Summery; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Warning: LEMON in this chapter! I'll place a warning before and after it for those of you who don't want to see it.
Sorry it took so long to update. I've been kinda braindead on this one for a while, obviously. But I'm back and ready to roll! And I have surprises in store for those of you who actually read and keep reading this story...
Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggesetions, and helpful criticism welcome.
"Damn it, not you!" she sat down heavily, and then added, "And I'm not a girl – I'm twenty years old, for your information. My name is Aiko Sakajima."
"Sanosuke Sagara – wait, you know that," he remembered, and then sat down awkwardly. "This is way too weird – it figures. I just paid for half a night of nothing."
Aiko looked at him in surprise, and he noticed with some annoyance.
"Hey, I'm not a monster, okay?" he informed her. "I can tell you don't want to be here – I certainly didn't expect to find you in a place like this."
"I need the money," she said stiffly, and he nodded.
"Oh yeah, to get back home. Where do you live?" he asked, lying down on his back. She glanced at him, and then shrugged.
"Romania – my mother is Romanian," she told him finally. "I take after her in looks, mostly. My father is Taro Sakajima, a refugee from the Meji Revolution."
"Interesting," he thought, and cocked his head at her. "You don't look like a noble."
"I'm not," she snapped. "I hate when people call me that. I didn't even know anything until a few months ago, when –"
"When what?" he prodded, but she set her lips close together, obviously done talking about herself. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, she sighed loudly.
"That nosy old woman, the one you paid – well, you saw that I have a reputation for trouble," she forced out. "She's listening close by, I'm sure, to make sure I'm 'behaving.' She did it last night as well."
"And…you're not suggesting we…" Sano's eyes widened – not altogether in displeasure, after seeing the way the dress revealed her figure – and Aiko glared at him.
"No!" she shook her head, and then lowered her voice. "But…well, we have to do something, or at least make some noise. Or else she'll get suspicious, and I need the damn money."
"What are you suggesting we do then?" he asked, and she muttered something underneath her breath. "Hey, you're the professional here," he added, and instantly regretted when she paled visibly, and her eyes glistened in the dim light. "I'm sorry," he apologized, but she shook her head firmly.
"No, you're right," she said, almost as if she was convincing herself. "I am, I suppose."
"So…" Sano regarded her, and she shook her head, as if coming out of deep thought.
"Get on your stomach," she ordered, and he blinked.
"Huh?"
"Just do it," she hissed, and he complied after taking his shirt off. She gazed at him, and then mentally smacked herself. "Just because he's handsome doesn't mean he's worth it," she told herself firmly, and knelt next to him. "I'm not going to do much – just a massage," she told him, and he nodded, his chin resting on the floor.
She crawled atop of him, and Sano fought the images that a beautiful girl climbing on him brought. She began to knead his muscles expertly, and dug her nails in at certain pressure points, causing him to moan.
Hearing his grunts, Aiko forced her own desires down and continued roughly, venting her frustrations and embarrassment on his body. Sano alternately tensed and relaxed underneath her, and resisted the urge to roll on top of her and take her.
After a few minutes, Aiko paused and glanced up as the old woman's voice floated into the room.
"Is everything all right in there, sir?" she called. "She's not giving you any trouble, is she?"
"You have to be louder, damn it," Aiko hissed, and flipped Sano onto his back. He blinked in surprise at having her straddle him, and then grinned weakly.
"Sorry."
"Don't be sorry – be louder!" she informed him, "If she comes in, I'm as good as dead."
"I…can't…" Sano groaned quietly, at a loss to think of anything that would produce true noises – the old woman was experienced enough to tell fake from real.
"Sir? May I come in?"
"N-no!" Sano called, and they exchanged nervous glances. He didn't want to sleep with the girl, but he certainly didn't want to get her in trouble either. Suddenly, a determined look came into her eyes, and she stared straight into his eyes. She shifted, and her knees rested heavily on his upper thighs. Her hair had come loose, and fell around her face in soft waves.
Hate to break the flow, but here's the LEMON I warned ya about!
"I hate you," she mouthed silently, and dropped her kimono down, baring herself to the waist. Sano's eyes widened and she grabbed his hands, guiding them over her breasts slowly. He took a deep breath, and began to moan – loudly this time – as Aiko began to twist around, rubbing her hips and thighs against his suggestively. Feeling his desire growing underneath her, she resisted the urge to stop, and continued her motions.
After a few moments, the old woman was apparently convinced, as her footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Aiko knew she had left them completely alone this time. She stopped, still astride him, and gasped when his hands continued to touch her of their own will.
"You…you…" she grasped for words, but everything flew out of her mind as he thrust against her, and she was thankful she was still wearing her dress to keep a barrier between them. Sano merely grunted, and abruptly sat up. Aiko's legs automatically locked around his waist to keep from falling backwards, and he slid his hands down her body seductively.
"I can see why you cost so much," he said quietly, his hands sliding inside her dress. She stifled a squeak as he began to pull the dress off her, and soon had it cast on the floor beside them. She still had her legs around his waist, and he maneuvered her calmly as he began to undress himself as well.
Aiko's gaze locked with his as he lowered her to the floor beneath him, and she was acutely aware of their naked bodies touching.
"My turn," he whispered into her ear, and something in his tone made her shiver in both anticipation and fear. He shifted around, and one of his legs came in-between the two of hers, as his arms braced himself above her. He brought his knee up suddenly, and began to rub rhythmically against her opening. She groaned at the feeling, and arched against him in desire. Her thighs clamped around his knee, and her hands grasped his body as her body ached for his touch.
Lost in his own desire, Sano abruptly pulled his knee away, and held his erection against her teasingly. She gasped at the contact, and he crushed her lips with his own hungrily, sucking on her tongue. She responded eagerly, rubbing against him as well. He pulled his lips away at the exact moment he thrust inside her. Her shriek slowly died away into moaning as his hardness began to search inside her, the heat inside her setting her own body on fire.
"Sano…" she panted, and he pulled her to him, ensuring he was fully sheathed to the hilt. She groaned, and he grunted in response as her body was thrown into spasms underneath him. He finally pulled out after releasing his desire into her, and lay on top of her catching his breath. She panted underneath him, and the sight of her sweating body beneath his eyes caused his desire to quickly swell again.
Sanosuke forced inside her once more, after pulling her knees onto his shoulders to allow him complete access inside her inner sanctum, and their bodies intertwined tightly, as if they would never let go. In his mind, there was no thought of the past, or the future – the only thing that mattered was that he wanted her, she wanted him, and they were together at this moment.
Aiko, for her part, had never felt anything like this before in her life. She had been forced to endure the touches of men before, but they had always felt filthy to her – it was never an act of love. Sano's touch, however eager he was, was gentle to her, both sending fire through her veins and cooling her body at the same time. She responded eagerly to his caresses, positive she had found nirvana in his arms.
Okay, end of LEMON!
Sano woke the next morning on the floor, beside Aiko who was still sleeping soundly. He sighed in satisfaction at the memories of the night before, and glanced at her, suddenly feeling some shame.
"Some guy I am," he thought ruefully. "I said I wouldn't do anything, and here I go and sleep with her."
Aiko suddenly stirred, her face in the pillow. She looked around blearily, and moaned when she Sano under the blankets next to her.
"Aiko…" he began, but trailed off as she shook her head, her face hidden in the pillow.
"It was…it always makes me feel disgusting," she mumbled through the pillow, holding it tight enough that her knuckles grew white. "Sano…I'm sorry. I hate myself each morning it happens, but…I feel happy, Sanosuke Sagara."
He blinked, and his arm found its way around her waist.
"Me too," he said softly, and rested his chin on her head comfortingly, his head on the pillow beside her.
"What?" the old woman's jaw actually dropped, as Sano plunked more money in front of her later that morning. "What are you saying, sir?"
"I'm saying I'll pay enough that she doesn't have to work here anymore – she's coming with me," he said, his arm tightening around Aiko's waist. Unlike most girls, who worked to pay off a debt of some kind, she was here voluntarily – of a sort – but couldn't leave until she made a certain amount of money.
"Sir…this is three times the amount necessary!" the woman protested, and her gaze flickered to Aiko. "She was that…productive?"
"You bet," he winked teasingly, and Aiko resisted the urge to punch him in the ribs.
"Just get it over with!" she grumbled mentally, as the woman – still in shock that her problem employee was being bought off – counted out the money owed her. Taking it silently, she slipped it into her bag. Her fingers brushed against something, and her eyes widened slightly, but she didn't say anything – merely dragged him outside as fast as she could.
"What's the matter?" he asked, as they strode down the street. Aiko had pulled away from his grasp, and her face had fallen in despair. "Isn't it enough?"
"The…what I had…it's the wrong bag!" she said frantically, "These are tea leaves! I had rice paper! That girl!" she realized with a start.
"What girl?"
"The girl I ran into yesterday…we must have gotten the wrong bags," Aiko groaned. "Misao Makimachi, her name was. Where am I supposed to find her anyway?"
"Misao?"
"You know her?" she asked, hearing the surprise in his voice.
"Sure do. I can get her for you, and you two can exchange packages and go off on your own merry ways," he grinned, but there was a tightness around his eyes. Aiko sighed in relief, and then smiled at him.
"Thank you, Sano," she said simply, and he nodded. Aiko was dressed in a simple navy-blue kimono with pale pink cherry blossoms, but the simplicity seemed to only enhance her natural beauty even more.
"You remember Aiko, right, Kenshin?" Sano asked calmly, and Kenshin nodded, shaking her hand gently.
"A pleasure to meet you again, Miss Sakajima," he said, and then turned to Kaoru and Yahiko. "This is Kaoru Kamiya, my fiancé, and Yahiko Myojin, her pupil."
"A pleasure to meet, Miss Sakajima," Kaoru nodded eagerly, and Aiko flushed slightly.
"Aiko, please," she said, and then glanced at Sano nervously. "Is…Misao Makimachi here?"
"Huh? You know Weasel-Girl?" Yahiko asked, and Kaoru frowned at him.
"Yahiko!"
"So, she doesn't live here?" Aiko asked, clearly disappointed. Kaoru turned back to the older girl and shook her head.
"No, she lives a few miles away. She often visits – Sano can take you to their dojo however, if it's urgent."
"Well…"
"There's no need to come to our dojo," a voice said dryly, and the group whirled around in mutual surprise.
"Aoshi?" Sano asked blankly. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I believe, Aiko, you have my package," he said, holding out the similar-looking package.
"Aoshi?" Aiko blinked, and stiffened. "What are you doing here?"
"You two know each other?" Kenshin realized in confusion, and Aoshi nodded sharply. Turning his back on them, his voice floated behind him as he strode away.
"We have much to discuss, Aiko."
"Bastard," she muttered, and rushed after him, leaving the others in the proverbial dark.
"I didn't know you returned to Japan," he said calmly, as they strolled down the walkway. She looked a bit ashamed, and then glanced at him.
"Can I have my package, please?"
"You mean this?" he asked, handing it over. She placed his own tea into his hands, and then quickly checked the rice paper, sighing in relief when she saw it was undamaged. "That isn't a normal portrait."
"No, it's not," she shook her head, and looked back at him. "The rice paper isn't just dyed colors – it was dyed beforehand, and woven in for more texture."
"Who's it for?" he glanced at her sharply, and she shrugged in annoyance.
"My mother wants it," she told him, "It's a picture of her when she was young."
"You look exactly like her," he commented, and then raised his eyebrow at her. "Why was it so important?"
"Huh? Oh…well, they paid a lot for it, but…mother's going into depression, and father thought that a picture to remind her of happier times would do her good," Aiko said, a bit depressed herself. "I have to get back soon."
"I see," he nodded. Aiko looked at him suspiciously after a few minutes of silence. "What?"
"You could have sent that Misao girl," she pointed out, and he nodded solemnly.
"I'm not allowed to see my fiancé after over ten years?"
Aiko choked in surprise, and had to sit down on a nearby bench for a breather.
"I didn't think you would remember," she admitted, after being able to breath again. "Or care. After all, I was just a scrawny little girl, while you were…how old? Sixteen – seventeen?" She sighed in remembrance, and he looked at her in amusement.
"Well, you're certainly not a 'scrawny girl' anymore," he said softly, and enjoyed watching her color rise. "Are you going home alone?"
"I was planning on it," she nodded firmly, and rose to her feet. "I have my things – I should go say goodbye to the others, and leave as soon as possible."
"Hm…" Aoshi watched her leave in silence, and then strode off to his residence.
"You're what?" Misao demanded loudly, and he sighed.
"Misao, please, not quite so loudly."
"Aoshi, we need you here!" she protested, and he looked up.
"Misao, you're the leader of the Oniwaban now, remember? I'm obsolete," he laughed softly, and closed up his bag. "This girl needs my help – right now, you don't. Don't worry, Misao, I won't leave forever."
"I guess," she nodded reluctantly, and hugged him before he strode out the door. "Be safe, Aoshi."
"Of course," he stroked her head affectionately, and she watched him leave in confusion.
"What are you doing?" Sano asked, catching up to Aiko as she left the Kamiya dojo.
"Oh, Sano, I didn't see you at the dojo, so I thought you had left…" she trailed off, seeing the angry look on his face.
"So, you were just going to sneak away?" he demanded, and she glared at him angrily.
"We spent one night together, Sagara," she hissed, "I spent one nights with many men, remember? That doesn't make me your property."
He caught the finger that was poking his chest, and brought it to his lips gently. She blinked at him uncomprehendingly, and he smiled softly at her.
"Maybe…but we shared more than our bodies, Aiko," he whispered, lowering his head to her ear. "I know it, and so do you. You can't just leave like this on me."
"Sano…" she began, but he cut her off by kissing her – softly at first, and quickly increasing the pressure. Hearing someone clearing their throat behind them, they jumped apart, and Aiko spun around to face Aoshi, who didn't look the least bit pleased.
"Aoshi?"
"What're you doing here, Sagara?" he asked Sano quietly. Sano still had his hand on Aiko's shoulder, and only tightened his grip while returning the other man's cold gaze.
"Saying good-bye," he said finally and stiffly. Aiko glanced back at him, and he saw the distress in her eyes. "Don't worry," he said with a small smile. "You'll come back."
"I will," she nodded firmly, and turned to face Aoshi again as Sano strode off. "What do you think you're doing, Shinomori?"
"I'm accompanying you to Romania," he replied calmly, shouldering his bag. "Your father would not be pleased if he learned I had met you and had not seen you safely back home."
Aiko, at a loss for words, merely followed the former ninja down the road, her mind whirling with unspoken words.
"I'm a fool," Sano thought ruefully, kicking at a rock in his way as he ambled back toward the dojo. "Leaving my heart with a prostitute…and one that Aoshi looks at that way as well."
"Is there something wrong, Sano?" Kenshin asked quietly, and Sano looked up in surprise.
"Were you following me?" he asked, and Kenshin shook his head.
"No – I was on my way to town to pick up some groceries for Kaoru, and I saw you approaching. Are you all right?"
"What's it like to be in love, Kenshin?" Sano asked abruptly, and Kenshin blinked. "You love Kaoru, I know you do. What does…what does it feel like?"
"I can't really explain it," Kenshin began calmly, and the taller man's shoulders slumped. "However, I can tell you that there's no one I would let come between us, and I would do anything to remain near her."
"She said she'd come back."
"You're referring to Miss Sakajima, I presume?" Kenshin checked, and Sano nodded. "I won't ask why you think you feel like that about her, but she does not seem the kind to forget a promise, much less break one. I would not worry, Sano."
I'm uploading the next chapter right after this one! Please review!