I have finished chapter 3…

Here it is! Thanks for your reviews… I loved them!

Enjoy…

My special thanks to my beta as always…

A Second Chance - Chapter 3
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How much time is required for someone to forget? The answer to the question was standing in front of her when she opened the door. Time is never enough to make strong feelings fade away. Sometimes it makes them even stronger…

Mikoto had come to her. She had done what Mai wanted so much but didn't have the strength to do…

She was standing there in front of her, soaking in the rain. Her eyes were glittering in the dark and for once more she felt like looking into cat's eyes. In the strangest way these eyes looked golden in the daylight and bright green in the dark and they were hypnotizing her…

'She's so beautiful… so perfect…' These were her first thoughts when she faced her and then Mikoto's lips were on hers and these thoughts were lost, replaced by a different one. '… and she's mine…'

Mai never expected that just a kiss could mean so much for a person. The moment that their faces touched was the same moment that their hearts touched, becoming one that was beating for both the two of them.

Mikoto held her so tight that she could hardly breathe but maybe this wasn't the only reason…

Need and desperation had brought Mikoto to Mai's door. She practically ran all the way from her house to Mai's, not caring about the late hour, the bad weather, the rain that stroke her cheeks as she was increasing her speed. Not caring if what she was doing was right or wrong. She had followed Mai and she knew that she always would…

Mai's smile, Mai's heart, Mai's soul… she wanted everything and she knew that in order to have them she'd have to give hers to Mai as well. And she wanted this. She was Mai's from the first day that she saw her on that ship. From the first time that she heard her sweet voice… She couldn't let her go.

Only a few minutes had passed since Mai's leaving, but they felt longer than all the years she had passed without her. Mikoto couldn't remember herself running so fast before...

When the door opened and Mai appeared in front of her, her heart came back to its place. She didn't know that it was possible for someone to feel relief and sadness at the same time. Mai's presence made her feel safe and complete, but it was something that would last for so little! She had no right to ask for Mai's complete attention.

For once more she caught herself admiring Mai's beautiful characteristics, her eyes, her lips… She couldn't help but thinking it again and again, these soft trembling lips... She never wanted something so much in her whole life! She wanted to kiss a woman and not just a woman. It was Mai! 'Why?' She hadn't been attracted to women before! 'What's happening to me?' It was weird… She had the desire to hug and kiss Mai like she had never done with any man…

And she did. She found herself kissing Mai, holding her and 'Ah my god!' Mai was kissing her back! This was the greatest thing in the world! She was melting inside the woman's embrace and her mind had stopped functioning. Her body was moving on its own…

She broke their kiss and looked at Mai. 'This isn't a dream, is it?'

"Mai…"

"Please don't say anything… Just kiss me…" No matter how long their kiss had lasted, it was never enough.

Mikoto was more than willing to fulfill Mai's request… And then Mai loosened her grip and left her. She watched confused the woman getting away from her and then she realized that all this time the door was open. Mai closed it, muting the sound of the heavy rain. Mikoto felt a chill on her body and noticed the large wet stains on Mai's clothes. Her own clothes, her hair were dripping on Mai's floor, making a small pool of water around her shoes.

"You should change your clothes if you don't want to catch a cold." Mai was smiling. "Come here. I'll give you something dry to wear."

She followed her into the bedroom where Mai searched inside a drawer and got out a pair of pyjamas. She handed them to Mikoto, but when she faced her she saw that she had taken off her blouse and was standing with the upper half of her body covered only by a light-blue bra. Discomfort made her look away.

"I'll leave you change your clothes." And she was out of the bedroom.

Mai stood by the closed door, hearing the sound of clothes as Mikoto was changing into the pyjamas. Why did she feel embarrassed seeing her in a bra? She had seen her completely naked so many times when they lived together. It was ridiculous! Besides she had felt the girl's breasts against her body just a while ago when she was kissing her…
"Oh…" a small sigh escaped her mouth and the room started spinning.

In her mind Mai still had Mikoto's figure, dressed with the small bra. A smile followed the thought of Natsuki's bra being too large for Mikoto's breasts. Well, now it would be too small, that's for sure! She felt her cheeks on fire when she thought about her well shaped breasts…

'Tokiha Mai! What are you thinking!' It was her consciousness, her logical self that tried to make her realize what she was fantasizing…

The door opened and Mikoto appeared, full dressed this time.

"How do I look?"

"You're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen!" What Mai said was true. Mikoto was amazing even when wearing something so simple like pyjamas.

"Thank you!" She bowed in front of Mai.

"Well, I think I'll change into something dry too." And she got inside the bedroom again. She found a light nightgown and closed the drawer. She turned around and saw Mikoto sitting on the bed, not making any move of leaving Mai alone to get undressed. 'Well, she's seen me naked before… And I won't be completely naked, so…' She decided not to ask her to leave. She smiled to Mikoto and turned her back to the girl, taking off her blouse and skirt.

But she didn't put on her nightgown yet… Her body didn't seem to obey her commands to move. Surprisingly, it might refuse to move but it could feel perfectly… It could feel the eyes of the young woman staring her and the shivers that the gaze was causing, running down her spine, her every single pore of the skin quivering… She heard the movement behind her and she turned around.

Mikoto had stood up and her eyes had such a hungry look that left Mai breathless. She looked at this expression, her slightly parted lips and Mikoto slowly 'oh so slowly!' approaching her.

Mikoto was placing a lightly sweated hand on her cheek and she looked into the eyes that were coming closer to hers as she was leaning forward to kiss her… Mai's eyes closed, leaving the world out and concentrating on the kiss.

A single touch of Mikoto's tongue on her lips was asking for permission and permission was granted. A small muffled moan was Mai's reaction to the first contact of Mikoto's tongue on hers and her hand was on the girl's neck pressing her mouth on her own…

Mikoto couldn't hold herself back anymore. She wanted more… She wrapped her arms around Mai, while kissing her in the most intimate of ways and tried to make her move. She pulled her until they reached the bed and broke the kiss to look at her as she was gently pushing her on the bed.

Mai was lying panting, staring at Mikoto who took off the pyjamas and leaned over her to kiss her again. She felt the weight of the younger woman pressing her on the bed and then their lips separated. Mikoto was staring at her breasts, placing a hand on her bra caressing her.

"These are mine…" Mikoto's tone was a low and demanding.

Her head was lowered once again but this time over a different part of Mai's body. Mai gasped when Mikoto placed her head on her breasts rubbing her face on them. Her hand touched the wet black hair pressing the head on her body and she felt that in any moment her chest could open up and let Mikoto inside…

"Mai." Mikoto was dreaming this moment for so long! The moment that she would feel Mai's body under hers and she would rest her head on her soft chest. She had missed this so much! Just like the old times! Well, not exactly because Mai wasn't holding her like that or panting or making these incredible little sounds every time Mikoto was rubbing her cheeks on these pillows…

She felt something hard pressing her under the bra and she pushed aside the material to expose a dark nipple. She gave it a quick look before wrapping her lips around it, sucking it softly.

Mikoto's hands were roaming on her body touching her, taking off her bra and she felt once again Mikoto's lips on her breast… This was the sweetest torture!

Mai had the desire to touch the girl, but when she put her hands on Mikoto's body she felt the cloth of the bra instead of her skin. 'Stupid clothes!' She got rid of the bra in an instance and she started fondling her body. Mikoto's mouth traveled upwards on Mai's collarbone, on her neck and stopped behind her earlobe and Mai felt her hot breath on her ear. Her hands were on the bottom of the girl and soon on her thighs and between their bodies on her lower belly… Mikoto made a strange hoarse sound and raised her body just a little to make space for Mai's hand that was moving lower and lower…

Mai continued exploring, touching… Mikoto's lips were once on Mai's kissing her before she started moving her hips against Mai's hand. The rhythm of her body was slow at first, just a light move, but started becoming quicker and harder as her desire was building. With eyes wide open Mai was watching the person above her. She couldn't believe that it was Mikoto the person who was there with her, causing her such emotions…

"Mai!" Mikoto called her name as she was reaching her climax, her body shaking. She was panting hard when she lied on Mai, tired. Mai put her hand on her back caressing her, waiting for her to calm down.

Only a few seconds had passed when Mikoto started moving again, kissing Mai's mouth, her breasts, her stomach and aiming lower, to a place she had never kissed before. She wanted to return the favor to Mai, to make her live what she had lived…

Mikoto looked at her eyes and saw the flame that was lighting them, before touching her. Mai almost screamed, but this was not all, because she surprisingly saw Mikoto's face moving closer to the place where her hand was.

She closed her eyes as Mikoto was giving her such pleasure that she couldn't handle it. But it wasn't enough. She wanted more and Mikoto continued giving her what she wanted, until she felt the first wave of orgasm, and then another and another. She heard herself shouting Mikoto's name as she found release.

When she calmed down, Mikoto was lying over her, hugging her and she felt satisfied and full. Their bodies were covered with sweat but they didn't mind. They were holding each other tight, unable to believe that all this had really happened.

Mikoto was in heaven. She didn't know that sex with someone could be so intense, so wonderful, so amazing. She wasn't a virgin. She had experienced sex before but it was nothing like the feelings that she lived a while ago. Well, her partner wasn't a woman but she clearly understood that this wasn't the reason… Mai was bringing all these emotions… After sharing something like this with her, she felt their bond stronger than before.

"I love you, Mai."

She had said these words so many times before! But now these words had a complete different meaning. They belonged to each other. They both knew; there was no need for any of them to say it.

"I love you too." Mai was speaking in a soft tone. "I've loved you since I first met you. Do you remember that ship?"

"How could I forget?"

"I met both you and Natsuki on that ship… I was really afraid of Natsuki after that, you know! Who would think that this angry little girl would have such a kind heart?"

"Ironic, heh? I thought she was a bitch, too." Mikoto laughed.

"Do you know that my first kiss was with you?"

"What?"

Mikoto's surprised expression brought up Mai's giggle. Mikoto couldn't remember kissing Mai before… Well, she had kissed her on her cheek, but she was sure that this wasn't the kind of kiss that Mai meant.

"When I was on that ship we found you unconscious, floating on the sea. You nearly drowned and I performed CPR on you, since no one knew how to. I was disappointed back then; that I had to give away my first kiss like that, but now I'm glad… Sometimes I think that this kiss was the reason that our bond is so strong."

"It was you…" Mikoto was told that she was saved by someone on the ship but they never mentioned who.

"And then Natsuki appeared and I had the chance to see you fight. I fell in love with you, watching you trying hard to fight with that huge sword… I loved your swift moves, your unbelievable strength…"

"Miroku… So many years have passed and I still miss him."

"Yeah, I know. I miss Kagutsuchi too. It's always hard to separate from someone you love."

"Yes, it is…" Mai's words had a double meaning.

"Mai, please… don't ever leave me alone. I don't know if I can live without you."

"Mikoto, did you ever think that I would leave you?"
'It was you that left me in the first place.' She thought it but she didn't say it. There was no point in remembering things that hurt. She was there with Mikoto and that was all that mattered.

"My life has no meaning without you. You are the source of my smile. It had left me for all these years and came back the moment I saw you today."

Mikoto's respond to Mai's words was a soft kiss. It didn't have the intensity of their previous ones that were filled with desire; it was a kiss full of love and gratitude. Mikoto was thankful for all the things that Mai had taught her. She used to teach her the ways of life when they were together but oddly and after this, through her absence as well.

"Thank you. When you performed CPR on me, you didn't only save me from death. You saved me from a life without love and happiness."

Mikoto felt complete. Now she had everything she ever needed. Mai and Reito…

Mai's mind suddenly started working at full power.

"Mikoto, won't Reito worry if he returns home and you're not there?"

"Don't worry. I left him a note that I might sleep over at an old friend's place!" Mikoto grinned. "So I can stay all night here with you!" She closed her eyes and rested her face on her favorite place.

"My little clever Mikoto!" Mai's hand was raised and placed on Mikoto's head, gently stroking her hair.

It was the happiest moment of her life. Mikoto had admitted that she loved her. And not only this, but she had showed it by the most undoubted way…

If someone had told her that tonight she'd be holding Mikoto in her hands she would have laughed. But now…

"Mikoto."

She looked at the girl's adorable face. She had fallen asleep.

"My love…" The last was a low whisper, words that she had never told to another person. She turned off the lights and pulled the covers over their naked bodies.

'Tomorrow I'll take the day off from work.' The thought of a day spent with her precious Mikoto made her warm her inside. Her boss could say whatever she wanted! For so much time she was always perfect at work, it's time to get a little bonus for it.

Suddenly she felt like she could endure anything. She caressed the source of her confidence and closed her eyes. Tonight there would be no bad dreams. No feelings of sorrow and pain will greet her when she'll wake up. She didn't have anything more to ask from her life anymore… This was happiness.

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The first sunrays that snuck through the window lightened the room and revealed the sleeping couple. Mai had wrapped her hands around Mikoto, who was using Mai's breasts as a pillow. Their position was the same exactly with the one that they had fallen asleep. As if their bodies subconsciously didn't change positions in their sleep, just to remain in each others arms.

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A few hours had passed since the sunrise, when Mai opened her eyes. Blinded by the light in the room she quickly closed them again. And then she noticed the weight on her body and the memories of the previous day started coming back one after another…

She opened her eyes and looked at Mikoto's peaceful sleeping face, half buried in her chest. The brightest smile that ever appeared on her face showed the nature of her emotions.

She softly pushed Mikoto aside and got up. 'What a beautiful shiny day!' She walked to the wardrobe and picked a pair of jeans and two T-shirts. She left the one on the bed, near the sleeping Mikoto. After making sure that the girl was covered with the sheet, she walked to the bathroom to have a shower.

The warm water streaming down her body was refreshing and without realizing it she was singing an old tune.

When she got out of the bathroom, she headed for the kitchen. Mikoto would be hungry when she'd wake up… The breakfast was prepared within a few minutes. Now everything was ready. Her heart melted at the thought of waking up Mikoto with small soft kisses…

The sudden sound of the doorbell made her yelp. She knitted her eyebrows, wondering who might be so early in the morning.

'That stupid woman!' No doubt, her boss must have sent someone to wake her up! She looked at her watch. 9 am. Maybe it's Tanake-san! She smiled. She used to work with him at the office, so if her boss would send someone, it'd be him. She knew that he had a crush on her… He was always so shy when he was talking to her!

The doorbell rang once again and Mai's smile grew wider. 'Impatient as always.'

She walked to the door and opened it… and stared petrified at her visitor. The vision that she faced took away her smile… He must have stolen it, because a similar one appeared on his face right after she lost hers… She had completely forgotten about him, as if a night with Mikoto had erased his existence from her mind.

She took a better look at his appearance. At his blue suit, his dark hair, his handsome face, this shiny smile…

'How did he-?' She didn't know what to think! The man spoke in his manly voice that she clearly remembered.

"Good morning Mai!"

"Good morning Reito."

She was standing by the doorframe looking at him, without inviting him inside. She thought about the naked Mikoto in her bed…

And all of a sudden his smile was not so shiny anymore. Mai heard a slight movement behind her back and out of instinct turned around to check what it was. Mai's stare hadn't yet reached her, when she heard her voice.

"Ani-ue?"

She gave a terrified stare at Mikoto… Mikoto who was wearing only the T-shirt that she had left on the bed…

'Shit!'