AN: Thankyou to those three kind reviewers. In truth, I wasn't expecting much, but I'm glad that you guys reviewed and told me what you think. Anyway let me continue on with my couple. Yes, MY couple. Hahaha! I am now the self-appointed owner of this couple, and I order all of you to write fics about them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Spiral – if I did, I would make them finish the damn anime, and Madoka and Ayumu would get together.

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Illicit: A Cold Shower

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They sat at the table, eating the lunch Ayumu had made. They had only gotten up about an hour earlier, awakening on the couch in a mass of tangled arms and legs. No verbal exchange was made, aside from the necessities. In other words, neither wanted to talk about the previous night. It was understandable; really, considering they had viewed each other as non-sexual entities, for most of the entire duration they had known each other.

But even though they both didn't want to talk about it, Madoka knew that they had to bring it up, sooner or later. Because, if they didn't, it would end up becoming a barrier between them, and they both didn't want that. Madoka tried to approach the situation as an adult but it certainly did not help that Ayumu was turning out to look like Kiyotaka. Judging from last night's actions, it was obviously just a twist of fate. Or more like, the twist of their bodies, she thought ruefully, as she peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. He was wearing his trademark calm-and-cool expression, and was eating at a steady pace. More like a robotic pace. How he could do that, she did not know, because the food he cooked was really quite delicious. He did bear some resemblance to his brother, she thought again, examining his face as if it were a rare specimen.

Firstly, he was handsome, just like his older brother. She was surprised Ayumu hadn't got a girlfriend yet – if she was his age, she would have probably shown some romantic interest in him. What she didn't know was that most girls in the school did harbour a crush towards her little brother-in-law. And he had turned down all of them – the ones that had gathered enough courage to tell him that is. However, unlike Kiyotaka, his personality seemed a lot brighter, and he was just…simply nice. How else could he have put up with her after all these years? He did the cooking, the dishes, the washing – basically he was a good housewife. Any girl that could get him would certainly be lucky, she thought.

In the middle of her scrutinising, he suddenly turned his head and looked at her. It was obvious he wasn't expecting her to be…well, staring at him, and he turned back just as suddenly, his face reddening. Madoka felt her own face redden as she looked down suddenly very interested in her food. Under normal circumstances, these types of small events would be insignificant, but now, after last night…it seemed like little things like this had been blown to full embarrassment. Madoka huffed mentally. She was the adult; she had grown past the stages of schoolgirl squealing and crushes. She should really stop acting like a kid, she told herself sternly. It wasn't as if anything was going to happen – or ever would happen. As she calmed her racing heart, she scolded her mind for even entertaining the thought of considering Ayumu more than just a brother.

As he was about to get up, she stopped him.

"Ayumu," she said, trying to keep her voice stern.

"What?" he answered nonchalantly.

She envied him for being able to keep his cool. "We need to talk." That would definitely get some reaction.

"Ok."

Or not.

But he sat back down at the table, crossing his legs and arms.

"You know…" she trailed off, trying to make him catch her drift.

He merely raised an eyebrow.

Madoka sighed. Obviously he knew, but he just wasn't saying anything. She couldn't blame him really; if she were in his position she would have done the same. "About last night," she said tentatively, knowing that there was about to be some 'holy' ground trampling in the next few minutes, "We need to talk about that."

There. That would save her the trouble, and he would have to explain.

"So, talk."

"Ayumu, we means us."

"Then you say your bit, and I'll say mine."

"I'd rather you say something first."

She watched as the teenager in front of her ran his hand through his hair. Ayumu took a deep breath. "Ok, sorry. I won't pick a boring movie again."

"Ayumu…" she warned. Over the years, he had developed a dry sense of humour that she had yet to be accustomed to. It was probably because there was nothing much to be serious about, so he had changed some of his seriousness into a dry disposition, which she didn't know if she liked or disliked. Well, this was one of the times where she disliked it.

"Sorry," he apologised. He looked away. "But what is there to say? You kissed me first," he said bluntly.

Madoka groaned inwardly. It was true; according to his position, there was really nothing he could say except, 'You kissed me.' She would probably have to explain it to him. Sighing, she spoke.

"Last night, when I fell asleep, I had a dream."

She looked at him. His expression was still the same.

"It was of your brother."

His expression stayed the same.

"Um…" This would be the hard part. "Well…obviously since we were married…I still have…those sorts of dreams about him…and I thought that you were him," she blurted out.

This time when she looked up, she could detect traces of red on his cheeks.

"Ah…" he said, seemingly lost for words.

"Sorry about that," she continued, daring herself to look at him. His head was down, presumably from embarrassment. "It's not that I actually like you, or anything," she said hurriedly, thinking that he might have been freaked out by her actions. "So, don't worry about it," she continued, not knowing that every word she said was digging into his heart.

"I'm not," he said, looking downwards. "I…I have to go," he mumbled, before standing up, his face still downcast.

Go where? Madoka watched her little brother-in-law grab his jacket, and head out the door. She was somewhat puzzled by his reaction, but reasoned with herself that he just needed a little space. However, there was still a little something inside of her that wanted him to stay.

- - -

The park. At this time, most people were having lunch, so it was empty, aside from a few couples and one family having a picnic. Ayumu sat down on a grassy bank, and closed his eyes. It wasn't like the words Madoka had said had surprised him – in fact he had been expecting something like that, but he had wanted to tell her how he felt. But when she actually told him that she didn't like him, he felt that he couldn't take the rejection. Besides, he had told himself, it would just create a barrier between them. Still, even though she had explained why she had kissed him the first time, she still hadn't explained why she responded to his kiss, and why she had kissed him again; a third time. She had definitely been awake then, and she had been definitely aware that he was Ayumu.

Sometimes he wondered if his love for Madoka was really just lust. After all, the reason why he had started to like her was because of her physical attributes. No normal human being could possibly like her for only her personality. True, she was nice, but that was only sometimes. Ayumu believed he had seen every single side to her – well emotionally that is. Possibly even more than his brother. His thoughts darkened slightly as he thought of his brother. So it was because of him.

Ayumu sighed. Oh well, if it wasn't for his brother, he wouldn't have been able to kiss Madoka – something he had wanted to do for quite some time. So, Ayumu thought that he probably should be thanking him, wherever he was right now.

"Ayumu!"

He turned his head at the familiar voice.

He acknowledged Hiyono with a nod, and turned his thoughts back to his brother.

"What's wrong?" she immediately asked. Unfortunately, the girl would not let him sink into his own thoughts.

"Nothing," was his automatic reply. When she gave him a meaningful (not to mention scary) stare, he sighed. "Just Madoka," he said.

"Oh?" By the way her voice curved at the end of her statement, it was obvious that she wanted him to continue.

"I kissed her last night."

Hiyono's eyes grew as round as saucers. "Really?"

"It's a troublesome story, but she had a dream of her husband and thought it was me."

"Oh." Her eyes grew a bit smaller. "But…don't you sleep in separate rooms?"

"Yeah, but we were watching a movie."

"I see." The girl pursed her lips together, thinking. "I bet she said later that she didn't mean it, huh?"

Ayumu just looked away.

Hiyono took his negative body gesture as a 'yes' to her question, and she cheerily exclaimed, "Don't worry about it! She'll find out that she really loves you in time."

Ayumu snorted. Even though is friend's words were ridiculous, he couldn't help but entertain the thought of what would happen, if it turned out that she actually had some sort of feeling towards him. It made him feel a bit happier at least.

- - -

"I'm home," he called out, as he left his shoes at the door. He checked the clock on the wall. 3:00PM

"Hello?"

When no one answered, Narumi made his way to Madoka's room. She was lying face down on her futon, apparently asleep. Her jumper was lifted slightly, exposing tantalising skin. He looked away, embarrassed, but not before casting his eyes somewhere between her upper thighs and her lower back, where the pant fabric stretched the most.

Three minutes later, he was in the shower, with the cold on full.

I should not think such things about my sister-in-law. I should not think such things about my brother's wife.

The last chant seemed to have the best effect, and his mind slowly cleared. Turning off the cold water, he wrapped a towel around his waist, and, gathering his clothes, opened the bathroom door.

- - -

Madoka had tried to reach for the door handle, but it suddenly disappeared. She couldn't see, because she was rubbing her eyes with her other hand. Overbalancing, she fell forward, but instead of hitting the bathroom tiles like she expected, she fell face first into a bare, and slightly damp chest, that smelled distinctively of Ayumu.

"Ayu…" That was all she could get out. Being pressed so close to him had effected her use of speech greatly, and it took great effort to breathe.

"Madoka."

She felt gentle arms take her by the shoulders, and she felt herself being stood upright. She looked up at him in thanks, noting that his face was red. Then again, hers felt hot as well. And since when had he grown so tall, she wondered, as she looked down at her feet, clearly embarrassed. However, the process of looking down at her feet meant that her gaze started at the top of his chest, down to well toned stomach muscles, then to – she blushed fiercely – and kept her gaze on the ground. Instead of the apologetic thoughts that she should have been thinking, she was thinking things such as, 'He sure has grown up' and 'I never knew he had abs' to 'Does he work out?'

"Madoka."

She looked up again, the sound of his voice snapping her back into reality. "O-oh…sorry Ayumu, I thought you weren't home," she explained hurriedly.

Ayumu stood there awkwardly. "Uh…yeah, I checked in your room and saw you sleeping, so I decided to have a shower."

"Ok." She sidestepped a little to give him room. As he brushed past her, she noticed his unique smell again, which lead her to look at him walk down the hallway – examining the muscles on his back. From a purely scientific point of view, she told herself, as she shut the bathroom door.

She would need to splash a lot of water on her face to help her regain control of her senses.

- - -

Ayumu sat down heavily on his bed, still clad in his towel. He turned his palms upward, and realised they were still shaking. But it was ok, he concluded. Faced under the greatest temptation, he had succeeded. Then again, he would probably need another cold shower.

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AN: Well, you came this far, might as well chuck me a review just to tell me how I'm going. I haven't got much, so I don't know much people's opinions. Please, do share! Thanks!