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The lights above the bar cast a faint glow over the patrons. Silhouettes in corners of lonely salarymen, curious youths and friends who could meet safely in the shadows. The light fixture to the far right of the bar emitted a high buzzing, flickering at intervals.
‘Another drink, sugar?’ the bar mama leant forward on her elbows to the lone customer across the bar top. Kiryu looked up from his phone to the glass in front of him, housing a small puddle of melted ice.
‘Oh - yeah, same again please, mama.’
She tutted as she turned to pluck a whiskey from the shelf.
‘You know you can call me Ako.’ Kiryu simply smiled good-naturedly, ‘although,’ she paused to inspect the measure before continuing, ‘I can see why you might want to seem on less intimate terms when you’re meeting your... friend.’
She placed the drink down with a coy smile. Kiryu frowned down at his phone again.
‘Well, they’re running late so...’
Ako hummed thoughtfully, ‘Making a showstopper like you wait? Maybe she should give one of the other girls in line a chance.’ Kiryu blushed slightly, Ako took pity, ‘she must be worth it.’
Kiryu watched the flickering light above play with the ambers of the whiskey, the ghost of a smile on his lips. Chuckling, Ako moved to the stereo, switching the CD over with a press of a button (technology moved fast, he mused, eyeing the ancient karaoke machine which pouted, unused, in the corner). The glittery sounds of an 80’s idol band seeped out the slightly-too-tinny speakers and he sipped his drink thoughtfully. Kamurocho’s streets now felt uncanny to Kiryu, he would turn down an alley and see a neon sign for a bar from his youth dissipate in front of him, another landmark of his own cartography of the streets eviscerated. Echoes of what was before, another song in another life. The Champion District felt like the last bastion of that old Kamurocho, no bells and whistles, just the same bars and the same sound system and the same songs, now in digital splendour. Another pulse of light from the broken fixture above and Kiryu looked up frowning, broken from his idle train of thought. He flipped his phone open, 20:34, now she really was late. He thumbed again to the text page and scanned the message again, as though he would parse some new information by reading it a tenth time,
19:30 tonight at Earth Angel, and maybe ull see 1 for urself xoxoxo
Kiryu ruminated on the meaning of the last part again as he wondered at what time he should call- not that she ever answered. Ako eyed him with a shake of her head and wry smile, ‘smitten,’ she muttered.
The shrill ring of the doorbell gave fanfare to the door slamming open, the bar making a collective jolt at the intrusion. A bottle of malbec slipped and rolled from the counter and Ako caught it in mid-air with a sigh. The sloped shadows of the other customers were now rigid, the air suddenly thick. Two feet began to descend gracelessly down the stairs, revealing a pair of sparkling baby blue platform heels. They strapped elegantly around the wearer's ankle and the peep toe design showed a hint of silver toenails. The eyes of the bar raked further up, over long shapely legs bracketed by a white denim mini skirt, complete with an oversized blue snakeskin belt with a matching clutch bag. A toned midsection peeped above the denim and snakeskin, and above that still, a silver spaghetti strap crop-top framed spirals of red and black ink, the curious eyes whipped away. At the bottom step, she tugged her skirt down, Kiryu rose from his seat, her gaze locked with his,
‘KIRYU-CHAAAAN!’
She was at the bar in a few loud strides.
‘Goromi,’ Kiryu breathed, ‘you look beautiful.’
One of the younger patrons had approached the bar seconds before disaster and was staring with his mouth agape, Ako neatly pushed his jaw back up into place. Goromi giggled coquettishly, running silver acrylic nails through her long blonde hair. Down and pin straight today. She looked to the stool next to Kiryu and cleared her throat, with a jolt Kiryu pulled the chair out, she sat immediately, he pushed her stool back against the bar with some effort.
‘What can I get for you, Goromi-san?’ Ako asked, her tone was warm but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Goromi tapped a nail beneath her lips, glossed with dark magenta, in theatrical thoughtfulness.
‘For this evenin’, mama, I think...Yamazaki 12 year!’ her voice high and lilting on the vowel sounds.
Ako nodded and turned to the back bar. Goromi called after her, ‘and two ice cubes!’
‘Of course, Goromi-san.’ Ako replied curtly, still facing the spirit shelf.
Goromi sat back, fanning her oval tipped fingers across the bar top, she turned to face Kiryu who was smiling softly at her.
‘Ya make doe eyes like that at every woman ya see, Kiryu-chan? It’s enough to give a lady the wrong impression.’
Kiryu huffed a laugh, admiring the metallic silver painted around her eye, captivated by the mystery of her make-up (When did she learn? When and where would she buy it?)
‘Oi, don’t be getting all dopey on me already.’ her words were harsh but she moved a hand to thumb over the black crucifix choker at her neck, her gaze averted.
‘Yamazaki 12 year.’ Ako placed the whiskey down.
Goromi lifted the glass into the light, looking over it shrewdly.
‘Oi, mama! I said two cubes!’
Ako was already talking to the young man whose jaw had previously dislocated at the other end of the bar. She reached behind her and pushed the volume slider of the stereo up pointedly.
Goromi stared, glass still raised in the air, the broken light above flickered again.
‘And get that lamp fixed will ya?! Place is goin’ to the dogs!’
‘Goromi,’ Kiryu sighed, ‘please don’t tease Ako-san.’
She whipped round to face him with supernatural speed, ‘ Ako-san , hmm?’ -she clicked her tongue- ‘Ya know I only do it because she wants a piece of ya, and Goromi doesn’t like to share her toys.’ she crowded into Kiryu’s space as she spoke, he could smell her perfume, thick and floral, he swallowed. She grinned, ‘so, what’s my Kiryu-chan been up to?’ she leant back on the bar stool as she spoke, showing off an expanse of toned stomach. Kiryu’s eye’s fluttered downwards before snapping back up, he cleared his throat.
‘Waiting here. You are...a bit late.’
Goromi crossed her legs, pouting, ‘Kiryu-chan, it takes time being so gorgeous ya know? I mean there’s the hair and the make-up sure, but then there’s the shavin’ and moisturising’,’ she fixed her eye on his pointedly, ‘makin’ sure I’m nice and smooth all over.’
‘Pocket circuit.’
‘Haw?’
‘I’ve been at West Shichifuku Street playing Pocket Circuit.’
Goromi sat back, she blinked slowly. Then swung an arm around his shoulders suddenly.
‘And ya didn’t invite little old Goromi? Kiryu-chan, a girl will think ya don’t care.’
Her face was inches apart from his, Kiryu’s eyes slipped down to her glossed lips before he registered something sharp at his back. He jolted back with confusion, something glinted in the corner of his vision and he braced for a stinging lick of a tantō blade which never came. He looked at her frowning, until a pulse of light illuminated their space again and he saw the source of the glimmer was curving out from around her back, sparkling glitter plastic that stuck out at odd angles that seemed to represent-
‘Wings?!’
Goromi smirked, ‘the clue was in the text, sugartits.’
‘Don’t call me suga- wait, clue for what?’
Goromi stared at him incredulously for half a second before screeching out a laugh that rattled around the bar.
‘Kiryu-chan’ she wheezed out between cackling, darting a sharp nail out and under her eye to catch a mascara tinted tear, ‘just, just don’t ever change.’
She looked up at him then, her cruel smile from earlier rounded off at the edges, fond. Kiryu’s frown smoothed under her gaze and he looked back at her intently, a suggestion of a smile around his lips.
Goromi looked away first, clearing her throat and downing her drink in one swift motion, slamming the glass down against the bar.
‘Anyway, aren’t we going for dinner already? I’m starvin’.’
‘Of course, I was thinking Kanrai or maybe we could go out of town and-’
‘Naww, Wette Kitchen or NY Hot Dog, your choice.’ She batted her lashes.
‘NY Hot dog always seems closed’
‘Haw? I’ve been plenty of times.’
Kiryu blinked, ‘well that would be nice to try.’
Goromi leaned back on her stool, plastic wings wobbling with the motion, ‘hmmmm, well you know how much I love a hot dog but I think I’d rather save that for later.’ She glanced over to Kiryu pointedly, who stared back at her blankly. She snorted out a laugh.
‘I’m cravin’ a burger, and,’ she snapped her diamanté flip phone from her clutch, ‘we’re already runnin’ late!’
Kiryu stood, immediately moving to pull out Goromi’s stool one again and signalled for the bill to Ako. Goromi got up with a stretch, clicking loudly before turning to the bar beaming, ‘Goodbye Ako-san!’ her tone syrupy sweet. Ako gave a perfunctory bow as Kiryu counted out his change. He heard her loud steps upstairs and the slam of the bar door as he handed over the remaining yen.
‘Thank you, Ako-san.' Kiryu bowed before quickly heading to the exit. The bar let out a collective breath and its eyes snapped to Ako.
‘Used to work with her,’ Ako supplied, then added quickly, ‘in construction.’
‘Three extra patties??’ The Wette Kitchen staff member stammered, sweating profusely. Must be hot working in a kitchen, Kiryu mused to himself. He felt plastic scrape against his arm as Goromi leant forward across the counter.
‘Ya hard of hearing or somethin’? Wette egg burger, three extra patties, two sides of soup, two iced lemon tea and a regular Wette burger!’
‘With extra chilli sauce.’ added Kiryu.
‘And extra chilli sauce!’ She pulled a wad of yen from her handbag, snapping it shut with force, the cashier jumped.
They sat at the window; their food arranged haphazardly around the off-white table. Goromi dipped her burger in her soup before biting into it. She looked up to Kiryu gazing across at her.
‘What?’ she asked, mouth full. Kiryu smiled slightly.
‘Nice to see you enjoy yourself.’
She huffed, swallowing audibly, ‘stop staring and start eating Kiryu-chan.’ Her gaze darkened suddenly, ‘ya got enough chilli sauce?’ A clatter of pans seemed to come from the kitchen.
‘Yeah, it’s great.’ He held her gaze, she looked back with a half-smile.
‘Always so sincere. I like a man who’s straightforward. Knows what he wants, gets it.’ Her voice had dropped to almost a whisper.
‘I want you to spend the night with me.’
Goromi raised her hand to her mouth feigning shock, ‘so presumptuous Kiryu-chan. What kinda gal do ya take me for!’
Kiryu leaned forward, raising his hand to her cheek, she stilled, he wiped under her lip with his thumb.
‘You had some make-up there.’ He sat back, smirking.
She grabbed her iced tea and slurped noisily, her gaze flickering from her lap onto West Taihei Boulevard. Kiryu watched her carefully. What was between them had stretched on for months now, possibly even a year, his phone chiming the address of somewhere she (always her) would arrange on seemingly no predictable schedule or certainty. He had once text her a date with drunken bravado, waited at the junction of North Pink Street, felt the creeping sludge of shame and rejection after two hours of smoking and waiting. He had gone home and not thought about it. Moments like this he wanted to confront her, slip a pin through her like a butterfly preserved in a museum draw, he would have the edge on their unspoken struggle but would become mute under her one eye, looking up from under him impassively. He looked at her again then, her gaze still locked out onto the boulevard. She watched the street lights and people blur as drops of rain snaked down the window. She watched a rivulet make its descent and felt a memory return, unwanted. The hard wood floor and freezing air of a Sotenbori apartment, watching the rain, counting the drops, trying to breathe, unscrewing a bottle of whiskey with shaking hands in the hopes of dreamless sleep.
She felt a hand squeeze firmly over her own, felt the tips of her acrylics digging into her own palm. She unclenched. She felt a thumb stroke over her knuckles and looked up to Kiryu staring across at her, his expression unreadable.
‘Do you want to go?’ he asked simply.
She looked back at him steadily.
‘Sure.’
She started shoving their meal back into the bag before walking to the door, clutch bag in one hand and food in the other. She stepped outside and breathed deeply, she felt something drape over her head.
‘I’ll take those.’
Kiryu took her bags gently, she realised he was missing his suit jacket and reached up to confirm that it was in fact that he had placed over her.
‘It’s raining.’ he supplied.
She barked out a laugh, ‘no shit.’ She turned and took a few purposeful steps towards him, ‘this rain’s not letting up, what do ya say we go back to my place? I’ve got some beers and a fancy microwave to heat up dinner.’
Kiryu smiled and she felt a pull in her chest. ‘Sounds perfect.’
She giggled before turning theatrically and strutting back up the road, the effect somewhat diminished by the wings under Kiryu’s jacket making it stick out at odd angles. Kiryu watched the sway of her hips indulgently before jogging to her side.
The red LED blinked silently, the only hint that you were actually ascending Kamurocho Hills as the lift slid butter smooth upwards. Anticipation lay thick in Kiryu’s gut. He subtly eyed Goromi standing across from him slouched against the wall, one leg crossed over the other. His jacket had slid down to her shoulders and one wing protruded out, vaguely flecked red from the light of the floor display. She was texting rapidly, acrylics tapping against plastic as her phone continuously chirped back at her. “Predictive text” she had once supplied as he watched her thumbs skim across the number pad. He had simply nodded, wondering how a phone could anticipate any of the carbonated thoughts that seemed to spill from her head. Her posture had caused her skirt to ride up and his eyes followed the hint of irezumi that clasped the back of her thighs. He felt a guilty thrum of jealousy that other people could see that part of her when she wore outfits like this, he knew for her that was part of the appeal. The sharp snap of her phone closing pulled him from his meandering thoughts.
‘Eye is up here, stud.’
Kiryu cleared his throat, the doors slid open, she pushed off the wall and into the hallway with a smirk, Kiryu noticed his palms were sweating.
Goromi unlocked the door to her penthouse, the only apartment on that floor. It was airy, neutrally decorated and fastidiously clean. Kiryu carefully toed off his shoes and placed the bags at the large kitchen island of her open plan living space. Simultaneously, Goromi tossed her keys and Kiryu’s jacket across the room and span around to face Kiryu. She looked down pointedly and Kiryu leant down to carefully undo the ankle clasps of her shoes and slipped them off her. She took a few careful steps backwards into the centre of apartment. The floor-to-ceiling windows showed a glistening view of Tokyo behind her, she towered over him all plastic wings and platinum blonde, and Kiryu was nearly sick with want.
Standing, he moved to her and slipped his arms around her waist, her eye searched his, curious to see his next move. He pulled her flush against him and pressed his lips against hers softly, anticipating how she would set the pace. She kissed back gently, almost chaste. They parted, Kiryu’s lips now an equally glossed magenta, and she purred into his ear.
‘Take me to bed, Kiryu-chan.’
He lifted her into a bridal carry and moved wordlessly to her bedroom, heart hammering in his chest with the thrill of her.
He placed her gently on the edge of the bed before dropping to his knees.
‘Good boy.’ she murmured, an edge of condescension to her tone.
Kiryu leant forward, kissing at her exposed midsection and slowly moving downwards. He kept his gaze on hers, needing her approval. He moved to undo her snakeskin belt but she batted his hand away, hiking her skirt up in one swift movement, revealing white lace underwear underneath.
‘Honestly, Kiryu-chan, what’s the point in a mini skirt if ya don’t make the most of it.’
Kiryu raked his gaze from the webs of lace which barely contained her and looked up at her, pleading.
Without breaking eye contact she leant back on one hand and palmed herself indulgently with the other.
‘Undress.’
He did so quickly and without fanfare, only pausing before pulling down his underwear, already embarrassingly hard and the shame only serving to further his arousal. Goromi eyed him with a half-lidded gaze, still slowly teasing at her own cock through the lace, silver acrylics catching against the fabric and shifting it just so. Kiryu swallowed thickly. She inclined her head backwards slightly and he was up and behind her on the bed, thighs either side of her, his cock pressed obscenely against the small of her back.
‘Goromi, please.’
His hands trailed over her hard body deliriously, wishing he could pull her in closer without a warning lick of a tantō or the blunt scratch of an acrylic. He nosed against her hair and breathed in the scent of her, ‘beautiful.’ He chanced a peck to her cheek, ‘so beautiful.’
She sloped back, serpentine, reaching behind and scratching his scalp painfully, but he would take any attention he could get.
‘Use your words, big boy.’ She spoke away from him, laconically.
He huffed a breath against her neck, against where the petals melded against soft skin framed by wiry blonde. He placed his hands gently on her thighs, spreading his fingers so slightly, his heart thrusting in his chest as he waited for the cold push away that his sentimentality often ended with. He folded his blunt nails against the un-inked skin of her thigh.
‘Please Goromi, I want to pleasure you.’
She let out a clipped laugh, ‘you’d love that wouldn’t ya.’
She caught his cheek in a clawed palm, twisting his face uncomfortably to meet hers, looking out beneath double stacked lashes. ‘Anythin’ to be useful for me, you’d take whatever it is I give you hmmm?’ She tapped one nail against his cheekbone in emphasis. Kiryu nodded against her neck furiously.
‘Anything for you Goromi, anything.’
She laughed and it was hard.
‘Then start stretching yourself out for Goromi’s cock, pretty boy.’ Her light ministrations against his cheek turned violent as she grabbed his jaw, focusing his eyes on her, ‘and under no circumstance can you touch ya own. Understood?’ Kiryu nodded dumbly, desperate with lust. ‘Such a good boy for me, aren’t you? Now on your knees and open yourself up. Quickly.’
Kiryu was back on the floor already, all shame forgone by the thought of being able to have her. Some days she would excite him all day, invite him round to lounge in the apartment in lingerie and a sheer chemise and have him paint her toenails in an exact hand. Sometimes she would reward him hours after her nails had dried and he sat diligently waiting for another command by lazily flexing her toes against his cock, smirking at the way he would whine and stop from thrusting against her, knowing he would lose his slim opportunity if so. Then she would send him home, cock aching, with an open-mouthed kiss that made him promise not to touch himself when he was home. Anything for her.
Kiryu had retrieved a bottle of lube and a condom from the bedside cabinet and immediately began slicking his fingers. Goromi reached for him, pushing his head down against her. He lapped at her through the lace, the fabric dry on his tongue. She moved her hand down and pushed her underwear to the side to free herself, Kiryu licked her cock from base to tip appreciatively. Her fingers were tangled in his hair again as she roughly guided him down onto her, he moaned around her and she raked her nails over his scalp in encouragement, knowing he had simultaneously breached himself. Kiryu tried to take all of her too quickly, gagging slightly, Goromi huffed out a laugh.
‘Too eager, baby.’
She was scratching his head with affection and just enough force to keep her deep in his throat. He held her gaze as he swallowed around her again, easier now, he would stay on his knees as long as she asked. He was inserting a second finger too early, as though if he wasn’t open quickly enough she would get bored. Goromi eyed him thoughtfully before running her nails up his back softly.
‘Just because I said quick doesn’t mean don’t put on a show for me.’
Kiryu stopped his movement, flushed like he wasn’t already entirely indecent. He slowed his pace and groaned at the sensation, never stopping working on her cock. From an angle Kiryu couldn’t see Goromi smiled. Kiryu always loved a slow fuck, he would have called it “making love”, always trying to lean in on the chance of another deep kiss and wrapping his arms around her as she would take her pleasure with him. Looking at her with those deep brown eyes that showed too much.
She watched him work his mouth on her and prepare himself a few minutes longer before she pressed a hand to his cheek to still his motion. He stopped immediately, perfectly. Goromi pushed backwards leisurely, making a show of lying down on the bed. She gestured for him and he was at her side in seconds, panting, precum decorating his pretty, flushed tip, untouched, good boy. She stretched and slowly canted her hips, unbuckling her belt and pulling her skirt and underwear down and off gracefully.
‘Ride me.’ Her tone was flat and authoritative.
Kiryu was up and over her, coating her cock with lube and rolling on a condom before holding her by the base to guide her inside. He always looked so nervous at this stage. As though Goromi would suddenly laugh and press her tantō into his kidney.
She felt his warm heat slowly start to push down onto her and lay still as he took more of her inside, he was careful not to hurt himself, and she knew it was so he wouldn’t disappoint her. His brow furrowed slightly at the stretch of her, gorgeous to see, before he slipped the last of her inside of him with a gasp. Goromi trailed her hands up Kiryu’s thighs to his hips as he began riding her, his pace steady and even, adjusting to her. He leant back on his hands and Goromi took the opportunity to pull him further down onto her by her grip on him, digging her nails into the toned divots of his hips as he cried out in pleasure. She took in the sight of him greedily, his chest and arms stretched back so as to angle her deeper, his pace faster now, panting and moaning softly above her. Her eye trailed down to his untouched cock, wet with precum, and her tongue licked her lips of its own volition. She circled her thumbs down, tantalisingly close to where he was desperate to be touched. Kiryu moved forward suddenly making her gasp, he held himself up with one hand above one of her wings, now lopsided and somehow even more ridiculous. She felt him run a hand under her top and tease at a nipple, trying to elicit sounds of pleasure from her again, she knew this all too well.
‘You’re so tight, taking my cock so well.’
Kiryu whined at the praise, bending forward to nuzzle at her neck, panting now. Goromi raked her nails up his back and felt his jaw clench against her, she met his mouth with hers and kissed him roughly, tilting her hips up lazily to thrust deeper inside of him. Kiryu broke from the kiss gasping and threaded his fingers into her hair.
'Goromi.’ he whispered her name with urgency.
‘This what ya want?’ She traced her nails up his cock, smirking self-indulgently as she felt him nod against her desperately.
‘Please.’ So soft she barely heard him.
‘Since you’ve been so good for me.’ The taut pull of her own impending orgasm made her forgo any further teasing. She held his hip tightly in one hand and began stroking him with the other. Kiryu cradled her jaw, kissing at the edge of her lip, she felt her chest tighten at the tenderness and chased off the feeling by thrusting up hard into him. She heard him cry out, face crushed into her neck, the heat of his come up her partially exposed abs and top. Enough to send her over the precipice herself, thrusting in deep, long strokes, moaning as pleasure ricocheted up and out of her.
Goromi came back to herself, breathing heavily. Kiryu was grasping the inked part of her upper arm, face still hidden against her neck. She pursed her lips. Softly she skated her fingers through his hair, now damp and only half held up with product. She felt him rest against her and drew her other arm up to wrap around him, tilting her head to press a magenta tinged kiss to his cheek. She felt him squeeze her arm and hesitated before briefly pulling him in tighter. Then she was pushing him up and off too soon, sitting up and arching into a stretch, arms raised. Kiryu lay on his side, watching her carefully. She moved wordlessly from the bed and into the en-suite, Kiryu was still, thoughts thick and fuzzed. She returned to throw a towel over him before stalking out of the bedroom. Kiryu wiped himself down as he heard the shrill chirps and mechanical hum of the microwave. He turned his head against her pillow, breathing in her perfume with a sigh.
‘Oi, don’t be falling asleep on me when I’ve been slavin’ over a hot stove.’
Kiryu sat up with a start, Goromi stood over him in just her spaghetti strap top and wings, both equally askew. She clicked her tongue and he realised she was holding out a plate towards him. He took it and bit in hungrily, swallowing the microwave-dry lettuce and patty with effort. He felt the bed dip as Goromi sat, then yelped when she dropped a cold can of Asahi in his crotch, giggling.
‘Thank you for a wonderful night, Kiryu-chan.’ Her tone was lilting and far too loud in the otherwise silent apartment. Kiryu downed half his can in one sip, mostly to dislodge the burger bun from his throat.
‘I was thinking of staying over tonight.’ He hadn’t allowed himself to think before he had spoken.
Goromi blinked quickly, before turning to face Kiryu, a grin splitting her face.
‘Really can’t get enough of me huh? Here I thought my Kiryu-chan was the gentleman type.’ She frowned, her voice lowering to a growl, ‘You’re just as bad as every other perve at the club.’
Kiryu looked her over, deliberating. Determined, he knocked back the rest of his beer before crushing the can in his palm, placing it down on the plate carefully. He took her hand in his, she was still frowning.
‘You’re right, I can’t get enough of you, but I don’t just want you for your body. I meant what I said the night we first met in Shine, you’re an amazing woman, Goromi.’
Silence smothered the air in the room, somewhere out and below a siren blared, Kiryu swallowed. Goromi snatched her hand back.
‘Kiryu-chan, ya really know how to kill the mood.’ She stood up, Kiryu eyed the swirls on her backside. She looked over her shoulder at him, ‘ya coming? It’s not a sleepover without watchin’ a film. Nishida installed one of those big fuckin’ projectors for me and I haven’t used it yet.’
Kiryu smiled softly.
‘Sure.’