A Haunted Love - 12. Chapter 12

Twelve

Two days later, Hideki sat in his office at the Lunar Plaza his gaze on his left wrist. He rubbed the fading bruise there, his thoughts on Haru. They hadn’t seen each other since the evening he’d been kidnapped by Tina. Haru’s parents were in shock at the news that their son had worked with Hideki’s attackers. To avoid irreparable damage, Haru’s parents had agreed to come to a settlement.

Haru was relocating to London. Hideki’s father had helped expedite the process. The deal was that Haru would never reach out to Hideki, ever. If he did, the Takada lawyers would pursue charges against Haru.

The second deal was permanently separating the Takada’s Estate from Haru’s home. The wooden fence was now turning into a high stone wall, construction was already underway. Kazuma called it purging the last weakness in the estate. When the wall was finished, if an intruder climbed over it, he was more likely to be rewarded for effort.

“Those will fade away,” Kazuma said, coming up behind him. “You should be at home resting.”

“I’m tired of being stuck at home.”

Hideki leaned his head back on his seat so that he could look at Kazuma.

“What are you doing here?” Kazuma asked.

“Setting the office up so I can take a few weeks off,” Hideki said.

“Want to go out later?” Kazuma asked.

Hideki grinned. “Really?”

“Yeah. I mean, unless you want to stay—

“Nope,” Hideki said getting up fast. He grabbed up his phone and pad. “I can work from anywhere.”

Kazuma laughed.

Hideki pushed his chair back and stepped closer to Kazuma. He leaned up and kissed Kazuma. A soft kiss, meant to distract him, but then Kazuma slipped an arm around his waist and pulled him in, deepening their kiss. They pulled apart only because a knock came on the door.

Kazuma gave an exasperated sighed and let him go. Hideki grinned and turned to his desk.

“Yes, come in,” he called.

He froze when Haru walked in to his office.

Kazuma placed a reassuring hand on his left shoulder.

“Your father cleared it this morning. I didn’t want to tell you in case he didn’t show up.”

Hideki tightened his hold on his phone.

“What do you want?” he asked Haru.

Haru looked tired. His face haggard, like he hadn’t slept in days. Haru gave him a short bow, and then straightened to his full height.

“I wanted to apologize for what has happened between us,” Haru said. “And to thank you.”

“Thank me?” Hideki asked.

“You could have pressed charges, insisted on having me arrested,” Haru said, then looked away, dropping his gaze to the carpet. “You didn’t, and I’m grateful for that.”

Hideki was glad when Kazuma stepped closer, his closeness lending him support.

“I want to apologize too,” Hideki said, making Haru look up in surprise. “I hurt you in the past. Mistreated you as a friend, with Keijo…with us…I was insensitive.”

“Hyde.”

“We hurt each other,” Hideki continued. “Now, the only solution is for both of us to live with what’s happened, Haru.”

Haru looked at Kazuma.

“I’m flying out today,” Haru said. “You’re the better man, it seems. Please take care of Hideki.”

Kazuma didn’t respond to Haru.

Haru gave them a short nod, and turned to leave.

“Haru,” Hideki said, when Haru got to the door. Haru paused but didn’t turn to look at him. “I did love you…in my own way.”

Haru left then, leaving the door wide open.

Hideki let out a sigh, glad for Kazuma’s presence. He might have lost his mind had he had to face Haru alone.

“Come on,” Kazuma said, taking his left hand. “We were going out.”

Hideki allowed Kazuma to drag him out of his office. They were on the road in minutes. Hideki sat in the back passenger seat of his father’s car, happy that for once, Kazuma sat beside him instead of in the front.

He gaped when they pulled into the Tokyo Arc Club.

“Why are we here?” Hideki complained. “I don’t want to work out.”

“It’s a wonderful surprise.” Kazuma cajoled, taking his hand again and pulling him out of the car. “Do you know the best solution for a bad experience?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” Hideki said as they entered the club.

“Getting right back on the saddle,” Kazuma said.

“I think you’re not getting that right,” Hideki pointed out. “There is a horse mentioned in there, something about falling off the saddle. I haven’t ridden any horse lately. Unless we count you as a horse, then we can count the three times last night.”

Kazuma glanced at him.

“Very funny, Hyde, love the dirty jokes.”

“How dirty can they be when I loved it so much,” Hideki asked as they made their way to the pit.

The club wasn’t busy in the morning. There were two motorcycle racers working on their bikes. They waved at him in recognition and he let go of Kazuma’s hand returning their greeting.

“What are we doing here?” Hideki asked, when they stepped out into the open air.

The race track so beautifully planned out ahead. Then he saw the beautiful red Ducati 1199 Superleggera. The same exact motorcycle he’d had before, though this one was red, his had been black.

Hideki smiled despite the sudden urge to run.

“You’re so sneaky,” he said, glancing at Kazuma.

Kazuma stepped up close.

“As much as I love watching you ride me, how about trying the motorcycle today. I heard you loved it just as much.”

“Can’t say as much,” Hideki said with a laugh.

He walked up to the bike and placed his palm on the seat. The need to bolt didn’t flood him as it had before. He figured going through an ordeal with Tina had cured his anxieties.

Kazuma picked up the helmet resting on the front of the motorcycle and held it out.

“What do you say?” Kazuma asked.

Hideki took the helmet, wiping the top with his sleeve. He glanced at the track, a shiver racing down his back.

The thrill was back.

Zipping up his black leather jacket, Hideki wore the helmet and swung his leg over the motorcycle. Settling on the seat, he turned on the powerful machine and smiled when it purred to life. The sound sexier than he remembered.

Hideki kept the smile as he leaned over the motorcycle, loving how powerful the engine felt under him. He sped along the track, loving the feel of absolute freedom, his speed too high. Goodness it felt as though he were flying. When he reached the end of the first round, he saw a white flag waving ahead. Hideki braked, decreasing his speed, coming to a stop right by Kazuma. He took the flag, and threw it on the ground. Tagging Kazuma’s hand, he urged him onto the motorcycle behind him.

Content when Kazuma wrapped his arms around him, reveling in Kazuma’s solid warmth against his back. Hideki increased his speed, careful with his turns now that they were two. He didn’t want anything to happen to Kazuma, this man who now owned his heart.

***

“So, you’re quitting?” Phillip asked.

Kazuma chuckled, leaning against the windows in Phillip’s office.

“Not quitting, simply taking on a lifetime assignment,” he said. “I’ll run Hideki’s security from now on.”

“That leaves me without my best asset,” Phillip complained. “What am I going to do?”

“Riku is sending all his friends to you for their security needs,” Kazuma said. “That’s more money being thrown at you. And Rui is here, he’ll be back in shape in no time.”

“Promise to take one or two assignments,” Phillip pushed. “Come on, Hideki-kun can live without you for a day or two.”

“Maybe it’s me who can’t live without him for a day or two,” Kazuma pointed out.

Phillip studied him, then gave a short nod, swiveling his chair from side to side.

“I will give him one thing. He’s managed to dispel that haunted look you always wore when you came to work.” Phillip winked. “Being in love looks good on you, Kazuma.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kazuma pushed off the windows. “I’ll help with research, and investigations, Phillip. I can’t do field work anymore. I have someone who will worry now.”

“I fully understand,” Phillip said. “I’m disappointed, but I guess that gives me an excuse to recruit new assets.”

Kazuma nodded.

“I’ll come back to hear all about it.”

“Come back?” Phillip asked. “Where are you going?”

Kazuma winked.

“Vacation.”

***

Two weeks later, in a sunny kitchen, Hideki cut mangoes with expert precision, putting them in two glass bowls. Adding a dash of red pepper into each bowl, he got forks and placed the bowls on a tray. Hurrying to the fridge, he got two bottles of cold beer, took the tray and went out the backdoor. Removing his sandals when he got off the deck, his bare feet sunk into cool sand as he walked down to a huge umbrella planted on the beach.

Kazuma sat on a lounge chair in swimming shorts, dark glasses covering his face. Hideki took one bottle of beer and pressed it to Kazuma’s bare shoulder. Kazuma sat up fast, reaching for his hand, his fingers gently cuffing Hideki’s right wrist.

“I brought you fruit,” Hideki said, balancing the tray.

Kazuma took the tray from him and placed it on the sand. He pulled Hideki to sit on his lap.

Hideki reached for the magazine he’d been reading on his lounge chair and covered the mangoes. He turned to Kazuma, accepting a heated kiss that left him breathless.

“I like it here,” Kazuma said, when they broke apart.

“Should we stay?” Hideki asked, tracing Kazuma’s stubble. “Hardly anyone knows me here, the only danger I face is from you.”

This was their second week in the little hideaway off the coast of Malaysia. The locals were nice, the weather the best. Hideki could imagine living here forever.

“It certainly is perfect,” Kazuma said, taking Hideki’s finger, he brought it to his mouth and bit the tip gently.

“Hmm…”

Hideki closed his eyes, loving the feel of Kazuma’s mouth sucking on his finger.

“Very private,” Hideki said, wondering if he could get Kazuma to suck on a more needy part of his body.

Kazuma bit his finger then, and he scowled, opening his eyes to meet Kazuma’s amused gaze.

“If you let me,” Kazuma said, his gaze suddenly too serious. “I’ll protect you forever.”

Hideki’s heart beat sped up, the promise in Kazuma’s gaze filling him with joy.

“Promise?” Hideki asked. “Will you always stay with me?”

Kazuma kissed Hideki’s forehead, his lips trailing kisses down to the tip of Hideki’s nose. Hideki’s breath hitched when Kazuma stopped a breath away from his lips.

“I promise,” Kazuma said. “I’ll always stay with you, Hyde.”

Hideki closed the distance, kissing Kazuma, sure of one thing, he had found the place he felt safest in the world. And that was in Kazuma’s arms.

And, oh, how blissful he was here.

***

Fin

em>Another story finished....sigh...
Hide, Kazu and I, take a bow here.  
Thank you for your support and always reading...until next story,
 Sui.