chapter 14.2: Ashita

"Let's see.  Apartment 5-A, iku~" Sho got out and lead the way up the building and into an elevator.  It

stopped on the fifth floor and he took her hand.  It was a brightly lit hallway and they turned to the left,

stopping a few paces in front of a door that was ajar.  Sho knocked lightly on the door, peeking through

the opening before entering with Jamie in tow.  The girl was obviously tired but the room was enough to

jolt her awake.  They took off their shoes and put the slippers on.  It was fully furnished, contemporary

japanese style and enough for two people at the most.  Jamie took a few steps towards the sofa, letting

the rapper's hand go reluctantly.
"Where are we?" she asked as she marveled at the place.  The room had a soft glow to it, with the light

from the spherical paper lantern in one corner of the room.  The off white sofa looked inviting to her tired

legs and so did the navy blue and red throw pillows.  The low simple oak coffee table in the center of the

living room was covered with frosted glass.  There was a bay window on one side with gauzy white

drapes.  She wanted to sit there but instead walked a bit futher to what seemed to be the kitchen.  It was

a bit compact but roomy enough.  The gas range was new and so was the small fridge next to it.  She

opened the door of the refrigirator and saw a few food items there.  She wondered since it seemed a bit

lived in and turned around.  The curly-haired girl saw Sho's figure reading something from the black

folder he was holding.  He sat down and propped his socked feet onto the table.  In simple words, the

place seemed like it was his.  But it can't be...He still lived with his parents...right?  Her head was racing

with questions and doubts.
"This is your contract but I'm not sure if you're up to reading this at the moment.  Why don' you go check

your room ne?  You seem tired already" Sho suggested as he read through the papers.  Jamie nodded

meekly since she did feel sore from all the dancing and the alcohol she downed the entire evening.  She

opened the door of the bedroom and felt around the wall for the light switch, she couldn't find one. Jamie

shrugged her shoulders as her eyes adjusted to the darkness.  Light from the streetlamp outside poured

through the windows.  The room was big enough to fit the queen-sized bed, the bedside tables at each

end, the entertainment center opposite the bed and two cabinets adjacent to the bed.  One of which has

also a dressing table.  The girl wondered if she would need all of it since she would be away most of the

time.  Letting out a sigh, she peered out into the street below before walking to another door that was the

bathroom.  This time, there was a light switch.  Jamie flicked it on and looked in, it was ok.  There was

the normal shower heater, tub, the toilet and the lavatory basin.  The designs following the zen stlye of

the rest of the apartment.  She turned on the hot water in the tub and reached for the cabinet.  Yappari, it

was full of toiletries.  She picked out a bubble bath oil, pouring a small amount into the hot water and

tested it.  She nodded and turned on the cold water a bit and turned around to get her towel from her

backpack.  Jamie was wary that Sho might come in and locked the bedroom door before slowly, like she

was accustomed to, stripped off her clothes and wrapped herself into it, however small it may be.  She took her glasses off and tried, yet again to find a light switch when something seems to be in her way and grabbed her from behind.

"Ahhh~" she squealed in surprise.
"I wasn't expecting this.." a familiarly low voice whipered into her ear.
"S-sho.." Jamie's voice hitched in her throat, he was taking off the scrunchie that gathered her hair.  The girl was shaking and nervous to say the least.
"Sssssshhhh...  Daijoubu..." his voice was silky smooth, his hand snaking into the flap of her towel and resting on the bend of her waist. 

Sho was indeed surprised himself when Jamie suddenlt bolted the door and undressed like that.  He was only a man, for goodness' sake.  What did she expect him to do?  Turn around and not look?  Well, he did think about that but he was rooted on the spot unable to blink nor move.  He only found the courage to hold her when she reached for him.  Well it looked like that to him, but she obviously didn't or she wouldn't be doing what she did just now.  It was dark and he didn't see her fist as it hit his jaw.  He doubled over.

"If you think you can get away with this, I don't think so!" Jamie was seething.  To think that he could just come in and do that irritated her.  "I'll read my contract later and please do go home Sho.."

"But this IS home..." he said as he got up and clapped, making the lamps from the bedside tables light up.  They casted a soft glow on them both.  Sho could see her clearer now.

"Eh?  You brought me here?  I thought you stayed with your parents still..." she stuttered.

"I do go home there sometimes but I've started living on my own a year ago.  But since you're here...I'm letting you use my apartment.  You wont need to rent anymore" He rubbed his jaw.

She was aghast and angry at the same time.  A big jumble of feelings, but in the end she reached out for him. "D-daijoubu? "

"You do pack quite a punch ne?" Sho chuckled and let her fuss over him.

"Gomen.  I don't just let people touch me.  Anou~ I should go home to my cousin instead.  This isn't right.  I won't let you play the sugar daddy.  Its not right." the girl went to gather her clothes but Sho touched her hand.

"Stay here.  Its very expensive to be renting a place ne.  The jimousho will pay for this in any case so...its like your benefit as well" he explained.

"Mou~ where will you sleep?"

"Ahh...next to you?"

"YADA!!!"

"Doushite?"

"I think this isn't going right..."

"Ok...Ok.. I'll sleep in the sofa.  Its comfy enough.  I insist.  Please stay..." his eyes looked into hers, asking the same question.

"Mou~  Fine.  But just for tonight..I'll go back to my cousin's tomorrow."

"Alright" he hugged her again.

"Anou~ could you please...uhm..go out while I...."

"Ahh...sou ne.." he nods and kisses her hair before unlocking the door.  Jamie proceeds to bolt the door before taking her bath and dressing in her pajamas.  It was not twenty minutes when she finally unlocked to door again to peek at what Sho was doing.  She saw him lying on the sofa still not changing his clothes, how could he have anyway.  She crept closer and touched his face.

"Shosuki?" she tried waking him, to no avail.  She just took off his socks and tried taking his jacket off.  That's when he groggily woke up.

"Hmm?  Jamie-chan?" he said.

"Ne change your clothes before sleeping..." the girl said softly.  Sho nodded and stood to change before plopping onto the bed.  She just let him stay there and took the sofa instead.  She thought of what happened that day and smiled before drifting off to sleep.

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Nino was supposed to be elsewhere but then things happened.....

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