Note: This chapter contains semi-graphic stuff! Hence the M rating!

Umeshu

Flashback II

The party was winding down; Ichiko could hear it behind them as she cut across the lawn that separated the banquet hall and the edge of the castle grounds. She tripped, and cursed under her breath as a slosh of mauve liquor spilled from the goblet in her hand

Someone snorted a laugh behind her.

Glaring out at the horizon, Ichiko bent down to slip off her heals, dropping them onto the grass like leaded weights.

"You're arm."

She realized he meant that her hand was tipping again. Tiny purple tears were running down her fingers.

"Oh shit."

"Perhaps you shouldn't drink so much."

Ichiko bit a bitter laugh as she poured the entire contents out onto the ground, "You're one to talk," she looked over her shoulder; the man was leaning against one of the peach trees that lined the sloping hillside. He had a bottle in his hand.

At the look he was receiving, Rui set his glass upon the earth.

"Having fun yet?" She quipped.

He raised a delicate eyebrow, which made her furious for no other reason that he suddenly looked amazing standing there in uniform under the greenery. He was like a fairy tale; she wanted to rip him apart because he was just that beauti-

Uh-

What?

His expression darkened, "You look ill."

Ichiko's mouth fell open, "Uhhh…"

Hello brain? Where are you!

Avoid awkward questions! Avoid awkward questions!

"Why did you insist on following me out here?" Oh yes, that wasn't awkward at all.

Rui shifted his weight from foot to foot before folding his arms over his chest. "Seemed like you were having a hard time. Couldn't allow you to fall off the edge or something."

"Oh," He cared if she fell off? "Thank you." Her cheeks were bright red, burning. She hoped he didn't notice. Rui's eyes widened a tad, and then he looked away.

He noticed.

And then that 'look before you leap' part of her began to dissolve. Par for the course, whenever she drank too much, Ichiko began throwing herself at people.

"What you said," she began, speaking without much thought to her words, "About being upset when you heard about the wedding. Was that true?" She was facing him now, and all the annoyance she always felt when dealing with him was gone. Had simply disappeared.

Rui narrowed his eyes, a frown appearing upon his lips. "At first, yes. I like Miss Yumemi very much, but I was afraid of the repercussions of the union." And was it her imagination, or was he letting his guard down too? "A Human and a Heavenly Being marrying for the first time. It's quite a hurdle to overcome."

"Yumemi's strong enough."

He looked up, startled. "I have no doubt."

"Then why?"

Now he was embarrassed, because the tips of his regal cheekbones were tinted rouge. "It's ridiculous," he scoffed, shoulders tensing and then relaxing in a defeated kind of gesture.

Concerned and actually curious, Ichiko took a step towards him. "No it's not." He glanced at her, incredulous. "If you're worried about something then you should say it." Her expression darkened, "I was worried about Yumemi, that's why I wasn't very supportive. I was afraid she'd have her heart broken like before, like when Munto left her for that year and a half. She wasn't the same person; she was like a shell. It was horrible. I never want that to happen again."

The liquor was making her weepy, and Ichiko straightened up a bit, sniffing in a rather large lump in her throat. Rui started towards her.

"No, I'm okay," she lied, putting a hand out which caused him to stop. Her head shook from side to side. "I just… what a horrible friend. I can't believe I… I should have…" Her expression must have been aweful because Rui was beginning to look worried.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly, curtly. Ichiko dipped and plucked her heels from the ground, "I'll just go." She then proceeded to stand up much too fast. All the blood rushed from her head in a great whomping whoosh, and Ichiko stumbled.

He was quick though, she gave him that. Before she had declined by even a slight degree he was hoisting her up again, hands clutching her upper arms in a warm, tight clamp. But his balance was shot too, and so they wobbled a bit in their combined intoxication.

Her head had fallen forward into the softness of his jacket, and she drew in a shaking breath.

He smelled like the ocean.

"Perhaps…" There was a tone she had never heard before lacing his words, "We should get you to your room." He sounded a bit frightened, but maybe that was her imagination.

Ichiko nodded against his chest, reveling in the way warmth seemed to spread all over her body from where he was touching her. He didn't let go, but they started off towards the entrance of the castle's living quarters.

"You have to at least try and move your legs," Rui grumbled as they attempted the stone steps together.

Ichiko bit down on her tongue.

They had entered a columned walkway, their footfalls echoing off the floor. Just up head were the doors that lead to the halls. Ichiko was bunking in one of the guest bedrooms down a sideway. It was smaller than the room Suzume was staying in with Kazuya, which was off the main hall.

The pair had to lean against the cloister doors before Rui managed to turn one of the handles. They nearly tumbled inside, but were able to keep balanced.

The corridor was dimly lit, the sunlight from the now open door giving off a heated glow. Most of the hallway was cast in cool, dark shadow.

The passageway extended away from them to meet with a circular glass-ceilinged foyer, from which more hallways branched out like the spokes of a great wheel. Ichiko had the briefest foreboding that she couldn't remember where her room was, but she pushed it aside.

"You still didn't tell me why you were angry. You were about to tell me," Ichiko continued once they caught their breath. "But we were sidetracked." Rui glared at her, eyelashes like blue-silver safety pins lying across his skin.

"I was concerned not because I doubt either Lord Munto or Miss Yumemi…" he paused, his eyes fluttering closed briefly, as if to steady himself, "Lady Yumemi's resolve. It was because I already know how distracted Munto can be, and it's not as if having a wife will improve his unwillingness to actually act like royalty."

This surprised her, "But… he's not an idiot."

"True, but he doesn't pay attention. He assumes his way is correct and that everyone should simply shut up, listen, and obey. It's not that he's being cruel; it's just that he's usually right about everything and he knows it. He's too quick for his own good, and no one can get a word in edge wise. By the time they realize that they should have listened to him in the first place, he's ten steps ahead. It's hell trying to have him deal with matters of State."

Then he was blessedly silent, and Ichiko saw that the emotional downpour had left him weak and drained. Rui looked about equal parts self-loathing and exhaustion.

"I remember Yumemi saying you were pretty busy…"

Rui's look made her pause; it was as deadly as it was cold. "I don't want pity. I do my job." He was slumped against the wall, and his right hand still clutching Ichiko's arm.

"But you're shouldering all that weight, how could you not resent it?"

He looked away.

The flittering of acute pain across his face was breaking Ichiko's heart. She wanted to make it hurt less, if it were at all possible, so she reached up and touched him, briefly, upon the cheek. His reaction was to stiffen, and then to close his eyes again, but he didn't move away from the caress.

How strange… the concern they each had for their closest friends had brought them to this point.

Slowly, Ichiko turned his face so she could see it. His eyes, beautiful eyes really, were open again, and searching her.

"You are not the only one who cares," She breathed. "I know what it's like, trust me."

"Ichiko-"

She definitely heard that note of longing- that note of want. That's what she had mistaken for fear before. That's what she had mistaken for everything.

He was standing so close… only just a breath away.

Ichiko could feel her balance going again. She was pitching forward, as if pulled towards the gravity of him, and she swore her vision was tunneling. Or maybe he was just all that filled it.

Rui's eyes were half-massed, but vibrantly blue. Why had she never noticed that before?

And then they were kissing.

Warmth exploded in the pit of her stomach.

It was different then what she'd remembered kissing boys was suppose to be like. Takashi was fearful, so she had ended up taking the control of those situations. Her other experiences, as brief as they were, were nothing more then simple, so the kisses had been excruciatingly flat. Ichiko had never kissed someone with so much damn grace before.

Rui's hand, his free hand, had come up and was clutching the base of her skull while he slipped his tongue over her bottom lip. Ichiko opened, responding naturally, and he swept her mouth with calculated softness. Almost polite. She attempted to press a bit harder but he pulled back, taking her lower lip between his teeth to nip her as if in reprimand.

It was then Ichiko noticed her hands were fisted in his uniform. Beneath, she could feel his heart beating a sharp, fast drum-line.

They broke seconds later, although it felt like so much longer, and Ichiko nearly keened out of utter despair when the contact ended. Her eyes snapped open to see his embarrassed expression.

"I-" he was scarlet. "I apologize." Rui was breathless. "I don't-" The conflict raging within him was astounding. She saw ache and desire and confusion flittering like fairy lights.

Annoyance surged like acid in her veins, but it had evolved from simple dislike into something Ichiko couldn't quite place. Her body wanted to shut him up by sticking her tongue down his throat.

That was… new.

Ichiko pursed her lips, pushing against him while her hands pulled. "Don't." Her tone was warning, his gaze hardening. "Don't you dare say it was an accident." A muscle over Rui's right eyebrow twitched. Her hands relaxed their fixation, lessening the hold on his front, her fingers running down his clothed chest. "Don't take it back." Those last words were surprisingly soft, even for her.

In a swift motion he caught one of her hands, pulling it away. Ichiko was about to protest but was met with his mouth, and it drowned her words. His fingers were laced within hers.

So she kissed him, not trying to compete. She let him work, heat rising rapidly in her face as she realized his aching slowness was very purposeful. He was tasting her, mouth dragging away to travel up her jaw.

She moaned, turning her face so he could reach better access to her throat. He took the opportunity to bend and bite the softness where her neck and shoulder met.

By now Ichiko's head was swimming, the still heavy alcohol making her dizzy and lightheaded. The combined heat of them wasn't helping either. She held Rui partly out of longing and partly because she knew her legs were about to give. He seemed to sense it too, for he breathed against her skin, whispering words upon her neck, dotting the sentence with a searing kiss.

"You're drunk."

She knew that already.

"So are you," she managed, pausing while one of this hands threaded softly through her hair. "We can't stand in the hallway like this."

"Quite right."

The next part was a blur.

They were able to collect themselves enough to stumble down the corridor, entangled in a heavy swath of kissing, touching, caressing, until her back was pressed against some door off the end and around the corner. She knew it was a door, the handle was biting into the small of her back.

Ugh, that was damn uncomfortable.

Rui slipped a hand behind her, pressing the lock. It clicked magically and swung backwards. They clamored in, Rui pressing a finger to the closed bolt again to seal it. When he turned back around Ichiko was sitting up against the bed frame, breathing hard. Her gaze was on the floor, but she drug it up, taking the time for her eyes to rake over his tunic. When she caught his stare she blushed, pressing her lips together.

"I saw you today." Why was she was talking? Ichiko tossed her head back so she was staring up at the bare canopy of a four-poster bed. "You were glaring at me."

"I wasn't." It was almost a whisper. "If I recall, you were glairing at me."

A smirk unfolded on Ichiko's lips. Her head tilted down so she could see Rui out of the corner of her eyes. His shoulders were broad within the uniform, gold bullion buttons flashing in the dying sunlight filtering in through the open window. A splash of red-orange was thrown over him, so it looked as if he was bathed in blood. Her chest ached. "I wasn't glairing."

Carefully he took the two strides necessary to stand over her, hands balled into fists at his side, his body listed to the right a bit. Without thinking Ichiko's hand inched out, worming its way over to where she could slip her fingers under the hem of his shirt. She was met with the most delightful warmth. In response, he leaned down, arms resting on either side of her as she tilted back upon the crimson comforter.

Ichiko could feel his hips pressing into her thighs.

"You are…" He was concentrating so hard a line appeared in between his furrowed eyebrows. "Exceedingly beautiful."

"You talk too much," she quipped, voice heady.

Rui's eyes narrowed, "You started it."

By now her hands had moved up to caress his chest, and she could definitely feel his heartbeat now. God it was like silk over porcelain. Great thing about being made up of magic, she supposed, your body was perfect. Her conquest was made all that sweeter when he bent his head and groaned. Was she testing his control? It seemed so, his arms were shaking.

Well, Ichiko thought with a very pleasant thrill, this foreplay has been fun, but…

She slipped her hands away from him and swore he almost made a note of protest, almost said her name. Instead, she began fiddling with the buttons clasping his jacket. He stayed perfectly still as she worked; it was nice that he let her undress him as she pleased, like he trusted her. The tunic fell from his bare shoulders, and Rui pulled his arms up one at a time to shrug it off, going behind her back with nimble fingers and finding the zipper of her dress, pulling it down.

Ichiko reddened, remembering that this particular outfit of hers was cut in a way that no bra was necessary. When the shift was pulled down around her hips, her chest was fully exposed.

Rui paused, becoming absolutely still. Her eyes were closed, but Ichiko knew he was staring.

A breath expanded her lungs in anticipation, but she choked back a gasp as she felt his head lean down to the swell of her left breast. Simultaneously he pulled the dress off, hooking his thumbs around her waistband of her underwear, dragging that away too.

Rui's hand, which had been left massaging her hip, wandered down her skin, taking the curve of her thigh in slow stride. Unconsciously Ichiko's hips rose a bit, and he took the opportunity to explore even lower. A breathy half laugh, half pant expelled from her lungs when he touched her, fingers dragging over a particularly sensitive spot.

She heard him undo the buckle on his slacks and took a deep steadying breath, allowing her body to sink further down into the silky softness of the bed.

Ichiko remembered him easing himself over her, a hand raising up her left thigh.

She remembered him pressing against her until she gave, murmuring a low noise when initial tightness gave way to the silken warmth of her.

Ichiko had barely been able to catch her breath, instead taking small supping hiccups of air as her fingers found holds upon his shoulders. Rui groaned against her neck, moving, eliciting little lightning bolts to skitter up and down her body.

She'd finished on top; how, she had no idea.

And then they'd gone again…

And perhaps a third time…

No wonder she was feeling like a bus had driven over her! Even her jaw felt sore… never mind.

But it was all a memory come morning…

Lying there now, fully sober, Ichiko scoffed at herself, a hand coming up to cover her face as she shook her head, a small embarrassed smile creeping upon her lips. The initial shock and horror had washed off. All that was left was afterglow. Annoyed, still slightly shocked afterglow, but afterglow all the same.

Still…

She'd slept with him!

His voice, her name on his lips. Why hadn't she noticed that tone before? How long had he been looking at her like that when she wasn't paying attention? About as long as she'd thought her interest in him was anger instead of actual interest most likely.

"Oh Gods."

His voice made her freeze, the smile dropping instantly. She swiveled her head, watching as Rui's mouth opened in a half-yawn as his hand came up to rub his eyes. An arm came under his chest so he could lift himself away from where his head was making an indent on the pillow.

A/n- Hopefully my writing was clear enough in the last few paragraphs. Obviously the flashback ends ("But it was all a memory come morning...") and the rest is Ichiko thinking in the present day.