“Practice,” Giovanni says simply, letting the word sink in before he goes on. “Stay home for a while and come with me to meetings and social events. Nobody will fucking talk to you the way Moretti did if I’m with you—and I’ve already had a conversation with him about that.”
Nino nods. He needs to make more arrangements at Scotch & Amaretto and talk to his employees. He’s already spoken with Mariana about taking on the role of co-owner. With some additional staff, she can definitely handle the responsibility of running the bar long term.
“And then,” Giovanni continues, “you need to go to Japan sooner. None of this ‘let him get settled’ shit. Within the first two weeks of Haruka being back, somebody will throw him a big soiree to welcome him home. I don’t know who or when, but you need to be there.”
“I shouldn’t just show up uninvited,” Nino says, doubtful. “Haruka hasn’t told me—”
“Nino. Haruka knows that you hate aristocracy events. Of course he won’t invite you. But it’ll be an important event to be beside him and assert yourself. Based on what he’s told me about the size of his realm, he’s got a lot on his plate. He’ll be happy you’re there. Trust me. When the time comes, just go and surprise him. Show him you can handle being his partner.”
Can I handle being his partner? Nino wants to be with Haruka. Whenever they’re together, it feels more natural than when they’re apart. Even now, Nino’s skin is itchy and his nature discontented from the geographical distance between them.
“Are you accepting my offer?” Giovanni asks. “What’s your decision?”
“I’ll stay,” Nino resolves. “I don’t want to be his house cat.”
Laughing, Giovanni stands from his desk. “Perfect. When is mama duck coming by to feed you? Hopefully that bullshit can finally stop. Who the hell is she feeding from in England? Never mind. It’s best that I don’t know names.”
Nino shakes his head, smiling. “So jealous.”
Giovanni stops dead, his smile dropping and his voice rising. “You want me to fucking yell at you now?”
“Nope.” Nino swiftly pushes himself up from the couch and leaves the office.
Late March
Thirty-Three
A month has passed since his week-long visit to Italy. Despite this, and even as he sits inside his home in Kurashiki, Japan, the warm echoes of Haruka’s time spent with Nino still radiate in his body. The golden glow of him has lingered, firmly centered both in Haruka’s heart and deeply within his core.
He had expected to see him in England once more before he made the preliminary move back home. But Nino had suddenly changed his plans and they hadn’t been able to meet. He decided to stay in Milan longer, and he is still there. When Haruka asked why, Nino vaguely explained that he needed to take care of some things.
He doesn’t let it show, but Haruka feels disappointed by this.
The crystal-clear sound of a chime rings out, breaking the silence of Haruka’s small office. He perks up, his response officially an ingrained behavior as if he is one of Pavlov’s dogs. He isn’t salivating (yet) but his heart unquestionably beats faster.
He is sitting on a cushion on the tatami floor with one knee drawn up, his new, shiny black smartphone on the low oak table in front of him. Nino purchased it as a surprise and had it delivered to his home. Asao taught Haruka how to use it.
It isn’t complicated and he likes being able to communicate regularly with Nino. But something about it feels invasive. As if it is covertly tracking his whereabouts and conversation at any given time. He greatly dislikes this feeling. When he expressed his concern to Asao, the manservant shrugged and said, “It probably is.” Which wasn’t helpful.
He taps and opens the device like Asao taught him. A message from Nino flashes brightly before him on the small screen.
[It’s almost time, yeah?]
Haruka looks at the clock at the top of the screen, then types his response.
[Yes. Why are you awake? It is 4am there.]
[Because I’m worried about you.]
Nino’s reply is quickly followed by another message.
[You’re not happy about this meeting.]
It’s true. He isn’t. He’s been receiving letters from Yuna for more than a year now. Although he hasn’t read a single page, it was inevitable that they would eventually cross paths. His decision to return home has only increased the likelihood. The chime rings out again.
[I wish I was there with you.]
Haruka types his response.
[I wish you were, too. But hopefully the meeting will be brief.]
Today, a meeting with Yuna. Tomorrow, an assembly with the current business leaders of Okayama, and Friday, a welcome reception in Haruka’s honor in Himeji.
Upon his return, the vampires within his realm have been much more welcoming than Haruka had anticipated. He had expected bitterness, but the overall sense within the community has been something like relief (the purebred substitute was… challenging). With Haruka’s reinstitution come many social requests, meetings and responsibilities. The weight of his position is quickly bearing down on his shoulders.
It’s overwhelming, but this is his true designation—the life that accompanies his lineage and bloodline. A life of self-sacrifice. Haruka’s family traditionally oversees both the Chūgoku and Kansai regions. This level of accountability was much less daunting when he’d been mated, and the thought of bearing it alone had been a catalyst for his leaving home after his bond had broken.
Privately, Haruka sincerely hopes that Nino finds western Japan to his liking when he visits in two months. He fully accepts that Nino has no interest in their cultural aristocracy, but simply being in his warm and vibrant presence makes circumstances much more tolerable. Even enjoyable.
The prospect of the bonding ceremony had been a thing of great foreboding. As they spent time together, researching and relishing in candid conversation, the circumstance unexpectedly become pleasant.
His phone lights up with a new message.
[Call me after she leaves. xx]
[You should be sleeping, it can wait until later.]
[Just call. I’ll be up. mmt+]
