Chapter LXXI.

'Hime! Leave this! And go get ready!' Shunsui told me, the following day, and taking the platter of eggs from my hands, he put it back into the refrigerator. 'Tonight, we'll be dining outside. And you're not going to work today, because we're going to the Karaoke! I'm calling the two girls that I met at the nightclub to invite them to join us!'

'The two girls that you met at the night club?' I asked, a bit intrigued.

'Ah, right! You had already left with Gōjun that day when I made their encounter. They are twin sisters!'

At this, he winked at me, giving me a suggestive smile, and I immediately understood what kind of rendezvous it was going to be with the two sisters.

'My! My! I have the impression that I have been fasting!' he declared, in a mourning tone, hanging his head a little.

I giggled.

It was true that ever since my grand-parents' demise, he had been spending all his evenings and weekends with me, together with Gōjun, and therefore, he had not been able to see a single girl. Even if I would appreciate the attention that he was showing to me, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty that I have been taking so much of his time.

'But, don't worry! I'm not going to bring them here! I respect you too much for that!' he added me, with a large smile.

My eyes widened at him. I felt extremely touched by his regard for me. But still, I couldn't help but feel guilty at this as well.

'Shunsui...' I whispered, lowering my eyes. 'Thank you. And I'm sorry that because of me, you're not free in your own house.'

'Hime, what are you saying?!' he scolded, and cupping the side of my face with his hand, he caressed my cheek with his thumb. 'This is not my house only. It is also your home. Don't you ever forget that again!'

Oh, Shunsui…

I nodded, my heart filled with gratefulness.

On this, we went on to get dressed for the evening. It was getting dark outside. 

Shunsui picked the girls up at the location that they indicated to him. I was completely amazed at their sight. The two sisters resembled each other like two drops of water. It was the first time that I was seeing identical twins!

Gōjun met up with us at the restaurant and, after dinner, we headed for the Karaoke. At one point, Gōjun left the cabin to go outside to smoke a cigarette, and I was soon to follow as the situation was starting to accelerate between Shunsui and the two girls, the three about to get to the preliminaries.

Holding my red face with my two hands, I came out of the cabin to onto the corridor. I wondered if Gōjun was still inside of the building, or if he had gone outside to smoke. As I was about to start searching for the latter, suddenly, I overheard something that picked my interest from the conversation of a young couple which was passing by me.

The girl was asking the young man if he wanted to go to the terrace, and the latter replied that they should finish the evening elsewhere instead.

A terrace?! 

I didn't know that the building has a terrace! 

The building was quite tall. I was sure that it gave an incredible view on this part of the city. It must be so pretty to look at it from a height! Eager to see this, I headed for the staircase and after having climbed several flights of stairs, I arrived onto a door, which opened onto the said-terrace. The door was not closed, leaving free access to it.

It was with a certain excitement that I stepped out under the starry night sky. The terrace was extremely large, covering a good percentage of the surface of the building. In the middle, was a large concrete structure in the form of a square where people could sit, with hydrangea planted in the center. It bore white flowers. I was amazed by the proportion of the plant. I didn't know that it could spread so much or grow this tall. But above it all, I didn't expect to find plants growing on the terrace of the building. 

A small agreeable wind was blowing and the sky seemed so big above my head. I was mesmerized by such beauty.

Slowly, I approached the edge of the building to gaze at the city through the fence. It was as beautiful as I had expected. The city seemed to stretch out infinitely all around, warped up with activity, and colorful lights- some of them, moving; others stagnant.

For a whole minute, I stood there, gazing at the view, before I caught the smell of cigarette. Looking around, my eyes fell onto Gōjun at that moment. He was sitting on the high bench-like structure that surrounded the hydrangea. He was so tall that his feet touched the floor. I had not seen him when I had arrived, but I was sure that he had been sitting there all along.

'Gōjun...' I whispered, very shyly, approaching him. 'I didn't know that there is a terrace. It's beautiful, isn't it?'

'Yes,' he answered.

Just as I reached him, in all of a sudden, he stubbed the end of his cigarette, and reaching out for my waist with one of his arms, he pulled me against him, such that I was standing in-between his legs, with my hands resting on his abdomen, his other arm closing around my waist just as well.

My eyes widened at him; my cheeks reddening. 

He gazed at me for a second or two, before he brought his mouth over mine in a kiss. My eyes closed on themselves, my heart accelerating in my chest. When his lips left mine, they came down onto my throat in a small kiss. I opened my eyes, my heart accelerating even further. The next second, he had pulled the collar of my T-shirt down, and his teeth came upon my collarbone in a bite.

I winced. 'Itai! Gōjun-'

'Did that hurt?' he asked, in an innocent tone, and my heart went into palpitation as he brought his tongue over the bite to lick it once, before he closed his mouth over it to suck at my skin.

'Gōjun!'

I tried to push him back, but he only tightened his arm around me.

When he pulled his head backward, it was only to lower the collar of my T-shirt even further down. 

'I'm going to leave you one on the other side as well!' he said, with a smile, and on this, he brought his mouth to the other side of my collarbone to suck at my skin just beneath.

My heart has gone completely insane by now.

'Gōjun, stop!' 

Pressing my eyes shut, I tried to push him back one more time, but without any success. But then, we heard voices approaching into this direction. I opened my eyes, and he pulled his head away, both of us listening. 

We were not alone on the roof anymore. There were people who had arrived and were coming towards us.

He released me at that moment.

'I- I'm going to the washroom!' I told him, rapidly, clutching at the front of my T-shirt, and on this, I took to my heels, running for the door. 

When I entered the washroom, there was no one there. Locking the door after me, I came to place myself in front of the mirror, still a bit disheveled, and lowering the collar of my T-shirt, I took a look at my sternum. He had left me a hickey on the left of my collarbone, and another one, just beneath it, on the right.

Gōjun… What took over you? I don't understand what's happening to you!

It was after a whole while that I decided to come out of the washroom. 

Shunsui finished the evening at the hotel with the twins, while Gōjun called his driver to drop both of us to our respective homes. During the whole way, I couldn't help but watch him uncomfortably where he sat next to me in the backseat of the vehicle, but he didn't try to do anything again.

***

Next day...

That morning, when I woke up, I realized how lame I had been. There were so many people that I felt indebted to and to whom I wanted to show my gratitude, but in my grieving for my grand-parents' demise, it completely escaped my mind to present my thanks to them. 

Even if O-chugen gifts are usually sent from early to mid-July, I told myself that it was never too late. 

It was on this spirit that I got out of bed and would soon find myself in the kitchen to prepare something as O-chugen gift. I decided to make chocolate balls with biscuit chunks and peanuts in them, and after everything was ready, I separated them into different boxes, attaching noshigami to them. 

'What are you doing?'

At the sound of Shunsui's voice, I turned around to look at him. The reddish-brown-haired young man had entered the door of the kitchen and was coming towards me, a smile on his face.

Lowering my eyes very shyly, I told him, 'I know that it's a bit late for O-chugen gifts, but I wanted to present my gratitude to all the people who have been taking so good care of me, starting with you, Shunsui.'

Picking one of the boxes up, I presented it to him with both my hands.

'This is for you. Thank you for all that you've been doing for me ever since we've known each other, and thank you for having given me a roof above my head.'

'You don't have to thank me about anything, but still, I'm going to accept your gift!' he declared, accepting it with both hands. Opening the box, he picked one of the chocolate balls up to bite into it, closing his eyes to appreciate the taste.

'They're too good!' he exclaimed, with delight.

I smiled, happily.

Gōjun entered the kitchen too by that moment, and turning around, I picked another one the boxes up to offer it to him.

'Gōjun, this is for you!' I whispered, again very shyly. 'It's my O-chugen gift to you.'

I still felt a bit uneasy about last night, but I decided not to think too much about it.

'It's a bit late in the month,' he pointed out to me, and I squirmed in embarrassment, murmuring, 'I know.'

Taking the box from me, he opened it to have a look at what it contained, before he turned his face away to mutter, 'I would have preferred Dango!'

My eyes widened at him a little. That's true! He likes Dango a lot! That's what I should have prepared for him!

'I don't have the ingredients to make Dango right now, but I can buy them on my way back!' I told him, with a smile, taking a glance at the other gift-boxes. 'You like them three-colored, don't you?!'

'Ah, Gōjun, don't go so hard on our Princess!' Shunsui groaned, and sending his arm around his neck, he picked a chocolate ball out of Gōjun's box to bring it to the latter' mouth. 'Taste one at least! They're excellent!'

Gōjun parted his lips to allow the chocolate ball in. He kept his eyes averted while he munched it.

'I still prefer Dango!' he stated, after he had swallowed it down, wiping the corner of his mouth.

'I'll prepare them for you once I'm back!' I promised.

'I would have liked to accompany you on your errand, Hime, but I have a rendezvous with a few girls. They're actually waiting for me right now,' Shunsui informed me, with a sheepish look. 'But, Gōjun will accompany you!'

We both looked at the latter. Gōjun still had his head turned slightly to the side, and his face scrunched up at the idea.

'You don't mind, do you?' the reddish-brown-haired young man asked him.

'Not, really!' he exhaled, raking his hand through his hair, irritatedly.

I had to admit that I was a little uncomfortable at the idea of finding myself all alone in his company. But again, I decided not to think about it too much.

Once I had gotten dressed, I left on my gift-giving errand, Gōjun accompanying me. 

My first visit was to his father at the hospital. I was forever grateful to Kenren Shoran for having taken the charge of my mother's medical expenses. The dark-haired man kindly accepted me in his office, and I was happy to see the easy atmosphere that has installed itself between Gōjun and he. And when the man gave me a smile, I was dazzled by it as usual.

My next visit was to Tsubasa-sama at the Zaibatsu. The blonde woman was very happy to see us and she took me in her arms to rub her cheek against mine affectionately. And soon, she had swallowed all the chocolate balls one after another without waiting, and this filled me with intense joy. 

After we had left the Zaibatsu, we made for Katsura-san's apartment, and we took lunch with her. In fact, we spent a few hours there. Gōjun was eager to watch the latest season of another Japanese anime that he likes and that could only be found on the black market for the time being. On my side, I spent my time chatting with the brown-haired woman and playing with her little companions. 

When we had left her apartment, we headed to Natsui's workplace to meet with Yūsei and her, after which, I called Saien-sensei to ask him if I could visit him at his place, and he indicated us to his address.

The red-haired man lived close to the mansion of the Shigeizumi. His house was two-storied and resembled a lot to Gōjun's home.

'I know that it has not been a long time since we've known each other, but I wanted to thank you for your support after my grand-parents' death,' I told him, shyly, as he returned to the living room. 

He was carrying a food-platter that contained two strawberry sundaes. He served them to Gōjun and I.

'I love chocolates!' he told me, with a cheery smile, and taking another chocolate ball out from the box, he put it in his mouth, before he took a seat with us. 'You're really good! Are you sure that you're not my daughter?!'

At this, I blushed, and the man laughed.

'How do find the sundaes?' he asked us, after we had tasted them. 'They're home-made!'

I stopped eating dead, my eyes going wide at him.

'You prepared them yourself?!'

'Hm-hm!' he answered, with a nod. 

I was completely amazed. 

'I can teach you how to make them!'

I held my breath in excitement. 'Really?'

'Yes,' he chuckled. 'You come over whenever you want and we'll prepare them together, alright?'

'Okay! Thank you!' I exclaimed, looking forward to that day with great eagerness. 

It was on this gay spirit that I left the sensei's house. And once we had made a small jump at the supermarket, Gōjun and I headed back to the house together. Shunsui hadn't returned home yet when we arrived, and I made into the kitchen directly to start preparing the Dango for Gōjun.

'Do you really want to thank me so much?!' he asked.

Just as I had turned around to look at him and give him a nod, in all of a sudden, he seized me by my wrists and began to step closer towards me, such that I was forced to back away. At one point, my hips hit into something from behind and I fell backward onto the table of the kitchen. 

I stared at Gōjun's face breathlessly. He had pinned my wrists onto the surface of the table besides my head and he was leaning over me.

'Gōjun, what-' I started, but he didn't allow me to finish. His mouth came over mine in kiss, and instantly, my eyes drew shut, my heart accelerating in my chest. While he was kissing me, slowly, I felt him drag my wrists upward to above my head to hold them there with a single hand, only to use his now free hand to pull the collar of my T-shirt down.

My eyes blew open, my heart making a small jump. 

His lips abandoned mine to come down onto the two hickeys he had left me on the previous day in order to kiss them softly.

'Gōjun-' I gasped, struggling a little.

When he pulled his head back, it was to gaze at the marks for a second, before his eyes shifted to onto my neck.

'I'm going to leave you one here as well. One which will be visible!' he declared, and on this, he brought his mouth to onto the side of my neck to suck at my skin there, sending my heart into palpitation. But this was nothing compared to the state of my heart when I felt his hand slip under the lower hem of my T-shirt to onto my waist. It was moving downwards toward the waistline of my shorts.

This sent my heart completely berserk, and my eyes began to sting with tears. Pressing them shut and turning my face the other way, I cried for him to stop while I struggled, my voice breaking.

His hand froze at that moment and his mouth left my neck. 

Opening my eyes, I stared at his face through my tears. He stared back at me blankly for a few seconds, before he released my wrists and straightened up, muttering, 'You're not ready to thank me!'

My heart skipped a beat.

Gōjun… What's wrong with you?!

Jumping to my feet, and breaking into sobs, I ran past him to make for my bedroom, intentionally hitting his arm with my shoulder on the way. 

Once I was in my room, I locked the door behind me and slumped down against it to sit on the floor in a ball and cry. 

Since when did you become so cruel, Gōjun? It does not resemble you!

***

'I'm home!' Shunsui Shigeizumi called, as he entered the doorway of the house.

He came across Gōjun in the living room; the latter was coming into this direction, apparently, preparing to leave. 

'Aren't you going to stay for dinner?! How was Hime's errand?'

'Good,' Gōjun simply answered, without pausing down.

The reddish-brown-haired young man followed his friend with the eyes for a few seconds as the latter went past him, feeling a bit intrigued, before he took a swift look around of the living room, asking, 'And where is Hime?'

'In her room!'

And on these words, Gōjun was gone.

Shunsui continued to stare after him for another couple of seconds, feeling even more intrigued, only then to turn around and make his way down the corridor up to the dark-haired girl's room. Her door was closed.

'Hime?' he called softly, knocking once.

The girl took a whole minute to reply. She told him that she'll be out in a moment. 

Shunsui didn't fail to notice that her voice sounded strange, as if, she had been crying. At this, the reddish-brown-haired young man thought he knew exactly what happened between Gōjun and she during his absence. 

This made him anxious for the two of them. 

And when the girl came out of her bedroom, trying her best to pretend as if nothing had happened, all his doubts were confirmed when he noticed the love mark Gōjun had left her on the neck.

Gōjun...

Thank you for reading!

Glossary

O-chugen - Japan's summer gift giving custom whereby people give gifts to those who take care of them and who had helped them 

Noshigami - wrapping paper