9
He was standing with his hands buried on the front pockets of his dark blue jeans. His light blue shirt falling nicely down his broad shoulders, the first few buttons undone, allowing the white undershirt to be seen. With the sleeves carelessly rolled up half way his forearms, sunglasses over his eyes, his long, jet black ponytail gently dancing in the afternoon breeze, and black converse on his feet, he was the perfect portrait of a young, simple man, with a carefree attitude.
A soft smile was playing on his lips as he gently tapped his foot against the floor, following the melody the twelve year old girl in front of him was creating with her flute. Her young eyes closed, her fingers moving fast along her instrument, she stood there, offering her music to the people passing by. A small pot in front of her, for those who wanted to reward her efforts.
He did exactly that, putting a bill inside the small pot, and straightened up again, before turning around to continue his journey around the small, made up fair, when he saw her.
Not that it came as such a surprise to him, seeing her there. He knew all the Senshi were pretty close friends, so of course she'd come around and pay a visit, showing her support and maybe even buying a thing or two.
Rei had called him up a few days ago, telling him about the small fair taking place in the park, and inviting him to take a look around. The Miko had her own spot, selling charms and offering readings in an attempt to rise founds for the Temple, and maybe even gain a few more visitors.
Of course he had agreed to come by, to show Rei his support on her small enterprise, and to have a look around. These kinds of fairs always had the most interesting offerings; from palm readings and fortune tellers, to small soldiers made out of nails and screws, with every possible thing one could think of in between.
And, of course, she would be here too. Doing the exact same thing, with little Hotaru lovingly tucked under her long, slender arm, in a protective, yet loose embrace, as they both stood in front of a craftsman post, admiring his wooden carvings.
The white, loosen Henley complemented her height perfectly, with just a little bit of skin shown with that v-neck lined cleavage, and the last two buttons undone. Washed flare jeans covering her endless legs -and perfectly marking her behind, he noticed- and black skimmer sneakers on her feet. Her wild, short strands of hair dancing in the soft breeze, though she looked like she couldn't care less about that, and wide aviator sunglasses covering her eyes. She had what he guessed were her car keys in her free hand, as she mindlessly flipped them around her long fingers.
And she looked beautiful. With no high heels, no makeup; wearing her casual clothes for a warm, lazy sunday afternoon, and looking beautiful.
Plain and simple.
He could not deny the painfully obvious physical attraction. He was only a man, after all. All flesh and blood. She surely knew how to make his blood boil, and his flesh ache with raw, pure desire. How could he not want such wonderful creature, with her enchanting movements, her amazing green eyes and her playful smiles, all marvelous curves and endless legs?
And the way she had looked the other night... he could still remember how she felt, trembling in his arms, moaning so softly and deeply as his fingers played inside her.
A smile came to his lips upon the memory. Yes, she had not said the words; she didn't beg. But he could recognize the silent plea of her body as he teased her. Sure, probably it hadn't even been a conscious movement, considering it was her, and he was sure she would do anything in her power to prove him wrong. The woman had her pride. But conscious or not, her body had begged for him to take her.
And he did, and it had felt so wonderful; to have his fingers inside her like that. Pleasing her, building her up, making her tremble in his arms, moaning softly and uncontrollably.
And the way she came, so strong and fast. So amazingly beautiful. Completely breathless, clutching herself to him like that. And the look on her face, as if she was surprise at her own climax, and yet completely unable to do anything but surrender to it. To him.
Yes, he was attracted to her. And, maybe... maybe she was attracted to him too.
Why else would she let him touch her at all, if she wasn't? Granted, she would probably rather die than ever admit to it. Even to herself. But the chemistry between them was there, and she could deny it all she wanted, but she couldn't make it go away.
And he wanted her. He wanted her body. There was no way around it. But there was more to it...
He couldn't quite place it, what it was about her that kept on making him so drawn to her. Yes, she was a beautiful woman. But he had seen his good share of those over his twenty years of life. Bedding more than just a few, too. But that blonde devil in disguise was just something else. And if by playing this game of seduction he could discover what laid underneath her cold exterior, under the makeup, the lingerie, the masks, the teasing comments and the smart ass retorts... he knew the real woman underneath it all was more than worth it.
And he wanted to see her.
From the corner of his eye he saw one petite blonde young woman walking up to him, and he pretended to be very interested on the girl's playing, as he was still standing there, when Usagi finally reached him. That big, trademark smile of hers playing in her soft features.
"Seiya, hi!" she greeted him, cheerfully, before taking a sip from her soda.
"Hey, Odango," he greeted back, smiling at her. "How's everything going?"
"Oh, great!" she exclaimed. "Rei said her lucky charms are on fire! Of course, with her, everything's on fire..." she joked, rolling her eyes. "But you know, people are practically ripping them off her hands. So maybe she'd be able to fix that leak on the roof..."
"She has a leak?" he asked, curiously, as he hadn't really known that fact.
"Yeah. Nothing major though," the petite blonde said. "But those normally start as something small, and before you know it..."
"You have your roof all over the floor," he finished for her, smiling. "Well, let me know if she needs any help fixing that," he offered.
"Really?" Usagi asked, smiling up to him, with her big blue eyes shining brightly.
"Of course," he said, nodding his head. "Can't have you pretty ladies walking around the roof like that."
She giggled at his playfulness; that cute, pink tint coming to her cheeks as she did so.
And as he smiled at her, he couldn't help but frown upon that inwardly. Because, he realized, that was the big difference between the Moon rabbit and the Senshi of the Winds. While one was sweet, innocent, outgoing and cute, the other was everything but. And though he still had a soft spot for the Moon Princess, he couldn't help but look at her as a sweet, nice girl. A well developed one, but still a girl.
Haruka, on the other hand... she was no sweet, innocent girl. Strong in her actions, acid in her words, she was a private, stubborn, free spirited woman. And as playful and teasing as she could get -sides of her he had discovered recently, and found very appealing...-, she was all woman, in her every action.
And that, that was the abysmal difference between them. And he found himself crossing that abyss, and reaching out to the powerful leader of the Outer Senshi.
"Thanks! I'll let her know that!" Usagi said to him, happily, forcing him out of his own head, as they started walking along the path.
But when he noticed they were walking towards one particular tall blonde woman, he turned to his right, trying to change paths and prevent a meeting with her. Not that the idea was an unpleasant one -quite the opposite-, but he surely didn't want one petite, sweetly innocent little Odango to be there as well.
But Usagi seemed to notice his sudden change of ways, and then, to Seiya's misfortune, she also noticed the tall blonde racer standing a few post ahead.
"I know you guys had a rough start," she started to say, looking up at him with large, almost pleading blue eyes, "but that was years ago. Could you at least try to be nice to each other? No, forget that, how about trying to be civil?"
He chuckled at that, looking down at her. "We are civil," he said, as he tried hard to fight the smile that wanted to come to his lips. He would hardly classify their last meeting as civil, but he couldn't exactly say that to Usagi.
"No, you're not," the petite blonde argued. "You completely ignore each other. And you're my friend, and so is she. And I know how Haruka can seem like a cold, aloof person at times, but she's not," she said. "She's really nice, and a good friend."
He smiled at her. Yes, he knew those things about Haruka already. Along with some other things he was sure Usagi was unaware of...
"I'm not asking you to be best friends," she was saying. "Just... be nice to her. That's all."
His smile widened just a little, and he had to try to keep the evilly amused glee from showing in his eyes, as he noticed little Hotaru walking away from one tall blonde woman.
"Tell you what," he said, smiling. "I'll go and say hi to her right now. How does that sound?" he asked, knowing the petite girl would smile happily at that, completely and blissfully ignoring any ulterior motive he had.
.-.
"Can I have a popsicle?" Hotaru asked, suddenly, looking up at the tall blonde.
She blinked. Her car keys almost falling to the floor at the question, and she blinked again, forcing herself to put aside that completely out of place thought that popped into her mind right then, and looked down at her daughter. Hotaru was looking back at her, her hand pointing at the general direction of a small ice treats vendor, about thirty feet away from them.
Inwardly cursing Cherish for traumatizing her for dear life, she smiled at the black haired girl.
"Sure, kiddo," she finally answered, as she reached for her back pocket, and the money she had put in there. "How much do you need?"
"It's ok, I have money," Hotaru said, shaking her shoulder. "You want one too?"
Again, she heard Cherish's happy voice, saying all she needed to do was lick all around it, and she suppressed the urge to groan.
Traumatized. She was definitely traumatized...
"No, I'm fine," she said to her daughter, forcing a smile on her face just for her, and then chuckling when the girl all but jumped up, happily, making her way to the ice cream cart.
And she stood there, making a mental note to murder her nightly co-worker, and maybe even one black haired singer, for forcing her once blissfully innocent mind to find double meanings in the most insignificant little things.
Shaking her head, she turned back to the craftsman post. It was her own fault, really. Her and her damned curiosity; that annoying little bug that wouldn't allow her to let his words slide past her. And it was his fault too, for being so confident, meaning every word he said, and then actually being true to them.
Oh, for Pete's sake!, she scolded herself, mentally, Stop thinking about him!
It wasn't such a big deal! So, yes, he had fingered her, and made her come. But so did every other lover she ever had. And she always ended up all shaky and trembling, and completely out of breath after an orgasm. It wasn't exactly her fault if she was such a passionate person, with a highly sensitive clitoris, right? It's not like she could help it…
And, sure, Space Boy had definitely found that one out, and he certainly knew how to use his fingers. He knew how to use his hands and turn her on with his lingering caresses and his wondering lips on her neck. But the fact that it was him, that she got turned on by him. By his touches, by his kisses on her neck... and then he had made her come in between his fingers. Hard.
It was worrying, really. And the worst part was, she was still curious. She had been officially betrayed by her own body -because of him!-, and she wanted more. It was as if she had just found a highly addictive drug in their game, in their word battles, in the way they would tease each other. And she simply couldn't help herself. She wanted more.
Taking her sunglasses off, willing, forcing herself to think of something else -anything else-, she took a look into the craftsman cravings, admiring his work.
"Hey, there, Windy," came that damned voice from right behind her, his warm breath barely reaching her neck at his words, and she rolled her eyes, looking up at the sky for a moment.
You really hate me, don't you?, she asked to the skies.
Yes, that must be it. God was a man; a catholic, chauvinist, homophobic man, who obviously didn't appreciate her playing with his peers, and who definitely hated her for liking other women. And he was making her pay for her sins.
Yes, I fell in love with a girl when I was fifteen, and I like having sex with women!, she thought to herself. Gee, sorry!, she added, sarcastically, to her inner charade. I also have a sword and run around in a miniskirt whenever there's a fucked up loser wanting to take over the world. Are you gonna make me pay for that too? Of course not, I bet you like that, you pervert weirdo!
Not that she believed in god to begin with. Not in that catholic, socially imposed way. But it sure felt good to have someone to blame for her current situation. The fact that it was a male figure only added to her stupid, naïve, completely ephemeral, but still rewarding satisfaction.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him not turning around, but eying him from the corner of her eye.
He was standing right there, dangerously close to her. Hands on his pockets, sunglasses over his eyes, and that damned smug smile on his lips. A smile she was suddenly very tempted to wipe off his face with one fast, strong punch.
And out goes the smile. Along with all of his teeth.
And then she smiled at her own mind, picturing a nice looking, toothless Seiya, with a perplex look upon his face and a bleeding nose. Yes, she definitely needed therapy; her ephemeral, mental consolations were starting to become way more violent than normal...
.-.
He caught the slight, quick smile that suddenly came to her lips, and he wondered what was going through that blonde head of hers, as her hands were mindlessly lingering over a small wooden swordsman.
But he was not about to be intimidated by her. He was not about to let her facade fool him; he had noticed the way her posture changed when he approached her; back slightly straightening up and shoulders going back just so. She was affected by his closeness, and that knowledge made him smile.
"I come in peace," he said, chuckling when she turned her face to him, arching a questioning eyebrow. And he vaguely wondered if it was because she didn't believe him, or because she had easily and obviously associated that saying with all those alien movies.
Probably both, judging by her face...
"Somehow," she said, turning back to the wooden cravings, "I find that hard to believe."
He chuckled at her answer, taking his sunglasses off and hanging them loosely from the neckline of his undershirt. Pretending to be admiring the wooden figurines and cravings in front of them, he stood close to her, hands resting on his front pockets.
"Actually, Usagi sent me," he said, casually, as he took a figurine in his hands, admiring it.
But when he heard her snorting, he turned to look at her, frowning. He wasn't sure, but he could have sworn he saw her jaw tightening for the split of a second, before a sarcastic smile came to her lips.
"And I take it you couldn't say no to her," she said, now looking back at him with a mocking look upon her face. "It's kind of funny, really, the way she has you wrapped around her little finger."
He blinked, arching an eyebrow. Was it him, or she really didn't sound as overprotective as usual? Could it be?
"Is that jealousy I hear?" he asked, somewhere in between incredulous and amused, as he put the figurine back on the table, to fully turn to her.
"Don't be ridiculous," she snorted, rolling her green eyes. "But, may I remind you that she's taken?"
"I'm quite aware of that fact," he said, nodding his head, as a sided smile came to his lips.
"Good," she said, nodding her head. "Keep that in mind, buddy. Because you'll never have her," she said, pocking one long finger into his chest.
He took her hand in his, his long fingers encircling around her slim wrist, and she tried to jerk away, but he stopped her. A smile coming to his lips as her narrowing green eyes darted dangerously at him.
"Who said I want her?"
She arched an eyebrow at him then. "You're kidding, right?" she asked. "You really want me to answer that one? Come on, Space Boy, you're not that stupid."
He smiled. The way she was holding her arm up, with her wrist in his strong hold, her forearm brushing against his torso, to anyone who looked, it seemed as if they were arguing. But the truth was, she was not stepping away nor putting any effort into freeing herself, as they looked into each other's eyes, almost in a defiant way, as they were both fully invading the other's personal space.
"No, I'm not," he stated, smiling seductively at her. "But, really, who said I want her?"
His hand not releasing her wrist; his thumb making small, circular movements against her soft, warm skin. He could see that defiant, stubborn, teasing light coming into her green eyes, as the ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"You," she answered. One blonde eyebrow going up, daring him to say otherwise. "Repeatedly," she added, narrowing her eyes in mockery.
"That was before," he said, as he let his eyes travel down on her for a moment, before meeting her gaze again. "And this is now," he murmured, in that low, sensual tone of his. "You see, she came to me, saying how she wants us to be nice and civil to each other..." he trailed off. "And I couldn't really tell her exactly how friendly we've been getting lately," he whispered, as his fingers slowly made their way up her wrist, caressing her palm and nestling her slender hand in his.
.-.
It wasn't a rude, dominating move. But it was invading, in a suggestive, sensual kind of way, as his long fingers kept on massaging her hand. And she couldn't help the flash of images that went through her mind, reminding her of what exactly those fingers were capable of. His teasing words only adding to her runaway thoughts, as she could feel the warmth emanating from his body, the scent of his aftershave lotion lingering in the air all around, with him standing so close to her in what it could be considering a rather intimate position.
Which, of course, it was. But they were both good actors; with their backs straighten up, and the daring glare in their eyes, anyone would think they were probably having one of their world known fights of will, probably even threatening each other, measuring the other's strength and resistance.
But then again, they were. Only, in completely different ways. And she was very aware of the fact that this was most certainly not the place to be having one of their private word battles. But she was pretty sure that last sentence of his sounded dangerously close to some sort of threat...
Was he blackmailing her? Or just playing around? Whichever the case, she couldn't exactly let him win, could she?
Oh yes, Space Boy definitely made things a whole lot more interesting...
"Of course not," she said to him, in a deliberately low, husky, sensual tone of voice. "Because then I'd have to punish you for that... and I really don't want to force you to part ways with your friend," she said, as her eyes went down on him for a second, and a teasing smile came to her lips. "I mean, where's the fun without it, right?"
.-.
A part of him told him he should be somewhat worried over her words. She sounded almost threatening.
Almost.
But that teasing gleam in her, along with that sided, goddamn sensual smile of hers, and the way she had just said that... The woman was driving him crazy. Quite on purpose. He was sure of it.
Returning the smile, he let go of her wrist, raising his hands up in a -completely faked- surrender manner.
"You're dangerous," he murmured, smiling.
Her smile widened just a little at that, and that soft giggle he had by now grown so used to escaped her. It was a sound she made when being extremely playful. And naughty.
Or when having an orgasm.
And that was exactly why he loved that sound so much. Because it was delicate, and playful, and spontaneous. And very, very intimate.
"You have no idea," she whispered back, narrowing her green eyes at him in a seductive, inviting way.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Hotaru making her way back towards the tall blonde woman, and he took a step back. And she seemed to understand his actions, as she simply stood there, burying her hands in her jean's pockets in a completely innocent, nonchalant way.
"By the way," she said, still whispering, as her eyes once more traveled up and down his tall, strong frame, "nice shirt," she finished, in that teasing, low tone of hers, at the same time as Hotaru finally caught up with them.
The girl looked up at the tall blonde, and then at him, frowning in what he could guess was a worried gesture, before looking back at Haruka.
"Everything ok?" she asked, sounding unsure of her own question.
Not that he could blame her. It was probably a surprise to the teenage girl, to find them standing in front of each other like that, no blood, no broken noses, not even an argument. Simply staring at each other.
"Of course," he said, assuring.
"Ok..." she mumbled, still frowning. But a smile soon came to her young features, giggling happily, when the tall blonde ruffled her black hair, playfully.
"Ready to go, kiddo?" she asked, letting the girl's free hand encircle around her waist, as her own hand went to loosely hang around her young shoulders.
"Sure," she said, nodding her head, and smiling up at him. "It was nice seeing you, Seiya," she said, in that sweet, cheerful young voice of hers.
"The pleasure was all mine, little one," he said, winking, and bowing gallantly at her. And smiling when she giggled, rolling her eyes at his playfulness.
Out of all the Outers, Hotaru was the only one that truly took his playfulness for what it was, allowing him to act all gallantly and gentlemanly with her, to the extreme of being ridiculous, mocking even, with no other intention than just innocently goofing around a little. And she even played along some times, curtsying at him and fanning herself with her hand.
It probably had a lot to do with her being only a young teenager. But the girl was cute, and he honestly liked her.
It wasn't such a hard thing to see why the little firefly had one tall blonde racer wrapped around her fingers. And, well, he couldn't blame her. He knew he would be probably completely broke by now if he were on Haruka's place.
Speaking of which...
He straightened up, looking at her shining green eyes, and he couldn't truly disguise the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Tenoh," he said, nodding his head at her.
"Kou," she said, nodding back at him, and putting her sunglasses over her eyes.
Little Hotaru happily eating her popsicle, and waving her hand at him one last time, before going to hug her papa again. And just when he was about to turn around himself and leave, he saw her turning towards him, taking a step back and towards him, and looking straight at his blue eyes.
"Oh, and Kou?" she said, frowning lightly and looking as if she'd forgotten to tell him something.
But then that sided, smug smile came to her lips, looking at him from over the edge of the dark lenses of her sunglasses. "An eye for an eye," she whispered, winking at him, before turning back around.
The subtle swing of her hips and the sight of her perfect behind, so nicely marked by her jeans making his blue eyes go there, as he frowned, wondering what exactly did she mean by that. But then he smiled, putting on his own sunglasses and burying his hands in his pockets. Whatever she was planning, he was sure she was going to torture him.
And he couldn't wait...
.
.
A.N.: About that catholic God thing... I do not mean to offend anyone! It just served the story, and by no means reflects my true spirituality and/or beliefs
I'm a christian myself (in my own way...), and I went to a catholic school for years. Like I said, it simply served the story.