FIC: Family Visit: Okinawa, Part 3 of 5

[geri_chan]

Title: Family Visit: Okinawa, Part 3 of 5
Rating: NC-17 overall
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/Onozuka, implied Yoshizumi/Kenzaki
Characters: Kikuchi, Onozuka, Yoshizumi
Word count: ~8,625
Warnings: Voyeurism (sort of--see afterword for details)
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Unexpected Opportunities, Comeback (Part 1 and Part 2), Forgiveness, Firsts, First Date (Part 1 and Part 2), Going Steady (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6), Audition (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Cookout (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Press Conference (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Sanctuary, The Prince vs. the Groupie (Part 1, Part 2), Family Visit: Tokyo (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5), Gigolo (Part 1, Part 2), Yoshizumi's Night Out (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), and Interlude. The series also includes two side-stories that are outside of the main timeline: Valentine's Day Surprise and Strictly Business.
Summary: Kikuchi has an interesting conversation with Onozuka's grandmother, and Yoshizumi listens in on Onozuka's late night visit to Kikuchi's room.

Author's note: A sanshin is an Okinawan musical instrument that is often described as "banjo-like." It has three strings and a snakeskin-covered body, and is played with a plectrum. Hakama are loose, skirt-like trousers worn over a kimono, usually by men, and a haori is a jacket worn over a kimono on formal occasions.

Part 1, Part 2

***

The director and Yoshizumi were looking a little sleepy after their long soak, and they headed to their rooms to take a nap before dinner--which gave Kikuchi the perfect opportunity to sneak upstairs and look for Onozuka.

However, Onozuka's grandmother stopped him on the landing and said politely, "I'm sorry, but guests aren't allowed upstairs. May I help you with something, Kikuchi-san?"

"I'm sorry to intrude," Kikuchi replied, just as politely. "I was looking for Onozuka-kun."

"I believe that he's still down in the kitchen and probably will be for awhile," Chiyo said, with a fond and amused little smile. "Supposedly he's helping with the chores, but I'm sure that the staff is making a great fuss over him. He's had them wrapped around his finger ever since he was a child."

"He has a natural charm, doesn't he?" Kikuchi chuckled. "There's a reason why the press dubbed him 'the Prince,' after all!"

"Yes, I suppose so," Chiyo laughed.

She started to turn away, but Kikuchi said, "As long as I'm here...would it be all right if I paid my respects to Onozuka-kun's grandfather?"

Chiyo gave him a startled look, then gazed at him shrewdly for a long moment, her eyes narrowing in the same way that Onozuka's did when he was sizing someone up. "Yuu told you about his grandfather?" she finally asked.

"Yes, he explained to me how the two of you met and married," Kikuchi said pleasantly. "It was a very touching story. Your late husband sounds like a remarkable man, and Onozuka-kun obviously cared about him deeply, so I'd just like to pay my respects to him, if that's all right with you."

Chiyo hesitated, giving him another shrewd look, then made up her mind and said, "Please follow me, then, Kikuchi-san."

She led him into the family's living room and showed him the small Buddhist altar set up on a shelf against the wall. It contained a photo of an elderly man, who was plain--almost homely, in fact, compared to the Prince--but there was a kindness in his eyes and a warmth in his smile that lit up his face and made the homeliness barely noticeable.

Kikuchi knelt in front of the altar and lit a stick of incense, then placed his hands together and bowed his head briefly in prayer. He noticed that another incense stick had recently been burned, no doubt by Onozuka.

Once the ritual formalities had been observed, Kikuchi turned away from the altar and Chiyo asked, "Would you care for some tea, Kikuchi-san?"

"I would, thank you very much," Kikuchi replied. She might have offered only out of token courtesy, but he wasn't about to pass up the chance to interrogate--politely, of course--one of Onozuka's relatives.

"I'll be right back," Chiyo said, and went to prepare the tea, which conveniently left Kikuchi alone and free to look around the living room.

The room was small: cozy enough for three or four people, but any more than that would make it feel cramped. It was modestly furnished with a low table in the middle of the room and a few cushions on the floor. There was a television in one corner of the room, with a dvd player and vcr hooked up to it--perhaps to record Onozuka's TV shows? There was a large bookcase against one of the walls, containing a mixture of books and magazines--some that seemed related to the business, and others that were obviously for pleasure. Mizutani's books filled one shelf, so it seemed that Ayano was sincere about being a fan and hadn't just been flattering the author. And interestingly enough, a few of Sawa Nagisa's books were on the shelf, too.

There was a shelf devoted to Onozuka, too--entertainment magazines with articles about him, a scrapbook filled with articles and newspaper clippings, and videotapes of what appeared to be every TV appearance he'd ever made, including commercials and talk show appearances as well as his TV dramas, all with neat, handwritten labels that included the title, episode number, and date of each show.

Kikuchi smiled; at least this side of the family was proud of Onozuka, even if his father wasn't. He continued looking around, and found a few family photos on the shelves: wedding pictures of a younger Kaoru and Ayano, and a much younger Grandma and Grandpa Onozuka. Chiyo had been quite a beauty in her youth, Kikuchi noticed--it was no wonder that she had caught the attention of her American soldier, and then the innkeeper. A fair-haired little girl with a shy smile, presumably Onozuka's mother, was in the photo with them.

There were also a few casual photos of Kaoru, Ayano, and a boy who must be their son, along with a more formal, studio photo of Onozuka's family, and Kikuchi gazed at the latter eagerly. Onozuka was about twelve years old in the photo, and was clad in a kimono, as was the rest of his family, and he looked positively adorable. Kikuchi grinned, wondering if there was any way that he could convince Chiyo or Kaoru to make a copy for him. There was a stern and dignified-looking dark-haired man who must be Onozuka's father, and a beautiful woman with golden-brown hair who was obviously Onozuka's mother. The young Onozuka had hair about the same color as his mother's, a few shades darker than it was at present. There was also a little girl of about five or six, who must be Onozuka's sister Shiori, the one that Toshi claimed was being forced into an arranged marriage.

Kikuchi took a closer look at the photo and noticed that while the mother's and sister's smiles seemed genuine, Onozuka's smile was a pleasant mask--it wasn't merely the uncomfortable stiffness of a posed photo, because the young Onozuka looked remarkably serene and composed for his age. (The father looked solemn, with only the faintest hint of a smile on his face, but that seemed due to a naturally serious nature rather than anger or irritation--at least, that was Kikuchi's impression, perhaps colored by what Toshi had told him about Onozuka's father.) However, Kikuchi was an experienced enough actor to recognize a fake smile when he saw one, and besides, the young Onozuka's smile was remarkably similar to the charming but insincere smile that the present day Onozuka wore when he was playing the role of the Golden Prince in public.

Kikuchi was impressed by the young Onozuka's acting skills, but at the same time, he felt a pang of sorrow for the boy who had felt like he needed to hide his emotions to such an extent. Was this why Onozuka had become an actor, because he had been doing it for so long that pretending to be someone else felt more natural than his real self? It was something that they had in common, perhaps: Kikuchi had been only a little older when he had first realized that he liked boys instead of girls, and had begun hiding those feelings from his classmates and his parents, a deception that had lasted until he'd been outed by the press at age thirty. So he could feel a sense of empathy with Onozuka, but he had never felt the need to re-invent himself as completely as Onozuka apparently had.

Chiyo returned with the tea just then, and Kikuchi joined her at the table. "You were looking at the family pictures, I see," she said pleasantly, not seeming offended by his nosiness.

Kikuchi gave her a charming grin and laughed, "Onozuka-kun was cute when he was a kid!"

"That's probably why he usually managed to get himself out of the trouble that he was always getting himself into as a child," Chiyo replied dryly, and Kikuchi laughed again.

"Well, I'm sure you'll be happy to learn that he's very responsible and professional on the set," he said.

They sipped their tea, and then Chiyo said in a conversational tone, "It's odd," unknowingly echoing Kaoru's earlier words. "Yuu almost never talks about his family with outsiders."

"Well, I was very persistent," Kikuchi said with a grin. "I was teasing him about his blond hair and got him to admit that it was his natural--or almost natural--color. And then I pestered him until he told me the whole story about how he got his almost-blond hair." Then he bowed his head and added, "Please forgive me if I've pried too far into personal matters. I hope that I haven't offended you."

However, Onozuka's grandmother didn't seem the least bit perturbed and merely gave Kikuchi a thoughtful look. "Yuu must trust you to have told you such a personal story. Of course, he did admire you a great deal when he was growing up, but still..."

"People keep telling me that," Kikuchi laughed. "It's starting to make me feel like an old man!" Chiyo just gave him a faint, wry smile in return that seemed to indicate that she wasn't buying his false modesty. Kikuchi grinned and continued, "But seriously, I hope that he trusts me. We've become good friends while working on the movie, and I'm very pleased to be able to meet his family."

Chiyo gave him a long, penetrating stare--not exactly hostile, but with the intensity of a protective parent (or grandparent) scrutinizing their child's potential suitor. "Tell me, Kikuchi-san," she said in a conversational tone, "do you take such a personal interest in all of your co-stars?"

Not much got by Grandma Onozuka, it seemed, although it didn't really take a great stretch of the imagination to suspect that a notorious gay actor might  have a romantic interest in his handsome young co-star. On the other hand, the idea didn't seem to have occurred to Kaoru yet, and Kikuchi wondered if he'd be less pleased to have a movie star staying at his inn if he knew that said movie star was sleeping with his nephew. Still, Kikuchi suspected that Chiyo's opinion was the one that really mattered, and that the family matriarch was the one he would have to win over.

"No, Onozuka-kun is special," Kikuchi replied honestly. "He's a remarkable young man: very talented and hard-working and dedicated to his craft." And to let Chiyo know that his intentions towards Onozuka were serious, he smiled and added, "And Onozuka-kun is also very charming, of course. My mother was completely charmed by the Prince when she met him."

If Chiyo was shocked by that revelation, a raised eyebrow was the only sign she gave of it. "You introduced Yuu to your family?" she asked calmly.

Kikuchi was beginning to understand where--or rather, from whom--Onozuka had learned such skill in controlling his emotions. "Yes, I did," he replied, just as calmly. "My mother is a fan of the Prince and I thought she would enjoy meeting him. My father and brother liked him, too."

Chiyo drank her tea and digested Kikuchi's words in silence for awhile, a bland and polite expression fixed on her face. "I see," she said at last, setting her cup down. "However, I don't think that you can expect Yuu to introduce you to his parents anytime soon."

"I know that he's estranged from them, so I certainly wouldn't pressure him for an introduction," Kikuchi said. Yet, he silently added, before continuing aloud, "But I hope that he'll be able to reconcile with them someday soon." He felt a slight touch of guilt since he suspected that his relationship with Onozuka would complicate any such reconciliations, but he didn't intend to give up his prince for anyone--and anyway, Onozuka would still be gay whether or not he was dating Kikuchi.

"I wouldn't hold my breath," Chiyo sighed. "If you really are good friends with my grandson, then you know how stubborn he can be."

"Yes, but he disguises it well with his princely charm," Kikuchi chuckled. "And I have learned some patience during the past ten years I spent in America."

"That's good, because you'll need it," Chiyo said dryly, and Kikuchi laughed again; he really liked Onozuka's grandmother. He hoped that he'd managed to win her over today, because she would make a very formidable opponent. As if reading his mind, Chiyo gave him another appraising look, then said, "Perhaps you're well-suited to Yuu; you seem to have enough determination to match his. Not that it would matter if I disapproved of your...friendship...since Yuu always does as he pleases no matter what anyone else says."

That seemed to be a cautious sort of approval, if not exactly a ringing endorsement, but Kikuchi was willing to take whatever he could get. "I think that Onozuka-kun values your opinion, ma'am," he disagreed, and not just to be polite. It was obvious from Onozuka's brief story about his grandparents' marriage that he loved--and more importantly for Kikuchi's purposes--respected his grandmother.

"Perhaps," Chiyo conceded her voice turning dry again. "But that still doesn't stop him from doing as he pleases."

Kikuchi laughed, and by mutual unspoken agreement, they allowed the topic of conversation to shift away from Onozuka to more neutral subjects. After a few minutes of polite small talk about the movie and the inn, Chiyo began dropping subtle hints that she needed to get back to work, and Kikuchi politely took the hint and excused himself.

He went back to his room to relax, and shortly before dinner was supposed to be served, Onozuka's voice sang out sweetly, "Excuse me."

"Come in," Kikuchi called out, grinning.

The door slid open to reveal Onozuka kneeling in the hall, clad in the same type of yukata that Kikuchi was wearing--and he looked just as cute as Kikuchi had thought he would. Onozuka bowed low, eyes cast down demurely. He was the perfect picture of a humble servant, although his princely grace still shone through--sort of like a reverse-gender Cinderella.

"I came to inform you that dinner will be served in a few minutes," Onozuka said, still in that sweet, humble voice. "Will you dine in the hall, or would you prefer to eat in your room, sir?"

Kikuchi's grin grew wider, because he knew that his prince was anything but humble. Still, Onozuka would probably have fooled anyone who didn't know him well, so it was a testament to his acting skills.

"I'll eat in the hall," Kikuchi replied. "But come in here for a minute, your Highness."

"As you wish, sir," Onozuka said with deceptive meekness, then entered the room and closed the door behind him.

Kikuchi immediately pulled his lover into his arms and kissed him hungrily. Onozuka returned the kiss for a moment, then broke it off, laughing playfully, "Behave yourself, Kikuchi-san!"

"But you look so good in a yukata," Kikuchi murmured, nuzzling Onozuka's neck. "And I bet you'd look even better in a formal kimono. And maybe a hakama and haori?" He paused to consider then decided, "No, just a kimono--that way, there's less to take off." His hands started tugging at the sash of Onozuka's yukata, but his young lover firmly pulled out of his embrace.

"It'll cause gossip if I'm in here too long," Onozuka protested coyly. "Actually, I shouldn't be in here at all with the door closed. Besides, I need to tell the others that dinner is ready."

"You're such a tease," Kikuchi groaned.

"Takes one to know one!" Onozuka retorted heartlessly.

He turned to leave, but Kikuchi pulled Onozuka back into his arms and whispered into his ear, "Come to my room tonight after everyone's gone to sleep."

"Maybe," Onozuka whispered back. "If you behave yourself tonight at dinner." He planted a light kiss on Kikuchi's lips, then deftly slipped out of Kikuchi's grasp, bowed gracefully in humble-servant style, and exited the room, sliding the door shut behind him.

"Score one for the Prince," Kikuchi sighed, but he wasn't really displeased. Onozuka challenged him in a way that none of his past lovers ever had, and he relished the competition. And besides, the night wasn't over yet...

***

His grandmother hadn't been exaggerating about business being slow, Onozuka observed at dinner. Besides himself and his companions, there were only a handful of other guests present: a young couple on their honeymoon, a pair of Australian tourists, and a trio of elderly women. The latter were old friends who took a vacation together every year, and been coming to the inn since before Onozuka had been born. As for the two couples, they were first-time customers who were on a limited budget and had chosen this inn for its reasonable rates.

Onozuka was concerned about his family's business, but he couldn't help feeling relieved that he didn't have to deal with a crowd of fans. The young bride turned out to be a fan of his and was thrilled to meet "the Prince," but she didn't gush excessively, and seemed content with an autograph, a handshake, and a few minutes of conversation with him. The groom put up with it good-naturedly, perhaps because he was equally happy to meet Asami, and both newlyweds seemed thrilled to have an exciting honeymoon story to share with their friends back home.

None of the other guests were especially impressed by the group of actors. The Australians, not surprisingly, had never heard of any of them before--except for Kikuchi, whom they'd seen in the American ninja movie that he hated so much. He smiled wryly, but politely thanked them when they told him how much they'd liked it.

As for the elderly women, they were more thrilled to meet Mizutani--one of their favorite authors--than the director or the actors. One of them did kindly pat Onozuka's hand and said that she was glad that the late Master's grandson was doing so well for himself.

"It's a bit humbling, isn't it?" Kikuchi chuckled to Onozuka, who might have agreed if he hadn't been so relieved that his visit was going to be relatively low-key.

So Onozuka just smiled sweetly and said, "Oh, I'm very aware that I have a long way to go as an actor still. I'm just happy to have the chance to work with an actor as accomplished as you, Kikuchi-san."

"And I'm just as happy not to be recognized," Yoshizumi said cheerfully. Neither Asami nor Kitamura seemed offended either, so they all settled down to enjoy dinner together with the other guests.

The food had been prepared by the inn's long-time chef, who had been there since Onozuka was a child, and used to slip him and his sister treats on the sly. All the guests declared that the meal was delicious, which caused Kaoru to grin broadly and promise to pass their compliments on to the chef.

While the guests' lack of awe of towards the celebrities was, as Kikuchi had said, rather humbling, it made the atmosphere more relaxed, and they were able to chat casually and comfortably with the other guests. The Australian couple were especially happy to have someone to converse with--Ayano and Kaoru spoke just enough English to do business, but not enough to hold a real conversation, and the other guests didn't speak any English at all. Kikuchi didn't seem to hold a grudge against them for liking what he privately referred to as "that stupid ninja movie," and made pleasant small talk with them, occasionally translating comments back and forth between them and the rest of the guests. Onozuka made an effort to join in, but their accent made it difficult for him to understand what they were saying. Still, they seemed to appreciate the gesture, and his uncle looked pleased that he was playing the part of a friendly host to the customers.

As dinner was winding down and the guests were relaxing with cups of sake as they lingered over the remnants of their meals, Kaoru announced that he had arranged some entertainment for them, and the guests applauded enthusiastically.

Two women dressed in traditional Okinawan costume walked in, and Kaoru introduced them as two sanshin players who were friends of his. They bowed politely in acknowledgment of the applause, then took seats at the head of the room and began plucking out an upbeat folk song.

Onozuka was enjoying the music along with the other guests until his uncle came over and grabbed him by the arm, saying, "Come on, Yuu-chan, let's dance for our guests!"

"What?!" Onozuka exclaimed, resisting Kaoru's efforts to pull him to his feet. "I'm just visiting--they're not my guests!"

"You may not be the heir, but you're still part of the Onozuka family," Kaoru told him sternly. Then he scolded in a more playful voice, "Come on, there's no need to be so shy! You used to love to dance for the guests when you were a little boy."

"Really?" Asami asked delightedly as Onozuka groaned in embarrassment.

"He was a real ham," Kaoru replied. "I wasn't really surprised when he decided to go into acting."

"Come on, 'Yuu-chan,'" Asami teased. "I really want to see you dance! Don't you, Kikuchi-san?"

"Oh yes," Kikuchi replied, grinning widely, and Onozuka glared at his lover. Kikuchi leaned over and whispered, "You're going to ruin your princely image if you're not a good sport about this, your Highness."

To his dismay, Onozuka realized that Kikuchi was right. The other guests were laughing, obviously thinking that he was putting up only a joking, token protest, but he would seem like a poor sport if he refused to go along with it. There were only a few people here, but with the internet, rumors or gossip could spread like wildfire--say, for example, if the newlywed couple decided to post an account of their meeting with the Prince on a blog or chat-room.

"Come on, your Highness," Kaoru coaxed, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"All right, but I warn you, I'm out of practice," Onozuka laughed modestly for the sake of the watching guests. He smiled sweetly and whispered into Kaoru's ear, "I'm going to kill you after this is over, Uncle."

Kaoru grinned and whispered back, "You can try, brat."

Yoshizumi jumped to his feet and said cheerfully, "I'll lend you some moral support, Onozuka-kun! I don't really know the dance, but I'll follow along as best I can, and it's all in fun, isn't it?"

"That's right!" Kaoru declared as he dragged his reluctant nephew to his feet. "It's all about having a good time--I'm glad you understand that, Yoshizumi-san." To Onozuka, he said, "Relax, Yuu. There are no judges or cameras or reporters here, and no one cares if you make a fool of yourself."

"That makes me feel so much better," Onozuka muttered sarcastically under his breath.

Onozuka moved a bit stiffly at first, but no one really seemed to mind--the small audience cheered and clapped along with the music with every sign of enjoyment. And although his dancing skills were a little rusty, Onozuka's training as an actor helped him mimic his uncle's dance moves, and soon his body seemed to recall the dance he'd performed many times as a child. Kaoru grinned and winked at him, as if to say, "See, I told you there was nothing to worry about!"

As for Yoshizumi, he watched Onozuka and Kaoru and followed along, which meant that he was a beat or two behind the music, but he didn't seem the least bit embarrassed or self-conscious. In fact, he was dancing with great enthusiasm and seemed to be having a wonderful time. Onozuka wondered if that was due in part to the sake, but he didn't really seem drunk, and he was actually catching on to the unfamiliar dance with surprising speed and skill. Maybe that was due to his training as an historical drama actor, Onozuka mused. All those sword-fights required very complicated choreography, which was, in a sense, like performing a dance.

After the song was over, Onozuka was allowed to return to his seat, but the musicians continued playing while Kaoru coaxed the other guests to come up and dance with him--and Yoshizumi, who was perfectly happy to continue. The Australian tourists did so willingly, dancing with gusto, if not much skill. The honeymooning couple joined them, after a few blushing, halfhearted protests and a bit of gentle persuasion on Kaoru's part. The three elderly women were clearly used to this sort of thing, being long-time customers, and jokingly said that they were happy to have the chance to dance with a couple of handsome young men (referring to Kaoru and Yoshizumi).

Kikuchi joined in good-naturedly when Onozuka suggested that it was his turn to make a fool of himself, and Asami needed no coaxing at all, jumping up eagerly when Kaoru called on her.

"And how about you, Sensei?" Kaoru asked Mizutani boisterously.

"Oh no, I'm no good at this sort of thing," she laughed, but graciously gave in when Asami and Yoshizumi each grabbed one of her hands and pulled her to her feet. Kitamura, however, crossed his arms over his chest and stubbornly refused to budge no matter how much Kaoru coaxed and cajoled.

"Let him be," Onozuka whispered nervously to his uncle. He didn't want to antagonize the director of his motion picture debut, and even Yoshizumi seemed hesitant about pushing the issue.

However, Asami wasn't the least bit intimidated and firmly grasped Kitamura's hands, trying to drag him to his feet by force. "Oh, come on, Seiya-san!" she laughed. "Don't be a spoilsport!"

"We've all made fools of ourselves tonight, Kitamura-kun--even the Prince!" Kikuchi said with a grin, addressing the director more casually than usual. "Why should you be the only one to get off easy?" Kitamura shot a glare at him, although Onozuka had the impression that he was more upset about being pressured to dance than offended by Kikuchi's lack of respect.

"We're all friends here, young man," one of the elderly women told Kitamura kindly. "No one's going to laugh at you--at least, no more than we've laughed at ourselves!"

Kitamura still looked unhappy and ill at ease--like the socially awkward otaku he resembled with his thick glasses and too-long hair, although he was normally composed and confident on the set. Although now that Onozuka thought about it, Kikuchi had said that the director hated the socializing and schmoozing that were an unofficial part of the job.

Kaoru patted Kitamura on the shoulder and said gently, "I'm sorry to put you on the spot, Kitamura-kantoku. No one wants to force you to do something you don't want to do--we just wanted you to join in on the fun and have a good time with everyone else."

"We always treat our guests like family," Ayano explained. "And family members like to joke with and tease each other, but sometimes my idiot husband takes things a little too far." She swatted Kaoru on the back of his head, and he smiled sheepishly--it was a common sight in the Onozuka household, and Onozuka chuckled, as did the three elderly women, who clearly knew the couple well.

Now Kitamura looked sheepish, too, and embarrassed to have caused a fuss. "Fine," he sighed, allowing Asami to drag him to the front of the room. "I'll make a fool of myself with the rest of the family."

"That's the spirt!" Kaoru said heartily, slapping the young director on the back.

By this point, everyone joined in the dancing--perhaps to make Kitamura feel less self-conscious, or perhaps they were just caught up in the party atmosphere. Either way, that meant Onozuka was obliged to join them or he'd be the one to look like a spoilsport.

He supposed that he didn't really mind. Kaoru's enthusiasm was infectious--the regular guests were having such a good time that they weren't paying any special attention to Onozuka, anyway. And besides, Onozuka found it hard to stay annoyed for very long with his good-natured uncle.

Still, he was relieved--and Kitamura even more so--when the musicians finished their set and bowed to the cheers and applause of the audience.

"We had such a wonderful time, Kaoru-san!" the bride gushed. "You really have made us feel like part of your family. We'll have to come back again on our anniversary, won't we, dear?"

"We'll make it a family tradition," her husband laughed, and the two of them gazed at each other like the besotted newlyweds that they were.

The other guests thanked Kaoru as well, then began heading back to their rooms. Kitamura told his actors sternly, "We have to be up early tomorrow, so you should go to bed and get some rest.

"Yes, Kantoku-san," Onozuka said meekly, bowing respectfully. Yoshizumi and Asami echoed his words, though with a bit more playfulness in their voices.

Kikuchi yawned and said casually, "Yes, going to bed sounds like a good idea." He put a slight, barely noticeable emphasis on the word "bed," and Onozuka repressed a smile.

"I really enjoyed myself, Onozuka-kun," Asami told him. "All that stuff about how 'we treat you like family' isn't just PR. I can see why customers like those three women come back year after year."

Onozuka smiled. "My uncle can be a little overenthusiastic at times, but he has a good heart, like my grandfather before him. The inn is small, but they have a number of loyal, long-time customers." He bowed and said sweetly, "We thank you for your patronage."

Asami burst into laughter and said, "If you ever decided to give up acting, you'd make a perfect Young Master of the inn!"

"That position belongs to my cousin," Onozuka replied pleasantly, silently giving thanks that he'd been spared that fate.

Everyone said goodnight and headed to their rooms. Onozuka had to wait not just until all the guests had gone to bed, but until all the employees finished work and went home for the evening, and his aunt, uncle, and grandmother went to bed. It seemed to take forever, which made Onozuka feel like a child again, waiting for his parents to fall asleep so that he could sneak out of the house and go to a party or a movie or whatever mischief he had planned for the night.

But finally his family turned in, and soon the silence was punctuated Kaoru's loud snores. Onozuka wondered how his aunt managed to sleep through that racket, but he supposed that she must be used to it by now. He quietly slipped out of bed and made his way out of the family quarters down to Kikuchi's room, moving as stealthily as a ninja. He had spent enough time in the inn growing up to find his way down the stairs and through the hall without needing a light, and to avoid any squeaky floorboards...

***

Yoshizumi's room happened to be right next to Kikuchi's, and he lay awake on his futon, listening for any signs that Kikuchi was sneaking out of his room--or that Onozuka was sneaking into it. He hadn't officially put any money down on the bet that the cast and crew had about Kikuchi and Onozuka, and he certainly didn't want to out them to the media, but he did want to satisfy his own personal curiosity about the matter. He even faked a few snores to lull Kikuchi into complacency in case he was worried about Yoshizumi overhearing his (hypothetical) tryst.

So he wasn't surprised when he heard the sound of a door sliding open--but he was surprised when he realized that it wasn't coming from Kikuchi's room, which was to the left of Yoshizumi's, but from the room on his right, which happened to be Kitamura's. The door slid shut, and Yoshizumi heard the sound of quiet footsteps, and then a muffled curse when a floorboard squeaked--it wasn't actually that loud, but it probably sounded explosive to Kitamura in the stillness of the night. There was a pause, as if Kitamura was waiting to see if the noise had woken anyone up, and after a moment, the footsteps continued down the hall in the direction of the rooms where the women were sleeping.

Yoshizumi grinned. So Kikuchi and Onozuka weren't the only ones having a secret affair! But he wondered why Kitamura felt the need to hide it, since both he and Asami were single. Maybe Asami's management preferred that she remain officially unattached to be more appealing to her male fans, or maybe she and the director simply valued their privacy. Or maybe...

Yoshizumi lost his train of thought when he heard a door sliding open and shut again--this time it was Kikuchi's.

"Hello, your Highness," Kikuchi murmured, and Onozuka laughed softly. Yoshizumi was impressed; he hadn't heard Onozuka's footsteps at all, but maybe that was because he had been distracted by his speculations about Kitamura. "Did you have any trouble sneaking out?" Kikuchi asked.

"It was no trouble at all," Onozuka replied airily. "My uncle sleeps like a log and snores like a buzzsaw--my grandmother and aunt wouldn't be able to hear a herd of elephants tromping by over that racket."

That reminded Yoshizumi to utter another fake snore, and he heard Kikuchi chuckle quietly. "Well, your uncle isn't the only one who snores! We should still be careful not to wake Yoshizumi, but at least we don't have to worry about the director--Kitamura snuck out of his room a few minutes ago."

"Really?" Onozuka asked, sounding intrigued. "I must have just missed running into him. Hmm, so are he and Asami an item after all, I wonder?"

"Forget about them," Kikuchi whispered huskily. "We won't have much opportunity to be alone during this trip, so let's not waste it."

Onozuka laughed again, but the sound was quickly muffled, as if Kikuchi had covered Onozuka's mouth with his own. Silence fell over the room next door, punctuated only by the rustle of cloth and a few soft murmurs of pleasure...

***

"I knew that you'd look cute in a yukata," Kikuchi whispered into Onozuka's ear as he untied the sash around Onozuka's waist and slipped his hands beneath the folds of the yukata. He let his hand slide up along Onozuka's thigh, then he let out a startled laugh and said with a grin, "You aren't wearing anything under this, are you? Were you naked underneath your yukata all through dinner?"

"Does that thought turn you on?" Onozuka purred, kissing Kikuchi.

"Yes," Kikuchi replied frankly, and Onozuka laughed.

"Silly," Onozuka chided his lover playfully, giving him another kiss. "I have a princely reputation to uphold. Do you really think that I'd risk accidentally flashing the guests during dinner?"

"You're ruining my fantasy, Yuu," Kikuchi complained.

"You're such a pervert, Katsuya," Onozuka accused. "I know you have fantasies about me and that poster of you, too."

"It's your fault for telling me that you used to have a poster of me in your bedroom," Kikuchi chuckled wickedly.

"Pervert," Onozuka repeated.

"But you like perverted men, right, your Highness?" Kikuchi retorted, then felt a flash of jealousy and annoyance when that reminded him of how much Onozuka liked to talk about what a pervert Katou was.

In the dark, Onozuka didn't seem to notice Kikuchi's frown, and just said lightly, "Well, I don't know about all perverted men, but I like you," which mollified Kikuchi. "And now," Onozuka continued, "let's see what you have under your yukata."

The answer was a pair of boxers, quickly discarded along with the yukata, and Kikuchi fell back onto the futon, pulling his beautiful young prince down on top of him...

***

Meanwhile, in the next room, Yoshizumi listened to their playful banter and quiet but increasingly urgent gasps and moans. He felt a little guilty for eavesdropping, but on the other hand, those two ought to be more careful if they wanted to keep their secret. If he'd been a paparazzo or a schemer like Asano, the news of their affair would have hit the tabloids the next morning. Or had they let their guard slip because they trusted him, Yoshizumi wondered. While he pondered that question, he let out another snore, even though the lovers seemed too preoccupied to worry about him overhearing them...

At least until Kikuchi did something to make Onozuka cry out in pleasure, a sound quickly cut off and muffled, as if by a hand over his mouth. The sound also caused a rush of heat to flood Yoshizumi's body as he speculated about what Kikuchi might have done to make Onozuka cry out that way.

"Shh!" Kikuchi hissed, though with laughter in his voice. "You'll wake Yoshizumi-kun."

It's a little too late for that, Yoshizumi thought wryly, but faked another snore to reassure them.

"And whose fault is that?" Onozuka retorted, but fell silent--at least for the next minute or two. Then he let out a groan that was again quickly stifled.

"This isn't going to work," Onozuka muttered. "Let's try changing positions. This is a bit undignified, but..."

That left Yoshizumi to wonder what position they were in and what position they were changing to, until Kikuchi asked, "Are you all right, Yuu?" and Onozuka uttered a barely audible "mmph" of assent. He was either wearing a gag, or more likely, given the talk about changing positions, had pressed his face into his--or rather, Kikuchi's--pillow.

"Are you sure you can breathe properly like that?" Kikuchi persisted in a doubtful voice. "I'm worried that you're going to suffocate, and it would cause quite a scandal if the naked body of my co-star was found in my room. Not to mention that your family would be rather upset, and Kitamura would kill me for ruining his major studio debut."

Onozuka lifted his face from the pillow long enough to snap irritably, "I'm fine! Will you just shut up and get on with it?"

"As you command, my Prince," Kikuchi replied in a silky voice.

Yoshizumi had a sudden, vivid image in his mind of Onozuka on his hands and knees, face pressed firmly into the pillow to muffle any cries or moans. And leaning down to press his face into the pillow would naturally have the effect of raising his ass up into the air, as if offering it up to Kikuchi, and that thought made Yoshizumi harden.

He wasn't really attracted to Onozuka, thinking of him more on the kid brother level, but there was no denying that the young actor had a beautiful body, which he had so evidently displayed while filming the commercial on the beach this morning. Yoshizumi hadn't seen Onozuka's entire body, of course, since he had been wearing swim trunks, but he was sure that the parts covered by the trunks were just as lovely as the rest of the Prince. And as for Kikuchi, Yoshizumi had seen all of him in the bath tonight, and there was no doubt that every inch of his body was absolutely delectable. The idea of them together was an even more exciting picture, as Yoshizumi imagined Onozuka's golden beauty contrasting with Kikuchi's darker good looks.

Onozuka began making more muffled "mmph" noises, intermittently at first, then in more steady, rhythmic intervals, while Kikuchi panted in harsh, ragged gasps of breath and let out a low grunt every now and then. "You're so good, Yuu," he moaned softly, to which Onozuka responded with an urgent, "Mmph!"

It's almost as bad as being next-door to Iwaki-kun and Katou-kun, Yoshizumi thought to himself sourly, but he knew that he wasn't really being fair. Unlike Iwaki and Katou, Kikuchi and Onozuka were at least attempting to be quiet, and if he really had been asleep, their muffled groans would probably not have woken him. It was his own fault for staying awake in order to confirm whether or not the two of them were sleeping together--something that he had told Asano was none of their business, after all.

So now he was being punished for his eavesdropping, because the noises from the room next door continued to arouse him, and he couldn't stop his overactive imagination from picturing Kikuchi thrusting hard into Onozuka's willing body. Yoshizumi had made love with Kenzaki just the night before, not just once, but twice, and both encounters had been very enthusiastic and satisfying. So he ought to feel content and sated, but instead he felt as horny as a teenager with rampaging hormones, and he had to bite down on his lower lip to stifle a groan of his own.

Maybe I should have brought Kenzaki-kun with me on this trip, Yoshizumi thought ruefully. Almost by its own volition, his hand slipped beneath his yukata and between his legs, stroking his aching erection as he continued listening to the increasingly urgent sounds coming from the next room.

The sounds were also growing louder in volume, particularly from Kikuchi, who didn't have a pillow to muffle his voice. They were nowhere near as loud as Iwaki and Katou, but neither were they as quiet as they probably thought they were--if they were thinking at all by this point, which was rather questionable. Yoshizumi wondered if they were deliberately courting discovery, and if the danger of being caught added an extra thrill to their lovemaking. At least they shouldn't have any trouble performing a convincing love scene for the movie!

Yoshizumi continued to stroke himself, wondering what it would be like to have Kikuchi thrusting into him, or what it would be like to have Onozuka's lithe body writhing beneath his. Except that put a slight damper on things because he still couldn't quite picture himself and Onozuka together even in a bit of wank-fantasy, so instead he imagined himself thrusting into Kenzaki's body, imagined Kenzaki trying but failing to stifle his moans as he pushed back frantically into Yoshizumi's thrusts.

"Come for me, Yuu," Kikuchi growled, and Onozuka replied with an especially emphatic and desperate, "Mmmmph!"

Yoshizumi found himself coming along with Onozuka (or so he assumed, anyway, since the muffled moans ceased after that). Kikuchi panted and grunted a little while longer before softly groaning, "Yuu!"

He must have found his release, because his ragged breath gradually slowed and evened out. Yoshizumi took a moment to catch his breath as well, then belatedly remembered that he was supposed to be snoring. He doubted that the two lovebirds next door had noticed the lapse, but went ahead and faked a snore anyway.

"Are you still alive, your Highness?" Kikuchi asked playfully (and a bit breathlessly).

"Barely," Onozuka replied in a sensual and satiated purr.

Yoshizumi grabbed some tissues and cleaned himself up while listening to the sounds of kissing and playful laughter through the thin walls, which suddenly made him miss Kenzaki even more. Of course he enjoyed the sex, but he also enjoyed the friendship and easy camaraderie that they shared. He'd had a few passionate affairs in his younger days, but all the demands and complications and hurt feelings hardly seemed worth the effort, and Yoshizumi had decided that he preferred keeping the drama on the screen and out of his personal life. Kenzaki was refreshingly drama-free, and one of the things that Yoshizumi liked best about him was the way that they could laugh and joke freely with each other without worrying about hurting each other's pride.

"Hey, where are you going?" Kikuchi asked, interrupting Yoshizumi's thoughts.

"Back to my room," Onozuka replied. "I'd love to stay, but we both know what would happen if someone spotted me coming out of your room in the morning."

"You could stay a little longer," Kikuchi wheedled.

"Well..." Onozuka wavered coyly.

"We could do it a second time," Kikuchi cajoled in a husky whisper that Yoshizumi found as tempting as Onozuka must have. Still, he hoped that Onozuka wouldn't take Kikuchi up on his offer. Yoshizumi had to admit that he'd gotten a thrill out of his illicit eavesdropping, but he did need some sleep, and he wouldn't get any if Kikuchi and Onozuka went at it all night the way Katou and Iwaki did.

Where do those two get their stamina from, anyway? Yoshizumi wondered, half amused and half annoyed by the thought. It must be their porn actor training, he decided. Being normal actors, hopefully Kikuchi and Onozuka wouldn't be able to match that level of stamina.

"You're always telling me what an old man you are and how you can't keep it up all night," Onozuka teased, but he must have allowed Kikuchi to pull him back into bed, because Yoshizumi heard Onozuka's soft laughter and the muffled thud of a body falling onto the futon.

"Yuu," Kikuchi murmured, with a tenderness that surprised Yoshizumi and made him feel a little uneasy. Strangely, the emotion in that single word conveyed more intimacy than the preceding sex had, and made Yoshizumi feel like an interloper even though he had felt only minimal guilt about eavesdropping on their lovemaking. He had assumed that the attraction between Kikuchi and Onozuka was purely physical, but could it be true love after all?

Yoshizumi was hardly an expert on the subject; he had never really understood romance, which was why he was still single on the far side of thirty. That might be one of the reasons why "leading man" type roles had always eluded him, since so many of them involved love and romance.

Iwaki and Katou were so blatant and over-the-top with their lovey-doveyness that it was impossible to mistake the nature of their relationship. Yoshizumi had not looked past the casual, joking flirtation that Kikuchi and Onozuka displayed in public, but he should have remembered that there was more to both men than they showed on the surface.

However, it wasn't just the constant nauseating declarations of affection that had made Iwaki and Katou stand out enough to capture Yoshizumi's notice. There was a deep bond between the two, like the legendary red thread that was supposed to connect destined lovers--invisible and intangible, and yet strong enough that even a romance-phobe like Yoshizumi could recognize it. He admired the connection that they shared, but he didn't really envy it. He couldn't imagine opening himself up so completely to another person, baring one's soul, so to speak. Sure, it might sound romantic in a movie or novel, but exposing oneself in that manner left one completely vulnerable and at the mercy of one's lover. Even a couple as close as Katou and Iwaki were could hurt each other unintentionally--as evidenced by their estrangement and subsequent tearful on-air reunion over Katou's alleged infidelity, although that had been before Yoshizumi had met them. Even later, when they were a more secure and established couple, Yoshizumi recalled how self-conscious Iwaki had been around him when they'd first met on the "Winter Cicadas" set, and how Iwaki had feared setting off Katou's jealousy by getting too close to Yoshizumi. Maybe he was being selfish, but Yoshizumi thought it sounded exhausting to have to constantly be worrying about another person's feelings, to be aware of how your words and actions affected them--even something as simple as calling home if you were going to be late for dinner, or checking with your partner before accepting an invitation to a party.

No, Yoshizumi liked his independence and freedom, and he didn't feel lonely or incomplete without a steady lover. At times, he did get horny when there was no one around to relieve his frustration, but that was a minor inconvenience that he could live with. And at least while he was in Tokyo, he had Kenzaki--the steady friendship that they shared was much more satisfying to him than the turbulent highs and lows of his youthful attempts at love affairs.

He was so lost in thought that he forgot to pay attention to what was going on next door until he heard Onozuka say regretfully, "I had really better go now."

"All right," Kikuchi sighed, then commanded, "Give me a goodnight kiss, then, Highness."

Onozuka laughed and presumably obliged, and the door slid open a few moments later. Yoshizumi strained to hear, and this time he could just barely make out the sound of bare feet padding quietly along the wooden floor--Onozuka would have made a good ninja.

Yoshizumi pulled the covers up over himself and settled down to sleep. But even though it was now truly quiet, he found himself feeling restless, tossing and turning on his futon. When he finally did fall asleep, he had a strange dream where he was tangled up in a length of red thread that trailed off into the distance, and he had no idea who--if anyone--was connected to the other end.

***

"Yuu," Kikuchi murmured, so tenderly that Onozuka was caught off-guard and didn't know how to respond. He couldn't recall anyone ever speaking his name with such tenderness--at least, not since he'd been a very small child and only by his family. His friends spoke his name with affection--often mixed with exasperation--but never with such a depth of emotion that it almost brought tears to his eyes. It touched him, and at the same time it frightened him a little, although he wasn't entirely sure why. Onozuka had wanted to win over Kikuchi ever since he'd first met him at Miyasaka's apartment, so why did he feel so uneasy now that he'd gotten what he wanted?

To spare himself from having to come up with a verbal reply--and to shut off the stream of troublesome thoughts in his mind--Onozuka wrapped his arms around Kikuchi and kissed him, a bit more fiercely than he'd intended, and Kikuchi returned the kiss with equal passion.

They made out for a few minutes, and Onozuka's unease settled, soothed by the pleasure of Kikuchi's hands and mouth on his body. However, he was mindful of the time and their early wake-up call the next morning, not to mention the possibility of being caught in Kikuchi's room. So he reluctantly disentangled himself from his lover's embrace and said, "I had really better go now."

"All right," Kikuchi gave in with a sigh of resignation. Then he said in his typical playful manner, "Give me a goodnight kiss, then, Highness," breaking the serious mood that had so unnerved Onozuka, and he laughed, wondering what he'd gotten so worked up about. He planted a kiss on Kikuchi's mouth, then pulled on his yukata and slipped out of the room.

He made it back upstairs to his own room without running into anyone, including Kitamura. Onozuka grinned, pleased to have gathered a little dirt on the director. He didn't really think he'd ever have to use it, but he made a hobby out of collecting secrets and bits of gossip, the way that other men might collect jewels or expensive artwork or beautiful women. It gave him a thrill to hold power over other people, even if most of the people in question were completely unaware of it. Besides, who knew? With the whimsical nature of fame, his little treasure trove could turn out to be more valuable than gold someday...

Part 4

***

Afterword: I wasn't quite sure how to describe Yoshizumi's eavesdropping in the header. Is there a word for voyeurism that's aural instead of visual? ~_^ Anyway, that scene was a lot of fun to write.

I first encountered the Japanese legend about a red thread connecting destined lovers in an episode of the Kimagure Orange Road anime, and I also used it in my Snupin story Summer Vacation (Part 1, Part 2). There's also a manga-style webcomic/graphic novel series called Red String by Gina Biggs that's based on the same legend.