Akito downed what felt like the thousandth dose of cold medicine that week. With the colder winter weather came the common cold, and it seemed to bring it along every year, without fail. Like a relative with a lackluster Christmas gift, and when you thanked them with a smile just to be polite, they thought the gift had truly been appreciated. So, they gave the same gift every year. And every year, came the same forced smile and 'thank you.' And the cycle continued on.
Akito coughed and groaned as she lay back on her bed. Outside, she could hear some of the Sohma children playing. Evidently, Haru had lobbed a snowball at the back of Yuki's head and thought it was very funny. Yuki failed to see any humor in the situation. Any other day, Akito would have gone to the window or veranda to tell the children to quiet down or play somewhere else. However, today she couldn't bring herself to move that far out of the warmth and comfort of her bed.
"Will you need anything else, sir?" The maids asked after pouring out a cup of green tea with honey to soothe Akito's throat, meanwhile moving to help her sit up in her bed and give her yet another layer to wear as if the heated blanket and multiple space heaters in the room weren't doing enough.
"Can you pass me the phone?" Akito asked, pointing over to the landline that may just out of her reach.
The maid nodded and brought the phone over dutifully.
"Thank you. That's all for now." Akito said without looking at the servant. She punched in the numbers she knew like the back of her hand and put the phone to her ear, listening as the other line rang.
After a few more rings, the other line picked up.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Akito?" Shigure drawled.
Akito hated how she could practically hear him smiling.
"I'm bored. You're not busy, are you?" She replied.
"Actually, the thing with college is that they tend to keep you extremely busy," Shigure replied dryly.
"You're going to college for literature and writing. It's not like you're pre-med like Hatori." Akito replied, reaching over to the spoon in her tea and swirling it around absently.
"Rude. I'll have you know I'm extremely busy, What with all the readings and writings I need to do."
"Right. Well, you should come over here."
"Should I?"
"Just come over."
"Do I hear a 'Pleeeeaaasssssseee Shigure? I'll be your best friend?'"
Akito rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting up. "Shut up. Just come over here."
Shigure laughed. "I'll see you in about five minutes."
Akito smiled as they hung up. She sipped her tea and waited the few long minutes in relative silence. As a sort of fanfare for his arrival, Akito overheard some of the children outside calling to Shigure to play with them.
"Next time, Haru, pinky swear. I shouldn't keep Akito waiting." Shigure called back to the boy.
"You're more of a chicken than a dog." Harsuharu taunted.
"I'm gonna remember you said that, Haru. Then you're going to learn the true meaning behind the old adage, 'Karma's a bitch.'" Shigure replied.
A few moments after the conversation died down, there was a knock on her door before it slid open.
"Shigure," Akito said as the other man walked into the room.
"Good afternoon, Aki. God, it's toasty in here. Are those maids trying to cook you alive or something?" Shigure replied, taking mental note of the numerous heaters in the room.
"They think it'll make my cold go away faster," Akito replied with a small smile.
"They'd be better off just replacing your immune system entirely, I think. You're gonna get a fever being this hot." Shigure said, shaking his head and turning all but one heater off.
"If I don't have one already." Akito agreed.
"How long have you had this cold?" Shigure asked, walking over to press the back of his hand to her forehead. "It doesn't feel like you're any warmer than usual."
"It's been a few days now. Apparently the common cold warrants confinement to a bed now." Akito sighed.
"Knowing your body, it might." Shigure hummed. "So, why'd you call me over here? Bored?"
"Painfully," Akito admitted.
"Okay." Shigure hummed, sitting down on the floor next to her futon. "Why don't we play a game, then?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"It's called Truth or Dare. I saw it in an American movie a little bit ago and I looked cool."
"How do you play?"
"Well, we'll do rock, paper, scissors, and whoever wins gets to ask the other person 'Truth or Dare' first. If they say 'Truth', then you'll ask them any question and they have to answer truthfully. If they say 'Dare', then they have to do whatever you say."
"This sounds fake. I think you made all of that up."
"I swear to you I didn't. I would never lie to you, Aki."
Akito hesitated for a moment before sighing and nodding. "Okay, we can play for a little bit."
Shigure smiled at that and held out one fist. Akito moved her tea out of the way to avoid spilling it and put her own fist out. Akito held out scissors, Shigure with rock.
Shigure smiled at the little victory. "Truth or Dare, Aki?"
Unsure how far Shigure would go right away, Akito decided to play it safe. "Truth."
"Ummm…. have you ever had a crush on anyone?" Shigure asked.
Akito blinked at the question. She felt her cheeks warm slightly. "Yes." She replied honestly.
"Really? Oh my god, who is it?" Shigure asked eagerly.
"You only get one question per Truth, you know," Akito replied.
"Ahh, you're right. Okay, I'll back off." Shigure chuckled. "For now."
Akito rolled her eyes and put her fist back out. Shigure did the same. She threw rock that time, and he threw scissors.
"My turn, then. Truth or dare?" Akito asked.
"Truth," Shigure replied after a moment of thought.
"Have you ever had a girlfriend? I mean, a serious one." Akito asked.
"No, not really," Shigure replied.
Akito blinked. "Really?"
"Well, the more serious a relationship gets, the more intimate they get. The curse makes that sort of thing hard. With girls, at least." Shigure shrugged.
"Oh, I guess that does make sense," Akito said softly before taking a sip of her tea.
Akito won the next round of rock, paper, scissors.
"You said it's hard to get intimate with girls with the curse still in place. Have you ever gotten intimate with another man, then?" She asked.
It was Shigure's turn to blink in surprise. The shock quickly faded into a smile and a small chuckle. "Cunning girl. Yeah, I've been with another man before."
"Are you gay? I don't really care either way, I'm just curious."
"Hey, hey, whatever happened to 'one question per truth?'"
"Fine." Akito sighed, sticking her fist back out in front of her. Shigure did the same. They tied about three times until Shigure eventually won.
"Truth or dare?" He asked.
"Truth."
"Who do you have a crush on?" Shigure asked with a grin.
Akito paused for a second, feeling her face start to burn red. "Dare."
"No, you can't back out now, Aki!" Shigure laughed. "Come on, who's your crush? Your schoolgirl fantasy?"
"I'm eighteen now. I'm not that much of a schoolgirl anymore." Akito replied.
"You're evading the question, Aki."
Akito belt her face get even warmer. Shigure's dark eyes felt more intense than playful as he held her gaze expectantly. She felt like her heart was beating so hard it would stop at any minute. She looked away from him and started to fiddle with the sleeves of her nagajuban.
"You, um, you don't know him." She lied.
"You're not a good liar, Aki."
Akito looked back over again. He was still watching her with that same intensity, a small cocky smile playing on his lips. She swallowed.
"It's you." She said softly, looking down at her hands. He voice was barely over a whisper.
"Huh? What's that? I can't hear you."
"I said you're an asshole." Akito snapped.
"I know I am. Who's your crush, Aki?" Shigure asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"It's you, alright? Is that what you wanted to hear, you pompous son of a bitch?" Akito snapped back, her face burning bright red.
Shigure smiled even wider at that. "Whoa, me? You have a crush on me? That's embarrassing." He laughed.
"Shut up. Oh my god, just shut up." Akito groaned, covering her face with her hands.
"God, you're so cute." Shigure laughed, moving to sit next to her on her bed and trying to pull her hands away from her face.
"Don't mock me." She replied, letting him grab her wrists and pull her hands away from her face.
"I'm not. You're cute, Aki, both as a boy and a girl." Shigure said, holding onto her wrists.
Akito said nothing for a couple moments. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Are you gay?"
"I'm bisexual."
Akito nodded and felt something in her chest relax. Her heart was still pounding.
"Truth or dare, Aki?" Shigure asked.
"Truth," Akito replied quietly.
"How long have you had a crush on me?"
"A few years now. I'm surprised you haven't noticed."
"I was never known for being the top of my class." Shigure laughed. "Truth or dare?"
"You don't get two in a row."
"Why not? We're more talking than playing the game now, anyway."
Akito sighed. "Dare."
"Kiss me."
Akito's blush returned with a vengeance. "What?"
"I said, 'Kiss me.'"
"Now you are mocking me." Akito huffed.
"No, I'm not." Shigure laughed, moving his hands down from her wrists to hold onto her hands. It was a wonder how small they were in his own. "Kiss me, Aki. Please? Or, may I kiss you?"
"I've never kissed anyone before," Akito said softly.
"I'd be honored to be your first," Shigure replied.
Akito remained quiet before making eye contact with Shigure again and nodding.
Shigure moved his hands from holding hers up to hold her face. They rested under her jaw and held her cheeks. Then, he moved closer, and closer, and closer. His eyes shut just before he pressed his lips against hers.
Akito finally let her eyes slip shut. Her hands went up to hold onto Shigure's kimono. Shigure's lips were warm and soft, warmer and softer than she ever could have imagined. They tasted like the cherry chapstick he must have put on before walking out into the cold winter air. The smell of his skin filled her senses, leaving her feeling lightheaded. He smelled like the pages of an old book, mixed with the tobacco from his cigarettes. He smelled like he'd put on cologne that morning, too, but it was starting to wear away.
The first soft, gentle little kiss was followed by another one, and then another one. After a few more, they started getting less shy and the kisses began to last a little longer. After a few of the longer kisses, Shigure slotted their lips together and started to gently suck at Akito's bottom lip. Akito only finally pulled away when she felt Shigure's tongue brush against her own.
They both were breathing heavily after the kisses. Shigure pressed his forehead against Akito's, smiling widely at her.
"Was your first kiss any good, then?" He asked softly.
"I'd say so," Akito replied with a nod, feeling herself start to smile, too. Part of her wishes she could stay like that with him forever. There'd be no curse, and she'd have a better immune system, and they could just sit and snuggle and kiss each other with nothing else to worry about. They could keep each other warm.
"Shigure?" Akito asked softly as Shigure started to happily nuzzle his nose into her neck and rest his head on her shoulder.
"Yeah, Aki?" Shigure asked, resisting every urge in his body to start kissing her bare neck. Everything in him was telling him to show her how much he loved his god, and the only way he knew how to translate that love was into the physical. But after only just having her first kiss, Akito probably wouldn't want to go that far that fast.
"What do I smell like to you?" She asked.
"Hmmm…." Shigure hummed as he buried his nose into her neck, trying to get a handle on the scent. "It's floral. And sweet, like amaretto."
"What's amaretto?" Akito asked, her hand moving to start playing with Shigure's hair. It was thick and soft between her fingers.
"It's a type of Italian liquor. I'll bring some next time I come over."
"I'm not twenty yet, though."
"That's why it'll be our little secret." Shigure hummed, winding his arms around her waist to hug her close. He frowned a bit at how tiny she was in his arms. It felt like he could snap the girl like a twig. She was just small enough around for it to be scary.
Akito hummed as Shigure hugged her close. "Alright. I just hope you're not a loud drunk."
"I think I can hold my liquor better than you any day, Aki. You've got to be ninety pounds soaking wet." Shigure hummed. "I wonder what kind of drunk you'd be. Probably a loud, mean one."
Akito rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I won't be much different drunk."
"We'll see about that. I'll bring it tomorrow, and then we'll have some fun." Shigure promised, kissing her neck softly, just once.
"If you say so," Akito replied, continuing to play with Shigure's hair.
Shigure stayed by her side for a little while longer before he finally had to go to do some schoolwork.
"Try not to dream of me too much, Aki." He hummed as he said goodbye to her at the front entrance, much to the dismay of the maids who thought Akito should remain in bed.
"Just put your shoes on and get out of here," Akito replied.
"See you tomorrow, Akito." Shigure chuckled before turning to do as he was told.
Akito watched him leave before the maids all surrounded him to lead her, coughing, back to her bedroom. They gave her another dosage of cold medicine and left her to her thoughts, all of which circled back to Shigure and how he'd kissed her.
If she was honest with herself, she had wanted to go further. She was nervous about it, but she'd wanted it. If the next day, the amaretto made him bold enough to push his tongue into her mouth, she wouldn't mind it.
Just the thought of kissing Shigure harder and going further with him was enough to make her face and body warm up. She'd never seen him in any state of undress before, but she was sure he'd look amazing, especially if he was undressed and on top of her, looking down at her with those intense eyes and that shit-eating grin.
When Shigure came over the next day, it was already late in the afternoon and the sun had started to set in the winter sky.
Akito looked up from a book she'd been reading when she heard something rapping against the paper door that opened up to the veranda of her bedroom. She got up from her spot under the warmth of the kotatsu, sliding open the door.
"Shigure? Why are you coming in this way?" She asked.
"I'm not, but the alcohol is." Shigure replied, pulling a bottle of amaretto and a couple of glasses from his messenger bag and holding them up to Akito. "If the maids catch me bringing this, they'll get all pissy. It's safer to sneak it in."
Akito took the alcohol and glasses. "I suppose that makes sense. Now go to the front like normal before someone catches you."
Shigure nodded and Akito watched him start the trek around the main house to find the front entrance. She slid the door shut again and shivered from the cold, setting the amaretto and the glasses down on the kotatsu.
Shigure wasted no time getting back to her bedroom and rapping on the door politely before letting himself inside.
"Let's get this party started, I've had a long day." He said, settling down at the kotatsu next to Akito.
Akito nodded and grabbed the bottle, starting the attempt at taking off the lid.
"Here, let me," Shigure said after watching the way her brow furrowed in concentration.
"I can do it." Akito insisted, swatting his hand away.
After trying at the lid for another few moments, she sighed and passed the bottle over to Shigure. He just smiled and opened the bottle with relative ease.
"There we go. Don't feel bad, it was cute watching you try." Shigure hummed as he poured out the amber liquid into the two glasses.
"Shut up." Akito huffed, her cheeks warming from embarrassment.
Shigure just grinned and passed her her glass he then took his own and raised it.
"Here we go, Aki's first drink. To your health."
"Wow, funny," Akito replied, nevertheless clinking her glass against Shigure's and hesitantly taking one experimental sip.
The amber liquid was sweet and tasted like almonds. She could definitely taste the alcohol in it, though.
"Good, isn't it? This stuff could be dangerous." Shigure hummed as he sipped his drink contently.
"It is good, actually." Akito agreed, going back to drinking the sweet liquor until her glass had been emptied.
"Here, I brought us bread and water. The last thing I want is for you to get super sick." Shigure hummed, producing a couple of large bottles of water and a loaf of bread from his bag.
Akito nodded and drank some of her water, eating the bread Shigure broke off for her while he poured her another glass.
By the time the second glass had been half emptied, Akito was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol.
"It's so warm in here." She whined, pulling off the coat over her nagajuban. Once it was shed, she went back to the bread and amaretto.
Shigure drank and watched the smaller girl knock back the rest of her drink with shocking, and slightly worrisome, speed. Part of him wanted to see if he could gauge how drunk she was.
"So, what did you do today, Aki?" He asked casually.
"Nothing," Akito replied, drawing out the word a little bit before giggling. "Actually I did do something. I was thinking about you most of the day."
Shigure blinked at the reply, still registering what the girl had said as she grabbed for the bottle to pour out a third glass.
"Me? What about me, Aki? Drink your water." He said.
"You drink your water." Akito retorted before snorting and giggling some more at herself. "What was the question?"
"What were thinking about me?"
"Oh, yeah. I was thinking about how much I want to kiss you again." Akito replied between sips of water. "More than yesterday, I mean. With tongue and everything."
"You mean you want to make out?"
"Yes! That's what it's called!" Akito replied, slapping her hand down on the table.
Shigure smiled at that and downed the rest of his own drink, not sure what he had to lose from the situation.
"Well, come over here, then." He purred, shifting to sit with his legs stretched in front of him then patting his lap.
Akito took one last drink of water before getting up on her knees and moving the short distance over to straddle Shigure's lap. She wound her arms around his neck while he wrapped his around her waist and pressed close to him as they started kissing once again.
Shigure wasted no time deepening the kiss and within seconds was gently pressing and massaging his tongue against hers. His hands started to rub her back and sides. Akito threaded her fingers into Shigure's shaggy hair, pressing herself against him to get as close as possible.
She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol in her system or the sensually overwhelming kiss, but she soon felt warm all over, including a new warmth that seemed to have blossomed at her hips. Without much thought, she shifted to sit on one of Shigure's thighs and started to rock her hips back and forth on top of it, grinding down just a little bit.
She moaned into the kiss before Shigure grabbed her hips to hold her still and pulled away from the kiss.
"Gure, I need you," Akito whined, her hands moving to grab at the fabric of his kimono.
"Are you one hundred percent sure you want this, Aki? You need to be one hundred percent sure." Shigure replied, moving one hand from her hips to start running his fingers through her silky black hair.
"Yes, I'm positive." Akito nodded, leaning down to kiss his lips that were still pink from the last round of kisses.
Shigure kissed her back warmly and moved his hands around to her back to set to work on the puzzle that was tying the tight knot of her obi. When he finally got it, he tossed it aside and slid the white nagajuban off of Akito's shoulders, so she was left sitting on his lap in her underwear and the bandages around her chest.
He wasted no time with the bandages, removing them quickly. He frowned softly at the way Akito's breathing seemed to come easier once the bandages were gone. His worries didn't last long, though, before his attention strayed to the new pair of breasts in front of him.
"May I?" He asked softly.
"Go ahead," Akito replied.
In an instant, his hands were cupping her breasts. He felt at her soft skin, keeping every touch gentle as if he might break her if he wasn't careful enough.
"You're gorgeous." He breathed.
Akito felt her face flush bright red at the words. It was strange that she'd get embarrassed from a sentimental comment, but not by the man who'd started to roll her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.
Shigure crooned her name like it was a song and moved his mouth to her shoulder to start kissing down her body, kissing and worshipping every inch of skin he had access to. He only took a break to clear off the top of the kotatsu, then lift Akito up and set her down to sit on top of the table. He kissed down her belly to her waist and then moved the kisses down to her feet and ankles, working his way up her shins to her knees, then to the insides of her thighs, traveling higher and higher until finally his mouth was pressed over the fabric of her underwear between her legs.
His breath and his kisses were warm through the boxer briefs she wore, which made her moan softly and roll her hips forward into his face eagerly.
"Can I take these off?" Shigure asked, gently tugging at the leg of her underwear.
"Yes, but take your clothes off, first. It's embarrassing if I'm the only one completely naked." Akito replied breathlessly.
"Okay, that's fair." Shigure laughed, moving away to untie his own obi and shrug out of his kimono. He pulled a small packet of lube and a condom from his wallet and set them aside.
Akito watched Shigure undress in awe. He was tall and lean with a muscular chest and shoulders. There was a small trail of dark hair that traveled down from his navel and disappeared under his own underwear, but otherwise his skin was completely smooth. She couldn't help herself from reaching up to run her hands over his skin.
Shigure slipped out of his underwear before resting his hands on top of Akito's as they ran over his chest and shoulders. "I'm yours, Aki." He crooned.
"Mine…" Akito agreed, letting him take hold of her hands and kiss her once again.
He only let her hands go so he could pull her own boxer briefs down, letting them fall to the floor with the rest of their clothes. With that, he settled down on the floor and pushed his face back between her legs.
After that, Akito lost track of any sense of time or any aspect of the world that wasn't Shigure Sohma. She didn't know where she ended and Shigure began, and for a while that night, she didn't care enough to find out. One round of making love blended into a second, blended into a third. After a couple of hours, they were both too tired to carry on. So, they finally separated from each other, panting and smiling and peppering kisses over each other's faces.
"I think girls are supposed to go to the bathroom after sex," Shigure said after a few more kisses.
"Really?" Akito asked.
"Yeah. It helps prevent yeast infections, I think." Shigure nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be right here when you get back."
Akito smiled when Shigure held out his pinky to her. She wrapped her own around it and kissed his lips one last time before grabbing one of the kimonos on the floor to cover herself.
It was only when she found it was too large that she realized she'd grabbed Shigure's. It would be troublesome if a maid saw her dressed in Shigure's clothes, but then again, who would dare question her? So, she lifted and folded the kimono at her waist so it wouldn't drag on the floor, then quickly tied the obi around her hips, wearing the top of the kimono loose to conceal any curves she might have.
"Alright, I'll be right back, then," Akito said as Shigure lounged on her futon on the floor.
"Don't fall in." He replied with a grin.
Akito sighed through her nose but smiled to herself as she left. She avoided the maids on her way to the bathroom but nearly ran into one of the older maids on her way out.
"Oh, excuse me, sir." The maid said, politely avoiding eye contact.
"Is that a new kimono, sir? The green looks good on you." A younger maid nearby asked, looking up at him.
"No," Akito replied quickly before leaving to return to her room, completely missing the moment of eye contact the two maids had shared behind her back.
Shigure had tucked himself into her futon while she was away, but was still awake. Akito took the kimono back off and climbed into the bed with him, warming herself under the thick blankets with her new lover's body heat. They fell asleep on their sides, Shigure curled around Akito from behind, his hand wrapped around her to hold her close to himself.