Bitter Betrayal, Sweet Surrender

- Chapter 3 -

Perhaps the tone of his voice frightened her because she drew back from the line of thought quickly. "Where are my clothes?"

He motioned absently off in one direction as though he had taken them off and merely tossed them over a shoulder capriciously. That, however, seemed to offend her.



"You just dropped my stuff all over the floor! Who said you could-"

His grip tightened suddenly, flattening her body against his. Her breath caught sharply as her rambling abruptly stopped. Her eyes widened. She had never been as close to a man before as she was at this moment. Every inch of her body came into contact with a part of his. She tried craning her neck back to at least keep her face from being pressed any closer to his chest than necessary. Oh how had she gotten herself into this? Desperately her mind searched for a way out of this odd situation.

"It's just you, me and the bed, I suggest we make use of it."

He grinned evilly at the horrified look that passed over her face before pulling her head down against his chest to stifle any words she might dare throw at him.

"Go to sleep weasel. It's cold outside, be thankful you have me to keep you warm."

She muttered something against his skin, her lips dancing against his flesh in a way that almost made him shiver in delight. Something, he vaguely realized, about his being grateful he had her to keep him warm. He allowed an amused smile as he stared up at the ceiling.

She couldn't believe he was actually doing this. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. How could this be happening? Taking deep, even breaths, Misao resolved that there was nothing else she could do. So she allowed her body to relax against Saitou's, their combined body heat raising the temperature beneath the blanket they shared. Not wanting to be uncomfortable, she allowed her arms to encircle his waist, just as his was around her own. The tip of her nose tingled as the heat from his chest chased away the coldness and allowed her sense of smell to begin working again. Breathing deep, Misao smiled as she detected the scent of sandalwood. She loved sandalwood.

The smell--which was nearly intoxicating in its sweetness--seemed to be most potent near the crook of where his neck met his shoulder. Misao smiled slightly. It's odd how such an arrogantly rude man like Hajime Saitou could smell so.... so nice, she thought. Misao puzzled over this surprising revelation. That is, until the overwhelming urge to bury her nose in his neck and smell just how nice he was, overcame her. She tried hard to resist, but it was just too much. She was still weak and he just smelled so good.

Instead, she let logic slide away and did what her instincts were pulling her to. She shifted, sliding her body up against his, pulling her head closer to that desired place. Her gaze flickered briefly to his. His eyes were slightly wider than usual, clearly surprised by her boldness. She supposed it was the fact that she was shocking him that made her do it. Or perhaps she was just delusional from all the exposure to the cold weather. Either way, Misao could not really say what caused her to do what she did next. While she kept her green eyes locked with Saitou's amber ones, Misao allowed her tongue to tentatively snake out and trail along the exposed skin. his collar bone.

The muscles in his chest seemed to jump as she leaned against him. His response seemed to empower her, increasing her boldness. She smiled slightly, shyly almost as she shifted against him, pulling herself up just enough to press her chest against his. Saitou felt his body beginning to respond to the little minx's actions. Damn but it had been so long since he had felt the softness of a woman's curves pressed against him. Ever since Tokio had left him, he had buried himself in work to ease the emotional pain his wife's betrayal had caused. It seemed that Mibu's Wolf was only human after all.

He loosened his hold a bit, trying to relax but not quite able to do so completely. He liked this aggressive streak. He'd always like her boldness, although he'd thought she'd be very reserved in situations like this. Given her small stature he'd always guessed her to be shy and afraid. That's how Tokio had been... soft and compliant. She yielded to his whims and desires, never giving thought or comment to her own. The little weasel had just become a lot more exciting than he'd ever imagined.

Misao's eyes widened a bit in shock as she realized that Saitou was making no move to stop her. He's actually going to allow this? That thought for some reason made her giddy and she smiled before allowing her lips to begin trailing light kisses along his neck and strong jaw. The kisses were gentle to begin with, but soon grew into something more as Misao felt a primal urge take over her senses. She began to nip and bite her way up and down that sweet smelling, well muscled throat. Every once in a while, lapping at the occasional red mark she left behind. His breathing quickened, hands coming to rest on her hips, pulling her closer to him. As her lips continued sliding across his skin he felt his resistence to her fading and his desire to pin her to the futon mat increasing.

His hands massaged her hips roughly, kneading his calloused fingertips into her delicate skin. She moaned weakly, the gentle pressure of her lips tightening slightly, startling him when her teeth suddenly bit down into flesh. The slight pain her bite caused was enough to momentarily push all coherant thought from his mind. He sucked in a harsh breath before letting it out with a shudder as patience and amusement flew out the window.

The nick on his flesh throbbed slightly as he turned, pressing her flat against the futon. Allowing his knee to slip between her thighs, Saitou shifted so that he now knelt over her. Her lips formed a small, alluring little 'o' shape. Wanted to play with him, did she? His excitement melded with male pride as he leered down at her, grinning predatorily. This seemed to startle her slightly as the look in her eyes changed just slightly.

Wanted to toy with him, did she? Did she have any idea what she was doing to him? Her innocence was just as alluring - causing his blood to pound - begging him to taste her. All of her. He wanted his teeth in her flesh like hers had been in his. Hell, he wanted her. Things were beyond the point of 'getting out of hand'. He leaned down close, fanning his heated breath against her face. He lingered a moment before dropping a notch further and pressing his lips against hers. She gasped, and he pressed harder, slanting his mouth against hers, deepening their contact. Concious, logical thought seemed not to matter anymore as he allowed his body free reign of him. Thrusting his tongue past her parted lips, Saitou recieved his first real taste of heaven.

Misao moaned as she felt the first touch of Saitou's tongue against her own, taunting it as the man himself often taunted her to frustration. Her hands began to wander aimlessly across broad shoulders, fingers clenching every now and then to dig sharp nails into tanned skin. They skimmed briefly down well-muscled biceps, then back again to wrap her arms around Saitou's neck. As a particularly loud moan escaped her lips, Saitou was jolted back to reality. He groaned, staring down into passion glazed eyes fully realizing the implication of their position and where it was very much leading to.



"Oh hell," he muttered sliding back from her, dropping back down onto the futon mat beside her, staring again at the ceiling.

He knew already she was confused. What the hell was he thinking touching her that way? Virginal little Misao and him all over her like some lecherous old man that hadn't touched a woman in twenty years.

Misao blinked rapidly for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened....or rather, what had just about happened. She had....and he had let....and they had....But he'd stopped. And she felt...disappointed? She had been practically on the verge of...oh who was she kidding? she had been way over the edge of giving in. He could have had her, but he'd stopped. Why the hell did he stop?!?

Casting her eyes to the side, she observed Saitou as he stared up at the wooden support beams in the ceiling. Would he say anything? Should she say anything? Taking a deep breath, Misao gathered her nerve and rolled over onto her side, gently easing the blanket up to cover her exposed breasts as she did so. When she was finally facing Saitou, she hesitated, trying to think of something, anything to say and ease the tension. Before she could, Saitou's deep timbered voice broke the silence first.

"Go to sleep, Misao."



Her eyes widened at the use of her given name and she frowned. Since when had he been so serious as not to even use that accursed nickname, 'weasel girl'?



She sat up, clutching the blanket, almost an afterthought in her haste. "I will not! What the hell was that and why exactly did you stop so quickly?!"

He glanced toward her, wondering if that was really disappointment in her voice. Her cheeks were flushed in a way that made her look very pretty, he noted also taking note of the arm secured across her chest holding the blanket to her. It was too cold for her to start moving around so he quietly urged her to lay back down. She refused, glaring at him and he sat up, annoyed with her.



"Stop being annoying." He attempted to force her to lay back down but couldn't press her effectively enough from his position and instead wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled. He only succeeded in snagging the blanket to her waist.

"Kyah!" She shrieked, noting how his gaze lingered on her chest as she scrambled to hide herself. Although she admited to herself she was a tad bit reluctant, with the way his eyes were gazing so hungrily at her breasts she almost felt like he was touching her. "No free peeks!"

The corners of his mouth quirked up and he seemed ready to reply when he fell back down against the mattress, eyes toward the ceiling. "What do you want to talk about?"

The girl was causing him serious discomfort, he thought irritably. Maybe if she started talking about that damned Shinomori he could get focused again.



"What were you doing out in the snow anyway, where was Shinomori?"

It was like blinds were suddenly drawn shut, blocking out all emotions in her expressive green eyes. "He's at the Aoyia."

Short, simple, to the point. Not anything like the sort of response she normally gave when the subject was Shinomori. Saitou glanced at her as he felt his curiosity begin to rise a notch.

"Oh? Finally stop carrying a torch for that ice cube?"

There was a grumbled response from the now sullen young woman. Something that sounded along the lines of "He didn't seem to be acting like an ice cube when I left." but he couldn't be sure.

He turned slightly. "Oh? What exactly was he doing?"



She turned to him with a bitter glare "Things."



"Things?"

"Yes, things."

He grinned, finding amusement again. "Suddenly turning shy, weasel? What things are you referring to?"

"You're a man, Saitou. What kind of things could a man do with Omasu and Okon? In a secluded room? A distance away from the Aoiya?"

Saitou's reaction was far from what Misao had expected it would be. Starting as a deep rumble in his chest, a hearty bout of laughter built up before finally escaping from Saitou's lips. His eyes were closed tightly he was laughing so hard. Misao glowered at the man who had obviously found humor in what she felt was Aoshi's betrayal of her. One of her hands, which was clutching the blanket to her chest, released it's hold long enough to whack Saitou on his bare chest with a forceful slap.

"Hey! It isn't funny, dammit!"

"On the contrary, weasel...I find it very funny!"

She shot him her best Aoshi-glare. "What the hell is so funny about it?"



She looked so serious, he cut off the laughter sharply, sighing heavily. "Don't take it so hard, weasel."

His comment didn't do much to sooth her ruffled feathers. However, she did stop her assault on his chest with her hand, instead choosing to leave it laying limp upon it, her fingers gently stroking its smooth surface. He couldn't help but feel something for her situation, the poor thing looked crushed. No wonder she'd been out in the snow. Who would've gone home after finding the person you loved with not one lover, but two, and people you trusted no less. It was distracting, however, that she'd suddenly decided to start touching him again. That was probably not good. Not for him and rational thought anyway. Placing a hand over the small hand to still its nerve wracking movements, Saitou simply held it flat against his chest and sighed deeply before coming to a decision.

"You're not the first one to feel this way you know....to feel sad...hurt.... betrayed." His voice, when he spoke, startled Misao as much as his words. It was oddly soft, not at all sounding like the Hajime Saitou that she knew.

Looking up, she saw his golden gaze had taken on a decidedly tender expression. They seemed to glow in the darkned room, giving the impression of a wolf's eyes, just like his nickname suggested.

"Oh? You feel that way too?" She didn't stop to consider if she was being invasive, she just asked. He liked that about her. Straight forward - said what she wanted. "I never thought I was the only one to feel this. I just think it's majorly unfair for it to happen to me!" She sighed at the injustice of it all before turning her thoughts to him again. "Anyway, what happened to you?"

He hesitated, not certain he wanted to discuss it with her. But she'd been honest with him and he hadn't told anyone else... Even though he doubted telling her was such a good idea. She didn't seem the type to keep secrets well, and yet she must. She was a ninja.



"Tokio left me for another man," he replied simply, not wanting to mince words on the subject.



Her gasp surprised him, even moreso when she raised up to meet his eyes. Using the hand resting on his chest for support, Misao's other hand--the one that had still been holding the blanket--released its hold and traveled toward his face. The warmth of her palm on his cheek caused Saitou's eyes to widen as he watched the blanket fall completely away from her upper body once more.

"Misao, what are you -- "

"Shhh." She shushed him by gently rubbing her thumb against his lips. "I guess both of our lives stink."

She settled down a bit beside him laying her head against his chest. Since she showed no signs of doing anything else he sighed, merely enjoying the presence of another. It was nice, having someone around just to ... lay with. They were keeping each other warm too, that had to count for something.