Soryu was at his desk working when he heard the phone ring. He picked up immediately seeing Samajime's name on the caller ID.

"Has something happened to Orie?" Soryu asked before Samajime could say a thing. It was natural for him to worry since he put Samajime in charge of protecting Orie today while she was out with Mei Ling.

"No, Sir. At least I don't think so. Actually, they have not left the suite which I thought was odd… but a strange looking woman just came to visit with something that looks like a tool box. I got curious and went to the door to try and find out what is happening. It seems that Mei Ling arranged for a tattoo artist to come from Hong Kong. Sir, she is here to give Ms Orie a tattoo. What should I do?"

Soryu went silent in surprise but rallied quickly. "There is nothing for you to do. If Orie wants a tattoo, who am I to interfere? Just make sure that's all it is and that they are both safe."

"Understood."

Soryu hung up the phone and leaned his chair back, amusement on his face. He really should be used to her surprising him by now but she always managed to find new and inventive ways of shocking him. He thought back to the time she had decided to take up Judo. That was right after the incident where she had saved him with an orange, of all things. He shut his eyes as he remembered…

"I don't want to burden you. If I learn Judo, I can defend myself." She looked up at him with determination on her face.

"That's why you have me to protect you. You don't need to worry about things like this." Soryu crossed his arms. "When I am not around Inui or Samajime look out for you as well. There is no need to go and do something that might hurt you."

"That's beside the point. Anyway, how many times have I been used against you? If I can at least defend myself so I won't be taken hostage all the time then it will be easier for you to protect me… right? I want to at least try."

Soryu sighed. "Well I won't stop you from trying but it's okay if you decide not to keep at it. I won't say anything."

Orie's eyes narrowed at that. "You don't think I can do it. You think I'm too weak."

"You are rather delicate. I just don't want to see you bruised and banged up."

Orie poked Soryu's chest. "I will do this. You will see, I will be able to *really* defend myself. In fact, I will make a bet with you right now, that I will be able to flip a grown man before six months have passed."

"A bet? What does the winner get?"

"The loser has to do whatever the winner says."

Soryu smiled. "You have a bet; I look forward to collecting on this one."

From that day forward, Orie had worked hard and took to her lessons with the same zeal and determination she showed for everything. Soryu had to admit, he liked the changes he was seeing. She carried herself with more confidence and grace and had developed a sleekness about her that reminded him of a tiger. Orie's body was still soft in all the right places and she was still the same girl he fell in love with, so he didn't worry about her leaving. However, he had started to notice a lot more men looking at her lately, including Inui and Samajime.

Soryu felt his manhood stir as his memories continued playing in his head…

Orie had come to the suite one day right after class, still wearing the workout clothes she usually wore under her uniform, her red hair straggling out of her braid and her cheeks flushed.

"Guess what? I did it! I flipped a man last month and have been able to do it consistently since then! I win the bet!" She stopped in front of him, smiling at him.

Soryu looked up at her calmly. "I didn't see it so it doesn't count." He knew she wouldn't lie about something like that but he still figured it was an exaggeration on her part.

Orie flushed deeper and put her hands on her hips. "Well, then I will prove it! Come with me to the next class. Or even better! Call Inui. I can show you my technique on him and you will see for yourself."

"What would you need him to do exactly?"

"He'd have to come at me like he's about to attack me… he'd have put his arms around me and then I get out of his hold."

Soryu stood up quickly and strode to Orie stopping mere inches away from her.

"Does this mean that men have been putting their arms around you at class?"

Orie looked at him, slightly confused. "Well, yes… I have to learn and practice and there are men *and* women there. What did you *think* I was doing?"

Soryu had known in theory that class was like that but hearing the reality of it had brought out his possessive streak. He closed the gap between them and brought his face to hers, close enough for their lips to almost touch.

"No need to call Inui. Try it out on me. It's men like me who will go after you, anyway. And when you can't get out of my grasp, I will collect my payment…" Orie felt his breath ghosting across her lips and shivered involuntarily then took a step back.

"No way! I don't want to hurt you…"

Soryu smirked. "So you can't do it. It's okay, you worked hard anyway. Time to collect." He pulled her to him by her waist and brought his lips towards her again. Before he knew what was happening, his world got turned upside down and he was on his back looking up at her.

Orie smiled down at him. "You were saying?"

Soryu had to admit he was slightly impressed but he wasn't about to give up so easily when his prize was within reach. He got up slowly. "That wasn't a true test and you know it, Orie. The men who will come at you won't be distracted."

"Okay, well if you haven't had enough, then let's try again. I will even give you the advantage and let you grab me from behind first." Orie deliberately turned her back to him and stood casually.

Soryu's lips curled up a bit at the edges. No way was she going to escape from his grip. His imagination ran wild with what he would do once he had her and he approached her again, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She grasped his hand and within the space of a few moments he found himself on the floor staring up at her again. He got up quickly this time, intent on winning this one and having his way with her. He moved a lot quicker than he had before. He had previously held back for fear of hurting her but was now letting himself go a bit more. He had no real knowledge of martial arts as he didn't really need it since he had always relied on his gun and brute strength. As he lunged for her, she neatly stepped out of his way, grabbed him and neatly laid him flat on his back again, then straddled him and pinned him down in the blink of an eye.

"Give up yet?" Speechless, he looked up at her and took in her flushed and triumphant face. Plus, the position that she had put him in had excited him beyond belief…

These memories had Soryu rock hard and his pants were becoming uncomfortably tight. Checking to make sure his office door was closed and locked, he unzipped his pants and took out his manhood, precum already leaking from the tip. He slowly pumped himself as he let his memories continue…

Soryu had looked up at Orie and nodded. "I give up. What do you want me to do?" He figured it would be something along the lines of taking her on a romantic date but her words had surprised him.

"I want…" Orie was shy, suddenly. "Iwanttotouchyourtattoo!" she said in a rush.

"What?" Soryu had to ask her to repeat herself because he wasn't sure he had understood.

"I want to look at and touch your tattoo. It has always fascinated me but you don't really let me do either. So, I want you to let me explore it to my heart's content."

Soryu blinked in surprise but then nodded. "If that's what you want then I will give it to you. You did win fair and square. Let me up, though. I can't show you in this position… unless you want to take care of something else first since we're already here." He twitched his hips and Orie's eyes grew wide as she felt his hardness rubbing against her. She scrambled up quickly and blushed.

Soryu sat up and moved to a chair, unbuttoning and removing his shirt as he went. "Go ahead."

Orie moved to him, fascinated, mouth dry with anticipation and arousal. Her slim hand reached out tentatively at first to where the dragon's head started on his left shoulder. Soryu jumped a little at the touch and she drew her fingers back quickly.

"It's okay, you can touch. I was just surprised."

Orie reached out again and started tracing her fingers along the dragon's head once again. She continued lightly, tracing the tattoo's line and whorls, her fingers gliding lightly over his skin. Her touch was arousing him and he grit his teeth, trying to endure the whole thing when what he really wanted was to take her in his arms and bury himself inside her.

"Did it hurt?" Her soft voice reached his ears.

"A little, at first. But I got through it."

"How old were you when you got it done?"

"18. It was part of my initiation."

Her fingers stopped for a moment. "But it's so big, it covers so much of your back. And you have some wrapped around your arm and sides. How did it not hurt you more?"

"I did what I had to do." He could barely get those words out as his erection had gotten harder than any other time in his life due to her explorations.

"I see." Her other hand had joined in and her fingers were tracing lower and lower, coming around his side. Soryu closed his eyes and tried to think of paperwork to try to calm the raging tide inside him.

His eyes flew open when he felt her lips land softly on his back. He stiffened a moment when he felt her kiss him even more firmly… then a warm wetness as her tongue started tracing the lines of the tattoo. As her lips and tongue danced across his back his fists clenched at the sensation. She was being bolder than any other time before and it was driving him crazier than he thought possible. Her lips were coming lower and he closed his eyes again, wondering if she would keep going until she reached the end of the tattoo. Considering it ended at his hip right near his manhood, the thought made him almost explode…

Back in the office, Soryu's fist was pumping his manhood faster as he continued thinking of that day. He barely managed to stifle his moans as the scene kept playing in front of his eyes…

Orie had almost finished tracing the parts of the tattoo that were on his back and was working her way around. As she moved in front of him she looked up at him with lust-glazed eyes. "I think you need to remove those," she said as she pointed at his pants. "I need to see the rest."

He quickly obliged, slipping out of his pants and underwear. His manhood was standing proudly at attention and her eyes locked on it.

"Is that for me?"

Soryu swallowed and nodded.

"Well, I will have to see what I can do to help with that when I'm done." Orie smiled and continued tracing his tattoo with her mouth and fingers, moving closer and closer, threatening to snap Soryu's control. Orie finally reached the end of the tattoo, right near the base of the shaft and looked up at him. "Too bad it didn't keep going this way. It would make sense to have the tail end here instead." She lightly brushed the head of his manhood with her finger and smiled. "I guess I'll pretend…" Her lips went back to his skin, trailing their way towards the base as Soryu's hands reached down to tangle in her hair…

Soryu was close to cumming, trying to time it so that he would blow at the right point in his memory. As he thought this, a loud knock at the door startled him out of his reverie.

"Sir! Your visitor is here for his appointment with you. Should I show him in?" Inui's voice called out to him.

Soryu took a deep breath then another. The door knob rattled. "Sir? Are you okay?"

"Give me a minute."

"Yes, Sir."

Soryu calmed himself and tucked his manhood back into his pants, figuring he would finish this with her later. As he did so, he remembered she was getting a tattoo as well. He smiled at the thought of paying the favor back as soon as it healed.

Now composed, he called to Inui to let the appointment in.