A/N: Written for the seven_virtues challenge on lj for the pairing Karen/Aoki. Also posted on lj (link to journal in profile).

Fuel to the Fire
Prompt #003: Abstinence

There were certain disadvantages to working as a copy editor, Seiichiro reflected, and one of those was the endeavours into unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory simply because the author he worked for could not do the necessary research himself. Elsewise he would never have found himself en route to Flower…or any Soapland for that matter.

He supposed he should consider himself lucky the author was not interested in finding out the inner workings of a brothel; he didn't think his composure would survive the strain. As it was, heat has rushed to his face upon the request – which had ironically come by email of all things – inviting concern from several other occupants of the floor, including their supervisor who had chosen an inopportune moment to check on his cohort.

The females had teased him relentlessly for days following, particularly when they discovered he had avoided divulging their interest by using his cell to make several calls before securing an appointment. That, sadly for the females and mercifully for Seiichiro himself, meant less ammunition.

Not that it helped matters; the fact that he was visiting the Soapland "Flower" to interview a Soapgirl there (and perhaps do something more as was jokingly speculated in the office setting) became common knowledge. Really, it was remarkable they weren't following him.

He considered stopping and looking around, but decided against it. That would only feed paranoia and his nerves had no need for extra excitement. As it was, the fresh wind to his back told him there was no-one behind him, stragglers or otherwise. Intentionally, he had chosen a time wherein the Soapland would be accommodating few customers; most who frequented the area did not do so at half-past six in the morning in Winter. The season was coincidental; the time was not. He had suggested it, knowing Flower opened at six but business didn't really start to flourish until seven on a good day.

But apparently it wasn't a good day because business was already in bloom by the time he passed through the doors as there was a lady in lingerie and a mop of curled brown hair upon her head waving off a man in a pin-striped suit. She looked amused as Seiichiro made his way to the desk.

'Looking to relax so early in the morning?' she asked. 'You don't look much like a night-owl…or like your sex life is lacking any.'

The comments made the blood rush to his face faster than that which had triggered the entire situation.

'No,' he managed after a short pause, hoping he wasn't giving any wrong implications by his answer. 'I'm here to talk to someone. A Kasumi Karen-san?'

That was the name that had been given to him; the woman who had agreed to be his informant.

The brunette found the brief exchange quite amusing, even as the receptionist (somewhat more professionally composed) rang for the requested Soapgirl. Luckily though, she left the man alone and disappeared.

A few minutes later, another woman in lingerie, this time pink-haired, appeared in the hallway frame.

Sadly, she looked just as amused to his reaction to her attire.

'Why don't we go somewhere more comfortable?' she suggested.

He wouldn't have agreed if he'd read the statement properly; instead, he had naively taken it at face value and thus wound up seated at a desk chair opposing a bed.

He accepted the cup of tea before beginning his interview, starting general as he didn't want to appear overly…pushy. Something about his manner though must have amused the other because she was smirking by the time he reached the details of her job.

It was a question he really hadn't wanted to ask, but it was an important one. And it appeared his aversion was well-founded when the answer came.

'Would you like me to show you instead?'

Seiichiro thanked his foresight that he had avoided looking too closely at the Soapgirl due to her somewhat uncomfortable attire. He knew it wasn't wrong; his job after all entailed doing as such and his wife knew of his endeavour and trusted him…but he was a man and like all men he was not perfect and so avoidance seemed the safest defence to possibility.

It was also why he simply sipped at the tea, despite being fairly certain an established Soapland would not resort to drugging or purposely intoxicating their guests. But such things were adept at lowering one's defences and paving the way for temptation – and he was a married man with a wife he loved with all his heart and a child about to come into the world.

'An explanation will suffice Kasumi-san,' he responded, keeping his tone perfectly level as he focused on the tip of his pen.

The silence that greeted him made him look up, thinking momentarily he had insulted the other without intention. He was met however with a melancholic look masked by something else. Something he couldn't quite name, but had seen in his nephew's eyes back when he was young and first in Hinoto-hime's service. Back when he had decided that it was she he would defend with his life.

But then she blinked and the glimmer was gone.

'You're not blushing,' she observed, before laughing as the other subtly averted his eyes from her face. 'You're married?'

'Yes. My wife is seven months pregnant as well.'

'I see.' Her smile contained something sad as she voiced her congratulations, ending with: 'You ought to give yourself more credit.'

It was Seiichiro's turn to blink.

'You're here with a beautiful woman and yet I can see you love your wife,' she clarified, referring to the tone in which he had answered her question. 'And you're intentions are all business.' She lightly swirled her tea. 'Your wife's one lucky woman.'

Seiichiro was spared reacting when his cell-phone rang.

'Excuse me.'

'Of course.'

The Soapgirl carefully drank, eyes never leaving the other as he quietly conversed on the phone.

A moment later, he hung up and turned to her, tone apologetic. 'I'm afraid we'll have to continue this another time. My wife just went into labour.'

'Oh dear.' She gasped. 'Two months premature?'

Seiichiro was running through the information he had collected thus far to keep himself from panicking. After all, he would have to drive to the hospital with steady hands. Karen watched him still; the way his lips were moving, she had an inkling to what was racing through his mind at that moment.

'I'll call back later,' he said, quickly gathering his stray notes and briefcase. 'I'm sorry, I-'

The other waved him off. 'Call when you're ready; you know where to find me.'

At least it would be something to look forward to, even if she could never enjoy his company to the extent she hoped for in a passing moment. For most men who passed through her doors quickly fell to charm, and that in itself defined a lack of character, a lack of substance…and of virtue. Not that she was a Goddess herself, even if her physical appearance was to be envied even amongst her workmates. A fallen angel perhaps was an appropriate analogy – except she was darkly reminded the devil was a far better one.

And it was natural for the devil to be attracted to their antithesis, the angel that could not be touched and glowing with virtue. Or should not perhaps was more accurate; he was a married and faithful man, and she had a deep respect for such character.

Such people were rare, and she remembered every man like that she had met.

And she highly doubted she would be forgetting any time soon.