I watched Ryu dress, the skin I'd recently paid so much attention to disappearing bit by bit. He had begun spending more nights at my house. I'd never enjoyed waking up next to someone to the same degree.

"Why don't you bring some things over?" I suggested, "That way you can just get ready here."

"Okay," he murmured, giving me a shy smile, "I'd like that. We'd have more time to fool around in the mornings."

"I see I'm rubbing off on you. You didn't always like sex so early."

Follow up:

"Well, how can I complain? You get my day started right." He leaned down and kissed me.

"Speaking of getting things started, you stay another minute and I'll have to undress you."

"No, that's okay," he chuckled, "I really do have to go. This will be one of my busier days. But do you want to have dinner tonight, say around 7 PM? You can come to my place."

"Okay, I'll see you then," I told him, pulling the covers up around me, "In the meantime, I'm getting back to sleep because the last few weeks have worn me out."

"How is that possible?" he teased, "You've just been taking pictures, doing interviews and singing out-of-tune songs."

"Get out of here before I maul you---and not in a way you'd like."

With a parting swat on my ass, he was quickly out the door.

 

~~~~~

 

That night, I stopped by Ryu's apartment, and using the key he'd given me, I let myself inside.

"Have you learned nothing from me?" I heard as I opened his door.

Ryu was bent over sheets of paper, which were spread out on his dining room table. Another guy was standing next to him. They both looked at me.

"Hey Koh," Ryu said, "Come meet Jin Tanaka, the person I'm hating right now."

"Oh, I recognize him from TV," the person named Jin said. He was a tall, lanky man with shoulder length black hair. His brown eyes held some mischief in them and that was confirmed with his next comment.

"Did you know it was thanks to me that you're stuck with this guy?"

I glanced at Ryu questioningly.

"Jin knows Kenjiro," Ryu explained, "and he took me to Ken's club. Niccolo was there too but you probably didn't see either of them there."

"No, his eyes were on you," Jin joked, "If he'd seen me, you'd have had no chance." Ryu laughed and punched him on his arm.

"Actually I did see Niccolo at the club," I said, "Kenjiro explained who he was. I didn't notice Jin though."

"Jin's unnoticeable like that," Ryu joked, earning a return punch from his buddy. I laughed.

It was nice to meet a friend of Ryu's and to hear about another. Usually he spent so much time working that it was hard to believe he'd relax with some buddies. He and Jin, along with Niccolo, were apparently pretty close.

I went to surf the net on Ryu's computer while he and Jin focused again on their task. About half an hour later, Ryu came over to talk to me.

"Hey, are you hungry?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Well, I'm sorry this is taking so long. Jin and I are having a little trouble."

"That's because you won't listen," Jin shouted from his position at the table, "We could have been finished a while ago if you hadn't---"

"Don't even try to blame this on me," Ryu said, laughing.

"How about we get another opinion?" Jin suggested.

"Will you do the honors then?" Ryu asked me.

"What are you two working on?" I questioned, as I walked over to them.

"It's a script about a guardian named Kai," Jin explained, handing me a few sections, "We've tentatively called it The Sentinel. Can you read the dialogue out loud and tell us what you think?"

I paced back and forth, speaking the lines to Ryu and Jin several times.

"These words don't fit the situation," I stated when I finished. Jin smirked knowingly at Ryu.

"Okay Koh, then do you have a better idea?" Ryu wondered.

"From what I've read so far, Kai seems suspicious of this kind of order." I scribbled down some lines, crossed them out and wrote others. "So, how about having him say this?"

They went over my thoughts, looked at each other and then stared at me.

"Show off," they muttered in unison.

"Well, when you have skills..." I chuckled.

I left them alone again, returning to read some of my band's fan mail online. At least once a month, we would make remarks on our official fan club's forum. I saw that Shinji had been on the site two days before, typing out his comments, which were filled with his usual goofy humor.

"Alright," I heard Jin say a short while later, "I have to get home to my beautiful wife."

"Okay, tell Nanami I said hello," Ryu responded, "I'll check my schedule and we'll find a good time to get together again."

"We'll have to. This needs more work. I don't want my name attached to anything you've messed up."

"You make me sound like some amateur. I'm not."

"Could have fooled me."

"Shut up and leave," Ryu ordered, "I'll talk with you later."

"Alright...See you, Kohta."

"Bye Jin."

Jin left and Ryu came over to me. He hugged me from behind.

"That took longer than I expected," he said, kissing my neck.

"It's no problem," I told him, "Jin seems cool. How come he's not around more? You don't often hang out with anyone."

"I prefer it that way. I tend to enjoy solitude. So I need people in my life who understand that. Niccolo and Jin do."

"Do you think I do?"

"Sometimes," he murmured, after taking a few seconds to think. His response hung in the air. It bothered me that it wasn't a solid "yes." I decided to put the issue aside, for the time being.

"So, how are things going at work?" I asked.

He studied my face for a moment, looking as if he wanted to continue the discussion. Then he nodded, as if he'd read my mind about, at least for now, not digging deeper into his previous comment.

"Um, great," he said, "I'm excited about the film we talked about earlier. It's going to take another two years or so to complete. I hope it does as well as Oasis. Anyway, another project is just rumbling in my mind. I'll make a final decision about it soon."

"Will you be getting busier?"

"Yes but it also means the company will be even more successful."

"I hope so. You talk a lot about how well you want to do."

"Yeah...but, enough about that," Ryu said, "Let's eat. I'll make one of my favorite Italian meals. You can help."

While making dinner, he kept on brushing up against me suggestively, turning cooking into a contact sport. I felt surges of lust pass between us. But we put off having sex until after dinner, temporarily setting aside our carnal needs, intensifying our anticipation.

Later on that night in bed, he brought up what we'd avoided earlier.

"When I said that sometimes you don't understand how busy I am, I saw the look on your face. Did I piss you off?"

"I wouldn't say I was pissed but I didn't like hearing it."

"I wasn't trying to make you angry."

"I know. You were just being open...Speaking of being open, I've wanted to bring up something for a while. We'd been together a few months but not until today did I get to meet a friend of yours."

"I'm not trying to hide anything---or anyone---from you."

"Oh no, it's just that I used to date someone who didn't have a lot of close friends. It put a strain on our relationship because she almost always wanted me with her."

"Don't worry. You're not quite the absolute center of my universe."

"You know what I mean!" I said, laughing.

"Yeah," he murmured, nibbling on my ear.

"Hey, before you make me forget, I'm going over to my parents' house for dinner this Sunday. Would you like to come?"

"Do they know about me?"

"Of course. I don't try to hide who I date from my family. Besides, we've been in the news."

"Yeah, that's true. I try to forget about that."

"Sorry, it's what happens when someone is with me. I do my best not to get in the media unless it's necessary but---"

"I understand. Don't worry, I know how it works...So about dinner with your family, can I think about it? I'm not saying 'No, never' but I do need some time."

"Okay, no pressure."

"So, give me other details about your family," he said, as he moved closer to me.

I'd spoken about my parents, my older sister, Yuki, and her husband, Takeshi, before but not to a great extent. I began telling him more.

"Well, let me see...I'll start with Dad. He used to work for a biotech research company. Now that he's retired, he spends most of his time playing chess with his friends, taking short trips with my Mom---and critiquing my life. Dad will be the most difficult to convince. He's reluctant to get to know most people."

"Okay. And your mother is a virtuoso violinist, right?"

"Yes and she performed internationally for almost twenty years. She retired when she had us. Then, she started giving private lessons, and still does. In fact, she taught Hiro how to play the violin and they sometimes still get together for duets. Mom has heard the most about you and she has wanted me to bring you over forever. She's almost as eager as Yuki."

"Yuki, who is pregnant."

"Yes but none of that means she won't be feisty." I chuckled, imagining what things my sister would say to Ryu. "She is very direct. She's protective of me so she's going to bluntly ask questions. Oh, she's an editor for a publishing company, which is located in a building..."

"That was designed by the company where Takeshi, her husband, works."

"Yes," I said, "Takeshi is an architect. He and Yuki have been married for three years now."

"Your family sounds very traditional."

"But I'm a nail that sticks out."

"Which no one seems to have hammered down."

"No, in my family, we're very supportive of each other."

 

~~~~~

 

Ryu had decided he'd have dinner with my family. We were laying next to each other, our bodies cooling off after our latest round of sex, when he mentioned it to me.

"Great," I told him, "I'll ask Mom when we can come over and---"

"Koh, can we just have dinner at your place?"

"Why?"

"Well...I don't know...maybe...never mind."

"Because my house is a place where you're comfortable?"

"Yes."

"Well, you'll have to get out of your comfort zone. Sunday dinner always happens at Mom and Dad's; it's a tradition."

"Oh fine, alright," Ryu grumbled, pretending to be bothered. I patted his cheek and grinned at him, looking forward to him meeting my family.

The night of the dinner, Ryu was visibly unsure of himself.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" I asked, watching him put on his tie.

"A little," he murmured, "I want to make sure I'm presentable. How do I look?"

"Like someone who I should be undressing right now," I assured him.  He chuckled and then groaned as I ran a hand over his crotch.

"Kohta, we're going to be late."

"Stop stressing. You'll be fine. You're already letting my family intimidate you."

"Sorry," he said, giving me a weak smile.

"You really are worried." I was half amused and half concerned.

"Yeah...I...well, it's your family..."

I pulled him to me and gave him a deep kiss. When we parted, he groaned again.

"What's wrong?"

"That didn't help," he complained, "Now I'm completely hard." I laughed, feeling against my crotch that he was right.

"I can take care of that quickly," I offered, "It might help you relax."

"Then we'll arrive smelling like sex, no matter how well we try to mask it."

"Stop exaggerating. Besides, we can just shower."

"No, we're already risking being late."

"So, what do you want to do?" I asked, prodding his bulge with an insistent index finger, "You can't just waste a perfectly straining cock."

"I just---Will you stop touching it?" He knocked my hand away and I smiled broadly, feeling evil.

"I'm sorry, Ryu. I shouldn't make things more difficult."

"Let's go. I'll just have negative thoughts on the way."

"Like what, getting stuck inside me, deep in---"

"Kohta, shut up! You're really not helping!" I tried to kiss him but he blocked me.

"Give yourself a hand job," I suggested, enjoying his discomfort.

"I'll probably end up smelling like I had sex."

"So take a shower."

"We're back at square one with a scenario that will probably make us late!"

"Oh for shit's sake, you're letting my family cause you to panic. Come here."

"No," he said, backing away from me.

"Yes. Right now!"

Despite his protests, we had sex anyway---and still arrived at my parents' place with time to spare.

 

~~~~~

 

Mom greeted Ryu and I at the door. Ryu bowed formally to her. I laughed when Mom hugged him. I'd told her so much about him that she obviously didn't see a need to start out being formal. A blush of surprise crossed Ryu's face and he looked down at the floor. I sighed, thinking yet again that he really didn't know how appealing he was.

Mom, Ryu and I went to the living room where the rest of my family was waiting. I hugged everyone, then I introduced Ryu.

We began chatting and the atmosphere seemed calm enough. Ryu talked about his family; his parents, his brother and his two sisters.  Things continued to go well as Ryu spoke about his childhood. When we got onto the subject of him and I dating, my older sister, Yuki, leaned back against the couch and crossed her legs. Then, tilting her head forward, a determined expression in her dark-brown eyes, she began, "So Ryu, how did you meet Kohta?"

Yuki already knew that and much more. She was just warming Ryu up. I let out a breath, having an idea of what might develop.

"We met at a club," Ryu explained, "Some friends took me to celebrate my birthday. I actually had plans to just have a quiet evening at home but---" he looked at me "---it's a good thing I didn't."

"I'm sure Kohta told you that I'm protective of him," Yuki continued, "We all are.  However, I'm just obnoxious enough to blatantly question someone. With that said, are you with Kohta because he's famous?"

"No," Ryu responded, immediately, "If anything, his fame has added a complicated dimension to my life." I tensed. I didn't quite like that answer, especially since he had given Yuki such bait.

"Then you don't plan on being with him for a long time?"

"That's not what I said."

Normally, I didn't mind Yuki's habit of interrogating people, but this time it bothered me. There was an edge to her words that wasn't usually there. I thought back to the things I'd told her about Ryu. Perhaps, somewhere along the way I'd given her a negative impression of him. I was unsure. Regardless, I wanted to intervene.

"Yuki, not everyone reacts to fame---"

"Now, Kohta," Dad said, "if you bring him to the Sasaki home, he should be able to fend for himself."

"He can," I assured my father.

"Then I'll proceed," Yuki told me, smiling.

I was going to make another remark, when Ryu gently rested a hand on my arm.

"No, I'll proceed. Let's get to the point, shall we? I am good enough to date your brother. My siblings and I were fortunate to be raised by successful, well-educated parents. I've attended high-quality schools, traveled extensively and I fluently speak and write Japanese, Italian and English. In addition, I made plans to be independently wealthy. I am now a shrewd businessman, able to navigate a multitude of significantly difficult circumstances. Your brother's fame, while it does have an impact on my life, is not an insurmountable situation, neither is your attempt to shake me. I have diligently worked to be the embodiment of the values my parents passed on to me, including knowing when to be humble---and when to confidently assert myself. Now, I've noticed that your father's sake cup has become empty. I'd much rather refill it, if he so desires, than to have a battle of wits with an overzealous but beautiful opponent."

There was silence.

Ryu's words surprised me and I could just imagine what my family would say. I thought it was best to smooth things over and was opening my mouth to do so.

And then came Yuki's bold, rich laughter.

"Oh Kohta, he's fun!" she exclaimed, "Why didn't you bring him sooner?"

"He was nervous," I answered, which made everyone laugh.

"Well, there's nothing like Yuki's obnoxious nature to get rid of nerves," Dad joked.

Intently watching Ryu, my father pushed his sake cup towards him, a silent acceptance of Ryu's offer to pour him a drink. I smiled, knowing that Dad, an avid and skilled chess player, had enjoyed Ryu's tactics.  Excited, I wanted to haul Ryu off right then, thinking again of the way he'd spoken Yuki. However, it would hardly be proper. So I made a note to remind him of how hot he was, once we were in private. For the time being, I focused on my family and more importantly, having Ryu here with everyone else.

"You and your interrogations," Takeshi teased Yuki.

"I have to take care of my brother, you know," Yuki said, elbowing her husband.

"There's another possibility," Ryu mentioned, "You could be practicing for when your own children bring love interests home."

"You used the phrase 'love interests.' How charming. At any rate, I'll be even fiercer," Yuki responded.

"If that's possible, then I pity the poor souls," Mom told her.

"Well, we don't want any weaklings in the family," Dad said, looking at me pointedly, "Do we Kohta?"

"I bring no weaklings here, Father."

"What about that Kaori Mitsuda?" Takeshi goaded.

"Okay, can we not rehash that part of my life?"

"No, Ryu has to hear this."

Kaori Mitsuda had been my girlfriend for almost three years. The relationship had been volatile. Her bouts of anger were sometimes destructive enough to make the news. She hadn't even cared if we'd been out in public. When she'd been pissed, everyone had heard it. It was the stubborn part of my pride that had made me stay with her for so long. She was attractive and desired by many, despite her horrible disposition.  Having her, and knowing others wanted to be with her, had                                           made me feel great. Still, after a while, even I became tired of how arrogantly high maintenance she was. I'd ended things, which again landed me in the news, but this time it was in a way I liked.

After getting teased about a previous horrible relationship, I was thankful when we moved on to another topic, though the spotlight was still on me.

"Now Ryu, tell the truth, what exactly would possess you to date my son?" Dad asked.

"I'm still trying to figure that out, sir."

"Hey," I complained.

"No, I'm serious. I've been mentioned in the media so much that it has become disturbing."

"Kohta has a penchant for calling attention to himself," Yuki said.

"And anyone within a 3 kilometer radius of him," Takeshi added, smirking.

"Wait, you're supposed to be picking on Ryu, not me," I complained, "I came here to see him squirm."

"Really?" Ryu asked, pointedly, "I'll file that comment away for a later discussion with you."

During and after dinner, we continued talking. Late that night, Ryu and I left my parents' home with Ryu making several promises, including one to play chess against Dad sometime. I was so happy about how well things went. Ryu really shouldn't have been worried at all.

 

~~~~~

 

A few days later, while visiting Yuki, I got her impressions of Ryu.

"How are you doing, sis?"

"I'm going crazy planning for the babies," she said, patting her stomach, "There's so much to finish."

"Do you need help?"

"Yes, can you carry these children for me?"

"Ha, ha, very funny."

"So, now that we've done a bit of small talk, let's get to what you really wanted to know." Yuki looked at me, a teasing smile on her face.

"Okay, what do you think?"

"He's great Kohta. He's intelligent, polite, funny and so many other positive things. If I weren't married and you two weren't dating, I would totally go for him."

I laughed at her level of honesty.

"Koh, I'm glad you have someone good in your life. After Kaori...well, you know what I think of her."

"It was a smart call to stop dating Kaori," I admitted.

"It would have been an even better idea to not date her at all," Yuki said, grinning.

"Of course, Sister-who-knows-all...Speaking of knowing all, what are everyone else's impressions?"

"About the meaning of life?"

"Yuki..."

"I know what you mean. You can just ask them."

"I will but I want to get your view. You're good at noticing so many things."

"Mom absolutely loves Ryu. She thinks he's 'polished' and she told me that yesterday when we were talking on the phone. Dad likes him too.  He was more talkative with Ryu than I expected. So, that's an excellent sign. Takeshi thinks Ryu is really interesting. When he offered to give us a tour of his animation studio, it completely sealed things. Takeshi and I are really looking forward to it."

"So then you forgive Ryu for beating you at verbal chess?" I joked.

"Yes...he's definitely a keeper."

"That's what I was thinking," I said, smiling.

"But Kohta, someone like Ryu is going to expect more of you than anyone else you've dated...and that's not necessarily a bad thing."

Later, when I left Yuki's place, her prediction about Ryu was still on my mind.