Together
AN: Hello! This chapter was supposed to be updated much sooner but I got unexpected proposition of seasonal work at the seaside and had no access to the Internet, well even if I had, I did not have time to write. I just got back a few days ago and finished the chapter.
As always, I hope you'll enjoy and I wait for the reviews!
Btw, I hope you're having great holidays!:)
''Mmm..,'' Makoto smiled as she breathed in the sweet smell of the lemon cupcakes that were in the oven. ''My favourite.''
''Thank you for your help,'' Ami smiled at her friend. ''I'm sure they'll be delicious.''
''They rather be!'' Makoto exclaimed just before the doorbell rang. She raised her brows, looking at Ami. ''Expecting someone?''
''No,'' Ami shook her head, wondering who was it. It was evening, dark outside and still raining. She quickly got up and walked out of the kitchen, heading to the door. When she opened them, the tall, brown-haired person was revealed.
''Taiki?'' Ami asked, slightly surprised.
He was in a long, dark coat, holding a dripping umbrella in one hand. His violet eyes, holding an angry gleam, turned to the blue-haired girl. ''Why did you do that?'' he asked in a raised voice.
''Did what? What are you talking about, Taiki?'' Ami took a step back.
''You know what I'm talking about.'' He took a step into the apartment, radiating with cold anger, dropped the umbrella and before Ami could react, got a tight hold of her wrists. ''How could you tell them?'' now he asked quietly, his eyes hardened as he looked at her.
''What's going on?''
Taiki's eyes left Ami's and focused on Makoto, who appeared in the room.
''Taiki, what are you doing?,'' the brown-haired girl demanded. ''Let go of her.''
''It's none of your business,'' Taiki hissed.
''The hell it is!'' Makoto exclaimed. ''Let her go before I force you to do this.''
''No, Mako,'' Ami protested. ''It's ok.'' She then turned to look at Taiki. ''I didn't tell anything,'' Ami said calmly. ''Taiki, let go, you're hurting me.''
The brown-haired man looked down at their hands. His much bigger hands were gripping her small ones so tight that his knuckles were almost white. He let go of her hands but his gaze remained angrily fixed on her.
Ami let out a breath and started massaging her numb hands. ''Mako, leave us alone,'' she asked, not even looking at her friend, her eyes were focused on Taiki, holding his hard eyes.
Makoto crossed her arms, ''I'm not leaving you with this psycho.''
Ami swung her head in Mako's direction, ''He won't hurt me, you know him.''
''Yeah, I've just seen it.''
''Mako, trust me. In any case, you'll be just next room.''
Makoto stood for a moment, staring at Taiki angrily, before she left the room and disappeared in the kitchen.
Ami turned her head back to Taiki, ''What was that?'' she asked with voice full of disbelief.
''You told your friends about our engagements. How could you? I told you it in a secret. I thought I could trust you...''
Ami raised her hands, ''Wait! You think I revealed your secret?'' she asked, not believing he was suspecting her.
''Only you knew.''
''Well, your brothers also knew.''
''They would never... ok, maybe Seiya would tell Usagi but he didn't. He called her today when we were in the recording studio and found out that she already knows. He was depressed.''
''So you think I told them?''
''And who else would do that?''
Ami crossed her arms and looked at him hard, trying to hide how deeply his lack of trust in her hurt her. ''It was Yaten, he told Minako, and she told us.''
''What?'' Taiki asked in disbelief. ''Yaten would never...''
''He did.''
Taiki was silent for a moment, looking at her hard, as if searching for any sign of a lie, ''Why would he...?'' he asked, this time much calmer, shaking his head.
''Maybe he just didn't want to lie anymore. Maybe he needed to tell somebody as you needed to tell me. Didn't you think that your brothers may also want to share it with someone. It looks lke you don't even know them. I shouldn't be surprised that you doubted me. Looks like you don't know me too.'' With that Ami turned with her back to him, heading to her bedroom. Taiki stood speechless, analysing what he had just done.
''Ami, wait!''
Ami opened the door and froze in the doorway to the bedroom. She slowly turned around.
Taiki took a few steps in her direction and shook his head tiredly, ''I don't know what happened to me.''
Ami nodded, ''It's easy to say something like that. What happened is that you didn't trust me. The first thing on your mind was that I betrayed you.''
''No,'' Taiki shook his head again. ''The first thing on my mind was that I betrayed my brothers, and then immediately I thought that if you revealed my secret to your friends, and if I can't trust YOU then I can trust no one. And that thought broke me.''
Ami looked at him silently, letting his words reach her. ''It doesn't mean you can just walk in here and treat me like that.''
''You're right. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry Ami.''
''Your lack of trust hurt.''
Taiki took a few steps forward and stood next to her. ''Please, forgive me. I was wrong. I should know that you would never betray me.''
Amy looked up into his sad eyes. ''You should.''
''I'll never do that again.''
Ami nodded slowly and let him took her small hands in his again. This time he was so gentle she barely felt his touch. His fingers brushed the the skin on her wrist that now had red marks. Ami inhaled deeply as she felt a tingling sensation .
''You think I can stay for a while?''
''I think that Mako is right now in a mood to kill you, but... if you're not afraid of her...''
''I''ll face her.''
''Good luck.''
Minako almost jumped when she entered her bedroom and found Artemis lying comfortably on her bed. She rolled her eyes and closed the bedroom door, ''Artemis. What are you doing here?''
Since she had found her own apartment and started studying and working, Artemis seemed to realize that she needed more space and was leaving her alone more and more often. He wasn't very willing to do this, especially when she started dating Kane but finally he understood that she's growing up and started showing some trust in her. She wasn't worried about the cat because she knew that he would be with Luna, who also seemed to give Usagi more space, or with their friends.
The white cat lazily lifted his small head, yawned and and locked his eyes with Minako. ''What? Not happy to see me?''
''It's not that...'' Minako shook her head, wondering how long it will take Yaten to change his wet clothes into some dry ones and come there.
Artemis was watching her carefully, ''You look guilty.''
''Huh?''
''Are you even listening to me?''
''Yeah... it's just, Yaten is supposed to come here in a minute, so...''
''So you want to kick me out?'' Artemis asked but made no attempt to get up and leave warm and comfortable place on Minako's bed. ''You know it's still raining, right?''
Minako looked through the window although she knew it was still raining. Besides, no matter how annoying this cat could sometimes be, she would never kick him out in such weather.
She put hands on her hips and turned to look down at the cat, ''Ok, you can stay but be silent and don't leave the bedroom''.
''You know that I still don't like the idea of him here, to be honest I don't like anything that is connected with you and him.''
''Artemis...'' Minako let her hands fall from her hips.
''You think I didn't see you two, down, just before you came.''
''You awful peeper!''
''Don't change the topic. We talk about you, not me. Mina, he will leave again.''
''I know,'' Minako said quietly, ''but I need him now. I'm stronger than I was back then and will somehow cope when he's gone again, but please let me have now.''
Artemis watched her carefully and then sighed, ''I hope you know what you're doing.''
Minako smiled brightly at her cat, ''I do.'' Just as she said that they both heard the door for the apartment being open. Minako didn't close them because she knew Yaten was going to come.
''He's here.'' She was supposed to change her wet clothes but for sure she wasn't going to do that in front of Artemis. She walked to the wardrobe but then remembered that her bathrobe was in the bathroom. She looked at Artemis who seemed to be sleeping again, paying no attention to her, and then walked out of the bedroom.
Yaten was standing in her living room; he wore dry clothes, grey shirt and black trousers, but his hair was still wet. He looked up at her when she appeared in the room and her heart jumped in her chest as their eyes met. She smiled and quickly walked up to him and kissed him. When she pulled back his eyebrows were slightly raised as if he was asking her what was that for.
Minako shrugged, still smiling. It was still a little bit weird because they weren't used to such small gestures the other couples did normally, like holding hands or a kiss without a reason. Their 'relationship' so far was rather stormy, intense and unpredictable. And right now, seeing him, she just wanted to simply kiss him so she did it.
Yaten looked down at her. ''You hadn't changed,'' he noticed.
''I was going to do that but some stupid cat interrupted me.''
''Stupid cat?''
Minako nodded, ''You know.'' She really didn't want to part with him for even a second but her wet dress was making her more and more uncomfortable. Yaten, running his hands over her bare arms, wasn't helping at all. ''I need to change,'' she breathed just before she felt Yaten's lips on hers. He kissed her softly but that was enough to put her senses on fire and she found it really difficult to pull away. ''Really,'' she said, looking up into his eyes and realizing that it probably wasn't the best idea. His eyes were just so...
''Then go,'' Yaten replied, the corners of his mouth lifting up, because he knew exactly what influence he had on her. Minako was stunned for a moment, just looking at him, and realizing that she rarely saw him... just happy.
She lifted her head and put a light kiss on his lips. ''I'll be right back.'' Stepping away from him and going into the bathroom was a really hard task when all she wanted to do was to be right next to him, kiss him and touch him... after all didn't she deserve it, just a little bit?
Once inside the bathroom, she closed the door after her and took a deep breath, clearing her head. She then went over to the sink and looked at herself in the mirror. Her skin was still wet, her dress was clinging to her body so tightly that it looked almost like her second skin. Her wet strands sticking to her flushed face, her eyes shining, raindrops falling from her eye-lashes when she blinked. She desperately needed hot shower but didn't have time for that now.
She pulled off her dripping dress, squeezed it over the sink second time that day and hung it to dry. Then she unstuck her hair from her skin and also squeezed it before taking hairbrush and brushing her hair gently. When she was done with it, she dried up her skin with a towel and put on her creamy, short, satin robe. Feeling the soft material against her skin, she fastened the robe's belt and put on fluffy, white slippers.
When she got out of the bathroom, she found Yaten sitting on the couch, playing with something in his hands. His head was slightly bent, damp bangs falling down, covering his face. His elbows were resting against his thighs and his back was slightly bend. When he was bent like that his grey shirt was fitting tightly to his back so that she could make out strong lines of his shoulders and spine. Something in her stomach fluttered and she realized that she wanted to touch him so badly that it was almost impossible to ignore.
She never felt so many things going on inside her, with her heart, stomach and mind. Never, with no one else.
When Yaten heard her closing the door of the bathroom he looked up at her. His eyes met hers only for a moment before scanning her from head to toes. Minako knew what she looked like, she knew how her creamy robe was contrasting with her tanned skin and matched her golden hair, she knew that it was very short and that it was flowing smoothly over her skin and hugging it in the right places.
Yaten looked back at his hands. ''I brought you something.''
She moved forward and sat down on the couch next to him, only now noticing that what he was holding was a CD. ''What is it?'' she asked, watching as his fingers were gently turning the CD.
''It's something that I should probably gave you when I got it but... I somehow forgot about it.'' He turned his head and looked at her. ''It has pictures from our photo shoot,'' he handed her the CD and she took it; their fingers brushing only slightly. ''Mahoko send it the same day we took the pictures.''
Minako looked at the CD in her hands. ''And you did not think of showing it to me on the same day?''
''No.'' Yaten admitted and Minako nodded. Of course he didn't want to give it to her, or show it to her... on what stage their relationship was back then? Quarreling? Avoiding each other? She couldn't even remember it now.
''All pictures are here?'' she asked slowly, raising her eyes again to his.
''All,'' he responded, holding her gaze.
''Thank you,'' Minako said quietly and he nodded, looking away. After a moment he spoke up again. ''You know, Mahoko said that you were received very well.''
''You mean we were.''
''Yeah, we were, but you were more interesting because you're new, fresh... you're a mystery... at least for now. Mahoko said that several people from the music business, who saw the performance, are already interested in you.'' He looked at her.
Minako couldn't suppress a smile. ''Really?''
''Yes, and you can be sure she will find the best people for you to work with... you will record your album.''
Minako smiled brightly, ''You think?''
''I'm sure of it.'' He paused for a moment and then added, ''I'm glad Mahoko is engaged in this. She'll take good care of you.''
Minako didn't like the sound of it, realizing that he meant that Mahoko will take care of her when he's gone. Her smile suddenly faded but she didn't say anything, she didn't want to talk about that. In the corner of her eye she could see that Yaten noticed that she understood him.
He reached out his hand and put it on hers that was on her lap. He squeezed her fingers and she smiled, looking back at him.
''If she'll make me shine like you do, then I trust her too,'' she said and smiled again although somewhere in the back of her mind terrifying feeling of lost was still present.
Yaten didn't responded but stare at her as if... in wonder?
''What?'' she asked slowly.
Yaten let go of her hand and raised his own hand to brush his fingers gingerly against her cheek. The storm inside her let her know again about its existence.
''Smile again,'' Yaten asked quietly.
Minako couldn't help but smile at his request, ''Why? What's going on?''
Suddenly Yaten got up. ''Wait here.''
''Yaten, what... '' Before Minako could say anything more he was out of the door. She sighed and leaned back on the couch.
A moment later Yaten was back. With his camera.
''Oh,'' Minako looked up from the camera to his face.
''I just realized that I've never took pictures of you.''
''Why would you?''
''Come on, you're not that bad a model... ''
''Not that bad?'' Minako cut in, narrowing her brows.
''...and I,'' Yaten continued as if not hearing her,'' am a great photographer.''
''Great? Really?'' One of Minako's brows raised up flirtatiously.
''If you don't believe me, let me convince you,'' Yaten nodded his head at her.
''I just got out of the rain,'' Minako crossed her arms, pretending to be hard to get.
''And? Maybe you can convince me that you are more than ordinary model.''
''Ordinary?'' she repeated it as if he insulted her.
Yaten smirked and lifted his camera.
Minako slowly nodded, ''Just so you know, I like challenges. And I'm good at it.''
Now one of Yaten's brows shot up.
''You better show how good pictures you can take.''
''Half of the success is a good model.''
''Oh, trust me, you won't get any better,'' Minako teased before straightening her back and crossing her legs as he took the first picture. ''You know that with me your task is not really hard.'' She rested on her hands and slightly tilted her head back.
''Oh, modesty,'' Yaten murmured, taking another picture.
Minako laughed, running hand through her wet hair, pulling it out of her eyes. ''I know you love my modesty,'' she winked, putting her hair over her shoulder.
''Couldn't live without it.'' Yaten kneeled down on one knee to get a better shot. ''You're ego is bigger than mine and that is not easy.''
''Oh no, no one can beat your ego, even me.'' She bit her lip and fluttered her eyelashes at him.
Yaten watched her for a moment before taking another photo. ''Don't be so sure.''
Minako just smiled and then got up from the couch, walked up to her stereo and put on some music. She then looked over her shoulder at Yaten.
He stood, watching her, with his eyebrows slightly raised.
''I'll perform better with music.''
He just nodded and lifted the camera again.
Minako threw off her slippers and started slowly swaying her hips to the music. She could hear Yaten chuckling but ignored him. Right in that moment the only thing she knew was that she felt good, free, something she didn't feel in a long time. She started dancing barefoot on the carpet, hearing the music and somewhere in the distance the sound of the camera taking photos. She let go of all the crippling burdens she was carrying for the last couple of weeks... maybe even months or years. She just wanted to be herself again.
She jumped on the couch, moving her body rhythmically.
''You're crazy,'' she heard Yaten saying and then taking more pictures.
''And you discovered it just now?''
''Oh no, I discovered it a very long time ago. Exactly my first day in your school when your hand shoot up in the air, you started waving at me and loudly announcing that place next you is vacant.''
Minako smiled at the memory. It seemed like it was ages ago. ''But you took it anyway,'' she said, hopping from the couch onto the chair and then onto the table.
Yaten took a few photos and after a moment nodded, ''Yeah, I took it.'' Minako stretched her hands, spinning around, her hair flowing all around her. She wanted to laugh, jump and dance, to sing at the top of her voice, to go out and dance in the rain. Right in that moment she felt live-drunk.
''Carefully,'' Yaten said, walking up to the table.
Minako stopped spinning and slightly swayed, her head felt funny. She looked down at Yaten who was staring at her. She could tell her face was all flushed and her hair was sticking to her face again. Yaten hung the camera over his neck and raised his hands to Minako, ''Come down, come on.''
Minako slightly bend down and let him caught her under her arms and pull down.
When he put her down, she placed her hands on his shoulders and looked up at him.
''I like you like that,'' Yaten said.
''You never liked me like that,'' Minako shook her head.
Yaten stared at her for a moment before replying, ''Everything was different back then.''
''And now?''
''Now everything is as it's supposed to be,'' Yaten responded and leaned down to kiss her. Minako closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his lips on hers.
When the camera on his neck was getting a little bit uncomfortable between them, he pulled away. He watched her intently and lifted his hand to brush some of wet fringe from her face. His hand then went down, pulling the robe a little bit of her right shoulder. Minako bit her lip as his fingers skimmed her bare skin.
Yaten backed away and took the camera to take some more pictures. Minako smiled at him and then moved away from the table, turned around, putting her back to Yaten and looked over her right shoulder seductively while Yaten snapped another photo.
After a few more shots Yaten announced that it's enough and Minako sank down on the couch, laughing. ''That was fun. We should do this more often.''
Yaten put the camera on the table and walked up to Minako. ''We should.'' He sat down next to her, looking at her.
''What?'' Minako asked.
''Where's your bow?''
''Huh?''
''Your red bow. You used to wore it all the time.''
Minako looked away from him, ''It was childish,'' she shrugged.
''No it wasn't,'' Yaten replied and she looked back at him. ''Did you threw it away?'' he asked.
After a moment Minako smiled and shook her head. ''No, I couldn't do it. I always thought that one day I would wear it again.''
''You will,'' Yaten said quietly.
She stared at him before speaking up again. ''Can now I ask you something?''
Yaten looked up at her, ''What do you want to know?''
Minako moved on the couch so that one of her legs was underneath her and she was facing him. ''Tell me about your empathy.''
Yaten's eyes grew bigger like he didn't expect something like that. ''Why do you ask about it? You know... ''
''I don't know exactly... everything...,'' she shook her head, ''and it's important part of who you are and if you suffer by it, like you did...'' She touched his cheek and he slightly leaned his face into her palm.
''It's nothing,'' he said and Minako took her hand away.
''Right. How does it really work? Please tell me something. I want to really now you.''
''And all that time I was thinking that you were one of the few persons that really do.''
''Then I want more.''
Yaten shook his head and cleared his throat. ''If I do not block it, let it go fully, and focus, it's like... like I can touch your soul. But I don't usually go so far, I'm used to blocking it, not going in intentionally.''
''Because you can lose your control.''
Yaten nodded. ''If there are too many people, too many emotions, yes.''
''What if there's only one person.''
''It's ok... '' suddenly he smirked, ''however if this is too emotional person...''
Minako punched his arm playfully, ''Then you would have problem with Usagi, not me. Can you do it now?''
''Give me your hand,'' Yaten said, turning so that he also was facing her. Minako slowly pulled both of her hands out and Yaten gently took them in his own, his thumbs slowly brushing her skin. ''Close your eyes.''
Minako looked up from their joined hands and at him. ''Why?''
''Because you'll experience it better that way. Trust me.''
Minako nodded and closed her eyes, focusing only on his touch. Soon there was something more to it. The warm feeling was coming from her fingertips and spreading over her whole body like the sun radiating over the Earth. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the sunny calmness overpowering her. It was like she could feel light inside of her, caressing the core of her being.
Too soon the feeling faded and Minako opened her eyes.
''Wow, that was... amazing. It was like I could feel you.''
''Because I let you feel me, which I don't usually do,'' Yaten said, still holding her hands.
''What did you feel?''
''Only good emotions. Sometimes when I was checking on you...''
''Wait,'' Minako cut him off, ''you were checking on me?''
''Yeah,'' Yaten nodded, letting go of her hands, ''I sometimes do this, when I'm bored or when something catches my attention. I check on people but I don't let them feel my presence.''
''And you were checking on ME?''
''Yes, and when I did, I usually felt this grayness and blackness inside your soul and wondered how such a lively person like you can have so much sadness inside. How good you were at faking your emotions.''
''But I don't have it right now, right?''
''No, you don't.''
''At all?''
''Only a little bit, just a tinge. But I would be surprised if it wasn't there.''
Minako nodded, ''Me too''. No matter what, she could never be really happy, never have everything she wants completely.
''But there's so much brightness.''
''So now I don't fake my emotions?''
''Not right in this moment.''
Minako smiled. ''Because now I'm with you. And I'm happy.'' Simply happy.
''I'm glad to see this.''
''I would like that too. To be able to feel what you feel.''
''I'm afraid you can't do that but I can show you my feelings in a traditional way.'' He placed his hand on her neck and brought her closer till their mouths met.
Minako smiled when he slightly pulled back. ''I like traditional way.'' Yaten smiled back, which was still new for her to see, before cupping her face in both hands and kissing her again.
She could feel his lips caressing hers, his hands smoothing her hair and after a moment his weight slightly pressing into her as they shifted on the couch so that he was partly on top of her.
Yaten pulled back again and started staring at her.
''What are you looking at?'' she asked quietly.
''Do you really expect me to answer? You should know that by now.'' he said, running his hands through her hair.
''Maybe I want to hear it.''
Yaten shook his head, ''Don't be stubborn.''
Minako closed her eyes and smiled, feeling his fingers gently brushing her face, eyes, lips...
When she opened her eyes he was still staring at her, his hand running over her hair and neck. It was as if he was trying to remember her.
Minako reached out and started touching his face the way he was doing it with her, feeling the texture of his forehead, cheeks, nose and lips, brushing his long eyelashes as he closed his eyes against her touch. One of her hands went to the back of his neck and into his hair while the other run down his chest, feeling his body through his shirt.
She wanted to remember him too.
She couldn't help staring at his lush lips. She wanted to feel them again and again and again.
As if reading her mind, Yaten leaned down again and captured her lips again. He tasted her tentatively with his tongue, and Minako opened her mouth with a low moan.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the pressure of his lips against hers. The lingering, tender kiss.
He kissed her slowly and sensuously so that she could sink into the sensuousness of his soft lips, feeling her skin yielding under his touch. Tingles run down her spine.
She could stay with him just like that forever. In the silence of her living-room, with the only noise of raindrops hitting the window-pane.
He pulled slightly away, leaving her with giddy light headed feeling. She smiled, ''Always knew you are a good kisser.''
''I'm good at everything.''
She raised her eyebrow playfully but didn't have a chance to say anything more as his lips reclaimed hers.
Minako lifted her leg and wrapped it around his hip as he kissed her harder. She could then feel his hand reaching her raised leg, caressing over the bare skin, from her knee to her thigh, gripping it firmly. Minako gasped at his touch, her breathing becoming irregular.
''Yaten,'' she breathed, gripping the hair at his neck, as he started kissing her neck, his tongue sliding moistly over her tender skin. Minako arched her back, making the robe fall further back from her shoulder. Immediately Yaten was there, putting wet kisses on her shoulder and then lower, over the sensitive skin of her exposed cleavage. Minako bit her lip, feeling her breasts tighten and ache impatiently.
The unexpected knock on the door ruined the moment. Yaten pulled back, looking at her. ''You expect someone?'' he asked, trying to get control over his breathing.
''Rather not. Can't we ignore it?'' she asked, pleadingly.
Yaten pressed his forehead against hers, breathing more slowly. Someone knocked on the door again. ''Go on,'' Yaten said, starting to get up and freeing her.
Minako moaned in complain and slowly got up from the couch, taking a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. She then fixed her robe and moved to the door.
When she opened it, she found young women standing on the other side. She was Minako's height, had wavy, auburn hair and emerald eyes. Despite the rain outside she was completely dry.
''Yes?'' Minako asked, wondering who this woman was and what she wanted.
The stranger slowly eyed Minako from head to toes, raised one slender brow and then spoke up. ''I'm looking for my fiance,'' she said in a tone of voice showing too much confidence. Something in her felt... wrong.
Minako put one hand on her hip, ''Listen, I think you got something wrong... '' she couldn't finish because suddenly Yaten's back was in front of her as he, all tensed, faced the stranger.
''Nana.''