WARNING: Okay people! This is where the lemon warning was, but since some sites that this fic is on are being a bitch!!!!. * sighs and takes a breath * I've cut the really cute lemon out of this part and the other parts of the story. It's still a good fic though so keep reading ne?!

~An American Miko~ Chapter Four Strength & Passion

Hotohori came in very late one night, more towards morning. Myst could clearly see the fatigue lacing his strong, well-shaped body as he disrobed in the moonlight.

Hotohori must have thought she was asleep, and by all rights she should have been, because he was careful not to disturb her as he slipped his weary body beneath the warm blankets. He sighed as she rolled over against him and laid her splinted arm lightly across his flat stomach. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I'm sorry I woke you."

She kissed his chest and toyed with the ends of a lock of his hair. "You didn't. I was awake already. Hard day?"

Hotohori sighed again, this time reflecting just how tired and frustrated he was. "That delegation from Kutou is completely unreasonable! They want to trade fish instead of tin for the cotton and they won't sway from it. I can't think of anything else that country would need besides the cotton. I have plenty of ports! We don't need the fish trade! We need that tin, and you just can't talk to them! They say they want more for it and nothing I offer is acceptable!"

She nodded. "Why do they need the cotton in the first place?"

"The people in the north of their country are freezing to death and they won't trade with Houkan. So wool from there is out of the question. We're not quite on friendly terms with Kutou either. Needless to say, they have no choice. Because of their rapid expansion years ago, everything they would have had to burn has been cut of destroyed some way or another."

Myst nodded as she thought. Then, "Coal!"

"Hmm?"

"Coal! We have more than we really need. One of the maids has a brother who works in the coalmines and she told me. He sends their family coal sometimes because they have more than enough. Why not say that if they agree to the tin trade that you'll also give them the extra coal this country produces, along with the cotton!"

Hotohori was silent for a moment and then spoke in an almost excited voice. "You're absolutely right. That would work, I know it would!" He gently pulled her tighter into his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips. "You just saved me a lot of trouble. You're kindness, and your heart, and intelligence astound me and continue to knock me off my feet time after time." He looked into her eyes as the moonlight continued to bathe them in a soft silverish glow. "I've only ever loved you. I want to spend all of my days with you. Will you marry me? Be my empress and help me to lead my people."

Mistyc closed her eyes and buried her face against Hotohori's chest her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Hotohori held her, his face a mask of sorrow at her response. 'This must mean no. What a fool I am to think that she would want to marry me after all that I've put her through.' Aloud he said, "Oh love, forget I said it. I had no intention of hurting you."

Myst shook her head and rolled onto her stomach to put them face to face with her draped over his muscular chest. "No love. It isn't that. It's just." Her voice shook with emotions and tears. "I never thought that anyone would want me or love me enough to marry me. Or even then I thought it would be for the status."

Hotohori's face beamed with hope. "Does. does this mean yes? Does this mean you'll marry me?"

Myst nodded and he laughed joyfully, crushing her to him. "Oh, I promise to only love you. Not like my father. Only you! No other!"

Tears steamed from both their eyes. They kissed over and over and couldn't stop laughing or touching each other.

The mood suddenly changed as Hotohori's fingertips found their way tot the nape of Myst's neck. She moaned before she could stop herself.

Hotohori froze and watched her slowly open her eyes. "Did I hurt you?"

Myst shook her head and blushed. "That. that was one of my spots."

Hotohori looked a bit puzzled so she smiled and went on a hunch of hers.

Myst leaned forward and began to kiss and nip at his jaw just below his ear. Now it was Hotohori's turn to gasp and twitch a little. She smiled and kissed his lips as she looked down into his wide, shocked eyes as he tried to get his breathing back to normal again. "One of my spots." She said simply.

He nodded in understanding; seeming a little dazed and added breathlessly, "Spots. Okay."

She chuckled and kissed the hollow of his throat. His breathing changed to a deeper one as she moved lower. He lay almost frozen as her lips and teeth caressed his hard nipples, teasing them and soothing them with her tongue. She moved on with small kisses down the center of his chest to his toned stomach where she traced the lines of his muscles with her tongue then dipped it into his navel. She rubbed her palms against his thighs then bit lightly into his hip.

Hotohori gasped, arched, and clutched her shoulders. "Stop!"

Myst looked up at him worriedly and moved back up to lay over his chest as he calmed his breathing with closed eyes. Softly she spoke, "What's wrong? I know you were enjoying it? If you're worried, I am a virgin."

Hotohori blushed and smiled, a slight sheen of sweat covering his face. "That's not the problem, because I am too. The problem is, if you went any further, I wouldn't be able to hold back, and that would change."

She smiled and pleasured in the small cry he gave and the way he arched against her as she wrapped her hand around his hard manhood. She licked his jaw in that same spot again and whispered in his ear breathily, "What gave you the idea that I wanted you to hold back?"

Hotohori could only fist his hands in the silk sheets beneath them as she ran her hand along him in a sweet torturous caress. His breathing once again turned into ragged gasps as he stared at her and could not seem to look away from what she was doing to him.

"You're the only one I've ever wanted like this Hotohori. You're the only one I will ever want, and I want all of you tonight." With that, she nipped at his jaw again.

~~~Insert Lemon~~~

Hotohori lay on top of her, unable to move and she held him without complaint as they both came down from the heights. After a few minuets, Hotohori lifted his head and propped himself up on one elbow again. They looked at each other with eyes full of love and wonder and knew that no words were needed. They knew that neither had ever felt anything so wonderful on any level.

Myst gathered the damp hair away from his sweaty face and shoulders and pulled it all to one side so it was off his back and the back of his neck. She twined her fingers behind his head and pulled him down for a deep kiss. They broke the kiss breathlessly as he pulled his softened manhood from her.

Hotohori moved down and to the side a little to pillow his head against her chest. He laid his hand over her heart and she reached up and laid her hand over his, twining their fingers together. 'Nothing has ever been so right in my world. Suzaku, please never let his end. Never take her form me.'

In each others arms they fell into peaceful, blissful sleep, neither noticing the shining red feather that appeared and drifted down to lay over their hands before disappearing again.

**********

A.N.: YES!!!!! There it is! The sweet, sweet lemon. How did you like it na no da?! I had a lot of fun no da. Well, once again. FEEDBACK! Doesn't even matter if it's flames. THANKIES MUCH NA NO DA!!!!!!!!!! More to come. Keep reading!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman