Reciprocal

11.30 pm.

Twilight had long since passed and the moon had made its entrance on the starlit night sky. Chirping crickets where the only disturbance in the otherwise silent hours of darkness. Most people found themselves within the realm of peaceful slumber by this time of day; yet there were always exceptions.

Surrounded by crisp white sheets, her body pressed into the softness of the mattress by another, she found herself gazing up at a familiar ceiling. She wasn't entirely sure what had led them up to this point; then again did it really matter?

A few feet away she could make out her clothes were they lay in a pile, tangled with the garments that belonged to the man that currently preoccupied her senses. The only source of light in the room was the dull glow emitting from the steel grey bedside lamp. There was never complete darkness on their encounters. He didn't permit her to become swallowed within the comfort of the shadows. She once questioned him on this.

"I don't want you to hide from me." The way he had looked at her when he answered still ran a shiver down her spine.

Her breath hitched when she felt skilled fingers skim teasingly over her lower abdomen. Digging her nails into the soft skin of his back she was rewarded with a low hiss.

Remembering the first few times, she barely managed to contain her laughter. Back then she had been so naïve – she still is she mused. Looking back at it now she could honestly say that she had no idea what it was all about. He wasn't her first, but he might as well have been. Being with Aoshi wasn't like anything she had experienced before. While she had had sex previous to that first time, she had never truly made love until he showed her how. To tell the truth she had been scared. At the time he had still been such a mystery to her and when she was presented with such a delicate part of him she nearly panicked for fear of not knowing how to handle it. A part of her believed that he had feared her to some extent as well.

It wasn't perfect; it never was with someone new. But it was special. For the first time someone took the time to know her; to really know her. Together they discovered and eventually memorized each other like a map they now knew by heart. Still, a year later, there remained treasures buried, yet to be discovered; something they thrived in whenever they came together.

She could feel hot breath and moist lips trail up her sensitive neck and subconsciously closed her eyes at the feeling; only to be reprimanded with a bite to the shoulder. Slowly she let her emerald eyes reopen and was immediately met with intense cobalt.

She smiled softly, but wasn't disappointed when the gesture wasn't returned. His actions always told her what she needed to know. Her smile was replaced with his lips descending upon hers and she let her nimble fingers comb through his soft midnight strands. Sounds of the sheets rustling against their naked flesh and labored breathing were all blocked out as all conscious thought was poured into this one act.

"Misao…" he whispered; pleaded.

And she could do nothing but comply.

Author's note: Wow! Four chapters just like that. I think my brain is pretty close to self-destruct by now.

For you darling reviewers out there; don't hesitate to give me your opinions. I promise I won't bite . (Well hard not enough to draw blood anyway.)

See ya!

/Tranquil Forest