Chapter Nine

If anyone had told Maya a year ago that she would get caught making out in a broom closet with Uzu Sanageyama she would have laughed in their face. But this isn't my fault! She tried to reason, struggling to keep her voice muffled as his hands teased the edge of her thigh-high white socks. Sanageyama had recently started to omit his spiked belt from his wardrobe. I suppose I know why now. He currently had her seated and pinned against a shelf that was disturbingly perfect in height. She wanted to demand how many other girls had sat here but found herself unable to speak as his tongue slid into her mouth, brushing against her own in a way that made her shiver. She stifled a moan as he grabbed a fistful of her blue skirt.

Maya really should have known better when he suggested they "take a walk" on their lunch break. He led her straight to the empty kendo room, crashing their lips together before she was even fully inside the closet. And I haven't asked him to stop yet. Shit, I really should. But god… Maya felt her back arch as skilled fingers glided up her spine, curving to barely brush the side of her breast before settling on her neck. The contact was jolting and she let out a heady sound of disapproval. Sanageyama chuckled against her lips before breaking the kiss. She thought he might say something but instead his hand slid up to cover her mouth just as his head dropped to nip at her collarbone. Maya let out a loud gasp, finding it muffled against his palm.

"Sorry for the rough treatment," he whispered, his tone exceeding seductive as he warned, "but this next part might make you scream. Can't have you making too much noise." She felt her eyes shoot open only to slam closed when he suddenly guided her hips to thrust against his own. The contact sent a delicious flood of warmth surging through her abdomen. Her nails dug into his chiseled shoulders and she was immensely thankful for his obstructing hand as a loud moan ripped from her throat. Still clothed and cautious not to make too much noise, Sanageyama began a slow grind that had her panting. His mouth trailed along her upper chest, kissing and biting at different intervals as his other hand maintained an almost bruising grip on her hip. She whimpered slightly, feeling his hold loosen.

"Sorry. You okay?" He breathed against her throat. Thoroughly overwhelmed and dizzy, Maya nodded mutely. She felt him smile before his lips settled back on her skin. Adjusting his rhythm to be more languid, he massaged her thigh rather than gripping it which about sent her over the edge. Her legs clamped around his waist and she let out a muffled cry against his hand. Maya honestly thought she might die. Feverish heat raked her body from head to toe, making her writhe and squirm and wish every inch of their clothing would just disintegrate. He felt too good; sinfully good. It was a god damned miracle she was still a virgin after living with him for the past several weeks. Despite all his teasing, it was blatantly clear that Sanageyama had never actually tried to seduce her. And even now, even if she begged, Maya doubted he would commit such an act without giving her time to calm down and think it through.

God, he really isn't such a bad guy. Fuck.

Her thoughts were cut short when he swiftly removed his hand from her mouth and replaced it with his lips. He kissed her, hard, and she let out a sound that sent his hips bucking into her. Then, a sharp knock came at the door. Maya froze in sheer mortification as the voice of Hoka Inumuta wafted through the keyhole.

"I see you're engaged in some extracurricular activities again, Sanageyama," he drawled disinterestedly; the sound of a keyboard clacking away was clearly evident.

She heard Uzu inhale deeply before growling, "Go away, Inumuta. I'm busy."

"Yes, so I gather." There was a pause on the other side of the door before the typing resumed. Undeterred, his fellow three-star continued, "I've come at the request of Lady Satsuki. Apparently, an unofficial tournament of sorts has been planned in Osaka and she would like you to make an appearance. The rest of your kendo team is already packed and I've taken the liberty of preparing an away bag for you and Miss Mayumi."

"The hell? Why did you pack one for Maya?" He demanded while gently lowering her back down. Her legs still felt wobbly but at least she was on solid ground now in case Inumuta decided to open the door.

"My calculations implied you would refuse to leave town without her. She is in a rather precarious position. She either leaves with you to Osaka or stays here in the shark tank. I suppose we could ask Gamagori to babysit-"

"Maya stays with me." The statement was flat and left no room for discussion.

"As I predicted," Hoka drawled sounding very bored. "The bus leaves tomorrow morning. Your overnight accommodations are booked- separate rooms for you and Miss Mayumi as requested by Lady Satsuki." Maya breathed a sigh of relief while Sanageyama let out an annoyed grumble. "There will be numerous teams competing so be sure not to screw this up. Oh, and one more thing," his voice took on a more pointed note and the typing ceased. "Be thankful it was me Lady Satsuki sent. I guarantee if Gamagori had walked in on this you'd both be expelled. And Jakuzure would have taken pictures to use as blackmail. Fortunately for you, I have no interest in your personal affairs which is why I have just deleted the footage from the camera I installed in this closet." Maya felt her face pale in horror at his words and she felt Sanageyama grow a bit stiff. "I highly recommend," Inumuta continued seriously, "that you refrain from committing such acts on school property in the future. I might be less forgiving next time."

And with that, the head of the computer club turned on his heels; his footsteps disappearing beyond the closed door. Maya let out a breath that sounded suspiciously like a mortified sob.

"I knew this was a bad idea. I never should have gone along with it-"

"Hey, hey!" Sanageyama started while pulling her face up to look at him. "I thought you wanted this? You sure as hell sounded like it."

Feeling her goodie-two-shoes streak kick in, Maya snapped, "You've made me into a delinquent! I performed unspeakable acts on camera, on school property, with the resident playboy! I'm a fucking cliché and an aberrant blight on the academic community."

"Wow, those were some big words. All I got is that you are mad there was a camera."

"Yes, I'm mad," she hissed vehemently. "Tell me, Sanageyama, why on this god forsaken earth would Inumuta have a CAMERA inside this closet? Just how many girls have you dragged in here?!"

"Inumuta puts cameras everywhere!" He defended hotly, realizing his mistake when Maya grew deathly quiet.

"You knew?" He flinched at her tone.

Deciding honesty was his best approach, he admitted, "I knew there was a chance. I've never actually tested it before… You're the first girl who's been in here with me. No one else was worth the risk."

Still fuming, she tried to ignore how his confession made her feel. "With your reputation, you honestly expect me to believe that?"

"Think whatever you want, but it's the truth. In the two years you've known me, did you ever see me drag a girl into a closet? Or get handsy with a girl at school?"

Growling and inching backwards, feeling the door press against her, Maya asserted, "I assumed you would be far too sneaky to get caught." She struggled to locate the light switch. Everything was pitch black and she felt an almost overwhelming urge to get away from Sanageyama upon realizing that he could see while she could not. She jumped when his warm fingers curled around her own, guiding her to a long string dangling overhead. She tugged once and immediately breathed a sigh of relief as light streamed into the small cubby space.

"You need to relax. The lights were off this entire time, Inumuta couldn't see much on the camera anyway."

Uzu took a step forward causing her to instinctively take a step back as she effectively plastered herself against the door. His green hair was adorably tousled and he had a few stains around his mouth from her red lipstick. He looks like Christmas. Sensing the beginnings of a fresh blush, Maya tried to ignore his uncharacteristically affectionate grin.

"You're cute," he murmured, forgetting their argument for a moment as he tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. His fingers hesitated. So beautiful. Sanageyama honesty felt surprised he lasted as long as he did. It had been almost two weeks since their heated exchange in the kitchen; almost two weeks of complete, utter torment as he resisted every impulse telling him to pin her against the nearest piece of furniture and kiss her senseless. He restraint was astounding by on his own standards.

It was chemistry class that ultimately did him in. He had foolishly forgotten to add a boiling stone to their experiment- literally his only job- and, upon realizing his mistake, tried to sneak one in without Maya noticing. Unfortunately, their concoction had already been sitting on the Bunsen burner for a few minutes. It was nothing short of disastrous. Within seconds, their experiment let out a hiss and then quite literally erupted, splashing towards the ceiling and showering the workstation.

His reaction time had been lightning fast as he dragged Maya against him, shielding her with his goku uniform before springing away. They landed in a heap on the floor and he could still recall the way her breath hitched upon finding him so close. With wide eyes and a rigid posture, she had remained completely motionless beneath him. It was her expression that gave it away; slightly hazy and flushed, her perfect lips parted automatically as if anticipating the contact as her aura overflowed with electrified lust. She was completely willing. Even in the middle of a classroom. It was almost enough to make him snap on the spot.

Maya was a smart girl who valued composure so the very notion that she might allow him to kiss her during class was mind boggling. Had he actually done it, she most certainly would have pushed him away but the concept was intriguing nonetheless.

Apparently, he was not the only one who had been affected by their exchange in the kitchen.

The pair had remained on the floor for longer than was probably necessary, both of them rooted by the tension that suddenly spanned between them. Then, like the flicking of a switch, Maya had pushed him off and sat up abruptly, scanning his body for injuries, "Are you okay? Did you get burned?"

She was shockingly not angry even after he gave his sheepish explanation. Unsure and still aroused, Uzu had stood back as she promptly disposed of their ruined experiment and started a new one, adding the boiling stone at the appropriate time. She had explained the process; something about heat and the release of kinetic energy but he was not listening, not really. He had been too pre-occupied with the thundering of his heart and the adrenalin coursing through his veins. And the desire. God, the desire he felt was almost overwhelming. Never had he wanted something so badly. He couldn't wait. The second the bell rang, he had bolted towards the kendo room, tumbling into the closet as she gripped his shoulders tightly, legs coiling around his waist and lips gasping against his heated skin. It was exhilarating. Until Inumuta had to go and ruin it.

Inwardly scowling, he noticed Maya suddenly staring at his lips. He cocked an eyebrow beneath his bandana. "You looking to give the camera another show? I'm game."

She smacked his shoulder lightly causing him smirk. "The bell is going to ring soon and you have lipstick all over your face."

His smirk only widened. "So?"

"So," she enunciated the word slowly, clearly annoyed, "We need to get you cleaned up. You have a reputation to maintain. Don't want people thinking you've gone soft."

He snorted at that before planting his palms on either side of her head, effectively caging Maya against the door as he closed the gap between their bodies. His tense muscles rippled against her more delicate figure and he heard her inhale sharply. He kept them like that for a while, letting her experience every inch of his hard, toned physique pressing against her before inquiring smugly, "Do you think I've gone soft?"

"Stop teasing me, Sanageyama," she tried to snap but it came out more as a whine, causing him to chuckle. He released her shortly after. He smoothed out the ruffles in her uniform and whisked a few strands of crimson hair back into place before unceremoniously flinging the door open. He strode out without a care in the world, ignoring her gaping expression.

"Hurry up," he called over his shoulder, "We need to make sure people know who the lipstick belongs to."

Maya let out an annoyed grumble as she tossed her luggage onto the overhead rack, ignoring several offers of assistance from the kendo team as they fawned over her. She was the only female permitted on this trip which meant plenty of unwanted attention. And undoubtedly MANY explosive outbursts from Uzu. Maya groaned in anguish. Being stuck on a bus with twenty testosterone enraged boys and minimal feminine contact was not her idea of a good time. She would much rather be stranded in the library.

Plopping in the nearest seat, she slid against the window and directed her attention outside, ignoring the scrambling and bellowing of Sanageyama as he chased any potential seat-mates to the back of the bus. Eventually, she felt him settle next to her as his knee brushed her thigh. Maya shivered upon imagining his hands brushing across the skin instead.

Ever since his declaration of intent, she was finding it harder and harder to reign in the visuals. It had been almost two weeks since Sanageyama expressed his desire to date her. And I still haven't given him an answer yet. He did not force the issue- surprisingly- and other than the closet incident he had not been overtly sexual or demanding. But then he went and did that. Dragging me into that closet and making me feel so- Maya stopped her line of thinking right there. It was not an option. Dating Sanageyama was out of the question. She needed to keep him on the hook to get to Satsuki and then end it. She was getting too affectionate with him; too attached. Shaking her head harshly, she reached for a book and buried her face in it until the bus rolled to a stop several hours later.

"Ladies first!" Sanageyama snapped irritably as the kendo team all but leaped from their seats with anticipation. His club was always down for a good fight. Although, I highly suspect they just want to let loose in the city. Normally, Sanageyama would be more than happy to join them but as Shingantsu swiveled to Maya, he felt his throat tighten slightly. Off-the-books tournaments could be quite dangerous.

And this one is no doubt being funded by the Takarada Syndicate. Which would explain why Lady Satsuki was so insistent we make an appearance. Feeling himself frown deeply, Sanageyama considered his options. Being seen in public with Maya in any friendly or intimate fashion would definitely draw unwanted attention. It was bad enough she was the only girl present. The female tournament was currently being hosted in Kyoto. So, she's obviously not here as a participant. What the hell am I supposed to do? He continued this line of thinking as the girl in question rose from her seat and made a beeline for the exit.

She stumbled off the bus looking and feeling equally exasperated. It was a relief to finally be on solid ground. And NOT be surrounded by a pack of screaming boys in a confined space. Smoothing out her tangled hair, Maya heard Sanageyama step out behind her carrying both sets of luggage.

"You know, I could have carried that myself. It's really not that heavy," she protested although it felt halfhearted at best. Lately, she was finding it harder and harder to criticize his chauvinistic behaviors; especially given their context. Things were so much easier when he was being an arrogant ass. This new niceness was disconcerting.

"What kind of a gentleman makes his lady carry the bags? Besides, it's not like you could reach them anyway," he drawled, smirking when her shoulders bristled.

"I am not short!" She snapped back. "You are simply tall."

"Gamagori is tall," Uzu countered with an infuriating wink before striding through the double doors leading into the hotel lobby. "I'm more average in height whereas you-" he paused to illustrate his point by holding her bag just out of reach. "-are a shrimp. You're almost an entire foot shorter than me."

Growling, Maya accused, "I thought you were being a gentleman today."

"Did I say that?" He mused innocently while stopping at the front desk, accepting a stack of folders after a brief exchange of words.

"Alright!" He called with a sudden air of authority causing the room to quiet. "Here are your key cards and tournament packets. Combat with the other schools starts at 1500 hours. We will meet at Naniwa Kinman High School across the street at 1400; I expect you to arrive in full battle gear. Anyone who is late will be immediately stripped of their goku uniform and rank. Got it?"

Jeez, is this a tournament or a war zone? Maya wondered as the entire kendo team erupted in unison, "Yes, sir!" before scrambling down various wings of the hotel. Glancing to the clock, she realized there really wasn't much time to unpack or prepare.

"It says I'm on the third floor," she mumbled while skimming through the folder, missing the very obvious frown that settled across Sanageyama's features. "Room 303. Where is your room?"

"Fifth floor." He ground out the words with irritation. What is Lady Satsuki thinking? Putting Maya two entire floors below me and in a completely opposite direction? Smashing through a few ceilings would be no problem in the event of an emergency but if he was not situated exactly over her… Feeling Shingantsu swivel, he could see similar concerns flickering behind her normally collected exterior. Uzu considered staying with Maya or demanding she stay with him but that would be acting in direct defiance of Lady Satsuki. Dammit all.

"Oh. So, we're separated then…" Her quiet voice trailed off uncertainly. Maya could not remember the last time she slept without Sanageyama; it had been almost two months since he moved in.

"Looks like it." They both remained stock-still for a few moments. Then, finally, he conceded, "I guess I'll walk you to your room."

The tension was palpable as the pair made their way up the nearest stairwell, finally stopping outside a wooden door labeled 303. Maya ran her card through the sensor, hearing the door unlock with a click. Her fingers hesitated on the handle. "So, what time should I be ready to leave?"

"You're not coming with me."

"What?" She asked with a start, feeling her gaze fly to the place his eyes should be.

Sanageyama shifted awkwardly on his feet before replying, "This tournament will undoubtedly get ugly. The last time Naniwa Kinman High School participated in something like this it was a disaster. There were no rules and the use of lethal force was encouraged. Even spectating can be dangerous."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you are a distraction."

"Were you planning to tell me this before or after I agreed to go all the way to Osaka with you?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "I could've stayed with Ryuko in Honno Town. Instead, I will be alone in my hotel room. It doesn't seem like a good idea… And besides, aren't you the one who is always getting on my case about straying too far from you?"

"Matoi nearly got you killed," he snarled defensively before adding in a more even tone, "No one besides my team knows you are here. So long as you stay away from the fighting, Osaka is the safest place for you to be while I am gone."

"Bad things happen when we get separated. I really think we should stick together; I would rather be in the thick of it with you than here alone," Maya stated seriously while watching his reaction, feeling her temper flash hotly when he replied:

"I can't fight at my full capacity if I'm constantly scanning the crowd for you." It felt like a bucket of ice had been dropped over her shoulders.

Laughing bitterly at the realization, she replied, "And we finally come to it. In this instance, I am nothing more than a liability standing between you and victory. You are leaving me behind because it will be too much work to protect me. You have better things to do, I suppose."

I'm so stupid.

Unlocking the door and swinging it open, Maya stomped inside while calling over her shoulder, "Let me know when you decide I'm worth it again-"

She jumped when Sanageyama suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking until her back was pressed flush against his chest in the doorway, his arms curling around her. His chin came to rest on her shoulder and hot breath fanned her neck as his gravelly voice asserted, "That is not the reason and you know it."

Maya sharply inhaled when a light kiss was placed beneath her ear. Tightening his hold, Uzu insisted, "I'm not playing with you, Maya. I don't know what more I can do to convince you of that. If you were in the crowd and something happened to you…" His voice trailed off painfully, like he was trying not to think about it.

Sanageyama kept Maya encased in his grasp for several minutes, taking in her scent and listening to the erratic beating in her chest. It seemed obvious that she felt something for him. What he couldn't figure out was the reason for her stalwart resistance to any deeper emotional connection with him. Sure, he was hardheaded and his reputation certainly wasn't doing him any favors but something should have happened by now. She still doesn't trust me. Sighing deeply, Uzu made to pull away but stopped upon feeling her fingertips lightly graze his forearms, keeping him in place. His chest fluttered at the sensation.

"You said it was going to be dangerous?" Maya questioned; her voice so low it was almost inaudible. He nodded mutely against her shoulder. She was silent for a moment. Then, her next words sent his heart slamming into his ribcage: "Come back to me safely."

Sanageyama could have sworn he forgot how to breathe when she suddenly leaned back to ghost her lips across his own. It was barely a kiss but it spoke volumes to his heightened perception. It marked a monumental shift in their relationship. Maya had taken the initiative and no matter how small the gesture, he would gladly accept it. Feeling his confidence surge back, Uzu nuzzled into her hair while reassuring, "I promise. Wait for me here; I'll be back before you know it."

And with that, Maya felt his arms loosen and his warmth disappear as Sanageyama pulled away and turned heel, his white coat billowing in a flurry of movement as he disappeared down the hall. Once he was out of sight, she permitted the door to close with a soft click before promptly collapsing against it. Maya sucked in several shaky breaths while attempting to regain her composure. I need to get these emotions in a box. NOW. Shit, she was trying but they were spilling over the sides, causing her heart to thrash wildly in her chest as she forced her thoughts away from Sanageyama.

Everything was coming undone. She was getting too deep; any deeper and she was going to- I have to get out. Right now.

The mission was compromised. She was compromised. Maya knew it the second she leaned up to kiss him. She needed to get the hell out before her emotional connection was too painful to break. Nudist Beach had a cell operating in Osaka; all she needed to do was reach them.

Leaping to her feet, she felt one single tear fall as the door flung open. She made it one step outside before rough hands were suddenly dragging her back into the hotel room. Maya kicked and struggled, trying to scream only to have the sound muffled by a thick rag that suddenly covered her mouth and nose. A sickly-sweet smell burned the back of her throat before everything went dark.