50Black Alleyways and Bleak Hearts
Chapter 2
He must have been over six foot tall; there was no doubt in my mind. Even at my 5'8" he was bigger than me, and more angular too; where I had round, pudgy edges, he was shoulder blades and knees. He was probably the sexiest man I'd ever met. Not that many men I knew were real lookers, they won their charm with warm, loving personalities and the tendency to do things that entertained and/or amused me, but this man was different than that, he scared me a little.
A shiver, probably of anticipation, ran down my spine as I waited in the kitchen of my home. Izumi-san, as he had introduced himself, was changing out of his suit-like get up so we could "get started." For the record, I have no idea what "get started" meant. But I sure hoped it was what I thought it was.
Before I could finish my thought, Izumi-san came out of the bathroom in a pair of loose, silk pajama bottoms and a towel. My jaw dropped.
"Do you like it?" He smirked at me, gesturing to his chest.
"Y-you have a nipple ring!" His smile got wider.
"What to know what else is pierced?"
I rolled my eyes and quickly looked away as he sat down in front of me, his long legs curing at exactly the right time as he slid his legs under the table. Softly the silk of his pants brushed my exposed knees, I didn't jump, but I was surprised he could get all the way over here. He must have really long legs.
"So…" He said in a lazy, expectant sort of way.
"So…" I said in return. He was going to have to earn my conversation.
"When are we getting started? I don't exactly know how this manga stuff works."
"Oh no, I thought you were an expert on everything?" The sarcasm was not lost on him, and he took the bait.
"Towa didn't tell me everything." He glared a little then looked away, expecting me to reply without further prodding.
Towa is the name of my editor, the chief in command, the big Gahanna, you name it, and if he wanted me to work with this man, then I honestly had no choice. It's a good thing I love my work, otherwise I'd have kicked this freeloader out.
"The duration of a manga series varies from story to story, it's dictated by many factors like the author's popularity, capability, and the funds to support the manga. Not to mention the company's willingness to publish it. My new series is planned for twenty-five volumes, which means roughly 125 chapters. Deadlines are different from company to company, but with us authors have three months to get started and then a month for each volume, we turn in a chapter at the beginning of the month and then subsequent weeks."
Izumi-san let out a whistle. "That's over two years, never been in a relationship that long."
"And it's not happening now. Writer's block is temporary, and as soon as it's gone, you will be too. Or sooner, if we can manage."
"Ouch, never been told to get out as soon as I could by a woman."
"Then this experience will be a whole new array of firsts for you." I gave him a saintly smile.
"So what do I need to do? You want me to model for you?" His face showed his dislike for the chore, but he looked willing enough.
"No. My characters are already drawn; I'm having problems with the name."
"Izumi-san and Orca-chan sounds good to me." He grinned as my spine popped into a ramrod position.
"That's not what a name- did you just call me fat?"
"What?"
He sounded as incredulous as I felt. But my chin was straight and my eyes weren't directed at him, I had been offended, I think, and I wanted to clear the waters.
"Orca is a type of whale."
"Orcas are incredible animals, the kings of the ocean, a tribe of giant mammals led by the head female, it fits you perfectly. I can't go around calling you by your pen name, and Orca is a hell of a better way to pronounce your name than that complex dialect your senpais use."
"Well excuse me for having such an unpronounceable name."
He rubbed a hand across his face. "Look, I like Orca-chan, and I'm not calling you fat. Get over yourself and tell me what I need to do to get rid of your writer's block."
I flinched. I'd been trying to get over my name (and my birthright) and writer's block for a while now. "Fine,"
Izumi-san looked up. "What, no snarky comeback?"
"Let's get on with this. All I need you to do it interest me in something, give me ideas with conversation. I need to explore new conversational terrain so to speak, to find what I need to put in the name." As he was about to ask, I answered his question. "A name is the storyline, or plot of a manga."
"So basically, all we have to do is talk to each other?" He leaned over to ask me, and the towel lifted from around hi neck to expose his chest.
Looking away as soon as I could I replied, "Pretty muchly. You're not here to be whored out to a spinster author, or to give up your good looks to model, I simply need you to talk to me. In the least annoying way as possible, if you can manage that."
"Well, you can't blame me for wondering; where I've been hired before it's been for one of the first two you listed off." Looking at the eyebrow I raised for him he said, "No, I'm not contracted for sex, Towa simply told me that one of his authors needed help and that he was calling in a favor for me to do the job. And," He let out a Cheshire grin, "From what I hear, when you're pissed you put out some of the best manga around, so why don't we get started on the verbal beat down?"