Chapter 40

Sitting on the armchair in the living room, Shiromiya Kazue kept his eyes down. There was no shame in his being, but even so, he was not willing to face anyone.

He had stolen. The fact alone should have caused him intense shame. However, it was not so. Suddenly, he realized that after being a victim of the Tokyo bombing, he changed the parameters of his morality. What did his little crime mean in the face of the enormity of worse things being practiced by the human race across the planet?

Now, children were hungry and Ryo was wasting food. The only thing he regretted was that he didn't steal anymore.

"Send him away," he heard the feminine tone, extremely angry. "A thief! A thief! It is not safe to have someone like that inside the house."

Shiro didn't look at her. He remained with his head down, feeding tremendous anger. He heard Ryo's footsteps, who stamped his feet on the wooden floor as he wandered from side to side.

"Send him away," Mina repeated, seemed to be willing to kick him out. " What else can he take from you?"

Shiro looked up at the same moment that Ryo took her arm, pulling her and leading her to one of the doors that led to the hall. He put it there and put the lock on. The woman immediately realized that she had crossed the line and was quiet.

As soon as they were alone, Ryo returned to Shiro, kneeling in front of him.

" Why did you steal from me?"

The question was not stuck or stupid. It was sweet and kind.

" If I asked, would you provide food to feed the children?" He replied without fear.

Ryo lowered his face for a few moments, seeming to think of the best answer.

"You need to understand, Shiromiya," he asked. " These people ignited in arrogance. Now, they are just receiving what they planted. Why haven't they been stocking up since the beginning of the war? Why did they not worry about the possibility of defeat?"

" It's a fool, Ryo-san " the firm phrase froze Ryo. " Unlike you who have resources to store food, most of the population does not even have what to eat daily, even without the war. It is easy for you, who have a shelter full of gold, to judge a parent who does not currently have bread to offer your child."

He wanted to get up, but Ryo held him in place.

"Shiro, I am deeply hurt by your attitude," he confessed. " I never thought you would be able to get something from my house without asking me. You see, since I brought you here, I've offered you everything I have. My resources, my food ... I gave you clothes, shoes, shelter, and protection. And you stabbed me."

" Are you going to send me to Tokyo? "He asked, without fear.

"No, you're not going anywhere," Ryo said firmly. " But never do that again."

" What if I say I'll do it every time I need to?"

Ryo got up and walked over to the window in it. What would he say? He had brought Shiro there to dominate him, to leave him at his mercy. However, it seemed that every day at his side, he was the victim, manipulated by his beautiful and sincere eyes.

"Don't provoke me," he said at last.

Shiromiya walked over to him. He seemed ready to face him.

" I like you a lot, Ry-chan, but you're wrong. In your palace, protected by your money, you are unable to see the pain. If I had met someone who had given me food without demanding my body when I was a child, today I could have been someone different."

" Different?"

"Maybe, I could have self-esteem and confidence. Perhaps, I had a good job; maybe I didn't need you to give me shelter, clothes, and shoes."

" And maybe you didn't know me ..."

"Or maybe I knew him and you saw me as someone you could call a friend," he retorted.

Ryo smacked his lips.

" Is that it, then? Are you punishing me for denying Mina our friendship?"

" We've been meeting every day for over a month. You hug me, kiss me, squeeze me against the trees, make me promises of love. However, you are even ashamed to come out as a friend. How do you think I feel?"

How had Shiro managed to turn that conversation in his favor?

" I..."

" You don't have to explain anything to me, Ryo-san. Just, send me away, put me on a bus. I'm going to Tokyo. I'll be fine there, at the shelter. Most people are wandering around the country, homeless. I've been through this before and I can survive."

Suddenly, steady hands held him by the arms. Face to face, Shiro felt himself fading before the other's hard look.

" Never say that again, Shiro. I told you once that you will stay with me, and that is how it will be."

" But ..."

"Don't go on," he asked. " No one has ever been more important to me than you. Do you understand that I can swallow my pride so that it does not leave me? Do you know what I would do to anyone else who dared to touch what is mine? But you stole it from me and you say you will still do it ... And despite that, I feel myself dying just thinking about letting you go."

Suddenly, Shiro's hands cupped his face. For the first time, Ryo was kissed by surprise. It was a bitter kiss, flooded with the minor's tears. But it was just as intense, delicate, and wonderful.

Both remained embraced in that room for a long time. On the other side of the door, prostitute Mina noticed the silence that followed the altered voices. Intuiting what was happening, she revolted, knowing that she was certain of the reasons why, until then, she had not gotten a single jewel from the generous client Ryo Satoshi.

And at that moment, she decided to get rid of the stone in her shoe. Definitely.

***

In that chaos that became Japan, it was not difficult to get poison from pharmacists in exchange for food or money. Arsenic or cyanide was sold for any purpose without supervision. Mina just needed to go to a drugstore and ask to speak to the owner.

The middle-aged chemist looked like one of those medieval alchemists, sitting at a table that had scattered several dry leaves and jars of white powders. He didn't say much, just held out a small yellowish old pot to the other and in return received an envelope with some notes.

There was no dialogue. The prostitute got up and went back to Ryo's mansion.

Mina knew that because she disappeared during the afternoon, she couldn't poison Shiromiya on the same day, after all, all the blame would fall on her. So she decided to act calmly and cautiously.

Not that it was an easy task.

The boy, despite being an eighteen-year-old, did not seem interested in exciting things for his age. Mina didn't get his interest by showing her legs or trying to seduce him. When she got out of bed in the morning, the boy was already in the orchard, cutting branches, sweeping the ground and watering the flowers. Laughing, she realized that Shiro had more than the misery impregnated in his skin. He was spiritually poor, putting himself to work under the sun like any humble commoner, ignoring all the advantages he could have with a generous lover like Ryo.

Ah, if it were her ...

How could life be so unfair? If Ryo looked at her as he looked at him, she would already have at least two mansions in Hokkaido and one in Tokyo. But life used to be kind to those who didn't deserve it or didn't know how to enjoy it.

It took about a week to get a free moment with the boy. One afternoon, close to six o'clock, he decided to retire early. He entered the house and was suddenly intercepted by the woman. Mina smiled at Shiromiya, trying to make it clear that she was looking for peace and friendship.

"Shall we have tea?" " she asked, so kind that Shiro raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

Pulling him by the hand, she made him sit in one of the armchairs and settled himself in another in front of him.

"Sorry about the way I treated you," she asked. "When I heard that you were a friend of Shin Sakamoto, I couldn't hold on to my harsh side. Shin is a gross man, he has always been very aggressive towards me."

The excuse didn't surprise him as much as the fact that she knew Sakamoto. He knew that the girls at Ai did not like Shin, but none had been cold to him because of his friendship with the member of the royal family. He never understood why most people didn't like Sakamoto. After he got to know him better, he started to have a lot of affection for Shin. He knew that with Shin, he did not need to fear words, the young man never lied, it hurt anyone who hurt. Such sincere and frank people should not be feared. Life had taught him that the danger lay in those who smiled kindly, says in sweet words. Those, unable to be exact, could slaughter a heart.

And that was what was happening right then. Shiro then cleared his throat and faced her.

" How did you know I was friends with Shin Sakamoto?"

Mine flushed.

"Ah, I overheard Ryo talking to Sakamoto over the phone," he said. " And Shin asked about you ..."

" Shin and Ryo talked the same day I arrived?"

It was obvious that it wasn't. And it was also obvious that the way she mistreated him when he stepped on the house no had to do with Sakamoto. As soon as Shiromiya made it clear that he was not a fool as Mina supposed, the woman stood up.

"My dear," she said. " I'll get our tea."

Mina practically ran to the kitchen. She wanted to get rid of that enigmatic look that made manipulation impossible.

The woman approached the cups. The tea was ready, she had left it warming up on the wood stove in the afternoon. She didn't want to miss a chance and prepared for it. Mina poured two cups, taking care to choose a blue cup with golden edges for Shiromiya. She threw the powder into it, and turned to the door, already carrying the trays.

She lost his breath when came face to face with Tadao.

"What did you put in the tea?" The man questioned, firmly.

" I didn't put anything on, were you crazy?"

" Give me the cup, please."

The servant came forward, ready to take the tray, but the woman went across the table in disgust.

" How dare you confront me? "Mina asked. " You are just an employee! I'm invited by your boss!"

Tadao, however, kept his face impassive. He opened his mouth to reply, but at that very moment, Ryo Satoshi entered the kitchen, following Mina's loud tone. Shiro appeared behind him and watched the scene in total silence.

" What's going on here?"

The woman took a deep breath, placing the tray over the sink. She looked quite offended and made a point of showing it to the host.

" Your employee came into the kitchen and ..."

" I saw Mrs. Mina pouring powder into the cup " Tadao interrupted her.

The woman raised her hands in a theatrical outrage.

" See? He dares to accuse me ..."

Once again, she was interrupted.

" Which cup? " Ryo asked.

" The blue one, sir " Tadao pointed it out.

Ryo then turned to Shiromiya. The minor seemed oblivious to the event.

" Did she offer you tea?"

"Yes," he replied, however. " She said was coming to get it."

Ryo then took a deep breath. He seemed completely calm and cold. He turned towards the servant.

" I heard on the radio that fighters are coming towards Sapporo. I want you to go to your family's shelter, stay with your wife and children."

The man bowed and left the room. It seemed to Mina that Ryo had completely disregarded the scene. She didn't know how to react, so waited.

" Shiro, excuse us, " he asked the other.

Shiromiya's indifferent face remained without any demonstration. He just nodded and disappeared from view. After that, the host closed the kitchen door and faced Mina.

"Tell the truth," he said.

" The truth is that I wanted to drink tea with your friend, I came to get two cups and then I am completely slaughtered by such lies."

Ryo remained calculating. He turned his eyes to the container filled with green liquid and then looked back at her.

"Drink," he demanded.

The woman took a deep breath, feeling her eyes flood with tears.

" I can't believe you're putting my honor in doubt! How many years have we known each other?"

" My dear, we know each other well enough for me to know that you are worthless. "

She took two steps towards the door that led to the orchard. Mina thought of running away and prepared for that when she heard a long, high-pitched siren cut through the air.

Mina had heard that before ... It was the sound of hell.

" Ryo-san " turned to the man. "Please," she begged.

But Ryo was not touched. Before she could even think, he grabbed her hair and dragged her to the gate, a journey that took a few minutes. When they reached the front of the property, they heard the first explosion in the distance.

"Please, I'm not going to survive," she tried to get him to reason. " Don't leave me helpless."

Ryo threw she on the floor, outside. She fell on the dirt floor, dirtying her face. Then she felt some notes being thrown at her.

"My payment for your services," Ryo said, disgusted. " I'll never need them again, so don't come back."

" I'm going to die, Ryo " she grabbed his legs, guilty. " Let me be tonight."

" There is a shelter about two kilometers from here. Risk your luck, because you will have nothing more from me."

After that, he broke away and entered the house.

***

It all happened very fast after the first bomb. A loud sound, followed by others, even more intense. In the distance, the evening, ready to go dark, became a summer morning.

Sapporo was being bombed. Ryo ran towards the house, looking for Shiromiya, needed to find him, go with him to the shelter.

The floor shook and all the lights in the house went out. In that pitch, Ryo staggered, holding on to the walls that seemed to swing like lovers on a night of love.

He walked into the living room, the kitchen, nothing. He ran to Shiro's room, it was empty. He was already desperate when he arrived at the library.

" Shiro!" He shouted, calling out to him.

No answer but the explosions that seemed to burn your hearing.

He ran into the garden when he realized that he had experienced it before. Yes, a vision. It was in Tokyo, on a night close to Shiromiya's birthday when he gave him the cord. He remembered seeing him at the shelter and, without further reasoning, ran in that direction.

The door of the place was open, and he entered without problems. The emergency lights were on, and Shiro seemed to be waiting for him, sitting on the bed.

" I looked for you everywhere " the sentence escaped exactly as in the vision.

And just as in the vision, the answer came.

" You told me that I should always look for shelter if the bombs ...

" Fool! " Ryo interrupted him. " It almost killed me from the heart! " scolded. " But you did well to protect yourself, I'm relieved."

It was not knowing what would happen after what he went through. All of his action was natural and unthinkable. He held Shiro's face, lifting his kind face, and kissed him with all passion in his heart.

Their lips came off. Ryo sat next to him, while he felt Shiro come to embrace him. He looked scared.

" Did Tadao-san arrive safely at your house?"

" At the beginning of the war, I gave you money to build a shelter. He doesn't live far from here, he must be protected."

" And Miss Mina?"

Ryo took some time to answer.

" She left."

" Now? But isn't it dangerous?"

"She messed with what's most dear to me, Shiro," he confessed.

Shiro looked up, facing him. His eyes shone with feeling. At that moment, Ryo knew that he would not be able to send him away once he had him. Of course, he would never keep him at home, as a lover, but he would not leave him far. As soon as the war ended, Ryo would send him to a beautiful residence ten kilometers from his. He could see him every week, more than once.

Before the thought could proceed, he felt Shiro's soft hands on his face. Kazue watched his lips, before pulling him in for another soft kiss, a touch of lips.

They faced each other. For a few seconds, Ryo and Shiro simply watched each other's rapid breathing. Suddenly, however, as if hearing a divine command, they embraced quickly, holding each other's body as tightly as possible.

They stayed in that accomplice embrace for a few seconds. The bombs outside seemed to intensify. Even if he could no longer hear the sirens and the aircraft, the sound of the explosions continued, merciless. In the meantime, Ryo lay down on the bed. Shiro took a few seconds before deciding to accompany him. However, as soon as the smallest came to his side, he brought him in for another kiss.

The first, delicate, was just a preview of the next, generous and warm. Shiro's body began to tingle in several parts and, without feeling it, he stuck to Ryo, who caressed him with his hands and with his own body.

And then the heat came. As if all the bombs were there with them in that shelter. Ryo and Shiro took off their shirts at almost the same time. However, Satoshi's pants came out earlier. The underwear disappeared even before Shiro realized what was going on.

They had seen each other naked before, during that night bath. However, Shiromiya did not remember that the member of the other was so big and intimidating. Try as he might, he couldn't hide the fear in his eyes.

Ryo only understood that and knelt before him, on the bed. Sitting, Shiro felt the weight of his gaze, measuring it. He averted his eyes, but the merchant held his chin, making their eyes meet again.

" I won't hurt you, I promise."

"You can't promise," he said. " You've never done that before, you don't know how horrible it is ..."

" I know how much I adore you " the tone made Shiro's skin crawl. " And I know how much you love me, too ..."

Before Shiro could control himself, tears slid down his face, falling from his chin onto his lap.

"I love you, Ryo-san," he confessed.

That phrase, spoken in a tone as low as a forbidden secret being confided, made Ryo moved. Seeking it again, he brought it to his lips.

" Shin explained some things to me ..."

His sentence was only intended to substantiate that he was not completely ignorant of the subject.

"But I'm sure I don't need any theory to love you," he finished confidently.

And then Shiromiya gave himself up.

He allowed the rest of his clothes to be pulled from his body. He let Ryo's thirsty mouth slide over his goosebumps, causing him an uncontrolled frenzy. And when Ryo's long, beautiful fingers entered him, he bit his lip, holding back a groan of pain.

"I think I did it wrong," he heard Ryo whisper.

No, he hadn't. Every time it was taken, the pain was much more intense than that. However, he saw Satoshi running over to the nightstand and taking a jar of cream. He put a good amount of his fingers and went back to Shiro, invading him again.

One finger, two, three ... strangely, Shiro felt no pain at that time. Amazed, he realized that Ryo was preparing him, while his fingers made their way to the hard, firm member.

When Shiro moaned with pleasure, Satoshi climbed on top of him. Kazue's spread legs curled around his muscular waist.

And then Ryo went into a fast and steady burrow. In no time, their eyes left. It was much more than sex, it was a meeting of souls and Shiro knew it. When he pulled him in for a kiss, he felt such intense pleasure in a mouthful that he couldn't stand it and cried, of pure delight.

After that, it was a succession of vigorous burrows, screams, and moans so loud that even the war was not able to assuage. May the world be destroyed! Ryo was so committed, so passionately offered, that he understood at that moment how important it was to have sex with someone with whom he could nurture affection.

That had never been achieved. Nothing had prepared him for Shiro's grip, the way he slid his legs down his back, how he licked his tongue, whispered words of love against his ears, scratched his back.

And then the climax hit him. A dumb cry escaped his throat and he felt himself spill against Shiro.

That night, one of the most horrible in history, many perished and wept for their dead. Others wept for themselves, for their destroyed life. But, hiding in that shelter, Shiromiya and Ryo surrendered to happiness so extensive that even the war could not devastate.