Kyoko Mogami closed her eyes and rested her heated cheeks against the cooled glass of the air conditioned window as she fought against the sudden squirming anxiety that had settled inside her body like an opened can of worms writhing en masse in her gut. She was too hot and felt like she might spew the contents of her stomach all over Kuon's luxury sports car, which would be utterly mortifying.
The young woman hadn't felt a lick of apprehension until they pulled into the rectangular lot and parked in visitor space 201. Practically boonies territory. Apparently forcing visitors to walk the length of the blistering rubber and metal jungle was an acceptable form of psychological warfare applied to friend and foe alike. The FBI office building was all blue tinted windows, the kind you can't see into no matter how hard you try, but allowed the suited denizens inside to peer shamelessly out from. An imposing structure, especially for the average citizen who was forced to trek across the scorching asphalt under the scrutiny of a hundred lidless glass eyes.
With the press of a couple buttons, Kyoko turned the AC on full blast, cloaking herself with the frigid air in the hopes that a layer of cold might quash her queasy nerves and shield against the oppressive fiery ball glaring down from the azure sky when she eventually exited the vehicle. The day was set to be freakishly hot and though it was still early afternoon, the thermostat was already well in the red zone, creeping ever higher past the typical eighties into searing territory. As fine as her boyfriend looked in his fitted suit, she had to wonder why he'd been so insistent on dressing up in this kind of weather. She had the benefit of a light, airy dress at least. Then again, she'd never seen him sweat no matter how hot it became.
Kuon reached a goose-pimpled arm across her lap and gave her leg a gentle squeeze. He'd been unusually silent for most of the ride, which was likely part of the reason the burgeoning chef had begun feeling so off kilter. Though his sudden change to a sort of stoic, mysterious resolve from a state self-deprecation was undoubtedly an improvement, it brought its own kind of unease. Kyoko hadn't had great luck with surprises lately. But it's Kuon. Whatever he's planning, I'm sure I'll love it as long as I'm with him.
"You all right, love?" he asked staring fixedly, searching her face and Kyoko felt like she was being swathed in the soft warmth of a lush spring meadow as she gazed back into his bright verdant eyes.
It still astounded her to no end that she had someone who looked at her like that and a broad, grateful smile broke across her features as her worries dissipated, banished with a look. Light illuminated her raven strands and between her golden smile and shiny haloed tresses, Kuon marveled at her beauty.
"I am far better than all right Kuon. I'm with you." The future would take care of itself with Kuon by her side.
They held each other's eyes, heated desire melting the sugary sweet fondness, transforming into puddles of congealed lust. A magnetic attraction that neither could deny brought them ever closer and Kuon gently wrapped one hand around the nape of her neck, drawing the woman he loved into his embrace. Their lips met, sending hot sparks coursing all the way down to her toes and she parted her lips, deepening the kiss- an offering and invitation. Kuon readily accepted, moaning into her mouth at the sweeping caresses of her luscious tongue.
He tasted delicious, a mixture of bitter coffee and honeyed sweetness, almost like dark chocolate, and she had to wonder if he simply always tasted so good. Every encounter thus far had been positively delectable. Actually, his lips were far from the only saccharine part of his body. She took his lower lip gently between her teeth and sucked. Hard. A low growl passed through his captured lips, sending molten desire coursing through her veins once more, renewing the flush across her body.
Though all her senses were engrossed with Kuon Hizuri something still niggled at the back of her skull. A sense that, while there were few thing she would rather be doing than making out with Kuon in his car (and all those involved the two of them being naked), she was supposed to be doing something else entirely. Something her innate sense of responsibility wouldn't let her ignore. Following the trail of thought, she was brought back to the knowledge of why there were sitting in Kuon's car in the first place. Reluctantly, she pulled away from the handsome man. Last thing Kyoko wanted was to have her FBI interview with obviously sexed up swollen lips, though it was probably already too late for that. She looked at the clock. Scratch that, it was definitely too late. Somehow they'd been making out for the last ten minutes.
Kuon made a small noise of protest at the loss of contact and she leaned back in, placing one last chaste kiss against his silken lips, tracing the hard contours of his jaw with her thumb as she offered him a wistful half-smile. "The meeting," she reminded him, though she had only just remembered herself.
"Shit," he said so softly Kyoko wondered if she was meant to hear. He dragged a hand slowly through his hair, a gesture, she'd come to realize, meant to help steady himself. She tucked her lower lip under her teeth, nibbling it absently in appreciation as she drank in the sight of the muscled male model. "Kyoko," Kuon's rich, velvet voice slid over skin. "If you keep looking at me like that, we're never going to leave this car."
He adjusted himself in his seat, giving a little upward thrust and the movement drew her eyes to his groin. His cock was warring against the layer of cashmere and silk blend, threatening to blast through the fabric at the slightest provocation. And she was so tempted to light that fuse.
She swallowed hard, her low, rough voice muttering, "Holy gods," as a plea and a curse, eliciting a husky laugh from the man beside her.
"Ah, this torture," Kuon said with an exasperated sigh. His large hand moved towards his thick, sparkling mane again, but with a wary glance at Kyoko, he thought better of it and let his arm drop harmlessly onto a toned thigh.
Kyoko leaned forward, intentionally taking the chilly blast in the face.
"Is that helping?" he asked.
"A little," she affirmed, studiously avoiding direct eye contact. The female chef was beginning to believe Kuon really was distantly related to beings with some kind of magical powers with how he effortlessly captivated her. Fleeing temptation seemed the wisest choice.
Kuon adjusted the vent on his side, angling it a little higher to accommodate his height as he leaned forward, allowing the vent to blow directly onto his face as well.
Rick Schnee had been incessantly checking the time on the old analog wall clock for the last five minutes, impatiently glancing up every minute or so until he finally gave up, rising to his feet in pursuit of his charges. Kuon was notoriously late for anything aside from work so he'd intentionally told his friend to arrive fifteen minutes prior to the actual start time. Looking like he'd just waltzed off the set of a Men In Black movie, the agent made a beeline towards the visitor's parking area, his stride increasing as he spotted the car he'd been seeking.
Rick found his best friend and the young woman he would be interviewing comically hunched forward and messy-haired, greedily slurping up the Porsche's AC like children who'd finally been allowed a can of soda. Shaking his head, he rapped on the window, startling the couple. Rick looked emphatically at Kuon, tapping his wrist with an index finger as Kuon lowered the glass.
"Dude, you're going to be late." His eyes traveled from Kuon's slightly frazzled expression to Kyoko's guilty averted gaze. He smirked. "What were you two doing out here?" Both pairs of ears turned a satisfying shade pink as the older male practically shot lasers of amusement through his aviatored eyes.
Kuon pointedly cleared his throat. "None of your business," he stated coolly with a glare at Rick. The agent decided not to press his luck. Last thing Rick wanted was Kuon descending into demon lord mode because of a little light teasing. Clearly his friend was still a little on edge, but considering recent events, he could hardly blame him.
Switching back into work mode, Rick said, "If you'd please exit the vehicle and follow me Ms. Mogami, Mr. Hizuri. I'll escort you to the room where we'll be conducting the interview."
Kuon rolled his eyes at his friend's exaggerated professionalism as he rounded the vehicle to open Kyoko's door. He extended a hand to the woman he loved, noting the almost electric current he felt when their hands touched. He'd been wondering if whatever strange connection their bodies shared was only a fluke that would wear off over time. For now, at least, it seemed safe to assume it was here to stay.
Kyoko stepped out from the vehicle and felt the weight of Rick's eyes on her throat. Fortunately, the dress covered most of the bruising and she hoped her hair and foundation she'd applied earlier would conceal the rest. Last thing Kyoko wanted was to be gawked at or have people hurl accusations against the male accompanying her.
At least the cool air bath helped, she only began to feel slightly overheated about halfway across the lot.
Once inside, the agent led them past mostly spartan cubicles excepting the odd framed or taped on family photo, and down a long bland hall lined with ominously black doors before guiding them into a spacious room housing a dark mahogany conference table surrounded by soft pleather swivel chairs. A Keurig was placed on a corner table, offering an assortment of caffeinated flavors. The coffee machine's only companion was a shining silver Brio water cooler dispenser that looked too expensive for a government budget. Mostly typical office accoutrement.
What stopped Kyoko dead in her tracks, was the sight of Sho Fuwa. The fingers of his left hand drummed an impatient beat as the other nursed a cup of steaming, acrid liquid. Probably from the Keurig. He looked... haggard—like he'd been in a bar brawl. His face was a colorful mess of bruising like when child mixes a bunch of play-dough together, and the normally artfully styled, if not a little chaotic, spikes of his hair were a disheveled mess.
With a gasp, Kyoko realized she'd neglected to contact her step brother. He'd sent that random and bizarrely apologetic text and the knowledge that he'd developed decidedly unbrotherly feelings towards her coupled with the fact that she was dating his best friend had caused her to avoid speaking to him. Then the events of the morning... She winced, face twisting into a pained expression from the commingling of guilt and negative memories.
Why? Why was he here? It would be difficult enough to rehash the visceral events from the morning without the added weight of Sho's presence.
Kuon's hot breath brushed against her ear sending a tingle down her spine as he whispered in her ear, "I'm just as surprised as you." He placed a hand on the small of her back, urging and guiding her forward.
Sho stilled as awareness of their presence finally dawned on him. He looked just like a pufferfish with his mouth agape and spiked hair poking out all directions. Pale blue eyes swept up her frame, taking in her midnight pumps and stylish dress, lingering on her neck for a moment as a frown formed on his face before finally meeting her eyes. She watched mutely as his Adam's apple bobbed sharply.
Then, pushing his chair back, Sho did something she thought she'd never see. Not in a million years. Not if pigs sprouted pink, feathery wings and began oinking in the sky. She figured they must be building snowmen in hell right now, though they'd probably be the kind that came to life and tried to eat you with gleaming, razor-sharp teeth like on Dr. Who.
He got down on his hands and knees, prostrating himself before her in a stiff, awkwardly executed dogeza. "I'm so sorry, Kyoko."
"Sho, you don't need to-"she began, moving a half step closer her step brother.
"Yes, I do!" he shouted into the tiled floor with uncharacteristic vehemence, interrupting her. "I wronged you. In so many ways. No amount of apology could ever fix that, but I promise, I'm going to make amends."
"First, please get up," she said softly. He did as she bade and she could see that the sincerity in eyes matched what she detected in his voice. "Yes, you were a complete nightmare when we were younger. But you've already been making up for it these past couple years." She flashed him a small smile. "I forgave you long ago, but it is a bit satisfying to hear you say those words." The amber glow in her eyes intensified as they narrowed into something resembling accusation. "Now, why are you here?"
Rick stepped forward. "This guy called his local police station claiming to have information that could implicate someone in a number of criminal undertakings and they forwarded him to me," he said gesturing towards himself with a thumb. "I invited him."
"I'm here because I want to help you. Ojii-san needs to be stopped and I'm going to help you do it." Sho's voice was full of confidence, but Kyoko could see the tremors in his hands. "But before we get into all that, are- are you okay?" he asked, voice cracking part of the way through. He cleared his throat.
"Yeah," came her simple reply. "Thanks to Kuon, I am." Kyoko absently bit her lower lip again and looked up at Kuon's face. Sparkling emerald eyes simmering with hunger looked back. It was clear to Kyoko that if they didn't make an opportunity to act on their feelings at some point in the day, they were going to explode. In Kuon's case, possibly quite literally she thought, as she cast the briefest glance at the even larger than usual bulge in his slacks.
Sho deflated like a balloon, sagging in relief. "I'm glad," he said, shooting Kuon a grateful smile. The young executive straightened up and waved a hand to conference table. "Let's all sit and begin."
Kyoko heard Rick something about how that was supposedto be his line, but the agent allowed Sho to take the reins.
"I know you met a woman at the library, Kyoko. She didn't tell you who she was at the time as a precaution, but we're past that point anyway," he said bitterly. "Her name is Akemi Adams."
"Akemi Adams," Kyoko mimicked, tasting the sound of the White Ram's true name on her tongue.
"She works directly for me as an executive assistant. She's also a corporate spy, among other things, who was hired by Lin's father. I want us all on the same page, working together to bring grandfather down."
Kuon's brow furrowed. "Why isn't Ms. Adams here?"
Sho shook his head slowly. "I last spoke with her yesterday." He looked immensely troubled as he sat there, hands clasped together as though offering a silent prayer. Perhaps he was. "I've tried contacting her numerous times already this morning, but there's been no reply."
Rick leaned forward intently. "My guys are looking into it. We'll find her. Now, I need to hear Kyoko's account of the events this morning. Fuwa, if you'd please step out for a moment. We'll bring you back in once she's finished."
"Uh, sure." He rose with a glance at his step sister, wiping sweaty palms against his Earnest Sewn Custom Fit jeans as he exited the room.
"Thank you," Kyoko said to Rick after Sho left. "I'm fine with him learning specifics, but I didn't want him to have to hear any of this first hand, although I wrote the specifics down already. I figured you'd still have questions."
"I understand completely and you're welcome. There's also been a development regarding the perpetrator that I need to discuss with all of you. Let's begin."
It was time for dinner when they wrapped things up and Kuon whisked her away for his surprise.
It began with a stop at a pricy ramen bar that Kyoko had been dying to try out. Another place she'd never had the time for. She couldn't even remember mentioning the fact that she wanted to go to Kuon.
Her boyfriend looked very pleased with himself. "I just knew." Apparently Kuon had developed the ability to read her mind as well.
He drove them a short ways to small, sparsely populated parking area. It took the young woman a moment to realize where they were.
"Beverly Gardens Park?" It was beautifully lit at night, like a set from A Midsummer Night's Dream. An ethereal fairy garden. Kyoko inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh, vibrant air. "I remember the four of us came here about, a year and a half ago now?"
She smiled tenderly up at her boyfriend, taking his hand in her own, thinking of the fond memories as they strolled along the softly illuminated path until they came to what was easily the most famous landmark in the park. The century old, stately Moreton Bay fig tree.
"The tree," she grinned. "Sho dared you to carve our initials in it, but you said you didn't want to get your clothes dirty," she gave a little eye roll. "So instead you hoisted me up to carve them for you." Kyoko felt her cheeks turn pink as she pictured herself riding atop Kuon's shoulders and she covered her embarrassment by appearing to gaze up to the area she'd carved SF, KH, KM, and KK.
Kuon suddenly entered her view. He had nimbly climbed the ancient arterial branches and hoisted himself to the exact spot their initials rested. As she watched, he pulled a small switchblade from his pocket and carved a heart around the KH and KM. "Good thing you put our names next to each other," he quipped, dropping down to the downy earth.
The young woman wished she were near the pond so she could dunk her burning face in it. "Here," he gestured towards the one of the gargantuan ground roots that could easily have passed for natural furniture. "Sit." He took a seat beside her. "I didn't care about getting my clothes dirty Kyoko." His voice was sweetly seductive, like that last bit of cookie batter that beckons you to lick it off the spoon. "I was looking for an excuse." She looked at him, question written all over her face. "Any excuse to be right beside you, though I hadn't quite realized it was love yet."
He moved then, getting down on one knee and Kyoko gasped. "I was planning to wait at six months to ask you this in case you felt it was too sudden, but if this morning has taught me anything, it's that life is too short. You own my heart and soul and I want continue spending the rest of my days by your side." He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. "Kyoko Mogami, will you make me the happiest man on earth by becoming my wife?" he asked, revealing a gleaming two carat diamond ring which nearly blinded her with its radiance, even in the weak night lighting of the park.
Kyoko would've sworn she was having an out of body experience, but the tears leaking from her eyes were very real and she heard herself say yes before her unsteady legs had her half throwing herself at her newly minted fiancé. She hadn't imagined she'd be one of those girls who cries when a man asks them to marry, but time had a way of disproving suppositions.
As he took the shining silver ring from its box to place it on her finger, she noticed a foreign engraving- всегда- on the inside. Reading her mind again, Kuon answered her unspoken question, looking deeply into her golden eyes. "Vseeg-dá. It means always, in Russian. As in you'll always have my heart, my soul, my mind, and my body." He kissed her then, hungrily, letting his lips and tongue tell the story of every salacious act he'd like to commit as he placed the unusually heavy ring on finger.
They broke apart and apart and heard a shy, "Congratulations," spoken from nearby where an elderly man was leisurely enjoying a walk through the picturesque landscape.
"Thank you," they said meekly in unison. They'd both been raised to properly respect their elders.
Kyoko stared down at the ring on her finger, still feeling dazed. She flashed to an image of a picture hanging in Kuon's living room. "Oh, that's why you bought that framed photo. Tourist Trap." She remembered the cleverly named photo depicting a unique-looking tree blended with scenery from San Francisco to make it look the fig was a sort humongous octopus, gobbling up the cars daring to pass by. "It's this tree in the Thomas Barbèy picture," she marveled.
"Yes." He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I wanted to remember that day so when I saw that picture, I couldn't resist bringing it home with me."
"I'm glad you did. Saves us from having to purchase it later," she winked. He picked her up, spinning her once through the air, before gently setting her down and wiping the last joyous tear from her cheek. He held out a hand to her once more and she couldn't help saying a few sappy words herself. "I'll follow you anywhere."
He planted a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "First, let's go home."