• Chapter Four

    Stormy Confessions of a Past Once Forgotten


    The rain began to pour once more, droplets hitting the window of Asuke’s bedroom, keeping still in the dim light caused by the gray clouds. Papers and files lay around the work desk to the right of Asuke’s bed. His bed sheets spread across the single sized bed, tightly hugging the mattress. The sound of thunder from beyond could scarcely be heard in this haven, but one noise was clear; a loud thump came from the closed door, then the door knob began to shake with frustration.
    It slammed open, Neko came in Asuke’s arms, kissing him passionately. They both shuffled to the bed, Neko diving into it, dragging Asuke down. He struggled to take off his wet, navy blue blazer as Neko undid his tie, throwing the attire across the room. She pushed Asuke to the side of the bed, taking off her now soaked blouse, and got back on top of him, as he still struggled with the light blue undershirt’s buttons. Neko impatiently ripped apart the buttons with her feline claws, then bent down, slowly nipping at his neck.
    Ecstasy ran through their veins. Asuke slowly crossed his finger tips across Neko’s bare lower back, feeling the warm, soft skin above her black cat tail and light pink lingerie. She continued kissing his neck, racing her palms across Asuke’s damp chest. Slowly, he made his way up her back to her brassier, grabbing it by the straps, attempting to unhook the secure lock that kept her clothed.
    Faint footsteps approached the room, but the two lovers were too busy with the sounds of their own lust to hear them. Asuke held the strap in his hand, Neko sat back up, ready to reveal her entire self to the man that saved her from a life of insecurity. With a swift movement, Asuke unhooked the bra, Neko keeping it in place with one arm, the other keeping her balanced with her open palm on Asuke’s muscular chest.
    Suddenly, a deep voice came from the doorway as Ro stepped inside. “Asuke! Have you seen my...” he began to ask when the sight of the two came to his eyes.
    The surprising appearance of Ro startled Neko. She gave a loud, cat like screech when she saw and heard the giant man, in an instant extracting her claws deep into Asuke’s chest, piercing his skin and muscle. The sudden booming sound of thunder censored the young man’s screams and curses of pain as blood pulsed through the open wounds in the shape of a paw print.

    ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

    Large rain drops and force winds littered the city of Okayama. Ro stood tall before the, now slightly clothed, two apparently young people, one of whom was over a century old. Asuke’s chest now had a large bandage over it and Neko bore her light blue, wet blouse. They both sat on the living room sofa, separated by a couch cushion. Ro ran his hands through this wet hair, trying to think of what to say.
    Ro stuttered as he began the lecture, “D-do you know how wrong this is!?” He bent down to Asuke’s stature, who was looking the other way, paying no attention to his guardian. “Damn it, Asuke! I’m not... I mean, you’re not prepared for this.” He staled, trying to think of what more to say, but Asuke beat him to the punch.
    “Hypocrite.” Asuke said under his breath, still not looking into Ro’s eyes.
    “Watch it!” Ro yelled, pointing at the insulate child. “I’m old enough to make those decisions!”
    Asuke stood, smacking Ro’s hand from his face. “So am I, Ro!” Asuke exclaimed. “It’s my final year of secondary. I can make my own choices!”
    They kept bickering, ignoring the awkward girl to the side. Seconds later, they both fell silent. Asuke sat back down, Ro took up a stool and sat hunched back.
    Ro began to chuckle.“Cat girl fetish, huh? I’m surprised.” He said aloud and kept on laughing.
    Asuke thought to himself, “Idiot...”
    Ro turned to Neko, who sat silently hugging a pillow. “I’m sorry about this rude introduction. I’m Ro. Asuke’s legal guardian.”
    Neko, who had just realized that she was being talked to, replied, “My name is N-.”
    Asuke interrupted her. “Her name is Kaira Soto.” He nodded at her, as an expression to keep quiet.
    “Yeah. Kaira.” She repeated to Ro. “Nice to meet you.”
    “The pleasure is all mine.” Ro said, taking her hand and kissing it, expressing his Italian charm.
    Neko blushed, retracting her hand quickly. “I think I should go.” She said, standing from the couch.
    “Unless your parent’s have a sturdy car, I suggest you stay.” Ro explained, “This storm is awful and I wouldn’t want you to get hurt. Why don’t you take off your ‘ears’ and ‘tail’ and I’ll make you two something warm to eat?” He said, showing off his award winning smile. Neko nodded, and went to Asuke’s bedroom, looking for her wig, skirt, and glasses.
    As soon as Neko turned the corner to Asuke’s room, Ro got into Asuke’s face and harshly whispered, “We’ll talk about this later! After your girlfriend leaves.”
    Asuke whispered back, “She’s not my girlfriend.”
    Ro got up from his seat and softy said, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Then left for the kitchen, ready to do what he had promised.
    Asuke got up and went to his room. He cringed, watching Neko bend over to pick her skirt from the ground, her panties riding up her back side. Asuke snapped out of his hormonal trance and walked to her side. “I’m sorry about this whole thing.” He sorrowfully said.
    “Me, too.” Neko replied, putting on her skirt and wig. “Specially about the claw thing.” She seductively kissed Asuke, putting her hand over his heart and the wound.
    Asuke grabbed her arm and slightly pushed her off. “I think we should take things slow.” Asuke said, his voice full of remorse.
    Neko was surprised. “Why?” She said, stunned by his request.
    “Two reasons.” Asuke began. “One. After what happened today, I don’t think I’ll be able to ever do it again.” Neko giggled. “...And second. I care about you too much. I just don’t want to ruin this.”
    Neko’s expression changed. “I know what you mean.” She said a low, hollow voice. Asuke wrapped his arms around the depressed girl, holding her tightly.
    A couple hours later, the storm kept strong. Asuke and Neko sat side by side, watching the local news, Neko’s head relaxing on Asuke’s right shoulder. Ro sat on the lounge chair the side of the couch, the remote at hand. No one spoke or moved. Cadence and water drops overtook the air.
    “I could have sworn she had longer hair...” Ro thought about Neko, looking at her relaxed posture.
    The sudden sound of Ro’s cell phone made everyone's hearts jump. He got up from his seat and left for the kitchen to answer it in privacy.
    Neko turned her head and whispered into Asuke’s ear. “Have you seen my glasses?”
    “About your glasses, how do they make your eyes look blue?” Asuke asked, pondering the mystery as he stared into her musky yellow pupils.
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. The old lady gave them to me. She also enrolled me in your class and told me that I should be careful with you.”
    “Did she explain how you got here?”
    “No. All I remember is waking up in a bed as the sun set, the old hag at my bed side. She gave me this disguise, told me you had made a great sacrifice for me to be here.” Neko recalled her experience. “What was the sacrifice, Asuke?”
    “It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad your okay.” Asuke shamelessly said, not wanting to tell her the truth. “I think your glasses are in my room.”
    Neko kissed his cheek and left for his bedroom. Once inside, she saw the glasses perched on Asuke’s work desk, next to Asuke’s open notebook. She went up to grab them, when a name on the paper work caught her attention.
    “Hiromu Imo, Founder” She read aloud, picking up the parchment. “260 million Yen to...” She was interrupted by the squeak of a door opening. Neko turned around and saw the closet door slowly come ajar. Walking to the door, she opened it, automatically turning on a light overhead. Inside was a shrine, with a portrait of a middle aged gentleman, a young, beautiful woman in an evening gown with flowing red hair, and a little boy with short brown hair. “Oh my...”
    Neko was interrupted by a monotone voice from the doorway. “Did you find them?”
    She turned and saw Asuke standing behind her. “Yeah. I was just...”
    “Don’t worry about it.” He said in a forgiving tone. “Those are my parents,” he then pointed to the boy, “and that's me.” Asuke gave a soft sigh and a sad smile. “My mother died when I was five in a helicopter crash. She was a UN diplomat and a retired Lieutenant Colonel.”
    “And your father?” Neko hesitantly asked.
    “He was a energy mogul. Powered almost all of japan, before...” Asuke pushed himself to talk, “Everyone says he hung himself in our parlor room three years ago, but I know for a fact he was killed.”
    Neko gasped in shock. “How do you know?”
    Asuke pointed to a hand written letter to the left of the portrait. “The b*****d who did it wrote the suicide letter himself. Its not my father’s hand writing.” He tried to hold back his tears, but it was obvious to Neko that he was hurt. She hugged him, trying to comfort the heart broken boy.
    They simultaneously sat on his damp bed sheets. Asuke grabbed the notebook from Neko’s hand and explained what it all meant. “I believe the person who killed my father was either an employee or a business rival, so I go through these old money reports to see if anyone gained from his death.”
    “Is that what I saw you use all day?” Neko questioned.
    Asuke nodded. “I decided to leave Tokyo, fearing that I was next. I took my inheritance with Ro, my father’s best friend, lawyer and my god father, and came here to Okayama, trying to keep off radar.”
    “Aren’t you famous? Couldn’t someone recognize you?” Neko worried.
    “I doubt it.” Asuke said with confidence. “I was never in the spotlight and all the old pictures of me are outdated.” He laughed softy. “I guess that makes me the richest man in Japan.” The sad smile still covered his face.
    Neko leaned in and kissed him as the storm came to a halt. Rays of the lowering sun creeped in through the window sill.
    “Asuke!” Ro yelled from the kitchen. “I’m going out. Your girlfriend has to leave. Now!”
    They both stood from the bed and walked to the front door. “Bye.” Asuke said, giving Neko a peck on her lips.
    Neko leaned forward, prolonging the short goodbye with a passionate kiss.
    Ro came to the front door wearing a light jacket. “I would love to give you a ride home, Miss. Soto.” He said, making his way down the steps. Neko walked behind him, waving goodbye to Asuke. He gave a small smile and stepped inside.
    As he made his way to the living room, he heard squeaky, wet footsteps leaving the kitchen. He turned around, startled when he saw who stood before him. A large man dressed in a black leather jacket, hiding his face behind a tinted motorcycle helmet, holding a crooked, metal pipe in his right hand stood, is if there were weights on his shoulders.
    The man slowly approached Asuke, making his way further down the hallway. Asuke was too afraid to run or scream. His face was flushed as he stood perfectly still, waiting for the worst to happen. The mysterious man held the lead pipe over his head, ready to swing.