The Temple of Heaven

by Z. Allora

  “Indigo would accuse me of totally fanboying on you, but yeah, who?”

  Jordon chuckled. “Tricks, but I’m not going to say who he might or might not be with.”

  “You’re cruel,” Tian Di accused, with a grin on his face. “Would promises of mouth sex sway you?”

  Jordon smirked. “Don’t I have those promises anyway?”

  Tian Di rolled his eyes. “Yeah, of course, but who?”

  Jordon laughed and spun in a circle, gesturing to the masterpieces. “Which is your favorite painting?”

  Surveying each painting again, Tian Di chose The Great Wave.

  “Why?”

  Tian Di pointed to the big, blue, white-capped waves with the boats being tossed in their wake. “I know it’s the most popular, but I like how it reminds us to live. That big wave is coming for us all. We need to enjoy life and learn to surf the waves life throws at us.”

  “Wow, that’s deep. Are you a singer or a philosopher?”

  “A little of both. What’s your favorite?”

  Jordon led Tian Di to his choice. “Umezawa Manor in Sagami Province. I like how the two cranes fly off by themselves.”

  “And the five that are eating or fishing aren’t concerned, because those two aren’t leaving forever. They will return. Independence doesn’t have to mean alone.” Tian Di made his point.

  Jordon ran his fingertips over Tian Di’s forearm in a light, almost appropriate, public display of affection. “Exactly. My therapist called that interdependence. It’ll just take some adjusting for me and my brothers.”

  They came to another placard in Japanese with no English in sight. Tian Di translated, “He started this series when he was seventy years old. There were ten more paintings that surfaced, but then the printings of them stopped.”

  Jordon meandered through the other paintings, just drinking in the brilliance. “I appreciate that you don’t rush me, but are you bored? I know I go pretty slow at times.”

  “Not at all. I find seeing art through your eyes has given me a better appreciation of the world.”

  “What do you—oh, Tian Di. Look at these illustrations he did.” Jordon rushed over and studied the images.

  Tian Di squeezed his shoulder and stood close to him. “This right here is what I mean.”

  Huh? Jordon stared at him.

  “I’ve never given a passing thought to the illustrations in books, and now I can’t believe I’ve missed such beauty. I see colors, buildings, and even lines differently. My enhanced vision has enriched my singing.”

  That puzzled Jordon. “How?”

  “When I’m singing lyrics about inky black streets, I try to taste the depths of color now that you’ve shown me what exists. I’m more aware of everything around me. I hope you always want to share art with me… including who Tricks might be with during the honorable rising of the sun.”

  Jordon snorted.

  Tian Di leaned in and added, “And the mouth sex. I always want to share the mouth sex with you even if you don’t tell me.”

  Nodding, Jordon grinned. “Wonderful. I love the mouth sex, and yes, we should call oral sex that forever. Come on, let’s look at the paintings he did in his late thirties. They were under a different pseudonym.”

  Tian Di translated the placard. “His names were Sori and Hokusai Tokimasa, though I guess you read that. This is the series of beautiful ladies.”

  As Jordon strolled past at a snail’s pace, he shook his head. “Look at the lovely long necks and tiny hands. A sign of what beauty was at the time.”

  “The hair styles are so elegant.” Tian Di mused, “The lines remind me almost of manga drawings.”

  “They do. I studied his use of defined lines when I was fourteen. Art books are great for learning about an artist, but nothing beats seeing the actual paint strokes.” Jordon could feel the influence seeping into him, possibly refining his own techniques.

  “I truly love you,” Tian Di whispered with such reverence Jordon was confused.

  “I love you.” Jordon looked around. “Why are you saying that? Don’t get me wrong, I always want to hear that.”

  “I just wanted you to know I appreciate you and adore everything about you. Seeing you in a museum is just… well, it’s amazing.”

  “It’s probably like when I watch you turn into a rock god onstage.” As if Tian Di didn’t always inspire Jordon to see his sexy star appeal. Hell, Jordon could barely stay off his knees around him. “Although that’s only one part of you and only one part of why I’m in love with you.”

  SHOVING A power bar into his mouth on the way to the museum might have broken the rules of Japanese etiquette about not eating outside a restaurant or home, but it did nothing to stave off his hunger. Jordon asked, “How about an early dinner?”

  “Sounds good. The yakitori place is within walking distance. Shall we?” Tian Di led the way through a downtown area with shops and some restaurants.

  “This is much lower key than Tokyo.”

  “No neon to burn out your retinas.” Tian Di glanced around. “I like the slower pace at times.”

  “Me too.”

  “This is the restaurant.” Tian Di held the door for him.

  There was only a long bar table with a display of fish tanks, glass refrigerated sections, and twelve stools. The table separated diners from the cooking area. There were various grills and hot surfaces along with baskets filled with fresh vegetables and produce.

  Tian Di greeted the only person in the restaurant—apparently the chef, based on his attire.

  Jordon bowed with Tian Di and let himself be led to the barstool at the end. He parked himself.

  After about five minutes of discussion with the chef, Tian Di turned to him and said, “I ordered.”

  “Thank you. Seemed like it wasn’t easy.”

  The chef banged down a teapot and two cups.

  Tian Di poured tea into the cups. “It’s done.”

  The chef served them each a single tempura shiso leaf.

  Jordon nabbed the leaf with his chopsticks and bit into the vegetable. Light, crisp deliciousness exploded in his mouth. He stared at Tian Di. “This is incredible. I want, like, a thousand of these.”

  Tian Di laughed as a plate with one tempura shrimp and a single yakitori chicken skewer with green onion was placed in front of each of them by a grimacing chef.

  Jordon whispered, “Why is the chef angry?”

  Tian Di gave one of his rueful smiles and shrugged. “There’s no love between China and Japan and in some cases a deep-seated hatred due to the war. And some of the older folks still hold a grudge against Americans.”

  Shaking his head, Jordon said, “I didn’t feel that in Tokyo or on my last trip.”

  “No, the bigger cities or ones more dependent on tourism see travelers as a good thing. But we might be the first foreigners he’s seen in a while.”

  The chef shot them a frown over his shoulder, suggesting he might have heard and understood more than Tian Di expected.

  Jordon offered the grumpy man his most charming smile and proclaimed, “Oishī. Arigatōgozaimashita.”

  The chef’s eyes got wide, and he gestured to the food. “Eat, eat,” he demanded in English before turning around to create more food magic.

  Tian Di leaned into him for a moment. “Well done.”

  Pleased he may have moved them off the chef’s poisoning for sport list, Jordon asked, “I did say delicious and thank you, right?”

  “Yeah, you were the model ambassador,” Tian Di reassured him.

  “Well, even with the hate, this food is incredible!” Jordon took a picture and sent it to Zack.

  Zack sent him one of squirrel fish. Jordon turned his phone around to show Tian Di. “I told him I didn’t know he liked squirrel.”

  “Nice.”

  Jordon displayed the second picture Zack sent of the fish bones. “I’d say he did.”

  “You seem better with your brothers.”

  “I know everyth
ing won’t be all fixed overnight. I know I need to hold tough on the boundaries. I think now that they know what I’m trying to do, they’ll even help me.”

  “Your brothers love you, and I bet they will. They want the best for you.”

  “I know. Though it’s hard to break out of the roles we’ve played for years, but we’re making steps toward that.”

  “You need to keep telling them what you need.” Tian Di added, “And me. You can tell me what you need as well. I’ll do everything I can to give it to you.”

  Jordon spoke the truth. “You. I only need you.”

  “Done,” Tian Di vowed.

  Chapter 18

  TIAN DI must have stepped into a dream. He and the most wonderful boyfriend in the world had gotten back two days ago from an incredible trip to Japan. Jordon had even opted to stay with him in Suzhou instead of going to Shanghai early. Between laundry and bouts of loving mouth sex, they only had enough time to pack for the next leg of the tour and catch the bus to Shanghai with the band for their next show.

  Hard to believe, but in a few hours, he would perform in the Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Arena. Not to mention that right now he and his band were hanging out with the legendary Dark Angels as if it were commonplace.

  “Who knew this arena had an ice rink in the basement?” Jin, who opted to stay off the ice, propped himself on his elbows against the railing next to Tian Di.

  “Not me. I thought the text invitation to a skating party was a joke,” Tian Di answered in his preshow whisper.

  Jin nodded. “Yeah, me too.”

  “Jordon assured me it wasn’t. I guess the Dark Angels always do things as a group every couple of weeks to blow off steam and reconnect.” Tian Di tightened the scarf around his neck and e He rubbed his hands together against the cold of the ice rink.

  “Seems to be working,” Jin mused as Josh and Robin flew by, grinning as they raced each other around the rink.

  Jordon slid over the ice, executing a perfect turn in front of Tian Di, and blew him a kiss as he skated backward.

  Tian Di tingled and threw him a kiss back. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up.

  Jin pointed at the duo laughing and effortlessly skating backward. “And who would have thought Angel Luv and Dusty Davis were such good ice skaters?”

  “I guess because their hometown is in upstate New York, they learned to skate. Jordon said the winters are cold, and they get lots of snow and ice.”

  “I can’t imagine freezing weather like that.” Jin hugged himself tighter inside the puffy jacket the arena had provided.

  “Yeah—look at Jordon. He glides over the ice like he has wings.” Tian Di couldn’t help but admire Jordon’s fluid movements.

  “As Indigo would say, you’re drooling,” Jin spoke in English, carefully pronouncing each word.

  He shrugged and confessed, “I can’t help it.”

  Jin smiled and then a comfortable silence settled over them as they watched.

  Tian Di’s phone buzzed with his daily reminder to run through Made in China’s song lyrics. He might not get stage fright, but he lived with the terror of forgetting the words.

  “Go ahead. I don’t mind.” Jin understood what the special alarm meant.

  Tian Di scrolled through the words on his phone and read the words, “Neon-lit streets only highlight my loneliness and doubt.”

  Jordon shook his butt to the new song blasting out of the speakers and waved his hands in the air. He skated by Tian Di, singing with all his heart. His smile never failed to make Tian Di’s heart expand with even more love, reminding him some of the lyrics were distant memories now. He was no longer filled with doubt and loneliness, but with love and happiness.

  “Jin, come on, I know you only have eyes for Styx, but Jordon is stunning, and he’s such a good person. I love everything about him. He is my idea of the perfect guy.” He spoke soft but slow, to ensure his words would be understood.

  “I agree with you.”

  “What—Zack? Oh, sorry, I thought Jin…. Sorry.” He remembered to lower his voice back to a whisper when he got to the second sorry.

  Zack stood where Jin had been.

  Dusty appeared on his other side, slouching against the rail. “You really do adore him.”

  Tian Di wasn’t going to front. “How could I not? Look at him.”

  If Dusty stared any harder, Tian Di might burst into flames. Hopefully, Tian Di maxed out the man’s truth-o-meter.

  Zack usually convicted him with his gaze. It always felt like the guy was trying to figure out how many years Tian Di deserved behind bars—but not right now.

  Trying to think of something to say, Tian Di whispered, “Jordon skates beautifully.”

  “We taught him,” Dusty and Zack said in unison.

  Zack laughed. “Well, that’s not quite true.”

  Dusty covered his face. “That’s right. I gave him skating lessons for Christmas when he was eight because he wanted to skate—”

  “In the Olympics, if I remember right.” Zack laughed. “Though, I think it was the costumes he liked. All frilly and sequined—”

  Shaking his head, Dusty said, “No, he loved skating. The costumes were just a bonus.”

  “Argh.” Indigo clutched the railing for dear life and slip-walked past them.

  “You need some help?” Dusty hurried to the ice entrance.

  Li slowly took one hand off the rail and waved Dusty off. “Thanks, but I’ve got him.”

  Tian Di didn’t think that was true, since Li did not have much more stability than Indigo.

  Dusty almost reached them.

  “Just a bit farther.” Li pointed to the exit. The gesture cost him his balance, and he toppled over, landing on Indigo.

  “We don’t have ice in LA for good reason.” Indigo laughed and rolled on top of Li. “Though maybe ice skating isn’t that bad… as long as I’m on top.”

  Jordon and Angel skated to Dusty and helped guide Indigo and Li off the ice.

  As if Jordon heard the wishes Tian Di made, he slid to a stop in front of Tian Di, gripped him by the hair, and pulled him into a very loving kiss. Mmmm, good thing they had the rink to themselves.

  Tian Di was positive he would never get used to Jordon’s affectionate, loving, and very sensual kisses.

  Jordon rested his forehead on Tian Di’s before he asked, “Were my brothers grilling you?”

  Tian Di shook his head and whispered, “No.”

  Jordon snorted, sounding very much like Zack.

  THE DRESSING room Made in China was given had uncomfortable, stiff fancy sofas and chairs scattered about, along with six lighted makeup mirrors. There was a buffet of sandwiches, cookies, tea, sodas, chips, and various candies. The offerings were probably scrumptious, but Tian Di didn’t eat before performances.

  “Indigo, if I smacked you in the face, it wouldn’t interfere with your keyboard playing hands, right?” Tian Di growled. He didn’t know how to throw a punch, but he could learn.

  “What?” Indigo held out his hands. Why did Indigo have to play a jackass constantly?

  “I put up with a lot, but I will not tolerate anyone being disrespectful to Jordon.” Tian Di raised his voice above a whisper.

  “Dude, calm down. Vocal rest. I’m just asking him if you were the first Asian he’s hooked up with, or is he a rice queen?”

  “I don’t know what a rice queen is, but I can tell by your face you’re being, as you say, all kinds of wrong.” Tian Di bit out each word in English so Indigo wouldn’t be confused.

  Jordon touched Tian Di’s mouth, reminding him of his voice, and then ran a hand down his arm. “Hey, it’s okay. Indigo is trying to be funny. Failing, but he’s just teasing. Indigo, Tian Di is my first boyfriend, and I love him, so I guess I’ll never know if I’m a rice queen.”

  “See? Jordon knows I mean—ow! Where the fuck are you… oh. Okay.” Indigo allowed Li to drag him into one of the dressing room bathrooms.

  Jin and Styx sat on t
he sofa, drinking tea and talking about one of the Western television shows Indigo made everyone watch as a band.

  Tian Di leaned toward Jordon and mouthed, “What is a rice queen?”

  Jordon rolled his eyes. “It means a lot of things, but the term can describe someone who has a fetish for Asian men.”

  Glaring at the bathroom door, Tian Di silently bit out his regret. “I should have smacked him when I had the chance.”

  “Nah, I think that was Indigo’s way of letting me know he’s watching out for you.” Jordon was always too sweet.

  Tian Di drank the rest of his tea. “I don’t need him protecting me from you. From him, maybe, but not you.”

  Jordon refilled Tian Di’s teacup. “I know, but he’s doing the same thing my brothers have done to you.”

  Sipping the warm tea, Tian Di mouthed, “Thanks. Oh, about that. They weren’t grilling me, but I thought I was talking to Jin about you, but Zack slipped into where he’d been and—”

  “Ah, maybe that might explain this?” Jordon showed Tian Di the recent texts from Zack.

  Tian Di read them.

  Ur BF doesn’t suck.

  Then Jordon had responded, Yes, he does.

  And Zack texted, TMI.

  Tian Di pointed to TMI and gestured for an explanation.

  “Too much information.” Jordon shrugged. “Well, you do suck.”

  Tian Di ran a hand over Jordon’s crotch. He loved Jordon’s cock. “If it wasn’t so close to showtime, I’d provide evidence.”

  Jordon wiggled and moaned. “How about as soon as you’re done with the show?”

  “Before the after-party?” Jordon cupped Tian Di, making him gasp. “Before, definitely before the interviews, or right—”

  A knock sounded on the door, and a roadie stuck her head in and shouted, “Ten minutes.”

  “Well, that cuts off any other ideas we might have had.” Jordon took his hand off where Tian Di preferred it and stuck out his lower lip in an adorable pout.

  Tian Di couldn’t resist and put that pout to use. He gave him a kiss on the mouth.

  “Later.” Jordon pulled Tian Di to one the love seats.

  Tian Di sighed as he sat down. He scrolled through his cell phone, skimming the words of the songs.