"True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen."—François La Rochefoucauld (Maxim 76)
Keisuke leapt to his feet the moment he heard the tell-tale sounds of someone at the door. He had remained awake through the night, pacing restlessly, sick with worry, as the storm had raged on outside and there continued to be no word from Miaka. On the couch opposite, Yui and Tetsuya straightened abruptly from their exhausted game of chess, which had long been forced into a state of deadlock without either party really noticing.
The chessboard and all its remaining pieces clattered to the floor unheeded as all three of the room's occupants scrambled towards the main doorway.
With an exclamation of relief, Keisuke enveloped the slight figure of his sister in a tight hug. "Miaka! Thank God you're all right! Where have you been?"
"Onii-chan…"
He could feel himself trembling as he held her close, "We were so worried," he muttered into her hair.
"…Let…go…can't…breathe…" a muffled voice croaked from somewhere and a small fist thumped on his chest with increasing agitation.
Finally realising that he was in grave danger of suffocating his own sister, he hurriedly released her and stepped back, taking his first good look at Miaka since she had entered the house. His gaze drifted from her unconventional attire (which appeared to be a man's shirt) and the unmistakable glow of happiness that fairly radiated from her slender body, to the silent, watchful presence standing behind her. Keisuke liked to believe that he was a very open-minded and free-thinking individual, but now, as he found himself confronted with all the damning evidence, he came to the conclusion any reasonable person might be expected to arrive at under the circumstances…
However, before he could say anything, Yui (bless her intelligent soul) intervened, herding Miaka towards the living room. "Did you have an accident? You have bruises everywhere!" If Yui's thoughts mirrored his own in any way, she did a commendable job of not showing it.
Of course she suspects the same thing! She would have to be deaf, dumb AND blind not to! Keisuke felt his ire rising with every passing moment. It mattered little that Nicholas looked every inch the respectable business executive, because in contrast, Miaka's debauched appearance did not leave a great deal to the imagination. He would not have been so quick to judge them based on outward appearances alone, had he not sensed a certain almost-tangible…closeness, for lack of a better word, which now existed between the Miaka and the tall, impassive blonde man. As much as he tried to come up with another explanation, Keisuke could only attribute this new development to one thing…
They had been intimate.
"Ohayo, Yui-chan! I'm fine…no broken bones, I promise! I was being my usual clumsy self and slipped on a wet pavement yesterday…" To Keisuke's ears, Miaka sounded ridiculously cheerful for someone who had taken a painful fall. He closed his eyes, half-listening to her voice as she talked to Yui. He knew that he did not have the right to find fault with her…she was old enough to make her own decisions, and that particular gift had been hers to give. Despite that, he felt that it was his duty as her brother to ensure that the man whom she had bestowed her love on was deserving…He respected Nicholas, but he could not bear to see Miaka hurt again.
"Onii-chan?" He was jolted out of his thoughts by a light tap on his shoulder. Miaka regarded him curiously, a question glowing in her eyes. "Daijoubu? I'm sorry I made you worry about me," she offered apologetically.
"Miaka, I…" he hesitated, struggling to find the appropriate words, "Taka called last night to tell us what happened," Raising his head, he cleared his throat uncomfortably and took a deep breath, "I'm glad you made it home safely…and, uh…I realise that your sex life is none of my business…"
"My WHAT!"
Anxious to get to the point, he spoke rapidly, ignoring the horrified shriek which came from Miaka, "…But as your brother I feel responsible for your welfare." Turning to Nicholas with a hard look of determination, Keisuke forced himself to continue, his voice tight with brotherly outrage. "I take it that you…slept together last night?"
"Yes," Nicholas answered calmly.
"NO!" Miaka spluttered, red in the face and furiously glaring daggers at both men. Nakago looked as unflappable as ever, but she caught the silvered glint of muted laughter in his eyes. She silently wished a thousand painful deaths on her supposed 'lover'. With his usual finesse, the former Seiryuu seishi had blithely chosen what was quite obviously the worst possible moment to indulge this playful, newly-uncovered facet of his personality; leaving her with the unenviable task of clearing up the resulting misunderstanding. I'm really going to HURT him this time…the question is, should I do it before or after I murder my brother? she pondered at length, hazel eyes narrowing dangerously.
Apparently oblivious to her homicidal thoughts, Nakago lifted a mocking eyebrow at her in an unspoken challenge, daring her to refute his claim.
Keisuke looked from one person to the other, confused by the simultaneous but conflicting answers he had received from Miaka and Nicholas. Did they or didn't they do it? The hair on the back of his hair prickled in alarm as invisible sparks flew. When had things changed so drastically between these two? Something must have forced both of them to confront their true feelings. Keisuke wondered if he could convince Miaka to tell him what had really happened. Because I doubt that Nicholas is ever likely to engage in a male bonding session and spill the beans… Somewhere in the distance, he imagined he heard a war drum being sounded. Tension—sexual or otherwise—shimmered in the air between them, thick and palpable. How could he have been so blind not to notice the explosive chemistry underlying their less-than-commonplace relationship? He could hardly believe the magnitude of what he was witnessing. What they had was something that was only supposed to be found within the pages of a romance novel; the kind of thing most people spent their lifetimes searching for. It promised spectacular fireworks, white-hot intensity and barely-contained passion…That is, if they managed to keep from killing each other first.
Fire and ice. His darkness to her light…
Keisuke gave himself a mental shake. Where had that melodramatic thought come from?
Suddenly, Miaka let out a low, decidedly unladylike growl and whipped her head around to face him, "It's not what you think, Onii-chan!" She proceeded to scowl fiercely at him, "Nothing happened! We didn't do anything except sleep!"
Her brother's forehead wrinkled in a perplexed frown, "But your clothes—"
"—Were soaked in the rain! I would have caught a cold if I had left them on!"
"Although, I would not have objected if she had slept unclothed…but then, we might not have gotten any rest at all," Nakago interrupted, the corners of his mouth quirking briefly in a small, suggestive smirk which faded as quickly as it had appeared. "Of course, had that been the case, I would have made sure that she would not have been able to even get out of bed…Let alone walk in here like she just did," he stated with a solemnity that was unsettling; everything in his manner conveying utter seriousness. The words were ostensibly directed at Keisuke, but as he had been speaking, he'd fixed her with an dark unblinking blue stare that stripped her down to her very soul.
Oh.
Miaka gulped at the look he was giving her. Nakago had never been one for beating around the proverbial bush, but she had not expected him to be quite so…forward. He wanted herand had as good as informed everyone in the room—even Yui and Tetsuya, who were not even trying to hide that they were eavesdropping—of the fact. The prospect, with all its implications, was both frightening and exciting.
Keisuke was taken aback by the undisguised declaration, but not completely surprised. Oddly enough, he found that he was starting to accept the idea of Nicholas and Miaka being together. The irony is that Nicholas is probably the only one who can keep her out of trouble. He knew it was too late to question whether the blonde man's intentions were honourable. Such old-fashioned concerns were pointless and did not really apply in light of everything these two unlikely partners had been through together. Much too late, he thought, casting his mind back to the telephone call he had received from Taka the day before, remembering the barely-masked pain which had laced the dark-haired Suzaku seishi's words…[There is something…special between them, and I wouldn't be a very good friend if I screwed up her one shot at happiness… It must have taken a lot for the university freshman to make such an admission, because Taka loved her too.
He pushed the memory away with a sigh. Miaka had made her choice, and nothing any of them could do or say would change her mind…Or her heart. Since the day they had returned from inside the Book of the Four Gods, Miaka had become a shell of her former self as she sank ever deeper into the pit of depression which she had been slowly digging herself into. Miraculously, after just one night, the shadows which had cast a pall over her were gone. And to think that the guy whom everyone considers to be a cold-blooded, cynical bastard succeeded where the rest of us have failed. I bet that it's snowing in Hell right now…Her one shot at happiness, huh? Oh well…I guess it's not everyday that you find the person who happens to be your arch-nemesis and soulmate rolled into one. Nicholas had somehow managed to bring the sparkle back into Miaka's eyes, and that was good enough for Keisuke.
With that, he too, made a choice. A tiny smile crept onto his face as Keisuke Yuuki, match-maker extraordinaire and brother to the great Suzaku no Miko, decided that he would stand back…and enjoy the fireworks.
Miaka was touched by her brother's concern for her, but Keisuke was really taking things a bit too far. With the exception of the short while she had spent in the bathroom showering and putting on a fresh change of clothes, she had scarcely been allowed any time alone. Nakago had left to go to his office, and much to her dismay, his exit had signalled the beginning of a brutal interrogation session which had lasted until he returned two hours later. However, on the bright side, she had been afforded a chance to talk to Yui. Her best friend had some very painful memories involving Nakago, and Miaka had been afraid that the other girl would see her relationship with blonde Seiryuu seishi as a betrayal of the worst kind: Consorting with the enemy.
To her surprise, Yui had looked her in the eye, and asked bluntly, "Do you love him?"
Miaka had nodded wordlessly, half fearful of the reaction she would get now that everything was out in the open.
"I was angry at him for a long time, and I think…I might even have hated him for a while, for what he did to me. But…something tells me that he's different now. I forgave him when I saw how important he had become to you," the Seiryuu no Miko had said cryptically with a small Mona Lisa-like smile.
Thankfully, Nakago had returned shortly thereafter, his presence effectively putting an end to the seemingly endless string of questions from Keisuke and Tetsuya.
Now, as she sat beside the former Seiryuu seishi, she mentally fine-tuned the plan she had been working on. Miaka could barely contain the sense of triumph which filled her. Her idea was brilliant. It was the perfect solution; so laughably simple that she could not believe that she hadn't thought of it sooner. The perfect way to spend some time alone with him…without Onii-chan in the background! Putting on her best guilelessly innocent expression, she turned to Nakago,"I can't believe that you've been in Tokyo for months and never bothered to go sightseeing!"
Nicholas could feel the invisible vibrations that gave away her excitement and smirked inwardly. She's anxious for an excuse to get away from them. Miaka had started out by casually asking him how much of Tokyo he had seen so far and offering to act as a tour guide. Smooth, my dear Miko…Very smooth, he thought with growing amusement. He had been reluctant to leave her alone at the mercy of the others earlier, certain that she would be subjected to an in-depth cross-examination about their relationship, but a crisis which had cropped up at work had demanded his immediate attention. After solving the problem, he'd gone on to clear his schedule for the entire week before finally heading back here. Still, the Suzaku no Miko had obviously spent the last two hours productively by plotting an almost fool-proof strategy…he had to admit that her plan sounded harmless enough on the surface, at least to anyone who wasn't acutely tuned in to her every thought and emotion. He wanted to spend time with her, of course. But first, he decided to annoy her.
He would never grow bored of seeing the way those big hazel eyes flashed gold when she was aggravated…would never tire of the way she responded to him. He knew that she reacted in this fashion only to him…and him alone. Meeting her gaze, he kept his tone of voice pleasantly conversational, "Does the tour include a visit to a geisha? A friend of mine swears that it is an experience not to be missed," he paused deliberately, "Perhaps Tokyo's other…attractions can wait."
That stopped her on her tracks. Nicholas endeavoured to keep a bland mask on his face as Miaka instantly bristled like an indignant kitten at his snide suggestion; silently counting off the seconds till her irritation reached boiling point. She did not disappoint him, and he found himself the recipient of a glare so lethal that any other man would have been castrated on the spot. The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily when he realised that the little waif was jealous. It had not been his original intention to test her like this, but it gave him a sense of satisfaction to know that she was already possessive of him. Aware that it was wrong of him to play with her feelings in this manner, he made a mental note to make it up to her later when they were alone…in a way that would be mutually pleasurable for both of them. Nicholas did not intend to put the tender and very private aspects of his relationship with Miaka on display to be gawked at and scrutinised by a group of over-eager spectators, regardless of the fact that these people were her closest family and friends. The gentle moments they shared when they were together were strictly for her, and no one else. This performance, here and now, was solely for the benefit of their audience.
Keisuke made a strangled sound that sounded suspiciously like a stifled laugh and the priestess of Seiryuu arched her eyebrows, but did not interfere. Nicholas also distinctly heard someone —presumably Tetsuya—mutter something along the lines of "He has friends?". He ignored all three of them, and concentrated on the russet-haired girl beside him.
Miaka felt her hackles rising at the thought of a graceful woman flirting shamelessly with Nakago over the course of an elaborate tea ceremony. Japanese geishas were well-known all over the world as women who were extensively trained in the art of pleasing men by using their femininity to the greatest advantage. Generally, true geishas did not sell their bodies like most foreigners had been led to believe. They were companions, accomplished conversationalists and musicians who served and entertained their male patrons. Even so, there was no doubt in Miaka's mind that anything even vaguely female (or at least anything that shared the same sexual preference) would try to seduce the handsome former shogun. Nakago no baka! Calm down, can't lose my temper and punch him in the jaw in front of everyone… her hand curled into a fist before she became aware of it. She forced herself to unclench her fingers one by one, knowing full well that he was teasing her yet again. Spend an evening with those simpering, overly made-up women? Over my dead body! This means war! she thought, vowing not to succumb to childish feelings of petty jealousy. She willed her facial muscles into an artificially sweet smile, "Can't help you there. I don't think I have any of their numbers on my phone's speed-dial," she informed him in a syrupy voice, baring her teeth and daring him to make another unforgivable comment...
"Pity," he said smoothly, unaffected by her beady-eyed gimlet stare that threatened to poke holes in the wall behind him. He smiled slightly, a small wicked twist of his mouth which cranked the temperature in the room up by about five degrees, "Looks like you'll have to be the one to entertain me, Koibito"
The meaning behind his words was unmistakable. Miaka's legs turned to jelly and her nervous system suddenly found itself facing imminent nuclear meltdown. Shakily, she looked away from Nakago's riveting silver-blue gaze, only to find herself faced with the sight of Yui gaping at her chief seishi in speechless shock while Keisuke and Tetsuya both appeared to be in the throes of spontaneous cardiac arrest.
Only then, did she belatedly realise the term Nakago had used. Koibito…
He had called her his beloved.
As luck would have it, they were not the only people interested in visiting Tokyo Tower. She wondered if the fates had conspired to ruin her plans, because it seemed like half of Tokyo's population had turned up with the same idea. I don't believe this…They don't even look like tourists! It's almost as if everyone within a fifteen mile radius suddenly decided that they just HAD to admire the view of Mount Fuji from the Main Gallery. Today! Of all days! And it's not even the holiday season! she mentally grumbled, glancing around sceptically.
Miaka was aware of the appreciative stares other women were sending in her direction as they stood at the base of the tower. Regrettably, she was also pretty sure that it wasn't her they were admiring. No big surprise there, of course…the man in question was strikingly handsome, all six feet plus of him. To her relief, however, Nakago did not give any indication that he noticed the amount of female attention he was attracting. Definitely not someone a girl could miss in a crowd, if you like the hunky blonde type, the beginnings of a frown formed, but she caught herself before it became too obvious, And if you're the type who doesn't view basic social courtesy as an essential part of someone's personality… The galling truth was that Nakago's cool, aloof behaviour towards everyone did not change the way she felt about him. And, as if to add insult to injury, up until recently, she had always thought her preference leaned more towards dark-haired men…
An unexpected pang of guilt hit her. Tamahome…Taka…I never meant to hurt you. Sighing inwardly, she pushed the regret back, knowing that she could not handle it at the moment in her current emotional state. Thanks to Nakago and his unique brand of twisted humour, her nerves were still in a tangled, sorry mess after the incident back at the house. Acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary was a lot easier said than done. Although she had sternly berated herself for being silly and mooning over Nakago like a love-sick puppy just because he'd used one small endearment, she was still finding it hard not to blush the moment he so much as looked at her. Probably planned it that way, the sadistic jerk.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. It's so crowded," she admitted sheepishly, tilting her head up so that she could talk to him properly. "What if we get separated— …Itai! HEY, WATCH IT!" She whirled around to glare briefly at the person who had pushed past her, elbowing her in the ribs in the process.
"Throw a tantrum," he suggested sardonically when she returned her attention to him.
She blinked, not sure that she'd heard him correctly, "Huh?"
Nakago's expression remained impassive as he studied her with what could almost be described as academic interest, "Your chi flares up when you get angry. I'll be able to find you, even in a crowd," he explained dryly with nerve-grating patience.
Dear Suzaku…he's serious! By now, Miaka could more or less tell when he was pulling her leg…This most definitely wasn't one of those times. Hazel eyes wide, and she looked wildly around to see whether anyone else had caught his matter-of-fact statement. When she had ascertained they did not seem to be in any immediate danger of being thrown into a mental institution, she hissed, "You do realise that screwing around with chi like that is not normal? Not in this world at any rate! Anyway, since when did—"
Her tirade was abruptly cut off when she felt a strong arm wrapping around her waist, followed quickly by the disorientation of being swiftly swung around. Miaka let out a confused squeak when she found that she was now standing with her back flush against Nakago's hard, muscular frame. The part of her brain that was still functioning gradually deduced that he had dragged her behind one of the many information boards that lined the path leading up to the Tokyo City's best known landmark. The next thing she knew, he was leaning down so that his mouth was level with her ear.
She froze. Even through their clothes, she could feel the heat from his body. The compelling masculine scent which could only be his surrounded her, teasing her senses. Her pulse accelerated so quickly that it left her feeling dizzy…but then, being so close to Nakago seemed to have that effect on her lately. Excitement and anticipation stirred deep inside her, tension coiling into a tight knot of desire…
"We have company," he murmured; his warm breath tickled her ear like an intimate caress, causing her to tremble with a need she could not name.
"Kuso! Where did they go? I swear I saw them around here a second ago…"
Eventually, through the thundering of her own heartbeat, she was able to distinguish a very familiar voice…the source of which sounded terribly close by, as if the speaker was on other side of the board that was displaying an enlarged map of the area…
Onii-chan…? He followed us! Shimatta! Tetsuya-san must be here too!
"I can't believe you two dragged me out here to spy on them! This is a wild goose chase! Trust me, you'll never find them if Nakago is with her," a female voice snapped irritably. Yui-chan! You go, girl! Give them a piece of your mind! Miaka had been friends with Yui Hongo long enough to know that when the other girl used that particular tone of voice, it was a signal to run and dive for cover.
"It appears that your brother thinks we need a chaperone." She could not see Nakago's expression, but she would have laid odds that he was smirking. The Seiryuu seishi did not release his hold on her; keeping her trapped against him. Did he know what he was doing to her? Being in his arms, with him whispering sensuously to her, made it almost impossible to think. And why is Onii-chan being such a busybody! she wailed silently. She loved Keisuke very much, but he was too nosy for his own good! Just this once, she desperately wished that her brother would go away and take a hike off the nearest pier. If she was discovered, especially in her present compromising position, there would be a lot of tough explaining to do. Still, she reasoned, how hard could it be to stay quiet and hidden until the others left?
Unfortunately for her, it soon proved too much to hope for that worst was over…nothing was ever so straightforward or simple when Nakago was around. Evidently deciding it was time to increase the stakes and make things a little more interesting, the man behind her suddenly began a gentle exploration of the soft flesh only scant millimetres from his mouth. Miaka sucked in a convulsive breath when she felt Nakago brushing his lips along the edge of her ear before slowly nuzzling the sensitive place just behind her earlobe. For some strange reason, the phrase 'Out of the frying pan and into the fire' came to mind just before all capacity for rational thought fled. Oh my god…Even in her distracted condition, she didn't need anyone to tell her that any sound she made would alert Yui, Tetsuya and Keisuke who were probably less than three feet away. She clamped her teeth together, valiantly swallowing the moan which bubbled up from her throat.
"Come on," Keisuke spoke again after a long pause, blissfully ignorant of the fact that the tables had been turned and the two people he had planned to spy on were presently close enough to overhear his every word, "Maybe they've already gone inside."
At the sound of receding footsteps, Miaka to let out the breath she had been holding, along with a small whimper as Nakago found a particularly responsive spot. By doing this to her in a public place and running the high risk of being seen by curious onlookers, he only served to heighten the illicit thrill which she felt right down to her toes. It was but a taste of what making love with this extraordinary man would be like…She closed her eyes and arched back against him, unable to do anything except lose herself in the sensation.
All too soon, the arm which circled her waist tightened fractionally before Nakago relinquished his grip. To her dismay, her knees nearly gave way, unprepared to support her own weight again.
"You might want to get that," he prompted wryly, straightening to his full height. The timbre of his voice seemed to have become deeper and more husky.
Dazed, she managed to turn without falling and looked up at him with blank incomprehension until she realised that her own cell phone was emitting a rather loud, insistent beeping. Digging it out of her bag with hands that were not quite steady, she hastily deciphered the words on the tiny display screen. Short and succinct, the sender of the message had not even bothered with a customary greeting.
[Will try to keep your brother and Tetsuya here as long as possible while you go elsewhere. You really owe me big time for this. —Yui (P.S. Know you heard us just now. I saw Nakago haul you behind that information board!)
"The smile on your face lets me know that you love me;
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me;
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me whenever I fall…
You say it best, when you say nothing at all…"
Passing through the gates of Ueno Park, they encountered many couples talking and laughing together. Miaka stared wistfully at the men and women who were so obviously in love, wondering if Nakago would ever be so open with her. Stop thinking like that! she chided herself. You know that he loves you in his own way, even if he doesn't show it like most normal people. Anyway, you can't compare a former shogun to the average guy you would see on the street. No, Nakago is definitely not normal. When he chooses to demonstrate what he feels for you, he does it well…very, very well…she cleared her throat discreetly, fighting not to blush as she remembered how good it felt when he kissed her. A few months ago, she would never once have guessed that one day, she would be in love with her worst enemy…or that he would return even a fraction of her feelings. She didn't dare imagine how differently things would have turned out without him. He'd done a lot more than protect her…Because of him, she had become a better person. Seeing beyond what was immediately obvious, learning to have faith in herself, understanding that the world was not simply black and white and that people could not simply be judged as good or bad…Nakago had taught her all that.
They took the southward promenade which branched off from the main pathway. So deeply was she immersed in thought, that she did not see a loose pebble in her path. Predictably, she tripped over it. Even as she felt herself losing her balance, someone grabbed her hand to steady her. Miaka knew the identity of her saviour the moment he touched her…there was a sense of deep familiarity, as if this sort of thing happened all the time…which was true, literally. Besides, she had never met another person who had the kind of quick reflexes Nakago possessed. She smiled up at him thankfully, embarrassed at her own clumsiness, "Gomen! I wasn't watching where I was going."
He held on to her hand an instant longer than was necessary, even after the danger of her falling over had passed, and there was no longer any reason for him continue doing so. "Actually, I'm surprised that you haven't walked into a tree yet," he said with a faint smirk, although this time, his words lacked the cutting, sarcastic undertones she was so accustomed to hearing from him.
It gave her pause, but she recovered quickly. "Hmph! I bet you'd like to see that, wouldn't you?" she sniffed in mock disdain before offering him a shy, self-conscious grin, feeling light-hearted and happy. "Mou…You would just stand there and make fun of me!"
"Perhaps."
The gleam of amusement changed his irises from their usual glacial ice-blue to a clear cerulean blue…the colour she would forever associate with laughter.
They resumed walking, setting leisurely pace down the quiet tree-lined path. Miaka found her gaze drawn to the hand which had clasped her own so securely only minutes earlier. So much larger than mine…she bit her lip, gathering all her courage to do what the perverse imp in her mind was urging. Taking a deep breath, she hesitantly reached towards him, sliding her hand along his until their palms rested together. Tentatively, she laced her fingers through his...
Nakago did not react visibly or comment at the physical contact, but most importantly…he made no attempt to pull away.
Tiny jolts of electricity travelled up her arm, setting her heart beating fast when she felt his strong, elegant fingers slowly curving over her own slender ones and his fingertips grazing her knuckles in an almost unconscious caress. Who would have guessed that something as simple as holding hands could feel so wonderful? Miaka felt closer to him than ever before; this man who could be so harsh and cold one moment, yet mysteriously manage to strike a chord in her soul the next. Tears of intense joy pricked at her eyes and she hurriedly blinked them away, not wanting to appear excessively weepy in front of Nakago. This is not the time to turn on the water-works! Becoming a soggy, tear-stained mess would be so unsophisticated, and it'll totally ruin the mood…not the best way to impress him, ne? a voice in her mind lectured.
A cool breeze blew through the park, triggering a belated realisation. "We missed the cherry blossom season," she whispered a little regretfully, brushing at the wisps of russet hair which had come loose and tucking them back behind her ears. She glanced at the trees growing on either side of the path. It was already early autumn, and there was not a single flower in sight. Miaka would have liked to share the experience of standing amidst the swirling storm of petals with him. Every year, for as long as she could remember, she had made it a point to spend Hanami, the flower viewing festival, with those people nearest and dearest to her. Next year, she promised silently, we'll be here when the sakura bloom…
"Is that such a bad thing?"
He came to a abrupt stop as he asked the question, causing her to halt her steps as well. Her blonde arch-nemesis regarded her with one of his thoughtful but otherwise unreadable stares…the kind that always succeeded in making her extremely wary. The nervous flutter in her stomach only increased when it occurred to her that they were completely alone in the middle of the park. With a speed which left her wondering if the man was a mind-reader, his hand suddenly locked around hers; not hard enough to hurt, but firmly enough to ensure that she couldn't back away…or bolt like a frightened rabbit. Miaka tensed uncertainly. Sensing her bewilderment, he raised his free hand to cup her jaw, "There would have been too many people here…"
Nakago absently stroked a soothing thumb over her cheek. She relaxed and instinctively leaned into his touch, wanting more. Intent blue eyes moved over her upturned face, giving her the impression that he was taking note of and analysing every detail. "…And I would not have been able to do this," he finished softly, lowering his mouth onto hers.
Filled with all the tightly-leashed desire she could have hoped for and a possessiveness she had never guessed at, the kiss expressed his feelings for her more eloquently than words ever would; binding her to him as surely as any soul-bond. His presence here by her side showed her that he cared…but it was the feel of his hands and the warmth of his lips that proved to her just how much.
Notes:
1) I used some lyrics from the song "When You Say Nothing At All" (by Ronan Keating) from the original soundtrack of the movie 'Notting Hill'. Not that I have any particular fondness for the movie or the singer (although it does help that he's tall, blonde and blue-eyed Ahem Nevermind…) but I just thought that the words fit.
2) To the best of my knowledge, all the bits about geishas, Ueno Park and Tokyo Tower are accurate. Ueno Park is the most famous park in Tokyo, but I have no idea whether it's located anywhere near Tokyo Tower. For the purposes of this story, let's assume that it does, shall we? You know, artistic license and all that…
Shameless plug: 'Memoirs of a Geisha' written by Arthur Golden is an incredible book, and in my opinion, something which everyone should read at least once.
3) Any plot that this story develops will be entirely accidental. Sweatdrop Just kidding…I do have something in mind, I think. Things will start getting interesting in the next chapter (:coughmore spicycough:), when I actually get around to writing it.
