by Naomi Aoki
Hadn’t made it any better to learn Kennosuke hadn’t know about the ruse either. At first. Jamie had come clean to him before their second trip to New Zealand. But it still pissed Brian off that he’d been married to Kennosuke for months, not realising it... all the fucking hurt he’d caused him too in that time. Irked him that his marriage had occurred unknown in a lawyer’s office...
Never thought he’d say that he wanted a big wedding; wanted to show the world that this was the person he loved. The person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and share that moment with his friends and family.
KENNOSUKE STIFLED A shuddering groan as he brushed his hands over Brian’s suit under the guise of ridding it of lint. Really, he just wanted an excuse to touch him and the cheeky grin on Brian’s face said he’d seen through Kennosuke’s little ruse. But his mother had chosen well. The fabric of Brian’s suit paler than those they usually wore, contrasting beautifully with his skin... and Kennosuke wanted to forgo today’s event and peel it off him so more of it was on display.
“Ken-” Brian’s hand touched his cheek; metal of the rings now adorning his fingers cold against his warm skin. “-if you keep staring at me like that we’ll never make it to the main house on time. And I’m pretty sure your mother will kill us, both, if we mess up this suit.”
“I’m sure we’ve got time-” the buzzing of his phone interrupted him and Kennosuke cursed as he read it. “I guess we don’t have time, the car is waiting downstairs.”
Brian leaned in letting his voice tease the skin above Kennosuke’s collar. “There is always later.” And this time he couldn’t keep the shudder restrained.
He grabbed keys and hurried after Brian. His footsteps faltered at the top of the stairs staring down at Brian as he made his way to the bottom. Five flights of stairs Kennosuke had traversed so many times, with and without Brian and today would be the worst day to embarrass himself by tripping on them. He grabbed at the railing and stopped himself from falling, pleased Brian had turned back to witness his near fall as a nervousness he hadn’t expected assaulted him. Hands shook like never before and yet, when he stopped to consider the importance of the day it shouldn’t have surprised Kennosuke at all.
Kennosuke breathed; closed his eyes on the intake, opened them as he exhaled not feeling any calmer. His father had checked with him several times in the last few weeks if he was sure about this. Reminding Kennosuke he didn’t need to take this step – with anyone – yet; that there was still plenty of time before he’d be expected to take over from Gou. He’d laughed, said it wasn’t that big of a deal he and Brian were already married. It wasn’t as though everyone would be there to bear witness to it - only family and a select number of high-ranked Araki-gumi members would be present.
And he was still sure he’d made the right decision. Excitement threaded its way through Kennosuke’s nervousness along with a cold strand of fear. What if Brian says no? Brian wasn’t going to say No, he reminded himself as he slipped into the back seat of the car next to Brian.
“You okay? You’re looking awfully green, Ken.”
“I’m fine.” He reached over and rested his hand on Brian’s thigh, squeezing it reassuringly. Couldn’t resist the opportunity to drag it a little higher and chuckled at the frustrated whine escaping Brian’s lips.
“No fooling around in the car,” the driver spat out in a frustrated huff. “I get enough of that driving the Boss and Jamie around.”
“Did not need to know that,” they both replied, the heat of arousal fleeing with the sound of the driver’s laughter.
Kennosuke didn’t move his hand, the connection to Brian steadying his nerves as he turned to stare out the window as they drove through the streets of Kyoto. Older buildings of wood mixed in the newer ones of steel and glass. Shrines and temples of all sizes dotted amongst them. He’d already taken Brian to visit a few loving how he marvelled at them as Kennosuke spoke of their history and importance. Brian might not have been the history buff Jamie was, but even he could be overwhelmed by their age – at buildings that had stood longer than New Zealand had been a country; than before it had been discovered, by anyone.
The city soon gave way to the countryside. Towering buildings giving way to the brown-green fields. Kennosuke blinked when the car stopped, wheels crunching on the gravel as the large walls surrounding the main house loomed in front of them. He hadn’t even realised they’d turned onto the road leading to it. Hadn’t realised Brian’s hand had rested on his thigh until his iron grip jolted him from wherever his mind had gone.
Gates opened in front of them letting them inside and clanged shut behind. Kennosuke stepped out of the car and used the few minutes it took for Brian to reach him to straighten his clothes. He knew his grandmother would be watching, taking note of everything and if he could avoid a lecture today, that would make things so much easier. Though Brian’s presence might be enough to stop it. The man had charmed his grandmother something wicked, surprising everyone including Jamie who’d not had such a friendly welcome.
A charm that saw Kennosuke watch Brian stride up to his grandmother as the door to the house opened, pecking her on the cheek as he walked past.
“You’ve picked a fine young man, Kennosuke... but he has no idea what’s happening today, does he?”
“No.” A tremor of panic slid up his spine and he absently picked at the cuffs of his shirt. Well he did until his grandmother smacked his hands away.
“Don’t worry-” She stared down the hall to where Brian stood waiting. “-He won’t turn it down.”
Kennosuke nodded, catching Brian’s puzzled gaze before thanking his grandmother and walking down the hall.
“Your father, Gou and Jamie are waiting in the office,” She called after him.
He waved his hand at her, throat too tight with a weird emotion to reply. It seemed strange and yet, he supposed, this was as close to a wedding he would get. Kennosuke rested a hand on Brian’s arm and headed down the hall to the office, the true heart of the Araki-gumi. A room they hadn’t been in since Brian’s first visit to Japan and proposed the drug smuggling operation that landed him in Japan. Not that the plan hadn’t been carefully thought out and could have been successful if Takeshi hadn’t interfered. But he was no longer an issue for him or Jamie any more.
“So, you still plan to walk me in there, completely in the dark as to what this meeting is about?”
“Yes.” Kennosuke slid the door to the room opened and entered.
He watched as Brian took in the room; the small gathering of people of seated on the tatami floor facing Gou; Jamie and his father sat on either side of him. Wasn’t hard to miss the dawning realisation sweeping over Brian’s face at what was about to happen as his gaze lingered over the bottle of sake and the two cups next to it.
“You do remember I don’t like the taste of sake, right? Is there no way we can do this with something else, like beer? Vodka? Hell, I’d even take whiskey. I know Gou’s got some stashed in here somewhere.”
Kennosuke shook his head, shoving Brian ahead of him and sat down opposite each other in front of Gou. “It has to be sake, Brian. It’s tradition.”
“But then... shouldn’t I be sharing it with Gou? He is the head of the Araki-gumi,” Brian asked as Jamie placed the cups in front of them and poured the sake. “And hang on, I know there is something significant about the amount being poured... Ours are equal.” Brian’s voice took on a softness despite the emotion weighing it down.
Kennosuke could feel the pride radiating out from his father; from his uncle and it made him sit up straighter. His nerves disappeared. “Only to me, Brian. Your loyalty is pledged only to me.”
“And yours to me, Kennosuke.” Brian downed the sake and grimaced at the taste. “Please tell me I don’t need to do that again... I really can’t stand the taste.”
“No-” Kennosuke placed the empty cup on the floor and grinned at him. “You won’t.”
Did you love Crossing the Line? Then y
ou should read Dangerous Lessons by Naomi Aoki!
The Yakuza and the English Teacher Series: Book 1
Falling in love had never been the plan when Jamie headed to Japan to teach English, but when a powerful businessmen takes an interest in him, how can he say no.
Except, Gou is no ordinary businessmen.
When the truth comes out, does Jamie run or does he stay?
And will he have a choice?
Read more at Naomi Aoki’s site.
Also by Naomi Aoki
The Yakuza and the English Teacher
Dangerous Lessons
Dangerous Love
Dangerous Life
Crossing the Line
Tokyo Nights
Tokyo Nights: Season One (Episodes 4-6)
Tokyo Nights: Season One
Tokyo Nights: Episode One
Tokyo Nights: Season One (Episodes 1-3)
Tokyo Nights: Episode Two
Tokyo Nights: Episode Three
Tokyo Nights: Episode Four
Tokyo Nights: Episode Five
Tokyo Nights: Episode Six
Tokyo Nights: Episode Seven
Tokyo Nights: Episode Eight
Tokyo Nights: Episode Nine
Tokyo Nights: Episode Ten
Sagaki: A Tokyo Nights Novella
Tokyo Nights Season Two
Tokyo Nights: Episode One
Tokyo Nights: Episode Two
Tokyo Nights: Episode Three
Tokyo Nights: Episode Four
Tokyo Nights: Episode Five
Tokyo Nights: Episode Six
Standalone
Rebellion
Watch for more at Naomi Aoki’s site.
About the Author
She would love to runaway to Japan or China and live there for a few years... but she can't. Instead she goes there in her books, hoping to drag the reader into a world they've never been to before.
Historical. Contemporary. Time offers no constraint to the stories she writes, happily dabbling in both so long as there is a happy ending.
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Read more at Naomi Aoki’s site.
