School seriously messed with my head since I last updated this thing. Now that it's all starting to wind down I've felt relaxed enough to continue writing. (I can't force myself to write. It gives me poo brain.) Complete version of Ch 10 should come out soon. But because it's been so long and I feel heartened by all the kind words, I'll release the first quarter of the next chapter in this post. Thanks for the support everyone!! =D
Oh and btw, I completely agree with you immo. It is soooo hard to find a really good sit down and eat some junk food fan fiction in the AKB48 fandom. (Your fic was definitely in the sit down and eat junk food category.) I really enjoyed the ending of your story but kind of feel like it could use an epilogue. My pervy brain thought that there was a lot of unresolved sexual and interpersonal tensions that had not quite been resolved. Especially between Ray and Kai. Their relationship was just so much push and pull, I feel that I am still left waiting for that other shoe to drop. =\ I dunno, I'm probably not making any sense. But yeah, you'd make me so happy if you wrote an epilogue! You're such a talented writer and it's so rare to find someone dedicated enough to carry a project that big all the way to the end. Kudos. Hopefully I can do the same with this story.
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Mendol: A Man's World
Ch. 10 (Fragment)
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Riku sighed wearily, leaning against the railing as the wind tousled his hair. Coming outside had been the best idea he'd had all night. The balcony wasn't exactly the most private area to be in but it was sparsely populated and the slight chill present in the early autumn air warded away the cloying smells of smoke and debauchery that filled the interior of the club.
“This is nice...” He mused to himself, closing his eyes as his jangled nerves finally began to settle somewhat.
It was then that it clearly struck him the utter ridiculousness of the situation he found himself in. He could never see his family again if he stayed this way... And if his mother knew just how close her precious daughter had come to death...
He clenched his jaw, feeling his chest tighten painfully. He missed them... So much. The pain was almost physical as it occurred to him that as of now, he had no home, no family to return to, and was at the mercy of an inhuman beast. It was that same mercy that had spared his life, but had Inuyama really saved him? After all, what kind of life was this?
His eyes darted to the street below but he shook his head furiously. No... That was a coward's way out. And if his family wasn't already hurt by his absence well that would simply cement their pain.
These humbling thoughts swam around his booze addled mind in dizzying circles until he heard heavy footsteps come from behind him.
“... Take it the VIP section isn't really your scene huh?”
Katusyuki's voice was playful as he came up beside him and leaned back against the railing.
Riku rolled his eyes, though inwardly thankful that the man's sudden presence had startled away the dark thoughts he had been having.
“Is it really that obvious?”
Katsuyuki laughed and clapped him smartly on the shoulder. Riku couldn't help but give an exasperated little smile at his exuberance.
“Don't worry I get it... You have a girl at home huh? I've been there, done that, but when you're on the road it's okay to sow your wild oats every now and then you know?”
Riku didn't reply, he simply shrugged and turned his face downwards. Katsuyuki could believe what he wanted...
The copper haired man noted his companion's silence and chuckled a bit more, taking a swig from a bottle of whiskey he had brought along before offering it to Riku.
Riku inwardly cringed at the sight of it, feeling as though he'd had enough alcohol to last the rest of his life...
"C'mon dude, don't be a pussy." Katsyuki's smile was positively feline as he wiggled the bottle playfully.
Riku glowered a bit at his vulgar language, feeling annoyance at the universe for the fact that the taunt was actually affecting him.
"I will if you quit being a dick..." He grumbled, Katsuyuki grinning crookedly at him in response.
Despite his better judgment he took the proffered bottle and brought it to his lips, fighting his gag reflex as he took a generous gulp and felt the liquid burn hotly in his chest.
“Whoa there cowboy... Take it easy, I'm not gonna carry you out of here.”
Katsuyuki's voice belied no real concern and actually sounded a bit impressed.
“... So.”
Riku coughed suddenly, feeling the bitter taste of the alcohol still thick on his tongue and throat. He hit his chest repeatedly with a fist as he took a minute to catch his breath.
“So...?” Katsuyuki eyed him with calm interest, a half-cocked smile twisting his lips.
"Thash... was definitely not... one... of... The brightishh... ideas I've ever had..."
Wobbling slightly on his feet, Riku suddenly grabbed on to the man's shoulder to maintain his balance as the world began to move and sway of its own accord behind his eyes.
The director stiffened at the sudden contact and instinctively brought a steadying hand to the man's bicep. His eyes immediately widened at the sheer thickness of the muscles that flexed under his fingertips.
'What the...?'
Katsuyuki's face skewed into a grimace of confusion as heat began to travel up his neck. Horrifyingly, the director had found himself woefully fascinated by the strength latent within thoroughly masculine muscles that felt taut and defined even through the material of the other man's jacket.
'Shit.'
He needed to focus on something else, quickly. And so he jerked his head up and focused on the first exterior thing of interest.
'Holy fucking fuck... I know this isn't happening... '
His stomach twisted uncomfortably as his gaze caught and held Riku's face. The idol's eyes were dark and his lips full, his expression touched with concern and slight confusion. In response the director felt like bashing his head into a wall to knock some sense into himself. Why the HELL was he getting so worked up over a GUY?! Disgusting! He'd had some of the most beautiful women in the world grace his bed, he didn't need this bullshit.
"Kaaaa-Tsu-Yu-Ki-saaann.... Are you sick? You're red as a tomato!"
Riku slurred, feeling the alcohol beat down the walls of his inhibitions as he leaned provocatively into the other man's personal space to take in the reddish pallor of his skin.
Feeling like he was about to jump out of his own skin the director gulped heavily, his mouth suddenly becoming as dry as the Kalahari desert.
"You... You are so weird!" Katsuyuki blurted out, awkwardly disengaging himself from Riku and taking a step back.
Riku blinked owlishly. "Weird?"
Clearing his throat, Katsuyuki did his best to regain his usual suave demeanor as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Well... Yeah! I mean..."
He was grasping for straws here, but stubbornly plowed ahead nonetheless.
"When I take people here and do these things for them, they usually do whatever I want. People are predictable like that... But you guys are different."
Riku giggled a bit. An odd sound coming from someone as mature and formidable as Persona's front man.
"That's because not only are we men amongst men, but we may well be gentlemen among pigs."
He blew an errant strand of hair out of his face, not noticing as the director's eyes followed the movement.
"Pigs?" Katsuyuki echoed.
"I've come to find that men are usually pigs for a reason... Something made them want to act that way..."
Riku commented, his expression drunkenly thoughtful.
"It gives them a back story, makes them human and interesting... And yet they're still men, and they're still idiots."
"Speak for yerself brother," Katsuyuki grumbled, finally starting to feel his heart calming itself as he looked down at his patent leather shoes.
They really were exquisitely crafted... Imports from Italy.
'Exquisitely expensive as well.' He noted sardonically.
After a few moments his eyes slowly meandered from the supple dark brown cowhide over to the reflective black material of Riku's shoes. Also finely made. So far if there was anything that could be said about the young man it would be that he had impeccable taste in fashion. In fact, as the director's gaze traveled upward he came to appreciate how well suited the man's custom tailored Burberry slacks were to his long legs, and how they fit so snugly around his-
"Gaahhh!!!" Katsuyuki slapped a hand to his face and shook his head furiously.
Riku stepped closer to him, nudging against the other man's shoulder as concern filled his large brown eyes. Perhaps he had offended the director?
Heavan forbid.
"Are you okay?"
The director almost yelped at the sudden proximity and instinctively shot out his hands to push the younger man out of his personal space.
But instead of shoving Riku, his palms instead came to rest flat on the idol's prominent chest.
Riku raised an eyebrow.
Panicking and not knowing what to say, Katsuyuki blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"Wow, you have a really firm chest. Hit the gym enough and your pecs could be almost as impressive as mine!"
Riku blinked once as he felt the man's hands pat his chest, then twice as he heard the comment attached to the sensation. Years of girlish instinct drove his following reaction.
"You.... PERVERT!!!"
He shoved the director onto the ground as he burst past him, his face fiery red.
Katsuyuki looked at the man's back with a stunned expression. For once in his life, he was at a loss for words. Possibly one of the manliest men he had ever met had just squealed and ran away like a girl catching a peeping tom in a locker room.
Topic: A Man's World - chap 10 [AKB48 x Mendol] 3/11/2011 (Read 53230 times)