no mistaking who took them. The same style. The same beauty. And still Jazz could look at them without a hint of wistfulness. That was a good sign, wasn’t it?

“Yeah, Ota Kisaki’s painting. This is the reveal of his latest piece that isn’t commissioned work. He hasn’t released anything for nearly a year. And his last piece wasn’t his best, so I’m hoping we haven’t wasted a trip here.”

Rose was talking more than she ever had to Jazz.

“Somehow it managed to be kept out of the headlines and only a certain people in the art underground scene know about it.”

Rose realised she was rambling and quickly stopped. Not that Jazz was listening or bothered by how much she was talking. She was intently staring at each photograph and studying it with a keen eye.  

If it wasn’t for the sign that said ‘no touching the exhibits’ she would imagine Jazz tracing her fingers along the outlines of each photo. But her eyes did that instead. There was softness in the eyes that stared at the photos – a fondness that made Jazz’s smile so much younger.

Rose looked around the room before getting her camera out.

There was a sign in each room saying ‘no photographs’ but Rose couldn’t miss the opportunity that had just presented itself. Jazz’s eyes were piercing, confident and striking in their colour but right now, they were calm and soft.

‘Click’ ‘Click’

“Kisaki? Isn’t that the one they call the ‘angelic artist’?”

Jazz frowned slightly, turning back towards Rose. The photos were great but Jazz was also interested in what Rose was saying. After all she didn’t know much about her and ever since that lapdance battle she had barely seen her.

“I saw him on TV the other day. That guy gives me the creeps.”

Rose lowered her camera and then put it back in her bag and nodded. A little surprised Jazz hadn’t reacted to a camera in her face. But if she was a friend of Jinpachi’s she was no doubt used to being photographed.

“Mhm, I somehow don’t agree that that name is the real him. More of a marketing strategy.”

She too had seen him several in interviews. He was sickly sweet and to most people the title ‘Angelic Artist’ fitted him perfectly. But there was something in his eyes that was dark and sinister.

“These photos are great, huh?” Rose tipped her chin towards the wall where they sat. “He captures beauty that feels entirely out of reach yet still somehow attainable.”

Rose saw the MJS ladies as family and while she wasn’t one to pry into other people’s business, she wanted to know them better. These were the only people, other than perhaps her parents, Kyobashi and her childhood friend that accepted her for her undesirable and sometimes frustrating personality.

“If you like those – I still have some photos he took. I can’t show you all of them, but yeah. Some very impressive shots from the roof of our apartment house back then.” The sunset Jinpachi captured once was one of Jazz’s favourites.  She tore her attention away from Jinpachi and his work.

“Well, where is this one of a kind painting? I’m really curious now to see it.”

“I’d like that, thanks. Hm, I think it’s supposed to be in the next room.” Rose’s brow furrowed. “But I passed that room on the way in and there was nothing in there.”

With a little shrug of their shoulders, they went in search of Ota Kisaki’s newest piece. Rose wouldn’t be happy if the information she’d come across would have been a total dud.

Although, this girl time with Jazz was turning out to be a pleasant experience. Rose hadn’t had much luck with girls as friends – for whatever reason they tended to give her a wide birth or only try to be her friend so they could get free or discounted clothes from her parent’s boutique. And for the most part, Rose didn’t mind not having people who would use her anywhere near her. But that didn’t mean she didn’t crave some girl friends to hang around with.  

“You know, he will come to Miho’s wedding,” Jazz suddenly said and when she saw Rose’s questioning gaze she added: “Jinpachi. He will come to the wedding and take the pictures of the bridal couple. I could introduce you to him if you want.”

She looked around in the room with the paintings.

“Hm, usually I would start looking where the crowd is but there isn’t any. Weird. Is it still too early?”

“That would cool, thanks. My expertise may not be in photography but if I could capture things the way he does, I’d be able to paint better.”

Rose smiled at Jazz before following her eyes around the room. She was right, there was practically no one around.

No cameras, no hordes of fangirls, no security.

Just one man stood alone in a room. Who looked just as irritated as Rose felt.

“Hm, maybe he’ll know?”

Rose stepped forward towards the man with his back to them. He was emitting a dangerous ‘do not approach’ aura but Rose didn’t give a shit.

“Excuse me.” Rose said.

The man’s attention snapped to Rose and she almost punched him as a reflex. And part of her wished she had when she looked into his face.

It was Ota Kisaki himself.

Jazz was just as surprised as Rose but quickly stepped closer, just in case the artist reacted like his expression made believe – rude. Although he quickly put a smile on his face it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Talk about luck,” Jazz casually said. “We came to see the painting but instead we meet the artist. Mr. Kisaki, it is a pleasure. Please let me say that I really liked that ‘nightingale’ painting back then.”

It was the only painting of him she knew and she probably wasn’t even able to actually recognize it, but she wanted to diffuse the sudden tension. Awkward…

Rose shook of the initial, ‘erm what the fuck’ but said nothing.

“Thanks. It’s always nice to meet people that appreciate my work.” He said.

The tone in his voice made Rose’s brow furrow. He sounded exasperated at being spoken to by them. As if their opinions didn’t matter.

“Mm, the nightingale was by far your least innovative piece. I’d never been so bored at an exhibit my entire life.”

Rose shrugged, her own tone exasperated by this stuck up brat. While she hadn’t intended on insulting perhaps one of the most famous artists in Japan at the moment. She also didn’t give credit where credit wasn’t due.

Jazz chuckled but tried to hold it in. Instead she cleared her throat.

“Well, that’s why they say that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, right? But I have to admit, I’m a traditionalist. I have no clue when it comes to abstract art. I like to be able to tell what a painting is showing.”

She quickly took a sip of her wine. Rose was the expert here but she was also incredibly blunt. And Jazz liked it. Ota Kisaki was exactly how she had pictured him and after working with people for so long already, after all her experience in profiling men Jazz simply knew that something was off with him.

“But I was really looking forward to seeing your painting here. What happened? Wasn’t it supposed to be here?”

It was plain as day to see that Rose had cracked his ‘Angelic Artist’ mask in that one sentence. He obviously had thought they were just two more of his excess of fangirls.

But they weren’t. Rose understood art and could appreciate the effort and time made in creating the visual. And Jazz, while maybe not that interested in art knew how to throw punches of her own without needing to have expert knowledge in things.

“I’m not sure who to be more insulted by.”

Ota smiled as he faced Jazz but his eyes were on Rose. Almost like a predator searching for weakness in its prey.

“It’s late arriving but it’s on its way. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Although he wasn’t the least bit sorry. That was clear from every inch of his being.

“It is an inconvenience.” Rose said.

“That’s why I apologised.”

“Your apology won’t let me see the painting after all and I’m not here to see the artist, but the art,” Rose snarled.

Ota just smiled at Rose, clearly amused by how much she was taking the bait he was laying down for her. And Rose wished she’d punched him. She was used to ignoring or sassing back but something about him made her hackles go up.

His eyes practically bulged out of his head when they travelled down to her neck – her collar hickey, one in which Miho advised her to cover for the next clients, was hardly visible due to the greatness of a little bit of makeup. If you looked long and hard enough, you could still see it.  

“Oh, we didn’t intend to insult you,” Jazz assured him, but she didn’t apologize. For what? Saying the truth? She watched Rose and Ota eying each other and cleared her throat.

“Mr. Kisaki, you said the painting is late. But it will definitely arrive, right? Well, maybe we can look around some more – maybe get another glass of wine – and come back later.”

She nudged Rose gently. “I would be fine with having another look at Jin’s photos otherwise.”

She just wanted to drag Rose away when she noticed someone carrying a huge covered package – maybe a painting? She didn’t dwell on that too long for the man who was walking in behind the walking painting was someone she knew.

Rose too was distracted by the appearance of a large object and two men.

While Rose wasn’t one to be easily intimidated – the man following behind, what was probably Ota’s latest piece, stood tall and his face was a chiselled into a deathly glare that could potentially kill with one look. Much like her own at times.

Jazz had wrapped her hand around Rose’s arm prior to the arrival of the strangers but it lingered and she stood still as if ghost had just appeared.  

The man holding the canvas was hidden but if he looked anything like the scary man, Rose didn’t quite mind so much.

“Oh,” Jazz breathed, taken by surprise.

“That’s Mr. Oh to you,” a muffled voice behind the canvas answered, making Jazz blink and said Mr. Oh roll his eyes.

“Shut up, Inui,” he growled but the crease between his eyebrows lessened when he looked at Jazz. “Miss Mann, I haven’t expected you here.”

Jazz’s grip on Rose’s arm tightened slightly before she relaxed again.

“Neither did I, Mr. Oh.” She emphasized the ‘mister’, making him smile weakly.

Inui? That name sounded familiar to Rose somehow but she quickly shrugged it off. Noticing how the grip Jazz had on her had increased and she immediately went into protective Rottweiler mode.

She’d stepped forward slightly so she was just in front of Jazz but not too far that the secure hold she had of Rose was broken.

Rose was pretty sure neither Ota nor this ‘Mr Oh’ would start anything, especially in a public place, but the warning was there from her stature.

“Hm, Sor you actually know a woman?”

Ota questioned, his brow lifting and a smirk lacing his face in a teasing manner. Rose shot him a quick glare, although she barely knew either of the men there, she knew well enough ‘Mr Oh’ did not look like a man that tolerated or enjoyed being teased.

“Jealous, Mr. Kisaki?” Jazz shot back with a sweet smile. She gently pulled Rose back and patted her arm briefly before she let go.

“Is that the painting? In that case we have been waiting for you, So- Mr. Oh,” she quickly corrected her way to address him, mostly to prove a point to Ota. He was a really annoying man.

“Oh, yes. We had a small – accident on the way here.” Soryu cleared his throat once and Jazz didn’t even want to ask what kind of accident. Some staff from the gallery came over to help with putting the painting into place. Jazz and Rose watched them uncovering the painting, Rose with shining eyes, Jazz still distracted by the presence of Soryu. She definitely needed more wine.

With Rose now settled back into artist mode, she stood side by side with Jazz.

She stared at the painting, following each flick of Ota’s skilled handiwork – while she wasn’t going to take back her previous insult on the ‘nightingale’ piece he’d done, his technique was immaculate in everything he did. You couldn’t flaw him for how he could capture the realness in a contemporary piece.

For a moment, she just stood there – zoning out Jazz and the strangers around her. She admired it not as a fellow artist but as person. With studying art, she often forgot the most important question:

‘How does it make you feel?’

Suddenly, the shitty way she interacted with Ota felt a bit unnecessary and unjust. His painting screamed loneliness to her. But not of her own loneliness but of Ota’s.

She could relate more than she cared to admit. And with the materials other than just paint used, he’d obviously spent a considerable amount of time of this piece.

“This might be your best piece yet.”

Rose sighed, she didn’t like admitting defeat to anyone. Especially a man like Kisaki but she gives credit where credit is due.

“I think so too,” Ota was stood unreasonably close to Rose. “I agree with you about the ‘Nightingale’ by the way. Wasn’t my finest hour but people liked it and it sold for a nice price. So can’t complain.”

He’d been watching her as she inspected his work and he’d seen the own loneliness in her eyes. And for some reason that made him feel the need to be honest.

Rose rolled her eyes, there was more to art than money.

“You know, when you were looking at my painting. You looked like my Koro. You even have a collar.”

He said turning fully towards her. Rose stood still facing his painting. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of her attention. She also ignored his comment about the hickeys on her neck. What she did in her free time was none of his business and she wouldn’t let him get the better of her.  

“What’s a Koro?”

He waved his hands dismissively.

“It makes me want to draw you.”

In the silence that followed that sentence, Jazz let out a little chuckle.

“That’s normally Rose’s line.”

Miho had shown Jazz the drawing of Shusei she’d done and was aware that she’d done some sort of drawing of Miho. And even Kyobashi had probably mentioned something about ‘she painted him like one of her French girls’ unable to keep his mouth shut about something like that.

“Ota isn’t your studio under renovations?”

Mr Oh asked from where he stood a safe distance away but still next to Jazz.

“Yeah, I have stuff at the penthouse I can use.”

Ota shrugged, dismissing Mr Oh like he wasn’t a dangerous looking man.

“You know Eisuke won’t allow you to bring a strange woman back there. Do I need to remind you what he did to Baba?”

He said, suddenly growing in stature.

Baba? Wasn’t that the guy H and Rose had a lapdance battle on? This was one really small world.

“But that’s not fair, you get to take your puppy to the penthouse all the time.”

Ota moaned like a small, petulant child. Which is entirely what he was – albeit in an adults body.

“I’m not a puppy!”

Rose had to find where the voice came from, Mr Oh and Ota commanded a lot of attention but the other male stuck to the side-lines. Something about that voice rang familiar in Rose’s ears.

She’d now lost all interest in Ota and his painting.

“You are talking as if she had already agreed,” Jazz said, almost casually, but she was wary of this. So far she hadn’t gotten the impression that Rose was keen on being in Mr. Kisaki’s presence. And although he was a great artist, it didn’t mean he could simply do everything he liked.

“I think it’s too gloomy, by the way. Looking at it makes me sad.” She motioned towards the painting and shrugged. “A very sad painting.”

Soryu looked at her intently and Jazz sighed. “I really, really need another glass of wine now. Are you coming, Rose? Or should I get you something?”

It was Rose’s decision to stay or to come with Jazz. She wouldn’t order Rose around but she would stay near in case Mr. Kisaki took liberties with the young woman.

“I think I need a whiskey, make it double.”

Rose said while was still eyeing the man that arrived with Mr Oh. She could sense Jazz’s gaze and briefly looked at her and gave her solid nod as if to say ‘I’ll be alright’.

“See, Koro wants to stay with her Master.” Ota said.

His arm hand wrapped around her shoulder and rested there for less than a second before Rose had twisted it backwards and pressed it against his back until his taller frame buckled under her smaller one and she was now crouched over his body.

“Did you not read the signs? They said no touching.” Rose said.

Her voice was cold and emotionless. It even seemed to impress Mr Oh as he crossed his arms and watched the scene unfold in front of him.

“What the fuck, Soryu get her off me!”

Jazz chuckled at the sad display of Ota being a sore loser but she was proud of Rose especially after all the unfortunate events of late.

“Mr. Oh, would you want to join me on my way to the bar?” she innocently asked and Soryu tilted his head slightly but followed her with a tiny smirk, leaving Ota at Rose’s mercy.

Once at the bar both of them were silent except for ordering their drinks – which Soryu paid before Jazz could object.

“You never cashed that check,” he suddenly said and Jazz shrugged.

“I couldn’t stop thinking where that money might come from,” she honestly answered. There was no use in sugar-coating things, although she still didn’t want to hurt him.

“I – I shouldn’t have lied to you.” He seemed still remorseful and Jazz had to suppress her bitter chuckle.

“No, you shouldn’t have. But you did and I had to take appropriate steps.” Her face softened a bit. “That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy that date.”

Rose held Ota tightly in her grasp after Jazz and Mr Oh’s departure. While it was unlikely he’d try anything again. She wanted to make sure he understood just how easily she could break him.

“Akane?”

Rose froze.

The use of her real name, the way he said it. It couldn’t be, it really couldn’t be. Rose was afraid to turn around. But she fought that off as she finally let Ota go and got up.

She turned around, expecting to see the little boy who’d been her only friend in her childhood years. However, she was met with the hopeful gaze of the man who had come in with Mr Oh.

“Ryosuke?”

Her voice came out in almost a whimper.

“Akane.”

He repeated, her name no longer a question on the tip of his tongue. It sounded exactly the same way when she introduced herself to him all those years.

Like a shojo manga, Rose briskly walked the short distance into Ryosuke’s chest and held onto him for dear life.

He put a foot backwards to steady himself from the force of her embrace before hesitantly wrapping his arms around her. He was so much taller than she was now and he was firm and slightly muscular in her grasp. Nothing like the scrawny, short boy he used to be.

Ryosuke’s arms fell off Rose’s back.

“Ah, I forgot you don’t like hugs!”

Rose sobbed out a chuckle into his chest. While she wasn’t crying, she was close to. She’d never been so grateful for him to now finally remember that she didn’t like hugs.

“Right now I like them, so hug me back, you damn idiot!”

While the words to anyone else would have been muffled and not the least bit understandable. Ryosuke heard them as clear as day and he hesitantly once more wrapped his arms around her.

“I thought I was never going to find you.”

She brought her face of his chest and looked up at him. He was so handsome, his jaw was chiselled. His hair soft and the light reflected so beautifully of each strand. His eyes were still so innocent and she was really happy to see that life hadn’t taken its toll on him.

He still blushed at the smallest things. She’d only been staring for perhaps a few seconds but his cheeks had turned a bright shade of crimson.

She’d really, really missed him.

“Um, Akane. Mr Kisaki is glaring at me.”

He whispered to Rose.

“Mr Kisaki needs to think back to a moment ago when I had him pinned to the floor.”

Rose said loud enough so that Ota could hear her. She wouldn’t let anyone ruin this moment. Especially not a little piece of shit like him.

“I can’t believe you did that! I remember when you used to do that to me.”

Ryosuke laughed, that same childlike innocent laugh of pure happiness. A sound she used to roll her eyes at as a kid. She now wanted to set it as her text tone, her ringtone, her alarm clock and listen to it on her iPod and put it on repeat.

Eventually, Rose let him go. She could feel him wriggling under Ota’s intense stare and she didn’t want him to be uncomfortable. But she held onto his hands. Just in case he’d disappear at any second again.

Jazz sipped her wine and took Rose’s whiskey, turned around to go back.

“You are looking good, by the way.” Soryu’s voice was calm, just like she remembered it.

“Thank you. I try to take care of myself. Learned how to cook Japanese food. Did you make process with your cooking?” She smiled at the memory of the burnt fish and even more when she saw the slight blush on his cheeks.

“Not really.”

“Don’t worry. You have other – qualities.” She chuckled lowly, suddenly aware that she probably should stop drinking here. Or at least stop flirting. His blush intensified.

“Thank you.”

Without another word he followed her back to Ota’s painting.

“I got married, by the way,” he suddenly said.

“You did? Congratulations.” Jazz smiled brightly. “I was rooting for you.”

“Got divorced last month, though.”

Her smile vanished. “Sorry.” This was awkward.

“No, it’s fine. I think next time I try being honest from the start. Do you think…?” The unfinished question hung between them for a moment until Jazz cleared her throat.

“I think if you do that you will eventually find the one.” She nodded once and turned towards Rose only to find her in an embrace with a young man, a pouting Kisaki standing next to them.

“Wow… I leave you alone for three minutes and you find the cutest guy around here? I’m so proud of you,” Jazz teasingly said and handed Rose her drink.

“Mr. Kisaki, close your mouth. That doesn’t look very smart.”

Whether it was due to the abundance of emotions running through her system or just Jazz taking the piss out of Ota – she wasn’t sure but Rose actually let out a laugh. Much to Jazz’s and even Ryosuke’s surprise.

“Thanks.” Rose said taking her drink from Jazz. Although, she no longer needed it. She was drunk off happiness.

“What’s going on?”

Mr Oh scowled, his eyes flitting between Ryosuke and Rose.

“Seems the puppies know each other.” Ota said.

His voice thick with either jealousy or bitterness of rejection. Probably both.

“I’m sorry, Mr Oh,” Ryosuke started to fluster under his Boss’ fierce gaze but he too seemed reluctant to actually part from Rose. “Do you remember my friend I told you about before you took me in? This is her, Akane Hiraoka.”

“Hiraoka? As in the daughter of the designers Hiraoka Haute-couture?” Ota said.

His sullen face suddenly turning into a very interested expression. Rose wasn’t surprised that Ota knew who her parents were, hell everyone knew. Which is why she hated using her name. It gave her the advantage she didn’t want.

“That’s her!”

Ryosuke chimed proudly. And if Rose had the capacity to feel bashful she would have blushed.

“You keep getting more and more interesting.”

Ota’s smirk was incredibly creepy. And even Rose felt an unpleasant shiver run up her spine.

“Ota,” Mr Oh warned. “Nice to meet you, Ms Hiraoka.”

Mr Oh bowed at Rose much to pretty much everyone’s surprise. Whether he respected her for putting Ota in his place, appreciation for the relationship she and Ryosuke had or he didn’t want to be rude to Jazz’s friend – it wasn’t clear.

“You too,” Rose nodded back. Ryosuke seemed to beam even wider when his Boss and his friend became fully acquainted. “Call me Rose though, please.”

“Rose?”

Ryosuke questioned, his head tilting to the side that like a confused puppy. Making Rose chuckle and shake her head.

“We’ll have to catch up later, Ryo. I think we’ve caused enough trouble here as it is.”

Rose looked at Jazz who was still smiling merrily as she sipped from her wine glass. She was pleased that whatever history she and Mr Oh had, she wasn’t the least bit affected by.

MJS seriously had some badass bitches.

“But we’ve got so much catching up to do!” Ryosuke pouted.

“And we will,” Rose fished in her bag for one of her cards with her studio address and mobile number. “when you’re free. You better call me. Or I’ll put you on the floor like I did Kisaki.”

It was said in such a serious tone, Ota physically recoiled a little. Ryosuke knew Rose better than to take that threat seriously. Even Jazz let out a little snicker, probably at Ota’s expense.

“Hey Rose, I’m not one to interrupt. But didn’t you have a client soon?”

Jazz said from her spot in the room. Rose looked at her watch and back to Ryosuke. She too wanted more time but right now her job wouldn’t allow that.

“Yeah.” Rose said.

Finally she let go of his hands and she suddenly felt cold, despite the temperature not changing in the slightest. But she still smiled as she looked back up at Ryosuke.

“You better call me.”

She prodded his chest and waited for him to nod his head before turning back to Jazz.

“It was nice to see you again, Mr Oh.”

Jazz smiled and nodded her head at him. The tension between them broken and the fragments blown away in the metaphorical wind. He said nothing but smiled somewhat sweetly before nodding his head back to her.

“I’d like to say it was a pleasure to meet you, Mr Kisaki.” Jazz turned to Ota as she linked arms with Rose. “But it really wasn’t.”

And with that, the two women left the art gallery. Rose hadn’t even taken a sip from her whiskey but she’d never felt so drunk in her life. It didn’t feel real.

But she knew it was real from the way Jazz was hanging off her arm and smiling at her like a goof mimicking Rose’s own smile no doubt. Which she hadn’t realised was still plastered on her face as they hailed a taxi.

Taking Jazz to her destination before dropping Rose off at the bar where she was meeting her next client.    

 MJS: @smile-smile-ichthys @whatdoyouexpectthistime @nitelotus @hifftn 

[whatdoyouexpectthistime]

MJS Marriage Matchmaking Agency - Open For Business!

A girls’ night was never as successful as that fateful evening, Selina, Jazz and Miho congregated atop the roof of Jazz’s building with several bottles of good wine. Who exactly came up with the idea of a marriage matchmaking agency was clouded by the amount they drank, but in the days following that, they all thought long and hard about the perks and pitfalls.

Mostly the perks.

There was no shortage of money to establish their new venture, and no shortage of knowledge to ensure nothing was left to chance. There were medical screenings to take care of, and for that Miho line up some on the side work for collarbone fetishist, Luke Foster, while Jazz signed lawyer Maruyama Takao - the latter took a little more convincing, but ultimately, the lure of a substantial discount on MJS Marriage Matchmaking Agency services in the future proved too much, even for his delicate sensibilities. Jani, on the other hand, had absolutely no difficulties in convincing Baba to jump on board; someone had to scout out the female clients of course and ensure they were of as marriageable material as the gents.

What more did they need?

The concept was quite simple. Clients seeking an easier way to marriage enlisted MJS’s services: signed some pretty impressive nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements to ensure the security of all involved, undertook some routine medical tests, answered some basic questions, agreed to have their finances probed and then… the road test.

MJS is a collaborative project comprising conceptually connected oneshots from myself, @nitelotus and @hifftn . Keep an eye out for the banner!