Act 5/Scene 4: Haunted
"I'm sorry about dragging you into all this," Rini told Masaru as they wondered down the halls. "You weren't, um, exactly suppose to follow me down to the basements."
"I'm glad I did," Masaru said. "Otherwise, you might not be standing here right now."
"Yeah…" Rini said. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"I wanted to know what this Guardian of the Moon façade was about. What are you after?"
"I just want everybody here to be safe. Diana Droid appeared and told me it was my duty to protect everybody."
"I don't know…" said Masaru. "It just seems a little suspicious."
"I felt the same way but-trouble just keeps finding me! I can't avoid it."
"Or you keep finding it," Masaru gave Rini a long look. "What you're doing is dangerous, and I'm concerned about you."
"Well, now that I have this gun, you shouldn't be worried!"
"But I am. Rini...I really like you."
"I know," Rini said. "You already told me that you like me like a sister."
"No," said Masaru, "I like you-in an entirely different way." Masaru bent down and kissed her mid-step. Rini froze, one foot in the air, her face glowing pink and her eyes wide and focused on the closeness of Masaru-his closed eyes, his soft lips on hers, his scent, still musky even after the basement escapades.
He pulled back, giving Rini a little smile. When she remained unmoving, he said, "I suppose I should have asked first."
That was so nice...
Rini closed her eyes then, and let her lips guide her back in his direction.
She said dreamily, "I don't mind at all," and then his lips were back, his tongue boldly parting her lips and his hand cupping her chin and angling her face upwards toward his.
Rini leaned into him, and they made-out in the hallway for a while, before Masaru put both his hands on either side of her face and gently pulled away. Rini continued to lean forward, wanting more, and his low chuckle had her opening her eyes to stare into his stormy purple ones.
"Rini," said Masaru, "why don't we keep this going at my pod?"
"I can't," Rini said. He moved his hands from her face to her waste, lifting and twirling her in a half-circle so he could press her against the wall.
When he kissed her again, a deep growl rumbled from within him that made Rini's skin quiver.
Oh. My. Goddesses.
He pressed against her, and she fiercely pressed back, desperate to keep the kiss going. All too soon he pulled away again.
"C'mon, Rini," he purred, his forehead against hers. "You're driving me crazy."
"Where are you staying at?" Rini asked breathlessly.
"Close to here," said Masaru. "A five minute walk." He grabbed her hand, and she allowed herself to be pulled along. Her heart was pounding against her ribcage, and there was a vivid pulse between her legs that put a spring in each step.
Everything else was a haze as she focused on Masaru, walking in front of her in his tuxedo with his dark purple hair, which was slightly messy from the night's events. When he stopped to kiss her again, she ran her fingers through the silky strands, sighing against him.
He let out another hungry growl and swept her up, holding her against him as he hurried down the hall.
Rini giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. She looked up at him and said, "I really shouldn't come over-the others will worry..."
"You've been through so much tonight-you deserve somebody who'll make you feel nice. Beside, we're already here!" Masaru grinned at her as the door whisked open. He carried her inside, and she hardly took her eyes off him long enough to take note of her surroundings.
Rini felt the leather couch beneath her, but when Masaru climbed on top of her, he was all she saw in a world of mist. He began to kiss her again, little pecks that left her wanting.
Buzzz! Buzzz!
"My phone," Rini mumbled, reaching for it, but Masaru snatched up her hands and began to kiss her fingers.
He's sooo handsome...
Masaru ran his solid hands down her arms, over the front of her sweatshirt and to the edge of the hem, which he pulled up to reveal Rini's middle. He kissed above her bellybutton, and then below it, lower and lower, until his lips found the pulsing spot between her legs and Rini squeaked-
Buzzz! Buzzzz! Her phone went off for the second time.
"Don't worry about that, Rini," Masaru whispered, giving her breast a squeeze before moving his right hand between her legs and rubbing his fingers with a pressurize rhythm on top of the tight fabric of her leggings. Then he leaned forward to kiss her some more, his lips in sync to the rhythm of his fingers.
Rini moaned against those lips. They were so soft, so full-she felt as though she had kissed them before…she brushed the fallen strands of his platinum hair from her forehead, and gazed into his golden eyes.
"I've waited centuries for this," he breathed into her ear, moving to kiss along her reddened neck. Rini sighed, offering her neck, her hands raising above her head, her chest pressing forward. "You're finally back with me," he said, and when Rini looked around she saw that they were in space, dark and infinite, silent, and flecked with stars.
"I-" a thrill ran from where his hand pressed between her legs. She lost her words and arched her back even further. A short, intense ripple crested and washed over her, leaving her chest heaving and her cheeks burning, remnants of energy fluttering through her limbs.
"Helios!" she gasped.
"What?" Rini was back in Masaru's living pod on the couch. Masaru raised his eyebrows at her.
"Did you just yell 'Helios'?" he asked.
"He was-I saw-I thought I was in space!" Rini said breathlessly as she pulled her tingling body into a sitting position.
"Wow, was I really that good that you hallucinated just now?" It sounded like a joke, but Masaru wasn't laughing.
"I've been-feeling kind of weird since the Moon Castle," Rini said lamely.
"So Helios, huh? Isn't that space-man that you saw earlier tonight?"
"Yes-but I mean-it's not like that." Rini's face burned as she snatched up her phone. "Teiko keeps calling me," she said. "I think the others are worried-it's been like half an hour!"
"So if it's not like that, then what's it like?" asked Masaru. "Did you really just see him now?"
Rini said, "I don't know what I saw, and I really can't stay. I wasn't even suppose to be gone for this long!" Rini headed toward the door.
Masaru said, "I'm going to walk you back, at least. It's late and I don't want you walking around out there alone. Something is definitely going on with you."
Rini bit her lip. "I don't know what that was tonight, Masaru," she admitted, "but I'm sure you know that I really do like you?"
Masaru was quiet for a minute, before saying, "Oh, yeah? You like me?"
"I've liked you for a really long time," Rini found herself admitting. "You were my first crush, actually, back when you would come over to hang out with Ryuu years ago."
A wily little grin crept across Masaru's face. He said, "I always thought you were pretty cute, too. Sometimes I'd come hang out with Ryuu just to see you!"
Rini flushed. "No way..." she said.
"Really!" said Masaru. "Rini, I know all of this-us-is happening kind of fast and at a weird time, but it feels kind of right, doesn't it? For you and me to be together?"
"It-does," Rini said. He extended a hand to her, and when she reached out to accept it he looped his fingers around hers and lead her down the halls.
Helios. His golden eyes were imprinted on her mind as if ahe had been staring at the sun. Watching her. She shook her head fiercely and hurried to keep pace with Masaru's wide gait.