by Jade, Imari
Last to enter the room was eighteen-year-old Kioshi Yamashita. Kioshi could only be described as pretty, poised, and a platinum blond. He wore a black suit with a gray shirt, which enhanced his flawless porcelain skin. His eyes were like chocolate candy, and he stared arrogantly at her.
Cristal gulped as her panties dampened. Kioshi oozed sexuality and maturity. Though petite in stature, he had an authoritative air to him. He reminded her of someone else she knew. Who? Oh yeah, Satoshi.
“Konnichiwa,” he said to them in Japanese. He had a softer, more feminine voice than the other two lads.
Both Cristal and Damien returned the greeting. But Cristal could not take her eyes off the singer. He kept a snide smirk on his lips as she looked him over from head to toe like she was checking him out as a potential date. Hell no. For one thing, he’s too short. At five feet nine, she towered over him. All three of the members of Distraction stood about five feet seven. That was one of the reasons she remained seated. The other reason was because the three younger men always stared at her boobs and legs. “Please be seated,” she said, drawing her attention off Kioshi.
The trio sat on the sofa while Saburo sat down in the armchair. Damien remained standing.
Saburo began the talk, filling Cristal in on the group’s activities.
Cristal jotted all the information down in a tablet. Mr. Niigata had been keeping the group under wraps so nothing about them could get out before their first performance on Saturday. They didn’t have a big part to play in the christening, but Mr. Niigata thought he could leak a snippet of their performance to the media after the christening. He hadn’t even told Aomori of their existence and Cristal couldn’t wait to see their reaction. The group literally lived in the recording studio and had successfully recorded a CD. Their first song, “Victory,” already had a teaser prepared, and Mr. Niigata was waiting to leak it to social media right after their performance at Ichiro’s birthday party.
Cristal gazed over at Kioshi and found him staring at her with those deep brown eyes. No doubt all three young men were on their best behavior at the moment, but she suspected only because their manager was present. “How is the song coming for the christening?” Cristal asked Saburo.
“Give her a sample, boys,” Saburo told the group.
Seconds later, beautiful harmony filled the room, and then it ended.
Cristal fanned herself with a notebook. Oh my gawd, they’re going to take Asia by storm.
Damien’s hand stiffened on her shoulder. “That sounded so beautiful,” he said.
All three men smiled at him. The hand on her shoulder tightened. Could it be Damien liked Distraction more than he admitted?
“Mr. Kehoe is right. You guys are going to slay the audience at the christening and at Mr. Yoshida’s birthday party.”
“Do you really think Aomori will like us?” Izanagi asked.
“Yes,” Cristal answered.
“Good. I can’t wait to meet them. They’re my idols.”
The other two nodded.
Hmm, Cristal thought. She came up with a fantastic publicity plan. She could design a poster featuring both groups. This would certainly boost Distraction’s popularity.
“I can’t wait to see the farmhouse,” Izanagi continued. “I’ve heard so much about it.” He paused. “Is it true that you used to live there?” he asked Cristal.
“Yes, but I moved out a several weeks ago.”
“Why?” he asked bravely.
“Because I needed my own space,” Cristal answered.
Kioshi smirked smugly at her. “What? Couldn’t you handle Aomori?”
The young man was a prime candidate for a spanking. “Yes, I could handle them quite well, but Mr. Yoshida and his wife just became proud parents of twins, and they don’t need any more noise in the house.”
“I heard she doesn’t live there anymore,” Kioshi said.
Cristal gawked. Where did these monsters get their information? Shaundra and Ichiro’s split had not been publicly announced. “That’s just a temporary situation,” she assured him.
“Is it true Ichiro is married to an older woman?” Kioshi asked, still staring into her eyes.
“Yes,” Cristal answered.
“See, I told you,” he said to the other two.
“Don’t spread gossip,” Cristal told him in Japanese. “It’s not nice.”
Kioshi glared at her but did not respond. The look he gave her spoke volumes.
Maybe a whipping was too good for him. He needed an attitude adjustment. She sighed. He had idol written all over him. Soon, his name would be a household word and girls would be fighting each other just to get one his arrogant smiles bestowed on her. “We will be leaving for Kagawa at six on Friday morning. Make sure you’re on time.”
“I don’t do mornings,” Kioshi said.
Cristal rolled her eyes at him. “You’ll be up, dressed, and ready to leave at six, or I’ll personally come to your dorm room and pull you out the bed.”
“You might not want to do that,” he challenged. “I sleep in the nude.”
The other two boys nodded that he spoke the truth.
Cristal’s face flushed. Am I blushing? Oh my gawd, an eighteen-year-old has me blushing.
Damien’s hand left her shoulder.
Damn, she was in deep trouble.
Chapter Four
“Man, the moon’s still out,” Takumijo complained as Aomori packed the van for the trip to Kagawa. They decided to take the limo van instead of multiple SUVs so they could ride in comfort.
Kenshin checked the oil and then lowered the hood. “We want to start early to get around traffic,” he said.
“And it’s not that early,” Yori added. Amaya’s mother wasn’t feeling well, so Amaya opted out of the trip to be with her. So Yori decided to grace them with his presence.
Ichiro and Satoshi came out carrying zippered suit bags containing their christening outfits and stage costumes. They hung the bags in the back of the van so they wouldn’t obscure Kenshin’s vision while he drove.
Takumijo helped Amaterasu into the van to get her out of the bitter cold. Satoshi helped by loading her suitcase in the back by theirs, but kept it close enough in case she needed anything. She’d be the lone female on the trip since Cristal had other plans to get there. It felt strange to be the one with a date. He didn’t mind as much now that he had time to get comfortable with the idea of her accompanying him.
Yori went back into the farmhouse to secure the place while the rest of them climbed inside the van. He joined them about five minutes later. Ichiro and Satoshi sat to the back to play cards and to get comfortable. “Let’s go,” he said.
Kenshin started the engine once everyone had fastened their seatbelts, and drove toward the front gates to give security their last minute instructions. Moments later, they were cruising through their little rural community, passing large farms and dairies. Mr. Niigata had chosen this area for the farmhouse to give Aomori a quiet life when they weren’t touring. He’d taken them from their families before most of them reached puberty and promised their parents that he would look after them and give them the best life possible. Mr. Niigata had made good on the promises time and time again.
Takumijo didn’t know how his life would have turned out had he not auditioned that cold winter’s day over fifteen years ago. At the rate he’d been going, he would have probably ended up in jail or dead. Unlike the others, he had come from a poor family where his parents struggled to eke out a living as sharecroppers. He had two older brothers and two older sisters and no one paid attention to him since he was the baby and considered nonessential since he wasn’t old enough to help out in the fields. He’d made it a point to stay in school just to prove to them that he did matter.
His best friend in the world was a neighbor boy named Osamu Nakaumura. Osamu was just a year older than him, but didn’t mind Takumijo hanging out with him. Osamu’s family was fishermen and sold fish at the market. The handsome young ma
n had always inspired for greater things so it didn’t surprise Takumijo when Osamu announced he wanted to be an actor and make a lot of money when he grew up. At the time, Takumijo didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, so Osamu would force him into performing skits with him along the piers where they hung out after school. They even performed at the elementary school that they attended, but it wasn’t until Takumijo was forced to join the school choir that someone discovered he could carry a tune and could memorize music. He smiled, remembering his first performance. They’d dressed him up like a girl in a kabuki skit and he’d received a standing ovation for his performance. He remembered Osamu rushing up to him and giving him the biggest, warmest hug he’d ever gotten, along with his congratulations. Two years later, Osamu heard the news about a new entertainment company coming to town looking for singers and encouraged Takumijo to audition. He remembered being on stage and about to perform when he noticed this stern-looking Japanese man in the audience sitting front row center. Takumijo was pretty smart even at ten and figured out that the man was Goro Niigata, the owner of the company. So he poured out his heart in a Japanese stage song he and Osamu had rehearsed. He didn’t know if it was the song or the fact that he’d stared Mr. Niigata in the eyes while performing that had gotten him the contract, but he owed the chance to Osamu, who still stuck by him to this day.
Takumijo’s family had no problem signing over his guardianship to the rich Japanese man, since it meant one less mouth to feed.
Osamu got his big break around the same time when he auditioned for a Japanese drama sponsored by a production company in Osaka. His family gave up guardianship to that company for Osamu, and they kept in touch with each other before ending up in the same junior and senior high school after Mr. Niigata bought the farmhouse. But life during those times had been anything but simple. Mr. Niigata had signed on three more young boys and bunked them all together in one gigantic dorm room before acquiring the farmhouse. Takumijo didn’t know what to make of them since they’d come from different cities all over Japan. This meant their dialects were different and communicating with them was hard at first.
One of them, Satoshi Hayashi, had actually grown up in the United States and could speak perfect English.
The one named Yori Morioka had a pretty face and looked like a girl. He was a year older, so Mr. Niigata had made him their leader.
Takumijo soon got used to talking to Satoshi and Yori, but it was their youngest member he didn’t know how to deal with.
Little Ichiro Yoshida was just nine years old and didn’t say much. Takumijo remembered thinking Ichiro reminded him of a porcelain doll he’d seen once in a store window. Ichiro had flawless white skin, full pink lips, and the biggest, bluest eyes he’d ever seen. Heck, they were the first blue eyes he’d ever seen on a Japanese citizen, and he couldn’t help looking at the young man because he was so pretty and always smelled so good. Takumijo decided he’d protect Ichiro since he was the youngest and kids would often pick on him in school. Of the three, Ichiro was the one he always felt closer to despite the fact that he and Satoshi hung out more because they were the same age. Yori was always a bit more standoffish, but could be counted on for advice and guidance. He recalled this one time in junior high when these kids were teasing Ichiro unmercifully because they learned Ich’s grandmother had taught him the Japanese tea ceremony. Takumijo had found Yori and Satoshi and they were preparing to defend their youngest member. A fight broke out and to everyone’s surprise, Ichiro beat the hell out of the four guys teasing him. And not with just his fists. Ichiro kicked one of the boys onto a table in the cafeteria and his head required stitches when it was all over. Ichiro had gotten suspended for fighting, but gained Aomori’s respect. Takumijo remembered feeling proud in a big-brotherly way that Ichiro could defend himself, but wondered where the hell a child had learned martial arts.
The arrival of Yori was still his favorite memory. Yori had showed up at the door accompanied by a nanny, a tutor, and a manservant, whom Mr. Niigata quickly sent packing. Yori came from a rich family and he, being the only child, was spoiled rotten and used to getting his way. He’d start arguments with Satoshi every chance he got and the two of them often had to be separated. Yori figured since he was older and the leader that everyone had to listen to him and do what he wanted them to do. But the American raised Satoshi had a life and an agenda. He was the first one to get a girlfriend, which upset Yori to no end. Finally, the two of them had a knockdown, drag-out fight and Satoshi whipped Yori’s ass good and proper. Yori’s entire demeanor changed after Satoshi told him that in order for Aomori to be a success, everyone had to be treated as equals and have a say in their careers. Satoshi was a negotiator even back then, and Yori began to follow Satoshi around like a lost puppy. The two of them became friends, especially when Satoshi filled all of them in on the facts of life and sex, and fixed Yori up with his first girlfriend.
Takumijo liked Satoshi from the beginning. Satoshi was cute and had this grown-up attitude the rest of them didn’t. His father was a Japanese ambassador to the United States and Satoshi hadn’t grown up in a traditional Japanese family like the rest of them. He was comical, played pranks, and basically knew how to have fun. He was the one everyone could trust with secrets, and unfortunately, he was the one who always got them in trouble and got them grounded by their manager Masaaki.
Takumijo sighed. He remembered this one time Satoshi flooded the upstairs bathroom of the farmhouse while sailing a fleet of toy ships he’d received as a birthday present from his Korean friend Yi-jun Lee, who was studying to be an actor. Yi-jun’s father was also an ambassador and he and Satoshi grew up together. Masaaki nearly had a fit and the cleaners had to be called in to dry out the upstairs and replace the upstairs flooring and downstairs ceiling. Masaaki grounded Satoshi for two weeks after that, but not once did Takumijo see Satoshi cry or pout. He just accepted his punishment with a smile and a twinkle in those mischievous brown eyes.
They had made it to Osaka-Nanko. Takumijo woke up from his memories and looked out the window. Osaka-Nanko had certainly changed since the first time he’d seen it. He remembered moving around excitedly when Mr. Niigata’s driver drove through the town on the way to the farmhouse. Takumijo had never seen a modern town and was impressed by what he saw.
The traffic was starting to pick up as Kenshin drove toward the ferry landing. Once they arrived, they would drive onto the ferry to be taken over to Shikoku and then go northeast to Kagawa.
Takumijo glanced over at Amaterasu. She had dozed off and had her head on his shoulder. He smiled. The scent of her hair made up for the numbing feeling in his arm. She’d been so excited last night before they went to bed. Maybe it had something to do with the trip, or maybe she was just happy to be with him. He’d never been in a serious relationship this long before, and hoped he wouldn’t screw it up. Amaterasu moved around, lifted her head from his shoulder, and placed it against the headrest.
“She’s a very nice young lady,” Yori said from his seat across from them. “You did well this time.”
Takumijo nodded.
“Shaundra is also a nice lady,” Yori added.
Takumijo’s happiness and memories faded. He felt bad for what he’d said to Ichiro’s wife the other night, but he’d meant every word of it. He liked Shaundra, but he didn’t like the way she’d been treating Ichiro. True, it wasn’t any of his business, but he couldn’t stand to see Ichiro sad. It reminded him too much of when they were younger. Of the four, Ich had suffered from homesickness, especially after his precious grandmother died. Takumijo remembered how Ich had cried for days after the elderly woman’s funeral. He didn’t do it publicly, just late at night in the kitchen when he thought no one could hear him. It just broke Takumijo’s heart. He wished Shaundra would forgive Ichiro so life could go on for him. “I know. I’ll apologize to her the next time I see her.”
“Make sure that you do,” Yori said. “Or Raiden will grow up and kick your ass.”
> The mention of his handsome soon-to-be godson’s name made Takumijo happy. He’d never been responsible for a life before. He planned to do well by the kid…buying him things and taking him places. “I will try to keep my opinions to myself,” he told Yori.
Yori nodded and settled back in his seat.
They reached the ferry landing and Kenshin maneuvered the van onto the boat and found a spot to park.
Takumijo looked out the window again. Beautiful blue water lay ahead of them. He always loved the sea, and some of his happiest memories were of fishing and swimming with Osamu. They were two young boys having fun with no idea about what the future had in store for them.
The cell phone in his pocket vibrated with a text. Takumijo eased it out of his pocket. The message was from Terrie. The message simply stated, “I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” Takumijo wrote back. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.” He sent the message and put the phone back into his pocket. He looked up to find Yori staring at him curiously.
Takumijo just smiled and ignored Yori. Like before, he still had no clue what the future had in store for him.
****
“What a gorgeous day for a trip,” Harper announced to the inhabitants of the van as they wove their way through traffic toward the Osaka-Nanko ferry landing.
Cristal looked out the window. All she saw was traffic and snow. This had to be one of the coldest winters in Japan and she couldn’t wait until it was over.
Joining them were Damien, Mr. Niigata, and Masaaki. She’d been expecting Mr. Niigata’s wife and Masaaki’s girlfriend to accompany them, but both women stayed home because of other obligations. Fine, she thought. It wasn’t like this was the first time she’d been the lone female on a trip with the men.
Someone kicked the back of her seat.
Oh yeah, Saburo and his demons were also with them. Kioshi Yamashita sat directly behind her and appeared a bit restless. Damien sat beside her texting Tricia. His long distance phone bill must be astronomical, she thought. “How is she?”
