Festivities and Revelations
Kenzi sat in front of the large bon fire that had been built right outside of town, hugging her knees and watching people as they talked, laughed and danced around her. It had been five days since their arrival back in the village of Besaid, five days of non-stop festivities, and five days of tense silence between herself and Wakka. It was almost unbearable for Kenzi. She had so many questions, so many doubts but could never get him alone to ask him what exactly was going on between them. Had he just been teasing her or was there more to his simple yet heart melting kiss then that?
Things between her and the rest of the Aurochs carried on as usual. Her, Botta and Datto had spent most of those five nights staying up late and playing card games in Wakka's hut. The two had noticed her quietness and had taken it upon their selves to try and cheer her up. One particular night, when Botta and Datto's moods were just about as low as her own, they had demanded Keepa join them and switched from their regular poker game to something a little more risqué. A drinking game..or two actually.
Botta had switched their game sometime during the night when they were all intoxicated enough to agree to a game of strip poker, complete with his very own set of rules. When it got obvious that their goalie was loosing, they laughingly called it quits and sat up talking until four in the morning.
Kenzi had learned so much about them that night. Their pasts, what had brought them where they were today, the friendship they shared that ran so deeply in their blood and she had fallen in love with all of them. They reminded her so much of her brother. When she had woke up with a splitting headache late the next morning, vowing never to drink again, she had looked down at the floor only to see that Botta and Keepa were sprawled across it. Datto had been the only one with enough ambition to clear off the other bed, or clear off half of the other bed and curl up at the foot of it.
Kenzi laughed softly as she remembered that night, continuing to stare into the dancing flames. Lost to her thoughts she didn't notice Yuna walking up and taking a seat beside her. It wasn't until the summoner delicately cleared her throat that Kenzi stopped staring at the fire and looked up. "Oh, hey Yuna," she said, smiling warmly at yet another person who had become a close friend. She had spent many mornings in Yuna's company, listening to her stories as they walked through the woods of Besaid and telling a few of her own. They had become very close.
"Hi Kenzi," Yuna replied, returning her smile. "You've been very quiet tonight. Is everything okay?"
The blond Al Bhed looked out over the sand, noticing one couple in particular. Wakka and Lulu. They were sitting with Tidus and another man Kenzi didn't recognize and everyone but Lulu seemed to be involved in the conversation going on between them. Wakka turned his head as if he had sensed that she was looking at him and their eyes caught. Kenzi's heart lurched. Even across the distance she could still see something flash in his eyes, something that made her ache to be near him. But she couldn't be with him. Lulu was. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to turn away and look at Yuna. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just have a lot on my mind."
Yuna smiled in understanding. "I know. If you need to get away from all of this, there's a spot behind the temple. It's a small beach, very secluded. It's where I go to think sometimes. You should go. It looks like you need a little time away from all of this." She gestured around them at the mass of people.
"Thank you so much Yuna," Kenzi whispered, leaning over and wrapping her arms around the smaller woman in a friendly hug.
"You're welcome. Go. If anyone asks where you went I'll make up some wild story."
Kenzi laughed and stood, brushing sand off her short khaki skirt and straightening her denim colored bikini top. "Make sure it's insane enough to believe," she murmured, casting one last longing glance at Wakka before she turned and quietly made her way to the temple, throwing several glances over her shoulder to make sure no one saw where she was going. Yuna had been right, she needed this time alone. Her emotions were tearing her up and because of the all-week-party going on she hadn't had any time alone to try and figure things out. She needed to gain control. The evil inside of her could feel her slipping. It was just waiting for its opportunity. She couldn't let that happen though.
She crept around the side of the temple, noticing a small path that lead through the trees. "This must be it," she observed softly, pushing aside the thick foliage and making her way down a slight slope to a small beach that overlooked the calm sea. Kenzi kicked off her shoes and dug her toes into the cool sand, taking a deep cleansing breath.
~You're going to have to do more then that dear,~ the evil infesting her whispered, it's sickening voice invading her head.
"Shut up," Kenzi muttered.
~Whether you like it or not I'm coming. I can sense those horrible human emotions of yours. You're falling apart. And when you do, I'll be right there taking over your beautiful body and making you nothing more then a mindless thing for me to control.~
Kenzi placed her hands over her ears, trying to shut out its voice. "I said shut up!" she screamed, sinking to her knees on the white sand. She had to be strong. The survival of Spira and its inhabitants depended on it. She could risk no mistakes. But it was so hard. Her feelings for Wakka were only getting stronger and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
~You had better figure out something child. Maybe this will help.~ Blinding pain shot through her body. Kenzi swallowed an agonize scream and doubled over, clutching her stomach. ~Imagine this pain times ten. That's what every pathetic being in Spira will feel if you fail to control your feelings. The very second you break down completely, they will all know it.~
Struggling to keep herself from crying, Kenzi drew in deep ragged breaths. She had to fight this thing. She had no choice. A giggle broke the silence and Kenzi's head whipped up just as Jassu and Rikku burst through the bushes. Both of them came to an abrupt stop, seeing Kenzi huddled on the sandy beach.
"Kenzi?" Rikku questioned in a small voice.
The older Al Bhed quickly got to her feet, trying to block out the pain that was starting to consume her. Her legs were trembling uncontrollably and she knew they wouldn't hold her for long. She gave the two a pleading look before her legs gave out and she started to fall forward.
Rikku and Jassu were there to catch her, slowly lowering her to the ground. "Kenzi, what the hell is going on?" Jassu asked, a note of panic in his deep voice.
"Just give me a second," Kenzi ground out between clenched teeth. She shut her eyes, taking control and forcing the pain to subside. It seemed to take forever but soon all that was left of the pain was an ache at the base of her skull. She opened her eyes and sighed, thankful that, for the moment, the evil had chosen to leave her alone. "Okay, sorry about that guys." She laughed nervously and stood again. This time her legs remained steady. "I'm not really sure what came over me."
Rikku gave her a hard look, crossing her arms over her chest. "Bullshit."
Kenzi gaped at her. She didn't even know Rikku used words like that. "What?"
"I said bullshit. Something was happening to you Kenzi. Something big. Now I've known you since I was six. I think you owe me of all people an explanation."
Kenzi stared at her a moment longer, then her shoulder drooped and she sighed. "Okay," she murmured in an almost inaudible voice. "I'll tell you. You might want to sit down. It will take a while."
Jassu and Rikku nodded simultaneously and followed Kenzi's lead as she sat back down. Kenzi took a deep breath and began her tale. "After Sin took my family away from me I didn't have anywhere to go. Home had been destroyed. I didn't even know if the Al Bhed Psyches were still a team. All I knew was that I couldn't stay where I was. Sin would eventually come. So I packed what was left of my belongings and began to walk. I figured if I just kept moving I would always be able to avoid Sin. I walked for a long time, sometimes staying at Inn's, sometimes people would take me in, and other times I would sleep outside.
It seemed like I had been walking forever when I came across this thing. I think I was somewhere around Mt. Gagazet. I couldn't really remember. I had been walking so long. I passed by this cliff and carved into its base was a man. I couldn't really figure out what he was. I knew it was a man though. I could make out a face, long hands..but that was about it. I was curious so I touched it. I ran my hand over the face. He looked so happy. I missed seeing happy faces. But as soon as I touched it something happened.
I can remember pain, a lot of pain. Light surrounded me, closing in around me and the statue started to fade, eventually disappearing completely. Then after that this laugh filled my head. It was evil, pure evil and when it spoke it was the most sickening voice I had ever heard. It..it never gave a name. It just told me that it was the thing that would eventually destroy me." Kenzi paused when she felt a hand cover hers. She looked up into Rikku's concerned gaze and tried to give her an encouraging smile but failed miserably.
"What did it say?" Jassu asked, moving over to sit beside her and wrapping an arm loosely around her shoulders. Rikku did the same, but instead of wrapping her arm around Kenzi she held her hand. It was almost like the smaller Al Bhed was trying to give her strength.
Kenzi bowed her head and continued. "When this happened it had been a month since the death of my family. I had moved passed it. I still missed them but I had accepted their deaths, knowing there was nothing I could have done. When..when this thing entered my body it knew what I was feeling. It sensed my weakness and saw the walls I had built around it. In that he found his escape. He said that if I ever gave in to the sadness, to the heartbreak he would be freed and he would use me to carry out his revenge on the people of Spira. So..if I ever allow myself to break down, like completely break down, he'll be there. He'll take over my body and use it to destroy everything."
Rikku gasped, her eyes widening in horrified shock. "Kenzi, that's horrible!" she cried.
The only thing Kenzi could do was nod. She knew how terrible it was. She was the one who had been living with it for so long.
"So what was happenin' to you when we showed up?" Jassu asked.
Kenzi dropped her head to her knees, keeping her gaze trained on the tiny sparkling grains of sand. "He was giving me a taste of the pain every living being in Spira would suffer if I fail to remain strong. I.I started to slip, started to loose control. I guess he knew it and felt the need to remind me of what would happened."
Rikku stared at the older Al Bhed, her heart twisting as she listened to Kenzi's tragic story. How could she live like that with something so awful festering inside of her? "Isn't there some way you can get rid of it?"
Kenzi shook her head sadly. "I confided in a friend of mine, a young priest. He said the only way to rid myself of such evil..was to die." She lifted her head, her vacant eyes staring out across the water. "I'm not ready to die yet. I would rather spend the rest of my life fighting," she whispered.
Jassu hugged the young woman who he had begun to think of as a little sister, playing her words over in his mind. Something wasn't right about them. Why would she loose control? Hadn't she just said that she had gotten over the death of her parents before this evil thing had come into the picture? "Kenzi, what's wrong?" he asked cautiously, his gut telling him that there was more to it then what she was telling them.
She looked up at him blankly. "What do you mean?"
"You said you almost lost control, but you also said you were over the death of your family. What happened? Did someone hurt you?"
"No. Not intentionally. I don't even think he knows...how I feel about him."
Beside Kenzi Rikku's hand flew over her gaping mouth. "It's...it's Wakka isn't it?"
Jassu gave his girlfriend a startled look while Kenzi immediately got to her feet and started walking for the path back to the village. She didn't want to deal with this. Not right now. She had finally gained the upper hand against the evil. She needed to keep it that way.
"Kenzi, is that true?" Jassu asked.
Biting back a curse, Kenzi fixed a smile on her face and turned to face them. "Please, I can't talk about this right now. Can we just get back to the party and try to have a good time?" Jassu opened his mouth to speak and she held up a hand, cutting him off. "Please Jassu. I can't do this right now. Yes it is true, but please don't make me talk about it. At least not right now, okay?"
Reluctantly the tall Auroch nodded, getting up and helping Rikku to her feet. They exchanged a sad look, each of them feeling deep sorrow for what their friend was going through. But they couldn't do anything about it. It was her fight. So they joined her, walking back into the village where the entire populace was still going strong. The bonfire had grown considerably and with the children tucked away safely for the night, things had started to get a little wilder then before.
The group of three crossed the sand to where Keepa, Botta and Datto were gathered around a table of drinks and food. "Hey guys. Where you been?" Botta asked as they approached, handing them each a drink.
Kenzi took the offered drink and smiled up at the handsome redhead. "We were just out walking around. You know, getting away from the crazy people, like you guys."
"Ooh! Watch out guys. She's got wit!" Botta remarked dryly, dragging her into a loose headlock.
Kenzi giggled softly. She wasn't even going to try to struggle. Instead she leaned against him and took small sips of her drink. "So what's in this?" she asked, watching a group of men set up a collection of bongos in various sizes a ways from the fire.
"Not enough to get you drunk hun. After listening to you mutter, 'never again' all mornin' I figured a hard drink would be the last thing you wanted."
"You're a good man Botta," Kenzi said laughingly. Her eyes followed the movements of the group of bongo players gathering in a large circle. They talked back and forth for a moment then began to play a wild jungle beat. Several people cheered, others moved eagerly to the large area of sand in front of the talented musicians and started to dance. The beach was soon filled with happy, dancing couples.
Kenzi was laughing at Tidus as he pulled a hesitant Yuna onto the sandy dance floor when her drink was taken from her and a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
"Whadaya say legs? Want to dance?" Botta asked, managing to look slightly shy.
Kenzi gave him a genuine smile, her first one of the evening and quite possibly the entire day. "Sure. See if you can keep up!" Laughing, she ran out to join the crowd of dancers. Botta easily caught up to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, swinging her in a crazy circle.
"They're like a bunch of kids, ya?" Datto said, jokingly rolling his eyes.
Rikku smiled at the couple. They had quit trying to wrestle each other to the ground and were now dancing, their movements in perfect sync with the music and one another. "It looks like they're having fun." She turned and looked hopefully up at Jassu.
She didn't even have to say a word. After a long, suffering sigh the bleach blond Auroch picked Rikku up and slung her body over his tattooed shoulder, stalking across the sand. "You two comin'?" he shouted over Rikku's shrieking laughter.
Keepa and Datto looked at each other, shrugged and went to join the insanity.
An hour and a half later the dancing had begun the captain of the Besaid Aurochs quietly took a seat on one of the logs placed around the dying fire. He lacked his usual attire, wearing instead a pair of worn jean shorts and a white shirt that he had left unbuttoned, exposing his muscular chest and washboard stomach. He was alone and beyond glad about it. One more minute stuck with Lulu and he was going to lose it. She had been overly controlling and bitter all week. Wakka had to wonder why he had put up with it. Why did he continue to endure the constant bitchiness, the insults, sleeping outside when he could have been in his own bed, possibly sharing it with someone who actually wanted to be with him?
His eyes scanned the mass of undulating bodies until he found the one he was looking for. Kenzi. She was dancing with the entire team, including Yuna and Rikku. Her strawberry blonde hair had been pulled up, the five tiny feathers dangling from a messy ponytail. He watched her body move seductively to the beat of the bongos and for the millionth time that week had to refrain from kicking himself. He should have said something on their walk back to the village but words had failed him. He tried to ask himself why he hadn't said no to Lulu but sadly he already knew the answer.
When Tidus had shown up out of no where, real as the day they had met, Yuna had spent every waking hour with him and slowly stopped spending time with Lulu. Wakka didn't blame Yuna. He probably would have done the same thing in her situation. But her actions had caused Lulu to become very cynical and cold hearted. At least he thought that was the reason why Lu had changed so much. So he stayed with her, trying to make her feel better. It was becoming apparent that his attentiveness was not working. If anything, Lulu had just become more frigid. A man could only take so much.
He looked up at Kenzi again, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched her laugh at something Tidus had said. She suddenly stopped laughing and her gaze went to him. He saw sadness pass through their gray- blue depths and his heart dropped. He knew he was the reason for that sadness. His actions must have confused her so much. She hadn't talked to him all week. Yeah, it was his fault that she was sad. Her lips turned up in a smile and she waved at him. He half heartedly waved back, wishing he could pull her from the crowd, take her some place quiet and just explain everything to her.
"Wakka, are you coming to bed or not?"
He lifted his head and his heart chilled as his eyes met the cold depths of Lulu's. "Yeah," he muttered. "I'm coming." He gave one last longing look to the beautiful woman who had crept into his heart, then stood and followed Lulu to her hut.
"So back to your place?" Datto asked Kenzi as he, Botta, Keepa and the spunky Al Bhed walked slowly through the silent village of Besaid. The dancing had long since ended and the four Aurochs were the only ones still awake.
Kenzi shook her head. "Sorry guys. Not tonight. I'm really tired and I just want a bit of time alone."
They all nodded in understanding. Each of them had an inkling of what Kenzi felt towards their captain and they knew that what she was going through was anything but fun. "You bet legs. We'll get together tomorrow night." Botta said, ruffling her ponytail lightly.
Kenzi smiled and used one arm to hug him. "Thanks a lot. I'll see you all in the morning."
They all said their goodnights and went back to their own homes. Kenzi's being the farthest; she was the last one left walking. She took her time, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the chill of the late evening and humming softly. She was three huts away from her own when she heard an angry female voice coming from the hut she was next to brake through the silence of the night. She knew that voice. It was Lulu. She stopped and even though it was against her nature, she listened.
"I can't believe you have been sleeping outside! Is my bed not good enough for you?" The mage demanded, her angry voice carrying clearly to Kenzi.
"You're so damn cold I'm afraid I'd spend the night freezin' my ass off!" came Wakka's furious response.
"So I'm cold now, am I? I suppose that little Al Bhed brat you have been watching would be much warmer, wouldn't she?"
"Don't bring Kenzi into this Lu. You know damn well this is not about her. This is about you."
Silence filled the air and Kenzi started to nervously chew on her finger. She should go, but something held her in place.
"No Wakka," came Lulu's voice, dangerously low. "This is not about me. It's about us. You know, you are so different from your brother. Chappu would have never talked to me the way you do."
"Well, I'm not Chappu." Wakka growled.
"You're right. You're not. I should have realized that when we started this horrible excuse for a relationship. I should have realized that you could never fill Chappu's place in my heart. What a fool I was to believe that you could."
"So you were only using me."
Kenzi gasped, her heart aching for the pain she heard in his hollow voice. "Oh Wakka," she whispered. She had to go. She had to go now before he came out and saw her. Turning, she walked on trembling legs back to Wakka's hut and ducked inside. She quickly turned on a small light sphere, filling the room with a warm glow and sat down on the bed, crossing her legs underneath her. She wasn't sure how much time had passed when the sound of footsteps carried to her ears. Sandaled footsteps. Her breath caught in her throat and she stared up at the cloth door, her heart hammering as the anticipation grew.
The thick cloth was pushed back and Wakka stepped in, coming to an abrupt stop when he saw Kenzi staring at him from her spot on the bed. "Hey," he said softly. "I thought you'd be asleep."
Kenzi shook her head. He looked so tired. So tired and so sad. Her heart went out to him. She wanted to make him feel better. A sudden idea came to her head. It was risky but what did she have to loose? "What are you doing here?" she almost whispered.
Wakka ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Me and Lu got into it. I guess it's safe to say we're over so I decided to come back home. You okay with that?"
'It's now or never.' Kenzi swallowed hard and uncrossed her legs, swinging them over the bed and slowly getting to her feet. With her heart in her throat she crossed the floor to where he stood, never taking her eyes from his. She stopped in front of him and stared up into his pain filled eyes. She could make that pain go away. She could give them what she was convinced they both wanted. "I.I heard everything. I was walking back here and I guess I was kind of in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Wakka continued to stare at her, his brows drawing over his amber colored eyes.
"Don't be mad," she whispered. Taking a deep, steadying breath she reached out and took his large hand in her smaller one. She looked down at it, noticing how big and strong it was. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to feel that kind of betrayal. But," she once again she raised her eyes to his. "She's right. You're not your brother. You're Wakka. And you'll always be Wakka...to me."
The tall captain was shocked by her words. He stared down into her stormy eyes and saw so much. Compassion, lust, kindness and then there was the one thing he never expected to see. An invitation. It was an invitation that set his heart racing unsteadily, that scared the hell out of him and an invitation that he could not possibly turn down. She wanted him and she was allowing him to see that. "Kenzi," he whispered hoarsely before he gave in to the temptation that had haunted him all week.
Kenzi almost cried out in sheer delight when his strong arms wrapped around her and his lips came down on hers, hard and demanding. He started pushing her back, walking with her until her back was pressed against the dresser. Sinful desire poured through her, commanding her body to move, to take. She wound her arms around his neck pressing herself against his hard, unyielding body. God, she needed more. She needed to feel as close to him as possible.
As if he knew what she was thinking, his hands traveled restlessly down her back, moving over her bottom and kneading the flesh through her skirt. He picked her up and Kenzi wrapped her long legs tightly around his waist. She ran her hands though his soft hair, greedily deepening the already intense kiss, nipping at his bottom lip, running her tongue sensuously against his. He tasted so good; she could not get enough of him. He groaned into her mouth and Kenzi's blood heated, running like lava through her veins.
*~*~*~Where the real lemon starts~*~*~*
He broke the kiss and moved to her neck, grazing the soft flesh with his teeth, pulling sweet gasps of pleasure from her lips with his tongue. Kenzi dropped her head back, a captive to the passion that was consuming her. Wakka moved one arm to support her body and lifted his free hand, running it roughly over her bare stomach, gripping a firm breast. Kenzi moaned in utter abandon, loving the feel of his hands on her body. She thought nothing could feel so good until he roughly yanked her top aside and replaced his hand with his mouth, his tongue expertly moving over the taut peak of her breast. And still she wanted more. Impatient hands pulled at his shirt and he set her down, allowing her to take his shirt off and throw it on the floor.
Kenzi ran her hands over his warm flesh, needing to touch every inch of his body. When he pulled back she almost cried out in disappointment until she saw the raw hunger burning in his eyes. He placed his hands on her hips letting them rest there for a brief, agonizing second before he slid them around her back. His fingers deftly untied the knots securing her top. Unashamed, Kenzi shrugged it off, a cat like smile curving her full lips when she saw lust flare in his eyes. Maybe she should tease him a little; it could prove to be fun.
She backed away from him and ran her hands over her body, closing her eyes and sighing softly. When she reached the button of her skirt she looked back at him, not surprised to see his mouth slightly agape. She laughed seductively and undid her skirt, sliding it ever so slowly down her long legs. Next came her flimsy underwear and then there was nothing left to hide herself from his wandering eyes.
Wakka quickly closed the gap between them, picking her up and carrying her to his bed. He pulled back the covers and gently placed her on the bed, coming down on top her. She thought that maybe his large body would crush hers but instead the weight was welcomed, further intensifying the ache that had knotted itself in the pit of her stomach. The hot bare skin of his chest and stomach pressed against hers and Kenzi reveled in the erotic feelings that coursed through her.
Resting his weight on the one arm that was holding him up, Wakka gently pushed Kenzi's bangs out of her face. God, she was so beautiful. He couldn't even believe this was happening. It was the last thing he had expected to come home to. "You sure you want to do this?" he asked.
Kenzi's smile was blinding. Her gray eyes, darkened with passion, stared into his. "Yes Wakka. This is what I want. What I have wanted for quite some time," she purred, reaching up and pulling his face down to hers for another searing kiss. As she kissed him, she curiously reached down between them, brushing the tips of her fingers over the quivering muscles of his stomach. Shyly, she reached down further and brushed her fingers against him, then wrapped her fingers around him as best she could through the rough fabric of his shorts and gently squeezed.
Wakka gasped and buried his head in the curve of her neck as her hand moved, explored, drove him almost to the edge of his control. Once he had regained a semblance of composure he turned his head and ran his tongue over the sensitive skin just below her ear. "We play this game, we play it fair," he murmured as his large, capable hand moved up over her leg and brushed against the curls at the apex of her thighs.
Kenzi released a small cry and hesitantly allowed him to part her legs. She bit her lip, waiting for what would come next and was not disappointed. His fingers stroked her softly, expertly, moving over her feminine flesh and slowly increasing the pressure. Kenzi was reduced to a writhing mass, her body his to command. One finger entered her and Kenzi released a loud moan, arching her hand wantonly against the palm of his hand. When it became too much to tolerate she moved her head back and forth on the pillow, softly calling out to him. "Wakka, please.."
He stopped what he was doing and smiled down at her. "Please?"
"I want you," she whispered. To prove how badly she reached down and undid his shorts, impatiently pushing them over his slim waist. He helped her when she could not push any further and tossed the remainder of his clothing on top of hers, then pulled the blankets up around them. Kenzi looked up at him, the lust burning in her own eyes reflected in his. "I want you now." She wrapped her strong legs around him again, smiling when she saw him close his eyes and heard his breath catch. "Do you want me?"
His lids slowly opened and his intense gaze bore into hers. "All week. It wasn't a whole lotta fun trying to keep myself away from you."
"You wont have to do that anymore," she murmured, reaching up and cradling his face in the palm of her hand. "Wakka, make love to me."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt immense pressure slowly start to fill her. Unable to wait any longer she arched her hips up to meet his, crying out as he filled her. Wakka captured her lips, his tongue dancing with hers as he began to move within her. Kenzi's breath became labored. She clutched at him, digging her nails into his skin, drowning in his own deep groans of pleasure as they moved together, their bodies complimenting one another's perfectly, fitting together as if they had always meant to. Something deep inside of her started building, the strain becoming almost unbearable. She moved with him, taking, giving, and sharing her body and soul with the man she had craved for so long.
Wakka's arm came around her, pressing her body against his and Kenzi clung to him, feeling the pressure within her continually build until finally, with one hard thrust she shattered. She screamed out her lovers name and fell back against the sheets. Seconds later Wakka joined her in her sated pleasure, her name leaving his lips in a rough gasp as he fell on top of her, their slick bodies pressed intimately together.
*~*~*~End of lemon~*~*~*
Kenzi's ragged breathing slowly returned to normal and a satisfied smile curved her full lips, slightly swollen from Wakka's kisses. She floated somewhere between heaven and earth, never wanting to come down, bathing in the blissful afterglow of their lovemaking. It was only when she felt his eyes on hers that she bade paradise goodbye and came back to reality. When she languidly stretched, lifting her arms over her head and emitting a tiny squeak she heard Wakka's deep chuckle and opened her eyed, turning her head to look at him.
"Hey," he murmured softly. His rough fingertips brushed over her stomach, tracing patterns across her flesh and Kenzi smiled contentedly.
"Oh Wakka, that was so wonderful," she cried softly, turning into his embrace and nuzzling his neck with her nose. "I dreamt it would be amazing..but never that amazing."
"You dreamt about it, huh?" Wakka asked, not admitting that he too had dreamt about it, even when he was wide awake. His mind had been occupied with her, having her, anything to do with her all week even though he couldn't, or thought he couldn't have had her. "Kenzi," he said, pulling back slightly.
She regarded him inquisitively, her sweet smile refusing to leave her face. Wakka couldn't believe his luck. He had expected her to be mad at him, to give him the silent treatment. Never had he actually expected to have her comfort him, to be there for him when he was at his worst after all he had put her through..to so willingly give herself to him. Cradling her face in the palm of his hand he brushed a thumb over her bottom lip, smiling when she placed a soft kiss on it. "I'm sorry for puttin' you through all that. I shoulda said somethin' when we were comin' back to the village. I'm sorry I didn't.
"You don't have to be sorry." She draped a long leg over his, tickling his calve with her toes.
"Yeah I do. I know I hurt you. Don't even try actin' like I didn't. You've been avoidin' me all week."
Kenzi's gaze settled on his chest as the smile disappeared from her face. "Why didn't you? I thought..I thought after what happened on the ship-." Her voice trailed off.
"I didn't say anything cuz..I guess I just felt sorry for Lu. Her, me and Yuna..we've been together a long time, you know? Yuna bein' with Tidus and all..she doesn't spend much time with Lu anymore so I guess I just figured it was up to me to keep her happy."
Kenzi looked up at him and gave him a weak smile before cautiously saying, "I don't think it worked."
"Yeah. Kinda surprised I didn't figure out she was usin' me earlier," Wakka muttered.
"Well, think about it this way," Kenzi said, wrapping her arm around his waist. "What bad came from you guys breaking up?"
Wakka grinned at the spunky Al Bhed in his arms. "I'm in bed with you, ya?" he replied, unable to resist teasing her.
Kenzi uttered a spurious gasp and assaulted him lightly with her fists. Laughing, he pulled her body up against his, holding her tightly as he growled and playfully bit her neck.
"Wakka! St.stop it!" Kenzi managed though her irrepressible giggles. "You..you're such.an animal!"
"I'm the animal? Look who's talkin'!"
She pulled back, staring at him in confusion. Still giving her that sinfully adorable smirk, he gestured over his shoulder. Kenzi sat up. She grabbed Wakka's arm and pulled him close to her, peering over his shoulder. This time when she gasped it was real. Her wide eyes traveled over his back where four vicious looking scratches ran from his left shoulder blade down over his back and ended just above his hip on the right side.
"Oh.Oh Wakka! I'm so sorry!" she cried, releasing him and burring her face in her hands, absolutely mortified that she had done such a thing to him without even knowing it.
Wakka shook his head and pulled the blonde back into his arms. "Don't worry so much Kenzi. Didn't even feel it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
Silence filled the cozy hut, as the two lay entwined in each other's arms and legs. Only the sound of the waves washing up on the shore could be heard, lulling the couple into a deep slumber.
"Wakka?" Kenzi whispered drowsily before sleep fully claimed her.
"Hmm?"
"When you were sleeping outside..you know, all this week..what did you dream about?"
She felt his lips brush against her forehead then come down and press against her own. The kiss was achingly tender and full of emotion. When he broke it, he smiled down at her and very simply stated, "This."
"Oh," Kenzi murmured. Smiling, she snuggled closer to Wakka and happily allowed sleep to claim her.
Kenzi sat in front of the large bon fire that had been built right outside of town, hugging her knees and watching people as they talked, laughed and danced around her. It had been five days since their arrival back in the village of Besaid, five days of non-stop festivities, and five days of tense silence between herself and Wakka. It was almost unbearable for Kenzi. She had so many questions, so many doubts but could never get him alone to ask him what exactly was going on between them. Had he just been teasing her or was there more to his simple yet heart melting kiss then that?
Things between her and the rest of the Aurochs carried on as usual. Her, Botta and Datto had spent most of those five nights staying up late and playing card games in Wakka's hut. The two had noticed her quietness and had taken it upon their selves to try and cheer her up. One particular night, when Botta and Datto's moods were just about as low as her own, they had demanded Keepa join them and switched from their regular poker game to something a little more risqué. A drinking game..or two actually.
Botta had switched their game sometime during the night when they were all intoxicated enough to agree to a game of strip poker, complete with his very own set of rules. When it got obvious that their goalie was loosing, they laughingly called it quits and sat up talking until four in the morning.
Kenzi had learned so much about them that night. Their pasts, what had brought them where they were today, the friendship they shared that ran so deeply in their blood and she had fallen in love with all of them. They reminded her so much of her brother. When she had woke up with a splitting headache late the next morning, vowing never to drink again, she had looked down at the floor only to see that Botta and Keepa were sprawled across it. Datto had been the only one with enough ambition to clear off the other bed, or clear off half of the other bed and curl up at the foot of it.
Kenzi laughed softly as she remembered that night, continuing to stare into the dancing flames. Lost to her thoughts she didn't notice Yuna walking up and taking a seat beside her. It wasn't until the summoner delicately cleared her throat that Kenzi stopped staring at the fire and looked up. "Oh, hey Yuna," she said, smiling warmly at yet another person who had become a close friend. She had spent many mornings in Yuna's company, listening to her stories as they walked through the woods of Besaid and telling a few of her own. They had become very close.
"Hi Kenzi," Yuna replied, returning her smile. "You've been very quiet tonight. Is everything okay?"
The blond Al Bhed looked out over the sand, noticing one couple in particular. Wakka and Lulu. They were sitting with Tidus and another man Kenzi didn't recognize and everyone but Lulu seemed to be involved in the conversation going on between them. Wakka turned his head as if he had sensed that she was looking at him and their eyes caught. Kenzi's heart lurched. Even across the distance she could still see something flash in his eyes, something that made her ache to be near him. But she couldn't be with him. Lulu was. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to turn away and look at Yuna. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just have a lot on my mind."
Yuna smiled in understanding. "I know. If you need to get away from all of this, there's a spot behind the temple. It's a small beach, very secluded. It's where I go to think sometimes. You should go. It looks like you need a little time away from all of this." She gestured around them at the mass of people.
"Thank you so much Yuna," Kenzi whispered, leaning over and wrapping her arms around the smaller woman in a friendly hug.
"You're welcome. Go. If anyone asks where you went I'll make up some wild story."
Kenzi laughed and stood, brushing sand off her short khaki skirt and straightening her denim colored bikini top. "Make sure it's insane enough to believe," she murmured, casting one last longing glance at Wakka before she turned and quietly made her way to the temple, throwing several glances over her shoulder to make sure no one saw where she was going. Yuna had been right, she needed this time alone. Her emotions were tearing her up and because of the all-week-party going on she hadn't had any time alone to try and figure things out. She needed to gain control. The evil inside of her could feel her slipping. It was just waiting for its opportunity. She couldn't let that happen though.
She crept around the side of the temple, noticing a small path that lead through the trees. "This must be it," she observed softly, pushing aside the thick foliage and making her way down a slight slope to a small beach that overlooked the calm sea. Kenzi kicked off her shoes and dug her toes into the cool sand, taking a deep cleansing breath.
~You're going to have to do more then that dear,~ the evil infesting her whispered, it's sickening voice invading her head.
"Shut up," Kenzi muttered.
~Whether you like it or not I'm coming. I can sense those horrible human emotions of yours. You're falling apart. And when you do, I'll be right there taking over your beautiful body and making you nothing more then a mindless thing for me to control.~
Kenzi placed her hands over her ears, trying to shut out its voice. "I said shut up!" she screamed, sinking to her knees on the white sand. She had to be strong. The survival of Spira and its inhabitants depended on it. She could risk no mistakes. But it was so hard. Her feelings for Wakka were only getting stronger and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
~You had better figure out something child. Maybe this will help.~ Blinding pain shot through her body. Kenzi swallowed an agonize scream and doubled over, clutching her stomach. ~Imagine this pain times ten. That's what every pathetic being in Spira will feel if you fail to control your feelings. The very second you break down completely, they will all know it.~
Struggling to keep herself from crying, Kenzi drew in deep ragged breaths. She had to fight this thing. She had no choice. A giggle broke the silence and Kenzi's head whipped up just as Jassu and Rikku burst through the bushes. Both of them came to an abrupt stop, seeing Kenzi huddled on the sandy beach.
"Kenzi?" Rikku questioned in a small voice.
The older Al Bhed quickly got to her feet, trying to block out the pain that was starting to consume her. Her legs were trembling uncontrollably and she knew they wouldn't hold her for long. She gave the two a pleading look before her legs gave out and she started to fall forward.
Rikku and Jassu were there to catch her, slowly lowering her to the ground. "Kenzi, what the hell is going on?" Jassu asked, a note of panic in his deep voice.
"Just give me a second," Kenzi ground out between clenched teeth. She shut her eyes, taking control and forcing the pain to subside. It seemed to take forever but soon all that was left of the pain was an ache at the base of her skull. She opened her eyes and sighed, thankful that, for the moment, the evil had chosen to leave her alone. "Okay, sorry about that guys." She laughed nervously and stood again. This time her legs remained steady. "I'm not really sure what came over me."
Rikku gave her a hard look, crossing her arms over her chest. "Bullshit."
Kenzi gaped at her. She didn't even know Rikku used words like that. "What?"
"I said bullshit. Something was happening to you Kenzi. Something big. Now I've known you since I was six. I think you owe me of all people an explanation."
Kenzi stared at her a moment longer, then her shoulder drooped and she sighed. "Okay," she murmured in an almost inaudible voice. "I'll tell you. You might want to sit down. It will take a while."
Jassu and Rikku nodded simultaneously and followed Kenzi's lead as she sat back down. Kenzi took a deep breath and began her tale. "After Sin took my family away from me I didn't have anywhere to go. Home had been destroyed. I didn't even know if the Al Bhed Psyches were still a team. All I knew was that I couldn't stay where I was. Sin would eventually come. So I packed what was left of my belongings and began to walk. I figured if I just kept moving I would always be able to avoid Sin. I walked for a long time, sometimes staying at Inn's, sometimes people would take me in, and other times I would sleep outside.
It seemed like I had been walking forever when I came across this thing. I think I was somewhere around Mt. Gagazet. I couldn't really remember. I had been walking so long. I passed by this cliff and carved into its base was a man. I couldn't really figure out what he was. I knew it was a man though. I could make out a face, long hands..but that was about it. I was curious so I touched it. I ran my hand over the face. He looked so happy. I missed seeing happy faces. But as soon as I touched it something happened.
I can remember pain, a lot of pain. Light surrounded me, closing in around me and the statue started to fade, eventually disappearing completely. Then after that this laugh filled my head. It was evil, pure evil and when it spoke it was the most sickening voice I had ever heard. It..it never gave a name. It just told me that it was the thing that would eventually destroy me." Kenzi paused when she felt a hand cover hers. She looked up into Rikku's concerned gaze and tried to give her an encouraging smile but failed miserably.
"What did it say?" Jassu asked, moving over to sit beside her and wrapping an arm loosely around her shoulders. Rikku did the same, but instead of wrapping her arm around Kenzi she held her hand. It was almost like the smaller Al Bhed was trying to give her strength.
Kenzi bowed her head and continued. "When this happened it had been a month since the death of my family. I had moved passed it. I still missed them but I had accepted their deaths, knowing there was nothing I could have done. When..when this thing entered my body it knew what I was feeling. It sensed my weakness and saw the walls I had built around it. In that he found his escape. He said that if I ever gave in to the sadness, to the heartbreak he would be freed and he would use me to carry out his revenge on the people of Spira. So..if I ever allow myself to break down, like completely break down, he'll be there. He'll take over my body and use it to destroy everything."
Rikku gasped, her eyes widening in horrified shock. "Kenzi, that's horrible!" she cried.
The only thing Kenzi could do was nod. She knew how terrible it was. She was the one who had been living with it for so long.
"So what was happenin' to you when we showed up?" Jassu asked.
Kenzi dropped her head to her knees, keeping her gaze trained on the tiny sparkling grains of sand. "He was giving me a taste of the pain every living being in Spira would suffer if I fail to remain strong. I.I started to slip, started to loose control. I guess he knew it and felt the need to remind me of what would happened."
Rikku stared at the older Al Bhed, her heart twisting as she listened to Kenzi's tragic story. How could she live like that with something so awful festering inside of her? "Isn't there some way you can get rid of it?"
Kenzi shook her head sadly. "I confided in a friend of mine, a young priest. He said the only way to rid myself of such evil..was to die." She lifted her head, her vacant eyes staring out across the water. "I'm not ready to die yet. I would rather spend the rest of my life fighting," she whispered.
Jassu hugged the young woman who he had begun to think of as a little sister, playing her words over in his mind. Something wasn't right about them. Why would she loose control? Hadn't she just said that she had gotten over the death of her parents before this evil thing had come into the picture? "Kenzi, what's wrong?" he asked cautiously, his gut telling him that there was more to it then what she was telling them.
She looked up at him blankly. "What do you mean?"
"You said you almost lost control, but you also said you were over the death of your family. What happened? Did someone hurt you?"
"No. Not intentionally. I don't even think he knows...how I feel about him."
Beside Kenzi Rikku's hand flew over her gaping mouth. "It's...it's Wakka isn't it?"
Jassu gave his girlfriend a startled look while Kenzi immediately got to her feet and started walking for the path back to the village. She didn't want to deal with this. Not right now. She had finally gained the upper hand against the evil. She needed to keep it that way.
"Kenzi, is that true?" Jassu asked.
Biting back a curse, Kenzi fixed a smile on her face and turned to face them. "Please, I can't talk about this right now. Can we just get back to the party and try to have a good time?" Jassu opened his mouth to speak and she held up a hand, cutting him off. "Please Jassu. I can't do this right now. Yes it is true, but please don't make me talk about it. At least not right now, okay?"
Reluctantly the tall Auroch nodded, getting up and helping Rikku to her feet. They exchanged a sad look, each of them feeling deep sorrow for what their friend was going through. But they couldn't do anything about it. It was her fight. So they joined her, walking back into the village where the entire populace was still going strong. The bonfire had grown considerably and with the children tucked away safely for the night, things had started to get a little wilder then before.
The group of three crossed the sand to where Keepa, Botta and Datto were gathered around a table of drinks and food. "Hey guys. Where you been?" Botta asked as they approached, handing them each a drink.
Kenzi took the offered drink and smiled up at the handsome redhead. "We were just out walking around. You know, getting away from the crazy people, like you guys."
"Ooh! Watch out guys. She's got wit!" Botta remarked dryly, dragging her into a loose headlock.
Kenzi giggled softly. She wasn't even going to try to struggle. Instead she leaned against him and took small sips of her drink. "So what's in this?" she asked, watching a group of men set up a collection of bongos in various sizes a ways from the fire.
"Not enough to get you drunk hun. After listening to you mutter, 'never again' all mornin' I figured a hard drink would be the last thing you wanted."
"You're a good man Botta," Kenzi said laughingly. Her eyes followed the movements of the group of bongo players gathering in a large circle. They talked back and forth for a moment then began to play a wild jungle beat. Several people cheered, others moved eagerly to the large area of sand in front of the talented musicians and started to dance. The beach was soon filled with happy, dancing couples.
Kenzi was laughing at Tidus as he pulled a hesitant Yuna onto the sandy dance floor when her drink was taken from her and a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
"Whadaya say legs? Want to dance?" Botta asked, managing to look slightly shy.
Kenzi gave him a genuine smile, her first one of the evening and quite possibly the entire day. "Sure. See if you can keep up!" Laughing, she ran out to join the crowd of dancers. Botta easily caught up to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, swinging her in a crazy circle.
"They're like a bunch of kids, ya?" Datto said, jokingly rolling his eyes.
Rikku smiled at the couple. They had quit trying to wrestle each other to the ground and were now dancing, their movements in perfect sync with the music and one another. "It looks like they're having fun." She turned and looked hopefully up at Jassu.
She didn't even have to say a word. After a long, suffering sigh the bleach blond Auroch picked Rikku up and slung her body over his tattooed shoulder, stalking across the sand. "You two comin'?" he shouted over Rikku's shrieking laughter.
Keepa and Datto looked at each other, shrugged and went to join the insanity.
An hour and a half later the dancing had begun the captain of the Besaid Aurochs quietly took a seat on one of the logs placed around the dying fire. He lacked his usual attire, wearing instead a pair of worn jean shorts and a white shirt that he had left unbuttoned, exposing his muscular chest and washboard stomach. He was alone and beyond glad about it. One more minute stuck with Lulu and he was going to lose it. She had been overly controlling and bitter all week. Wakka had to wonder why he had put up with it. Why did he continue to endure the constant bitchiness, the insults, sleeping outside when he could have been in his own bed, possibly sharing it with someone who actually wanted to be with him?
His eyes scanned the mass of undulating bodies until he found the one he was looking for. Kenzi. She was dancing with the entire team, including Yuna and Rikku. Her strawberry blonde hair had been pulled up, the five tiny feathers dangling from a messy ponytail. He watched her body move seductively to the beat of the bongos and for the millionth time that week had to refrain from kicking himself. He should have said something on their walk back to the village but words had failed him. He tried to ask himself why he hadn't said no to Lulu but sadly he already knew the answer.
When Tidus had shown up out of no where, real as the day they had met, Yuna had spent every waking hour with him and slowly stopped spending time with Lulu. Wakka didn't blame Yuna. He probably would have done the same thing in her situation. But her actions had caused Lulu to become very cynical and cold hearted. At least he thought that was the reason why Lu had changed so much. So he stayed with her, trying to make her feel better. It was becoming apparent that his attentiveness was not working. If anything, Lulu had just become more frigid. A man could only take so much.
He looked up at Kenzi again, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched her laugh at something Tidus had said. She suddenly stopped laughing and her gaze went to him. He saw sadness pass through their gray- blue depths and his heart dropped. He knew he was the reason for that sadness. His actions must have confused her so much. She hadn't talked to him all week. Yeah, it was his fault that she was sad. Her lips turned up in a smile and she waved at him. He half heartedly waved back, wishing he could pull her from the crowd, take her some place quiet and just explain everything to her.
"Wakka, are you coming to bed or not?"
He lifted his head and his heart chilled as his eyes met the cold depths of Lulu's. "Yeah," he muttered. "I'm coming." He gave one last longing look to the beautiful woman who had crept into his heart, then stood and followed Lulu to her hut.
"So back to your place?" Datto asked Kenzi as he, Botta, Keepa and the spunky Al Bhed walked slowly through the silent village of Besaid. The dancing had long since ended and the four Aurochs were the only ones still awake.
Kenzi shook her head. "Sorry guys. Not tonight. I'm really tired and I just want a bit of time alone."
They all nodded in understanding. Each of them had an inkling of what Kenzi felt towards their captain and they knew that what she was going through was anything but fun. "You bet legs. We'll get together tomorrow night." Botta said, ruffling her ponytail lightly.
Kenzi smiled and used one arm to hug him. "Thanks a lot. I'll see you all in the morning."
They all said their goodnights and went back to their own homes. Kenzi's being the farthest; she was the last one left walking. She took her time, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the chill of the late evening and humming softly. She was three huts away from her own when she heard an angry female voice coming from the hut she was next to brake through the silence of the night. She knew that voice. It was Lulu. She stopped and even though it was against her nature, she listened.
"I can't believe you have been sleeping outside! Is my bed not good enough for you?" The mage demanded, her angry voice carrying clearly to Kenzi.
"You're so damn cold I'm afraid I'd spend the night freezin' my ass off!" came Wakka's furious response.
"So I'm cold now, am I? I suppose that little Al Bhed brat you have been watching would be much warmer, wouldn't she?"
"Don't bring Kenzi into this Lu. You know damn well this is not about her. This is about you."
Silence filled the air and Kenzi started to nervously chew on her finger. She should go, but something held her in place.
"No Wakka," came Lulu's voice, dangerously low. "This is not about me. It's about us. You know, you are so different from your brother. Chappu would have never talked to me the way you do."
"Well, I'm not Chappu." Wakka growled.
"You're right. You're not. I should have realized that when we started this horrible excuse for a relationship. I should have realized that you could never fill Chappu's place in my heart. What a fool I was to believe that you could."
"So you were only using me."
Kenzi gasped, her heart aching for the pain she heard in his hollow voice. "Oh Wakka," she whispered. She had to go. She had to go now before he came out and saw her. Turning, she walked on trembling legs back to Wakka's hut and ducked inside. She quickly turned on a small light sphere, filling the room with a warm glow and sat down on the bed, crossing her legs underneath her. She wasn't sure how much time had passed when the sound of footsteps carried to her ears. Sandaled footsteps. Her breath caught in her throat and she stared up at the cloth door, her heart hammering as the anticipation grew.
The thick cloth was pushed back and Wakka stepped in, coming to an abrupt stop when he saw Kenzi staring at him from her spot on the bed. "Hey," he said softly. "I thought you'd be asleep."
Kenzi shook her head. He looked so tired. So tired and so sad. Her heart went out to him. She wanted to make him feel better. A sudden idea came to her head. It was risky but what did she have to loose? "What are you doing here?" she almost whispered.
Wakka ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Me and Lu got into it. I guess it's safe to say we're over so I decided to come back home. You okay with that?"
'It's now or never.' Kenzi swallowed hard and uncrossed her legs, swinging them over the bed and slowly getting to her feet. With her heart in her throat she crossed the floor to where he stood, never taking her eyes from his. She stopped in front of him and stared up into his pain filled eyes. She could make that pain go away. She could give them what she was convinced they both wanted. "I.I heard everything. I was walking back here and I guess I was kind of in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Wakka continued to stare at her, his brows drawing over his amber colored eyes.
"Don't be mad," she whispered. Taking a deep, steadying breath she reached out and took his large hand in her smaller one. She looked down at it, noticing how big and strong it was. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to feel that kind of betrayal. But," she once again she raised her eyes to his. "She's right. You're not your brother. You're Wakka. And you'll always be Wakka...to me."
The tall captain was shocked by her words. He stared down into her stormy eyes and saw so much. Compassion, lust, kindness and then there was the one thing he never expected to see. An invitation. It was an invitation that set his heart racing unsteadily, that scared the hell out of him and an invitation that he could not possibly turn down. She wanted him and she was allowing him to see that. "Kenzi," he whispered hoarsely before he gave in to the temptation that had haunted him all week.
Kenzi almost cried out in sheer delight when his strong arms wrapped around her and his lips came down on hers, hard and demanding. He started pushing her back, walking with her until her back was pressed against the dresser. Sinful desire poured through her, commanding her body to move, to take. She wound her arms around his neck pressing herself against his hard, unyielding body. God, she needed more. She needed to feel as close to him as possible.
As if he knew what she was thinking, his hands traveled restlessly down her back, moving over her bottom and kneading the flesh through her skirt. He picked her up and Kenzi wrapped her long legs tightly around his waist. She ran her hands though his soft hair, greedily deepening the already intense kiss, nipping at his bottom lip, running her tongue sensuously against his. He tasted so good; she could not get enough of him. He groaned into her mouth and Kenzi's blood heated, running like lava through her veins.
*~*~*~Where the real lemon starts~*~*~*
He broke the kiss and moved to her neck, grazing the soft flesh with his teeth, pulling sweet gasps of pleasure from her lips with his tongue. Kenzi dropped her head back, a captive to the passion that was consuming her. Wakka moved one arm to support her body and lifted his free hand, running it roughly over her bare stomach, gripping a firm breast. Kenzi moaned in utter abandon, loving the feel of his hands on her body. She thought nothing could feel so good until he roughly yanked her top aside and replaced his hand with his mouth, his tongue expertly moving over the taut peak of her breast. And still she wanted more. Impatient hands pulled at his shirt and he set her down, allowing her to take his shirt off and throw it on the floor.
Kenzi ran her hands over his warm flesh, needing to touch every inch of his body. When he pulled back she almost cried out in disappointment until she saw the raw hunger burning in his eyes. He placed his hands on her hips letting them rest there for a brief, agonizing second before he slid them around her back. His fingers deftly untied the knots securing her top. Unashamed, Kenzi shrugged it off, a cat like smile curving her full lips when she saw lust flare in his eyes. Maybe she should tease him a little; it could prove to be fun.
She backed away from him and ran her hands over her body, closing her eyes and sighing softly. When she reached the button of her skirt she looked back at him, not surprised to see his mouth slightly agape. She laughed seductively and undid her skirt, sliding it ever so slowly down her long legs. Next came her flimsy underwear and then there was nothing left to hide herself from his wandering eyes.
Wakka quickly closed the gap between them, picking her up and carrying her to his bed. He pulled back the covers and gently placed her on the bed, coming down on top her. She thought that maybe his large body would crush hers but instead the weight was welcomed, further intensifying the ache that had knotted itself in the pit of her stomach. The hot bare skin of his chest and stomach pressed against hers and Kenzi reveled in the erotic feelings that coursed through her.
Resting his weight on the one arm that was holding him up, Wakka gently pushed Kenzi's bangs out of her face. God, she was so beautiful. He couldn't even believe this was happening. It was the last thing he had expected to come home to. "You sure you want to do this?" he asked.
Kenzi's smile was blinding. Her gray eyes, darkened with passion, stared into his. "Yes Wakka. This is what I want. What I have wanted for quite some time," she purred, reaching up and pulling his face down to hers for another searing kiss. As she kissed him, she curiously reached down between them, brushing the tips of her fingers over the quivering muscles of his stomach. Shyly, she reached down further and brushed her fingers against him, then wrapped her fingers around him as best she could through the rough fabric of his shorts and gently squeezed.
Wakka gasped and buried his head in the curve of her neck as her hand moved, explored, drove him almost to the edge of his control. Once he had regained a semblance of composure he turned his head and ran his tongue over the sensitive skin just below her ear. "We play this game, we play it fair," he murmured as his large, capable hand moved up over her leg and brushed against the curls at the apex of her thighs.
Kenzi released a small cry and hesitantly allowed him to part her legs. She bit her lip, waiting for what would come next and was not disappointed. His fingers stroked her softly, expertly, moving over her feminine flesh and slowly increasing the pressure. Kenzi was reduced to a writhing mass, her body his to command. One finger entered her and Kenzi released a loud moan, arching her hand wantonly against the palm of his hand. When it became too much to tolerate she moved her head back and forth on the pillow, softly calling out to him. "Wakka, please.."
He stopped what he was doing and smiled down at her. "Please?"
"I want you," she whispered. To prove how badly she reached down and undid his shorts, impatiently pushing them over his slim waist. He helped her when she could not push any further and tossed the remainder of his clothing on top of hers, then pulled the blankets up around them. Kenzi looked up at him, the lust burning in her own eyes reflected in his. "I want you now." She wrapped her strong legs around him again, smiling when she saw him close his eyes and heard his breath catch. "Do you want me?"
His lids slowly opened and his intense gaze bore into hers. "All week. It wasn't a whole lotta fun trying to keep myself away from you."
"You wont have to do that anymore," she murmured, reaching up and cradling his face in the palm of her hand. "Wakka, make love to me."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt immense pressure slowly start to fill her. Unable to wait any longer she arched her hips up to meet his, crying out as he filled her. Wakka captured her lips, his tongue dancing with hers as he began to move within her. Kenzi's breath became labored. She clutched at him, digging her nails into his skin, drowning in his own deep groans of pleasure as they moved together, their bodies complimenting one another's perfectly, fitting together as if they had always meant to. Something deep inside of her started building, the strain becoming almost unbearable. She moved with him, taking, giving, and sharing her body and soul with the man she had craved for so long.
Wakka's arm came around her, pressing her body against his and Kenzi clung to him, feeling the pressure within her continually build until finally, with one hard thrust she shattered. She screamed out her lovers name and fell back against the sheets. Seconds later Wakka joined her in her sated pleasure, her name leaving his lips in a rough gasp as he fell on top of her, their slick bodies pressed intimately together.
*~*~*~End of lemon~*~*~*
Kenzi's ragged breathing slowly returned to normal and a satisfied smile curved her full lips, slightly swollen from Wakka's kisses. She floated somewhere between heaven and earth, never wanting to come down, bathing in the blissful afterglow of their lovemaking. It was only when she felt his eyes on hers that she bade paradise goodbye and came back to reality. When she languidly stretched, lifting her arms over her head and emitting a tiny squeak she heard Wakka's deep chuckle and opened her eyed, turning her head to look at him.
"Hey," he murmured softly. His rough fingertips brushed over her stomach, tracing patterns across her flesh and Kenzi smiled contentedly.
"Oh Wakka, that was so wonderful," she cried softly, turning into his embrace and nuzzling his neck with her nose. "I dreamt it would be amazing..but never that amazing."
"You dreamt about it, huh?" Wakka asked, not admitting that he too had dreamt about it, even when he was wide awake. His mind had been occupied with her, having her, anything to do with her all week even though he couldn't, or thought he couldn't have had her. "Kenzi," he said, pulling back slightly.
She regarded him inquisitively, her sweet smile refusing to leave her face. Wakka couldn't believe his luck. He had expected her to be mad at him, to give him the silent treatment. Never had he actually expected to have her comfort him, to be there for him when he was at his worst after all he had put her through..to so willingly give herself to him. Cradling her face in the palm of his hand he brushed a thumb over her bottom lip, smiling when she placed a soft kiss on it. "I'm sorry for puttin' you through all that. I shoulda said somethin' when we were comin' back to the village. I'm sorry I didn't.
"You don't have to be sorry." She draped a long leg over his, tickling his calve with her toes.
"Yeah I do. I know I hurt you. Don't even try actin' like I didn't. You've been avoidin' me all week."
Kenzi's gaze settled on his chest as the smile disappeared from her face. "Why didn't you? I thought..I thought after what happened on the ship-." Her voice trailed off.
"I didn't say anything cuz..I guess I just felt sorry for Lu. Her, me and Yuna..we've been together a long time, you know? Yuna bein' with Tidus and all..she doesn't spend much time with Lu anymore so I guess I just figured it was up to me to keep her happy."
Kenzi looked up at him and gave him a weak smile before cautiously saying, "I don't think it worked."
"Yeah. Kinda surprised I didn't figure out she was usin' me earlier," Wakka muttered.
"Well, think about it this way," Kenzi said, wrapping her arm around his waist. "What bad came from you guys breaking up?"
Wakka grinned at the spunky Al Bhed in his arms. "I'm in bed with you, ya?" he replied, unable to resist teasing her.
Kenzi uttered a spurious gasp and assaulted him lightly with her fists. Laughing, he pulled her body up against his, holding her tightly as he growled and playfully bit her neck.
"Wakka! St.stop it!" Kenzi managed though her irrepressible giggles. "You..you're such.an animal!"
"I'm the animal? Look who's talkin'!"
She pulled back, staring at him in confusion. Still giving her that sinfully adorable smirk, he gestured over his shoulder. Kenzi sat up. She grabbed Wakka's arm and pulled him close to her, peering over his shoulder. This time when she gasped it was real. Her wide eyes traveled over his back where four vicious looking scratches ran from his left shoulder blade down over his back and ended just above his hip on the right side.
"Oh.Oh Wakka! I'm so sorry!" she cried, releasing him and burring her face in her hands, absolutely mortified that she had done such a thing to him without even knowing it.
Wakka shook his head and pulled the blonde back into his arms. "Don't worry so much Kenzi. Didn't even feel it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
Silence filled the cozy hut, as the two lay entwined in each other's arms and legs. Only the sound of the waves washing up on the shore could be heard, lulling the couple into a deep slumber.
"Wakka?" Kenzi whispered drowsily before sleep fully claimed her.
"Hmm?"
"When you were sleeping outside..you know, all this week..what did you dream about?"
She felt his lips brush against her forehead then come down and press against her own. The kiss was achingly tender and full of emotion. When he broke it, he smiled down at her and very simply stated, "This."
"Oh," Kenzi murmured. Smiling, she snuggled closer to Wakka and happily allowed sleep to claim her.
