Now and Forever...Itsumademo... - Chapter 10A
Title: Now and Forever…いつまでも…
Author: Mayonaka no Taiyou/Unare Haineko
Pairing: [Juntoshi] Matsumoto Jun x Ohno Satoshi
Rating: PG-13-ish overall
Summary: This story follows Ayumu, a more or less normal child born in 2012, three years after the ending of ‘Kodoku kara Umareta Ai’ (which you can read here). His parents, Jun and Ohno, are everything but ‘normal’ in their often unconventional attempts to deal with some of the challenges of parenthood as they try to ‘blend in’ with ‘normal people’.
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Now and Forever…Itsumademo - Chapter 10
Daisuke turned on the shower. His thoughts drifted to the past as he tossed his clothes aside and entered the steaming shower.
“What a handsome young boy! What is your name, little boy?”
“Tsukishima Hideki (築嶋 秀毅).”
“And how old are you?”
“Six.”
“And is this your little sister? She’s got such a darling face-”
“No, this is my little brother, Tsukishima Daisuke. He’s four and a half years old. We don’t know why he looks like a girl…”
x-x-x
“Can’t you do something about your son’s face?”
“I can’t help it if Daisuke’s face looks the way it does-“
“Daisuke is an embarrassment. His face looks like a girl and you let him keep his hair long. Why don’t you just buzz it or something?”
“It’s not long. It’s short-“
“He looks like a girl with a boy’s haircut. He should have the spiky hairstyle like Hideki.”
“He wouldn’t look good with that kind of haircut. Besides, Daisuke says he doesn’t want to cut his hair and look like Hideki.”
“Why not? Hideki is the epitome of a boy who will make a fine man! He’s got a strong chin, sharp eyes…He’s muscular, athletic-“
“He’s also only seven years old-“
“Still. I don’t know what went wrong with Daisuke-“
“And what’s wrong with Daisuke?”
“Come on. Look at the boy, Saeko (小枝子). He can’t even throw a ball right. He’s the slowest runner in his class. He doesn’t like being outdoors because he doesn’t like getting dirty…Just what kind of boy is he? What kind of boy likes to make cakes and cookies? Isn’t that something usually left to the women and little girls?”
“That does not mean you should ignore him. We all can’t be all star athletes like Tsukishima Seiji (築嶋 成司) who should’ve made it all the way to the major league and is now living vicariously through his son Hideki-“
“I am not living vicariously through Hideki! Hideki just has a lot of potential and I hate to see it all go to waste. And I injured my foot. That’s all. I would’ve been up there if I hadn’t fallen down the stairs-“
“Yes, yes, dear. While you were drunk and walking down the stairs at the train station, which might I add is entirely your fault because you were underage-“
“Enough, woman!”
“Whatever. You just can’t accept that Daisuke is your son too! I’m going to sleep in the guest room tonight. You can sleep by yourself. Goodnight! --Oh, Daisuke. Were you here all this time?”
x-x-x
“Don’t talk to me at school, Daisuke.”
“Why not, oniichan?”
“Because. You’re embarrassing.”
“Why am I embarrassing?”
“You just are! I don’t want people knowing we’re related-“
“But we go to the same elementary school!”
“Yeah, only cuz mom and dad make us. But you better not go to the same middle school as me! I don’t want a girly younger brother like you at the same school as me!”
“Oniichan…”
“Don’t be such a sissy, Daisuke. Stop crying-“
“But I love you, oniichan-“
“Well, I can’t stand you. So even at school. Just…make yourself invisible!”
“But-“
“You know dad likes me better anyway-“
“Oniichan, why are you being so mean?”
x-x-x
“Why does Daisuke have to go to the same middle school and high school as me?”
“Because your father and I only want the best education for the both of you-“
“Yeah, but can’t he go somewhere else?”
“Hideki! Don’t talk as if you’re better than your brother. He’s the top of his class you know.”
“It’s okay, kaachan. Hideki can stay where he is. I’ll go to the local public school-“
“Nonsense, Daisuke. We can afford for the both of you to attend that school and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be allowed to go there either. Hideki doesn’t walk on water. He doesn’t manage the finances. I do. Hideki, you better start being more appreciative and you better start taking care of Daisuke-“
“What? This is such bullshit! It’s not fair!”
“Life’s not fair, Hideki. Not like you know the meaning of the word ‘unfair’ anyway. Daisuke, don’t worry about him. Just be yourself…”
x-x-x
“Is it true you’re Tsukishima Hideki’s little brother?”
“My name is Tsukishima Daisuke. How you interpret that is totally up to you.”
“Come on. Let’s go already. He’s probably not related to Hideki-sama.”
“Why? They have the same kanji in their last name-“
“Yeah, but look how different he looks and acts. Hideki-sama is so confident and manly. This guy’s shy, meek, feminine, and introverted. There’s no way he’d be related to Hideki-sama…”
“Girls! Stop chatting and get back to class!”
“Crap! It’s the principal.”
“ Who’s over there? Oh, Tsukishima. I saw the game this weekend. Man, that Hideki, he’s something else isn’t he? You must feel so proud and lucky to be the younger brother of a super athlete like Hideki. If there were such things as sports prodigies, your older brother would definitely be it. I’ve never seen a more talented athlete in my life. He’s going places. You should ask him to teach you…”
x-x-x
“Happy Birthday, Daisuke. Come, let’s eat. Hideki! Seiji! It’s dinner time. Come to the table-“
“Can you just make Hideki and me a plate? We’re watching his game being broadcast-“
“Why don’t you just tape it? It’s Daisuke’s birthday-“
“WOW! Hideki, that was some great hit back there!! You were great, my son!”
“Seiji!”
“Aw, come on. It’s my first time being on TV, Ma-“
“Hideki, it’s Daisuke’s birthday to-“
“It’s okay, kaachan. They can eat in front of the TV. I don’t mind…”
“Daisuke…”
x-x-x
“Hideki-sama, is it true that you have a younger brother? We heard that this pathetic girly guy is your brother!”
“That’s impossible, right, Hideki-sama?”
“We only have the same last name.”
“So he’s not related to you?”
“No.”
“Then you won’t mind if we push him into the pool-“
“Ack!”
Splash.
“O-ho-ho-ho-ho!”
“What a loser, right, Hideki-sama?”
x-x-x
“This is all your fault that Saeko is dead! All your fault, Daisuke!”
x-x-x
“Headmaster.”
“What is it, Tsukishima?”
“Here.”
“What’s this envelope? …You’re dropping out?”
“Yes.”
“But you’re the top of your class! What will your mother say-“
“Nothing. She’s dead.”
“Tsukishima…”
“Good day to you. Thank you for your support up until now. Please give my regards to the other instructors.”
x-x-x
“Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving.”
“What? Why?”
“Why should you care? You don’t even want me around, Hideki.”
“Daisuke…”
“Where are you going?”
“If you must know, I have a one-way ticket to Tokyo-“
“Like the old man will let you-“
“I’m not asking his permission. I’m just going….Oh, and Hideki, pride and joy of Izumo, have a nice life. May you always have the favor of the gods.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“May you never know inferiority. It’s not a pleasant feeling and you’re ill-equipped to deal with it.”
x-x-x
“Daisuke-san, are you alright?” Kei asked, pushing the ajar door to the bathroom open.
“Kei-san…I hope you don’t mind that I took a shower…”
Daisuke squeezed out the washcloth and hung it on the towel rack to dry.
“Daisuke-san…has anyone ever told you what a nice body you have?” breathed Kei as he approached Daisuke unable to take his gaze from Daisuke’s semi-naked body only shrouded by the towel wrapped around his waist.
“Kei-san…?”
Daisuke saw Kei’s lust-filled eyes and felt panic and anxiety fill his mind. He backed himself to the nearest wall and scrambled out into the living room. Kei was quick to read his movements and chased after him, pinning him against the wall nearest to the windows from behind.
“Daisuke-san…I want you…” Kei whispered, his body pressed over Daisuke’s back as he breathed on his neck, kissing it hungrily.
“Nooo, you don’t…” moaned Daisuke as Kei’s hands wandered south.
“Don’t you want me too?” asked Kei, suddenly yanking Daisuke’s arm so that he was now facing Kei and his back was against the wall.
“I shouldn’t…We shouldn’t…”
“But we can…”
0-0-0-0-0
Nino stood outside of the Ebisu Tower Complex. There were four towers, each labeled clearly in Roman characters ‘EBISU TOWER’ preceded by their direction in English. Nino was facing the building that had ‘SOUTH EBISU TOWER’ written on the front. The sign was red and was surrounded by a crimson phoenix engulfed in flames. Using common sense, he walked to the right of the south tower to the east tower, which had an azure dragon wrapped possessively about the bold lettering. Nino walked over to the call pad and scrolled through the touch pad directory.
‘WELCOME TO THE EBISU TOWER DIRECTORY. PLEASE MAKE A SELECTION.’
‘SEARCH BY TENANT LAST NAME?’
‘YES.’
‘A…KA…SA…TA…NA…HA…MA…’
‘ENTER.’
‘MAIKAWA…MAESHIRO…MAEDA…MAKABE….MAGAMI…MAKI…MAKISHIMA…’
Nino rolled his eyes.
Damn, how many people with the last names beginning with ‘Ma’ could there possibly be?!
‘MAGOME…MASAI…MASAKANE….MASAKI…MASAMUNE…MASAMORI…MASHINO…MAJIMA…MASUI…MASUKAWA….MASUZAKI….MASUDA…MASUTANI…MASUYA…MASUNAGA…MASUNO…’
Someone was really testing his patience.
‘MASUMOTO….MASUMORI…MASUYAMA…MATANO….MACHIDA…MACHIYAMA…MATSUI…’
Finally! We’re on ‘Matsu’!
‘MATSUIE…MATSUIKE…MATSUUCHI…MATSUE…MATSUEDA…MATSUOKA…MATSUGA…MATSUGAKI…MATSUKAGE…MATSUKAZE…MATSUKANE…MATSUKAWA…MATSUGI…MATSUKUBO….MATSUKUMA…MATSUZAKI…MATSUZAWA…MATSUSHIMA…MATSUZONO…MATSUDA!’
Here it is!
‘MATSUDA.’
‘ENTER.’
‘MATSUDA AI?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA AKIRA?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA ASA?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA ISAO?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA ISAMU?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA ERI?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA OSAMU?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA KAITO?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA KANA?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA KIKUE?’
‘NEXT.’
‘MATSUDA KEI?’
‘YES.’
Nino had gone through three cigarettes by the time he got to Kei’s name.
‘MATSUDA KEI, UNIT 1104.’
Nino did find it peculiar that the building had such specific information such as a person’s name and unit number so readily available. However, like most buildings, one still needed either a key or the override from the inside to get into the building. But Nino was not there to enter through the front of the building. He had no intention of confronting Kei or Daisuke at this point. Confrontation would lead to excitement and a possible emotional outburst. He did not want to give away his position just yet despite how curious he was as to why of all nights Daisuke had chosen to go on a date with a man who looked like the man he believed to be the cause of all his misery and suffering for the last six years and who had conveniently chosen to dine in such close proximity to his ex. Was it all Daisuke’s doing? Or perhaps it was this mysterious suitor Kei, whom he reminded himself that he still knew very little about. Nino was pondering how he would get information on Kei and be able to spy on Kei without being noticed when an opportunity in disguise came his way.
An older woman who was carrying a lot of groceries was trying to fumble in her purse for her keys. The corners of Nino’s mouth twitched deviously.
“Would you like me to help you hold that while you get your key?” he asked chivalrously.
“Oh, um-“
“Here, let me help you,” Nino smiled.
“Thank you,” she replied gratefully as she dug through her purse. “You’re a lifesaver…”
“Not at all…”
While she looked for her purse, Nino studied her. Short, matronly woman in her late 50’s. Probably married with grown children.
“Say, ma’am. You wouldn’t happen to live on the eleventh floor would you?”
“Actually, I do. How did you know?”
“I didn’t. I’m actually looking for my sister. You see, she met a man named Matsuda Kei. Would you happen to know him?”
“Matsuda Kei…Oh, yes, I remember. He lives in 1104, three units down from me. Young man in his 20’s. Dark, sort of looks like…what was that famous celebrity’s name? My daughter used to like him…Not Kamenashi…he was in ‘Hana yori Danshi’ or something like that…gosh, I can’t remember….He was in a singing group of some sort….’RAN!’ I remember. He was in the group ‘RAN’. Do you know him?”
“Ran? ‘Ran’ like as in ‘orchid’?”
“No, no, the kanji with the ‘WIND’ under the ‘MOUNTAIN’?”
‘WIND’ under the ‘MOUNTAIN’…?
Nino traced the kanji out on the palm of his hand.
‘ARASHI’! She meant ‘Arashi’! She just read the kanji with the on-yomi instead of the kun-yomi!...Like our song ‘La Tormenta 2004’…’Mountain on top, wind on the bottom. Soar up higher. A-M-N-O-S…Kamikaze…’ Whoa…what the hell was that? Never mind Arashi. It’s done. It’s over. Kazu, focus!
“Oh, maybe it’s before your time…” she laughed. “Anyway, is your sister in some sort of trouble?”
“I don’t know. Should I be worried? Do you know anything about Matsuda-san?”
“Not much…I think he works in the Ebisu business district…Yes…I seem to remember seeing him coming out from the Ebisu Garden Place Tower…”
“Do you know what he does?”
“Hmm…no…not really. Although…I think I saw him carrying some folders with ‘CPW’ or ‘PVC’ or something like that on them. Perhaps he works for one of the foreign companies in the Tower? He seems like a nice young man…Oh, here are my keys! Thanks so much for helping me with my groceries.”
Touching her key to the pad, the doors opened and she took her groceries in hand once again.
“Thanks again, young man. I hope your sister is alright,” she waved as the elevators opened for her.
Nino waved to her. When the doors closed, he was about to leave when he noticed a small shocking pink piece of paper lying on the ground near the door.
‘HOST CLUB NOZOKI (覗鬼)-where we make all your dreams (and wildest fantasies) come true.’
Nino flipped it over. In the meticulous handwriting Nino recognized as that of his personal assistant were three kanji.
‘松田桂 (Matsuda Kei).’
“Wait, so, the unit 902…is that over here on this side?” asked an obnoxiously nasal female voice, interrupting Nino’s quiet thoughts.
“Ma’am, the unit you are interested is on the other side of the East Ebisu Tower. All floors up until the twenty-eighth floor have the same set. Units 01 through 09 are on the side facing the South Ebisu Tower and do not have the kind of spectacular view you were accustomed to having when you were living in 2215. Why don’t we go look at the unit from one of the other towers so you can better visualize…”
Daisuke, MatsuJun lookalike Matsuda Kei…Ready or not…
>>> Chapter 10B
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