Leather and Lace
By: Maidens of Konan
(The most honorable Watase-san owns the characters and story of Fushigi Yûgi-no infringement is intended, and no profit is being reaped by its use. Any non-canon, original characterizations and plot lines in this work of fanfiction belong to the MOK (aka the author) . Disembarking to the chapter will begin in a moment. Thank you for flying with Konan Air, and have a nice day.
Chapter warnings: A smattering of profanity
Chapter Ten
He would have waited forever...
There was nothing that she say in return that would adequately express her emotions, so she simply went to Dante and hugged him tight, her head resting directly over his heart. His arms tightened about her, and she listened as his heartbeats ticked off the few precious seconds she could spend in the shelter of his embrace, then with extreme reluctance, raised her head and slowly pulled her arms from around his neck. "I'll see you in a few minutes?"
He kept his hands clamped at the sides of her waist, but allowed her to take a step back. "I drive a midnight blue SUV- it's parked right next to your car. I'll be sittin' right there if ya need me."
She gave him a look that said she thought he was being overprotective. "It'll be okay," she said, "but it's good to know where you are."
"Stuff can happen that ya don't expect!" He warned.
"He's not one to make a scene. He'll go quietly once I explain."
"I'll be stormin' the place and carryin' ya off if he doesn't!"
"You wouldn't!"
"Try me!"
The fierceness in his smile and eyes said that he was dead serious. The point was further underscored as he backed her up against the door frame, caging her between strong arms and a muscular torso, holding her gaze the entire time. His intent was clear, and she didn't resist when his head lowered to hers.
The kiss was hard, deep and honest in showing that it was all about claiming her rather than an expression of tenderness. She didn't hold back in her response, an equally passionate reassurance that his having to let her go at this moment didn't mean having to let go forever.
Almost as quickly as it had been taken prisoner, her mouth was freed.
"I'm goin' now, but remember what I said!" Dante growled.
She was left leaning against the doorframe as he turned and strode away in a manner that suggested he needed to put a safe distance between them.
Gathering her scattered wits, she straightened and hurried after him, stopping at the top of the staircase to call out a farewell as he begin his descent of the steps.
He stopped at the first landing, and then turned to looked up at her with an expression that made her heart melt and her knees disappear.
She impulsively blew him a kiss, a gesture she'd never performed in her entire life, but which now seemed like the most natural thing in the world to do.
Dante was clearly surprised. He stared at her for a moment, then came a smile, one that suggested that he was considering making good on his threat to carry her away.
Her pulse began to pound in anticipation; if he decided to do it, she doubted that she could or would resist. But raised voices and laughter coming from the apartment below them distracted and then appeared to dissuade him. He gave her a little salute, then turned and jogged down the rest of the stairs without a second look.
Miaka turned and scooted back into her apartment before she caved into the impulse to run after him. Once inside, she leaned her forehead against the coolness of the white steel door, pressing fingers to lips that still felt the impact of Dante's. She wished she had a mirror in the foyer. Did she look like she'd just had the living daylights kissed out of her? It certainly felt like she had...
I can't believe I allowed that with Taka right here! I need to control myself better than that!
"Hey honey, was someone at the door?"
Dropping her arm to her side, she slowly turned. Taka was standing at the opposite end of the hallway, barefooted, damp haired, and clad only in his suit pants. She knew from past experience that his casual appearance was significant; no socks and no tie meant he expected to stay with her well into the evening, and no shirt meant until the morning. At one time this kind of signal would have sent her into raptures, but now it only brought on a sinking sensation in her tummy, and an apprehension that bordered on panic. I have to tell him about Dante! I have to! Oh, he's going to be so hurt…
"Oi, Miaka!"
"Sorry!" She tried to make her smile look natural. "Yes, someone was here."
"So what were they selling?"
"Who?"
"The person at the door!"
Taka's voice held exasperation. No more stalling, he was losing his patience. A few plausible stories had crowded into her mind, but she discarded them, preferring to give at least a partially truthful answer. "It was the police officer who helped me out yesterday when I became ill. He stopped by on his way home to see how I was feeling."
"Oh really? Well why didn't you invite him in? I would have liked to have met and thanked him!"
"I didn't think it was a good time since you were in the shower." And not a good idea, period! None of us are prepared for you two to cross paths just yet!
"There aren't any laws against having a naked man in your apartment, you know." Taka said with a teasing smile. "I'm sure he wouldn't have thought twice about it."
"He heard you yell for towels, and he thought he should leave," she replied stiffly. I'm not lying. It's true.
Taka's smile was gone, and he was eyeing her with speculation. "So, how old is this guy?"
She wet her lips. "I don't know, I'd guess about your age."
"Did you happen to notice if he was wearing a wedding ring?"
Here we go, she thought. "No."
"No, as in you didn't notice, or no, he wasn't wearing one?"
"He wasn't wearing one."
Taka's eyes narrowed. "And he was off duty just now?"
"Yes." She shrugged. "He's based in the precinct station down the road. He was on his way home."
Taka frowned. "It's a good thing I was here then. Giving your living status to an unattached guy you don't know isn't a good idea, Miaka."
Though the argument was valid, and though the reason for Dante's visit was very personal, Miaka found she didn't like aspersions being cast on his conduct. What had happened between them wasn't his normal way of doing things, she was sure. And she had absolutely no doubt that he was the kind of cop who would go the extra mile and make a personal offer of help to anyone if he knew they had been having difficulties.
"He's a police officer, honor bound to protect!" She defended. "He was concerned!"
"It seems so...but I'd be willing to lay odds that this follow up had a lot more to do with his libido rather than a sense of duty!"
She folded her arms. "Was I not supposed to thank him for his concern or his assistance, then? I was supposed to shut the door in his face?"
"I'm not saying that! It's just that you have this tendency to be a bit oblivious of how men see you. And you're way too trusting of strangers-"
"And you have the tendency of being too cynical!" She shot back. "Officer Tager has acted honorably! I'm the one who's at fault-getting caught for speeding and having an attack of altitude sickness right in front of him because I didn't drink my water, and then-"
"Tager, eh?" Taka's brows drew together. "That name sounds familiar."
Miaka was diverted from her tirade. Logic said that Taka couldn't know Dante...if he'd ever met up with someone like Tasuki, she would definitely have heard about it. "I don't know why it would be," she said warily. "unless he's given you a ticket!"
"No, I haven't gotten any tickets." Taka shrugged. "Which reminds me, how much was your fine?"
"It was my error. I'm taking care of it!" She lifted her chin, her gaze challenging him to argue the point.
He held his hands up in a disarming gesture. "All right! But you could contest it, you know- the guy could have given you a warning, being it was your first offense."
"He actually offered to do that, but I said no."
Taka looked perplexed for a moment, then nodded. "That was the best thing to do, I'd rather you pay the full fine than to owe the guy a favor!"
He obviously thought she'd appreciate his approval, but she didn't. This aspect of his personality was something she regretted. "Are you that willing to malign someone's character without even knowing him? Is that what you've learned about Americans?" She asked, staring at him. "Just so you know, I've been the recipient of many kind gestures from all kinds of people I've met since I've been living here. When I've offered to pay them back, they just tell me to do something nice for someone else when I get the chance," she paused, "Americans call it paying it forward- if you haven't heard of it, maybe you need to get away from your profit minded mindset and go experience generosity for its own sake!"
There was a long silence in which Taka took stock of her advice.
"You're right," he finally said, "I'm sorry, Mi-chan."
"I'd like to think you'd have done the same for someone if you were a policeman." She said quietly. "You play the hard-nosed executive, but that's not who you are! You're a kind and compassionate person, even if you aren't allowed to show it at work!"
Taka sighed and rubbed a hand over his neck.
"I have gotten cynical!" He admitted. "I try to steer clear of the office politics, the backstabbing that goes on, but seeing it day after day makes it hard to take other people's good intentions at face value." His eyes shimmered with remorse. "I'll try to do better- I have to do better! And I will, just as long as I have you to remind of what's really important!"
Miaka gazed at him, surprised and deeply touched at hearing echoes of the teenage boy that used to put her feelings first. That young man was still there under all that plate armor...when he allowed himself to be that person. Perhaps Taka had been thinking, realizing that there was more to life that material things and status.
If only he could have had this epiphany six months ago. All it would have taken was a single step and she would have been back in his arms.
Not surprisingly, an image of Dante superimposed itself on that notion.
There's no going back...only forward.
"Thank you, Taka," she said, "I know you will be a good person even without me being there to remind you!"
He gave her a sharp look, but before he could reply, loud, plaintive meowing bundle of fur took center stage. Miaka crouched down to pick up her pet, and nestled Mizu comfortably into the cradle of her arms. As she began to stroke his silky soft back, Taka's gaze honed in on her bandaged forefinger.
"Hey! What happened here?" He asked, moving forward to touch it gently.
She kept her gaze on the bandage. "I got a little distracted when I was slicing a tomato for a salad. It looks much worse than it is."
Taka was shaking his head. "You can't lose focus when you're prepping. Those knives are as sharp as scapels- one of these days you'll end up cutting off a finger!"
She simply nodded.
After another brief silence he added, "You shouldn't have to prepare your meals after cooking all day at work. If you want, I'd hire someone to do it for you."
He didn't even realize yesterday had been her day off. "Thank you, but it's not a chore for me. I really like cooking."
She set Mizu down as she replied. Once deposited on the carpet, the cat slunk straight over to his human nemesis. In a display of blatantly insincere friendliness, the Siamese rubbed back and forth against Taka's pant legs, depositing thick strands of hair upon the charcoal-colored fabric.
Muttering something unpleasant under his breath, Taka nudged the cat away with his foot. When that didn't work, the nudge became a shove. Mizu responded with a hiss and a swipe of his paw before stalking off, and Taka swore as he inspected the fresh scratch on his left foot. "When you move in with me, that menace is gonna be de-clawed!"
"No he's not!" She corrected. "Declawing can be dangerous to a cat's physical and emotional health. I won't do it." And I'm not moving in with you either, she added silently.
Taka opened and quickly shut his mouth at seeing the warning in her eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he spun on his heel and headed into the living room.
Miaka was grateful that he'd given in without a fight. She moved quickly past the living room to the kitchen to put away her groceries, conscious that thanks to her poor time management, the clock was ticking away minutes that she could have been enjoying with Dante.
Taka had picked up the remote and switched on the television. She couldn't help thinking that if Dante were with her he would have been in the kitchen, joking and chatting and helping her to put things away.
The thought renewed her resolve to broach the subject of her impending date. As she rapidly cleared the counter of foodstuffs, Taka helped her out by providing an opening.
"Hey Mi-chan! Let's go see a movie!" He called out. "I've got the listings, it's your turn to pick, isn't it?"
Irritation sidetracked her. How can it be my turn to pick? He hasn't asked me to the movies since I got here! Or for that matter, before he'd left Japan, she thought, tallying all the things they used to do with friends that had fallen by the wayside. There's no assurance that it won't stay this way with him after he gets his promotion! The higher he rises in the company, the more responsibility he has, the less time he will have for family.
"Oi, Mi-chan! Can you hear me out there?"
He had turned the television off, evidently thinking it the source of her non response. "Yes, I can hear you!" Now. I have to tell him the truth now. Before this gets worse. It's not right for me to lie and pretend things are still the same between us.
"If we eat soon, we can still catch a matinee. There's a vampire flick playing at the Chateau, or maybe you'd prefer-"
It was now or never. "I'm sorry Taka, but I can't go to the movies with you tonight!"
His silence said that he was thrown by her refusal, but he recovered quickly. "I know it's short notice and you need to eat. We could eat out, if you'd rather not cook, or go to a late show instead of the last matinee- eleven bucks a head to get in and fifteen for a bucket of popcorn and drinks is outrageous, but it's not like I can't afford it!"
Miaka smacked the loaf of bread she had just picked up back down on the counter and strode out into the living room. "My cooking and and your money have absolutely nothing to do with it, Taka. I'm not going out with you!"
He threw up his hands and let them fall. "Jeez, Miaka, what is going on? You've done nothing but glare at me since I got here!I took the evening off to have fun with you! From our previous conversations, I thought you wanted to have more fun?"
"Of course I want to have fun!That's why I already had made plans."
She folded her arms across her chest as he gave her a peeved look.
"Can't you reschedule?"
"No, I really can't!"
"Why?"
Because I care about Dante. Because my world no longer revolves around you finding time for me. Because I don't want the kind of life you do. Miaka thought, ticking off the points in her head.
Aloud, she said, "Because I have a life, and I'm no longer waiting around to live it. And that's what I wanted to talk to you about-"
She broke off as the shrill summons of an incoming text message filled the air.
With an apologetic grimace, Taka went over and picked up his cel phone from the table and glanced at the message, name and number showing on the view screen. "Damn, it's Thornton! He wants me to call him, and I can't blow this one off!"
"Of course not, he's your boss!" She said, in a matter of fact tone. "Why don't you use the bedroom? It's more private."
He stared at her, his expression showing confusion and bewilderment at her calm acceptance mixed with pique at her refusal to rearrange her plans for him.
Miaka stared back, unmoved. His deeply ingrained loyalty to Mr. Thornton would compel Taka to answer the summons and leave her. This kind of dedication was second nature to him. It had served him well as a seishi in his past life, and it had brought him sucess in his career. She truly couldn't fault him for having it. Although she hated that he was a workaholic, that obligation was the best way to get him to leave without an all out fight.
"You sure it's all right?" He asked.
"You need to take the call, and I need to get ready to go out." Her smiled was unforced. "Honestly, I'm not upset!"
It was true- she wasn't sad or angry or bitter... and the reason why was waiting for her out in the parking lot.
"I'll have to deal with this, " Taka said, still staring at her, "but I think it's important that we sit down and discuss what's going on with us."
"Yes, it is." She agreed. "Just give me a time and I'll be there!"
He got up from the sofa and walked over to stand in front of her. She tilted her head back to look up at him, unconsciously admiring the strong line of his jaw and the solid breadth of his neck and shoulders. His arm lifted, hesitated, and then moved so that his hand could cup her check. The phone messenger went off again, but this time he ignored it.
"Miaka…whatever the hell it is that's going wrong between you and me, I'm going to fix it! I know I haven't shown it much lately, but you are the most important thing in my life!"
For a brief moment she allowed herself to think that she had won out over Thornton Investments, until his phone killed it by going off a third time.
His apology was in his eyes as his hand fell away. "I have to go."
Without another word, he turned and stode down the hall to her bedroom, dialing the cel phone as he went. She could hear him cheerfully greeting his boss as he shut the door.
While she waited for the phone call to end, Miaka finished tidying her kitchen. As excited as she was about going out with Dante, it was impossible not to feel sadness that her first romance was crumbling into ruins of memory. She'd never, ever stop loving Taka but it was time to face facts- she wasn't making him any happier than he was making her. They'd grown apart, he just couldn't see it yet.
She wasn't so starry eyed that she couldn't see that a relationship with Dante presented potentially significant problems; cultural differences, his blocked memories, and her feelings about Tasuki were all serious hurdles to overcome. The past might very well haunt them, yet she felt no apprehension in being with Dante in the present. What they shared was about more than attraction and chemistry and history- it was about understanding and agreeing upon what was most important in life.
Less than five minutes had elapsed when she heard Taka emerge from her bedroom and go right into the bathroom. Since the door didn't click shut behind him, she knew he had gone to retrieve his tie and his suit jacket.
She had judged it correctly- apparently, whatever his call had entailed was going to take him away for the rest of the night.
When Taka finally walked into the kitchen, he was buttoning the collar of his shirt.
As he finished straightening the knot of his tie, Miaka faced him and waited.
"I have no choice, I have to leave." He finally said, while shrugging into his jacket. "Thornton wants to see me right away!"
She eyed his stony expression and frowned. This wasn't an ordinary meeting, she thought, with sudden, sharp apprehension. Something had to have gone wrong. "This sounds very serious. What's happened?" She asked.
To her amazement, he gave her an answer. "If what I suspect turns out to be true, it's something that poses a cyberthreat and security breach for the company." He said. "You can't tell this to anyone, it's classified information, top secret!"
She looked him straight in the eye. "I won't tell a soul unless you're in some kind of danger."
"Fair enough." He agreed. "I'll give you the condensed version; someone's recently gained access to my client database and deposited unmarked files there. I don't know where they came from, what they contain, and I can't open them to find out. It's possible that they're security backups or an accidental duplication of previous files... but it could also very well be a hackers attempt to gain access to accounts for information. My files contain records of all of my clients' stocks, bonds, credit accounts, financial transactions and their personal assets, so they'd be a gold mine for some criminal who's in the identity theft business."
While she digested this information, he added, "Many of my clients are close to retirement age, and a lot of them aren't very trusting of computer transactions and electronic record keeping in the first place. If a criminal has broken into with their accounts, not only will it be incredibly traumatic, it'll totally shatter the trust they placed in me. I wanted to talk with Thornton before that has a chance to happen." Taka gave a short laugh. "Somehow my assistant managed to put the fear of god into Thornton's assistant and she was able to get me an appointment. He wants to meet with me as soon as I can get to his offices. But it messes things up for us. I can't tell you how sorry I am."
Miaka shook her head. She no longer wanted Taka to leave for her sake. She wanted him to leave to keep his people safe. "Go! They're counting on you, you need to take care of them!"
He put a hand to his neck, rubbing it in a distracted way. "Dammit, things have been going so smoothly, I got complacent. I should have been more vigilant and prevented it! Or at least caught it sooner! My clients trust me, and now because of me, they're in danger of losing their retirement funds or even having their identities stolen!"
He looked devastated, and she was astounded. It was rare for Taka to show such emotion- these days, he was the epitome of the phrases 'self-confident' and 'cool headed'! To have him let her into his world, to hear him finally confide something of importance, to see him looking vulnerable and uncertain for the right reasons, brought out an answering tenderness within her.
She was certain that his peers, the ones that she had been introduced to at various company functions, would have only cared about saving their own skin, or what the reward would be for making such a crucial discovery, or how they could use it to further their own prospects with the company. Taka's only concern had been preserving his integrity, the reputation of the company he worked for, and most of all, saving his clients from harm. Given that, maybe it was a good thing that this crisis had happened to him and not one of the others-at least this way, elderly customers had someone fighting for them that cared about them as people more than he cared about having a piece of their financial assets.
And she cared too.
"It's not your fault this happened, but it is important that you get it straightened out!" She declared. "Everyone who knows you, knows you're as honest and loyal a person as it's possible to be! You're doing the right thing in reporting this, and even if it turns out to be nothing, I'm positive that you won't lose face with Thornton-san!"
"I hope you're right." Taka replied heavily. "I can't shake this really bad feeling that everything I've worked for is about to be yanked away..."
He reached out, and Miaka went into his hug, trying to provide the solace he obviously needed. This was a true crisis, and further discussion of their deteriorating relationship could wait- she just couldn't bring herself to dump that on him at a time when he truly needed her support.
A moment later, as he pulled her closer and began softly kissing her ear and the curve of her neck, she managed not to stiffen, not wanting to upset him with such an obvious withdrawal of affection. And she wasn't unaffected- love, good memories, the strong, timeless bond they had shared as miko and seishi still existed, just as it did with Tasuki and the rest of the Suzaku Seven. Nothing could ever dissuade her from trying to help any of them, no matter the time, the place, or what their problems might be.
Which could also be problematic in her new relationship.
Dante had said he accepted her not wanting to totally sever contact with Taka. He said it, but thinking realistically, he would have second thoughts about it at some point. The only hope of Dante fully understanding her point of view would be if he would regain some memory of his prior relationship to her and Tamahome.
A meeting between Taka and Dante might be the trigger for those memories. But until they were prepared, a meeting like that could prove more traumatic than helpful to both men, especially once she'd laid everything out so that Taka understood her feelings.
There was also the question of Craig...Kouji...and why both he and Tasuki had been reincarnated into this world.
Was Konan in danger? Was something bad about to happen in this world? Would her other seishi appear in due time? Would Taka want any part of it once their relationship had changed? Would Dante be open to the knowledge that he'd once lived a life that flouted all conventional laws of science?
So many questions begging to be answered, but for now she had to keep them- and Dante's identity- bottled up. In the short term she could handle that, but considering how awful she felt about hiding the whole truth from Taka, and given how fast things were progressing between her and Dante, it couldn't be long before she would have to deal with it head on!
It was a good thing, Dante thought ruefully, that he had experienced many indeterminable waits on stake outs, or he'd have gone stir crazy.
As it was, his radio was on at a low volume, and he held a paperback copy of the best selling mystery he had bought a week ago with the intention of keeping it in the vehicle for surveillance ops. Since he had been reassigned to patrol duty, he hadn't gotten the chance to start on it.
He hummed along to the strains of the power ballad drifting from the speakers as he opened to the first chapter. At times like this, there was nothing better than reading a good book. Time always seemed to pass more quickly when he was reading, and hopefully it woulddistract him from speculating on what was happening up in Miaka's apartment.
She said she was gonna take care of it. I gotta let her do it t' show her that I trust her. Nothin' to worry about. That kiss said everything I need to know.
Yeah, it had been obvious that Miaka had been extremely happy to see him and equally clear that Sukinami's visit had been an unwelcome one. As pleasing as knowing that was, he wished to hell that he'd taken the time to call and tell her he was coming over before leaving the station. If he'd shown a little more consideration, Miaka wouldn't have ended up crying in his arms like she had. The sight of and feel of her tears had been like a knife to the gut.
He wanted to make her laugh. He hated being the cause of her distress. If he was going to show her a good time, he needed to mellow out.
Making a conscious effort to relax, he hunkered deeply into his seat and turned to the first page of the novel, prepared to lose himself in the world of mystery and suspense.
Three songs and two chapters later, he heaved an impatient sigh.
Okay, this ain't working. Got no idea what I just read!
He snapped the book shut, carelessly tossed it into the back seat and then began to cast about for another distraction. None was forthcoming, until he spied the small sketch pad and pencil tucked into the pocket his sun visor. He grabbed the items, then settled back in his seat, preparing to write down anything that sounded appetizing for a week of bachelor meals.
Five minutes later, his grocery list was finished, and in desperation, he began to doodle in the margin of the tablet. After a minute or two, inspiration hit, and he ripped out the list to start a fresh drawing. Although he hadn't done any serious sketches since his police academy days, he could still feel that indefinable something inside him, helping to guide his hand.
Several minutes later he stopped sketching and critically surveyed the rough but detailed head and shoulders portrait he had created. A pleasant feeling of accomplishment filled him as he looked at it; despite his long hiatus from artistic pursuits, he had managed to render an excellent likeness of Miaka.
Except for one small difference. Instead of leaving her hair loose and flowing, for some reason he had drawn itr caught up in two buns, one on each side of her head.
Weird. Why did I draw her like that? He frowned for a moment, and then grinned as a plausible explanation popped into his mind. Oh I see! Damn if I didn't give her Princess Leia's hair! Guess that's what I get for watchin' that Star Wars marathon last night. He scrutinized the picture. Somethin' is still missin' …
After short but thoughtful consideration, he quickly drew thick tendrils of hair that hung in front of her delicate ears and extended them beyond her jaw line, providing a soft frame for her lovely, heart-shaped face. As a finishing touch to the innocent look he'd given her, he added wide ribbons tied in a bow around the buns, drawing them in such a way that the bows hung beneath the rounded knobs of hair.
There. Dante thought, eyeing the picture in amused satisfaction. Holy shit, I'm glad she doesn't look that young in real life! I'd feel like I was robbin' the cradle!
He flipped the page over to begin a new drawing. Again, his hand flew over the paper, seemingly guided by some unseen force. In a matter of minutes he had completed a full length drawing of Miaka. Inexplicably, he had drawn her in a two piece harem ensemble straight out of Arabian Nights. Her feet were bare, and one arm was raised to the sky, as if summoning some great power to do her bidding. Dante shook his head, smiling at his whimsy.
Kinda melodramatic, but I wouldn't mind seein' her in a get up like that one!
Scanning the blank space behind his subject, his gaze fell on his tattoo and an idea formed in his mind. He set about sketching, and it wasn't long before a phoenix emerged, rising high enough behind Miaka so that its head hovered above hers, and its wings stretched protectively above and beyond her shoulders. Hey, that looks pretty cool!
So how long had it been now?
He glanced at his watch, and was immediately annoyed to see that a good forty-five minutes had passed since he had left Miaka's front door. Just how long did it take to tell someone to take a hike, anyway?
All right, that wasn't fair. Of course, he understood that it would be awfully difficult for her, and of course he was more than willing to wait for however long it took for her to come to him! Unfortunately, that willingness and understanding didn't keep his nerves from fraying, or prevent him from feeling insanely jealous of every extra moment she was spending with his rival.
No matter how good his intentions were, it didn't change the fact that he was the interloper in a long term relationship. If Sukinami tried to make love to Miaka, he, Dante, had no real right to protest. Taka was her first love, and they had a history that went back to their teenage years. That she could find the strength to start saying no to his advances after all that time was something that he hoped for, but couldn't fathom how she'd do it.
If she could do it. The guy had saved her life...
A loud snap reverberated into the silence.
Dante looked down, saw that the pencil he held had broken in half, and tossed the pieces into the back seat with a snort of self-disgust. At the same time, a flash of movement caught the corner of his eye. Slowly straightening out of his hunkered down posture, he cautiously peered out his front window just in time to see a dark-haired, well-dressed man rapidly descending the stairs from the third floor.
There was something awfully familiar about the erect posture and loose, confident stride, Dante thought, turning his head for a better view. When the pedestrian drew nearer to his position, he realized why. Although he had been stymied in his attempts to arrange a face- to- face meeting, he'd seen that lean, athletic build and the pretty boy face enough in the photos that he had gone through in his investigation of Thornton Investments to recognize who it was.
Taka Sukinami, in the flesh.
He continued to watch intently as the Japanese man passed by just a few feet from the hood of the Jeep, and then craned his neck to see what car Sukinami would approach. A derisive smirk curled his lip upon spotting the distinctive make of the vehicle.
Must be nice to own a brand new Jag! Guess money ain't everything though, he looks like someone died! Did Miaka really break it off with him now?
Though that was awesomely good news for him, Dante couldn't help feeling an instinctive, masculine sympathy for his rival. Getting dumped by a woman was the great equalizer among men- no matter how rich a guy was or how high a status he had attained in life, losing out at love was always a bitch.
He's gotta be a smart guy to do what he does, but that doesn't mean he understands women any better than the rest of us! But I'm not gonna start feeling sorry for him! He got himself into trouble, an' it's his own damn fault that she's not happy! I ain't gonna stand by and watch him take her down with him!
Thinking of Miaka and the fact that she was all by herself propelled him into action. After carefully closing and puttting the notebook away under the arm of his seat, he switched off his radio and yanked the keys from the ignition.
He waited, humming and legs jiggling with impatience, for the gunmetal gray Jaguar to turn out of the parking lot onto the busy street in front of the complex.
As the car faded into the distance, Dante bolted from his own vehicle and made a swift dash for Miaka's apartment.
When the door buzzer sounded, Miaka had just finished combing her hair and was scurrying around her bedroom trying to figure out what to wear. She stopped for a moment to smile at her pet, who was lying out in the hall, presumably so he could watch her and the front door at the same time.
"I think Dante must have seen Taka leaving, kitty cat," she said conversationally.
Mizu's whiskers twitched as stared at her.
"And I think he's going to have to wait a bit longer, because there's no way I'm going out in this outfit!" She exclaimed, after a glance down at her faded t-shirt and wrinkled shorts.
Running to the dresser, she yanked out a dark blue, midriff-baring halter top and denim shorts from a drawer and then hastily pulled them on. A full application of makeup was discarded in the interest of time, except for a light coat of mascara, and a dusting of powder to reduce shine. She quickly finger combed her bangs, hooked a pair of silver Kokapelli dangles into pierced ears, and dabbed perfume on the inner bend of her elbows and behind her knees.
She was ready. Ready for her first date with someone other than Taka. Though she felt pangs of guilt, she also couldn't help feeling excited about going out with Dante. Just the thought of being with him made her life seem so much brighter. The reflection in her dresser mirror confirmed that observation, showing an image of a rosy cheeked, bright- eyed young woman looking as if she'd just received the best present of her life.
The buzzer sounded again as she ran from the room. When she reached the door, Miaka checked the peephole out of habit, and smiled happily at what she saw in the tiny circle. "I'm here! Just a second!" She fumbled to unlock and open the door. "Sorry to be keep you waiting, but I wanted to change clothes." She added, somewhat breathlessly.
Dante grinned. "Don't go fussin' on my account! What you had on before was-" What he had been intending to say died on his lips as the door swung wide and he took in her full appearance. His cheeks darkened.
"Uh, check that," he drawled. "Ya look...really great!"
She smiled demurely. "Arigatou. I mean, thank you, Dante-kun. Would you like to come in now?"
"I would, thanks!" As Dante walked past her into the apartment, he surreptitiously glanced down to check out her pert tush, which was nicely showcased by the short shorts she now wore. Yep, just as cute and sexy as he had remembered. Maybe more so.
Miaka closed the door, then turned to face him, and his gaze jerked upwards to her face. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice his delayed reaction."So... is everythin' all right?" He asked, trying to make the inquiry sound casual and not as if his future happiness depended on her answer.
"More or less." She said, after heaving a sigh. "I told him I had plans, and was about to tell him why, and then his work called with an emergency and he ended up having to go in...and there went the discussion I was going to have. I got as far as him agreeing that we needed to have that talk, and...that's the way it stands."
Disappointment kept Dante silent. They hadn't called it quits. But...on the plus side, at least she'd turned down sex with the guy! She wanted to be with me tonight, not him. That's consolation enough to be goin' on with right now.
"Well then, are ya ready to get outta here?" He asked, forcing a cheerful tone.
Miaka smiled. "Definitely! May I ask where we're going?"
He brightened. "Ever eaten at The Sonic?"
"Is that the drive in restaurant with all the flags on the roof?" She asked, and he nodded. "No, not yet. What kind of food do they serve?"
"All-American food at its finest!" Dante boasted. "Things like double cheeseburgers, chili dogs, root beer, fries, shakes, onion rings…an' it's served by carhops on roller skates like in the good ole days. It's a real fun place, I can't believe ya haven't been there yet!" As a sudden thought occurred to him, his voice wavered with uncertainty. "Unless you'd want someplace nicer. It's not exactly gourmet cusine."
She shook her head and laughed. "I might cook fancy things for a living, but a good burger is a classic that has no competiton!"
His smile returned in force. "All right, The Sonic it is!"
"Just let me grab my shoes and my purse!" She said, smiling back at him as she disappeared around the corner.
Dante wandered to the living room and then back onto the entryway, trying not to think what they could do now that he finally had Miaka alone. Well, not totally alone, there was the cat. But he had the feeling Mizu was a discreet kind of kitty. Right now, he was nowhere in sight.
His date reappeared, purse and keys in hand. He silently admired her dainty feet, now shown to advantage in navy blue sandals, and then asked, "So where did your kitty get himself off to?"
She smiled. "Mizu's asleep on my bed."
Dante grinned. "What a lucky little fuzz ball! I bet he's purrin', too."
Her blush and laugh came easily. "Mou! Dante-kun is a pervert!"
"Another service I offer!" He joked. "I call it part of my charm."
"It is, actually."
Her smile was guileless, but her eyes betrayed her desire for his touch.
As his own sexual response surged through him, Dante hastily averted his eyes to his watch. "Wow, look at the time! I bet you're hungry."
"I am..." she murmured, "...famished!"
The catch in her voice grabbed his attention, and he looked up just in time to see her gaze briefly stray to his groin. He felt himself harden under her perusal, but this time made no effort to hide what was happening. He simply hooked his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans.
When their eyes met, she looked adorably flustered.
He smiled and stepped back, holding the door for her.
"Ladies first!"
As Miaka walked past him, her perfume teased his nostrils.
It took every bit of his willpower not to grab her against him and bury himself in that scent.
They exited the apartment, which Miaka locked up, and then made inconsequential small talk as they descended the stairs and walked to Dante's vehicle.
As he opened the door and she got into the SUV , Miaka was acutely conscious of the tension between them. A highly pleasant kind of tension, the kind that came from being locked into an ancient and ritualistic mating dance replete with circling and feinting moves that promised but never quite involved contact.
Eventually the dance would come to its conclusion. But who would make the move that would finish it?
As she buckled her seat belt, an image of herself as a cavewoman popped into her mind. Going with her muse, she pictured her primitive self hitting an equally Neolithic-looking Dante over the head with a club and dragging him off by his flaming red top knot... and almost choked on a laugh.
"Everything all right?" Dante asked, as he settled in beside her.
"Couldn't be better." She assured him, now imagining what they'd be doing once she got him back to her cave.
He eyed her with suspicion. "You daydreamin'?"
Her smile widened. "Mm-hmmm..."
"We're headin' for trouble! I'll have to deploy a distraction before we have melt down!" Suiting his actions to his words, Dante quickly reached under his seat arm and brought out a notepad, which he tossed into her lap. "Here ya go!"
She cast him an inquisitive look as he buckled his seat belt and started the engine. "What's this?"
"Just a couple drawings I did while I was waitin' for ya. I'd like to know what ya think of them, an' please be honest, okay? I'm very good at takin' criticism."
His face was tinged with red, and he wouldn't meet her eyes. giving her the distinct impression that despite his brash words, he was nervous about her looking at his sketches.
"If you're the artist I'll love them...even if they suck!" She teased. "How's that for being honest?"
Dante's blush deepened. "Pretty damn good."
She grinned at his profile before picking up the notebook on her lap and opening its cover with a flourish.
As the top page came into view, Dante folded his arms and stared down at the steering wheel. From his reaction, Miaka suspected the drawings might be of her.
But whatever she might have expected from a portrait did not prepare her for what met her eyes.
She stared down at the innocently rendered drawing of herself as a fifteen year old schoolgirl with ribbon-tied odangos, shocked to the core.
Then, without warning, the tears started to flow.
To be continued…
Reviewers will receive two scarlet hair ribbons and a package of marshmallow kitties (compliments of Mizu!)