Anything Has Its Consequences : Chapter 7 Admirers and Short breaks

Disclaimer: I still don't own Trigun...but anything outside of that is MINE.

An: So sorry for the delay in updating. Blame it on work..and the first semester of college. Add a bit of a melodramatic social life and you get the idea ; ehe. But hopefully you haven't abandoned me...and will read when I finally post. bows Enjoy.
This contains a bit of citrusy fun. If you are offended by such...Gomen, and skip over the last part of the chappy ;


The suns were blazing in the sky as the four travelers finally set foot into a small dust-worn town. Exhaling softly Meryl looked about in search of the nearest inn, or saloon, any place to rest for a bit. Millie's cheerful smile hadn't faded yet and her optimism kept the shortest female in check. Millie smiled.

"It'll be nice to have a little rest ne? " A chorus of agreement followed. Vash was distracted as an attractive blonde sauntered by. He disappeared soon after she was out of sight. Meryl and Hoshi shared a disgusted look. With but a look of agreement the three seperated and went off to find whatever would tickle their respective fancies. Meryl chose an inn to "rest" (better known as typing up one of her detailed reports), Millie was off on a search for pudding, and Hoshi was left to make a decision. Not an easy task. She sighed and walked down the main street glancing about with slight disinterest.

"Just what in the seven hells am I supposed to do until I'm tired!" She grumbled to no one in particular. She stopped just before a shop as something sparkled and caught her eye. Her eyes found the sign and she couldn't help but give a lopsided grin. Nothing wrong with looking at a little jewelry to pass the time.

Our hapless heroine failed to note the blue eyes watching her as a cat would a canary. A soft chuckle escaped the upturned lips of the predatory male, as he followed her into the shop. Hoshi smiled as her eyes roved over the various pieces. She sighed wistfully daydreaming of the day she'd be able to wear something so beautiful. 'If only I went to banquets..and was a member of high society...' She thought, mildly amused. A ruby caught her breath and gaze. She barely restrained the soft "Ooh" that escaped her lips.

"Gorgeous isn't it?" She jumped and nearly bumped into the person that had snuck up on her. She blushed looking away from a bemused smirk. She nodded.
"H-hai." She responded.
"They say it's hundreds of years old...from before people settled here on Gunsmoke. " She nodded interested. 'So odd to have the idea of earth spoken of as something so ancient...' She thought her eyes still on the ruby. She could feel his eyes on her. She almost shivered. It was electric and odd. She stiffened and continued to focus her attention upon various sets of jewelry.

" I think that ruby would look wonderful on you. " Said a voice dangerously close to her ear. She inhaled sharply as his hands rested upon her shoulder.
'Oh..my..' She thought waiting for him to speak again. He didn't.
" A-arigatou." Since when had she been one to stammer so? This was not at all like her. Normally she was relatively confident and this shyness baffled her.
"No problem at all, that is if you would give me the pleasure of your company over dinner?"
"Dinner?" Her head was swimming, she felt almost intoxicated. "I don't have anything nice to wear..." She murmured softly trying to regain awareness. She was frustrated. Not being able to speak or think was something she was unacquainted with. The very idea angered her somewhere deep again she couldn't place the feelings. Floating. She shook her head as if to clear it of something. She looked into his eyes and something clicked.

Warm lips brushed hers gently. Her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes were wide as he spoke.
"You'll look wonderful in any fabric." He murmured against her before pressing gently for a quick kiss. He pulled away before she had time to process the encounter. "Meet me here at sundown." He smiled and walked away. This left our poor heroine baffled as she placed a finger to her lips.

"Sundown?" She flushed and shook her head. It was going to be a long couple of hours. She pressed a hand to her cheeks. 'ahaha...feels so warm.'With a sigh she headed towards the inn. Maybe she could talk to Millie or Meryl about it? 'Damnit Ai why did you have to be gone?' She sighed wistfully.


Ai sighed wiping the accumulating perspiration from her brow. She leaned against a nearbye tree and took comfort in the shade it provided. Luckily dusk was quickly approaching. She allowed her brown eyes to gaze upon the ground. She inhaled deeply, she couldn't never seem to get enough of that clean air. 'Only in the Sengoku Jidai.' She thought wryly. She licked her lips as she became aware of her hunger. 'Damn when WAS the last time we ate?'

Her fellow travelers could be seen settling as wood was gathered for the fire that would cook dinner. 'YAYYYY' Ai mentally cheered. Her thoughts were interrupted as Miroku spoke.

"Ai-san?" Blinking for a moment Ai turned towards his voice.
"Hai." He smiled.
"We were just wondering if you wanted to help gather firewood?"
"Sure."


Hoshi made her way to the jewelry shop as the suns sank further towards the horizon. She let a small groan of frustration escape her lips as she paused midstep. ' And if I'm walking into danger head on?' She could have sworn she'd heard what could only be the rational part of her mind emit a resigned suspiration. 'Even my brain knows I'll do it just because I'm too curious for my own good. Watashi wa baka...but I'm still going.'

She continued trudging forward her stomach feeling akin to an aviary. 'Fuck butterflies I have eagles soaring in my tummy.' A smile formed upon her lips as she indulged in laughing at her own stupidity. This was just a guy that was interested...in her! She shook her head. Maybe the kiss had been an accident. Her mind flitted back to the encounter and she shook her head. 'No..that was too deliberate, to have been chance.' But why her? She wasn't grotesque, but with such a fair and flawless look to him, she was sure any gorgeous woman would be more than happy to warm his sheets at the first smile to be in her remote direction. And so, she furrowed a brow. 'Hopefully he's not...after me because I look younger than I am.' She wrinkled her nose not liking that idea at all.

"Hoshi." She shivered and looked over at him. The way he said her name was sinful. He allowed it to roll off his tongue smoothly, almost purring. She gulped. His eyes raked over her form predatorily and she fought the urge to retreat and run screaming to the tavern and lock herself in the hotel room. He smiled.'eep. Make that under the bed in my locked room!'

"Hi. I don't believe I ever got your name..?" Hoshi felt that trance creep up on her senses. Her brow arched and she focused. 'My mind is not to be toyed with. I am not to be guided by another's will.' She chanted in her head allowing a sense of clarity to take hold. She inhaled. Yes, she was in her zen. This would do well to protect her, for the time being. He held out his hand and flashed a flawless set of pearly whites.

"You may call me Tori." With those words he offered his arm to lead her to dinner.

Meanwhile...in a saloon nearbye...

Another swig of Wild Turkey did nothing to assuage boredom. Having opted to forego the off-key drunken karaoke game that had commenced a short while ago, our bored gunman decided to take a stroll. Yes folks, a leisurely stroll with his faithful Wild turkey in hand and an itch for entertainment. Maybe he could get one of the three girls to talk to him? He blinked. He decided to mull over his options for a bit. 'Meryl is probably typing another thingy for work. Millie...well she's probably doing something for Meryl...so that leaves HOSHI She'll talk to meeee.'
At this point even his thoughts were beginning to slur a bit. Maybe he should put down the bottle? He looked at it. It was empty. 'When did I finish it?' He tossed it haphazardly and walked out of the saloon.

He squinted as he passed a restaurant with a bird's eye view of the seated patrons. He squinted. No, his eyes were playing tricks on him. Was that Hoshi being seated? He grinned and took a step towards the restaurant when a fair haired male seated himself across from her, flashing a charming grin. "Soooo sheee hasss a dattee,huhhh? Better leave her ahhhloonee..." He murmured turning to make his way to his room.

And at the dinner table...

Hoshi smiled shyly. Tori flashed a grin. She felt the odd prickles of someone watching her. Her eyes glanced at the window in time to see the familiar blonde stagger off and out of view. 'Vash?'

"Is something on your mind?" Tori inwardly fumed. 'That damned plant. Her attention is to be mine..' His mind was snarling, as she shook her head and smiled amiably. He nodded not completely satisfied with her answer.

"Tell me about yourself, Hoshi." His gaze locked upon hers. He watched her breath hitch and smiled. Yes, she was focused on him now. He leaned forward and allowed himself to gaze upon her in interest. She wetted her lips and took a small breath.

"What would you like to know?" She asked timidly. He nearly sighed. He loved having these one on one rendezvous with his mortals.She was the one that had wished for anything. Now the consequences, were slowly becoming evident to her.

"Anything and everything you wish to share." He smiled at her, grasping her hand in his. "I'm all ears." He flashed her a wolfish grin.

"Hn..I like art. I'm sixteen...soon to be seventeen and I don't really like talking about myself." She blushed self consciously causing him to chuckle. She was a never ending source of amusement.

"Very well, I imagine you like music,ne?" She nodded. "With such a lovely speaking voice, your song voice must be angelic." Her eyes widened as her blush deepened.

"I've been told I can sing nicely...but I don't know..I'm satisfied with my skills, I guess." She rambled nervously.The music in the background was waning. She blinked struggling to focus on something, anything but his smiling eyes. 'I feel so lightheaded.'She watched absently as the server poured crimson liquid into both their glasses.'Wine? Should I even be having alcohol..when I feel this dazed? His eyes were on her again. She smiled, swallowing the nervousness that threatened to consume her. His fingers were stroking her hand in small gentle circles. Her stomach tightened. She felt a vaguely familiar tension building. She nearly groaned. How was he doing this to her? Normally she was so calm and in control. His tongue glided over his lips and her mind traveled back to the fleeting kiss he'd given her.

"You're an intriguing creature, Hoshi." She snapped to attention trying to ignore the effects his absent ministrations had on her somewhat inexperienced body. His hand turned hers over as his fingers lightly danced over the flesh of her palm. She fought the urge to shiver.
"Arigatou, Tori-san." She murmured, she wanted nothing more than to be pulled into his arms and relax there. She felt simply inebriated. She took a sip of her wine. His caresses did not cease.
"Please, call me Tori, san is far too formal for my tastes." He said, finally releasing her hand as their food was set before them. Funny, she hadn't remembered ordering a thing. Too confused to care, she took a few tentative bites of her food and sighed. At least it was delicious. A pasta dish,she couldn't tell what, but it pleased her tastebuds. In fact she imagined if they'd the voices to do it there'd be a choir of Alleluiah in exhaltation.

Another sip of wine dulled her inhibitions further.She felt sowarm.
"Hoshi, daijobu?" He asked curiously arching a brow while glancing at her wine glass. It wouldn't do if she was too drunk to compose herself. Although the thought was amusing, he wanted to amuse himself while she was in her right mind.It would ruin the sense of victory. She nodded.He motioned the waitress over and a glass of water was set before her. She drank deeply from the glass and smiled.

His hand clasped hers again and she flushed. "Would you care to go for a walk?" She nodded. It was interesting how submissive she'd become. What on earth was wrong with her? She sighed again and focused trying to reach the "zen" she'd been in earlier. Taking hold of the feeling she smiled.
"A walk would be lovely, thank you." She thanked him as she watched him leave the appropriate payment. Standing she took the arm he offered and looked at him for a moment. Interesting indeed. His thoughts were a near mirror to her own.

'So she finally has started to regain herself. Wonderful, what sort of fun would this be without a chase?' He smiled as they exited.

The air was cool and crisp, dancing upon heated flesh with a gentleness that made Hoshi shiver. Tori smiled, their conversation had been sparse, but it was entertaining enough to see what his simple gestures could incite in the girl. He pulled her closer to whisper in her ear.
"Samui da,ne?" His warmth pervaded her senses, starting with this tingling in her ear. She bit her lower lip before responding in a faint whisper.
"H-hai." His arms had somehow snaked around her and she felt the pressure of his chin upon her shoulder. "Tori?" She intoned softly glancing at him.
"Hn?"
"..Nevermind." She trailed off choosing to remain silent, she didn't really know what to say, or do for that matter. Her hairs stood on end as she felt the gentle puffs of his breathing on her neck as time seemed to stand still. She was not really prepared for the feel of his mouth replacing his exhalations. She stiffened as he pulled her back against his chest. Then, he did the unthinkable. Her mind was blank as his tongue retraced his mouth's path. A soft sound escaped her lips as she leaned against him, providing him with a clearer pathway to her neck. She closed her eyes.

Just this once, I'll give in a little.

She thought as he continued and his hands moved to rub her sides. She didn't realize he'd turned her towards him until his lips found hers. Hungrily he sought entrance and she submitted. His hands pushed her against what felt like a wall. The impact didn't bother her, it only heightened the fervor with which she returned his kisses. They parted and she looked at him, cheeks flushed eyes a light green, flickering with the desire he'd enflamed. He smiled his pale blue eyes taking the sight of her in. He watched her bite her lower lip and smiled.Good gods why is it that only mortals do this to me?He pushed against her his lips crashing to her neck as he allowed himself to nibble tentatively. A moan escaped kiss-bruised lips. She flushed. Eh...did I just? Oh dear... He let out what could only be indentified to her as a satisfied growl.
"Hoshi..." She felt faint. He'd said her name in that sinful fashion again and his lips and tongue contented themselves with ravishing her neck.

In her state she failed to notice they were being watched. Curious eyes peered from the room of the tavern she was staying in. Their owner sighed and looked away aquamarine orbs reflecting some sort of conflict.
Tori, however; was well aware of their audience and arched a brow. Intriguing. He paused. "I fear if I stay longer my control will be gone entirely, little one. " She looked over at him her breathing erratic. She smiled and nodded in understanding. "I will see you soon." He planted a chaste kiss upon her cheek and strolled away. Hoshi's fingers tapped her lips. WHAT IN THE SEVEN HELLS JUST HAPPENED!Where in the hell is Ai when you need her?


Ai sneezed. I wonder who on earth is talking about me? She sighed. She wondered how Hoshi was hodling up. At least a few weeks ago they'd been together to handle the shock of being transported to another dimension entirely. The thought of never returning home made her stomach turn. She hadn't really given much thought to the very real possibility that'd they'd been stranded. Her hazel eyes were distantly watching the flames as she fought the constriction of her throat. I could be stuck here...forever..

She closed her eyes and allowed a soft suspiration to escape her lips. Maybe now wasn't the best time to be thinking this way. She couldn't help but remember all those she'd probably never see again. Including her first and most painful brush with love. She winced inwardly at the jab in her heart. She opened her eyes. There has to be a way to get home. Her little conflict did not go unnoticed, and her observer chose this moment to voice their concern.
"Ai?" Kagome asked softly as she sat beside the girl. Ai looked to her emotions fading from her eyes.
"Hai." She replied softly.
"Is something bothering you? It helps when I have someone to listen. I just wanted to let you know, that I'm here." She placed her hand reassuringly upon her shoulder.
"It's just...what.." Her voice wavered, thick with the sorrow that threatened to overflow. "What if I'm never able to get home?" She felt the familiar sting of tears at the corners of her eyes, and cleared her throat. "I'll never see my friends...my family.." She sniffled as the tears began to fall. "My best friend is lost too. I'm not the only one...and I'll never find her." By now Kagome felt horrible. She knew the feeling she had. She recalled it all too well. She supposed that was the curse of the well. But Ai was different. And what of this best friend she'd mentioned? She embraced the sobbing girl and patted her back.
" I understand." She murmured. And to Ai, that meant the world.


I finally updated. NOW , review ;