The Collection - Chapter 10
“She got him to talk to her?” asked Rin in a loud voice, “how the hell did she manage that?”
“I don’t know. I just asked and he answered” answered Yuuko for the 11th time.
“But I have been here for… months, I never got a god damn word out of him. How did YOU manage it?”
“I don’t know” shouted Yuuko “Have you tried to stop yelling and swearing and asking in a nice way for a change?” Yuuko knew she wasn’t being fair but Rin had been drilling questions nonstop and in a voice so loud that even she, who usually couldn’t hear more than a mumble from her, could hear her clearly.
She didn’t know why he had answered. She had only asked the same question she'd been asking since he’d brought her.
“And it’s not like the answer was much help.”
“Well something changed. If someone who hasn’t spoken to us in months talks to Yuuko it must be because something’s changed” Yuuko still didn’t recognize the voices, except for Takara, who was right next to her and Rin because she had a particular accent.
After that nobody else spoke. Takara sat on the floor and put her head back against the wall she shared with Yuuko. She heard a small bang on the wall and knew Yuuko had done the same as her.
“Ne, Yuuko. Do you think Shigeko is right? That something has changed?”
“I’ve only been here a few days, so I don’t know.”
Right, Takara though, she had talked so much with Yuuko that she tended to forget they only met a few days ago and only through a wall.
“I wonder if a change is good or bad”
Yuuko answered and her voice sounded small and tired, very tired.
“I don’t know, Takara. I wonder that too.”
The sun had already set and the room was illuminated by the light of the street and the neon lights.
Yamashita and Akane were lying in bed facing each other. Yamashita grabbed a lock of her hair that had fallen on her forehead and put it behind her ear. Akane opened her eyes and smiled.
“So… I guess you’re not gay, then? Or was I just an experimentation phase?” She said with a little frown.
“What?” squealed Yamashita.
“Okay so… no?
“No, I’m not. You really do blurt anything that comes to your mind, don’t you?” He said amazed.
“I know. I’m usually not this bad. It gets worse when I’m with you. I’ll try to stop.”
“Don’t, I think I like it. I don’t have to wonder what you’re thinking, you always tell me.”
Akane smiled and squirmed a little closer to Yamashita.
“Why would you think I’m gay, though?”
“Well, I’ve seen women throw themselves at you and you’ve never seemed interested. And then, that time when I asked you about the girl in the park,” Akane felt Yamashita tense a little but ignored it and kept on talking. “You said you liked her but couldn’t see yourself dating her so… I figured… I don’t know I guess I got carried away by office gossip.”
“They think I’m gay, at the office??” He asked opening his eyes to outrageous proportions.
“Well, some of the women say that, but I think it’s just to make themselves feel better about the fact they couldn’t get your attention.” She pulled back a little until her face was leveled with his and said: “Want me to go back and set them straight.”
He laughed. “No, that’s ok.” He put his hand through her hair and brought her close her to him and kissed her socks off… well IF she had been wearing socks, anyway. With the hand he still had on the back of her head he angled her and deepened the kissed. Akane sighed and melted into him. And that’s when her stomach decided to growl.
Yamashita chuckled with his lips still on her. Akane wrinkled her nose tusked her tongue and said: “Sorry, I guess I worked up an appetite.”
Yamashita chuckled again. “See, I always know what you are thinking and how you feel, I never have to wonder. And I could e…” And that’s when his stomach decided to growl. Both started laughing then.
“Come on,” said Akane while reluctantly leaving the bed and got her clothes back on. “Let’s rummage the kitchen and see what we can find.”
Yamashita followed her into the kitchen. Unfortunately, she noticed with a little disappointment, he had put his jeans back on. Fortunately, he didn’t have his shirt on leaving those incredible biceps and… yep those awesome abs. “Focus” thought Akane.
Yamashita was looking at her; he put his head to the side and asked: “What were you thinking.”
“That I was glad you left your shirt off.” He lifted his eyebrows and looked down at himself. “Are you still glad I blurt everything out?” She asked.
“Most definitely.” He answered with a sideway smile. “And I’ll try to remember you like this look.”
Akane laughed, she seemed to be doing that a lot today and so did he.
“Come on, feeding time.” Akane turned around so she didn’t see his smile falter. He had forgotten his responsibilities. What if…
Yamashita stopped the thought right there. He couldn’t just leave now. He would eat with Akane and then explain that he had work in the morning and then leave.
He followed her to the kitchen and helped her prepare the food.
They were sitting at the kitchen table, eating with the TV on but they weren’t paying attention. They were talking and sometimes one of them would reach out and kiss the other. It was the first time, for both of them, to feel completely at ease with a person of the opposite sex without feeling judged or just awkward.
Then, Akane turned her head towards the TV. She gasped and dropped her fork.
“Oh my god.”
Yamashita frowned and looked at the TV to see the picture of a girl. Akane turned up the volume.
“Tegoshi Yuuko, (Age 24), was confirmed as the latest victim of The Collector. The police confirmed finding his signature letter inside her apartment. It is presumed that she was taken between Wednesday and Thursday last week…”
“I can’t believe it.” Yamashita said nothing. What could he say that she would understand? “I feel bad I didn’t say anything when she never came by the park anymore.”
“What could you have done? Go to the police and say that a girl you didn’t know had stopped going to the park? I mean you didn’t even know her name. There is nothing you could have done.”
“I know. You think that guy is telling the truth? When he says that he won’t hurt them?”
“He is.” He said. Akane looked at him. “I mean, I’m sure he is. Why else would he leave the letters?”
Akane nodded and turned off the TV. They kept eating but the TV report had reminded Yamashita that he had responsibilities.
After they finished eating he said: “I have to get going.”
“Oh, okay.” Akane said and Yamashita couldn’t help but notice the disappointment in her voice. He was disappointed too. He really wanted to stay.
“I have to work tomorrow and…”
Akane stopped his apology. “I understand. Just call me whenever you want to get together.” As always, she didn’t push, she didn’t ask or demand. Looking at her he couldn't stop himself from kissing her. It started soft and sweet but soon it became deeper and more passionate and soon they were both breathing harder.
“Akane?” Her name sounded so good in his lips.
“Yes, Tomohisa?” What do you know, his name sounded good on her lips, too.
“I really don’t want to go.” She smiled up at him. Her hands went from his hips to his stomach and ended up locked on his neck.
“Then stay a little longer.” She said softly. She stood on the tip of her toes and kissed him. Yamashita eagerly kissed her back.
He put his arms around her and lifted her up and started taking her back to her bedroom.
I can stay for one more hour. Thought Yamashita. Or maybe three.
Yamashita knew he had to leave, it was already late. He had fed his dolls well, but he had been gone for hours, yet he couldn’t make himself leave. He was on his side with his arms around her with her back against him and he relished the warmth of her body. They had both fallen asleep a few hours ago but he had woken sometime ago and he had been watching her sleep and hearing her breath. It was REALLY time to go. He sighed and buried his face in her hair. Finally he forced himself to get up. He moved slowly so as not to waken her. He started picking up his clothes. He had finished pulling up his pants when he heard a ruffling on the bed.
“Are you sneaking out on me?” Said Akane in a sleepy voice but she was smiling. Yamashita smiled and shook his head. Akane put her head to the side and said: “Oh, look, you are wearing my favorite look.”
Yamashita chuckled a little. He got closer and gave her a quick kiss. “Go back to sleep.”
“What time is it?”
“4 am. I really have to go. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay, but it’s late. Will you be okay going out at this hour?”
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
Akane smiled and said “Okay.”
Yamashita gave her a final kiss and put on his shirt and jacket. He gave one final look at her sleeping figure. She opened one eye, smiled and waved at him. He waved back and left aware of the big grin in his face.
About an hour later he was home. He went into his viewing room and turned on the screen to check on his dolls. He zoomed in on each one of them to make sure they were okay. He decided to let them sleep and give them a big breakfast. Coming back from Akane’s place and watching his dolls he was totally at peace. It had only been one night, so far, but already he wanted (maybe needed?) Akane in his life. Maybe he could talk to her and explain, make her understand. He had never met anyone like her, maybe she would understand. Then again maybe not. What if he had to choose?
Yamashita sighed. He didn’t have to make a decision now. He went into his room. He should be tired, but he wasn’t. He decided to take a shower, even though he liked the scent of Akane on his skin. He got in the shower and closed his eyes and let the water wash over him.
CH01 - CH02 - CH03 - CH04 - CH05 - CH06 - CH07 - CH08 - CH09 - - CH11 - CH12 - CH13 - CH14 (Final)