Chapter One: An Unusual Agreement

Ryo sat in half-disbelief. Across from him, seated in a wine-coloured armchair, was the much more serious dark haired man who was about to complete the transaction of hiring him as his male lover. Although Ryo was a professional host, given the particular situation, this was unlike any of his other engagements. He had never been hired to romance someone of the same sex, let alone agreeing with something as ludicrous as this. The dark haired man glanced up at him from under his bangs, his gaze piercing through his gold-rimmed glasses.

“Suwabe-san, do you have any questions regarding this matter?” he asked, trying to settle business matters as professionally as possible. Ryo flicked his hazel eyes up, caught off guard by his question,

“Ah, no. Everything seems pretty straight forward,” Ryo replied, trying to remain composed. He was one of the most prestigious workers in this club. His forthright attitude and naughty-boy charms proved to be very effective with the women in his club. He was a bit proud and stubborn, but it was because of this that kept recurring clients have him in high priority. When presented with a new challenge, he’d make sure to uphold his reputation.

Ryo remembered vividly how it had all began. Less than a week ago his manager had asked all the employees into his office and simply told them to line up against the wall. He did not explain to them what was going on, then as abruptly as he had told them to enter, he told them to leave. His sudden strange behaviour prompted a lot of confusion and lingering questions unanswered. Shortly after, he approached Ryo and proposed a new job offer.

“This isn’t your typical job,” his manager began, scrunching his face in thought, trying to summon the right words. He stood slightly hunched over, causing creases to ruin his neat, navy blue suit. Tiny strands of his dark brown hair escaped his glossy helmet of pomade, making him appear more dishevelled, “This potential client is rather… quiet. This would be preferred to be done in private.”

“Isn’t it always dealt in ‘private’?” Ryo laughed, unbuttoning the front of his light grey suit. His manager waved his hand at him in disagreement.

“No, no, this isn’t what you think,” he took hold of Ryo’s shoulder and sat him down on the couch across from them, “How do I put this…- hey, do you read Ryo?” he reached inside his coat and pulled out a book and hastily shoved it into Ryo’s hands, startling him. “Have you heard of this author?” Ryo glanced down at the front cover.

“Hirata Eiji,” he said slowly, enunciating each syllable. “Yeah, I guess so, but I haven’t really read any of his books,” he glanced up at his manager, slightly confused, “What does he have to do with my new job?”

“He has everything to do with it. He’s going to be your new client.”

Nationally acclaimed, best bookseller, novelist- Hirata Eiji. Even though the entire situation seemed more than unusual, of course Ryo had agreed to take the offer. All living expenses would be covered, the pay was ridiculously high and he didn’t have to worry about paying rent for the next couple months- he’d be living in his house!

Eiji briefly skimmed through the legal documents in his hand then glanced back up at Ryo. He set down a sheet on the glass coffee table that buffered the distance between them, turned it right side up facing Ryo, and pushed it closer towards him.

“If I could get you to sign your name here Suwabe-san on this contract,” Eiji placed a pen atop of the loose leaf, “This is just so that our exchange is legitimized.” Ryo picked up the pen and scrawled his name across in the space provided. Eiji took the contract and neatly placed it into a folder with the other papers. He looked back up at Ryo,

“I’d like to go over a few rules while you are staying here.” Oh great, rules… thought Ryo.

“You may come and go as you please. You don’t have a set curfew, but if you plan on returning past 10pm, I have provided a set of keys for you. I do not want to be disturbed as I’ll be in bed by then. I would also ask that you not bring back any bed partners with you.” Ryo stared in silent shock. Is this guy for real…?!

“Even though you are bound to me in this contract, you do not always have to tend to me. Whatever you do externally from this house is none of my concern.” Ryo rummaged around inside his coat for his packet of cigarettes and took them out. He placed a stick between his lips and had just flicked open his lighter when Eiji interrupted him,

“I don’t tolerate smoking inside my house.” Ryo snapped his lighter shut and removed his cigarette from his mouth, a glint of annoyance flitting through his eyes. Eiji continued,

“You may help yourself to anything in the kitchen. From 8am-12pm and 3pm-7pm I will be in my office working, so I do not wish to be disturbed. Regarding your pay, I have also provided a credit card that has a set limit to it that should last through a week’s worth of spending,” Eiji stood up, “Your balance should be reset by the end of each week. As for your actual payment, I’ll have your money transferred directly into your account as soon as you have fulfilled your contract.” Ryo leaned forward irritably,

“All right, that’s understandable. Now where do I sleep?” Eiji paused, and indicated outside with his gaze,

“Since I only have one bedroom-” Ryo stood up and grinned.

“Ah, I see,” he stepped forward and leaned his face towards Eiji’s. Eiji turned his face to the side,

“You’ll be sleeping in the living room,” he finished. Ryo’s expression dropped, his pride getting bruised. “You’ll see that there are blankets and pillows already set up on the couch for you. Have a good night Suwabe-san,” Eiji turned and left Ryo standing there in his office. Ryo exhaled loudly through his lips and ran his fingers through his light brown hair,

“What are you getting yourself into Ryo?” he said out loud to himself. Ryo slowly sauntered out of the room a minute after Eiji had so coldly turned him down. He entered the living area and saw the supplies left for him on the couch. He unfolded the blanket and stuffed the pillow at one end of the couch as he mumbled to himself,

“What kind of job is this? Allowing me to go off with other partners? Not letting me sleep with him? I wouldn’t exactly be doing my job then, would I?” He quickly disrobed, lay down on the couch and stared up at the dark ceiling. He remembered what his manager had handed him. A proposition where his said client, Hirata Eiji, would hire a host to live with him so that this host could make him fall in love with him. Of course Ryo had thought that it was already strange for a man to even request for another male lover to tend to him, especially one as cold and reserved as Eiji. The most baffling thing though was that Eiji had specifically requested that the host make him fall in love with this host! Ryo had asked the manager why he was chosen,

“Because you never refuse a challenge.” Ryo smiled. He had joked that he was offended that his manager hadn’t picked him because of his looks. It was true though, he couldn’t back down on a challenge. He was just too stubborn and proud to let something up. But this client proved more difficult than he had thought. Ryo had done some research on Eiji prior to their meeting; he had even tried reading one of his books but gave up halfway. He did find that not only was Eiji an exceptional writer and famous novelist, but it was his unusual way of composing his books. Eiji would actually undergo the same situation as his character to write exactly how their feelings and emotions were as they were experiencing it. Ryo found it a bit extreme but it proved effective as Eiji did have record-breaking sales.

“What is he trying to write?” Ryo had asked his manager.

“His main character is a woman who suffers from heartache and lost love.” Ryo stared numbly in disbelief. Ryo now had two objectives to his job: one, make Eiji fall in love with him; and two, he would then have to break Eiji’s heart.

“There is already a problem with his scenario,” Ryo had grumbled.

Ryo sighed again and turned his head to the side, looking down the hall that led to Eiji’s bedroom. He could just make out the glint where the doorknob appeared on Eiji’s closed door. He sat up and made his way down the hallway towards Eiji’s bedroom. Opening the door he peered inside, making out the outline of Eiji’s body. The comforter was pulled up to his chin as he lay soundlessly on his side.

Ryo crept closer to the bed then lifted the covers and slowly slid down next to Eiji’s still body, the bed creaking slightly, adjusting to his weight. Ryo snuggled closer and slid his hand around Eiji’s waist to his chest then down to his stomach.

“Suwabe-san,” Eiji’s voice sliced through the silence, “what do you think you’re doing?” he took hold of Ryo’s hand, stopping him midway. He quickly grabbed his glasses from off the nightstand and put them on then turned around to face Ryo. Ryo leaned against his elbow and propped his left knee up, exposing his nakedness to the fullest with what little light there was in the room. He smiled mischievously,

“I’m just doing my job. Don’t you want this? You hired me to be your lover.” Eiji bolted upright and pushed Ryo out of his bed. Ryo landed with a loud thump followed by a low growl.

“I’ve asked you to sleep in the living room Suwabe-san. I don’t want you in my room unless I specifically ask you to come!” Eiji voice was sharp and stern. Ryo clambered up and straightened himself.

“You understand though that I’m trying to do my job right?” Ryo retorted.

“And as a ‘professional’ I shouldn’t be lecturing you how you should be doing it! Do you think this is how you romance someone? Is this how you’ve made people fall in love with you in the past?” Ryo fell silent and stared heatedly at Eiji. Ryo took a deep breath and tried to relax himself, lowering his eyes and turned to leave,

“Sorry, I was being too hasty,” he said at the doorway, softly closing the door behind him. Eiji looked down quietly at his lap and removed his glasses.

Ryo hastily tugged on his pants and flopped back onto the couch, throwing the covers over himself. That’s right, I have to make him fall in love with me first, I can’t just jump into the sex right away, Ryo thought with closed eyes. I’m going to make him fall for me so hard, he’ll be begging me to stay when this is all over, a small satisfied smile crept over his face.

A couple hours later Ryo awoke to use the toilet. After leaving the restroom, he noticed the door to Eiji’s office slightly ajar and a luminescent glow coming from it. He peeked inside and saw Eiji asleep in his armchair in front of his computer monitor. Ryo left and returned shortly with his blanket in hand and draped it over Eiji’s still body.

“Tch, can’t even take care of yourself,” Ryo mumbled as he tucked the blanket around Eiji’s frame. He paused slightly and watched the rise and fall of Eiji’s chest. His breathing was so quiet and subtle, he could almost over look that Eiji was in that room at all. He left the room to return to his cold couch, without a blanket.

Eiji suddenly woke up with a start, not realizing where he was at first. The room appeared clear, not like his usual foggy mornings of blurred vision. He touched his face and realized he was still wearing his glasses. The monitored flickered back on when he had jolted in his chair, the motion causing the mouse to move slightly. Ah, I fell asleep when I was working on my novel again, he thought. He leaned forward to save his current settings, causing the blanket to slip from his body. Suddenly aware of it, he caught it before it could fall to the floor.

“Eh-…” he paused, staring at the blanket in his clutched hand. “This is…” he got up and walked to the living room, the blanket draped over his arm. Ryo lay curled on his side, his coat barely covering his torso. Ryo rolled to his other side and immediately opened his eyes, feeling another presence in the room. He looked up at Eiji and smiled sleepily,

“Finally woke up eh,”

“Why did you give me your blanket?” Eiji asked, slightly confused, brows drawing lightly together. Ryo sat up and stretched, yawning loudly.

“I didn’t want you catching a cold or anything,” Ryo turned to look at Eiji, “You’ve only got one body, you should take better care of it.” Ryo stood up and headed down the hallway, “Gonna shower,” he said as he passed by Eiji. Eiji stood still for several more seconds then draped the blanket over the couch.

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Author's Note: Hello! Omgoodness- when I went to the "submit new story" button, it took me to this strange page that said I hadn't complied to FictionPress' terms of agreement and that I wasn't allowed to upload any new stories!! D: I thought: "ZOMG, did they find out and catch on to my deceptive ways?? >>;;" But silly me, I just had to click the agree button in the beginning ;P. So yeah, new story!! Erm, I'm trying to write this properly but my writing is terrible :(. Thanks for checking this out though :3.

As for "Aki to Tarou"- my story, not myself