The Years Before…Part 4
Poof
Tohru fell and the hebi fell between her legs.
'Ahhhh…I am so sorry, sooo sorry.' Tohru screamed, flagging her arms and looking at the snake that came to a rest on her tummy. 'Oh my God, I am going to step…'
'It's okay, Tohru. Calm down'
She looked down into his golden eyes. Tohru never realized how very mesmerizing his eyes were. She found it so very hard to look away. His head was looking up at her while his tail was slowly curling around her left thigh. He slowly moved his head upwards towards her.
Poof
Ayame was still between her legs. His right leg was entwined with her left. He used his hands to support himself such that he was looking straight into her eyes. They couldn't look away. Ayame felt like he was drowning, he was having problems breathing and yet he wanted the feeling to stay. He moved closer to Tohru, slowly as not to startle her. But she held his gaze. He lifted a hand, inching and longing to touch what was in front of him…
'My, my, what will the neko and the nezumi say if they are witnessing this! You naughty, naughty hebi.' Shigure swatted Ayame's nose. That broke the spell. A flash of annoyance flickered in Ayame's eyes before he composed himself. He stood up. He heard a gasp. He looked down and saw Tohru's head turned and her face bright red.
Shigure grinned at the sight before him. This was way too precious. The inu was storing teasing material for teasing later. Tohru turned her head, while Ayame picked himself and his clothes up. As he dressed, he pulled himself together mentally.
'Jealous? But my lover, you know I'll do anything for you.'
'Aa. So she is nothing but a plaything then?' Shigure asked, nuzzling Ayame.
'Yes, my lover. You are the only one for me.'
'Yes!' They winked and did their usual thumbs-up. Tohru watched them and laughed. Although disappointed, she was glad that Shigure came. Ayame was stirring emotions in her, she never knew she had. Watching the cousins bantered, she smiled, they will never change.
The next couple of weeks flew by. Ayame and Tohru had to run the shop while Mine took time off to prepare for the wedding. She was holding the wedding at a mountain resort and had to be there to supervise. She did the last fitting of her dress and Ayame made some corrections. Mine reminded them to be early on the wedding day and left with Jin to the resort.
Without Mine in the mornings, Ayame required Tohru to stay later in the night. Tohru had to rush to the shop from the classes.
Ayame was in a way glad to have Tohru till late. He had a perfect excuse to bring her out to dinner. So it became a routine. Tohru turned up for work in the afternoon. They worked till dinner, grabbed a bite at Ayame's favourite dumpling store and went back to the shop to tally up the sales and clean up. They fell into the comfortable routine and enjoyed each other's company. For the first time, Tohru saw a different side of Ayame – one without flowery speeches and innuendos.
The day before the wedding came swiftly. Tohru was about to leave the shop, when Ayame beckoned her to the back room. He held up an emerald nightgown. It was made with chiffon and silk. The chiffon layer gave the dress a dreamy look while the silk shimmered in the light. The silk layer had three slits. Two at the sides which stop just at the hips and the center slit stopped just at the crotch. The neckline was straight, an empire line was sewn just below the bust and the gown flow from there. The empire line had little daisies sewn on it. The nightgown was at once innocent and sexy.
'Oh…'breathed Tohru. It was beautiful.
'It's for you. You have worked so hard in the past couple of weeks. I just wanted to do something for you.' Ayame stated simply.
'This is too much, Aya. You really did not have to.'
'I did not have to, I want to.' He smiled. He wondered if she realized that she just called him by his nickname which no one else does except for the Junnishi. Not that he mind it at all.
'I…' Tohru looked up to his golden eyes, 'I…'
'You deserved it. Take it.' Ayame quickly folded it and wrapped it in tissue before slipping it into a bag. He had to put it away quick before he asked her to put it on for him.
Pushing all thoughts of Tohru in a nightgown away, he turned to her, 'Now, don't you put that on and tease my poor Yuki with it.'
Tohru blushed while he gave his blooming laugh.
Tohru walked home alone, relishing in the silence. She really hated it when Ayame cracked jokes about her and Yuki. She does not know why – maybe she does. When has she come to love him so much that it hurt? She stopped and looked up at her stars. Suddenly, a well of sadness grabbed her. She wished she had her mother to talk to, to explain to her what exactly is happening to her.
What is going on? Ayame asked himself for the tenth time. He could not believe that he actually gave her the gown. She must think that he was a pervert, he smiled – not that it was anything new. He got inspired and spent the night before sewing the gown for her.
Maybe he should talk to someone, but who? Shigure? No, not that pervert. Hatori?
Ayame sighed again and pushed his hair back. He better stop all thoughts of Tohru before they hit dangerous ground. A part of him already decided that he was on dangerous ground.
