Plura Ater Nox

Chapter 21

The girl was indeed strange. She kept coming and going. She never seemed to have her mind made up. She seemed to be running from something, or so Jeremiah thought. The girl that had kissed him, proclaiming him to be another really ought to have been checked into booby hatchet; she really did take one fly around the cuckoo's nest.

He never did tell Séamus, as he had heard no mention of the girl from his twin. He knew his brother was the vocal type and would speak if there was something up. He had learnt that early on. He didn't have a problem with it, nor did he object to. He would wait for his twin to speak in due time. There was no need to bring up such things at this time.

The girl could be a rival. After all, he had seen the drawings his brother had done and the girl bore a striking resemblance to the one in the drawings. When asking his twin, he found out the girl was one of the figures in his brother's dreams. That and others we as well. The presence of the others in his brother's dreams didn't bother Jeremiah, so much as the ones of the girl.

Especially since he heard of emotions that his brother held for this girl. Yes, petty jealously was the best way to define it, but he had no other problems. If his brother didn't know, he was delighted. He would rather go along with Séamus to join a special task force going over to mainland Europe to free POWs, to make the work of the Allies easier than to ever let that girl come within feet of Séamus.

He once more, didn't tell this to his brother. Secrecy was no doubt his game and it was an easy one to play, so Jeremiah thought. Yes it was underhanded, but he hadn't been close to anyone and didn't quite feel like losing his brother to some foreign devil.

At this present moment, Jeremiah sat outside the military recruitment office, waiting for his brother. He was reluctant to join up, as he still had very bitter memories after being under the command of Captain JC Andreas. The other officer, Captain Russell Stonewall seemed far kinder and a better fit to command type of person.

Even at that, he had refused to go along, but had stated his brother was fit for the job, or at least for communications. He had that confidence fully embedded his in twin.

Sitting on the ledge, in front of a small garden maintained by ground workers, he rested his chin on his hand, watching some of the recruits initiating standard manoeuvres. It seemed simple. The Americans had been big on the elaborate and not the simple.

He still though couldn't imagine himself in it, despite the fact that the captain that tried to recruit him, was a kind and gentle man. He sighed, remembering what the captain had been like before…

He kept seeing a kind face, hearing a reassuring voice.

It gave him confidence. He could see why his reluctant twin did decide to help out. The former Suzaku Seishi, Hotohori had that air to him. It hadn't been lost with consequences of reincarnation.

Maybe it was a calling for him as well.

I wish I had been born a Suzaku Seishi.

The line echoed on an endless loop through his mind. He kept hearing his voice say it over and over again. They were undeniably his words; the words that determined just what he fought for, or rather wanted. In one word: peace.

Gazing up, he contemplated if this indeed is what he wanted…

"Lost in thought, are you, Jeremiah?!" Captain Stonewall asked sweetly, coming up to the lad, taking a seat next to him.

"Aye, sir."

"It's a fine day, is it not?!"

"It is. It's also a very nicely kept set of grounds that the recruitment office has, sir."

"Our gardeners are the best. This is part of the Majesty's forces and we like to keep it up to par, as per his majesty's desires."

Nodding, Jeremiah turned his attention back ahead, training it on nothing in particular. He found contentment in just gazing at the sky, studying the clouds. They had no shape to them really, they were very boring.

Slowly, only to his eyes, did they take a distinctive shape. It was that of Seiryuu, followed by the cold face of the shogun that once ruled his life. Jeremiah's eyes narrowed in bitter contempt for the memory.

'No, you won't control me this time.'

"Sir, where is my brother?"

"He's talking to Miss Llwellyn, who is giving him recruitment forms for the special task force that we're putting together." Captain Stonewall explained, turning a gaze to the young man, smiling warmly.

"Thank you."

Turning on his heel, he ran for the building where Séamus had gone. He too was going to sign away his freedom. He wasn't going to let anyone stopped him from doing what he wanted to do in the name of peace.

~~~~

She sat acquiescently, facing the lieutenant. She had heard his threats and knew that he was dead serious and there was no disputing that small fact. She just had to find a way of getting out of this interrogation, but right now, she was at a loss.

"Aimée, how delightful of you to wait for me." Lieutenant Van Eyke quipped happily, walking in, dressed in slightly loose fitting nightwear.

He had changed in something that was more comfortable. The robe loosely caressed his lithe figure, showing off his slender, elegant build. Under he wore next to nothing. This he knew always unnerved her, even if he didn't strip. Though tonight likely would be different. He had her at his mercy and now he would have her.

Aimée glanced up at him, as he entered. He was quite fond of that robe as he wore it frequently during their nightly encounters. She feared it would fall off, or he would take it off. She certainly didn't want to cater any sexual favours to him.

She gave a cursory derisive snort in reply to his statement.

"Such fire is utterly becoming, Aimée." He whispered, moving over to her, cupping her chin between his index finger and thumb. "I do look forward to our evening."

"I hardly do, lieutenant."

"Please, no need for formalities." He purred, his lips brushing hers. He smiled at her stiffness. "Please, call me Johan."

"And if I don't?!" Aimée challenged coldly, her grey eyes resentfully fixated on his deep golden ones.

"I'll give you plenty of reasons. For one, it's far nicer to hear you call me such things. You wouldn't hesitate if it was your beloved Nakago." The former Seiryuu Seishi Tomo purred huskily. "Second, you are sitting pretty, so why not finish off the image by being ladylike, my dear?!"

"Why would I want to, you cold-hearted snake?!" She bit out scathingly. "You have done nothing to deserve such things!"

"You may think so, but I'm protecting you from reality. You know that Nakago never liked you, he just used your body, treated you like the little whore you acted like, selling your body to him at no cost."

"That's such bluff! He never was one of such a kind!"

He just smiled, a small cackle caressing his lips. "Tsk…tsk, so pretty, yet so naïve. Nakago only loved himself. He never liked any of us. He only took pity on you. He took pity on Seiryuu no Miko. He just wanted to conquer the world that hurt him. He never wanted you, just your prostitution services that so you willingly dished out on a silver platter for him.

"Also, I'm protecting you from the reality of this world. No one wants such a wise woman who speaks her mind so freely, they want a docile little girl to be a good housewife and bearer of the children. You have fire for an affair, but you're not the ideal material for what a man looks for in a wife. That I'm protecting you from, that and your naïveté, the illusions and delusions of reality that you have woven.

"You're trapped in an illusion." He stated simply in conclusion, cupping his mouth over hers, stealing a deep, lingering kiss.

Aimée didn't fight back, for she knew there were repercussions for such things. She wanted to work with the group she had created, but the problem was the lieutenant knew. The only way to keep him silent was to become a mistress of sorts.

As a result, she felt so dirty. She had no one to turn to for comfort. She had been forbidden from speaking of the affair, for it would be scandalous. It was taboo for a German officer to be in such relations; to fraternise with the conquered women, making one their booty.

She knew she could ruin him, but he had said she could go on and do that, if she didn't care about her bosom sisters. She did and deeply, hence, her willingness to go along with this. At first, she believed it was nothing short of just a means of controlling her. She soon discovered it was more than that.

He liked her. It was that simple.

She of course, was incredulous. There as no way that he had. It was a façade as far as she was concerned. But she didn't know if it truly was. He didn't speak to her in such a condescending manner as he had in the other life.

Brushing his lips over hers, his eyes forcefully penetrated hers. "You're not worthy of him, for he never was of any value to us. He was just there as Seiryuu's main powerhouse, nothing more. Just a small accessory, no other purpose in life other than to serve Seiryuu as such."

He stroked a hand over her cheek. "Your obstinacy is very arousing, enticing. You refuse me so oft, you try to discourage me, but you won't, just give. You're too fiery for the inferior frogs here."

His hand traced up her body, unbuttoning her blouse, despite her protests, demanding that he stop this instant. Kissing her, he smiled a strange half smile, asking her exactly why she didn't want to feel loved.

"Yes, why don't you want to be loved? Do you want the same cold strict relationship you had with Nakago? Do you get a masochistic pleasure from it?!"

He continued to strip off her blouse, pulling it completely from her shoulders, despite her evidence rejections of his advances. Once more, he soothed her.

"Honestly, have you ever felt loved? Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be part of a pair instead of the dispenser, giving out the service? You probably can only imagine what true affection and love feels like."

Brushing hair from her face, he whispered against her ear, a grin over his expression at her stubbornness, "how can you say it doesn't feel nice to have someone touch you like this and not desire you to sell your body?! For once you feel the need to go with what your heart desires and mind, instead of just one, leading you to let your body to be used?!"

He certainly was challenging. That she noted quickly.

She wanted what he was going to show her, yet, it felt wrong. It was Tomo, after all, and she was Soi. There was no justification for the union between them. She had been eternally there for Nakago.

Something else clicked in her mind, was what the former Seiryuu Seishi Tomo had said, true?! Had Nakago only needed her for personal gain, just like with all the other Seishi?

Images of her past life flashed vividly before her eyes; memories flared to life, as instances with the man she was waiting for and had loved came to light. She had never before paid much attention, for she had been blinded by faithful love:

Ashitare, loyal and faithful was slain after returning with the Shinzahou…

Amiboshi's 'death' written off as nothing...

The cold expression as she faces rejection…

The confession of love toward the Seiryuu no Miko…

The talk of having god-like powers…

She sighed, no words of love being confessed to her. She opened her eyes, not feeling his hands on her in a loving way. She drank in her settings, not seeing a loving expression. She had been trapped in blindness.

She blinked, staring at Lieutenant Van Eyke, or rather Johan. They had been in the same location for months now. True there had been contempt at first, especially on his part. There were even threats. But she hadn't realised what had exactly happened, his true reasons for making her come every night.

The first few nights had been filled with animosity and threats, as well as him making her feel very uncomfortable. Slowly, as the weeks past, he had stopped that, and took to trying to convince her that she didn't love Nakago and had only done what she had because she thought like a prostitute.

The last few nights had been interesting, as Johan had been surprising gentle, though very forward and curt in his actions. He had made it obvious what he wanted. What he wanted was her.

Maybe this was different…

Reluctantly, she allowed for him to strip off the blouse she wore, revealing the tight brassier she wore. Pulling it off, she watched him take the blouse off her body, revealing her bra and the top of the skirt. Eventually, the skirt that she wore was added to the pile. Her garments were divested in a furry, but rather slowly, as he showed how gentle he could be.

This love he held for her, had at first had strings, meaning she had to behave and do what he wanted, or her colleagues would be in danger. Now, for him, it wasn't such, nonetheless, he hadn't lifted his threat. He liked that one control he had, enough the rest of his emotions, feeling and desires were pure and genuine.

With her just in her undergarments, Johan pushed her gently back on the bed, as he stood back, pulling the robe off his lithe body, revealing from underneath a muscular build. His stomach was flat, his chest rippling with muscles, though not bulging. His legs were well toned and long. His skin tone was even throughout; flawless.

He wore nothing under the robe. It had been customary on other nights that he might have something under. Tonight had been different, he had a form of confidence that he would get her. He knew Nakago, or Captain JC Andreas, was on the allies side and not of value to him. He also knew it would be easy to manipulate Aimée to be his, thinking that Nakago truly didn't care.

That he didn't know for certain. What he did know was that he could mess and screw around with what her perception was and mould her mind to believe what he wanted her to. He did think her a valuable ally when she had nothing to rival him for.

Turning back to her, the robe in a sensual puddle at his feet, he slithered over, taking her shoulders, pushing her down onto the bed, as small as it was. Gingerly, he touched a hand to her chest, caressing the area where the clasp was. Prying it apart, he removed it from her body, before dropping it into an unceremonious pile on the ground. The same applies for the girdle, which he divested swiftly from her body.

With her beneath him, lying so prone, her burgundy hair fanned out, giving her an air of innocence, he smiled. It was a strange self-assured half-smile. She didn't know what to read into it, nor have much time to read into it, before his mouth swiftly captured hers in a fiery kiss.

Johan was aware that perhaps he had muddled with her mind, making her believe what might now be true. He didn't think twice on that however, since it wasn't of importance. What mattered was he had what his enemy would want. He hadn't taken it in cold-heartedness, he had done it with her being willing. While it was true that she was highly uninformed, she had consented and was ready to participate in this and not for any sexual favours, but to learn what a loving touch was.

Included was the gently preparation so she wouldn't cry in pain at the initial penetration into her virginal passage. He had pulled out a small vile filled with oil. He intended to use it as a lubricant, which he did. First, he coated his fingers in it, after pulling his mouth from hers.

With his fingers slick in the lubricating oil, he gently parted her entrance, working both fingers in, as she cried out. Her cries echoed in both were in pain and ecstasy. She wanted to cry and sob – beg him to end the pain. When he withdrew his fingers, she whimpered, wanting to feel complete.

Coating his erect member, he cast a sly glance her way, before straddling her hips, penetrating the virginal passage that was pure and untouched before him. He was claiming the virtue of the former Seiryuu Seishi Soi, the virtue that his enemy, Nakago, would never have.

With his hands braced against her shoulders, he gently thrust into her body, only moving harder and faster, as her moans, mews and cries called for it. His thrusts into her slender body were rhythmic, steady and consistent. He didn't push her further than he judged. Her body was still young and had to not be exploited. He wanted her both as an ally and his better half.

He didn't withdraw.

Her moans of ecstasy became louder, as she thrashed beneath him, arching into him, forcing him to plunge further and deeper. Her body was glistening in perspiration, as she bucked up into him, her body demanding more.

From his brow dripped equal amounts of moisture. From the bridge of his nose, beads of perspiration trickled down. His breath was raspy, as he pushed further and deeper into her body. He had gone as far as he could, still pushing. Yet, this didn't seem to be enough for her, as she moaned for more, crying out his name.

Finally, against her body, his heated climax claiming him, he cried out her name, dropping his seed into her body. He then fell on her, his sweat-laden form pressing down on hers, suctioning their bodies together in a sensual fashion.

She dropped her head back onto the bed, her pupils dilated in rapture. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, as she tried to regain her breath. She didn't notice his head resting on her chest, listening to her rapid heartbeat, as they cooled from the few moments of heated passion.

~~~~

Author's Notes: I'm amazed, two chapters in one day. I'm on a roll here. But it's a good thing because I'm making up for lost time. I'll try and make sure I don't become lax in putting out the chapters. But I'm writing again, which is good.

I know, strange pairing, but we already have other odd pairings, so I'm not hesitant to include another. It's also time I gave the rating something worthwhile. I had been wanting to put in a sex scene with Tomo and Soi, but I didn't want it to be a rape one, so I had to justify the reasons. This also is going to let me have fun in future chapters when Nakago does meet up with them.

As for the previous chapter: I only had suicide in the end of it because it was part of the plot. I don't condone it. I condemn it because it's the coward's way out. It's only a plot device.