Heaven Far Away

Chapter Twenty Two - All the Roles

Haruno wasn’t quite sure whether he understood this situation correctly, but it seems everyone has an agenda that he isn’t aware of. Beside him, Konbayoshi sat with a stillness that did not speak of anything pleasant. Off to the side, Chitose seems to be working hard trying to make more of a mess out of this situation. Stuck between Kain, Konbayoshi and Chitose, Kazuya looked ready to flee. As for the client, Haruno has to say that it has been a while since he’s met such a commanding force.

“However, you are very right that a host from Opiate cannot behave in such an unprofessional fashion. Not only does it show a personality fault on his part, it is also a blemish on Opiate’s image. Isn’t that right, owner-san?”

Konbayoshi looked over at Chitose with an unreadable expression, his gaze dark and mood darker.

“And whom do I owe the righteous speech to?” Kain had turned to look at Chitose.

“Chitose. I am the number one host here.”

Konbayohi’s eyes narrowed, his gaze hawking over Chitose; the golden one never introduces himself as the number one.

“Well then, I can certainly understand why you are the number one in this club.”

Chitose smiled and offered a small bow before walking over to the owner’s desk casually, as if a war is not about to break out right in front of them right now. “I do not think it is fair to the client if we just let Kazuya-kun get away with his selfish antics. After all, clients are the most important to us. Am I right, owner-san?”

“Now, now, Chitose-chan; there are always exceptions and we really do need to consider…”

“Am I speaking with you?”

Taken back, Haruno could swear that for a split second, he thought he saw Konbayoshi’s Atsushi’s cruelty in Chitose’s eyes.

“Kazuya-kun should follow the rules just like anyone else, and since he cannot give us a good reason as to why he is taking his approval back, we must honour the client’s wishes.” Turning his head, Chitose looked at Kazuya with an eyebrow lifted. “Or is there a good reason why you cannot go, Kazuya-kun?”

Really, if given the chance, Chitose should enrol himself into an acting major. Kazuya looked at the number one host and is keenly aware of all the eyes on him. Tearing his gaze away from Chitose’s face, he looked back at the owner and smiled, even though it may be shaky. “Because I am in love with someone and I cannot bear the thought of being parted from him.”

Beside him, Chitose could feel the jolt that ran through Konbayoshi’s body and placed a hand on his shoulder almost immediately. “What an absurd reason, you are a host, Kazuya-kun. Love is a luxury that you do not have in your world.” Turning to Kain, he offered the client a smile. “Please, do attend to your business and know that tomorrow at eight o’clock, you can pick up your host at the front doors of Opiate. I give you my word.”

“Who are you to decide on my future?!” Kazuya took a step forward, uncaring for who is around him. “You are just a host like me!”

“Do you want to try me, Kazuya-kun?”

Please try to get along with Chitose-san, Kazuya. Takumi’s words flashed through Kazuya’s head when he caught look of the expression on Chitose’s face. “Owner-sama….”

“Regarding this…”

Chitose’s fingers dug into Konbayoshi’s shoulder and he leaned down to place his lips by the owner’s ear. “Takahiro, have you forgotten who is the true master of Opiate?” Satisfied with the owner’s shocked glance, Chitose returned his attention to Kain. “Please, rest assured that you will have your exclusive in the morning.”

“In that case…” Kain bowed towards them before taking a hold of Kazuya’s arm. “We should go and discuss the details.” Kain did not know who this Chitose is, but if he is going to assure him of this exclusive, then he is someone whom Kain could communicate with. Beside him, Kazuya moved like a zombie, inattentive to any sensory input. Kain almost felt bad for the kid but his pride could not let the matter go. So they travelled to Kazuya’s room in silence. Inside, the host sank down into the first chair that was available and did not so much as even look in Kain’s direction.

The client looked at Kazuya’s dejected face and wondered if it was indeed the right thing to really force someone into an exclusive for ten years. Perhaps a part of him was skeptical when Kazuya agreed so readily yesterday, but he had decided to take what he could get and not question the workings of someone else.

“I will be leaving for today.” Kain commented after picking up his jacket. “I will see you tomorrow at eight then.” He felt as if he should have said something more, but instead left without another word. It was cruel, this situation and for such a young kid. His finger wavered over the elevator buttons and he wondered if he should go back up to the owner’s room and cancel the exclusive.

In a moment of indecision, it is another’s voice that jolted him out of his own reverie.

“May I have a moment of your time, sir?”

Turning to his left, there erected the number one from moments ago. Unlike the fierce persona that Chitose gave off back in the owner’s office, the Chitose here and now appeared like a body of lake water on an autumn evening. Serene and calm.

“Of course, what can I do for you?”

[Night; Opiate; Bar]

“I must applaud you for your performance this afternoon.” Haruno slid into the seat next to Chitose and turned with a smile towards the number one host.

“Oh Shouhei-san, you jest.”

“No, no, I was very impressed.”

Chitose smiled but said nothing else. In this empty and dim bar, he tucked himself in a corner and drank that glass of whiskey. He doesn’t even like whiskey that much, but he wanted the burn to remind him that he was still alive.

“Why did you do that?”

“You know why, Shouhei-san.”

“Must it have been so dramatic?”

“If not, do you think Takahiro would have caved in?”

Haruno ran the situation in his head again and could only smile and shake his head. “You are right.”

“What can I say? In moments when he cannot understand himself, I’m the one who understand him the most.”

“What a heavy burden.”

“It used to be a privilege.” Chitose confessed with a light laugh. “Now, it’s a curse.”

“In the end, I still don’t think he understood you.”

“I don’t think so either.”

“Are you okay with him thinking this way?”

“Does it matter?” Chitose shrugged and swirled his drink carelessly. “Whether I’m okay with it or not plays no part in this. We all make our own decisions, and this is the decision that I made.”

“What about Takumi-kun?”

“Takumi is stronger than everyone gives him credit for.”

“Then this old man here should just stop speaking.” Haruno offered a sympathetic smile before tapping his glass of drink with Chitose’s. “To the future.”

“To the future indeed.”

Chitose tilted back his head and allowed the remaining gulp of his whiskey to wash down his throat. Is it just him or is the whiskey particularly bitter and salty tonight? So much so that he thought he was consuming a gulp of his own tears.

[Morning; Opiate]

Kazuya wondered whether the seeing-off party is like this for every host who goes on an exclusive. Situated in front of Opiate’s grand entrance, Kain had appeared in a limousine. He stood near the car, waiting. When Kazuya arrived pulling a suit case of who knows what with him, the owner and the manager were already there. The three of them were speaking in hushed voices ‘till he showed up, and then, all conversation ceased. Kazuya stopped when he reached the group and looked up at the owner longingly. And surprisingly, he saw the same spark of emotion in Konbayoshi’s eyes.

Why does it have to be like this? Kazuya’s bit his lip and held back the tears that were going to fall.

“Good morning, Kazuya-kun, how did you sleep?”

Kazuya shot the manager a glance that told the other he was not pleased. How the fuck can anyone expect him to sleep at all?!

“What are we waiting for?” Kazuya asked with fatigue, if he has to do this, then he wants to get this done as soon as possible.

“Chitose.” Konbayoshi answered. For someone whom is not bothering to conceal his heated stare on Kazuya, the owner is awfully calm about this entire thing. Before Kazuya could make a sour remark, the doors slid open and Chitose approached them in a white kimono with a dark fur shawl around his shoulders.

Regal and proper, Kazuya envied such poise from the older host.

“It is time.”

“Please, Kain-san!” Kazuya could not help the cry that came out of his lips. The host turned a pleading look towards Kain, tears rimming his eyes. “I am a despicable person; I can pay you back for all the arrangements that you have already prepared for me, I really… really cannot go… Please… I’m sorry… I really am… sorry… sorry…” Kazuya remained in the proper ninety-degree bow, uncaring for the tears that streamed down his cheeks.

In front of him, Kain sighed and pushed away from the car, he placed a gentle hand on Kazuya’s head. “Apology accepted. I realized that I was perhaps a bit too cruel yesterday as well.”

“Eh?” Kazuya lifted his head in a hurry, expression caught between surprise and disbelief with tears still hanging off of his face. “So you mean, I don’t have to…”

“No, you do not need to come with me. There is no exclusive contract between the two of us.”

“But… it’s going to be ten years… who… I… but Kain-san…”

“I trust that I will be better company for him than you, Kazuya-kun. Are you inclined to agree with me?” Whipping his head around, Chitose was already stepping towards him, smile ready on his lips. “Silly child, did you really think we would force you to go into an exclusive that you are so against?” The number one host dabbed away the tears on Kazuya’s face carefully. “You should not cry in such cold weather, it is not good for you skin.”

“But… Chitose-san… you…”

“You are not fitful to be a host, Kazuya-kun, do you see that now? A host is not just a title with a nice ring to it; a host has to be prepared to take responsibility for his words and not just back out last minute.”

Even though there were still so many questions and so many details that he could not comprehend, Kazuya could only grasp onto one fact and that is how he no longer has to go on an exclusive. And somehow, Chitose was involved in this. “Thank you, Chitose-san… thank you, thank you so much.” Even if he has no idea what he’s thanking the other for, but it only seemed appropriate. So thankful that he flung his arms around the elder’s body and caught him in an embrace. “I’m sorry, thank you, I really am. Thank you, thank you…”

Chitose’s embrace was warm and he smelt of C.K. Eternity; his fingers were soft when they threaded through Kazuya’s hair. “Take care of him for me, and that’s the best thank you present you can give me.” It was left as a whisper between the two of them and Chitose drew away.

“Take care of yourself, Chitose-chan. Try not to get too tanned.”

“I will send pictures back daily. Tell the kids I will send things back for them.”

Towards Konbayoshi, there seemed to be a mountain of things that could be said between the two of them and yet, Chitose merely bowed. “I will contact you once I land, owner-san.” And it was with a beautiful smile and a turn of his body to face Kain and the car. “Shall we?”

When all is done and the limousine is gone, Konabayoshi’s hand touched his arm and Kazuya looked up at him slowly, his mind still not comprehending the situation. “Come.” Konbayoshi spoke gently and urged him to follow. The first step was a stumble, the second an almost trip, but finally, he was able to move his legs properly and followed Konbayoshi up to his office.

“I don’t get it.” Once inside, Kazuya dropped the handle of his suit case. “I don’t get it at all! Why is Chitose-san going with Kain-san?!”

Konbayoshi had rounded the table to search for something amidst the pile of papers that he had stacked up on his desk. “Yesterday, the scene in my office, it was all orchestrated by Chitose.”

“What?”

“He said that he never intended for you to on exclusive with Kain at all, but also wanted to teach you a lesson regarding what a host should be like.” Konbayoshi explained as he finally found the piece of paper that he was looking for. “He spoke to Kain and made sure that the client was fine with the switch.” Straightening up, the owner walked back towards Kazuya, with what must have been a smile on his face. “Of course, we all had to agree to his terms of keeping you in the dark so the lesson could be impactful.”

For a long moment, Kazuya could only stare at the owner in mute horror, trying to work out that theory in his head. “What a tricky bastard!” Disregarding all his training, his roots showed through and he could not help the exclamation from his lips. The owner looked at him for a moment before laughing at such an outburst; truly, an unrestrained Kazuya is how he is supposed to be like. “I mean…” Kazuya coloured and tried to redeem himself.

“He’s always been like this; it’s the reason why my uncle chose him over me.”

“What do you mean?”

If he wasn’t sure before, this time, he was certain that Konbayoshi did indeed offer him a smile. “We’ll have all the time in the world for me to tell you about that, but the most important matter right now is your occupation.” Here, the owner would extend the sheet of paper towards Kazuya. “You are officially relieved of your duty as a host, but I have heard words that you do make an excellent page boy. Would you be interested in continuing to work for the club?”

“Why, I would be most delighted.” He reached forward and grasped the other edge of the paper, their fingers separated by merely an eight inch by eleven inch writing medium. “But I am curious. Why would owner-sama keep someone like me around? Someone who only causes trouble for this club?”

“Yesterday, I discovered that we have something in common.”

“Oh?”

“Like you, I prefer to keep those I like close to me.”

And that, Kazuya wondered; would it be the closest thing to a confession he’ll ever hear?

To be continued...