Storm Shadow. Strong Master. Blade of honour and justice.
That was all that was written at his grave. I fell to my knees before him and pressed my head into the soil, crying softly. "Forgive me." I whispered to him. "You deserved so much better." Snake Eyes stood a few steps back, allowing me my space to grieve.
I dug a little hole into the soil, barely bigger than the cup of my hand then drew a small knife. I cut a small lock of my hair and wound it up into a coil then buried it. "You'll always have my heart, Storm Shadow, because I could never divide it between those I love. I figured it out, finally. I cannot love one person more than another or give someone a smaller piece of it than another, when I love someone, I love them with my entire heart."
Kissing the soil where my hair was buried I sniffed, tears dropping onto the ground as I looked up to his name. "Have peace, Storm Shadow. I will remember you always." As I sat back I felt something brush against my cheek, soft like a caress but no one was beside me. A soft smile touched my mouth as I stood slowly, rearranging my Japanese kimono to tighten then sashes around my waist.
I went to Snake's side then looked back. "Perhaps he'll have a better life in the next one." I murmured then began to walk away. Snake followed, joining my side. Faith walked at my heels, whining up at me as she sensed my discomfort and upset but I smiled down at her, reassuring her I was alright.
Two years had passed since Storm Shadow's death. For a year I had grieved and worked like a demon, training harder than ever to get back into shape, my full powers finally unlocked. I taught my own classes and now owned my own house. One in Japan, which Arisu and I went to during breaks form the institute.
Ghost was to her like Faith was to me. They were inseparable, both fiercely loyal to the other. In that time my love for Snake only seemed to grow. Occasionally I still had the odd nightmare but he would always come and wake me, stay if I asked him too and help me sleep better until it was time to wake.
Finally I decided that there was no point in ignoring my love for him. I was going to admit them all to him upfront. We were in the States, not together but by chance, visiting Ana and Scarlet and their husbands.
Yes, Ripcord asked Scarlet to marry her and they had the most wonderful wedding. Ana had a baby too, a little boy whom she doted on with every love a mother could possess. Duke was constantly walking around with a broad, proud chest. A fatherly gleam in his eye.
Anyway, I was visiting, having offered to babysit, when Snake Eyes dropped by the next day. Scarlet and Ana seemed to have their own ideas. "Oh! Snake, could Kaze stay at yours tonight? It's just my parents are coming down and we need the spare room." Snake looked up from playing tug of war with Tank then nodded.
I looked at her but did not argue. So Snake drove me home and for once, I felt really uncomfortable. Faith sat in the back, snoring loudly, leaving me alone in the front not knowing what to say to him. "We've known each other for nearly three years now." I finally murmured to him. "Time is just flying by." He nodded, turning to drive up to his house. "Snake I…I just…" I struggled to form the words on my mouth. Flushing with embarrassment I shook my head. "Nothing." I got out and Faith leaped up, climbing into the front then dropped down.
Snake let us in and I tossed my stuff into my usual room. I've stayed here so often it was kind of like a second home to me. I tied up my hair, jumped into the shower then pulled on a pair of shorts and a baby blue flannel shirt.
As I walked out my room Snake's opened and he stepped out too. I stopped and stared at him. He was out of his suit and in normal clothes. Oh heaven his face…I had begun to worry I would never see it again.
My eyes dropped to his mouth and I felt my stomach knot tightly. "Snake…" I breathed and he groaned. Taking two long strides over to me he pulled me onto him and he lifted me up, pressing me into the wall as his eyes looked directly into mine. I gasped, clinging onto him tightly with my thighs and hands as he gripped my legs tightly, his fingers smoothly running up to the edge of my shorts.
He didn't move further than that, just continued to stare at me. I blinked softly then lifted my hands to his hair, losing them into his curls. My eyes slid half closed and I parted my lips, moistening them with my tongue slowly as I was caught up in feeling his silky curls again.
Slowly his eyes slid shut and he tilted his head towards me, his breath warm against my neck as I felt my body stir as it awoke to his proximity. "Kiss me Snake. Oh God please kiss me." I whispered and he instantly obeyed.
His mouth was warm but firm against me, his lips moving slowly as they teased mine, pulling me closer to him. I opened my mouth, a soft whimper leaving me as his tongue tantalisingly toyed with my lower lip before pushing further inside.
His hands leaned against the wall either side of my head, pressing me into the wall as I wrapped my legs tightly around his back and intensified our kiss, moving my lips more ardently against his. His mouth was sweet and hot, making my tongue go crazy as it tasted every corner of his mouth.
He pulled back, breathing in sharply before coming back again, attacking my mouth until I was moaning with desire and lust. Our breaths deep and shaky, he leaned his head against mine, his brow against the wall as he slowly let me slide down to the ground.
Eyes still closed I clasped my hands around his neck, one finger winding a curl as he continued to hold me close to him. Slowly he began to draw away but I snatched him back to me, stepping back as I kissed his mouth, neck and his scar, pulling him until I had stepped into my room.
A soft groan left Snake Eyes as he pushed his hand into my hair and tilted my head, his lips wandering over my neck and shoulder as I reached up for the buttons of my shirt. His hands caught mine and he drew back with a sharp breath. He shook his head and I stared up at him. He gave me a deep look, his eyes soft and gentle. Suddenly I realised he was trying to tell me that we didn't have to go that far. He was offering me the chance to back out.
Slowly I pressed my hands against his chest and smoothly ran them over his hard muscles, shaping them around his shoulders and down his burly arms to gently draw him closer. "Make love to me Snake Eyes." My voice hardly above a whisper Snake paused, glanced me over before leaning down to kiss me again.
I fumbled with my buttons, trying to get my stupid shirt off but Snake stopped my hands and lowered them to my sides as he stepped around me. Leaning into his chest his hands slowly undid the buttons, his nose rubbing against my neck as I tilted my head back onto his shoulder.
Once the shirt was free he slid it from my shoulders and I shook it off, tossing it to the ground as his hands followed the curve of my waist. Turning around I tugged on his shirt and he lifted his arms as I pulled it from him to expose his torso to me.
I trailed feather light kisses along his chest and shoulder as his hands began to slowly slide my shorts down my legs. I kicked them off then guided him down onto the bed, reaching to untie the laces of his combat boots, throwing them to the ground once I was done.
His strong hands explored every inch of my body as I lowered my head to his stomach and kissed him there, softly and seductively as he squirmed beneath me. I smiled. "You still ticklish?" I whispered to him and he shot me a look before flipping me onto my back, propping himself to gaze down at me.
Undoing his belt I used my feet to hook his army bottoms and slide them from him. He lowered his head to my neck as I wrapped my arms around him, gasping as he slid the last garments from our bodies. Instinctively I blushed and tried to cross my arms over my chest but he caught my wrists and pulled them away, gazing down at me.
Unused to being naked in front of someone I reached up and kissed him so that he would close his eyes. Snake Eyes soon became very familiar with my body, finding places even I didn't know existed that awakened a fire in me I did not know I had.
The world tumbled from us as he and I became one, the very brightness of paradise flashing before our eyes until we were blinded by its heat and intensity. After all our energy was spent Snake Eyes gathered me into his arms and slid beneath the covers, holding me close as he gazed at me with loving eyes, his thumb rubbing smooth circles at the back of my arm.
After laying there for what felt like an eternity I rolled and lay on top of him, my hair tousled and wild but he looked up at me like I was the most beautiful woman in the world and I believed him. His hand cupped my face, stroking my hair back gently as I just gazed down at him, reaching out to trace my fingers lightly over his scar.
"I love you Snake Eyes." I whispered to him. I saw a pang of regret in his eyes as he sighed then kissed me so tenderly, so lovingly that I knew he was saying he loved me too. The regret was for his vow of silence. I could tell that he wanted nothing more than to say the words he could not say.
It was still early afternoon but I was exhausted however my stomach began to growl in hunger. I lifted my head from Snake's chest and groaned before dropping back down again. Too much effort. Snake Eyes chuckled silently, giving me a tight hug before sliding from beneath me.
Whimpering in complaint he kissed my head, brushed my hair from my neck then pulled on his trousers. I hope he was planning on making bacon, I seriously want bacon right now. A few minutes later I could smell and hear bacon sizzling and I grinned. That man was just too damn perfect.
He brought me dinner in bed, setting the tray on my lap before sitting down next to me. I had put back on my underwear so I was a little way decent. "Snake?" I turned to him after I had finished. "What the hell are we going to tell the others?" He smirked then shrugged, reaching forwards to snatch my mouth before I could yelp and draw away. He licked the ketchup from the corner my mouth then smirked further when I glowered at him. "Okay then, what am I going to tell them?"
He didn't answer but began to trace his fingers down my chest then tugged on the lace of my bra. I slapped his hand away but couldn't stop the smile from rising. "You're a moron, you know that?" I slid from the bed and got dressed. Snake shot me a disappointed look. Arching my eyebrow I crawled forwards then sat on his lap, straddling his waist. "Don't worry, you can take it all off again later." Satisfied he touched his mouth to mine before I got off him.
Let's just say over the next few days, Snake and I didn't get out much.
Hmm, I wonder why Kaze? Don't blame you though :)