Disclaimer. Don't own nought but the plot. And it's awful anyway.
Chapter Nine: Kindred.
Pegasus and Mai sat in a private part of the house, the three boys having greeted the young woman to the house and vanished upstairs to their rooms. She had found the three mismatched brothers amusing in some way, smiling cheekily and hugging the smallest, stroking his uncombed black hair carefully, almost motherly.
Pegasus had watched her happily, a small smile upon his face as he watched the elder two fidget as she spoke to them. It didn't help she was wearing a low cut and bending down.
Nevertheless they had bid the children good night, retreating to a back room, lit by candles, a small table set for two. A textbook romantic meal, arranged precisely, two glasses of wine already poured. How Mai had cooed when she had entered, perfectly, as if she was really excited about it.
Closing the door they sat down, chatting away animatedly about the time they had spent apart. In the two months since they'd first met, they had met up a lot. Despite her initial feelings of stringing Pegasus along, Mai had grown something of a crush upon the elder man, who made her laugh like no other, and made her feel wanted. It was nice to finally be loved.
Pegasus could also, of course, sense her feelings with the Millennium Eye. He'd been aware over the past few weeks of her feelings, and it was that which made what he had to do so much harder. Mai was intelligent, sharp and buxom, with a sharp tongue to counter any argument. She really was a wonderful individual.
He loved Cynthia, to be sure. But not only could he merely erase Mai's soul, her very right to life; but he too felt for her. Not love, or desire...but something similar to compassion. She had been thrown out at a young age, fended for herself...they were kindred souls, having to protect themselves from an early age.
Her wide lilac yes gazed with a sultry expression into his as the desserts were removed, her foot carefully running up the inside of his, rubbing it ever so gently. There was a sudden rise in the room; Mai's pulse shot up along with her desire to be a great deal closer to Pegasus. He did not need the Eye to tell him that much. It was just a question of whether he would allow her into his arms.
Not only was he shy about such things, but the last time he'd made love to any woman had been back when Cynthia was alive, and that had been scarce. She was often too ill to partake in such things, and he was not going to force her.
He wanted to believe he was above such things. But as he felt his pulse rise with Mai's, so he realised he was only human. After all, Mai was a very attractive woman, he had no shame, but to admit to himself he wanted to take her to his bed and stay up all night with her, even though the children were present...maybe it was more than just compassion. Or maybe it was just the first three letters that were incorrectly placed.
"Pegasus, I...there is something I need to tell you. Something that maybe should be kept a secret, but I...need to get it off my chest."
He knew what was coming. He could read it straight from her mind with the Eye. She was going to confess her less-than-noble intentions when she first approached him. But that didn't seem to matter. Leaning forward he placed a finger over her lips, careful not to disturb the table settings.
"It's alright, my dear; I know what you're about to confess. Forgiven and forgotten, my darling." She looked tearily at him, unsure whether it was a trick or not, unable to believe her good luck." Now please, let us not spoil the mood. It's so rare that we ever get such a wonderful opportunity, alone together." Her eyes widened happily, and she nodded, leaning closer to him, pressing her lips to his carefully, emotively, and with all her heart behind it.
XXX
Seto had heard two sets of feet tread the path to his father's room, and by the delicate footfalls, he knew the second could not be Croquet. Lying in bed several hours later he kept going through things in his head, unable to sleep. He had an idea that the women his father met those months ago that fateful night, when he and Noa had taken a dislike to each other might crawl back out the woodwork, but so soon?
No. The way his father was over the beautiful blonde in the portraits all over the castle, the hours he would spend just string at her contradicted totally to the way he fawned over Ms. Valentine. His father was far from stupid. He had not bought the cover he had for Gouzaburo's death, when he had fooled the police...so why was he buying this slut's sweetness.
He had a terrible inkling it may have been related to the 'Millennium Puzzle' and its theft. Seto remembered all too well how Croquet had obeyed his master's wish to steal it from Mr. Motou; a friend of the family's Seto has enjoyed meeting several times. But his father would not steal from such a close friend unless it was a dire emergency...and he would only steal for those he loved.
Cynthia.
Suddenly he understood it all. Mai, the puzzle... His father was somehow going to use the puzzle to return Cynthia to life...he did not believe in magic, but Pegasus did, quite strongly...and it seemed as if Ms. Mai was in danger...
XXX
Pegasus looked over at the clock, making the time to be a little after four in the morning. Remembering it was a weekend and he had no work, he relaxed, enjoying the feeling of Mai in his arms, snuggled closely to him.
It had been heaven and hell and everything in between. Mai was beautiful and talented and so pleasing he thought his new home was cloud nine. It had gone on long into the night, well in the morning, her only just dropping off to sleep.
It looked as if his little plan to return Cynthia may have failed, he thought, shame stabbing him suddenly. IT had collapsed in on itself, because he had done the only thing he could do to jeopardise his plan; he had fallen for Mai.
XXX
Duh Duh DUHHHHHH!!!!
Hope you like the twist y'all! Yeah I know the love kinda sprang out of nowhere....but I need it to, to alienate Seto and to make a further twist I plan work....!
I'll say no more here! Pass on the word, get me some more reviews, and maybe I'll update quicker! Thank you all for your lovely comments, its good to know I'm appreciated out there.
Flowering Wolfsbane