Chapter 14

Saito Jiro approached the counter. After receiving some papers from a soldier who appeared to be in his early twenties, he took out a pen and started signing them. He did not know why he had been sent to the police station to make his transfer official, but he preferred not to question. I was already very lucky to have come out of that hell that had become Germany. Even though he was not free of the past that distressed him, now at least he did not have to watch terrible deaths. Also, he was in his own country.

" Did you know what happened in the morning?" One of the guards asked the other.

Saito looked at both of them, who were whispering in a far corner. He diverted his thoughts, not caring about the gossip that rolled around the place.

" I can go? " Asked to attendant, returning the signed sheets.

" Yes sir, sergeant " the soldier referred.

Sergeant. That post probably wouldn't last long. He imagined that Sakamoto would lift him from office in a short time. Not that it mattered. He hated the army and was only in it because of his teenage inconsequence.

Suddenly, a handsome boy with black hair and intense eyes bumped into him. Jiro stared at him, waiting for an apology that didn't come. He knew that if he were any other officer, the boy would be punished for his lack of manners, so to make him understand the type of society he belonged to, he took him by the arm.

" Hey, didn't you realize you bumped into me?" He asked, his voice thick. "Apologies," he said.

The boy looks at him. Although he was happy - even because he jumped into the room - his eyes carried a trace of melancholy and sadness that made Jiro retreat. He was extremely beautiful; in fact, Jiro Saito had never seen anyone with such beauty in his life.

" Forgive me, " the boy asked, bowing.

Saito smiled. He patted his head, accepting innocent excuses. It was so cute that he felt like putting it on his lap and playing with it like a rag doll.

"So, Sad Eyes, " he dubbed him. " Why are you running like that?"

The boy held up a bag. Only then did Jiro notice that he had something on his hands.

"I brought the head that Shin Sakamoto cut off," he said.

A sepulchral silence filled the room. Saito was shocked. For a few moments he meditated that he might not have understood the placement very well, he even asked the other to repeat it, but at the reproduction of the words, he opened his mouth in amazement.

" Did you bring Hiroshi's head back? " another soldier, who had heard the boy's words, approached.

" Yes, Aiko-san asked me to return it so that it could be delivered to the family with the body."

Deep down, Shiromiya knew that Mamoru's order was far less humanitarian than that. Aiko just wanted to beware of possible retaliation.

" Sakamoto-san did that? " Saito turned to the soldier.

" Yes, Sakamoto-san came in the morning and summoned Lieutenant Hiroshi to a duel."

So Shin had killed Hiroshi. He had noticed a certain animosity between them during the trip. Hiroshi liked to speak without thinking, to insinuate things that only irritated Sakamoto. However, he never thought that Shin would hit the road. And what did Aiko have to do with that?

" Do you live in Ai?" He asked the boy.

" Yes sir."

" Can you take me there?"

" Ai only opens its doors at night, sir."

Jiro smiled. He gave the boy another squeeze, who was staring at him in surprise. It was a boy, but not a child. He looked like he was in puberty, but there was so much innocence in his eyes that the blood couldn't resist stroking it.

" What's your name, Sad Eyes?"

" Shiromiya Kazue, officer. But they call me Shiro."

"Sad-eyed boy" suited him better.

" I'm a friend of Shin Sakamoto. Do you know where he is?"

Shiro denied it.

" Then I need to see Aiko Mamoru. He owns Ai, doesn't he?"

" Yes sir."

"Take me to him," he repeated.

Shiromiya appeared to conflict. Finally, realizing there was no way to refuse, he bowed to Jiro and nodded.

***

Aiko heard the noise coming from the bedroom. He ran over there and saw Rika crouched with a cloth in his hands. The girl, when she saw him at the door, smiled.

"I decided to clean your room, Aiko-san," she told him happily.

The reaction, however, was not what she expected. Mamoru was livid when he saw her crouched in front of his closet. Before he could stop himself, he advanced on her.

"I'll do it myself, or Nana," he said, coming over and taking the linen cloth from the woman's hands. " You can go, Rika."

The tone was expulsion. The girl fell immediately, after all, she just wanted to help. But Mamoru knew that being tough at that moment could free her from the worst later. So he just thanked her goodwill but reaffirmed that she was not welcome in that place.

When the door closed, he sat on the bed. His eyes went to the old wooden wardrobe where, under piles of clothes, his old mixed metal and wood box kept memories that must have already been destroyed.

"I'm so pathetic," he murmured.

He clung to things that were worthless, unimportant, and that could lead to death. Even in other areas of his life, he always made the worst choices, the ones that would bring shame.

The thought returned to Shin and he hid his face between his fingers. By the heavens! What had happened to Sakamoto? How dare you throw a bloody head at your feet? He hated Hiroshi for what he tried to do, but he didn't want him dead. Or, at least, not seeing him dead with his own eyes.

Faced with such a thought, he realized how much the war had shaken his sense of morality. Rather, it would never wish for someone to die, even an enemy. Now, after the lieutenant's threats, he sighed with relief that Shin had cut off that man's head.

" Aiko " Nana opened the door without knocking, calling him.

He looked at the old woman, his eyes questioning.

"A very handsome man asked to speak to you," she said. "He didn't tell me your name, but he's wearing the army uniform. It seems to be a sergeant."

Mamoru didn't even think much. The new lover appeared to demand that he leave Shin alone. Prepared for a fight, Aiko rethought everything he would say as she slipped out the door.

Without further fear, he went out to meet him.

***

Saito Jiro watched his arond. Ai really was nothing like the whorehouse he imagined. On the contrary, it was more like a small, clean, and organized palace. At this moment, for example, Jiro was sitting at a table in a room that was called by the sad-eyed boy as a "tea room". He disappeared as soon as he left him there.

The tea room was an airy environment, with a large side window overlooking the garden. The atmosphere was fragrant and pleasant. Even in the intense heat that was taking place, there was a slight breeze that greatly relieved the charged air.

Saito looked at his wristwatch, wondering why Aiko Mamoru was delayed. He had arrived a few minutes ago, and since then there has been no sign of the courtier.

He was curious. How should he be the one Shin loved with such desperation and devotion? Handsome or friendly? Sweet or feline? Jiro had no idea. Shin used to worship Aiko by placing him on a pedestal where it was almost impossible to define his personality. However, he admitted that the person who controlled the Ai house must indeed have his qualities defined; after all, the House of Love testified in favor of the courtier.

Since the beginning of the war, it was not so easy to keep food on the table. He used to send his salary to his father, so he was reassured to know that his family was fine. But he had seen many people on the streets in skeletal situations, unlike the boy who found him at Kempeitai's headquarters, who seemed well-fed and nourished.

Aiko Mamoru was able to keep her home out of the horror that broke out all over the world.

" Sorry for the delay."

The gentle voice made him rise. The body came back to one that came and was surprised by the sweeping vision that took him.

God! What a perfect man!

The courtier was tall, but not overly. It was the height of Saito and Shin, which already set him apart from the rest of the population, who kept his stature low. His hair was dark, brown to black, extremely long, reaching to his waist. The eyes were mixed in a dark shade like the night and delicate like honey. The mouth, perfect and small, looked like a red apple, yummy.

And, Kami-sama, how it smelled good! Since he entered the room, the scent of roses invaded Saito's nostrils, comforting him.

A meow interrupted his thoughts.

Only then did he notice a large fat cat in the other's arms, like a king being carried by his subject. That was certainly Minikui.

He smiled.

The cat was a faithful feline copy of Shin.

" Are you Aiko Mamoru?" He asked, just in case, looking back at the man.

" You don't seem to believe it. Why?"

" Sakamoto-san told me it was perfect, but I didn't expect it to be above his passionate lines."

Mamoru was surprised by the words, as he did not expect praise.

"Sit down," he pointed at Saito, and also sat across from him. " What do you want?"

Objective. Jiro liked that aspect more.

" My name is..."

" I know it's Sergeant Saito " Aiko stepped forward. "It lives up to its fame."

" Fame?"

" To be one of the most beautiful men in Japan."

The courtier's tone was charged with bitterness.

" Unfair fame. I don't get to your feet."

Aiko laughed the compliment. Suddenly the mood between them eased.

" Nor am I at the level of comparing myself to the boy with the sad eyes."

" Boy with sad eyes?"

" Shiro is your name, isn't it? I was amazed when I saw him. It's your brother?"

Saito's tone was so friendly that Aiko forgot about the tantrum and found herself answering cordially.

" It's like it was. " Aiko then served the tea that was on the table, previously placed there by Nana. " But what's the use of being beautiful, if you are also beautiful? And it was you that Sakamoto chose."

Jiro raised his eyebrows. The conversation was moving in a direction that he didn't like. He tried to mislead, making a fuss on the cat that lay on the table.

" I don't know what they said, but Shin and I are friends."

Aiko laughed, ironic.

" Please, Sakamoto didn't even have the decency to deny it. The guilt was so visible on his wooden face that he could barely stop stammering!"

Saito was uncomfortable, without even understanding the reasons. Suddenly, Aiko being aware that the two officers maintained a sexual friendship bothered him, causing him to be demoralized, irritated by his irresponsibility. At the same time, his already denigrated sense of morality emerged, as if coming back to life, in his heart.

" It was just a comfort among friends."

" Comfort? " Aiko looked at him as if measuring him. " I have comforted friends and I can assure you that I never opened my legs for that."

Was the brothel owner teaching him a moral lesson?

"You speak like a virgin ..." Jiro snapped angrily.

However, Mamoru's astonished gaze startled him. It couldn't be, could it?

" Are you a virgin? " questioned at point-blank range.

" That's none of your business! " Mamoru returned.

How the hell did the conversation get to that topic?

" I barely know him and come to question my life and my body?"

Jiro realized that he had crossed the line. But how could it be justified? It was as if Aiko was an old acquaintance, someone with whom he could exchange confidences and intimacies. Perhaps, having heard that name so many times during the past few months, Jiro was familiar with the person. However, Mamoru did not seem to share the same fraternity.

" I apologize " was sincere. " Don't think I'm discriminating against you for being a virgin."

" I'm not a virgin! " Lied.

" Aiko-san, I think it's beautiful that you save yourself for your more. In such a clumsy world, how many have the courage and the honor to do the same?"

Aiko found herself speechless at the compliment. He wanted reasons to argue with Saito and expel him from his home, but he found none. On the contrary, the sergeant seemed quite friendly.

" So " he decided to be practical ", what do you want from me?"

Saito tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully.

" Well, first I would like to meet you, after all, Shin talks a lot about you. Then, I need to know what happened to Hiroshi."

Aiko took a deep breath.

" I'm not guilty of what happened. I didn't even tell Shin that Hiroshi tried to force me."

" Hiroshi tried to force you?"

The idea made Jiro disgust.

�� Did not know?"

"I had no idea," he was frank. " Shin left in the morning to see him and did not return. I met Shiro at Kempeitai's headquarters, he was returning Hiroshi's head. So, I decided to come with him here to talk."

Mamoru nodded, understanding.

" Shin saw things that disturbed him a lot, Aiko. You know him better than I do, you know how susceptible he is."

" Shin has always found war fascinating and incredible."

" No longer. Our last few months in Germany have almost taken your mind off it."

Aiko was curious. He tried to bring the image of Sakamoto to mind but failed to identify any trace of change in his sadistic mood. Yet did he pay attention to him?

" As?"

" We visited several fields of work. " Jiro fell silent for a few seconds, before proceeding. "Extermination camps. Fields where people are forced to work before they are killed in gas chambers, or starve to death."

" Shin didn't know that these fields existed? "

Aiko doubted a lot. Shin was interested in everything related to the war.

" No one outside the camps knows what's going on inside. I dare to say that even German civilians are unaware of the horrors practiced by the Nazis. Or, at least, they don't know the worst parts " Saito sighed. " Shin managed to keep his sanity for the first few weeks. Although extremely shaken, he struggles against his mind. Yet..."

Aiko felt the anguish in Jiro's voice.

" Yet?"

" One June morning, a Jewish family that was hidden in a basement of an abandoned building was captured by the SS. The only woman in the family had a baby of some months in her arms. The child was taken by one of the Nazis " Jiro closed his eyes, as if the memory was very painful. " The man threw the baby on the floor ... " Aiko noticed him shudder. " I can still hear the sound of the child's bones cracking the moment they were broken by the fall."

"Kami-sama! " Aiko exclaimed.

" The child cried. Everyone in the family cried. The policeman then got angry and shot the baby in the head and then the mother ..."

Aiko lowered his forehead, pious of that unknown family and of Shin who, for sure, was in shambles after that.

" Since then, he has had many nightmares and blames himself for the war, even though he knows that it has nothing to do with it. Shin is not forgiven for supporting and idolizing Hitler for so long."

Mamoru felt his eyes filled with tears. Why didn't he look at Sakamoto's gaze? How could he have left him alone, at the mercy of his cursed mind? Perhaps Aiko could have helped him and avoided the unexpected attitude towards Hiroshi.

" Shin completely lost his sense after that. We would stay in Germany until December, but I managed to convince Takako-san to talk to Empire officials so that our trip could be brought forward. I feared his actions. I feared it would he resolve to rebel and cause a problem between the two nations. The war is not in Shin's hands, and as much as it pains him to know it, he can do nothing to end it. He's just one piece on that huge board."

Mamoru knew that Shin was no example of neutrality. Confused and confronted with his moral sense, he must have felt lost and destroyed.

" Where is him now? " asked to Jiro.

" I don't know " Saito shrugged. " Probably came home."

" Shin regards Ai as his home. This is where he sleep when is in Tokyo."

" Do you think he will return here then?"

" No. You are hurt by my reaction to your relationship."

Saito agreed, understandingly.

" I'm going to your residence. If I don't find he there, I'll pick Shin up in Tokyo. Somewhere, he must be!"

" Yes, keep me posted, please."

Jiro stood up. Mamoru did the same. The cat meowed and Mamoru picked him up again. They both headed for the door. However, before leaving, Saito turned his eyes back to the other. He smiled.

"I hope to see you soon," he said. " And you too, beautiful Minikui " stroked the cat again.

There was something about Jiro's tone that made Aiko raise her eyebrows. He looked tender and warm and, at the same time, seductive and sassy.

" You will be welcome to come to Ai," he said at last, before opening the door for the sergeant to leave.

***

Shiro moved the fan against his face. It was so stuffy he could hardly breathe. Sweat had already wet his shirt, and he felt his hair stick to his forehead. It was probably the warmest night they had ever faced in years.

Sitting at the door, watching the movement through a crack, he breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed the last customer leaving. A clock that rested on the table in his room said quarter to three in the morning and, if all went well, he would soon be at the lake, cooling off from that hell.

Mamoru appeared in the hall, causing Shiro to hide behind the door again. He just seemed to be checking that everything was in place.

Was.

Soon the courtier entered his room and silence fell over Ai. Shiro felt guilty for running away at dawn to meet Ryo, but he didn't want to worry Mamoru any further. Shin had disappeared, and Sergeant Saito sent him a note informing him that he would be in touch as soon as he found him.

Having to keep Ai open, Aiko had not gone looking for Shin. But he told Shiro before he went to prepare for the dance, that if Sakamoto didn't show up and until the next day, he would personally go to every corner of the city. He owed it to Shin, for everything he had ever done to him.

The moon was full. Its clarity made the night fantastic. Shortly after silence dominated Ai, Shiro opened his door. Tiptoeing, he walked to the gate. In seconds, he was on the street.

As agreed, Ryo was waiting for him outside. The merchant was leaning against a car and looked distressed.

"I thought you weren't coming," he said, as soon as Shiro appeared.

"But it's not yet three o'clock," the other apologized.

Ryo blushed, noticing his alertness. What did it look like? A teenager waiting for his girlfriend?

Then he opened the car door for the boy, and they both got in.

"This is Tadao," pointed at the driver. " Tadao has been a servant of my family for years and he took care of me since I was a child."

Shiro gave a slight salute.

" Nice to meet you."

The Japanese, who served as a driver, looked at the boy and smiled.

"It's my pleasure, Shiro," he said.

The fact that the servant knew his name passed by Kazue. Suddenly, his mind went blank when he felt the car's bump moving. Fascinated, he realized that they were moving.

" Never travel in a car before? " Ryo noticed the surprise.

" We just rode a wagon. "

The merchant laughed.

" Well, it is different. One vehicle moves by the power of an engine and the other by the power of a horse."

" No " Shiro denied. " We had no animals. My brother was pulling the cart."

Whenever Shiromiya said that, as if he were not ashamed of his miserable life, Ryo was irritated. He looked away, changing the subject.

"We'll get to the lake soon," he said. " It is very close to Tokyo. During the day it is always full of bathers, but at night, it is desert."

Shiro didn't even notice the unpleasant tone. Hit he palms, anxious, and then looked back to the street. He seemed fascinated by the movement of the streets that paraded before his eyes.

Ryo watched him out of the corner of his eye.

Until then, he never bothered to help someone to have the least joy. But, for some reason, he wanted Shiromiya to be happy. He thought that perhaps the years were making him a more human and kind person.

He refused the thoughts. Good people only had to lose in times like this.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. The wind from the window shook his hair, and he dozed off. Ten minutes later, he woke up when the car stopped.

" Will you come with us? " asked to Tadao.

" No sir, I'll stay here. I'll sleep in the car for a while."

Ryo made a mental reminder to give Tadao a break the next day and called Shiro. The lake was after a five-minute walk on a narrow trail. Even during the night, the full moon helped him to locate himself, and, shortly after, they faced a beautiful carpet of smooth stones and a calm and crystalline lake.

"I have never seen such a beautiful place," Shiro murmured beside him.

Ryo smiled. It was so simple to make him happy.

However, in seconds, the smile died. He noticed Kazue ripping off his clothes, without blinking. He was naked in less time than Ryo needed to understand what he was doing. Shortly after, Shiro ran to the water and threw himself into it.

" Ryo-san! It's cold! " laughed.

Both actions reinforced Ryo's nervous state. First, Shiromiya naked. Not that he didn't already know that the other was beautiful, but seeing him like that, without shame and at the same time completely innocent, caused him a whirlwind of sensations that went from head to lower belly.

Then the laugh. God! Ryo had never heard him laugh like that. And it was such a beautiful and unique sound that the trader didn't even realize that he was already pulling clothes off his body and also going to meet Shiro.

Luckily, reason came back before he took him in my arms. Stunned by his reaction, Ryo went to the other side of the lake, getting far enough away from Kazue. He took a deep breath, before turning and being enveloped by another breathtaking vision.

Shiro was now sitting on the rock, droplets of water under his bare skin, his hands supporting his body, and his head thrown back. A mermaid's vision, if they were at sea. Ryo moaned softly, closing his eyes, trying to push the erotic image away. However, the more he tried not to think, but the lean, curvy body hit him. He opened his eyes again, surrendered to sin. He watched him naked, every detail exposed without shame. Automatically, hands were down and he played hard member, stroking it.

Judgment returned quickly and he withdrew his hands. He must be crazy! Or, anyway, he had been influenced by that idiot of Sakamoto, who loved to fuck men. Come on! Shiro was from the male, and Ryo had no interest in anyone with a penis between his legs.

"Ryo-san " the soft voice called to him.

Why the hell did Shiro enjoy talking so much? When they met, Shiro didn't open his mouth. However, at that moment, not keeping it closed!

The other looked at him with interest. It was innocent, realized Ryo. No demonstration of the merchant's passion was found in the smallest. Shiromiya was happy, but not excited. It was quiet, not overwhelmed.

Ryo was ashamed.

" You never told me about your family " Shiro seemed to realize that they had never talked about Ryo's life. " Tell me about your childhood."

Why that interest? Ryo raised his eyebrows, suddenly noticing that Shiromiya believed they were true friends. He admitted that everything he had been doing lately referred to that thought.

" My parents died many years ago."

" Are you an orphan like me?"

" Yes."

The truth is that the mother was forced to marry Eiji Ryo when she was only thirteen. Ryo's father at the time was in his forties and spent most of his time in the bed of girls of childish age. Yume, his mother, had died in childbirth. He learned from an old maid that she sighed with relief when she felt death touching her. It didn't take long, and his father found another girl, that time of twelve. He didn't marry her, but Ryo remembered seeing her walking down the halls carrying a doll. When the girl turned eighteen, she was sent away, God only knows where.

The father died of syphilis when Ryo was fourteen. He remembered Tadao putting his hand on his shoulder, comforting him, but the boy shrugged, not caring at all about the death of the parent.

Tadao took care of the family business until Ryo was able to take over the business. And that was his life story until then.

" You have no brothers, Ryo-san?"

" Not."

" Are you alone then?"

There was such sadness in Shiromiya's voice that Ryo almost laughed. It was as if Kazue had many options against loneliness. However, he preferred to recap.

" I'm not alone. I have Shin and Aiko. " After a brief pause, he finished: " And I have you, don't I?"

The words seemed to cheer Shiromiya, who nodded, smiling.

Ryo then realized that the conversation, at last, reassured his body. He got out of the water and sat down next to him. Shortly after, they both lay on top of the stone. In seconds, they dozed off.

***

" Ryo-san, wake up. It is already at half-past five and it will be dawn soon."

The delicate voice made him open his eyes. Shiromiya's perfect countenance took him. He almost lifted his hands, holding his pretty face and take his lips. However, he sat down, embarrassed.

" Yes, let's go."

They returned on the same trail, still deserted. Some birds were already starting to sing, waking up. Ryo stared Shiromiya.

" Did you like the ride?"

" I liked it, Ryo-san. I hadn't slept in days because of the heat. I feel rested, despite the short time."

Ryo agreed. Strangely, he too had been revitalized.

He turned his eyes forward, already thinking about breakfast and the day at the office. Ryo had many things to do and planned to do all the chores to return to Ai in the late afternoon to see Shiromiya.

But a crash over his head took him out of his reverie and made him jump.

He turned his eyes to heaven. Two planes crossed over him, heading for the city. He knew that the Empire had agile fighters, but, until then, they did not usually fly over the city. Why...?

An explosion blinded him. Ryo grabbed Shiro and lowered him, startled.

" Kami ... " he mutter, amazed.

Several bombs hit the city in the distance. Almost all buildings started to burn. Even away from the scene, horrified screams invaded his ears.

Suddenly, everything went white, in a tone so strong that it blinded him. And then, another citizen came along. He was startled to see people walking towards him. His hands raised, walking like sleepwalkers. They whimpered in pain as the skin seemed to peel off their bodies.

" Ryo-san! " Shiro shouted.

And then everything went back to normal. There were no more fighters, no bombs, no dead. Just the sound of crickets singing, and Shiromiya staring at him in fright.

" Ryo-san?" Shiro repeated quietly. " What happened?"

Ryo knew exactly what was going on. The visions came back. The war was lost. Even beautiful Tokyo would be devastated. However, until then, he had never had the visions awake. And it was that realization that scared him the most.

" Say something, Ryo-san, " Shiro asked. " You are pale and scaring me."

Shiro's urgent tone made him react. He decided to be sincere. Rising, he replied:

" Remember when I told you about the woman of my dreams?"

" The one that looks like me?"

Ryo nodded.

" Shiro, I have visions. I saw her, as I saw many other things before her. I saw my father died before he passed away. I saw the attack on Pearl Harbor a few years ago before the war even started. I saw so many things, in dreams, that even today I am terrified. But now I saw, awake ..."

" What did you see?"

" Everything destroyed."

Shiromiya shivered. However, his next sentence surprised Ryo and made him realize that the young man was no longer a manipulative and foolish child. It was growing, and becoming more and more cunning.

" Aiko-san knows about your ability, doesn't he? Is that why he made the bomb shelter in the absence of Sakamoto-san?"

Ryo nodded.

" So, are we going to lose the war?"

" Yes."

" We are going to die?"

The idea almost drove Ryo crazy. Suddenly, he hugged Shiromiya.

" Never. I would never allow it."

" How can you prevent?"

" As cruel as my sentence may seem, Shiro " Ryo stared at him ", the truth is that those who have a lot of money are always protected. And I have a lot, a lot of money. More than you can imagine. More than other people know. I have treasures kept, things that ..."

He was speechless. Ryo shouldn't talk about it to him. Not yet.

"Let's go," he said, at last, taking his hand and walking again. " Just, don't say any of that to anyone. And rest assured that I will take care of you."

" I won't say, Ryo-san."

They didn't even realize it, but when they reached Tadao, they were still holding hands.