Aftermath
AN: It took some time but it's ready. Probably the longest chapter so far.
Warning: change of rating.
She felt pain before she even opened her eyes. It seemed to spread through her whole body, cumulating in her arm and stomach.
She tried to move and winced.
"Minako?" Familiar voice forced her lids to open. Dark eyes, framed by black hair, fixed her with a stare. Why was she there? She shouldn't be back yet. For a brief second the thought of how long she had been sleeping terrified Minako.
"Rei," was the only thing she managed to utter. Her throat was sore and her voice seemed weak.
Black-haired girl put hands on her hips. "Do you have any idea what you made me go through?" She set her face hard but her eyes, despite her efforts, were soft.
"What are you doing here?" Minako asked, trying out her voice.
"Didn't you think that I would feel something was wrong, no matter how far away I was? Have you forgotten we are all connected? It won't disappear just because that would be easier. Jeez Mina, there was a moment I thought you were dead. It felt like it."
"I felt like it too," Minako muttered.
Rei sat down on her bed.
Minako adjusted smaller pillow to prop herself up a bit. "You know what happened?"
"Girls told me everything. Well, after I squeezed it from them."
"You shouldn't end your honeymoon earlier. Yuuichirou must be disappointed."
"Please, he already had too much sun. And don't change the topic."
"There was a topic?"
"Mina," Rei said seriously. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"Really?" Rei asked, looking as if she didn't believe her for a second.
"It's fine." Minako repeated, wishing her friend would just drop it.
"No, it's not fine. Would you stop that facade? The man you love beat you almost to death. No matter he wasn't himself. I can't imagine how it must feel."
Minako blinked rapidly. She couldn't let herself break. She looked away.
"I'm sorry." Rei took her hand.
Minako bit her lip, but it didn't help. Single tear escaped her eye. "It was a nightmare," she whispered, letting herself acknowledge what really happened. She shook her head, hiding her face in the curtain of blond hair.
That was when Rei got fully on the bed and before Minako could react she was wrapped in the other girl arms tightly.
"It's ok," Rei said soothingly. "It's ok."
Seiya picked Usagi up from work. She wanted to take a day off but Rei came back and insisted she would stay with Minako. Resigned, Usagi spent half day working but her mind wandered. She was worried about Minako. They changed with the girls to stay by her side.
After the fight they took her home. She didn't say anything. Soon exhaustion took over and she fell asleep. Makoto stayed with her for the night and next morning. Then Ami changed her and in the evening Usagi joined.
"She still didn't wake up?" she asked when she found Minako buried deep in the sheets of her bed.
"She did but only for a few minutes," Ami replied. "She was so out of it. Like she didn't know where she was or what happened. I tried to talk to her but her gaze was unfocused. A few minutes later she fell asleep again."
Usagi stayed with her for the evening and night.
Near midnight someone knocked loudly on the door. Slowly, Usagi got up from the couch where she was trying to get some sleep and opened the door.
Rei barged into the living room.
"Don't you use your phone?" she snapped at Usagi.
"Rei," Usagi closed the door and turned to look at her long not seen friend. "You're back?"
"Where's your phone?"
Usagi shrugged. "I might have left it at my apartment."
"And I can't contact with you when I need to." She seemed to be frustrated. "She's there?" she pointed at Minako's bedroom.
Usagi nodded and reached for Rei's arm before she could make a step. "Wait. She's asleep."
Rei took her arm away. "How could you not tell me what was going on?"
"You talked to Ami and Mako?"
"Of course I did. I can't believe you let me be oblivious."
"It was your honeymoon," Usagi tried to reason.
"You should let me know something was going on anyway."
"You're silent," Seiya observed, pulling Usagi out of her thoughts.
She looked down at their joined hands and then up into his eyes. He had kind, trusting eyes. "Should we do this?" she raised their arms and them let them fall between their bodies again.
"I don't see why we shouldn't. When we said A what not to say B?"
Usagi raised her brow.
Seiya smiled. "We told each other how we feel. Why not to act like that. I mean it doesn't seem to be secret anymore." His smile failed.
"Are you worried?"
Seiya averted his gaze and looked in the distance. "I still don't know how's Yaten and my queen is in the middle of deciding what to do with us that will most probably affect my future life. Things don't look good." He shrugged and looked back at her. "But I try not to let that consume me." He raised their joined palms and kissed her hand. "Everything that happened wasn't easy, but I'm glad it did happen."
Usagi smiled at him. "Me too." If their lives weren't endangered who knows if she could now enjoy the feeling of Seiya's hand in her own, the warmth of his body right next to hers and this fast beating of her heart when she looked at him. She thought she wasn't able to feel that way again.
It turned out she was wrong.
And maybe they weren't destined to be together. But Seiya and his love healed her when she thought she was never going to recover.
They reached the building and climbed up the stairs.
"See you later?" Seiya asked when they stopped between the two door.
"I hope so." Usagi stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly. Her lips lingered against his a moment longer before she pulled away."
"I'm going to check on Minako."
Seiya nodded. "I'm going to check on Yaten."
"Do that." She smiled and tried to entangle her hand but he didn't let her.
She raised one brow, looking up at him.
He gave her cocky smile. "You thought I would let you go so easily when I finally have you?" He leaned down, reaching with his free hand behind her neck and caught her lips with his.
Usagi sighed and smiled against the kiss as her back lightly touched Minako's door.
Only after a longer moment Seiya pulled back and let go of her hand. "Till later."
Usagi nodded and watched him open the door to his apartment and disappear inside. She felt flushed when she entered Minako's flat. She smiled to herself, closing the door. However when she turned around and found herself facing Rei's disapproving gaze, the smile disappeared from her face.
She cleared her throat, taking off her jacket. "How's Minako?"
"She's awake."
Usagi did a double take. "She is?"
When Rei nodded, she took off her shoes, threw her bag away and entered Minako's bedroom.
''You're awake!" she exclaimed and Minako looked up.
She was sitting in her bed, tying her hair back into a ponytail. "I am."
Rei followed behind Usagi with a mug in her hand. "All this time in Philippines and I forgot how loud you are." She glanced at Usagi before walking up to Minako and giving her mug. "Here you are."
"Thanks," Minako responded, taking the mug in her hands. She tried to sip but seemed to burn her tongue. "Ouch."
"And I forgot how noisy you are," Usagi threw at Rei and then sit down on Minako's bed. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. Really."
"Really?" Usagi asked doubtfully.
Minako nodded. "Better with every minute." She took a slow sip. "I just need to take shower and change." She lowered the mug and looked down on it, biting her lip. "Do you know… how's Yaten?" She looked back at Usagi and Rei.
"He still hasn't woken up." Usagi shook her head.
"No wonder. He's been brainwashed. He needs to regenerate."
Usagi sweatdropped at Rei's language. "Rei. Always so insensitive."
"What? Am I wrong?"
"You're right." Minako said. "It's obvious he needs rest. Have you been there?" she asked Usagi, referring to Lights' apartment.
"Yes, yesterday, but I haven't seen Yaten. Seiya told me he was still unconscious."
In the afternoon after Minako ate, Rei and Usagi finally went home. She showered quickly and changed her clothes before going out and knocking on the door to the opposite apartment. She didn't need to wait long for the door to open.
"Minako," Seiya looked at her, not really surprised to see her there. "I'm glad to see you up and about."
"I'm not here to talk about myself."
"I know."
Minako stared at him expectantly.
"He hasn't woken up yet," Seiya said, looking oddly tired.
Minako nodded. "Can I come in?"
Seiya hesitated long enough for Minako to put a hand on her hip and take a step forward.
"Let me see him," she demanded.
"I don't think it's a good idea."
"I don't care what you think." She wasn't going to let go. She pushed him away and let herself in. Before he could stop her, she found Yaten's door slightly ajar. She looked inside.
There he was. Lying in his bed. Sleeping. Covers slid down to his waist. His face and arms were pale. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead as if he had fever.
Seiya's hand reached in front of her and closed the door in her face.
"Listen Minako, it's not that I don't want you to see him. It's just we don't know how he will react when he regains consciousness. Since we don't know it, I don't think you should be the first person he sees ."
She wanted to argue but she couldn't deny Seiya had a point. She wasn't stupid.
Usagi stopped in her track when she entered Minako's bedroom early in the evening. "What are you doing?"
Minako packed her pyjamas into the bag and looked at Usagi. She knew her friend was heading to see Seiya but first wanted to check on her. "I'm leaving."
"Leaving?"
"I still don't think it's a good idea." Artemis raised his head from his sleepy form on the bed.
"No one asked your opinion," Minako stuck out her tongue at the cat.
He stuck out his in reply and then lied his head back down. It would be almost playful behavior if Minako was in a better mood.
"Leaving?" Usagi repeated.
Minako closed her eyes tiredly, hating herself for what she was going to say.
"I think I need to take a break."
"I know," Usagi nodded. "You should rest as long as you need and instead you're up and pacing whole day and now you say you're leaving?"
"I mean I need to go away. At least for a few days. I just… I just can't deal with everything right now." She sat down on her bed, resigned. She knew that as a leader she shouldn't leave her princess, not when situation didn't look particularly good. She just…. No she didn't have an excuse.
Usagi thought for a moment about her words and then nodded vigorously. "You're right."
Minako looked up at her hopefully. "Am I? Because I'm starting to think I'm not."
"You've been through a lot. I think a break would do you really good." She sat down next to Minako. "Anyway, we have to wait for their decision. And it will probably take some time."
"I don't want to leave you. I'll stay if you need me."
"Minako, I have everybody here. And Rei is back. Besides, you should go before Haruka comes here to give you lecture. She already gave us one."
"Was it bad?" Minako asked.
"The same as usual. Why we didn't tell them anything, how irresponsible we are and so forth."
Minako groaned. In previous years she had heard enough lectures. She wasn't going to hear another one.
"I want you to go, but just tell me where." Usagi inquired.
"I just thought… Remember our holiday about a year and a half ago? After Rei got engaged?"
Usagi looked as if forcing her mind to go back in time. A slow smile spread over her mouth. "We celebrated in your parents beach house. You said they weren't using it anymore."
"Not since they separated. Too many memories. They left it for me."
"It's a shame it stands empty."
"Right now I just need a place like that. Separate from here."
"Just say what you need and I'll help you to pack."
Later that evening, after Usagi left, Seiya and Taiki stood in Yaten's doorway.
They eyed him warily.
"You think he's going to be himself?" Seiya asked, looking up at Taiki.
"He might. From logic point of view, Nana lost her powers, so her touch on Yaten should be gone too." Taiki pondered, frowning. "Unless it went deeper and his brain was damaged for good."
"I hear you idiots." They both turned rapidly at the sound of Yaten's hoarse voice. He didn't move but his eyes were open.
"Yaten?" Seiya asked slowly.
Yaten glanced at him. His eyes looked normal. No blackness there.
"Do you want to kill us?" Seiya asked straightforward.
"No more than usually."
Taiki breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good to see you back."
It was already dark when Minako found herself at the seaside. She took late train and made her way through the area, finally reaching the house. She breathed in light breeze, enjoying the sound of the waves. Her feet drowned in the sand. She buried herself deeper in her jacket. The sea brought coldness.
She loved the place not only because it was by the sea but because it was secluded. She won't lie. She's always been people person. She liked being around the people. But sometimes there were moments when she needed a place like this, where she could be alone with her thoughts. Where she could breathe easily. Right then she needed just that. To breathe. Without the constant worried glances being casted her way.
Beautiful thing about the beach houses was that they never stood next to one another. Each had space that allowed you to feel almost like the only person in the world.
She walked down the wooden path and climbed up two stairs. She fished in her pocket for the keys and opened the door. The house welcomed her silent and dark. The only noise opening and closing the door.
Minako took off her backpack and shoes. She left the groceries on the floor, before looking around the house.
Downstairs there was living room with sea blue walls, white furniture and sea-connected decorations, everything covered against the dust, and a big fireplace. Next was kitchen annex and bathroom. Upstairs she had one bedroom, bathroom and balcony. The house wasn't big and there wasn't many things inside. Just the basic furniture. Perfect, if you spend most of the time outside.
Her parents usually came there often. She was there often when she was younger. There wasn't a summer holiday that she wouldn't be there if only for a couple of days.
To not let the house stand completely alone her mother sometimes rent it, but always informed Minako so she wouldn't make a visit while it was occupied. It wasn't the case right then. Besides summer has already ended so there weren't many people interested in it.
About an hour later when she removed white pieces of clothing that covered the furniture and unpacked herself, she made fire in the fireplace. She dropped on the fluffy white carpet in front of it to get warm and crossed her legs. Her eyes danced with the fire while her mind wandered.
Yaten tried to stir, but grimacing only managed to get onto his side.
"You probably shouldn't move," Seiya warned.
"How long have I been out?" He touched his back where Taiki bandaged his bleeding wound.
"Two days."
"What?" His eyes widened slightly.
"You should be hungry."
"I'm not."
Seiya observed as Yaten swept hair from his forehead and let his head fall down back on the pillow. "Well, Taiki's making dinner so you'll eat it anyway."
His brother was silent. It troubled Seiya.
"Yaten… are you ok?"
"Define ok."
"That means no."
"I'll kill her if I ever saw her again," Yaten simply announced.
He didn't need to specify who 'her' meant. Seiya was sure that if someone grilled his brain and took away his soul he also wouldn't have any warm feelings left.
"Don't say that," he shook his head anyway. "You kill demons not princesses."
Yaten's eyes narrowed.
"Besides," Seiya continued, "her father took all of her power." He already told Yaten what happened that night because his memories were fuzzy. However some things needed repeating. "She won't be a problem anymore."
There was a moment of silence before Yaten spoke up again.
"Minako?" he whispered.
"A bit bitten up but ok", Seiya responded. "She's alive."
Yaten closed his eyes as if in pain.
"I guess that wasn't good thing to say."
"I've hurt her."
"Well, you've got her pretty badly. If it makes you feel better she got even," he pointed at Yaten's miserable state.
"I'm sorry."
Seiya stared at him. His brother never apologized. For anything. "Yaten, it wasn't your fault."
"Some of the things I've said were true. This was me."
"Don't be ridiculous. You would never consciously bit Minako."
"I would never touch her in such way. But it's true that I can't find peace because of her. And it's true how you annoy me sometimes."
"That't the brother's job, in case you forgot." Seiya joked but Yaten didn't seem to be in mood to laugh.
"Listen Yaten. Everybody has a dark side. We just fight everyday not to let it consume us. I know you. You would never become that man if given conscious choice."
"Since when you are so smart?"
Seiya shrugged. "I've always been. You've been just too big-headed to see this."
"Yeah, whatever makes you feel better."
She walked up to the window. Whole city was covered in darkness except street lightning. It was middle of the night. She felt cool air creeping up her skin so she adjusted her robe. She heard steps closer and closer to her till she felt body just behind her.
"What are you doing here?" his voice was soft.
"Couldn't sleep," she responded, feeling his arms sneaking around her waist, fumbling with the belt.
"I woke up and you weren't there. I thought you left." He finally managed to open robe and slip it down her shoulders. It pooled down around her feet, leaving her all exposed.
"I would never leave you," she whispered as he took her hair aside, revealing her shoulder. Then he kissed it lightly, his hands sneaking back around her waist.
They stayed like that. Two pale bodies bathed in the moonlight.
Minako woke up suddenly, gasping. It was middle of the night. Wind was howling outside the window.
She felt the dream so real it took her breath away. She breathed deeply, taking the air in and out slowly. Her eyes closed as need burnt inside her as strong as ever.
"Maybe we'll eat out?" Seiya asked Usagi next afternoon. With the corner of his eye he saw Taiki snorting before leaving the apartment.
Usagi looked after Taiki.
"Don't worry about him," Seiya said. "He's always like that."
"He's right. We act as if everything was ok."
"For now it is. I don't want to waste my time on worrying what will happen. Nothing is decided yet."
Usagi nodded. "Out is fine."
When Seiya left for the bathroom to get ready, Usagi reached for her phone and noticed she had a missing call from Minako.
She called back.
"Hey, you were calling."
"I just wanted to say that I'm in the beach house. Sorry I haven't called yesterday but it was already late."
"That's fine. I got your text. Did the place change much?"
"Just as I remembered it. Is everything alright back home?"
"You just left. Nothing really changed. Queen Kaykuu still didn't give any sign."
"Ok, if something happens, inform me as soon as you can."
"I will. Have a good time. Bye."
Usagi disconnected and turned to find Yaten standing in the doorway of his room, piercing her with his gaze.
"Yaten. You're awake!"
"Was it Minako you were talking to?"
After the call from Usagi, Minako went out. She took a stroll down the beach. The day was cold but beautiful. Clear blue sky above, light sand and rocks underneath her feet. The trees that surrounded house and stretched alongside the beach has turned their leaves yellow. Sun was already low.
She watched sunset, letting her thoughts fly away with the wind.
When she returned to the house it was already late evening. She made fire and ate quick supper. When she finished washing the dishes, she heard knock on the door.
She stopped abruptly. Did the far away neighbors want something? She adjusted her orange sweater and grey sweatpants. She hoped it wasn't her mother suddenly making appearance to have some mother-daughter time.
Confused, she padded to the door and opened them. She stilled at the view of the person on the other side. One person she least expected to see there.
"Yaten?"
He was resting with one hand against the door frame. His usually cool and all above the others posture gone. He looked like someone who hasn't found peace in a long time.
First he stared at her for some moment. He put hands into the pockets of his jacket. His nose was starting to get red.
"Can I come in?" Wind blew his hair out of his face while waves crashed behind his back.
So much for peace of mind.
Minako nodded and moved to the side to let him pass. He slipped in and she felt him behind her, waiting for her to close the door and turn around to him.
She did.
"Why are you here?" It was first thing that came to her mind. Maybe because there were too many others things she needed to say and didn't know where to start.
He shot a brief glance at the room and then fixed his eyes on her face. "I needed to see you. Why did you leave?"
"What does it matter?"
"It does for me."
Minako sighed, deciding to ignore his question and ask more nagging one. "How are you feeling?"
"Physically better," he nodded.
Minako was afraid to ask but did it anyway. "Emotionally?" The word left her lips in a quiet breath.
He just stared at her. She noticed his fist clenching, his knuckles going white.
"Yaten…"
"How are YOU?"
Minako closed her eyes and forced smile. "I'm good."
"Don't lie."
"If you know better than don't ask," she crossed her arms but almost immediately they fell loosely. "Why are you here?" she asked again.
"I needed to see you," he repeated and this time she heard this need in his voice.
She moved forward, wanting to come closer but he backed away.
"No, I needed to make sure you're ok but I shouldn't be near you. I shouldn't touch you."
"No," she shook her head, "that's exactly what you should do, because I need that to make sure that you're back and that this nightmare is over.
"Mina…"
"Yaten, please."
He didn't move when she came closer and wrapped her arms around his back. She felt him breathe deeply. Slowly he put his arms around her shoulders, enveloping her in a hug. His hand stroked her hair, trying to be gentle with her.
"I'm sorry." His voice was muffled by her hair.
She closed her eyes, breathing him in. "What matters is that you're alright."
"Where is he?" Taiki inquired.
"How do you think? He went to see Minako." Seiya explained.
"And she's not here?" Taiki's long brown eyebrows rose.
"It turns out that no. She left for a couple of days and Yaten followed her. Leave it alone, Taiki."
"No, I won't leave it alone." Now he sounded angry. "Our queen is debating our future, we can expect decision at any moment and he just leaves?"
Seiya shrugged. "He loves her." It was a simple statement but Taiki immediately knew Seiya wasn't talking about their queen. When had everything changed so much?
"It's not an excuse."
"It can be. One day even you will understand that." Seiya clapped his brother's shoulder and left the room. He didn't want to argue.
Minako was sitting on the couch, in front of the fireplace, with her back snuggled against Yaten's side. He sneaked his arm around her waist loosely and leaned back against the backrest of the couch.
"I would like to stay like that forever." She wished, letting her head fall on his shoulder. " Just forget about everything."
"It would be nice," he murmured.
"By the way, how did you know I'm here?"
"Usagi. She has big mouth."
"I'm glad she has."
She felt his hand stroking her hair, looking at the back of her head, her strands slipping through his fingers. Her neck was revealed.
He stopped and after a second she felt his finger tracing bruise behind her ear, then softly sliding from below her ear all the way down her neck to her shoulder. He pressed light kiss against her skin.
Minako closed her eyes and leaned back, against him.
"I need to tell you something." His words were quiet but persistent. She shifted her body slightly so she could look at him.
"I…" he swallowed back the words that were meant to follow and shook his head, looking away.
"What is it?" she asked, searching his eyes. "Just say it."
His eyes found hers again. "I love you."
Minako blinked and parted her lips slightly.
"I'm in love with you." Words seemed to found its way back to him. "I love every single thing about you. All the things that made me mad and crazy. I love you just as you are. I wouldn't change anything about you."
"Yaten….," she tried when she found her voice but he wasn't finished.
"I came to accept that I love you and no matter how hard I try I can't do anything about that. I just can't stop. I love you the way I don't love my brothers or princess. I love you the way I didn't know I was able to love." His eyes never strayed from her face. "I wanted you to know. I needed you to know."
She just stared at him.
"What? You won't say anything?" He slightly narrowed his brows. "You always have something to say."
She cleared her throat. "What do you want me to say?"
"Anything would be fine. I've just bared myself. You could say you love me too."
Minako chuckled unintentionally and shook her head. She then raised her eyes back to his. "Don't you know that already?"
"I want to hear it."
"You're so used to always getting what you want," she commented.
"Usually." He nodded as a faint smile touched the corners of his mouth.
"Try harder," she teased.
"Minako, please," he pressed his forehead against hers. "Don't torture me. I need to know that after everything that happened you still feel the same. Let me hear it."
She closed her eyes, enjoying his closeness. "I love you," she whispered back, then opened her eyes. Yaten pulled back, focusing on her gaze. "What happened doesn't matter," she continued. "I love you. Always."
He put his palm on her cheek and caressed it as he leaned leaned in. Their lips met in a soft touch, stroking against each other in a sheer delight.
When they pulled apart Minako bit her lips, feeling smile working its way across her face.
"I had a dream about us last night."
"Good or bad?" he asked.
"Good I think."
"Can I see?" he stretched his open palm. He was asking if he could see what the dream made her feel like.
When her hand reached his, he squeezed it. She watched as he closed his eyes. His brows narrowed slightly and after a moment he opened his eyes and locked them with hers. "I felt what you felt."
"Embarrassment?" she guessed.
"No," he shook his head, his eyes still locked on hers. "Longing."
They held each other's gaze, as the tips of his fingers skimmed the skin of her palm that was still in his hand. The look on his face was inviting. The green in his eyes burnt with the same desire she felt. She wrapped arm around his waist, pressing herself closer to him.
He let go of her hand and put strand of her hair away from her face. "You're beautiful," he whispered and Minako felt tremor go through her body. She closed her eyes and let him caress her face. His fingers moved agonizingly slowly from her cheek to her lip and down her throat. She threw her head back and bit her lip. Yaten held her tight with his other hand as his fingers were exploring column of her throat and her collarbones. She opened her eyes and moaned softly when she felt his lips on the tender skin of her throat. Her fingers dug into his shirt as he kissed her, her throat, her collarbones and then her face.
"Yaten," she murmured before his lips captured hers. His hands roamed her back through her sweater and she wrapped her arms tighter around him. She returned his kisses as eagerly as he gave them. It was exhilarating to be kissed and touched by him in such a loving way after all the violent things that happened between them. She stretched her leg and put it between his legs, pressing her body along his. She moaned against his lips, as she felt his fingertips slipping under the bottom of her sweater to caress her skin. He kissed her jaw and put light kiss on her neck before whispering in her ear. "Turn around."
He guided her around so that she was again settled with her back to him. He pushed her hair to the side and put a light kiss on her neck. Then she felt him untying ribbon bow of her sweater, at the back of her neck. His lips followed the path of his fingers. He moved the sweater down her right arm and kissed bare shoulder. His fingers slipped under the strap of her black bra and pushed it slightly to the side. He kissed the line left by the strap where it dug into her skin.
Minako inhaled deeply as Yaten sneaked his hands underneath her sweater and guided it up. Soon the piece of cloth was on the floor behind the couch. Minako shifted slightly, pressing her chest against the backrest, her fingers digging into a pillow as she felt Yaten's fingertips sliding down her spine. His lips followed, leaving burning marks on her shoulder blades and lower back. His hand rested on her hip as Minako craned her neck to find his smooth lips. Their mouths locked together and she felt flicker of fire in her stomach. With his palm against her stomach he brought her closer, pressing her against him. Minako tilted her head to get better access. She licked his bottom lip and he opened his mouth. Their tongues twined together deliriously.
She shifted again to be more comfortable, crawling onto his lap. Yaten looked at her with eyes shining more than usually. His hand pushed her hair behind her ear and slid down her arm. His eyes followed and he froze.
"What?" she asked before his fingers gently touched the bruise on her stomach. "I did this."
She shook her head. "No, you didn't."
"Then my hands did."
She stared at him hard before reaching up and slowly unbuttoning his shirt. She felt him looking at her fingers as she was working on the shirt and then at her face that was probably a picture perfect of focus and frustration.
She opened his shirt and her fingers sneaked down to the bruise on his ribs where she hit him with metal pipe.
"And I did this."
Her hand reached behind his back, gently touching the bandage there. "And this."
He shook his head. "You were just defending yourself. You were trying to save both of us."
"And you were doing the same. You went to Nana so I could be safe and she cursed you. It's not your fault." She cupped his face in both hands and repeated. "None of this is your fault."
She leaned in, kissing him softly on the lips. Before he could respond she pulled back slightly, still holding his face, catching his eyes. She had to make sure he believed her.
"Ok?" she asked.
He let out a sight and shook his head . Not to disagree with her, she recognized, but to show that he's not able to argue with her.
His hair fell into his eyes and she pushed it away gently. She kissed his forehead.
His hand cupped the back of her neck and he brought her to his mouth. He teased her lips, begging her for entrance and she opened them, meeting his tongue with her own again. His other hand was drawing small circles on her waist as his tongue continued deep exploration of her mouth.
Her hands pushed the shirt back from his shoulders and down his arms. It landed on the floor without a sound. She noticed his chest raising as he took a deep breath. She placed her palm on his chest and felt his quickened heartbeat. It was amazing how much alive he was next to her and how much alive it made her feel right in that moment. His hands moved to her hips bringing her closer. She collided with his chest and grasped his shoulders. Her head bowed so her lips could place a kiss right under his throat. Then she kissed his neck slowly, delicately biting and sucking at his tender skin She felt him swallow hard and dig his fingers in her hips. She smiled and moved her kisses along the column of his throat and down his chest. When she reached one of his nipples she licked it first and then started sucking on it, twisting it with her tongue and teeth. Yaten gasped agonizingly. She left his nipple and wanted to continue her adventure down but Yaten brought her up and claimed her lips urgently as if he couldn't last any longer.
His hands run along the hot skin of her back and down her hips as her own hand moved from his neck to his hair, entangling in it and massaging his scalp. In any other situation he would not like messing his perfect hair. She wanted to have him closer, as close as it was possible.
He latched onto her tongue and sucked it into his mouth. Minako tugged on his hair, panting against him. She parted her lips even more as his hand grabbed the back of her neck. The melted together.
He pulled back, breathing deeply. Minako closed her eyes, trying to regain control over her own breath.
"Mina."
She opened her eyes. His face was flushed and he was staring at her as if he could see her soul.
With those eyes she wouldn't be surprised if he could.
"If we don't stop now…" he shook his head. "There's no going back from here."
"I don't want to go back. This, right now, is probably the most perfect it will ever be." She knew he couldn't disagree with her. She saw resignation in his face. Tomorrow was unsure. Right now was all they had.
He was holding her face before his hands moved down, pushing the straps of black bra down her shoulders. He kissed hard her neck, shoulders and placed exploratory kisses on her collarbones and down on her cleveage. Minako felt goosebumps forming on the swell of her breast and knew he could feel them under his lips. He moved up catching her lips in his again, pressing her closer as she felt his fingers sneaking behind her back, underneath the waterfall of her hair, and reaching her bra clasp. She shivered as he undid it and looked into his eyes realizing that he was staring at her face all the time. His eyes were too full of emotion and she almost couldn't bear to look back into them. She felt too much of her own feelings waking up inside her.
Still keeping eye contact he pushed the bra from her arms and away from between their bodies. Minako gasped when he pulled her close, pressing their naked chests together. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tightened her knees around him while he roamed his hands over her bare back. He leaned forward to suck on her neck again and she threw her head back, holding strong onto his shoulders. She moaned at the friction of her breasts moving against his chest. They felt tight and nipples protruded painfully towards Yaten. Every time they touched against his chest Minako experienced both pleasant and painful feeling.
"Yaten," she whispered needingly.
"Shh, I know," he whispered back into her ear and by the shaking of his voice she could guess that he really knew. He seemed to be experiencing the same kind of sweet suffering.
Slowly Yaten started going down, placing sweet kisses on her collarbone. Then he loosened his hold on her a little and moved back to look in her eyes. She held his gaze before he kissed her lips once, then lowered his head and placed a kiss between her breasts. Minako sucked on a breath as she felt his lips on her right breast. He delicately kissed around the curved mound before slowly licking the flesh. Minako threw her head back and moaned loudly. No one ever touched her like that. Yaten's lips were leaving wet, burning imprints on her skin. She knew that from now she would have them forever like scars.
When he was done kissing and licking the flesh Minako looked down. His face was frozen in front of the nipple. He kissed it gently first and then run his tongue slowly across the bare tip. Minako opened her mouth to get more air in because it felt like she was seriously lacking it. Yaten took the sensitive peak in his mouth and started sucking on it painfully slow. His hand run gently up her back to keep her in place. He looked up into her eyes, not stopping his actions on her breast, and held her gaze for a few seconds. When he closed his eyes and started sucking harder Minako tightened one hand into his hair, bringing him closer to her chest and the other kept on his shoulder. After a few long sucks he seemed to have put almost whole breast into his mouth. Minako threw her head back again and bit her lip hard, wiggling on his lap. Her breath was becoming irregular and her heart pounded in her own ears. She felt as if her veins were on fire. When Yaten finally left her breast she hoped to have a minute to calm down but he started repeating the actions on her other breast.
She let incoherent sounds slip her mouth. Yaten's lips came back to her, silencing her. She got lost in the kiss completely, for a moment feeling as if she was outside of her body.
Yaten pulled back, his breathing labored. He kissed her cheek and holding her close to his chest, leaned back against the backrest of the couch. Minako wrapped both arms around his neck, pressing herself even closer to him. She hid her face in his neck and closed her eyes. His skin was hot against her cheek and his heart pounded furiously against her own.
"Minako?"
She pushed her head back, finding his eyes. He moved her too long fringe from her face. "Ok?"
She smiled. "As if you need to ask." Her palm touched his face and she kissed him lightly.
"I need to," he said seriously. "I'm losing my grip and it's so hard to focus. And I can't read you, but I need to know what you're feeling."
"You're doing quite well so far." She kissed him again, already missing his mouth. He responded, kissing her back. One hand sliding along her back, and the other falling down from her neck, over her breast and down her stomach.
He pulled back. "Stand up," he whispered and she listened. As she stood up, in front of him, he sat up straight and guided her a bit closer, between his legs. He kissed her stomach lovingly. Minako felt too hot as if there was no air in the room at all. Yaten put his hands on her hips, steading her and she dug her fingers into his shoulders. He kissed the bare skin just above her sweatpants. Then his hands went to untie the pants and when he accomplished that he sneaked his fingers under the waistline and looked up at her as he pulled the pants down. Minako stepped out of them and closed her eyes as she felt his fingers again on her skin and his tongue just above the material of her black panties. He kissed her lower stomach and then down her tights, just all the skin that wasn't covered by her panties. Then to her slight surprise, still holding her hips he steered her to turn around and she did just that. Now she couldn't see what he was doing but she felt every touch even stronger than before. She fixed her eyes on the fireplace as she felt his lips kissing her lower back and upper tights. She felt his fingers sneaking underneath the elastic of her panties and pushing them down. She felt air hitting her bare skin before Yaten's fingers traced the outline of her body and his lips kissed the smooth skin. Shiver run through Minako's body.
She felt him stand up and steer her slightly away from the couch. He kissed his way back up along her spine, delicately moving her long hair out of the way. When his lips reached her shoulder he wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his head on her shoulder.
He kissed her neck. "There's no going back from here." He repeated as if it was a warning.
"I don't want to go back," she whispered again, craning her neck to look at his profile. He closed his eyes as if in concentration he was making up his mind. She stared at his long, dark eyelashes gently pressing the skin underneath his eyes and felt warmth everywhere his body touched hers.
When he finally opened his eyes, they were shining with the most amazing shade of green she has ever seen. He leaned down and kissed her slowly on the lips before tracing the kisses along her neck and shoulder. He took her hands and wrapped them around his neck. Then one of his hands went back to her stomach while the other moved down, caressing her skin until it stopped between her legs. Minako opened her mouth as she felt his fingers slowly massaging her. A startled gasp hitched in her throat. She let her head fall back on his shoulder and closed her eyes, her chest rising with each deep breath. His other hand went up to cup her breast and squeezed it, taunting her. Suddenly she felt one of his fingers sliding inside her and she gasped loudly. Her knees bent and her legs almost gave out but Yaten's hand was back around her waist to hold her and she supported her weight on his body.
"Yaten," she mewled breathlessly, hiding her face in his neck. His hand sped up and she felt something building in her lower stomach. She was hot all over, her body trembled and she was sure she was gripping the hair at the back of his head painfully as his caressing went from gentle to frenzied.
"It's ok Mina, let go," he said with trembling voice and caught her mouth in kiss. The feeling of his body, his fingers and now his tongue sent her over the edge. She cried out, feeling her inner walls closing around him. Her body quaked. She was taking heavy breaths because it seems like there wasn't enough air to fill her lungs. She would have fallen if not for Yaten arms. He removed his finger and she felt his eyes on her face that was now probably flushed with deep red. She let her head lay on his shoulder as her breathing and heart rating were slowing down. She looked up at the white ceiling of the beach house.
"Are you ok?" Yaten asked slowly and she heard a note of uncertainty in his voice. She turned her gaze at him. He watched her all the time. His big eyes were still shining but now they held the same concern she heard in his voice. She realized that he was stepping on the new territory just the same as she was.
She smiled weakly. "Better than ok."
She saw relief painting on his face before he cupped her cheek and kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss, turning in his arms so they would be more comfortable. She run her hands down his bare back to the waistband of his trousers. He broke the kiss, staring in her eyes.
"Don't you think that it's unfair that one of us still has clothes on?" she asked playfully, tugging at his belt. Yaten's gaze didn't waver so she decided to take things into her own hands as he did a moment ago. She felt his forehead pressing against hers and his eyes burning holes in her face as her fingers slowly unbuckled the belt. With full focus she removed the belt and unbuttoned his trousers. She looked up into his eyes for a moment before pulling the zipper down. She felt Yaten's arms tensing on her back as her fingers went to the waistband of the pants and slowly pushed them down his legs. Yaten stepped out of the pants as Minako started putting small kisses on his chest and stomach, licking his navel. She felt his muscles tensing as she kissed down his stomach and barely visible line of silver hair leading down into his boxer briefs. As she kissed the line of skin just above the material, Yaten's arms caught hers and pulled her up to meet him in a burning kiss. She lost her hands in his hair and he run his against the skin on her back. His tongue attacked hers and she moaned against his lips. Then his lips moved down to her neck and with closed eyes she bit on her tongue. Everything about him ignited burning flame inside her but his every touch was bringing relief. She didn't know how she endured this long without this.
"Let me touch you," she whispered in his ear and he stiffened again. His hands stilled on her back, his face was his in her neck. She let her fingers slip down and touched him trough the only material that was left between them.
She felt his breath quickening against her neck as she let her hand move slowly up and down. At some point he was so still she wondered if he was still there with her. She let her hand slip down the waistband and touch his flesh.
His fingers dug in her low back and he pushed his face farther in her neck. She moved her fingers, exploring new territory till Yaten's head snapped back and he looked at her, his eyes shining with sweet misery.
"You're killing me," he whispered.
"Then we're even," she whispered back and went to kiss him but he reached for her hand, pulling it away and then slowly lowered on the carpet, laying her down on her back and hovering over her.
He nugded his lips against hers, left trail on her neck and her chest again. Minako's fingers found their way to his hair and entangled in them. He kissed her stomach and flickered his tongue over her navel. Minako's back arched and she bent one leg. Yaten's hand quickly sneaked under her bent knee and his lips run over her inner tight. She looked at him, her breath hitching in her throat. She has never craved anything as badly as him right then. He caught her gaze and she stretched her arms to him. She wanted him inside her embrace forever. Before she realized, he discharged the last piece of clothing and was back in her arms. His body pressing against hers. She gasped and he caught her open lips. His tounge sneaked inside, curling around hers. She run her hands over his back and down, enjoying the smooth, hot skin.
He pulled away but only for an inch. Their inhaled each other's breaths. His hand slid down to her tight and Minako obliged, spreading her legs a bit, making space for him. He accommodated himself more comfortably, not looking away from her face for even a second. Minako slid her arms up his back, to his shoulders.
Yaten kissed her lightly before she felt sting. It wasn't unbearable but a bit uncomfortable, as if she needed to adjust to this new feeling.
She closed her eyes tight and Yaten stilled. She felt his face in her neck. "Tell me when," he whispered. His voice was rasp with emotions.
Slowly the unpleasant feeling was fading. She kissed Yaten's temple and slightly tightened her legs, encouraging him.
His eyes looked at her.
He moved slowly.
The feeling was different. Not as uncomfortable as before. Minako's fingernails dug into his shoulders and she opened her mouth. Not able to get a sound out she just nodded and Yaten repeated motion.
She run her hand along the skin of his back, over bandage on the small of his back and over his hip.
He lifted her hips guiding it toward his own, finding rhythm, showing her how to move together. They stared at each other and it was so intense she had to look away. She felt him gazing at her a moment longer before he hid his face in her neck. Bodies moving together, she felt his fast heartbeat against her own. He propped himself up above her, on his right arm, letting his fingers entwine in her golden strands, spilled on the carpet. His left hand still held her hip. When they started moving more fluently his hand left her hip and found her palm, guiding it up. She bent her arm, laying it next to her head and he intertwined their fingers. He was kissing her neck, his hips starting to move a bit faster. She closed her eyes and followed his lead, tightening her fingers around his.
"Yaten," she whimpered. She couldn't help herself.
He raised his head and she could see him again. Sweat broke out on his skin and a thought of him hating any kind of physical exertion flickered in her mind. She would have giggled if she had better grip on reality. Right then she was somewhere above it. She raised her head slightly and kissed his shoulder and neck, letting her tongue run across his skin, taste him.
His hand caressed her hair and she laid back again. His lips met hers, first in open mouth kiss, brushing against each other. Yaten licked her lower lip, encouraging her to open her mouth, and captured them in a slow kiss.
She felt twisting down in her stomach. Her heart thumped wildly. She raised one leg and latched it onto his hip. He groaned against her lips.
"Minako," he sighed weakly and pressed his forehead against hers. Their bodies moved against each other's more and more. More fluently, more devotedly, more fervidly. Faster. Everything seemed to be more but still not enough.
Yaten's head bowed down, kissing her collarbone and her breast. Minako arched her back, feeling as if she would shatter at any moment. She gasped and Yaten's face was back. He kissed her lips lightly, calming her down and stared at her. A sheen of sweat coated his upper lip. She held his gaze and opened her mouth. She couldn't help it. She needed oxygen. She was on the edge and would break at any second. Yaten slowed down his moves, playing with her, and then found back his rhythm, grinding his body against hers. Her hips rose up to meet his. She could see that he was making an effort to compose himself. She tightened her fingers in his even harder, a fleeting thought that they would break occurring and disappearing from her mind. Her other hand dug into his back. He pulled in and out again. Their bodies met in a sweet torture and she arched her back. Suddenly everything that was building inside of her, for what felt like years, broke down. She bucked beneath him and shuddered as the air was forced out of her lungs. Yaten's free hand, that wasn't intertwined with her own, sneaked underneath her back and held her close to him. He hid his face in her neck and with a few more strokes convulsed against her. His body trembled as he collapsed, pinning her down to the carpet. Minako's own heart seemed to finally be slowing down. She run her hand across his back soothingly, feeling his ragged breath against her neck. She turned her head to look at him. His eyes were closed, his face trying to find its composure. Their noses were almost touching. She moved her hand to his head, pulling damp fringe from his sweaty forehead. She waited for him to open his eyes and when he finally did her heart ached. She realized she's never seen anything so beautiful and she will never see again. Maybe her perception was a bit distorted at the moment but she didn't really care. He blinked and she smiled. He slowly smiled back and turned onto his back, taking her with him.
She ended up on his chest. They untangled their intertwined fingers. Minako moaned at how stiff they felt, trying to stretch them. Yaten's hand run the along her back and hair.
"I love you," he said in a voice more hoarse than usually.
She looked back from her fingers to him. What she felt couldn't be put into words. The amount of her feelings overwhelmed her. She couldn't control it as it flooded her. People called it love. She usually used that word too often. Right now this one word seemed too small to describe what she felt.
"I love you," she said because she didn't know how else to call her feelings.
She hoped that he was again in control of his empathy and that he could read what she felt.
His eyes pierced hers and she leaned down to kiss his lips.
She wanted him to know everything.
"I can't do this to them." Queen Kaykuu shook her head. "No."
"You know what's the other option." King Anzai reminded.
"It will break their hearts."
"It's your choice to make. My daughter paid for what she's done. I'm not saying that your Lights are equally guilty. No. But they did break the alliance. We treat this seriously."
"It seems like too much of a punishment."
"It seems like a solution. I know you don't want to break them but think about the alternative." He looked at her in an almost sympathetic way. "I'm not cruel. I have children that I love, although they let me down. I know what you feel."
"And you still make me decide."
"You're the queen. It's hard but you're responsible for your planet. You know the rules."
Minako stared at the clear light moon far away outside the window. She was stroking Yaten's arm absently. His heart beat regularly under her ear. She felt his fingers in her hair.
Somehow they made it upstairs and into the bedroom. Even fluffy carpet and fireplace couldn't compare with soft bed.
"Why aren't you sleeping? You're not tired?" he asked.
Minako chuckled against his skin. "Oh I am but I don't want to go to sleep."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid that when I wake up you won't be here and it'll turn out that I'm dreaming." She looked up at him.
"You're not. Sleep. I'm not going anywhere tonight. Or tomorrow morning. I will be here."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Minako smiled and put her head down on his chest again. His hand slid down, resting on her lower back.
She closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeat, letting herself drift off to sleep.
