Authoress' note: Sorry if some of the thoughts aren't formatted correctly, or words are smushed together. The interfaces for this site sometimes has bugs.

Original Character Interview.

by artisanrox

CHAPTER 14. CHECKMATE.

Akiko was torn between the odd behavior of her opponent, and the desire to melt into him. "You...you want to drink now?"

"Sure," Bankotsu said quietly into her ear. "Why not?" He nonchalantly flipped the hand around Akiko's waist toward the screen. "We have all day to finish this. Go ahead and have some." Enjoy it now, because soon you'll be on your wine-pouring and cherry-feeding duties, girl!

Against her better judgement, Akiko hesitatingly reached down and picked up one of the little jugs. She examined it, to find that the cork didn't seem to have been moved for a long time. She started to pull on the cork, figuring that maybe this jug of wine would be good, compared to the other wine she caught a whiff of earlier.

Bankotsu held her a bit closer, breathing heavily on the back of her neck. "So. Tell me why you have waterfowl on your kimono."

"They're my favorite bird," she began, trying her darndest to not mind him. "We have them all around our house, and I love watching the chicks hatch and grow all spring," she said as she struggled with the cork. "They're often regarded as the most beautiful waterfowl in Japan."

"Mm," said the young warrior, resting his chin on her shoulder. She really is pretty interesting. Maybe I'll just keep her for myself. Feh! Let the other guys hold some interviews and get their own damn wine-pourer and cherry-feeder!

"So my stepfather had this kimono made for me quite a while ago. I've gotten so attached to it, because it's so beautiful, and made just for me." She stopped pulling on the stubborn cork for a moment to laugh lightly. "Sometimes people don't recognize me without it on!"

"Mm-hm." Mm-hm. She'll be feeding me plums, too. And persimmons.

Akiko was getting annoyed with the cork, which refused to budge. She turned her head slightly towards Bankotsu. "This stupid thing!" she growled. "Are all of them this hard to open?"

"Oh, let me." He shifted his weight so he could use both hands. He slowly brought them both around her, and held the jug. He just barely touched the cork with the tips of two fingers, and the cork came out easily. He offered it back. "Here ya go."

Akiko was miffed. Trying to open the bottle was a great distraction from her opponent's debilitating charm. "You must think you're real smart," she said, utterly peeved.

Bankotsu chuckled a bit. He returned to leaning on one arm, but held her again firmly with his free arm. He inhaled deeply again, closed his eyes, and rested his cheek lightly against the top of the back of Akiko's head. "Nah, most times I'm dumb as a box of rocks." He opened his eyes. Akiko couldn't see the positively devilish grin on his face. "But I can sure drink Kyoukotsu under the table!" he laughed. He quickly amended himself with: "That's the really big guy out there. He's got a bottomless pit of a stomach."

Akiko held the little jug while listening to him. "Oh," she said. She brought the jug up to her mouth. She took a sip, but promptly spat it out. She wiped her mouth off and made a sour face. "Ugh! This is horrible! How can you drink this?"

Bankotsu lifted his head up from the crown of her head in surprise. He was left speechless, for once. He raised his eyebrows apologetically. "Uh...well, it is kind of old..."

"I'd think so. It's too sour for me." She wrinkled her nose and put the cork back in the bottle.

She felt him shift in back of her agin, and this time, he brought an arm up around her shoulders. "Hey, I'll make it up to you sometime," he whispered in her ear, holding her more closely.

Akiko was suddenly reminded again of where she was, who she was with, and how he had absolutely no clothing on. And the only thing separating him for her, was one piece of material.

"Uh...y-you know...we have something to finish..." Akiko stammered, feeling Bankotsu's hot breath in her ear again.

Bankotsu waved a hand toward the screen impatiently. "Let it wait."

Akiko drew in a sharp breath as she felt a pair of lips touch her ear. OMGNO, DON'TFREAKOUTYOUHAVESOMETHINGTOFINISH, OMGWTFBBQ!1!1!1, was all the poor girl could think.

She could feel his lips moving downwards, and he shifted himself around so he sat nearer to her side. Akiko sweated even more profusely, desire gnawing at every square inch of her soul. She folded her legs together, and Bankotsu brought one of his strong, dark thighs up against her own. The scents of musk and fine incense were driving her crazy. Her head spun around and around, and she never thought she'd be able to pick up her controller ever again to finish her job inter-

Job interview! This is a job interview! she thought desperately. I cannot let him distract me!

His lips were traveling downwards to her neck.

He suddenly stopped kissing her to slide around to face her. The unfulfilled desire for more made an unconscious little sigh escape from her mouth. Soon enough, his steely arms completely enveloped her waist, and her arms hung helplessly over them. Every muscle of his pressed into her body tantalizingly.

He looked into her face, and could see her eyebrows knitted in desperation as she locked eyes with him again. No! How could I face all the people back home that know about this stupid thing! I'd never be able to tell them how I didn't get the job! I couldn't say, "I lost the job because my interviewer was way too hot, and the leader of a band of infamous mercenaries, and he gave me some bad sake and then-"...aaargh!

Well, that is...if I ever see them again! she realized in horror, her eyes going wide. I'm going to miss so many people I love! After having a second thought, she contracted her brow. Well, except that weirdo down the street that likes to flirt with me every time I walk by his place to get to the market. I won't miss him.

Starting once more at the base of her neck, his kisses traveled upwards again, and once they teased the corner of her mouth, he sighed deeply. His lips rested millimeters away from fully meeting hers. "It can wait forever, for as much as I care," he said, his lips forming the words on her skin. I play to win, girl...and I can win against you, anytime. I. Like.

Akiko was a hairsbreadth away from allowing him to support her entire weight in his arms.

Akiko's thoughts rushed through her head as fast as Bankotsu was causing heat to rush though her body. But still!...if I do get out of here somehow, I'd be ruined for life and I'd want ALL my job interviews to be like this even if I don't end up getting a job!

"No!" Akiko mouthed. "No, no..."

Akiko placed her hands on his arms, and slid them up toward his shoulders.

"No...!" she mouthed in agony.

She planted her hands right over his face, and gave him a mighty shove. Bankotsu was caught so terribly off-guard that he was knocked forcefully to the floor with a loud grunt.

"NO!"

She made a frenzied dive for her controller, unpaused the game, and annihilated her opponent's character in one beautiful, clean, efficient blow.

Bankotsu lay on the floor, wide-eyed in sheer horror at Akiko. The girl, he just realized, who had resisted his charm, and ended up just totally kicking his ass. She was panting heavily, her palms on the floor.

Bankotsu let out an agonized scream.

The four eavesdroppers were stunned into silence. They exchanged a whole bunch of ominous glances.

"That sounded rather painful," noted Renkotsu.

Bankotsu flopped over and lay still on the ground, completely helpless. Just like his character.

She had done it. She had beaten him.