Yokozawa Takafumi's Mistakes (Sekai ichi Hatsukoi fanfic)

Mistake #4

This summer was turning out to be the hottest one people have been subjected to in years. The sun was on a mission to scorch people. Everyone who could avoid going outside was doing just that. Not all people were that lucky. Yokozawa had to run to check the sales at the bookstores today. Normally, he enjoyed getting out of the office as he felt desk work was stifling. Today, he was miserable. The fact that he wore a suit to work did not help.
Yokozawa was walking back to Marukawa publishing after visiting Marimo Books. The sales were going great especially for The Kan. Yukina's displays and charismatic charm had their books flying off the shelves. He was truly glad that the young artist enjoyed their books because it made his work easier. Yokozawa stopped on his path to the office. 'Normally I don't mind wearing a suit but today is too damn hot.' He shrugged off his suit jacket. The suit jacket was tossed haphazardly over his shoulder. He then loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons on his undershirt. Running his fingers through his hair, he continued walking. 'Well this is better but I'm already hot and covered in sweat.' He frowned as he assessed his state. 'I will just have to take a shower later.'
The dark haired salesman had reached his destination of Marukawa Publishing after walking for half an hour. He walked up the stairs. A cool refreshing breeze hit him upon entering the air conditioned building. He stopped relishing the much needed cool down.
When the doors opened the two pretty young ladies working at the reception desk called out, "Welcome back-" Only for their voices to trail off when they caught sight of Yokozawa. Or more specifically his neck and exposed collar. Surprise colored both of their faces. Both girls realized they made a mistake and sucked in a deep breath as they waited to see if Yokozawa caught it. Luckily for them Yokozawa passed right on by heading to the elevator.
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As soon as the elevator doors closed both receptionist let out a breath of relief. 'That was to close for comfort' was the shared thought. They turn to each other and chatted excitedly.
"That was shocking! I was caught off guard." Meiko stated.
"I know right! He is so serious I wouldn't expect him to do something like this. Actually I wasn't aware he was dating someone. Is he dating someone?" Yuki responded curiously.
"I'm not sure.That could be from a secret lover or the result of a one night stand! Either way this is to good to keep to ourselves. I'm going to call Riko-chan. I'm sure she will love to hear this." Meiko excitedly replied, pulling out her cellphone. She dialed Riko-chan's number.
"Wait! Don't call!" Yuki yelled in a panic grabbing Meiko's wrist. Meiko disconnected the call to hear her friend out for it was unusual for Yuki to act like that.
"Why not?" Meiko patiently asked.
"What if Yokozawa-san found out that we started this gossip? This could backfire on us." Yuki explained clasping her hands together nervously. Meiko paled for a moment imagining the possible tongue lashing they could receive if he found out. 'I can't miss this opportunity.'
"There is no guarantee this will be traced back to us. Gossip spreads fast in this company and anyone who Yokozawa-san passes counts as a suspect of spreading this news. I doubt we will be the only ones that talk about it, so there is no harm if we talk to a few of the workers here about what we saw." Meiko countered determined.
"I...guess you are right." Yuki relented since there was no hope to change Meiko's mind. 'I hope this is okay...' Both girls pulled out their cellphones to start calling people. This started the chain of rumors about Yokozawa that traveled around all the floors of the building.
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All this was happening without Yokozawa knowing. He was not blind to the whispers and stares he was getting from fellow coworkers. He chose to ignore them. Although he would be lying if he did not admit that he was starting to get irritated.
Arriving at the sales department on the fourth floor Yokozawa's poor mood, from having to suffer the heat during making his rounds to bookstores, had increasingly worsened. 'Usually people avoid me like I have some sort of deadly disease. They keep their distance, do not make eye contact, and if they have to speak to me do so through email or phone call. So why am I the center of attention today? What is so interesting that people are stealing glances at me and having hushed conversations?' Yokozawa let out a small growl. 'I don't have time to focus on this shit. I have work to do.'
No one in sales had acknowledge Yokozawa's presence until they heard the sound he made. Sure his footsteps could have been a warning, if they weren't buried deep in paper work. The phones were ringing nonstop as well. It was expected that Henmi would greet him first like he always did. Due to being so busy, the news spreading around the office had not reached the members of the sales department.
Henmi hurriedly stood up saying,"Good morning Yokozawa-san. While you were away there was few calls. Also, there are proposals that need your approval." Henmi had not gotten a good look a Yokozawa or a chance to assess his mood before filling him in. When Yokozawa did turn toward Henmi shock ran through him. His eyes had traveled to and stayed on Yokozawa's collar and neck for an instant. He quickly averted his gaze to the wall or anywhere else. 'I probably saw something I wasn't supposed to.' The others in the department had lifted their heads from work to call greetings. They chanced upon they same spot that caught Henmi's attention.
Yokozawa was used to other people being uncomfortable when interacting with him due to being intimated, not knowing him, or from hearing how others describe him. That was normal. However, Henmi had never acted that way. Henmi was always cheerful, oblivious at times, and scarily perceptive at others. But scared to talk to Yokozawa...not at all. Or at least if he was he never showed it. So the fact that Henmi appeared nervous now had caught Yokozawa's attention.
"Is something wrong Henmi? Did anything happen in my absence?" Yokozawa inquired making sure to cool down his temper. Henmi hasn't done anything to incur his wrath not that he was aware of.
"No everything is going fine." Henmi answered moving his eyes to meet Yokozawa's. Yokozawa sat in his chair and frowned.
"Why are you unsettled? Did I do something?" Yokozawa continued his investigation of Henmi's unusual reaction. He couldn't afford to have an awkward relationship with Henmi. Hs relied on Henmi way to much. People felt way more comfortable talking to him than Yokozawa.
Henmi swallowed around the lump in his throat. 'Of course he shows concern for me when I would prefer he didn't. I don't want to suffer his wrath from telling him, but I highly doubt anyone else will.' He looked at his coworkers with pleading eyes that begged,"Please help. What do I do? What do I say." Everyone returned to working leaving Henmi to handle this situation on his own. 'I'm on my own, huh?'
"I'm n-n-not unsettled. And you didn't do anything. Please there is no need to waste your concern on me." Henmi asserted forcing a fake yet relatively convincing smile.
Yokozawa crossed his arms and surveyed the room grimacing. 'Everyone has been acting strange since I entered the room. What the hell is everyone's problem today!' He was growing frustrated again. Everyone in the sales department flinched as they noticed Yokozawa's dark aura. This did not slide by Yokozawa. Yokozawa let out a sigh. 'I shouldn't take out my anger here. They didn't do anything to deserve that. I know I just arrived but I should take a break.'
"I'm going to take a break. If you need me call my cellphone." Yokozawa announced getting up and turning to walk out before anyone could reply or try to stop him. Not that anyone thought that it was a good idea to stop him. And Yokozawa could have sworn he heard everyone let out a breath of relief when they thought he was gone. 'No it was probably my imagination. I am just paranoid today.
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Yokozawa was not wrong the members of his department did exactly as he thought. Everyone stared at each other with one thing in mind. A silence pursued for ten minutes. Finally, Henmi spoke up breaking it.
"I know that it was a good idea to let Yokozawa-san take a break, but should I have said anything or even gave him a hint." Henmi questioned feeling guilty. He hung his head.
"And risk your head getting chewed off. No, I think you did the right thing keeping silent." Himuro returned supportively.
"There is something you could do if you are still worried. You can call Kirishima-san. Those two have been close lately. I'm sure he would know how to handle the situation." Moka added.
"You are right. Why didn't I think of that?" Henmi responded feeling stupid for forgetting something so helpful in this case. "I am going to do that right now." Henmi was more energetic now that there was a solution to his problem. He walked to he desk and quickly dialed Kirishima's number.
"Hello. How may I help you~?" Kirishima's cheerful voice answered
"Hi. This is Henmi. I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" Henmi began, his hand started griping and twirling the phone cord.'I wonder if this is really alright. I am planning on taking advantage of Yokozawa's good relationship with Kirishima. It is underhanded, is it not?'
"This favor would not happen to involve a grumpy bear that is the hot topic of Marukawa, would it?"
"How did you know?" Henmi tilted his head at Kirishima's reference to Yokozawa as grumpy bear. 'Grumpy bear huh? It suits him.'
"Lucky guess. I am pretty sure I know what you want and the answer is yes. Tell me where he is and I will take care of it."
"You will. Thanks! I owe you one. Yokozawa-san is most likely in the smoking area on the sales floor." Henmi gladly reported. He sat at in his chair. 'I'm so glad someone like Kirishima is around.'
"Not at all. As matter of fact I was planning on visiting your floor to talk to him any way."
With that Kirishima disconnected the phone call. Henmi put the phone down returning to work mind at ease. 'That takes care of that.' Unknown to Henmi, Kirishima was waiting for an opportunity like this.
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Yokozawa shuddered as uneasiness crept up on him. He had been in the designated smoking on the fourth floor area for fifteen minutes. 'Staying here all day is not an option. Although I really don't want to return to an awkward atmosphere.' He stood there debating how much longer he could avoid the sales while knowing there was piles of paper and emails to go through. He leaned against the wall with his eyes closed.
Kirishima enters the break room as quietly as humanly possible. On the way to the break room he had checked to see what others on the sales floor were up to. Most everyone was busy with work meaning no one would be paying attention to them. He would have some alone time with Yokozawa. He smiles evilly as he approached his victim. 'This should be fun.'
"I can think of plenty of other places that are way more comfortable to sleep. My bed for example." Kirishima whispered teasingly, loud enough for Yokozawa's ears only.
Yokozawa's eyes flew open, searching to make sure they were alone. He glared at the person responsible for disturbing his break. His face immediately heated up at hearing Kirishima's words. 'I can't take this right now.' Ignoring the comment to the best of his abilities he moved to push pass Kirishima. Unexpectedly, Kirishima did not try to stop him, but stared smugly daring Yokozawa to walk out on him.
"What do you want?"Yokozawa asked standing in front of Kirishima with arms crossed.
"Hmmmm nothing much. I came to invite my workaholic lover to get something to eat." Kirishima innocently explains. "And to confirm the rumors for myself."
"What rumors? What are you talking about?"
"You mean you haven't heard? Haven't questioned why you have been getting stared at or why hushed conversations stop in your presence? That's not like you. Normally you would jump all over people to find out what's wrong. Of course this is the one time it would have been a good idea to do that."
"Why is that?"
"Because if you had you would have known that the intimidating, wild bear of the sales department is walking around proudly displaying kiss marks for all to see." Kirishima indifferently points out. Then, as if an afterthought adds, "Not that I mind. I find this very sexy." Kirishima ran his fingers over the kiss marks on Yokozawa's neck and collar bone. His hands are quickly slapped away, though he didn't miss the way his partner shuddered from his touch.
"That is a terrible joke! I would never do that! I am not going to fall for your trick." Yokozawa snapped lacking his usual fierceness due to uncertainty.
"Don't shoot the messenger who was nice enough to inform you of your situation. No one else was going to directly tell you this. I am not afraid and took on this task for your sake. If you don't believe me then go look in the bathroom mirror." Kirishima made this suggestion with his hands raised defensively.
Yokozawa opened the door to the break room and went to the men's restroom with Kirishima close on his heels without replying. 'Fine I will play along. I know this just Kirishima's sick sense of humor anyway. There is no way.....' He pushed the door open. Reflected in the mirror was his image showing with perfect clarity a trail of kiss marks going from his collar bone to his neck. Yokozawa was frozen.'I can't believe it. This can't be happening.' His face drained of color and displayed a mixture of emotions ranging from embarrassment to anger.
"It's not that bad. I mean who cares if people know your in a relationship." Kirishima said soothingly placing a hand on Yokozawa's shoulder. "And before you try to place the blame on me let me remind you that I can't help leaving bite marks any more than you can help leaving scratch marks." He lifted his shirt to reveal the scratch marks he had.
Yokozawa had his mouth open ready to tear in to Kirishima until he heard those words. 'I guess when he puts it like that I have to accept that this is my fault.' He closed his mouth and fixed his shirt to hide the kiss marks. His face was red. He never got how character in a book or tv show could feel so mortified that they wished a hole would open up in the ground and swallow them until now. He felt his pride and dignity shatter.
Kirishima wrapped his arms around his shaking partner. There was a limit to how far he could go with teasing Yokozawa and he felt he crossed the line a little.
"I'm sorry. I should have gave you a warning about the marks. I will get people to stop talking about this." Kirishima said apologetically. He pulled back to gently kiss Yokozawa on the forehead. He then ruffled Yokozawa's hair.
Yokozawa pushed him away. He felt calmer now. Rarely, did Kirishima's presence have that affect on him.
"I'm not a little kid. And I would be fine even without your help." Yokozawa retorted. Having regained his composure he marched out of the bathroom with his head high. His glare was sharp. His posture was straight. He had an intense aura that clearly revealed his determination to fix this situatuon. He was the very definition of scary at this moment. "I'm going to take care of this myself."
Kirishima smirked as he watched his boyfriend leave. "I knew you would say that." A chuckle escaped his lips. 'Those poor unfortunate souls have no idea what is coming their way.'

Here is another chapter. I hope you enjoy. If you have any suggestions for situations you would like to see feel free to tell me or just tell me what you thinks of my random one-shots. I don't own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi. I added some characters in. Like always thoughts are in italics. Kirishima speaking on the phone is in bold print.