Summer in Osaka, Japan, heat rose visibly to the naked eye. One young sweat drenched Asian boy lay on the wooden deck of a traditional Japanese home. Karisu’s strands of black hair stuck to his forehead, cheeks, and slender neck. Sweat soaked hair displayed across the floor, the tips bleach blonde and curling at the ends to make flips in a feminine manner. Normally long enough to tickle his armpits when he wore his favorite tank top. His arms and legs spread across the wood boarded floor, spot less clean and smelling like lemons it was kind of smoothing but the fan blowing on his bare chest felt a lot better than anything he had experienced besides kissing his boyfriend of course, his boyfriend—best friend— Myami, who lives back home in Tokyo. Its summer vacation and his Mother sent him to his Father’s house in the old fashioned Osaka. Yea sure he could check out the sakura trees and the beautiful scenery but Karisu was far more concerned about the fact he had forgotten his DDR pad at home and only has his controller to play the game with. He loved to the pad, having to step on the right arrow at the exact time and Myami would do the controller just on the fact he hated to dance or basically working up a sweat, that’s why he would never be in Osaka and right now he is probably sitting on the couch in his living room relaxing in the air conditioner. Bastard.

He brought his arm up from the wood, raising it up into the air the warm breeze of the fan brushing against it. Gravity forcing the sweat beads on his soft flesh run down until it fell off and sizzled on the deck. Warm hazel eyes watch his skin; he felt he needed to rip it off to feel cool but instead just ran his fingers through his hair, his bangs being mixed with the rest of his tresses. His arm fell back down onto the floor, slender fingers wiggled on the wood. They felt so slimy.

“Ewww. . . .”

“Karisu come here boy.”

His Father called, Shiru the next door neighbor’s kid had come over. Father wanted to introduce him and wouldn’t have it any other way. He didn’t want his son lollygagging around the house getting nothing done. His father always liked movement, if you keep moving you don’t notice how hot or how cold it is. You actually don’t notice anything, if you keep your mind off of it you can keep yourself away from feeling but right now this is feeling a bit too emo sounding. Karisu lifted his sticky body off the ground and wondered how everyone lives without air conditioning! It drives him crazy just having to be here for two weeks! Damn summer break. He wanted to just stay with his Mother and Myami. He fixed his knee length black-white pinstriped-shorts and groaned his way into the house; first thing he saw was the boy standing next to his dad. He had natural colored auburn hair; bangs parted in the middle of his face, one side having more hair then the other making it cover his eye slightly. Not like his eyes could be clearly seen anyway, they were hidden behind thick-round glasses. They looked like they took up his whole face. He did have nice lips though, round and tender looking and very virgin feelings. Like those lips have never touched another man’s before, not even a women’s if you like that sort of thing. His clothes were pretty normal, blue jeans, scuffed and ripped at the ends and at the knees. Shirt, nothing fancy about it, just a white shirt with some kind of design in it. Nothing really caught Karisu’s interest.

“Karisu, this is Shiru. Now you two are going to be the best of friends. Got it? Also you two are gonna help me in the fields.” He finally had gotten to the point. That’s it. Shiru is the hired help, since Karisu hasn’t been doing much around the house for the past two days it was what’s to be expected. Find another helpless boy and make him make Karisu work in the fields together.

“It will be fun!” His father said with a large grin and obnoxious laugh. Sometimes he could really hate that man. He liked to think he was this master of manipulation but in reality everything he did was basically annoying and obnoxious. Why did his father have to have rights to see his son, it’s not like it’s his anyway. Well that’s what Karisu hoped anyway. He didn’t want to grow up and look like that one day. Hair receding and large beard on his face, almost made him look like Santa Claws if you ignore the fact that’s he is Asian and still has black hair. One night Karisu was thinking about shaving it off, it would take a couple years before he would start getting stubble maybe then he would be able to get some dates or a girlfriend and just leave him the hell alone.

“Go get dressed boy, put some clothes on you don’t mind gettin’ dirty. We’ll be working in the fields all day today” he still had that large grin on his face. Karisu was offered a small smile from the other male, he just ignored it and walked past him to the stairs. It took him about thirty minutes to get down stairs again, fully dressed in what he thought to be down wear. Pair of black short shorts, chains hanging loose onto his leg, touching the soft shaved flesh. He liked to have a clean body. His hair done up into a pony tail, bangs hung loose over his forehead.

“Dang boy, you ready yet? The birds gonna eat all our strawberries and you and Shiru not gonna get any! Well don’t you look all city. You gonna get those clothes ruined ya know. In the dirt and bushes.” He finished after Karisu walked past him with only a glare as a reply, “Fine, if ya wanna go like that, then it’s your business.”

“Hey Karisu, your names Chris in English right?” Shiru asked bending over and picking up some of the ripe strawberries off the bushes, his hands already getting dirt under the nails. It repulsed Karisu. He gave a small sigh and replied, “Yea. . .so you gotta problem with that?” hick. He wanted to insult but decided he would humor his Father and this kid for the time being.

“Huh? No I didn’t mean it like that sorry.” He apologized but that only made Karisu feel like a jerk, “I just thought it was interesting that your parents named your Chris in Japanese. My name, I don’t really know if it has a meaning. Neva’ really asked or anything . . . well I guess I should know since I know Japanese and all but eh, I never actually took an interest in the language ya know? I wanna know English really bad though! I wanna go to America one day. Maybe visit Yoshiki in LA. He doesn’t know who I am and all since he’s famous, like I would know any famous people but it would be awesome to go to J-revolution. Maybe I’ll go to San Francisco State and study there or something? I’ve been looking this kinda thing up on the interweb. Ya hear of that right? My parents have it and they let me on the computer after I do my homework. I’m still in High school, I got two years left before I can graduate and go to America. Have you ever wanted to go?”

FINALLY! God good! He stopped talking! “I’m a sophomore, I never really thought about those kinda things. So, no. I would really like to just play video games all day.” ‘Why am I telling him this? Its not like we’re bonding or anything.’ Karisu thought to himself on the subject as Shiru started to talk again. This boy could really talk and not stop. He thought maybe those glasses on his face would make him be one of those stereotypical geeks, you know, the quiet non-social type but this boy was the complete opposite and it was really pissing him off.

The days went on, they picked the ripe strawberries in the field, parted ways to take a shower at their home and the next day went the same. It was very tedious and time felt like it was moving so fast, but only a week had passed. He wished for the two weeks to go up and he has never wanted to go back to school this badly. Shiru had worked his last nerve every single day with his talk talk talk talk talk talk talking! It was just insane how much this boy LOVED to talk. He had to just adore his voice didn’t he? Yea that had to be it. He needed to hear his voice to get rid of that insecure feeling in his soul. Well he should just kill himself! Karisu felt himself feeling so cynical in his mind and couldn’t help the homicidal things in his mind.

Even though he could barely get a word in to their conversations, Karisu didn’t hate them as much as he used too. He would still love if he shut up and just picked those strawberries in peace but whatever, he could just find some way to stop him. He decided maybe he could do something drastic to make him stop it. Hours turned into a day and the night had come over Japan. The air felt cool, thankful to the night he felt like it was time he could travel around Osaka; see what really goes on around here. He asked his Father if he could take him around tonight but the only thing he said was, ‘take Shiru with you’ and that’s when his Father’s demonic force took over, not really demonic but to Karisu it was evil.

Shiru walked with Karisu around the town they stayed in, it wasn’t very big or exotic but Shiru was telling him things are a lot more active during the day. He never got out much so he didn’t get a chance to meet people, that was the gist of what he was saying for the first hour. Karisu finally got his chance to speak when Shiru’s eyes and mind was caught by the lake. They walked towards the bridge and stepped onto it. Karisu leaned over the railing of the bridge and looked over at the water; it shined from the light of the moon and kind of looked more purple than blue. It felt really romantic. He looked up at Shiru, the boy had done his hair nice, spiked up in a really cool fashion. He liked it a lot. “I like your hair” Karisu complimented. He gave the boy a smile, looking up at him he noticed he had a slightly handsome face, maybe if he didn’t hide it as much with the glasses. He wanted to know what he looked like. “You know Tokyo’s a really nice place but you don’t see anything like this there. Well eh, unless it’s more man made.” He finished turning his gaze back to the water, the stars sparkling on the waves.

Shiru wanted to say something but something in his stomach told him not to talk, instead he joined Karisu with leaning against the railing of the bridge and watched the waves with him, gaze driving between the river and Karisu. He couldn’t help but admire how gorgeous the boy is. In the dirt of the strawberry field it’s really hard to see any good features of someone when they are covered in dirt and sweat but this is just a perfect moment he thought to himself.

Just before the dawn of Seven am Karisu’s alarm set off, he picked up his cell phone and wondered why Myami hasn’t called for the past couple days. He wanted to call him, see what’s up and all but that wasn’t his style to call, he didn’t want to seem like he was making an effort anything. Maybe that attitude made Myami not want to call? He couldn’t think about this right now, he needed to get ready for work today or his Father would ‘give him a good talkin’ his words, not Karisu’s. He wouldn’t want to be caught dead speaking like an Osakain.

Karisu picked a strawberry and as he plucked it off the ring he wore stuck onto the vine of the bush and pulled at it, the flesh on his pointing finger rubbed until he freed it and a small cut was apparent and bleeding slightly. He sucked in his breathe and let out a small, “Ow . . .”

Shiru heard the low plea and quickly came to aid, “You okay Chris?” he asked practicing his English while he was at it. He picked up the boy’s hand after taking the strawberry and putting it into the basket. He removed the ring and put the cut up to his lips. Karisu’s face suddenly turned the color of a strawberry. “Yea yea Im okay. Nothing to worry about!” He said quickly even though his mind and thoughts told him to pull away his body kept his finger to the male’s soft lips. He kissed it once and cleaned up the blood. “Just a little cut, nothing to worry about, you can uh . . . not do that.” He was finally able to pull back his hand after the trance he was put through and scolded himself for acting like this. He stuffed the ring into his pocket after taking it back from Shiru and picked another strawberry. It really was only a small cut so it didn’t take long for it to stop bleeding. Shiru gave him a smile and started to pick the strawberries as well. “So ya know, yesterday I was talkin’ to my Dad, and he was saying I was spending too much time over here. No matter how proud he is of me for workin’. Hes only proud when I’m workin’ though. Hes never liked to see my report cards. Don’t tell but I want to see him proud. It would ruin my image if anyone knew that.” He gave a small laugh, all knowing that Karisu was his only friend to begin with. “Ya know you’re my first friend. You should feel honored.” He joked, Karisu unconsciously thinking that Shiru should be the one that’s honored. “So well, if you’re hurt I’ll take care of you so don’t worry about the cut or anything okay? Now I’m feelin’ really sappy. Its not as if I like bein’ sappy or anything but I just had the urge to say this to ya. You’ve become really important to me and all and I just—.”

‘Well don’t I feel like a jerk’ Karisu thought as the boy was continuing to talk, this was starting to feel awkward, he needed to break Shiru now or never. “Shut up will ya” he said just before he grabbed Shiru by the collar of his shirt and pulled him into a rough kiss. He pulled back after only a couple of seconds opening his eyes to find a dumbstruck boy. Karisu gave a grin, he felt like he had won. “Hey I’m done for today so can ya finish up for me?” he asked with a raised eyebrow waiting for a reply, he couldn’t help himself. He had to take advantage of the moment, before he received the nod of his head he headed back towards the house his mind cursing at himself. His teeth nipping at his bottom lip feeling how it tingles still from the kiss.

Shiru’s eyes stared forward at nothing in particular. He would have never thought that Karisu was such a good kisser. As Karisu started to walk away Shiru started to pick the strawberries, he had just realized he needed to pick two times as much for both of them and didn’t find this fact very attractive. Even so, he gave a sigh and worked through a couple hours.

Two more days had passed and no sign of Shiru, maybe that kissed really freaked him out. He could be some kind of homophobe or something. Or maybe . . . he really liked it and doesn’t want to face Karisu? Either way Karisu was happy, his Father stopped forcing him to work in the field and all he did was play some of his video games with the controller because god damn he didn’t have that dance pad.

Two more days before he was going to leave Osaka and ride the train back to Tokyo, to see his Mother, such a beautiful women and who he hoped he took most of genes from, and his boyfriend, Myami. He missed him so much and was so ecstatic about going back. He had never really unpacked so he was ready to go if maybe he was able to leave earlier. Something else he hoped about. Recently has been doing a lot of hoping.

Two more hours before his Dad would take him to the train and only a day and a half away before school started. He wanted to get home as soon as he could. He really wished he could have taken a plane, like he did on the way but going back they didn’t want to spend any more money than they had too.

Karisu sat in front of the television staring at the screen and eating some of those strawberries he had plucked for his Father, it was basically the only thing he had been eating the whole time he was down here and felt he had the right to on the fact he never got paid like Shiru. This will be his payment. Shiru walked into the room Karisu was currently in a zombie-like state. Shiru looked down at Karisu with his hands stuffed into his blue ripped jeans. Karisu looked up quickly at the male, the glasses gone were the first thing he noticed, and he had his hair styled like the day they went into town, it still looked really nice. His eyes widened in shock, he finally noticed the shirt, white with black squiggly lines around it until it reaches where his heart would be, and a black leaking heart took shape with the squiggly lines. It looked really nice on him.

“Hey . . .” Shiru greeted looking down at the ground, “So you’re leaving today?”

Karisu stood up quickly and stared into the boy’s contacted eyes, a nice warm brown. He had finally been able to see them, not being hidden from the glasses was a big plus on the hot-ness scale. Karisu bit the inside of his cheek as he nodded his head, “Yea, really soon. Waiting for my Father to get home from the market before we could go.” He replied, his face burning pink, mind flashing back to the kiss. Shiru’s face turning a color after noticing the look on Karisu’s face. “Um . . . yea, so Tokyo right?” Karisu had never noticed any of those features on his face before, the attractive jaw line, the slender but still manly shoulders, the soft curve of his eyes, and the sexy-ness of his voice. No matter how much he had to listen to it, this tone of voice sounded a lot better.

Shiru continued to look down, “Um, so I was wondering if maybe before you went we could go down to town again?” he asked, never to receive an answer as his Father busts through the front door, “Karisu, I’ve got done early today. We can leave now. Get your butt down here and lets pack yer bags.” He called walking into the room and giving Shiru a grin, “You can help” he pointed at the boy, “You gotta pay me back for not comin’ back to work these past days.” He picked up one of the bags on the floor that Karisu had taken down earlier from his ‘guest room’.

Shiru heart pounded along with Karisu’s they weren’t expecting that and out of relief and complete stupidity Karisu wanted to say, ‘saved by the bell’ but kept it in his head. He hurried past the boy and picked up one of his bags quickly following his Father to the truck. Shiru took one with him, it was the last bag. They really didn’t need help but since he was there he could lend a hand.

“Boy, go say bye to your friend. Hes gonna miss ya till next vacation.” He nodded his silly weird smile still on his lips as he sat in the driver’s seat of the pickup. Karisu walked over to the boy at the back of the truck and stood in front of him, his posture leaning back forcing the urge to the touch the other and indulge himself. Shiru reached forward and wrapped his arms around him, giving him a long warm hug. It felt really nice for some reason.

Karisu wasn’t sure why he was acting like this, oh let’s see, he’s shallow, he found himself attracted to him now and really he wouldn’t be able to stand his talking and personality except he is a really sweet guy. He deserves someone better. He found himself staring out the window of the train, watching the world pass him by, or more, he passed by it. He didn’t want to admit to himself that he grew a crush on him but kept it inside, he’ll see him next vacation. Truthfully he didn’t want too. He just wanted to stay home, on the couch in the air conditioner, sitting next to Myami. It made him wonder what Shiru would be doing. Maybe he’ll have a boyfriend by then.

“I should call Myami”