Indigenous Foreigner

[antimiya88]

Title: Indigenous Foreigner (one-shot)

Author: Andy-chan (antimiya88)

Pairings: Matsumiya

Genre: Historical AU (20th century), Romance, Smut

Rating: NC-17

Summary: In the Japan of the late 1930s, Matsumoto Jun has finally been entrusted with his first big case; to catch the man known in his agency as the Phantom, who doesn't hesitate to earn wealth illegally by selling information to the Europeans. He has been working on the case for several months now and has managed to mix himself at the Japanese elite, using a fake name. Everything goes by the plan when he meets Ariake... the man who, he's sure, is his target. It should be easy but from the first moment their eyes met, Jun knows that that wouldn't be the case. The other is mysterious, attractive... alluring. He can feel the danger yet things might prove to be more difficult taking him to unknown paths. And then he comes to a dilemma. Will he give in temptation or not... and if yes, at what cost?

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the boys, unfortunately.






For my dearest Medium-chan's (matsuaurore) bday!!! ^_^

Indigenous Foreigner

Jun took a sip of his brandy, smiling seductively at the woman that was staring at him across the round table. It was the fourth round and the game had already gone wild. It wasn’t something unexpected… especially given the wealth all these people in the room had. The air was mixed; cigars and perfumes were making the atmosphere almost dizzying but not to Jun. Tonight, like all the other nights, he had a reason to be there and he was focused on that.

“Tokita-san, it’s your turn…” she said making sure her cleavage was on better view. Jun smiled with a small nod that showed his pretended approval. He was disgusted by such women. She was so openly flirting with him when she was sitting right next to her husband. Surely, he was old… fat… he could call him ugly as well… but she had chosen him for his money; a weapon that lost against no one and nothing; factor that was more than proven among all those people.

Jun turned his attention to his cards. He didn’t have any good ones but he had to win that night too. According to the information, he would appear soon and he needed to be the one with the most wins. It was the only way to make the first step closer. If there’s no other way… He looked at her again this time with an intense stare, his tongue brushing his lower lip in a lustful till he was sure she’d get his message. He could only smile when she made a small nod while biting the edge of her lower lip. So easy to trick…

“Pass…” he said arrogantly and heard surprised gasps around him but the ones that followed after her turn made them count as nothing.

It had been two months and a half since he had started coming to Blue Moon club. Its doors opened only to the elite of the elite that wished for a discreet yet luxurious place to spend their money while entertaining themselves. Despite the economic problems that Japan was facing after the Great War, there were still those who earned lots of money thanks to the illegal trade with the Europeans mostly at the last attached areas of China. Such people loved to gamble. They took risks every day, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise that Blue Moon, since the late 20s when it welcomed guests for the first time, was full every Friday and Saturday night.

Jun found them superficial, pretentious and hated to have to pretend to be one as well but he had to and in a convincing way, if he wanted to be successful to the first job that the agency had entrusted him. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could do it.

After two more rounds, he had achieved what he wanted. He won and gathered all the marks with a wide smile. He wanted to laugh seeing the displeasure written on Tachibana-san’s face contradicting the happiness that filled his wife’s one. He raised from his seat taking his glass in hand as he made a nod to the responsible one that he had finished for the night.

He was heading to the bar when he heard a small group of women talking about a particular someone who had won all three games at the small room. The small room was the one where all the new potential members had to play before winning the opportunity to participate in the main events.

Curiosity winning him over, he went to see who this apparently cute little man was. As soon as he entered the room, their gazes met. Jun felt his heart beating faster than ever. He had never seen him which meant that he wasn’t from the Capital. He had his short hair pulled back. His jacket was placed on the chair, leaving him only in his light gray vest and white shirt, the sleeves of which were rolled up until his elbows. His lips were curved into a hint of smirk and the cigarette that was secured at the corner of them was making him look self-confident, perhaps arrogant… There was undoubtedly a mysterious aura around him and Jun could understand why everyone was talking about him; he was attractive… dangerously attractive. He couldn’t take his eyes away. His instinct told him that his target was him…

“Who is he?” Jun asked the second in rank of the club that was standing next to him, not wanting to lose any more minutes.

“Ariake” the other whispered in his ear.

“Never heard of him…”

“Because he’s from Okinawa… Rumor has it he’s extremely wealthy… You know, the usual…” the man winked at Jun.

Of course it would the usual. There would be no other way to have so much money to spend… only illegally. But what was more interesting is that he was supposed to have come from Okinawa… It was the region his information had shown as his target’s last place of action.

Jun raised his eyebrow. “Really?! That’s… interesting…” he muttered to himself as he turned his attention back to the man who almost looked like a kid wearing his father’s tuxedo. If it’s really him, either he hasn’t thought of the possibility of having been tracked down or he’s overly confident…

Jun focused on the small hands that were holding the cards. There was only one way to find out whether if this Ariake was indeed the man he was looking for or not. It had to be him. His instinct was saying so but there was no photo… only one element… He knew he had been stared back many times but kept his face straight. It was now or never and thankfully, after a while, he got a glimpse of it… the golden watch worn wrongly on his right hand. Jun’s eyes bulged at the realization. It is him! He raised his gaze smirking when he saw their eyes meeting. Got you…

The game ended with Ariake as the winner. Jun came closer with the best smile he had until he was standing right at the latter’s side. He could feel that all pairs of eyes were following his every move but didn’t pay attention. All he cared about was this man.

“Ariake-san, if I’m not mistaken?”

“Yes… With whom do I have the honor to speak?” the other said in a tone that showed confidence and if Jun was honest with himself, he’d swear he also traced arrogance in it.

“Tokita” Jun said smiling wider, their eyes still locked.

“So, you are the famous Tokita-san! People have been talking about you. But I’m afraid I do not understand. What would you like from me?” he tilted his head a bit; a small move that made him look even younger.

“I heard people talking about you, too and I admit I’m intrigued by your game… You like to attack… I like to attack, as well… So, how about we play a death match? Just the two of us…” Jun said smirking when he heard the surprised reactions of the ones around them. “If you win, you’re invited next Saturday to join us in the other room. What do you say?”

Ariake only smiled with a small nod. Jun finished his brandy and seconds later, sat across the table. The bets were on and the game started. Jun was watching the other closely, the exact same way he was watched. It felt, as if he had met someone equal. He could feel that he wouldn’t be able to trick him as easily as he had done with the other players but he made sure that Ariake also got the message that he couldn’t be tricked either. He chose his moves carefully and lost at the last round, making it look as if luck had finally left him for the night.

“Ariake-san will be joining the first room next Saturday, at eight in the evening” the second in charge of the club announced and cleared the table from the cards and marks.

There were whispers but Jun laughed it off, shrugging his shoulders. “I guess I couldn’t ask for more in one night… Congratulations, Ariake-san” he said as he stood up and gave his hand to the smaller man.

“It was a matter of luck… I’m sure you’ll be able to turn things around in our next game…” Ariake said in a low voice.

Jun could feel his heart pounding in his chest. The touch was simple but strong enough to make him shiver.

“I look forward to it…”

“Tokita-san, do you want to get paid today?” the responsible asked Jun causing them to break the handshake.

“Yes, please” Jun replied as he headed to the bar. He leaned his back against it watching the room. There were still a few tables still covered with the green felt. There were always the ones who kept playing till the early hours in the morning.

He ordered another brandy as he waited for his earned money lighting his cigarette when he saw the other coming closer to him. Ariake put his hat on and bowed. “Till next Saturday, Tokita-san”

Jun saw him leaving in a slow, yet steady pace that showed no trace of fear. We will see how you will be next Saturday, Ariake-san!
……………………………………………….


Next Saturday came slower than Jun wanted. He had been on fire since he had met this man. He was trying to convince himself that it was because he finally had the opportunity to get into action but if he wanted to be completely honest with himself, he knew that a part of it, even if it was small, was because of Ariake...

Jun was dressed in his favorite dark blue suit, matched with an equally dark blue trench coat and hat. His hair was arranged perfectly that made him look handsome. He knew that from the moment he stepped into Blue Moon. The gasps he could hear as he passed by the women were the best proof. He entered and scanned the place fast, his breath taken away when his eyes saw him sitting alone at the bar. My chance!

Ariake had his back at him. He was wearing a black suit combined with white-black shoes. Classy… Jun thought as his eyes were moving up and down the slim silhouette. The other was leaning on both his elbows, smoking, lost as it seemed in his thoughts.

“May I?” Jun asked him with a smile politely.

Ariake turned his gaze to him, his eyes moving from head to toe. “Sure…”

Jun sat at the seat next to the other. “What are you drinking?”

“Scotch”

Jun smiled. “You surely go for the strong ones… But isn’t it too American?”

Ariake muffled a laugh. “I’d say Scottish… but I like it… it might be strong as you say, it does feel hot at your throat but the aftertaste is worth it. And you with your brandy, isn’t it too French?”

Jun was looking closely at the other. His eyes were not too big but they were clever; probably the cleverest he had ever seen in a person. Ariake brought the glass to his lips drinking some more of the scotch and all Jun could do was focus on that pair of lips and those moles around it. This man was alluring… and that meant only one thing for him and his mission; danger.

He cleared his throat in an attempt to focus but frowned when he heard another muffled laugh. When he looked at the other, he was smirking, his eyes locked on Jun’s face.

“You’re an interesting man, Tokita-san… a very interesting man…”

“Why do you say that?” Jun asked in a neutral tone, raising his eyebrow. He was determined to pull this off successfully.

“Not for a specific reason…” the other said in a low voice, still smirking.

Jun started feeling uneasy. It was clear that the other was getting the control and he had to turn things before it went worse.

“I have never seen you before. Only last weekend… Are you new here?”

The other shook his head, as if he knew why Jun made this question. “Yes. Just arrived from Okinawa… but why are you asking me? Hadn’t you already asked Arimiya-san last Saturday?”

Jun was astonished. He had never met someone who would be this straight with his words.

“I admit I was curious…”

“So why asking me about it? You needed confirmation?”

“No. I was just trying to follow common conversation rules…”

Ariake knitted his eyebrows into a frown. “Common conversation rules?! Never heard of them, sorry…” he leaned closer to Jun who gulped at the short distance. “Hmm… Could it be that you are actually nervous because I won against you last Saturday, Tokita-san?”

Jun gave a nervous smile, deciding to play along. “It is a game. You either win or lose. You should be the one who must be nervous”

“Oh… really…?”

Jun leaned closer, staring at him confidently. “Yes… because you’ll be the one who will lose tonight…”

“In a while we’ll know… but… tell me, Tokita-san. Born in the Capital or moved from another city?”

Jun frowned at the sudden question, making Ariake burst into laughs. “I’m just trying to follow you… Don’t tell me that your common conversation rules are already forgotten?!”

“Of course not. Yes… I was born here…”

“Lucky…” the other whispered as he drank some more of his scotch before lightening another cigarette. “The more south, the more quite… I needed to feel alive, that’s why I came here! You live only once… Aren’t you supposed to exploit it at the maximum? To have fun? You can’t imagine how a war can change people… I can’t stand those who sulk…”

“You’re being harsh”

Ariake smiled and puffed his cigarette. “No… just being realistic…”

Jun said nothing more. His brandy was forgotten on the bar stool as all his attention was on the smaller man next to him. His eyes followed his small hand as it brought the glass to his lips, his Adam’s apple moving up and down as he drank. He caught a glimpse of a small droplet that ran down his jaw from the corner of his mouth, moving lower to his neck. It felt as if everyone in the club had disappeared and only the other existed. Instinctively, his tongue brushed over his lips wetting them. His throat felt dry and his whole body hotter than ever. Ariake was still gaining control…

“Be careful or I might misjudge you… and I’m sure you wouldn’t want that…” he heard the other whispering huskily in his right ear before making sure their eyes were at the same level, only a few inches apart. “Or… perhaps that is exactly what you want…?!” Jun shivered involuntarily, making Ariake smirk. “You’re an interesting man, Tokita-san…”

Jun couldn’t stand it anymore. He stood up and left. What is wrong with me?

***

To Jun’s relief, Ariake was seated a couple of chairs away. He tried not to look at the other because he had to remain focused. Five rounds later, he was taking all the marks in front of him. He turned his head to the other, smiling triumphantly who; in return, only smiled. His eyes didn’t reflect defeat but Jun didn’t care. He had won which meant that the first part of the plan was successful.

He didn’t play another game that night. He needed to watch the other and that was all he did, taking mental notes on the ways he was playing, interacting with others; everything.

He followed the same strategy for the next four weeks. He had succeeded in not having conversations with him again, mostly because he was afraid of himself. There was something in the other that made him lose his ground when he was close to him… turn him weak and weakness was the last thing he needed. Ariake had tried to speak to him the first couple of times but stopped, finally having got the message.

Jun would go back to his office to make sure he had everything right, with the smallest detail. He had to decode him… he had to be the one who’d finally arrest him… the famous Phantom, as everyone in his agency called him.
……………………………………………………..


It was one and a half months later when Jun saw some of the regular clients facing insolvency. He knew he was a step closer to catch him. He’d always use the same method. He’d win some of their money, he’d leave them believe that they had the upper hand and then he’d give the names with all the information of the illegal trade to the Dutch, French and British… everyone that had interest in the area. There was no money imported but Jun knew it. He was paid in gold.

“The only thing he does is selling information to the Europeans, making it impossible for us to find the information needed to make everyone at fault pay. He’s a traitor to his country!” Jun frowned as he remembered the other’s words. ‘Just being realistic’ I’d say cynic… “Matsumoto, I’m expecting your report tomorrow!” Jun’s boss came closer to him. “Matsumoto, are you listening to me?”

Jun looked at the older man startled, quickly bowing. “Yes, Sir. I’ll make sure it is well informative”

“It’s time for you to prove to us that you really have what it takes to be a part of the Japanese Intelligence Agency. I entrust you won’t disappoint us…”

Jun bowed again. “I’ll do whatever passes by my hand to arrest him, Sir”

“Good. You’re free to go, now”

***

Jun left the office, needing some air. He decided to go for a walk close to Shibuya. He wanted to grab something to eat to sort his thoughts out when he caught with the corner of his eye a pair sitting at one of the benches a few meters away. He looked again, his eyes bulging when he realized that the reason why he felt something about them was familiar, was the fact that the man was no one else but Ariake himself.

He lowered his hat, making sure his face was out of their sight and sat on the one at the back to theirs, with the morning newspaper in hand. He sat close enough to be able to listen to their conversation but not as much as to attract unnecessary attention.

“But Ariake-san…” he heard the woman say in a whining tone.

Jun frowned. If she called him Ariake, it could mean that she was probably a part of his game… or that she was just a cover and they both played at the same team…? Jun had never come across any woman as he had carefully studied his gathered information but was convinced that it was impossible for Ariake to work on his own. Working alone could only mean lacking in capability of taking care of all details; something that would have made it easier for them to catch him.

“There’s no reason to hurry… Just enjoy yourself. I want you to be happy!” the other said in a low voice.

“If you want me to be happy, then buy me that necklace!” the woman said stubbornly in an even whinier voice.

“But Tomoko-chan… you know it will be difficult… We’re talking of an auction… and not of some random one! Arimura attracts Tokyo’s biggest wallets…”

“I have faith in you!” the woman said excitedly and Jun was sure he heard a kiss.

He turned around so that he could get a glimpse of him better. He saw him lightening up a cigarette, followed by a deep sigh. “Women are always so hard to please…” he mumbled to himself and after throwing the cigarette on the ground, he stood up and started walking with both his hands in his pocket.

Jun was tempted to follow him but decided to go back to his office. That was something that could change the whole planning and he wouldn’t give his boss the satisfaction to put him back on doing useless paper work.

***

“I thought you had left…” Jun heard his colleague saying the moment he stepped into the office.

“Sakurai-san, was there ever a woman reported? Perhaps in any of the English papers? The Russian ones? Somewhere?” he asked him impatiently.

Sakurai Sho was the only one in the agency who spoke these languages and along with Aiba Masaki who spoke Korean and Mandarin, was the responsible for translation. Jun had been trying to learn French and German but still had a long way to go.

“Phantom’s case?” Sho asked as he straightened his suspenders, sign he was already tired.

“Yes!” Jun replied in the same tone ignoring the look his colleague was sending him.

“No. From what I and Aiba-san have seen, no. He always appears to work alone!”

“Then we probably have got something wrong… that or… I don’t know… the wrong person?”

He saw Sho frowning as he looked at him carefully. “You were the one that identified him and gathered all the information… and miraculously, similar cases started appearing in Tokyo from the moment he put his leg in town and now, you want to tell me that you were wrong? What’s wrong with you, Matsumoto-san? I understand that you’re nervous for working on your first big case but that’s a mistake not even a freshman in our agency would have done!”

“I don’t know… I met him by accident earlier in Shibuya… I sat close to him, making sure I was out of sight. There was also a woman… she has been demanding things… I guess he might be closer to jobbery because of her rather than doing such dark business… he never actually hid from anyone that-”

“Matsumoto-san, everything points at him!” Sho said in a louder tone when the door opened revealing their tall colleague.

“Sakurai-san, Matsumoto-san? What’s wrong? It’s uncommon of you to yell! I could hear you from the end of the corridor!”

“Matsumoto-san has second thoughts on catching this Ariake!”

Masaki sighed but said nothing. Jun had already opened Phantom’s file once again, trying to find a small detail that could lead to a woman.

Hours passed by. Sho had already left and Masaki was putting his jacket on. He grabbed his umbrella and hat and sat on the chair right next to Jun’s office, placing his hand friendly on the latter’s shoulder.

“I know you, Matsumoto-san. You have been working on this case for months and kept rereading the whole file again and again… You’re a man of detail and as much as it is an important factor for success, sometimes it can turn into a hindrance… I’d suggest you take a break; it’s already dark outside! What do you say we go for a drink?” he tried to persuade him but when Jun never raised his head from the piles of papers he had in front of him, Masaki knew it was in vain. “Nothing will come out like this…”

“You go, Aiba-san. I’ll stay a bit longer…” Jun mumbled without having his attention leave the words of the paper he was holding. He heard the door closing. He continued working with the same intensity for a few more hours after he was left alone in the office.

The clock across the wall indicated it was almost midnight. He stretched his hands up in the air before ruffling his hair in despair. He couldn’t explain why he was so obsessed with this Ariake… or why he felt a trace of relief at the thought that he might not be the one he was looking for. All he knew was that the other wouldn’t leave his mind… he could still feel the way his hot breath had landed on his skin when he had whispered in his ear and felt tens of chills running down his spine. He jumped up from his seat, bewildered. “I must be too tired…” he mumbled to himself and put everything back to its order before blowing out the kerosene lamp that was on his desk.

He grabbed his trench coat and hat and left the office. Outside the weather was humid. He walked slowly towards Shibuya station to catch the last train. His eyes fell at the bench he had earlier seen Ariake with that woman, his steps getting slower.

I will discover who you are… no matter what game you might play… You won’t hide from me… I won’t let you…

The first raindrops fell on him and hurried to the station. He sat by the window, looking outside. He would do whatever it took but he would find out the truth.

Part 2

Comments

[wongenglove]

Dear Andy, I asked your approval about translation of Indigenous Foreigner on AO3,but you didn't reply. I really love this story and want my friends in Chinese can read it, so I come DW for approval again.Can you agree I translate Indigenous Foreigner to Chinese and post out? Will keep all your rights. Please reply, thank you very much!

[antimiya88]

Hi! I didn't see your comment on AO3. Tbh I'm using it mostly as a backup for my fics.
I have no problem for having my fic translated to Chinese AS LONG AS you do the following: 1) The title has to be in English - you can write it in Chinese in (...) after the Eng one, if you want. 2) On AO3, you can add notes. I want them to be on TOP of the text with the mention of the following phrase in English "Original Work: Antimiya88. Posted on 11 November 2016" WITH a link to my Dash on AO3, like the one that's here on my sidebar.
In the past, someone had posted several fics of mine on another page without even asking for approval, so I'm a bit sensitive when it comes to reposting.
I hope you respect them and of course, I'm glad that you liked my story!
Andy