Chp. 5 – Kuroi Tori "A Kunoichi's Last Dance"
"Hey! You're here!" Otacon acknowledged as he noticed David with the young lady from a previous outing they attended. David nodded a greeting and Otacon stepped back allowing Ayane to enter. Inside was huge. The ceilings stretched quite high and Ayane saw. Chandeliers loomed over the heads. A headcount of maybe 68 people. All past colleagues and acquaintances of Otacon's. Bodies mingled with others, dancing to the soft beat blasting by the high-tech entertainment center leveling the pool and living area. Ayane could see a few people posted over the stair's banister, holding glasses of wine and red plastic cups. She turned to Otacon when David took her hand, leading her to a quieter location where the three of them could talk.
"So how've you two been since the last time I saw you?" Otacon asked, closing the glass doors behind him. Ayane noticed that they were outside and she could see that the acres were long. David took a seat on a bench after setting the liquor on the small wooden table.
"Great—"
"Whoa, whoa. What's this?" Otacon lifted two liquor bottles to his face, reading the label. He then frowned turning to David. "I thought I said no hard stuff, Sn-"
David shot him a look.
"-Snapple's permitted. No booze…David."
Ayane blinked. They couldn't fool her. She smiled at Otacon's suggestion of Snapple.
"Boys will be boys, Dr. Otacon."
He smiled at her. "Please, just call me Otacon. Doctor is too formal."
She nodded.
"So. Anything new happening around here?" Asked snake, reaching in his coat pocket for his pack of cigarettes. Five hours with no nicotine. It was time to light up.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. A few kids are leaving eggs at my door. Nothing too serious."
The glass doors slid forcefully open and a busty blond peeked her head out, smiling, obviously drunk. "Hey Ot! More drinks! The guys are getting restless." She giggled when a young man sneaked up behind her and poked her. Smiling, she was pulled back inside to mingle, once again, to the music. Otacon sighed.
"See why there's no drinks?" He started to pick up the liquor bottles that David brought. David motioned for him to leave the Bailey's Cream. Maybe Ayane would like a drink. Pushing the glasses onto the bridge of his nose, he turned to go inside. "I'll return shortly."
Ayane held out a hand to Otacon. "Just a moment!" He turned to face her. Half inside the door, half out.
"Yes?"
"Bathroom?"
"I'll show you." Seemed to receive a grin from the young woman as she advanced toward him. Turning back, David nodded in her direction seeing that it was okay for him to be alone. Again. He waved his pack of cigs indicating that they'll be his company while she was away. Once the bottles of liquor were in the kitchen, Otacon brought Ayane upstairs for the private bathrooms. The floor beneath her feet vibrated although upstairs allowed little of the music to penetrate into its halls. Muffled, as if being smothered by thick walls.
"Here you go." He smiled, stepping aside from the bathroom door. She looked around as the light brightened up the four-walled room. Porcelain on top of Marble, she noted with a smile.
"Wow. It's… beautiful."
"Womanly, for the lady visitors." He smiled, seeing her admiration for the decoration. Gold and ivory seemed to have a way with the ladies. There was a marble tub, porcelain sink. Gold and ivory trimming along the walls all the way down to the shower curtain and bathroom mats. He chose his colors wisely.
"If you need anything, I'll be downstairs." He peeked his head in to make sure there was at least a roll of toilet paper on the rack. She nodded.
"If so, I'll come down."
He turned to leave.
Ayane closed the door, turning the lock as she sat down on the toilet cover. Alone finally. The loud drumming of music, nicotine air, and mass amount of guests were getting to her. She rubbed her temples as she shut her eyes. An image of David entered. Him, alone, sitting just as he was before she abandoned him in his world of cigarettes. But instead of cigarettes, he had liquor, and he wasn't ashamed that he was drinking away. Drinking, waiting for her return, no doubt. Then another image. Meryl. On top of him, caressing, kissing, loving. And he enjoyed. She opened her eyes and the images disappeared. This was mad. To be thinking like this. This was a party for God's sake! Enjoy it! She mentally screamed.
Ayane got up and stepped over to the sink. She ran her hands under the cold, refreshing water and scooped it up and onto her face. She repeated the process until she felt the need to stop. She patted around, reaching into the chiffonier. Towels. She picked one up and blotted her face until every drop of water disappeared. She inhaled softly, acknowledging the scent of potpourri within the towel. Otacon really did something with his bathroom. Thinking of the 'gray hall' she wondered what Otacon called this room. If he had a name for it.
Ayane unlocked the door and pulled it open. Startled, she halted in place.
"You." She said dryly, pulling the door open further until it touched the wall.
"Me."
Ayane looked upon a woman, recognizing her instantly. It was Meryl.
"It's about time. I've been waiting forever to use the bathroom."
Ayane stepped out of the bathroom and Meryl stepped in, looking around.
"What are you doing here?"
"Otacon invited me." the brunette pulled forward the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
Ayane watched as the door shut in front of her. That was the simplest conversation between the two, and Ayane realized it as she ventured down the hall. She found herself nearing see-through double doors highlighted by sheer curtains. Cocking her head to the side a bit, she noticed a walkway beyond the doors, equivalent to the size of David's foyer. Yet, what was beyond that door was outside.
She braced her hands against the doors' handles and turned them simultaneously. Quietly they unlatched. She looked back cautiously, before stepping forward. Her eyes lit up. What she saw was between beautiful and fantasy. She remembered how his land stretched for acres, but this was unbelievable. Aligned with the walkway were light poles that stretched as far as her eyes could see. And what she could see was the ocean. She followed the trail.
When she got there around eight minutes later, she noticed the ocean first hand. She was on a raised platform of land above the beach and sand. From where she stood, she could see the ocean for miles and the very distant light sphereatically moving to direct ships that come to harbor. She leaned forward on the railing. Her eyes smiling in delight at the scenery, the sounds, and the peace. She smiled. She tilted her head against the rough winds of the sea and listened at the waves cried against the shore and banks. She loved it all. She loved him.
"You like?" A familiar gruff voice filled her ear, startling her. She turned around.
"David!"
"That's me." He stopped beside her and leaned forward against the rail. A Heineken in his right hand, a glass of Baileys Cream in the other. He held it out to her and she accepted. He waited for her to take her first sip. "You didn't return."
"Sorry, I-"
"Ran into Meryl?"
She nodded, looking to her glass as she ran an index around the rim.
"She told me."
"How'd you find me?" She asked, looking up to him.
"I'm an agent. I was trained to seek." He watched her face go off into thought, recalling his occupation and the countless missions he told her about. She sipped at her glass as he, with his Heineken. There was an awkward moment of silence. Still with her index tracing the glass, Ayane felt it was the right time to ask.
"How'd you meet her?"
"Who?"
"Meryl." She shifted her gaze to meet his. He sighed, lifting his eyes to the sky to recall the amount of years.
"God. It must've been… as much as five to seven years when I met her. A mission."
"Mission?"
He looked back in her direction.
"Yeah, at the time I was infiltrating the Metal Gear. Liquid seemed to be one of the men behind the operation."
"When did she come into the picture?"
He smiled, recalling Meryl surprising him as he exited a room.
"She found me. We separated at some point and when I met her again, she was pretty much in a tight spot. Snipers eating away at her life."
She watched him bring the can of Heineken to his lips. "Oh."
"After the mission, what happened?"
He didn't answer. Instead he called her name softly. She removed the glass from her lips and looked in his direction and in question. "You seem so anxious to know about Meryl. Something I need to know?"
"Forget it." she made a dismissive gesture with her right hand. "It's nothing. Just information."
"For? Running a file about her?"
"I said forget it." she dropped him a weight with her hard stare.
" …Getting pissy again." He murmured dropping his eyes to her mouth, then slowly moving it back up to her eyes. He saw that her cheeks were pink and concluded that Bailey had instantly affected her. She tilted the glass to her lips then sighed, tilting her head back against the shifty wind.
"God that's good." She murmured aloud. He smiled, watching.
"Is it?" he asked bringing a hand to her face, cupping her cheek. Her skin was warm and soft beneath his fingers, and he trailed his thumb over her cheekbone.
A small sound of distress slipped past her lips even as she tipped her face into the caress. "David, I…We shouldn't. I mean, we're—"
"Worlds apart?" he murmured. "Of course, that's what makes us special. Compatible. You're an efficient killer. A Night Wanderer. While I'm an aging man, still wearing olive green or navy suits and doing the unthinkable. Getting involved with each other would make for a potentially explosive situation. I accept."
"And?"
"And here I am, wanting to kiss you again. Much longer, deeper." He stressed. She looked helplessly up at him and he knew she felt the same way, that she had been anticipating this as much as he had.
This would surely become complicated.
"David I—"
He brought his mouth against hers. This time, gently. His lips were warm. And softly parted. And almost unbearably sweet. He rubbed his lips against hers, taking it much deeper than he'd expected. Longer than he previously voiced, then withdrew, shocked at how the light contact affected him. As if it hadn't done so before. He swore softly. She had been right. This was a wrong. A mistake.
He started to tell her so, but she didn't give him a chance. This time she was the one who initiated the kiss. She who boldly brought her mouth to his. Trust that he couldn't say no. And he didn't try to.
"Snake?"
They sprang apart. Ayane swung toward her immediate right, her face bright with color. "Otacon!"
Otacon paused in the walkway, smiling at the two. He let the advancing foot to fall in its place. Mouth agape. Blushed, Ayane looked away then walked, leaving David alone to face his friend. When Ayane passed by, Otacon watched her. She made no eye contact with him and he saw her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. David bit his lower lip then shifted, clearing his throat.
"What's up?"
"Looks like a lot is up from here." He chuckled, advancing to his comrade. He crossed his arms. "So when'd this start happening?"
David turned then leaned against the banister, his back facing the younger man. His hands folded along the railing.
"It didn't start."
"C'mon! I saw what happened." He whined, wanting more information. He advanced, taking his place beside David on the railing. "Why didn't you contact me? Codec, Snake. Codec!"
David grunted and Otacon backed down.
"Right. I'm not to interfere in your personal affairs. Sorry."
"Why are you here?" the bearded man asked, looking to the clear blue ocean before him. He noticed the tide becoming restless.
"Well… This is my party."
David remained silent. He knew Otacon had more sense than that.
"Well, I came to see where you were. When I returned, you weren't where I left you."
"And you came here."
"Meryl informed me that you went to look for Ayane. So I came here. Figured you'd enjoy the scenery."
David didn't comment, his eyes were locked on the sea. He reflected on the sea and how it raged. Personified as Ayane. Calm one moment, raging the next. And always changing. Otacon broke his train of thought.
"What'd you say?" He turned his gaze on the man who polished his glasses with a small cloth.
"I said that you two make a pretty good couple."
"Us two?"
"Yeah." Otacon glanced in his direction then resumed cleaning. "Meryl was okay. Perfect. But you have a chance with Ayane."
David lowered his eyes to think about what his friend just said. Good Couple. Got a chance with Ayane. It was worth a try.
"Something draws us apart. It can't work."
"Oh yeah?" Otacon looked over to his friend when his glasses were on. "Know what it could be?"
"Meryl."
Otacon remained silent and David pressed on. "Meryl tried to kill her. The matter was resolved and Meryl left."
"And Ayane thinks she'll come back?"
"Yep."
They both stood in silence. David resulted to a cigarette, lighting it, then puffing. He exhaled, shifting his eyes to the light across the ocean. The lighthouse.
"With you, anything's possible."
"What do you mean?" David asked, perching the cigarette in the corner of his mouth.
"You're a handsome, respectable, guy. Any woman would be crazy to leave you. Or give you up."
"Otacon…" David kept his eyes on the lighthouse.
"Yeah, Snake?"
"Don't ever refer to me as handsome again. It's belittling, coming from a guy."
"Oh, Sorry. It was pep talk." Otacon pushed himself from the railing stepping back as he waved. "Well, I got to get back to the party. Guests are dropping like flies in there."
The bearded man nodded with a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'll check up with you later."
Otacon left, leaving David to enjoy the scenery a bit longer. Shifting his stance to alternate, he kicked over a familiar glass stained with lipstick. Ayane's glass. He picked it up, examining the fine lines that developed her lips, and the last bit of Baileys settling at the bottom of her glass. He sighed.
"May I join you?" a womanly tone interrupted, echoed by advancing footsteps. David turned around.
"Meryl."
She stood behind him, dressed in comfort. More attractive than ever. A miniskirt that showcased fine legs, lush lips, full hair that draped above her shoulders and her blouse, stringed loosely; giving the guys exactly what they wanted. Transparent. Laced Bra. Victoria Secret. He noted mentally. Spring Catalog. He blinked away his thoughts. Why was she here?
"I noticed you weren't at the party." She started, leaning against the railing beside him. He watched as her eyes searched the sea. "I thought you might have left for the night. Until I saw that Ayane was still here."
"What do you want, Meryl?"
Meryl directed her eyes at him, looking ever so innocent.
"Can't a friend come up to talk? Am I a criminal for socializing?"
He remained silent.
"Anyway," She continued, "I thought I'd come to apologize. If not for what I did, then for what I didn't."
He looked in her direction. "What you didn't?" He repeated.
"Yeah. If I did something to upset her. I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't be apologizing to me. It's her you should be talking to."
"I…thought I'd come to you first. Since you usually know how my emotions work." She sighed. "I didn't want to start trouble. Not for you. Or myself."
He remained silent, raising the can to his lips for the last of its contents. He sighed. Quite refreshing, his Heineken was. She stepped in front of him, staring into his eyes. She placed a hand against his face, her fingertips cupping his angular face. Her other hand against his chest, her fingers running along the buttons of his flannel shirt.
"Please. Don't just shut me out of your life. Help me to make her understand."
"I can't." He said, removing her wandering hand as it neared his trousers. "And stop."
She stepped back, cupping her hands to her chest. "You can't possibly…"
"You can't be serious. You still love me, don't you?"
He didn't answer.
"I see…" she scowled, dropping her hands to her sides. "Once again you've turned your back on me."
"It's not like that" he reached for her and she pulled from his reach. "It's just that—"
"what? You have to be at her side because she lives with you?" she snapped.
He frowned. "That's not true."
"Tell her that." She crossed her arms. "And if it's so not true, prove it to me."
He refrained from asking How, but she saw the question in his eyes.
"Kiss me." she dared, stepping up to him. He hesitated. "Kiss me like you kiss her. Because I know you have. I can see it. I can smell the Bailey lingering on your breath."
He remained silent, coursing his tongue around now hating the taste he had consumed. She pressed her body against him and ran her hands along his chest until they loop around his shoulders.
"Meryl don't—"
she pulled him to her, pressing her lips to his. Tasting him as he once tasted Ayane. As if his body was taken over, his hands unwillingly moved to her waist. His fingers cupped to outline her curves as she leaned further into him. Her tongue colliding with his. Savoring. And little did he know, or wanted to realize, he wanted her. He missed her. But he was wrong. He wanted Ayane. He wanted her. He had her. She stood at the walkway watching as they disengaged. Watching as Meryl nipped at his neck, then his ear. She felt her heart drop and her blood boil. As if on cue, they turned to her, watching the sudden tears that formed in her eyes. David pushed Meryl aside and advanced. What have I done?
"Ayane! Wait!"
Too late. She was gone, running down the lighted pathway, teary eyed. Blind. Heart broken. Alone. Devastated. David hesitated, looking at Meryl. Her eyes smiling back. She had done it again. She tricked him, enticed him, and he knew if he hadn't of gotten things straight with Ayane right now, he'd lose the Kunoichi forever. He took off, continuing down the path. Ayane was running quickly, climbing the stairs in angst, pushing open the large double doors and disappearing into the darkness of the halls.
Meryl smirked, leaning back against the banister, alone once again. "…Oh, have I done something wrong?" she giggled, throwing Ayane's glass over the railing. She watched as it dropping into the ocean and was consumed into its depths.
[Go to Chp. 6]