Chapter 41

The sound made Ryo open his eyes and sit with both hands on his face as if trying to protect himself from the noise. It was a loud crash, which echoed throughout the shelter, crashing into the walls and turning against he. Not that your head hurt. The truth is that it was a long time since he felt so satisfied and so happy when he woke up.

" Ryo-san " Tadao's voice came up, hoarse. " Is everything okay over there?"

Ryo only felt the bed moving and immediately remembered the other presence. He turned his face and noticed Shiromiya sitting up, his unsettling eyes questioning much more than he would be able to answer.

"It's okay," he shouted at the servant. "Let's go up now, " he said. " Is the house up?"

" Yes, the bombs fell only on the east side of Sapporo."

Ryo nodded.

"Please have my breakfast prepared," he asked. " We're already going to the table."

When he heard the sound of footsteps moving away, finally managed to face Shiromiya more calmly. The reddish marks of the kisses he had given his followed a dangerous path that went from the neck to the bottom of the belly. Shiro was beautiful, as delicate as a precious flower, exposed in his bed with the same confidence as a bride on the morning of her wedding.

He decided to be practical and soothed his doubts with a warm, deep kiss. He felt Shiro's fingers grip his face, returning the caress with the same intensity. With a quick breath, Ryo released him.

"I wanted to lose myself forever in you, Shiro," he confessed. " But I need to go check on the factories. I promise to return as soon as I finish my chores."

Kazue smiled.

"I'll be waiting for you all day, Ry-chan," he whispered.

Ryo went to his office as soon as he did and fed. In the streets, the demolished houses and the mutilated and burned bodies along the way reminded him of Tokyo. However, it was commonplace. He had seen it so many times in his visions that nothing touched or scandalized him.

He entered the building where all the factories and boats were stored and began to box the most important documents. He should have done that before, but only then did he realize the problems he would have if he lost his data. Tadao arrived shortly afterward, bringing information about the factories. The sheds where the boats were kept on the island of Okushiri were completely set on fire by the powerful bombs. I also learned that some of his employees died, as they did not arrive in time at the shelter that Ryo ordered to be made at the factory.

"I wanted to have the work suspended only at the factories in Hokkaido, but I think I will have those closed across the country closed," he said to the servant.

" But the government ..."

" The government, the military and everyone who is with them go fuck yourself! " rebelled. " I helped more than my obligation. I've even been providing food for the past few months without receiving anything in return, as they still owe me."

" That can be considered ..."

" Betrayal? Now, Tadao, don't you know that the War Council is already studying an agreement with Stalin to mediate peace? They send the people to fight until the end, but they try at all costs to save their asses."

However, even before the first week of April ended, local radio stations announced that the Soviet Union was canceling the Japanese-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. Not that such a thing worried Ryo. If he received a letter from the government to get the factories back to work, he would do it. However, he had stock and his rebelliousness would be easily hidden from the already helpless empire.

So, after some decisions were made, he decided to focus on living the only thing that mattered at the moment: his passion for Shiromiya Kazue.

The days became just a few heaps of hours, while he enjoyed Shiro's company. Either in morning or evening conversations, while drinking tea and eating cake, either in hot meetings before going to sleep, or in the afternoon, when no one was in sight.

" What is your dream? " Shiro asked him one night, right after making love.

Dream? Ryo raised his eyebrows, not sure what to say.

"I never thought about frivolities," he admitted.

" Does dreaming make you frivolous? " The other laughed, stroking his partner's sweaty face. " I am the most frivolous of men, then, Ry- chan."

" Really? What is your dream?"

"We're not talking about me," he said.

" But I want to hear " it was firm. " Tell me, so I can help you win it."

Shiro seemed to think a little. The gentle hand that ruffled Ryo's hair moved away, and he looked sheepish to speak.

"I want to learn to read and write," he said.

What would he want that for? Ryo found it so useless. Shiromiya was already an adult and already had his profession: serving him. It was a waste of time. It was a waste of time FOR THEM. After all, the time Shiro would spend on books could be better spent among lovers.

"Well ..." he said, however, without wanting to compromise or irritate him. " Let's see what we can do to achieve this."

However, he forgot everything in the next instant, when Shiro jumped against him and filled his lips with thankful kisses.

" And you, Ry-chan? Tell me!"

" I have no dreams, I told you."

" Everyone has dreams!"

" Not me."

" Ry-chan ..."

Shiromiya's fingers began to play with Ryo 's hands, who felt himself stiffen in seconds. He wanted to jump on him but found himself just reaching for his hand and bringing it to his mouth, to deposit warm kisses there.

" As a child, I liked to paint ... " he confessed. " I spent hours drawing landscapes, people ... My dream was to be an artist."

Shiro's mouth opened, startled. He never imagined it.

" And why did you give up?"

" My father discovered and destroyed my paintings. He told me that art was not profitable and that I should prepare to take over the family business. " cleared his throat. " Wants to know? Was he right."

" It may be, but today you would be happier, wouldn't you?"

Ryo shrugged. His hand stroked Shiro's buttocks while he thought about what he had just heard. It was true that he had sunk his dreams, but ... He loved money! He felt safe for being rich, powerful for all the properties, boats, and factories he owned. Even the country on the brink of collapse, he drank tea quietly in his office every afternoon. Moreover, during the night, he could enjoy the body of a lover that he only got because he had enough resources to pay for visits to Ai.

"What makes me happy is to have you here with me," he said romantically.

Shiromiya melted at the words, hugging him tightly.

The next day, Ryo met him at breakfast. The boy was already eating and simply greeted him with a smile.

"Looks happy," the merchant commented, sitting down at the table.

"I decided to go to the city," he said as if he had all the rights.

If there was one thing Ryo hated about Shiro, it was his insistence on being free. Now, not that he wanted a slave, but he wanted every decision made to be asked of him beforehand. However, at the same time, he did not want to create a hostile climate. Shiro was a valued lover, like few others. He gave himself up without a reservation, and the pre - and post-sex conversation was fabulous.

" Really?"

" Can I pick some oranges? " He asked. " Most are falling to the ground, so if you don't mind, I'll take some with me to give people."

Ryo just nodded.

"I'm going with you," he said, then on impulse.

" But you don't need to organize some ..."

" Tadao will do that. I'll go with you " he reaffirmed.

Shiromiya chose not to reply. Satoshi's company was always delicious and made him happy. They never thought they could share so many wonderful moments.

Sapporo was worse than Shiro imagined. He walked through the wreckage, handing burlap bags with some oranges to the survivors. Ryo followed him quietly from behind, almost like a guardian.

" Why don't we surrender soon? " Shiro asked, quietly, for the lover.

Ryo looked around, worried that someone might have heard the phrase. Luckily, no one was paying attention. Even with so much disgrace on the country, the great part of the population still believed in a turnaround.

"Because our pride is stronger than our common sense," he replied.

After that, they hardly spoke. Even because it was more respectful, in front of so many bodies on the floor, the silence. The death toll from the bombing had been high, and many were still rotting over what had once been their homes, waiting for a decent burial.

It was late afternoon when they decided to return. However, a high-pitched sound filled the environment just as they turned towards the road that led to Ryo's house.

A siren ...

A new attack?

Ryo looked at Shiro. He had not seen it in any of his visions and was upset that he was not in his perfect shelter, enjoying the company of the other.

"Let's go back," he said, pulling him by the hand.

" We won't have time, let's go to the public shelter."

" I will not keep this ... " the rest of the phrase "poor people" was lost in the face of the hurt look of the other. "My shelter is safer," he said.

" I told you we don't have time!"

So, Ryo decided to follow the crowd. Sapporo maintained several shelters in the neighborhoods, each about ten meters long, which could house up to 100 people. However, that was it. There was no comfort other than the energy and power that allowed an unpleasant view of anxious faces.

Shiro and Ryo sat on the floor, just like everyone else. Some women and children were crying, but most people were silent, waiting for the noise from outside.

Suddenly, Ryo felt Shiro holding his hand. There was an immediate warm-up in his body, but it was not about any sexual climate. It was such an intense affection that she felt like hugging him for the simple fact of not being there alone.

Two hours later, in no sound of an explosion, the door to the shelter was opened. One by one, each citizen left, still frightened, as if he feared to return to the surface.

"It was a weather plane," warned one of the men, collectively.

Ryo breathed, relieved. He didn't know what would have happened if Shiro had gone to the city alone. Satoshi would have been desperate for the sound of sirens without him around.

What would do if he lost it?

Without answers, he just pulled it out and they both went home.

***

Shiromiya's body arched back. That vision was so erotically perfect that Satoshi could not resist and sank even harder, in rigid hollows over the delicate body.

" More ... " Shiro demanded.

That request drove him crazy. He felt his penis squirming inside the other, growing even more in size.

A long moan later, and they both collapsed on the mahogany table that graced Ryo's room.

"Sorry," the older man said. " There was no time to get to bed."

Shiro's laugh made him laugh too.

Then he moved away from the young body and went to his pants, looking for a cigarette. How long had it been since he smoked? Younger, he swallowed to accompany Sakamoto when he was anxious. Now, there was something else heavy in his heart.

He stared at Shiro as he lit his cigarette. They had been enjoying the bed for a few weeks now. Shouldn't he be tired? Never before, had he spent so long with the same lover. Even when it was fixed, like Keiko, he used to intercalate with other beauties to avoid getting tired out. But Shiromiya fulfilled all his wishes.

The lover went to the kimono, dressing. The sight of the sweaty body stained by his pleasure made Ryo warm up again, but when Kazue looked at him, he knew that Shiro no longer wanted to have sex.

" Ryo, to work in one of your factories, a person need to be studied?"

The question did not interest him.

" It depends on what position."

The other took a deep breath.

" Maybe a janitor. Or maybe a general helper."

Ryo swallowed again. He turned his back and went to the drinks. He filled a crystal glass with brandy and drank.

" For these functions, nothing is normally required."

He felt Shiro's footsteps behind him. Soon his hands surrounded him, in a brotherly embrace.

" When the war is over, would you give me a job?"

" When the war is over, won't you go back to Ai?"

The question escaped, without Ryo wanting to ask it. However, he had no idea that Shiromiya was planning a life away from Tokyo.

"Ai was destroyed," murmured the boy.

" But Aiko ..."

" I would ask Aiko-san, of course. But since I think that after the war, he will stay with Sakamoto-san, I believe that I should think about my future."

Shiromiya released him, walking away. Ryo turned and watched him. He looked uncomfortable.

" I know I'm asking too much, but ... I need a job in Sapporo to be able to stay here ..."

" You don't need a job to stay! " scolded. " I told you, you'll have everything you want."

"I don't want to feel bought," he admitted nervously.

" It's not a purchase, it's an exchange. I keep you, and you make me happy."

Shiro turned his face to the side. Thoughtful, he bit his lower lip, as if he were measuring the words.

" Shiro, I know that some of my actions irritate you, but I just want to protect you. For example, even without active factories, I need to go out once or twice a week to check army orders. What if, on one of my trips, a bombing starts and I die? What will happen to you? " put the glass on the table and went to him. " You know where my gold is, but you will have to keep it until you have time to sell it or exchange it. So, I will give you money. Including American money. I want you to keep it in your box and keep it with you. It is not a purchase, it is a precaution."

Even grudgingly, Shiromiya agreed.

***

The wheezing almost deafened him. Ryo tapped the phone, trying to make the call better picked up. After a few seconds, at last, he heard Sakamoto's voice on the other end of the line.

" How's Shiro doing?"

He almost smiled. It was comical that after so many years of friendship, it was the name of another one Shin cited.

" He is fine."

" If it wasn't dangerous, I would get Shiro!" He scolded as if he didn't believe his words.

"Shiro won't want to go back," he warned. " He said he loves me, and that he wants to be by my side."

There was an awkward silence on the other end of the line and the squeaks returned. Ryo tapped the phone again until he heard Sakamoto's screams:

" I'm going to stick a gun to your throat, you bastard! " shouted.

"You advised me yourself ..." he objected but was interrupted.

" Don't you know how Aiko is doing? " demonstrated his despair. " I'm afraid of what will happen if he loses the boy!"

Ryo meditated on the phrase.

" Is he still not healthy?"

" Aiko spends her days sitting on the bed. At night, Jiro lays him down and closes his eyes, because even that he is not capable of. He eats by tube, drinks by serum ... " There was an agonizing silence after that. However, Ryo waited. When the voice came again, the tone made him shiver. " He has to wear diapers because he has no control over your body ..."

Ryo sat on the chair. His office suddenly looked cloudy. He felt that it was his eyes that were filling with tears.

" I didn't know, Shin-san ..."

" I do not ask for me, Ryo, but because of him. Please, you love Mamoru too."

"I'm not hurting Shiro," he said. " On the contrary, I'm giving you the best life possible. I will have him bought a house, I will keep him with all the luxuries he wants. He never has to work or dance again. Do you think Aiko would be hurt that I treated him well?"

Shiromiya appeared at the door at that moment. His eyes looked questioning, concerned. He walked over to Ryo, as if waiting for news, and without knowing what to say in front of his presence, Satoshi just said goodbye to his friend.

" Rest assured that everything is fine. We will see Aiko as soon as we can and it is safe."

And then he hung up.

" Is Aiko-san better?�� He asked, seriously distressed.

"Yes, dear," he lied. " He said he misses you."

Shiromiya smiled and hugged Ryo, who felt like the most clumsy individual on the face of the earth at the moment he received the grateful affection.