A drabble that got way out of hand
Hello, everyone~ I bring you some fic! The premise was originally posted over at fencer_x's ongoing drabble challenge, and I posted the first part there. But then I decided I should write more. And it ended up being 8000 words. :p So now it's here and you can enjoy it!
Title: Starting Out Backwards
Rating: NC-17
Notes: I blame this whole thing on fencer_x, who told me it was a good idea to write porn and then wouldn't let me end it with a cheap cop-out. Also, again, you have been forewarned--it's 8000 words.
Summary: Tuti's sister marries Nagayan's brother and they meet for the first time at their wedding.
"So I guess you must be my new brother."
Nagayama looked up from inspecting his place card at the man pulling out the chair next to his. He was tall, with wide eyes and a charming smile. If he had to guess, the guy was probably within a year or two of his own age. And he already had a mostly empty glass of champagne in his hand when he sat down.
"You must be Mizuha-san's brother, then?" Nagayama glanced at the place card next to his. "Tsuchiya Yuuichi?" He flashed the newcomer a smile of his own and turned his place card so it could be seen by Tsuchiya. "I'm Nagayama Takashi. It's nice to finally meet you."
Tsuchiya waved a hand dismissively. "Likewise. And you can just call me Tuti. Most people do." He gave Nagayama a discerning look, taking in his boyish, well-proportioned features and the way his pink tie seemed to accentuate his skin tone. "Let me guess... younger brother, right? What are you, like 20, 21?"
This was not the way Nagayama expected this conversation to start. He expected an exchange of pleasantries and maybe a little talk about their livelihoods. This Tuti guy was apparently a little nontraditional.
"Twenty-three, actually," Nagayama finally answered, still smiling politely, "at least for a few more months."
Tuti chuckled quite loudly, making Nagayama start. "Hey, small world! Me too!" With a practiced flick of his wrist, he drained the remaining contents of his champagne flute. "So what do you do for a living? Do you live here in Kanagawa?"
Nagayama swallowed the water he had been drinking before answering with a shake of his head. "No, I live in Tokyo, where I'm a musician-turned-fashion designer. You?" He inclined his head, mentally taking a guess at what Tuti did for a living. Probably something where he got to talk a lot. Actor, perhaps? DJ? News anchor? He didn't look like the salesman type.
"I'm a Tokyo transplant, too. Moved there from Koufu after beauty school. I work there as a hairdresser." He jerked a thumb in the direction of the bride and groom's table where the couple sat, smiling and talking. "I did Mizuha's hair for the reception."
Now it was Nagayama's turn to laugh. "And I designed nii-san's tuxedo jacket."
Maybe Tuti wasn't such a bad guy after all. Their professions seemed to go hand in hand, and knowing Tuti was a hairdresser somehow excused some of the more gregarious aspects of his personality. And his sister, from what he knew of her, seemed nice enough.
"Sounds like we've both got a knack for designing things," Tuti remarked, looking over at the jacket Nagayama's brother was wearing.
“Seems that way.”
A comfortable silence fell between them then, and Tuti briefly turned to answer a question from his mother. Nagayama took this time to survey the room now that it had filled up. He knew there were close to one hundred people on the guest list, but despite that, the room wasn't overly noisy. He attributed it to the reasonably-sized venue. It wasn't a ballroom, but there was plenty of space for everyone. It was comfortable and homey, and exactly what he had expected from his brother. He was just about to lose himself in a daydream about his own turn at finding true love when Tuti's unmistakable voice grabbed his attention.
“Hey, you can't just drink water! This is a celebration! Where's your champagne? I'll get you some.” He gestured toward a petite server with a tray of champagne flutes and beckoned her over.
Nagayama forced a smile. “I'm not really much of a drinker...” If Tuti heard this, there was no indication, as he was busy picking two glasses off the girl's tray, handing one to him. After a moment's hesitation, Nagayama took it, managing a gracious smile.
Tuti grinned and held up his own glass, gazing at the bubbly liquid inside. “Booze tastes better when it's free, you know.”
“In that case, I'd like to make a little toast.” Nagayama lifted his glass, amused by the expectant expression on his companion's face. “To new beginnings... and new brothers!”
Tuti barked another loud laugh. “I'll drink to that!”
And that was how it started.
That first drink went down easily, and after a few more--and several hours of good food and even better conversation--so did Nagayama.
-----
Somewhere between dinner and toasts and dances and cake, Tuti had goaded Nagayama into imbibing a few more glasses of champagne while they talked and laughed and learned more about one another. Nagayama knew he shouldn't have started drinking on a mostly empty stomach, but it seemed there was no refusing Tuti. “It's a celebration!” he constantly reminded, and so Nagayama kept drinking.
“Seriously? You dyed your hair orange?” Nagayama erupted in a fit of giggles, nearly losing his balance in his chair.
Tuti was laughing as well, the sound more of a low rumble. “It was bright orange, too! Kaa-san made me go to school like that for a whole week to teach me a lesson! It worked, though. I never did that again!”
Nagayama's mother leaned toward her son, speaking much more quietly than the guys. “I don't mean to interrupt your fun, but we're about to see the bride and groom off. Come outside with us; the fresh air will do you boys some good.”
At hearing his mother's very calm voice, Nagayama cleared his throat and did his best to stop laughing and at least act sober, even if he was far from it. “Oh, are they already leaving?”
Tuti turned to his compatriot’s mother and flashed her a charming smile. “We'll be right there, Harumi-san.” He stood up slowly, listing a bit before balancing himself with the aid of his chair.
When Nagayama attempted this same feat, he nearly fell into Tuti. “Whoops! Guess I shouldn't have had that glass last of champagne!” He giggled again. “I mean lass glast.”
Steadying Nagayama by his shoulders, Tuti simply shook his head in amusement. “You didn't tell me you were a lightweight, Nagayama-san.”
“Takashi.” Nagayama looked up at Tuti, for the first time noticing the height difference between them. “We're brothers now, so you can call me Takashi! And I did so tell you I don't drink.”
“Hai hai. Okay, Takashi, let's go see off the newlyweds.”
The room had very nearly cleared out by the time the two of them finally made their way outside, Takashi leaning heavily on Tuti, who supported him as if he were used to this sort of thing. In truth, he didn't really mind it. Takashi was warm and soft, though Tuti could feel the strength in his muscles through his suit coat. And he smelled good and looked good and he tucked himself so well into the crook of his arm. Tuti had to admit he rather liked that last part.
After bidding farewell to her mother and her new in-laws, Tuti's sister came up to give him a farewell hug and lingered a moment longer to whisper by his ear. “You two look cute together. I haven't seen you look so happy in a long time.”
Tuti laughed softly, a little perplexed by her comment. “Thanks... I think.” He shifted his gaze to the man in question, noticing he was similarly distracted by his brother, and he idly wondered if Takashi's family was as strange as his own. They had to be, he concluded, for the poor guy to want to marry his sister.
“Just be nice to him,” she lectured, waving a finger at him, “because if you're not... I hear he knows karate.”
With a grin and a shake of his head, Tuti replied, “I'll keep that in mind. You two have fun in Hawaii. And don't forget to bring me back a souvenir!”
Within a matter of minutes, the happily married couple was gone, as were many of the guests. A few stood around chatting or bidding their farewells, and even Takashi was engaged in conversation with his and Tuti's mothers.
“It was very nice to meet you, Yumiko-san. You have a wonderful family, and I'm sure Mizuha-san will be very happy with my brother.” It took nearly all of his focus to keep his words from slurring, but he somehow managed-a feat which he was rather proud of.
Just then, his mother spoke up. “Your father and I are going to head home shortly, Takashi. Will you be coming with us?”
He looked over at Tuti, who was standing off to the side of the crowd, and inclined his head. “I think I'll stay with Tuti a little longer.” With an impish grin and a wave of his hand, he added, “Don't worry about me. I know how to get back and I have a key.”
“All right, but stay out of trouble,” his mother cautioned. “And don't drink any more!”
Tuti's mother smiled at him. “I'm glad to see you get along so well with that son of mine. I know he comes on a little strong sometimes.”
Takashi chuckled. “Turns out we have a lot in common! Now if you'll excuse me, I better go see if his ears are burning.” With a little more effort than usual, he made his way back to Tuti, gripping onto his arm when the ground seemed to suddenly give way beneath him. “He~y,” he drawled, smiling up at him and giggling like he knew a joke he wasn't telling, “are your ears okay?”
“My... What?” Tuti laughed, bringing his free hand up to tug at his earlobe.
Takashi reached up and tugged at the other lobe. “Your ears! Are they burning?”
Tuti glanced over at their parents and wondered just why they had been talking about him. “As a matter of fact, they are. You must've been talking about how good I look in this suit.”
“Wouldn't you like to know?” Takashi teased. He tugged on Tuti's arm, like a child attempting to drag his father toward the playground. “It's still early. Let's go do something!”
For a man of his stature, Takashi was surprisingly strong, and Tuti nearly gave way under that sharp tug. But instead he stood his ground and laughed softly, amused by his friend's playful and almost childlike demeanor. “I'm not sure that's such a good idea, Nag-Takashi.” At this, Takashi pouted, and Tuti felt a twinge of... something at the sight. He probably had no idea how cute and boyish the act made him look.
Takashi's brows knit, face a study in disappointment. “Why not? Do you have to go?”
Definitely cute, Tuti decided. And he was quick to reassure Takashi that he did indeed want to spend more time with him. “No no! It's not that. It's just... you're totally drunk. You can barely stand up on your own!”
“Am not!” Takashi huffed and disengaged himself from Tuti's arm, taking a few steps backward to show him that he could indeed stand just fine under his own power. His stance was unusually wide and he held his arms stiffly, a little away from his side, as if he needed to be at the ready for any sudden movement that would render him off-balance.
Tuti covered his mouth and coughed softly to hide a snicker at the awkward sight. From his pocket, he grabbed a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out, holding it between his lips as he reached for his lighter. “Tell you what.” He paused, lighting the end of the stick and taking a long draw, letting the smoke seep from between his lips in long, lazy tendrils. “I've got a room upstairs. You're more than welcome to come up if you don't want to go home yet. And maybe later, when you're a little steadier on your feet, we can get a late night snack.”
For a few moments, Takashi seemed to mull this over as he watched the way Tuti's expression seemed to melt from amusement to something akin to satiation as he continued to draw on his cigarette. He himself wasn't a fan of smoking, and he didn't particularly like being around smokers, but with Tuti, the act seemed befitting. Almost attractive, even.
When Tuti stubbed out the cigarette and flicked the butt to the sidewalk, Takashi suddenly realized he hadn't yet given the guy an answer. “Okay. Let's go to your room!” As he slowly made his way toward the door, he smiled, vocalizing his thoughts as though his capacity for inner monologue had completely shut down on him. “This hotel's really nice, so I bet the rooms are nice, too. Oh, and there's gotta be a view of the bay!”
Tuti chuckled and felt in his pocket to make sure he had his key card, then strode up next to Takashi, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “It's a nice room; you'll see.”
“But don't you live in Tokyo? Why'd you need a hotel room here?”
As they walked through the lobby and toward the elevators, Tuti elaborated, “Kaa-san wanted everyone to be here for a few days leading up to the wedding, so even though I only live in Tokyo, I got a room so I could spend a couple days with her and Mizuha.”
The elevator dinged as the doors opened, and the two stepped inside. Takashi watched as Tuti reached out with one long finger to press the button for the 8th floor. As they started their ascent, he made a soft, appreciative sound. “Must be nice. I had some last minute changes to go over with my pattern maker, so I didn't get in until last night.”
When the elevator slowed to a stop, the change in velocity unexpectedly threw off Takashi's precarious grasp on his balance, and he stumbled awkwardly until his back hit the far wall. This made Tuti laugh loudly, the sound echoing in the tiny chamber, and he reached out a hand to help his friend. “Come on, let's get you into the room so you can sit down.”
“I'm fine! I'm fine,” Takashi reassured, though he still took the hand being offered to him.
Not a minute later, they arrived at the proper door, and he was still leaning against Tuti's arm. Though they had only met no more than three hours ago, and his judgment was rather clouded by the champagne that had gone straight to his head, he thought this contact felt strangely comfortable. And when Tuti moved to step into the room, he was eager to follow, but reluctant to move away.
The door shut behind them with a resounding click, and Tuti kicked off his shoes and reached up to loosen his tie, eager to be rid of both it and the stuffy, restrictive suit jacket he had been forced to wear. However, the hand that curled around his bicep gave him pause.
“You feel good.” Takashi's voice was soft, distant, as though his words weren't meant to be heard by anyone but himself.
“...What?”
Before Tuti could figure out what was going through Takashi's head, that very same head pressed against his arm, cheek rubbing against the fabric of his jacket, almost nuzzling. Then, just as quickly as he had started, Takashi stopped, made a sound of disgust, and pushed away. “Ugh. You smell like smoke.”
Tuti let out a quiet laugh, confused by the unexpected antics. “Uh... sorry?”
“Uwaah! Your room does have a view of the bay!” Takashi walked passed the bed and over to the expansive window on the far side of the room, seemingly amazed by the water below. Flanked by highrises and multistory buildings, the glow from their windows was just beginning to pop up like little rectangular fireflies as daylight faded into dusk.
“What? I told you it was nice.” Tuti sighed softly and shook his head, though there was a smile on his lips. This guy sure didn't like sticking with one topic for very long. Not when he was drunk, anyway. To him, it was both endearing and frustrating. “Why don't you take off your jacket? Get comfortable.”
Eventually, Takashi turned away from the window, looking Tuti up and down now that he was dressed a little more casually. “Comfortable. Right.” He toed off his own shoes where he stood, then somewhat awkwardly shrugged out of his jacket, at least having the semblance of mind to drape it over the back of one of the chairs in the small sitting area. When he proceeded to struggle with his tie, Tuti decided to step in to help him.
He took his time loosening the knot from the tie, enjoying the closeness between them. And though he had had quite a bit to drink at the reception, his voice of reason still asserted that it would be a bad idea to do something senseless and rash to someone he was now technically related to. He wondered if he could somehow silence that niggling voice, because the way Takashi looked and the way he smelled, fresh and clean and champagne-sweet, the warmth that radiated between them, it really would have made it easy to just dip his head and steal a kiss from those full, pouting lips.
“Do you always drink like this at weddings?” he asked, still standing toe to toe with the much shorter Takashi.
“Not that I've been to other weddings, but no. Do you always invite guys you just met up to your room?” The words were out of his mouth for a full thirty seconds before Takashi realized what he had said. And by the time it occurred to him just how suggestive that sounded, Tuti was already answering.
An amused chuckle. “Just the ones named Nagayama Takashi.”
“You probably don't get many visitors with standards that strict.”
Tuti grinned widely, a playful glint in his eye. “Nope. You'd be the first.”
“I'm honored.” Takashi turned his eyes up to Tuti and treated him to an impish smile. “You know, you're kind of a charming guy. I'm glad I came up here.”
“It's all in the forehead,” Tuti joked, giving said forehead a tap. At long last, he finally freed the knot from the tie and smoothed the material flat against Takashi's chest, doing his best not to let his touch linger too long-even if Takashi did arch ever so slightly into his touch. “There. Now you're all set.”
For at least a full minute, Takashi stood his ground. So did Tuti. It was dangerous for him to think too much, as nearly every thought that crossed his mind somehow managed to slip past his lips. He didn't really know this guy, but Tuti seemed nice and friendly and handsome and well-spoken, and he felt like he could trust him enough to come up to his hotel room with him. But for what? He couldn't deny there was some underlying connection between them beyond that of their siblings' marriage and he was fairly sure Tuti felt it, too. He had to.
In an effort to test whether or not Tuti's intentions lay in line with his own, he lifted one hand, resting it gingerly on Tuti's arm, the starched cotton of his dress shirt stiff but warm beneath his fingers. Slowly, he ran his thumb back and forth over the material. His gaze was cast upward, a knowing grin on his lips, eyes alight with mischief.
Tuti swallowed hard. Just what was Takashi up to? He hadn't invited him up to his room to be seduced. He hadn't really intended to do any seducing of his own either, but from the moment they stepped into the room, the intimate, enclosed space seemed to bring their unmistakable chemistry to the forefront. He probably should have kept his distance, let Takashi go back to his parents' to nurse his hangover, but he hadn't and now they were here. Alone. And the space between them was at once too little and too much.
When his first tactic didn't provide him with any answers, Takashi decided to step things up. He wasn't usually the type to fall into bed with someone he hadn't even known for four hours, but he had been between relationships for entirely too long now, his brain was feeling decidedly fuzzy, and his clothes seemed to itch at his skin. He didn't know just what had come over him tonight, but he was starting to like it.
He tiptoed his fingers up the front of Tuti's shirt, leaning in close and batting his eyelashes in a way that came off far less coquettish than he had hoped. “ Why did you ask me to come here, Tuti?” He hadn't meant for his voice to rumble from his throat like a purr, but it was too late to take it back now.
A shrug. “To talk?” Tuti chewed thoughtfully on his lip for a moment, looking to Takashi like he was mentally warring with himself. “We were really hitting it off downstairs, so I thought...”
“Thought what?” Takashi's grin stretched from ear to ear. “That we could hit it off in your hotel room, too?”
“What? No, not like that!”
Surprisingly quick on the uptake, Takashi cocked his head and feigned innocence. “Not like what?” He scratched his finger over one of the buttons on Tuti's shirt. “I was just talking about talking. But it seems you were thinking about something else.”
“I wasn't until you brought it up!”
Tuti shifted a bit uncomfortably. It was only a half-truth, but Takashi didn't need to know that. He knew that if they were alone together, in a private room, flirting as they had earlier, with as much alcohol as they had in their systems, there was a definite risk of something inappropriate-but-so-very-right-at-the-time happening. He still had enough wits about him to know he shouldn't, but Tuti had long been a purveyor of wanting that which he could not have. Telling himself he shouldn't only made him want it more. He should put some distance between them, he knew. As close as they were, sparks were flying everywhere, and he was well aware that if he continued to stand so near to the cause of them, one of the embers was bound to send him up in flames.
For a while, Takashi simply watched him, as if waiting for his answer to change or for him to take some sort of action. He didn't have to wait long. “If you weren't thinking about it too, then why did you come up here?”
“Because I like you, Tsuchiya Yuuichi.”
“You like me?”
“Yep.”
“You like me.” Not a question--a statement.
“I do.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know exactly what kind of guy you are.” Takashi giggled and reached up to poke Tuti's cheek.
A brow raised. “Do you?” Tuti wasn't sure he wanted to play Takashi's game of cat and mouse. It was hard to tell when he was being serious and when he was joking. And he didn't particularly like being toyed with. But in the end, his curiosity got the best of him, and the corner of his mouth tugged up in a grin.
“Yep.” Takashi nodded, the alcohol in his blood making him feel unusually cocksure. “You're the kind of guy who'd be willing to bet years of future awkward family gatherings on the chance that his brother's... no, sister's...”
“...Sister's husband's brother.”
“Thank you-sister's husband's brother was the kind of guy who'd follow him up to his hotel room and let him get to third base.”
“Uh huuuuh...” Tuti's voice was flat.
Takashi grinned rather smugly. “You know I'm right.”
“And knowing that, you still like me?” It took everything in him to force back a full smile.
“Definitely.”
“It's too bad you're wrong.”
“Wrong how?”
That smile finally broke free, and he reached out a hand to lift Takashi's chin. “I was only hoping to get to second.”
In the next instant, their lips were pressed together and Tuti was never more glad that he had come to this wedding. The way Takashi responded so eagerly, pushing himself up on his toes to get closer made the stubborn little voice of reason in his head a little quieter, and he decided to silence it completely by pushing his tongue into the other man's mouth.
Though he had been purposely goading Tuti into making a move, Takashi was still caught off guard when it happened. But he knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, and he was quick to make sure Tuti knew exactly how much he wanted this. One hand tugged at the front of Tuti's button-down while the other curled around his neck, tugging him closer as he pushed himself up, lips and tongue eager to taste and explore.
Takashi's kisses were a little sloppy, Tuti thought, but so long as he had that warm mouth against his, sucking and nipping and licking, he didn't so much mind. He slid one hand to Takashi's neck, the other moving down his arm until he reached the surprisingly slender waist, and his long fingers slid around to his back and pushed, the action pulling a soft, muffled moan from Takashi. The sound only served to encourage him, and he pushed his advantage again, grasping Takashi's lower lip between his and sucking. Now that it had started, he knew he couldn't simply stop-didn't want to, either.
It wasn't until a dizziness began stirring around inside his head that had nothing to do with the alcohol he had consumed and everything to do with oxygen deprivation that Takashi managed to turn his cheek to Tuti's addictive lips and break their kiss. He kept his eyes closed, his lips wet and kiss-swollen, chest heaving as he pressed his forehead to Tuti's shoulder. “God, Tuti...”
Takashi felt Tuti's laugh more than he heard it, low and rumbling from his chest. “So... third base, huh?” He dipped his head, deftly popping the top two buttons on Takashi's shirt free as he leaned in to kiss his neck, the hot skin beneath his lips prickling with goosebumps as a shiver coursed through him.
Takashi's head was reeling, blood pounding in his ears, his body almost uncomfortably hot, and he arched toward Tuti, pressing against him, feeling the effect their kissing had had on him. He couldn't help it; he pressed again, rocking just slightly, needing some outlet for the fire that seemed to be growing inside him. The sigh that he got in response was more than enough to encourage him to continue. His hands moved again, one resting on Tuti's shoulder while the other trailed lower, sliding down his chest and stomach, and he lingered for a moment when he felt Tuti's belt beneath his fingers. His hand slid lower still, and he put enough distance between their bodies so he could give the hard ridge beneath his palm a squeeze. Takashi bit his lower lip, then smirked, “Mm-hm... third base.”
Tuti couldn't help it. He tightened the fingers at the back of Takashi's neck and tugged him forward, slanting his mouth over his and plundering it again. Takashi made a soft sound in his throat, squeezed him again, and Tuti's hips jerked forward, wanting, needing. He loved the way Takashi felt against him, how eager to please he was, how he seemed to know just how to push his buttons to get not just what he wanted, but what they both did. Right now, he wanted more, everything-all that he could get.
It took a few moments for Takashi to get his hand to work in conjunction with his mouth, and eventually he started palming Tuti's cock through his pants, his touch firm but a little uncoordinated. It was thrilling, the unfamiliarity of another person's body. They were as good as strangers, and yet they were already moving into territory he normally would have reserved for at least a second date. His body was doing nothing but egging him on, filling him with the desire to see what he was touching, how he affected Tuti-and urging him to bring him even more pleasure.
The more Takashi's fingers rubbed him, the harder Tuti's breath came, and he was forced to draw away from the kiss sooner than he would have liked. This, however, gave Takashi the opportunity he was looking for, and he pressed his palm flat against Tuti's chest with enough pressure to put an arm's length between them. Tuti's brows knit in confusion, and for a moment he was afraid Takashi had spontaneously sobered up and was about to put a stop to the whole thing. It would be a shame, too, as now that there was some distance between them, he could clearly see just how turned on the guy was. The well-tailored slacks he wore did nothing to hide his arousal, even in the low lighting.
Takashi simply gestured to the bed and arched a brow in question. “Care to have a seat?”
A knowing grin blossomed on Tuti's lips and he eyed Takashi curiously as he took the few steps over to the bed, sitting down on the edge, legs spread in invitation. “The bed's big enough for two, you know.”
A smirk. “Oh, I know.”
With more room to breathe, Takashi's head felt a bit clearer, the room stiller, though his body still felt like it was on fire. He idly wondered if Tuti felt that same heat. With slow, measured steps, he made his way to the bed and leaned down to steal a slow, searching kiss from him. Oh yeah, the heat was definitely there. After a bit of wavering, he finally decided to take a seat next to him, and he was careful to rest his hand on Tuti's thigh. So it came as quite a surprise to him when he felt a warm palm against the front of his pants, rubbing slowly. The moan it drew from him sounded almost too loud in the otherwise quiet room, but the touch was more than welcomed.
Tuti chuckled. “Fair's fair.”
“Yessss...” Takashi hissed, hips pushing toward Tuti's hand. He didn't want to let his head get too fogged up again just yet, and it took considerable effort to remember what he had been about to do. He drew his legs up underneath him and reached out to pull Tuti's shirt free of his pants, fingers clumsily working the buttons free. “It's too hot in here,” was the only explanation he gave. When he had finally completed the task, he pushed the shirt from his shoulders and was about to start on his own shirt when those long, slender fingers suddenly covered his own.
“I want to.” Tuti didn't take his time, though he knew he should be cherishing these moments to remember the next time he found his bed disappointingly empty. It was only a matter of seconds, it seemed, before Takashi's shirt was lying on the floor by his own. Even through the thin tank top he wore beneath it, it was easy to see that Takashi took very good care of his body. The muscles in his arms and chest were clearly defined, and he realized his sister must not have been joking when she said Takashi knew karate. He made a mental note to ask about it later.
Contrary to what he had hoped, the loss of his shirt had done virtually nothing to quell the heat still smoldering inside Takashi, though it was a start. He wasn't about to squander his time worrying about trivialities, he reached out for Tuti's belt, having more success with it than he had with the buttons, and the hook and zip of his pants bent even easier to his will.
Tuti knew he didn't have to, he could've left it up to Takashi, but he lifted his hips enough to tug his pants and boxers down to his knees. A sigh of relief seeped from his lips once his cock sprung free. Besides, he always thought he looked a little more impressive without all that extra material bunched up around him. And from the way he saw Takashi lick his lips, he knew he was right.
“Is that an invitation?” It took a few seconds for Takashi's eyes to make their way back up Tuti's body to his face. His expression was playful, teasing.
Tuti shrugged, a grin sneaking past him despite the hold his teeth had on his lower lip. “Only if you want it to be.”
“Well then, I accept.” Tuti leaned back on his elbows and Takashi could feel his eyes trained on him as he reached out, fingers circling his shaft in a tight grip and gave it a long, slow tug. It pulsed and twitched in his grip, and he knew it was in his best interest not to tease. He renewed his efforts, stroking Tuti faster, but he knew that even the best handjob still required a little assistance to help things go more smoothly. A gentle push against the back of his neck was all the incentive Takashi needed, and he stretched his legs out on the bed as his lips met the tip of Tuti's cock.
For his part, Tuti was careful to encourage him with moans and sighs, but not seem so overeager that it would make Takashi think twice about how fast they were moving. He enjoyed watching him work, the way his lips closed around the head, then released it, how his tongue slid smoothly up the length of him, wetting a long trail from base to tip that he then spread around with his hand, and the look of pure satisfaction on Takashi's face when he took him in halfway and their eyes met, the reality of what they were doing suddenly seeming far more intimate.
If Takashi noticed this, he didn't let on, focused on his task as he was. He shifted a bit on the bed, one hand resting on Tuti's thigh, and he could feel the way the muscle tensed and trembled in response to the actions of his mouth. After a little trial and error, he managed to find a good rhythm, taking the shaft between his lips and pulling back with hard suction as he drew up.
“God-fuck you're good at this,” Tuti groaned, back arching when the tip of Takashi's tongue pressed just so against the underside of his tip.
Takashi drew back, a smug smirk on his red lips. His breath was hot against Tuti's wet cock and he took quite a bit of satisfaction from the way Tuti shivered in response. “You don't know the half of it.”
Tuti chuckled, reached down and ran his fingers through Takashi's hair. “Well I hope you're gonna show me.”
There was mischief in Takashi's eyes, and at first he didn't respond, choosing instead to swirl his tongue maddeningly slowly around the head of Tuti's cock. “You'll just have to wait and see.”
“Better-ah-better be soon.” Tuti's hips jerked, and Takashi pulled back.
A cocked brow. “Pretty strong words for a guy who's got his dick just inches away from a mouth full of teeth.” Takashi gave him a very toothy grin just for show.
Tuti blinked, eyes going a little wider. “You wouldn't.”
“You really think you know me well enough to say that?” Takashi challenged, the hand curled around Tuti's shaft tightening just a little.
Surely Takashi was bluffing. But he was in a very precarious situation and he knew better than to press his luck, or he'd be nursing more than just a case of blueballs. Finally, he relented, a teasing grin on his lips. “My apologies, Nagayama-san. Please take your time in letting me experience the wonders of your very talented mouth.”
Takashi giggled, and his hand began moving again in quick strokes. “That's more like it.”
Tuti sucked in a breath, hips wanting to rock into Takashi's grip. “Yesss... that is more like it.” He decided it was probably for the best that he just lie back and let Takashi move at his own pace, which seemed to be just about perfect anyway.
The sounds spilling from Tuti's lips as he alternated between sucking and stroking him made Takashi's hips shift a bit uncomfortably, and he did his best to twist enough so he could rub his hard-on against the mattress, hopefully without drawing too much attention to himself. Sure, frotting against the sheets was a poor substitute for some personal attention, but he was in dire need of some measure of relief.
It wasn't until Takashi started seeming a little too into sucking him off, panting softly and eliciting the occasional moan, that Tuti realized why. What a terrible host he had been, inviting him up to his room and not even reciprocating any of the attention he was getting. So he remedied it by reaching for Takashi's belt, an action that almost immediately put a stop to the glorious suction of his mouth. He glanced down at Takashi, whose cheeks were flushed, obviously embarrassed at having been found out. “Well do you want me to or not?”
Takashi blinked once. Twice. “God, yes!” Faster than Tuti could respond, he was sitting up, fingers scrambling to unbuckle his belt.
“Ah ah ah,” Tuti chided, swatting his hands away. “I said I'll do it.” His fingers weren't much slower, though, and before long, Takashi was lifting his hips and kicking away the offensive clothing, boxers still tangled around one ankle. Tuti couldn't help it; he chuckled softly. “Damn you're eager.”
“Hn.” Takashi just leveled him with a flat look and raised one brow. “I could say the same about you.”
“Okay, point taken.”
Any and all tension between them melted as soon as Tuti's fingers curled around Takashi's shaft. And when he swiped his finger over the slick tip, Takashi's hips jerked so forcefully he thought the guy was going to come right there. This time, Tuti decided to keep his comments to himself lest that earlier threat become a reality.
Once the initial novelty of Tuti's touch wore off, Takashi regained some measure of control and decided to return his attention to the cock in front of him, still hard and glistening with his saliva. Now that he was getting some attention too, he redoubled his efforts, tonguing the head before engulfing fully half of Tuti's shaft between his lips and sucking wetly.
Any consistency in Tuti's attentions was shattered by the way Takashi suddenly started sucking him like they were in danger of missing a deadline, but he had to admit he didn't mind at all. He let Takashi fuck him with his mouth, knowing it wasn't going to take much more to bring him off, hard up as he was. But he did his best not to let him feel left out, hand stroking him in time with the pace of Takashi's own mouth.
Takashi could feel the tension winding tighter within Tuti, his muscles tightening, hips involuntarily lifting just slightly from the bed, so it was no surprise to him that a well-placed swipe of his tongue was all it took to finally bring Tuti off. The man gave a sharp cry, his hand falling away from Takashi's shaft to grip the sheets instead as Takashi slowly pumped him with both his mouth and hand, letting his release spill back down the length of his cock. He may have willingly sucked the guy off, but he wasn't about to swallow a stranger's cum. Maybe if they ever had that second date...
When he finally let Tuti slip free from his mouth, he wiped the back of his fingers across his lips and shot him a smug grin. Only Tuti's eyes were closed, his chest heaving as his body worked to recover his lost breath. Takashi pushed himself up onto an elbow, for the first time being able to watch him without fear of reproach. He was a handsome guy, even more so now that he was looking a little wild and disheveled-more like what Takashi thought his normal, everyday self must be like. At length, he twisted his body so he could fold his arms over Tuti's stomach, resting his head on them. He smiled, voice teasing, “So... worth the wait?”
Slowly, Tuti's eyes opened as he registered the weight on his stomach. The grin that crossed his lips was equal parts lazy and mischievous, and he reached up, tousling Takashi's hair. “You tell me.” And with far more speed and energy than Takashi had expected from him, he slid out from underneath him and gave a shove to Takashi's shoulder, reversing their positions and flipping him onto his back.
“T-Tuti, what--?”
Before Takashi could finish, Tuti's mouth had descended on his again and he swallowed the rest of the unspoken protest. He was still eager for more, and it didn't take long for him to give himself over to the kiss, arms coming up to wind around Tuti's shoulders, hold him in place. So Tuti obliged him, sucking at his lower lip, letting their tongues dance together until Takashi was desperate with need and bucked his hips up against him.
Slowly, Tuti pulled himself away from Takashi's lips and slid down the length of his body until he was lying between his spread legs. He lifted Takashi's cock away from his belly and rubbed his thumb over the head. “You don't have to tell me twice.” His tongue shot out, licking a long, wet trail up the length of his shaft before closing his lips around it, and Takashi was in heaven.
After being worked up for so long, he was more than grateful for the attentions of Tuti's mouth, but he knew it wasn't going to take much more to get him off, and he'd likely come regrettably early. At the moment, he couldn't even find it in him to care because Tuti was sucking him so perfectly, up and down and hard and soft, and doing things with his tongue that Takashi was pretty sure he had never felt before, and all he wanted was for it to go on forever.
Takashi was twisting on the bed, sheets balled tightly in his fists as mewls and groans of pure pleasure slipped past his lips in between cries of yes, right there and don't stop. Tuti found the vocalization rather amusing and wondered if it were just the alcohol affecting him or whether he was normally this loud in bed. Part of him was almost hoping he'd one day get the chance to find out.
When Takashi's breath began to quicken and his cries came in greater succession, Tuti pulled back, using his hand to stroke him to completion. It gave him a perfect view of the way the other man's expression changed from frustration to ecstasy and surprise and then to relief and satiety within the span of only a few seconds. Once Takashi's climax had subsisted to the occasional shudder, he pulled his hand back and wiped it on the sheets.
“Now do you have your answer?” he joked, grinning from ear to ear.
Takashi was only able to manage an “uh huh” for a solid thirty seconds. His gaze was trained on the ceiling, though he wasn't really seeing it, mind still trying to come to terms with what had just happened. At length, he rolled onto his side, propping his head up on his hand so he could see Tuti better. “Definitely worth the wait.”
Slowly, Tuti drew back, giving Takashi's hip a pat, and stood from the bed. “Come on; get up.”
“What? No! Why?” Takashi pursed his lips, brows furrowed. Tuti wasn't going to just kick him out so soon after, was he?
“Because we have to go out and get some stuff from the conbini before you're suffering with the worst hangover ever tomorrow.”
Takashi grinned. “I'm pretty sure you sucked all the alcohol right out of my system.”
A brow raised. “I'll take that as a compliment.” There was a moment's pause, and Tuti shook his head, staring down at him. “But you still have to get up.”
Once Tuti had disappeared into the bathroom, Takashi wondered whether he should just call it a night and head home. It's true he was feeling more sober now than he had in a few hours, but he was also pretty sure that what had just happened between the two of them probably shouldn't have. Tuti was a nice guy-attractive, too-and they obviously had chemistry to spare, but the fact of the matter was he barely knew the guy.
And they were brothers-in-law.
Shit.
A few minutes passed before Tuti finally reemerged, clean, and with his pants back in place. When he saw that Takashi had only moved to fling an arm over his face, he sighed in consternation. “Oi. Takashi.” The man in question peeked out from underneath his arm and regarded Tuti suspiciously. “You can't lie there all night.”
“I think... I think I should go home.” He nodded, as if justifying his own answer, and slowly sat up, looking around the bed for his cast-off pants and boxers.
Tuti crossed his arms, watching Takashi. The man before him seemed like a completely different person than the one from just five minutes ago. “What's gotten into you? You in a rush?”
The sound of Tuti's voice made him pause for only a second. He didn't want to look Tuti in the eye right now. “No, I just-I think it would be best if I went home.”
Regret, Tuti decided. He had been given a chance to think about what had happened without his hormones clouding his judgment, and he was ashamed of what he had done. Tuti had thought about their dalliance too, but the only conclusion he had made was that he wanted to learn more about Takashi. Maybe get to be actual friends. Maybe something more. He didn't regret what they had done. So what if family functions might be a little awkward in the future-he had had a good time, and that was that.
He decided to see if he could get Takashi to come around. “Can you even make it there on your own? Because I have no problem with you staying a little longer.”
Takashi simply tugged on his boxers and pants, fiddling with his belt for longer than necessary. “I can get home just fine.”
A sigh, then a grin. “You sure you don't want to try my patented Tsuchiya Hangover Cure? Guaranteed to make you wake up headache-free or I claim no responsibility.”
At long last, Takashi cracked just a hint of a smile. “You really want me to stay that bad?”
Tuti shrugged. “I want to... get to know you better.”
Takashi barked a laugh. “I'd say you know me pretty well.”
“Well now I want to know you with your clothes on.”
The smile was growing, little by little. “Sex first, ask questions later?”
“Don't knock it till you try it.” This was more like it; this was the kind of easy rapport that had prompted him to invite Takashi up to his room in the first place. He reached down, picking their shirts up off the floor and handed Takashi's to him.
He grabbed the shirt and pulled it on, fumbling a bit over the buttons. “Guess it can't hurt to try.”
Tuti laughed. “That's the spirit!”
-----
When they finally traded the dark and quiet of the hotel room for the neon lights and hustle and bustle of downtown Kanagawa, Takashi's head was still a jumble of conflicting thoughts and questions. But between the late curry dinner they had shared (part one of Tuti's infamous Hangover Cure) and the conversation they made on the way back to the hotel--where Tuti kept his word and they didn't shed any clothing--he somehow felt that despite their rocky start, he had gained so much more than a brother.
Title: Starting Out Backwards
Rating: NC-17
Notes: I blame this whole thing on fencer_x, who told me it was a good idea to write porn and then wouldn't let me end it with a cheap cop-out. Also, again, you have been forewarned--it's 8000 words.
Summary: Tuti's sister marries Nagayan's brother and they meet for the first time at their wedding.
"So I guess you must be my new brother."
Nagayama looked up from inspecting his place card at the man pulling out the chair next to his. He was tall, with wide eyes and a charming smile. If he had to guess, the guy was probably within a year or two of his own age. And he already had a mostly empty glass of champagne in his hand when he sat down.
"You must be Mizuha-san's brother, then?" Nagayama glanced at the place card next to his. "Tsuchiya Yuuichi?" He flashed the newcomer a smile of his own and turned his place card so it could be seen by Tsuchiya. "I'm Nagayama Takashi. It's nice to finally meet you."
Tsuchiya waved a hand dismissively. "Likewise. And you can just call me Tuti. Most people do." He gave Nagayama a discerning look, taking in his boyish, well-proportioned features and the way his pink tie seemed to accentuate his skin tone. "Let me guess... younger brother, right? What are you, like 20, 21?"
This was not the way Nagayama expected this conversation to start. He expected an exchange of pleasantries and maybe a little talk about their livelihoods. This Tuti guy was apparently a little nontraditional.
"Twenty-three, actually," Nagayama finally answered, still smiling politely, "at least for a few more months."
Tuti chuckled quite loudly, making Nagayama start. "Hey, small world! Me too!" With a practiced flick of his wrist, he drained the remaining contents of his champagne flute. "So what do you do for a living? Do you live here in Kanagawa?"
Nagayama swallowed the water he had been drinking before answering with a shake of his head. "No, I live in Tokyo, where I'm a musician-turned-fashion designer. You?" He inclined his head, mentally taking a guess at what Tuti did for a living. Probably something where he got to talk a lot. Actor, perhaps? DJ? News anchor? He didn't look like the salesman type.
"I'm a Tokyo transplant, too. Moved there from Koufu after beauty school. I work there as a hairdresser." He jerked a thumb in the direction of the bride and groom's table where the couple sat, smiling and talking. "I did Mizuha's hair for the reception."
Now it was Nagayama's turn to laugh. "And I designed nii-san's tuxedo jacket."
Maybe Tuti wasn't such a bad guy after all. Their professions seemed to go hand in hand, and knowing Tuti was a hairdresser somehow excused some of the more gregarious aspects of his personality. And his sister, from what he knew of her, seemed nice enough.
"Sounds like we've both got a knack for designing things," Tuti remarked, looking over at the jacket Nagayama's brother was wearing.
“Seems that way.”
A comfortable silence fell between them then, and Tuti briefly turned to answer a question from his mother. Nagayama took this time to survey the room now that it had filled up. He knew there were close to one hundred people on the guest list, but despite that, the room wasn't overly noisy. He attributed it to the reasonably-sized venue. It wasn't a ballroom, but there was plenty of space for everyone. It was comfortable and homey, and exactly what he had expected from his brother. He was just about to lose himself in a daydream about his own turn at finding true love when Tuti's unmistakable voice grabbed his attention.
“Hey, you can't just drink water! This is a celebration! Where's your champagne? I'll get you some.” He gestured toward a petite server with a tray of champagne flutes and beckoned her over.
Nagayama forced a smile. “I'm not really much of a drinker...” If Tuti heard this, there was no indication, as he was busy picking two glasses off the girl's tray, handing one to him. After a moment's hesitation, Nagayama took it, managing a gracious smile.
Tuti grinned and held up his own glass, gazing at the bubbly liquid inside. “Booze tastes better when it's free, you know.”
“In that case, I'd like to make a little toast.” Nagayama lifted his glass, amused by the expectant expression on his companion's face. “To new beginnings... and new brothers!”
Tuti barked another loud laugh. “I'll drink to that!”
And that was how it started.
That first drink went down easily, and after a few more--and several hours of good food and even better conversation--so did Nagayama.
-----
Somewhere between dinner and toasts and dances and cake, Tuti had goaded Nagayama into imbibing a few more glasses of champagne while they talked and laughed and learned more about one another. Nagayama knew he shouldn't have started drinking on a mostly empty stomach, but it seemed there was no refusing Tuti. “It's a celebration!” he constantly reminded, and so Nagayama kept drinking.
“Seriously? You dyed your hair orange?” Nagayama erupted in a fit of giggles, nearly losing his balance in his chair.
Tuti was laughing as well, the sound more of a low rumble. “It was bright orange, too! Kaa-san made me go to school like that for a whole week to teach me a lesson! It worked, though. I never did that again!”
Nagayama's mother leaned toward her son, speaking much more quietly than the guys. “I don't mean to interrupt your fun, but we're about to see the bride and groom off. Come outside with us; the fresh air will do you boys some good.”
At hearing his mother's very calm voice, Nagayama cleared his throat and did his best to stop laughing and at least act sober, even if he was far from it. “Oh, are they already leaving?”
Tuti turned to his compatriot’s mother and flashed her a charming smile. “We'll be right there, Harumi-san.” He stood up slowly, listing a bit before balancing himself with the aid of his chair.
When Nagayama attempted this same feat, he nearly fell into Tuti. “Whoops! Guess I shouldn't have had that glass last of champagne!” He giggled again. “I mean lass glast.”
Steadying Nagayama by his shoulders, Tuti simply shook his head in amusement. “You didn't tell me you were a lightweight, Nagayama-san.”
“Takashi.” Nagayama looked up at Tuti, for the first time noticing the height difference between them. “We're brothers now, so you can call me Takashi! And I did so tell you I don't drink.”
“Hai hai. Okay, Takashi, let's go see off the newlyweds.”
The room had very nearly cleared out by the time the two of them finally made their way outside, Takashi leaning heavily on Tuti, who supported him as if he were used to this sort of thing. In truth, he didn't really mind it. Takashi was warm and soft, though Tuti could feel the strength in his muscles through his suit coat. And he smelled good and looked good and he tucked himself so well into the crook of his arm. Tuti had to admit he rather liked that last part.
After bidding farewell to her mother and her new in-laws, Tuti's sister came up to give him a farewell hug and lingered a moment longer to whisper by his ear. “You two look cute together. I haven't seen you look so happy in a long time.”
Tuti laughed softly, a little perplexed by her comment. “Thanks... I think.” He shifted his gaze to the man in question, noticing he was similarly distracted by his brother, and he idly wondered if Takashi's family was as strange as his own. They had to be, he concluded, for the poor guy to want to marry his sister.
“Just be nice to him,” she lectured, waving a finger at him, “because if you're not... I hear he knows karate.”
With a grin and a shake of his head, Tuti replied, “I'll keep that in mind. You two have fun in Hawaii. And don't forget to bring me back a souvenir!”
Within a matter of minutes, the happily married couple was gone, as were many of the guests. A few stood around chatting or bidding their farewells, and even Takashi was engaged in conversation with his and Tuti's mothers.
“It was very nice to meet you, Yumiko-san. You have a wonderful family, and I'm sure Mizuha-san will be very happy with my brother.” It took nearly all of his focus to keep his words from slurring, but he somehow managed-a feat which he was rather proud of.
Just then, his mother spoke up. “Your father and I are going to head home shortly, Takashi. Will you be coming with us?”
He looked over at Tuti, who was standing off to the side of the crowd, and inclined his head. “I think I'll stay with Tuti a little longer.” With an impish grin and a wave of his hand, he added, “Don't worry about me. I know how to get back and I have a key.”
“All right, but stay out of trouble,” his mother cautioned. “And don't drink any more!”
Tuti's mother smiled at him. “I'm glad to see you get along so well with that son of mine. I know he comes on a little strong sometimes.”
Takashi chuckled. “Turns out we have a lot in common! Now if you'll excuse me, I better go see if his ears are burning.” With a little more effort than usual, he made his way back to Tuti, gripping onto his arm when the ground seemed to suddenly give way beneath him. “He~y,” he drawled, smiling up at him and giggling like he knew a joke he wasn't telling, “are your ears okay?”
“My... What?” Tuti laughed, bringing his free hand up to tug at his earlobe.
Takashi reached up and tugged at the other lobe. “Your ears! Are they burning?”
Tuti glanced over at their parents and wondered just why they had been talking about him. “As a matter of fact, they are. You must've been talking about how good I look in this suit.”
“Wouldn't you like to know?” Takashi teased. He tugged on Tuti's arm, like a child attempting to drag his father toward the playground. “It's still early. Let's go do something!”
For a man of his stature, Takashi was surprisingly strong, and Tuti nearly gave way under that sharp tug. But instead he stood his ground and laughed softly, amused by his friend's playful and almost childlike demeanor. “I'm not sure that's such a good idea, Nag-Takashi.” At this, Takashi pouted, and Tuti felt a twinge of... something at the sight. He probably had no idea how cute and boyish the act made him look.
Takashi's brows knit, face a study in disappointment. “Why not? Do you have to go?”
Definitely cute, Tuti decided. And he was quick to reassure Takashi that he did indeed want to spend more time with him. “No no! It's not that. It's just... you're totally drunk. You can barely stand up on your own!”
“Am not!” Takashi huffed and disengaged himself from Tuti's arm, taking a few steps backward to show him that he could indeed stand just fine under his own power. His stance was unusually wide and he held his arms stiffly, a little away from his side, as if he needed to be at the ready for any sudden movement that would render him off-balance.
Tuti covered his mouth and coughed softly to hide a snicker at the awkward sight. From his pocket, he grabbed a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out, holding it between his lips as he reached for his lighter. “Tell you what.” He paused, lighting the end of the stick and taking a long draw, letting the smoke seep from between his lips in long, lazy tendrils. “I've got a room upstairs. You're more than welcome to come up if you don't want to go home yet. And maybe later, when you're a little steadier on your feet, we can get a late night snack.”
For a few moments, Takashi seemed to mull this over as he watched the way Tuti's expression seemed to melt from amusement to something akin to satiation as he continued to draw on his cigarette. He himself wasn't a fan of smoking, and he didn't particularly like being around smokers, but with Tuti, the act seemed befitting. Almost attractive, even.
When Tuti stubbed out the cigarette and flicked the butt to the sidewalk, Takashi suddenly realized he hadn't yet given the guy an answer. “Okay. Let's go to your room!” As he slowly made his way toward the door, he smiled, vocalizing his thoughts as though his capacity for inner monologue had completely shut down on him. “This hotel's really nice, so I bet the rooms are nice, too. Oh, and there's gotta be a view of the bay!”
Tuti chuckled and felt in his pocket to make sure he had his key card, then strode up next to Takashi, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “It's a nice room; you'll see.”
“But don't you live in Tokyo? Why'd you need a hotel room here?”
As they walked through the lobby and toward the elevators, Tuti elaborated, “Kaa-san wanted everyone to be here for a few days leading up to the wedding, so even though I only live in Tokyo, I got a room so I could spend a couple days with her and Mizuha.”
The elevator dinged as the doors opened, and the two stepped inside. Takashi watched as Tuti reached out with one long finger to press the button for the 8th floor. As they started their ascent, he made a soft, appreciative sound. “Must be nice. I had some last minute changes to go over with my pattern maker, so I didn't get in until last night.”
When the elevator slowed to a stop, the change in velocity unexpectedly threw off Takashi's precarious grasp on his balance, and he stumbled awkwardly until his back hit the far wall. This made Tuti laugh loudly, the sound echoing in the tiny chamber, and he reached out a hand to help his friend. “Come on, let's get you into the room so you can sit down.”
“I'm fine! I'm fine,” Takashi reassured, though he still took the hand being offered to him.
Not a minute later, they arrived at the proper door, and he was still leaning against Tuti's arm. Though they had only met no more than three hours ago, and his judgment was rather clouded by the champagne that had gone straight to his head, he thought this contact felt strangely comfortable. And when Tuti moved to step into the room, he was eager to follow, but reluctant to move away.
The door shut behind them with a resounding click, and Tuti kicked off his shoes and reached up to loosen his tie, eager to be rid of both it and the stuffy, restrictive suit jacket he had been forced to wear. However, the hand that curled around his bicep gave him pause.
“You feel good.” Takashi's voice was soft, distant, as though his words weren't meant to be heard by anyone but himself.
“...What?”
Before Tuti could figure out what was going through Takashi's head, that very same head pressed against his arm, cheek rubbing against the fabric of his jacket, almost nuzzling. Then, just as quickly as he had started, Takashi stopped, made a sound of disgust, and pushed away. “Ugh. You smell like smoke.”
Tuti let out a quiet laugh, confused by the unexpected antics. “Uh... sorry?”
“Uwaah! Your room does have a view of the bay!” Takashi walked passed the bed and over to the expansive window on the far side of the room, seemingly amazed by the water below. Flanked by highrises and multistory buildings, the glow from their windows was just beginning to pop up like little rectangular fireflies as daylight faded into dusk.
“What? I told you it was nice.” Tuti sighed softly and shook his head, though there was a smile on his lips. This guy sure didn't like sticking with one topic for very long. Not when he was drunk, anyway. To him, it was both endearing and frustrating. “Why don't you take off your jacket? Get comfortable.”
Eventually, Takashi turned away from the window, looking Tuti up and down now that he was dressed a little more casually. “Comfortable. Right.” He toed off his own shoes where he stood, then somewhat awkwardly shrugged out of his jacket, at least having the semblance of mind to drape it over the back of one of the chairs in the small sitting area. When he proceeded to struggle with his tie, Tuti decided to step in to help him.
He took his time loosening the knot from the tie, enjoying the closeness between them. And though he had had quite a bit to drink at the reception, his voice of reason still asserted that it would be a bad idea to do something senseless and rash to someone he was now technically related to. He wondered if he could somehow silence that niggling voice, because the way Takashi looked and the way he smelled, fresh and clean and champagne-sweet, the warmth that radiated between them, it really would have made it easy to just dip his head and steal a kiss from those full, pouting lips.
“Do you always drink like this at weddings?” he asked, still standing toe to toe with the much shorter Takashi.
“Not that I've been to other weddings, but no. Do you always invite guys you just met up to your room?” The words were out of his mouth for a full thirty seconds before Takashi realized what he had said. And by the time it occurred to him just how suggestive that sounded, Tuti was already answering.
An amused chuckle. “Just the ones named Nagayama Takashi.”
“You probably don't get many visitors with standards that strict.”
Tuti grinned widely, a playful glint in his eye. “Nope. You'd be the first.”
“I'm honored.” Takashi turned his eyes up to Tuti and treated him to an impish smile. “You know, you're kind of a charming guy. I'm glad I came up here.”
“It's all in the forehead,” Tuti joked, giving said forehead a tap. At long last, he finally freed the knot from the tie and smoothed the material flat against Takashi's chest, doing his best not to let his touch linger too long-even if Takashi did arch ever so slightly into his touch. “There. Now you're all set.”
For at least a full minute, Takashi stood his ground. So did Tuti. It was dangerous for him to think too much, as nearly every thought that crossed his mind somehow managed to slip past his lips. He didn't really know this guy, but Tuti seemed nice and friendly and handsome and well-spoken, and he felt like he could trust him enough to come up to his hotel room with him. But for what? He couldn't deny there was some underlying connection between them beyond that of their siblings' marriage and he was fairly sure Tuti felt it, too. He had to.
In an effort to test whether or not Tuti's intentions lay in line with his own, he lifted one hand, resting it gingerly on Tuti's arm, the starched cotton of his dress shirt stiff but warm beneath his fingers. Slowly, he ran his thumb back and forth over the material. His gaze was cast upward, a knowing grin on his lips, eyes alight with mischief.
Tuti swallowed hard. Just what was Takashi up to? He hadn't invited him up to his room to be seduced. He hadn't really intended to do any seducing of his own either, but from the moment they stepped into the room, the intimate, enclosed space seemed to bring their unmistakable chemistry to the forefront. He probably should have kept his distance, let Takashi go back to his parents' to nurse his hangover, but he hadn't and now they were here. Alone. And the space between them was at once too little and too much.
When his first tactic didn't provide him with any answers, Takashi decided to step things up. He wasn't usually the type to fall into bed with someone he hadn't even known for four hours, but he had been between relationships for entirely too long now, his brain was feeling decidedly fuzzy, and his clothes seemed to itch at his skin. He didn't know just what had come over him tonight, but he was starting to like it.
He tiptoed his fingers up the front of Tuti's shirt, leaning in close and batting his eyelashes in a way that came off far less coquettish than he had hoped. “ Why did you ask me to come here, Tuti?” He hadn't meant for his voice to rumble from his throat like a purr, but it was too late to take it back now.
A shrug. “To talk?” Tuti chewed thoughtfully on his lip for a moment, looking to Takashi like he was mentally warring with himself. “We were really hitting it off downstairs, so I thought...”
“Thought what?” Takashi's grin stretched from ear to ear. “That we could hit it off in your hotel room, too?”
“What? No, not like that!”
Surprisingly quick on the uptake, Takashi cocked his head and feigned innocence. “Not like what?” He scratched his finger over one of the buttons on Tuti's shirt. “I was just talking about talking. But it seems you were thinking about something else.”
“I wasn't until you brought it up!”
Tuti shifted a bit uncomfortably. It was only a half-truth, but Takashi didn't need to know that. He knew that if they were alone together, in a private room, flirting as they had earlier, with as much alcohol as they had in their systems, there was a definite risk of something inappropriate-but-so-very-right-at-the-time happening. He still had enough wits about him to know he shouldn't, but Tuti had long been a purveyor of wanting that which he could not have. Telling himself he shouldn't only made him want it more. He should put some distance between them, he knew. As close as they were, sparks were flying everywhere, and he was well aware that if he continued to stand so near to the cause of them, one of the embers was bound to send him up in flames.
For a while, Takashi simply watched him, as if waiting for his answer to change or for him to take some sort of action. He didn't have to wait long. “If you weren't thinking about it too, then why did you come up here?”
“Because I like you, Tsuchiya Yuuichi.”
“You like me?”
“Yep.”
“You like me.” Not a question--a statement.
“I do.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know exactly what kind of guy you are.” Takashi giggled and reached up to poke Tuti's cheek.
A brow raised. “Do you?” Tuti wasn't sure he wanted to play Takashi's game of cat and mouse. It was hard to tell when he was being serious and when he was joking. And he didn't particularly like being toyed with. But in the end, his curiosity got the best of him, and the corner of his mouth tugged up in a grin.
“Yep.” Takashi nodded, the alcohol in his blood making him feel unusually cocksure. “You're the kind of guy who'd be willing to bet years of future awkward family gatherings on the chance that his brother's... no, sister's...”
“...Sister's husband's brother.”
“Thank you-sister's husband's brother was the kind of guy who'd follow him up to his hotel room and let him get to third base.”
“Uh huuuuh...” Tuti's voice was flat.
Takashi grinned rather smugly. “You know I'm right.”
“And knowing that, you still like me?” It took everything in him to force back a full smile.
“Definitely.”
“It's too bad you're wrong.”
“Wrong how?”
That smile finally broke free, and he reached out a hand to lift Takashi's chin. “I was only hoping to get to second.”
In the next instant, their lips were pressed together and Tuti was never more glad that he had come to this wedding. The way Takashi responded so eagerly, pushing himself up on his toes to get closer made the stubborn little voice of reason in his head a little quieter, and he decided to silence it completely by pushing his tongue into the other man's mouth.
Though he had been purposely goading Tuti into making a move, Takashi was still caught off guard when it happened. But he knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, and he was quick to make sure Tuti knew exactly how much he wanted this. One hand tugged at the front of Tuti's button-down while the other curled around his neck, tugging him closer as he pushed himself up, lips and tongue eager to taste and explore.
Takashi's kisses were a little sloppy, Tuti thought, but so long as he had that warm mouth against his, sucking and nipping and licking, he didn't so much mind. He slid one hand to Takashi's neck, the other moving down his arm until he reached the surprisingly slender waist, and his long fingers slid around to his back and pushed, the action pulling a soft, muffled moan from Takashi. The sound only served to encourage him, and he pushed his advantage again, grasping Takashi's lower lip between his and sucking. Now that it had started, he knew he couldn't simply stop-didn't want to, either.
It wasn't until a dizziness began stirring around inside his head that had nothing to do with the alcohol he had consumed and everything to do with oxygen deprivation that Takashi managed to turn his cheek to Tuti's addictive lips and break their kiss. He kept his eyes closed, his lips wet and kiss-swollen, chest heaving as he pressed his forehead to Tuti's shoulder. “God, Tuti...”
Takashi felt Tuti's laugh more than he heard it, low and rumbling from his chest. “So... third base, huh?” He dipped his head, deftly popping the top two buttons on Takashi's shirt free as he leaned in to kiss his neck, the hot skin beneath his lips prickling with goosebumps as a shiver coursed through him.
Takashi's head was reeling, blood pounding in his ears, his body almost uncomfortably hot, and he arched toward Tuti, pressing against him, feeling the effect their kissing had had on him. He couldn't help it; he pressed again, rocking just slightly, needing some outlet for the fire that seemed to be growing inside him. The sigh that he got in response was more than enough to encourage him to continue. His hands moved again, one resting on Tuti's shoulder while the other trailed lower, sliding down his chest and stomach, and he lingered for a moment when he felt Tuti's belt beneath his fingers. His hand slid lower still, and he put enough distance between their bodies so he could give the hard ridge beneath his palm a squeeze. Takashi bit his lower lip, then smirked, “Mm-hm... third base.”
Tuti couldn't help it. He tightened the fingers at the back of Takashi's neck and tugged him forward, slanting his mouth over his and plundering it again. Takashi made a soft sound in his throat, squeezed him again, and Tuti's hips jerked forward, wanting, needing. He loved the way Takashi felt against him, how eager to please he was, how he seemed to know just how to push his buttons to get not just what he wanted, but what they both did. Right now, he wanted more, everything-all that he could get.
It took a few moments for Takashi to get his hand to work in conjunction with his mouth, and eventually he started palming Tuti's cock through his pants, his touch firm but a little uncoordinated. It was thrilling, the unfamiliarity of another person's body. They were as good as strangers, and yet they were already moving into territory he normally would have reserved for at least a second date. His body was doing nothing but egging him on, filling him with the desire to see what he was touching, how he affected Tuti-and urging him to bring him even more pleasure.
The more Takashi's fingers rubbed him, the harder Tuti's breath came, and he was forced to draw away from the kiss sooner than he would have liked. This, however, gave Takashi the opportunity he was looking for, and he pressed his palm flat against Tuti's chest with enough pressure to put an arm's length between them. Tuti's brows knit in confusion, and for a moment he was afraid Takashi had spontaneously sobered up and was about to put a stop to the whole thing. It would be a shame, too, as now that there was some distance between them, he could clearly see just how turned on the guy was. The well-tailored slacks he wore did nothing to hide his arousal, even in the low lighting.
Takashi simply gestured to the bed and arched a brow in question. “Care to have a seat?”
A knowing grin blossomed on Tuti's lips and he eyed Takashi curiously as he took the few steps over to the bed, sitting down on the edge, legs spread in invitation. “The bed's big enough for two, you know.”
A smirk. “Oh, I know.”
With more room to breathe, Takashi's head felt a bit clearer, the room stiller, though his body still felt like it was on fire. He idly wondered if Tuti felt that same heat. With slow, measured steps, he made his way to the bed and leaned down to steal a slow, searching kiss from him. Oh yeah, the heat was definitely there. After a bit of wavering, he finally decided to take a seat next to him, and he was careful to rest his hand on Tuti's thigh. So it came as quite a surprise to him when he felt a warm palm against the front of his pants, rubbing slowly. The moan it drew from him sounded almost too loud in the otherwise quiet room, but the touch was more than welcomed.
Tuti chuckled. “Fair's fair.”
“Yessss...” Takashi hissed, hips pushing toward Tuti's hand. He didn't want to let his head get too fogged up again just yet, and it took considerable effort to remember what he had been about to do. He drew his legs up underneath him and reached out to pull Tuti's shirt free of his pants, fingers clumsily working the buttons free. “It's too hot in here,” was the only explanation he gave. When he had finally completed the task, he pushed the shirt from his shoulders and was about to start on his own shirt when those long, slender fingers suddenly covered his own.
“I want to.” Tuti didn't take his time, though he knew he should be cherishing these moments to remember the next time he found his bed disappointingly empty. It was only a matter of seconds, it seemed, before Takashi's shirt was lying on the floor by his own. Even through the thin tank top he wore beneath it, it was easy to see that Takashi took very good care of his body. The muscles in his arms and chest were clearly defined, and he realized his sister must not have been joking when she said Takashi knew karate. He made a mental note to ask about it later.
Contrary to what he had hoped, the loss of his shirt had done virtually nothing to quell the heat still smoldering inside Takashi, though it was a start. He wasn't about to squander his time worrying about trivialities, he reached out for Tuti's belt, having more success with it than he had with the buttons, and the hook and zip of his pants bent even easier to his will.
Tuti knew he didn't have to, he could've left it up to Takashi, but he lifted his hips enough to tug his pants and boxers down to his knees. A sigh of relief seeped from his lips once his cock sprung free. Besides, he always thought he looked a little more impressive without all that extra material bunched up around him. And from the way he saw Takashi lick his lips, he knew he was right.
“Is that an invitation?” It took a few seconds for Takashi's eyes to make their way back up Tuti's body to his face. His expression was playful, teasing.
Tuti shrugged, a grin sneaking past him despite the hold his teeth had on his lower lip. “Only if you want it to be.”
“Well then, I accept.” Tuti leaned back on his elbows and Takashi could feel his eyes trained on him as he reached out, fingers circling his shaft in a tight grip and gave it a long, slow tug. It pulsed and twitched in his grip, and he knew it was in his best interest not to tease. He renewed his efforts, stroking Tuti faster, but he knew that even the best handjob still required a little assistance to help things go more smoothly. A gentle push against the back of his neck was all the incentive Takashi needed, and he stretched his legs out on the bed as his lips met the tip of Tuti's cock.
For his part, Tuti was careful to encourage him with moans and sighs, but not seem so overeager that it would make Takashi think twice about how fast they were moving. He enjoyed watching him work, the way his lips closed around the head, then released it, how his tongue slid smoothly up the length of him, wetting a long trail from base to tip that he then spread around with his hand, and the look of pure satisfaction on Takashi's face when he took him in halfway and their eyes met, the reality of what they were doing suddenly seeming far more intimate.
If Takashi noticed this, he didn't let on, focused on his task as he was. He shifted a bit on the bed, one hand resting on Tuti's thigh, and he could feel the way the muscle tensed and trembled in response to the actions of his mouth. After a little trial and error, he managed to find a good rhythm, taking the shaft between his lips and pulling back with hard suction as he drew up.
“God-fuck you're good at this,” Tuti groaned, back arching when the tip of Takashi's tongue pressed just so against the underside of his tip.
Takashi drew back, a smug smirk on his red lips. His breath was hot against Tuti's wet cock and he took quite a bit of satisfaction from the way Tuti shivered in response. “You don't know the half of it.”
Tuti chuckled, reached down and ran his fingers through Takashi's hair. “Well I hope you're gonna show me.”
There was mischief in Takashi's eyes, and at first he didn't respond, choosing instead to swirl his tongue maddeningly slowly around the head of Tuti's cock. “You'll just have to wait and see.”
“Better-ah-better be soon.” Tuti's hips jerked, and Takashi pulled back.
A cocked brow. “Pretty strong words for a guy who's got his dick just inches away from a mouth full of teeth.” Takashi gave him a very toothy grin just for show.
Tuti blinked, eyes going a little wider. “You wouldn't.”
“You really think you know me well enough to say that?” Takashi challenged, the hand curled around Tuti's shaft tightening just a little.
Surely Takashi was bluffing. But he was in a very precarious situation and he knew better than to press his luck, or he'd be nursing more than just a case of blueballs. Finally, he relented, a teasing grin on his lips. “My apologies, Nagayama-san. Please take your time in letting me experience the wonders of your very talented mouth.”
Takashi giggled, and his hand began moving again in quick strokes. “That's more like it.”
Tuti sucked in a breath, hips wanting to rock into Takashi's grip. “Yesss... that is more like it.” He decided it was probably for the best that he just lie back and let Takashi move at his own pace, which seemed to be just about perfect anyway.
The sounds spilling from Tuti's lips as he alternated between sucking and stroking him made Takashi's hips shift a bit uncomfortably, and he did his best to twist enough so he could rub his hard-on against the mattress, hopefully without drawing too much attention to himself. Sure, frotting against the sheets was a poor substitute for some personal attention, but he was in dire need of some measure of relief.
It wasn't until Takashi started seeming a little too into sucking him off, panting softly and eliciting the occasional moan, that Tuti realized why. What a terrible host he had been, inviting him up to his room and not even reciprocating any of the attention he was getting. So he remedied it by reaching for Takashi's belt, an action that almost immediately put a stop to the glorious suction of his mouth. He glanced down at Takashi, whose cheeks were flushed, obviously embarrassed at having been found out. “Well do you want me to or not?”
Takashi blinked once. Twice. “God, yes!” Faster than Tuti could respond, he was sitting up, fingers scrambling to unbuckle his belt.
“Ah ah ah,” Tuti chided, swatting his hands away. “I said I'll do it.” His fingers weren't much slower, though, and before long, Takashi was lifting his hips and kicking away the offensive clothing, boxers still tangled around one ankle. Tuti couldn't help it; he chuckled softly. “Damn you're eager.”
“Hn.” Takashi just leveled him with a flat look and raised one brow. “I could say the same about you.”
“Okay, point taken.”
Any and all tension between them melted as soon as Tuti's fingers curled around Takashi's shaft. And when he swiped his finger over the slick tip, Takashi's hips jerked so forcefully he thought the guy was going to come right there. This time, Tuti decided to keep his comments to himself lest that earlier threat become a reality.
Once the initial novelty of Tuti's touch wore off, Takashi regained some measure of control and decided to return his attention to the cock in front of him, still hard and glistening with his saliva. Now that he was getting some attention too, he redoubled his efforts, tonguing the head before engulfing fully half of Tuti's shaft between his lips and sucking wetly.
Any consistency in Tuti's attentions was shattered by the way Takashi suddenly started sucking him like they were in danger of missing a deadline, but he had to admit he didn't mind at all. He let Takashi fuck him with his mouth, knowing it wasn't going to take much more to bring him off, hard up as he was. But he did his best not to let him feel left out, hand stroking him in time with the pace of Takashi's own mouth.
Takashi could feel the tension winding tighter within Tuti, his muscles tightening, hips involuntarily lifting just slightly from the bed, so it was no surprise to him that a well-placed swipe of his tongue was all it took to finally bring Tuti off. The man gave a sharp cry, his hand falling away from Takashi's shaft to grip the sheets instead as Takashi slowly pumped him with both his mouth and hand, letting his release spill back down the length of his cock. He may have willingly sucked the guy off, but he wasn't about to swallow a stranger's cum. Maybe if they ever had that second date...
When he finally let Tuti slip free from his mouth, he wiped the back of his fingers across his lips and shot him a smug grin. Only Tuti's eyes were closed, his chest heaving as his body worked to recover his lost breath. Takashi pushed himself up onto an elbow, for the first time being able to watch him without fear of reproach. He was a handsome guy, even more so now that he was looking a little wild and disheveled-more like what Takashi thought his normal, everyday self must be like. At length, he twisted his body so he could fold his arms over Tuti's stomach, resting his head on them. He smiled, voice teasing, “So... worth the wait?”
Slowly, Tuti's eyes opened as he registered the weight on his stomach. The grin that crossed his lips was equal parts lazy and mischievous, and he reached up, tousling Takashi's hair. “You tell me.” And with far more speed and energy than Takashi had expected from him, he slid out from underneath him and gave a shove to Takashi's shoulder, reversing their positions and flipping him onto his back.
“T-Tuti, what--?”
Before Takashi could finish, Tuti's mouth had descended on his again and he swallowed the rest of the unspoken protest. He was still eager for more, and it didn't take long for him to give himself over to the kiss, arms coming up to wind around Tuti's shoulders, hold him in place. So Tuti obliged him, sucking at his lower lip, letting their tongues dance together until Takashi was desperate with need and bucked his hips up against him.
Slowly, Tuti pulled himself away from Takashi's lips and slid down the length of his body until he was lying between his spread legs. He lifted Takashi's cock away from his belly and rubbed his thumb over the head. “You don't have to tell me twice.” His tongue shot out, licking a long, wet trail up the length of his shaft before closing his lips around it, and Takashi was in heaven.
After being worked up for so long, he was more than grateful for the attentions of Tuti's mouth, but he knew it wasn't going to take much more to get him off, and he'd likely come regrettably early. At the moment, he couldn't even find it in him to care because Tuti was sucking him so perfectly, up and down and hard and soft, and doing things with his tongue that Takashi was pretty sure he had never felt before, and all he wanted was for it to go on forever.
Takashi was twisting on the bed, sheets balled tightly in his fists as mewls and groans of pure pleasure slipped past his lips in between cries of yes, right there and don't stop. Tuti found the vocalization rather amusing and wondered if it were just the alcohol affecting him or whether he was normally this loud in bed. Part of him was almost hoping he'd one day get the chance to find out.
When Takashi's breath began to quicken and his cries came in greater succession, Tuti pulled back, using his hand to stroke him to completion. It gave him a perfect view of the way the other man's expression changed from frustration to ecstasy and surprise and then to relief and satiety within the span of only a few seconds. Once Takashi's climax had subsisted to the occasional shudder, he pulled his hand back and wiped it on the sheets.
“Now do you have your answer?” he joked, grinning from ear to ear.
Takashi was only able to manage an “uh huh” for a solid thirty seconds. His gaze was trained on the ceiling, though he wasn't really seeing it, mind still trying to come to terms with what had just happened. At length, he rolled onto his side, propping his head up on his hand so he could see Tuti better. “Definitely worth the wait.”
Slowly, Tuti drew back, giving Takashi's hip a pat, and stood from the bed. “Come on; get up.”
“What? No! Why?” Takashi pursed his lips, brows furrowed. Tuti wasn't going to just kick him out so soon after, was he?
“Because we have to go out and get some stuff from the conbini before you're suffering with the worst hangover ever tomorrow.”
Takashi grinned. “I'm pretty sure you sucked all the alcohol right out of my system.”
A brow raised. “I'll take that as a compliment.” There was a moment's pause, and Tuti shook his head, staring down at him. “But you still have to get up.”
Once Tuti had disappeared into the bathroom, Takashi wondered whether he should just call it a night and head home. It's true he was feeling more sober now than he had in a few hours, but he was also pretty sure that what had just happened between the two of them probably shouldn't have. Tuti was a nice guy-attractive, too-and they obviously had chemistry to spare, but the fact of the matter was he barely knew the guy.
And they were brothers-in-law.
Shit.
A few minutes passed before Tuti finally reemerged, clean, and with his pants back in place. When he saw that Takashi had only moved to fling an arm over his face, he sighed in consternation. “Oi. Takashi.” The man in question peeked out from underneath his arm and regarded Tuti suspiciously. “You can't lie there all night.”
“I think... I think I should go home.” He nodded, as if justifying his own answer, and slowly sat up, looking around the bed for his cast-off pants and boxers.
Tuti crossed his arms, watching Takashi. The man before him seemed like a completely different person than the one from just five minutes ago. “What's gotten into you? You in a rush?”
The sound of Tuti's voice made him pause for only a second. He didn't want to look Tuti in the eye right now. “No, I just-I think it would be best if I went home.”
Regret, Tuti decided. He had been given a chance to think about what had happened without his hormones clouding his judgment, and he was ashamed of what he had done. Tuti had thought about their dalliance too, but the only conclusion he had made was that he wanted to learn more about Takashi. Maybe get to be actual friends. Maybe something more. He didn't regret what they had done. So what if family functions might be a little awkward in the future-he had had a good time, and that was that.
He decided to see if he could get Takashi to come around. “Can you even make it there on your own? Because I have no problem with you staying a little longer.”
Takashi simply tugged on his boxers and pants, fiddling with his belt for longer than necessary. “I can get home just fine.”
A sigh, then a grin. “You sure you don't want to try my patented Tsuchiya Hangover Cure? Guaranteed to make you wake up headache-free or I claim no responsibility.”
At long last, Takashi cracked just a hint of a smile. “You really want me to stay that bad?”
Tuti shrugged. “I want to... get to know you better.”
Takashi barked a laugh. “I'd say you know me pretty well.”
“Well now I want to know you with your clothes on.”
The smile was growing, little by little. “Sex first, ask questions later?”
“Don't knock it till you try it.” This was more like it; this was the kind of easy rapport that had prompted him to invite Takashi up to his room in the first place. He reached down, picking their shirts up off the floor and handed Takashi's to him.
He grabbed the shirt and pulled it on, fumbling a bit over the buttons. “Guess it can't hurt to try.”
Tuti laughed. “That's the spirit!”
-----
When they finally traded the dark and quiet of the hotel room for the neon lights and hustle and bustle of downtown Kanagawa, Takashi's head was still a jumble of conflicting thoughts and questions. But between the late curry dinner they had shared (part one of Tuti's infamous Hangover Cure) and the conversation they made on the way back to the hotel--where Tuti kept his word and they didn't shed any clothing--he somehow felt that despite their rocky start, he had gained so much more than a brother.