Behind the Mask

A Distant Heartbeat

A/N:
This chapter contains explicit sex scenes

***

The night club, Nebula, glowed as neon lights pulsed to the beat of throbbing bass. Swirls of smoke wafted through the air, catching the light and shimmering like diamonds. There were people everywhere, mingling, dancing, and drinking. Juri had been right about the way they dressed - almost all the women were wearing either miniskirts or tight dresses that highlighted their curves. I tugged at my dress self-consciously.

Kenji wrapped his arm around my waist, his fingers stroking my hip as he led me through the crowd. To our right, a group of people cheered and whistled as one of them downed a shot of tequila, slamming the glass on the table. The dance floor, a glossy stretch of polished wood, gleamed under the kaleidoscope of colored lights that swept across the room.

The music was deafening. The beat blasted through the speakers, vibrating the floor beneath my feet. I looked up at the ceiling and my jaw dropped.

Hanging above us was a three-dimensional projection of the galaxy. Stars, planets, and nebulae twinkled and sparkled, suspended in a sea of darkness. I was mesmerized. I had been to clubs before, but I had never seen anything like this.

Kenji chuckled. "Do you like it?"

"I love it," I grinned.

He led me over to the VIP section which was cordoned off by velvet ropes and guarded by bouncers. When they saw Kenji, they stepped aside and we entered. We weaved through the crowd and headed straight to the bar where bottles of champagne chilled in ice buckets, their labels catching the strobe lights.

"Sato," a familiar voice called.

I looked up to see Kojima grinning. His hair was slicked back and he was wearing a simple black jacket with a white shirt underneath.

"Happy birthday man," Kenji said, releasing me to extend his hand.

Kojima took it, and they exchanged a brief handshake.

His gaze then moved to me. "Miss Wakita," he beamed.
"Happy birthday," I greeted, smiling. "I didn't have time to get a gift but-"

"Oh, you didn't have to," he said. "Your presence is more than enough."

I blushed and glanced at Kenji, who clicked his tongue.

Kojima laughed. "Thank you," he said, looking at us. "Thank you both for coming."

"Of course," Kenji said. "We wouldn't miss it."

"I'm going to go say hi to a few people. You two, make yourself at home. I'll be back," he said, flashing us a quick smile before disappearing into the crowd.

I sighed happily. "He's so cool."

Kenji placed a finger under my chin and turned me to face him. "Not as cool as I am, right?" he asked, pouted.

I giggled. "Don't be silly," I said. "I think you're the coolest."

He grinned. "Good. Let's go say hello to a few other players."

We wove through the throng of people. Kenji's hand remained securely around mine, guiding me as we walked. He introduced me to each of my favorite players. There were some I had interviewed in the past. I couldn't help but feel starstruck, my cheeks aching from the constant smiling. Each autograph felt like a dream come true, and my hands were shaking as I held the little photo album I brought, flipping through it for them to sign.

By the time I was done, it was filled with autographs and messages. I beamed, clutching it to my chest. A proud smile spread across Kenji's face as he watched me.