Author Note: Chapter contains sexual content that some viewers may not find appropriate.
Chapter Twelve
Sanageyama had remained strangely quiet after following Maya to the kitchen. He was still contemplating why their relationship was at a standstill. It seemed absurd; especially after what they shared in the elevator. Identifying emotions was not high up in his skillset list but, slowly, he had come to the conclusion that something unrelated to their current arrangement was going on. Something was interfering with her ability to reciprocate. Maya was fine with pleasuring him- she expressed zero regrets and seemed completely unbothered by intimacy so long as she was in control. However, when the tables were turned, her first impulse was always to run away. Perhaps she was afraid he would hurt her?
Or maybe she's afraid of hurting me?
It sounded ridiculous but the more and more he thought about it, the less crazy it seemed. Her childhood friend was Kaneo Takarada after all, the young head of the infamous Takarada Syndicate. Their meeting could have been sheer coincidence but it definitely seemed strange that a goodie-goodie girl like Maya would associate with a group of thugs. And it was even more strange that they would care enough to attempt a rescue. And she told me her parents are dead…
Honing in with Shingantsu, Uzu observed quietly as she rinsed some Tupperware in the sink. Gamagori had left behind several of his infamously delicious lunches which kept her distracted enough that Maya did not question his odd silence. She was still mad at him too, which also contributed to the lack of conversation. Watching for a few moments longer, he rose from his position on a barstool and swiftly closed the gap between them.
Wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, he murmured, "I need to ask you something."
She tensed immediately. "If you're planning to illustrate another point, you can forget it, Sanageyama."
"No, that isn't it," he explained while reaching forward to turn off the water, gently tugging until she turned to face him. She glowered up at him but he couldn't help but notice the slight change in her breathing pattern. Apparently, his proximity was already having some effects. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Uzu watched her expression soften just a bit. "You shouldn't be mad at me."
She raised a skeptical brow. "You teased me and kissed me just to make a point."
"I kissed you because I wanted to. Illustrating a point was just a bonus."
Maya looked unconvinced as she continued to glare at the place his eyes should be. "Well, I hope you got an eyeful when I was getting dressed because I'm locking the door from now on."
"I wasn't looking," Sanageyama admitted while watching her reaction. She appeared surprised, then unbelieving, and then relieved. There was also a small flicker of disappointment that made his heart thud.
"You turned off Shingantsu?" She confirmed. He nodded his head once. "Why?"
"Because I don't want you to regret anything with me," Uzu explained while leaning forward until his bandana rested against her forehead. He sounded conflicted. "You are unsure. You want things from me but you don't know what or when you want them. You are resisting your impulses like crazy. I can sense it."
Maya cursed Shingantsu in that moment. It must be so obvious to him- every nervous breath and silent shiver was discernable to his heightened perception. She did not bother trying to deny it. "Just because I find you attractive doesn't mean we should say screw it and jump in bed together."
"Even though you want to?" She remained silent. Sanageyama sighed in exasperation while stating, "You are the most confusing woman I have ever met. I really have no idea what to do with you."
Her tone hardening, Maya asserted, "You should let this drop."
"I can't." She was surprised when his hands came up to cradle her face, fingers trailing over her lightly freckled skin. He did not speak for a moment. Then, in a low, almost reverent tone he said, "What you did for me in the elevator… it felt so amazing. You touching me like that." A scarlet blush the same color as her hair instantly burned across both cheeks as he continued, "I can't stop thinking about it. I keep feeling it over and over again. Like I'm going insane."
Very flustered now, she stammered, "N-no way it was that good. I had no idea what I was doing and I know for a fact that wasn't your first time."
"It was my first time having someone touch me like that," he insisted without the slightest trace of embarrassment. "Touching me for the sole purpose of giving me pleasure and asking nothing in return. That is not the way things normally work."
"Well-" Maya hesitated upon finding no words. Her heart was throbbing painfully and the urge to throw her arms around Sanageyama and kiss him had returned again. Shaking her head harshly, she stated, "You are reading too much into this."
"I don't think so," Uzu asserted with a resoluteness that scared her. "Fear has a way of uncovering our true motivations. You thought I was going to die yesterday and your response was to give me everything you could. You saved me, protected me, and then without words you showed me-" he paused briefly, searching for the right words. "You kissed me like it was our last night on earth; like you couldn't bear the thought of living without me."
Maya shivered when one of his hands slipped to the small of her back, angling her to press against him as he traced her lips lightly with his thumb. She forgot how to breathe for a moment as their bodies molded together. "Yesterday, I thought I would never see you again. I can't be patient anymore." Hot breath fanned her cheek as he insisted, "I want to show you how I feel. I want to touch you and feel you and please you like you did for me."
This was different from before. Gone was the teasing tone and vexing smirk. Maya swallowed nervously, feeling her mouth suddenly go dry as she stared at him. Sanageyama was serious. He was not playing this time. Her heart pounded like a jackhammer, the sound filling her ears as she considered what to do.
His voice was almost inaudible, "Do you trust me?"
Yes. Maya would not say it. She would not move her hands, letting them to dangle at her sides as she refused to act on every impulse telling her to give in. She stared directly at his chest and kept her mouth clamped shut.
Uzu sighed in frustration when she refused to speak. Deciding it was now or never, he tilted her chin up until her eyes were in line with his bandana. "Maya," he started seriously, "I know something is going on. What kind of trouble are you in?"
He honestly expected a straightforward explanation and was surprised when her dark eyes widened with actual, genuine fear. He felt taken aback. Never before had he seen that look; not even when she almost drowned. It pierced him. And for a moment, they just stood there. Maya did not move or even breathe. Then, her gaze flickered briefly to the open doorway and she bolted, slipping out of his grasp and sprinting down the hall. It took Sanageyama only a second to realize what had happened. She is running away.
The thought sent him into a frenzy as he tore after her, injuries long forgotten as panic consumed him. He skidded around the corner just in time to see Maya reach the front door. She grasped the handle and tried to wrench in open but Sanageyama was too fast. In a flash, he had her pinned face-first against the door using his own body as leverage. She lurched wildly against him. "Let me go, Sanageyama!"
Uzu was at a loss. His mind reeled in a cataclysm of want, confusion and desperation as Maya continued her futile struggle against him. She tried to leave me. The realization tore into him and a frantic sort of possessiveness began to take hold. Adrenalin pounded through his system like a violent drum, his ears filling with the sounds of Maya panting and gasping as she shifted against him, trying to get more room to breathe as he leaned heavily against her small frame. Shingantsu teetered dangerously. Thrill from the chase combined with her pressing and writhing against him was enough to make any man go insane.
Soon, Sanageyama stopped thinking altogether.
Harsh panting quickly turned into fervid gasps as his mouth latched on to Maya's neck, tongue dancing and teeth scraping as he devoured her fair skin. One hand gripped her waist as the other reached down to her exposed thigh, calloused fingers caressing porcelain flesh as his hand trailed upwards, slipping under the hem of the green t-shirt she borrowed to trace the length of her body. She was unbelievably soft. And warm. His touch graced over the curve of her hip, dragging the hem of his shirt higher and higher to expose more and more skin. She moaned unexpectedly when he finally reached her breast. She's not wearing a bra.
"God, you feel so fucking good…" He was not expecting to find bare flesh beneath her clothing.
"U-Uzu…" Maya gasped as the extent of his arousal pressed against her from behind. He was breathing heavy now and she gasped loudly when his hips shifted forward. It was becoming impossible to think. She really should feel angry or upset or violated- But I just can't… this feels so…
Maya felt her entire body clench when his hand swept down, slipping beneath the fabric of her panties to stimulate an area that sent her reeling. Bolts of white light erupted across her vision and pleasure rocketed like shockwaves as she threw her head back, crying out as skilled fingers danced over the sensitive bundle of nerves. Maya could hardly hear herself anymore. Her voice echoed through the expansive hallway, blending together in a myriad of erotic moans and gasps as Sanageyama continued to work. She was still pinned against the front door. Completely at his mercy.
She harshly bit her lower lip in an effort to contain a particularly loud groan. Ethical dilemmas aside, it was very clear what her body wanted and Maya no longer had to resolve to stop it. Damn him. "Uzu, kiss me," she finally commanded. He immediately spun her around and gripped her backside, lifting her off the ground only to thrust her against the door once again as his ravenous lips found her own.
She heard his pained intake of breath but was unable to respond as his hips came surging forward, creating a friction that had Maya seeing stars. Legs locking around his waist, she heard him take another sharp inhale. "You… you're in pain…" She stuttered weakly in protest.
With low rumble Sanageyama insisted, "I don't mind."
"Please, Uzu… I don't… want… that…"
In response to her pleading, Maya felt him pull away from the door and move swiftly up the stairs toward the bedroom. He winced and grunted with pain but did not allow that to deter him. He showered her with impassioned kisses and love bites, stopping briefly to pin her against a wall and catch his breath before lowering Maya down near the support beam for his canopy. She was on the ground for a split second while he did away with her panties. Then, Sanageyama had Maya on the mattress; legs thrown over his shoulders and his head between her thighs.
"W-wait, what are you-" she cut off with a loud cry when something moist and hot slid against her. She tried to resist at first but one swirl of his tongue had her legs clamping around his head. She lurched upwards and Sanageyama pressed her back down, drawing out several heady gasps as he made good use of his many years of experience.
God, the sounds she makes…
He couldn't begin to describe them but each one was forever burned into his memory. Shingantsu swirled and teetered but Uzu managed to get a good look at her face as Maya panted and moaned; long hair fanned across the mattress as she clutched the sheets with white knuckles. Breaking away, he leaned forward and caught both her wrists just as she reached to undo his belt. He pinned them above her head with one hand, breathing huskily, "No, those are going to stay on."
Maya whimpered her displeasure but was quickly silenced as his mouth latched on to an exposed pink bud and a single finger forced its way into her moist heat. She was impossibly tight. Uzu felt a low groan reverberate in the back of his throat but it was easily drowned out by the sudden rapturous cry that burst from her lungs. He quickly inserted a second finger and slowly began to pump in and out, brushing the nearby bundle of nerves with each stroke. Maya managed to twist one hand free, nails digging into his scalp as Uzu continued to tease each breast. She was nearing the edge of something. Pressure was building like never before and she could feel her entire body starting to tighten like a coil. Sanageyama seemed to sense it as well because he suddenly increased the pace, driving and hitting a spot deep inside that took her breath away.
Unable to take it anymore, she begged, "Uzu, I can't… please…"
At the words, Maya felt a third finger slip inside with a deep thrust that sent her head flying back into the mattress as all the pressure released. She clamped down and rocked against him, feeling wave after wave of euphoria sweep across her senses. Stars erupted across her vision and Maya could vaguely hear herself crying out as she gripped him tight. Reality fell away. When she finally came to, she spotted Sanageyama hovering above her with a conflicted expression.
Still panting, Maya tilted her flushed cheeks innocently to the side. "What?"
Uzu was so ready to pounce; so ready to undo his pants and deep thrust until she screamed.
Not like this. Things had already progressed further than intended.
Groaning lowly, Sanageyama rolled until he was flat on his back facing the ceiling and took several calming breaths. Shingantsu flickered out leaving him in total darkness. Next to him, Maya shifted until her head rested in the crook of his neck, her soothing voice washing over him as she tentatively inquired, "Are you okay?"
He chuckled in spite of himself, "I should be asking you that." He felt her move again as warm lips ghosted across his own. He shuddered harshly and was thankful he could no longer see her flushed cheeks or exposed skin. She placed one hand over his heart, which was still thundering.
"Uzu?"
"I want you so badly right now," he admitted, sounding almost pained. "I don't know what came over me. You ran and I just-" his words trailed off with something akin to shame. His body shook beneath her fingertips. The injuries he sustained were painful but that was not the main reason; hurt and confusion swirled with lust to devour his senses as he tried desperately to understand what had happened. Dreading the answer, he asked, "Did I hurt you?"
"Not even a little," Maya replied with a contented sigh. Shifting in bed, she tugged his head until it rested on her chest before threading her fingers through his ruffled green hair. Uzu immediately felt the tension in his body lessen. "It's okay," she reassured.
He was silent for a long moment. Then, very cautiously, he asked, "Why did you run from me?"
Maya bit her lower lip, fingers stilling in his hair. Do I tell him? Maybe he already knows? Deciding to probe the situation a little further, she questioned, "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"I didn't know anything for sure. I just assumed based on how you were acting…"
She let out a snort. "There you go assuming things again, Sanageyama."
"I was right, apparently," he asserted with a grumble, finding it difficult to maintain any kind of defiance as her fingers resumed their gentle strokes. Maya remained silent for a moment.
When she finally spoke, it was tainted with a sense of graveness that put him on edge. "If you knew who I really was, I doubt you would harbor the same affection for me." Sanageyama felt his stomach clench. Shifting backwards, he harnessed Shingantsu and watched as Maya swam back into focus. The t-shirt she wore had been discarded somewhere in the dark bedroom. Her porcelain skin glowed in the moonlight as it spilled past the curtains to dance across their bedsheets, illuminating her still flushed cheeks. She was completely bare beneath him. Trapped and uncertain, she peered up at him with a sense of vulnerability that made his heart ache.
"Maya…" He breathed gently, leaning his forehead down to rest against her own. "Nothing you could say would change the way I feel."
"You don't know that for certain."
"Yes, I do," he replied calmly while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Voice firm, she asserted, "No, you don't. There are things about me that you would not like; things that I can't tell you."
"That is fine. I don't care about what happened in the past or how you became involved with the Takarada Syndicate. Just, please…" His voice filled with an emotion that tore at her heartstrings as he pressed, "Promise me that you won't try to leave again. Whatever kind of trouble you're in; whatever you're afraid of, I can protect you."
A sweet, very sad smile graced her features at his words. "I wish that were true." Maya was quiet for a long time, letting her hand slowly caressed down his cheek as she took in Uzu's confused and slightly desperate expression.
Her voice was melancholic and held a strange tone of acceptance as she admitted, "When I first came here, I never expected to care about anyone; especially you."
"Why especially not me?" Uzu questioned abruptly, trying to keep the hurt from his voice.
"Always with your ego," she mumbled before sweeping her lips against his in a chaste kiss, sufficiently calming him. "The reason has nothing to do with you and everything to do with why I am here. I should not have allowed myself to feel anything for you."
"So, you admit that you have feelings for me?"
"Of course, I do! You ridiculous man," Maya exclaimed with exasperation. "I quite literally betrayed everyone and everything that I stood for to save your life in Osaka. The Takarada Syndicate will be hunting me now. And so will others…" Her voice trailed off anxiously as Sanageyama observed her features with Shingantsu.
While he was still extremely confused, it had become abundantly clear that Maya was not simply in a little trouble. She was mixed up with some very dangerous people outside Honnouji Academy. And I've only made things worse for her. It ultimately was his decision to leave her alone in Osaka, leading to her capture and nearly his own death. Thus, causing the betrayal that has now put her life at risk. And it was his advances that made her a target while inside the walls of Honnouji Academy as well.
"I really can't do anything right, can I?" He scoffed bitterly, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed to dangle; his back facing her.
Alarm crept into her voice as Maya questioned, "What are you talking about?"
"Every decision I make puts you in danger," he explained, hands balling into tight fists as he continued, "I made you a target at Honnouji Academy and my actions caused you to anger the Takarada Syndicate. All I ever do is hurt you with my carelessness."
"No," Maya asserted abruptly while crawling over to him. She pulled his chin to face over his shoulder, letting their foreheads touch. "Listen to me, Uzu," she ordered calmly, feeling his shoulders relax very slightly. "All of this," she enunciated very clearly, "is my fault."
Trying to shift away, he argued, "No, it's not-"
"Yes, it is," she insisted firmly. "Everything is my fault and I'm the one who put you in danger. I can't explain everything yet but I guarantee if I had never shown up at Honnouji, none of this would have happened."
"Yeah, and I would still be pathetically blind, friendless and sitting alone in the library."
"Uzu…" Her voice trailed off, unsure what to say.
Turning to face Maya, his arms wrapped securely around her smaller frame, tugging until she was tucked completely against him. Sanageyama inhaled deeply and immediately felt his body relax. The scent of strawberries was weak, greatly overshadowed by the smell of his own shampoo that she used in the tub. But I can still smell it. "Maya, I was lost after my defeat against Ryuko. I was literally and figuratively in the darkest place of my life. You were the one to bring me out of that darkness. You saved me. No matter what happens, don't you dare regret coming to Honnouji Academy."
Maya felt her heart flutter. Returning his embrace, she sighed while conceding, "Ok, so this is our fault. We'll fix it together." She felt Sanageyama shift so his head tilted down at her.
"Together," he repeated, sounding relieved. "No more running."
"No more running," she agreed much to his satisfaction. Leaning backwards, Sanageyama repositioned them in bed until she was draped across his chest, listening to the rhythmic thud of his heart. Exhaustion quickly swept Uzu to sleep. His breathing grew slow even as Maya laid awake. Minutes felt like hours as her emotions played a brutal game of tug-of-war; guilt and duty and, dare she admit it, love. All of them ripped at her insides until she felt ragged and raw. No matter how the game played out, Uzu was going to get hurt. That truth was undeniable.
I just hope you can forgive me.