A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1. The only one I own is Chiyo.
PAIRING: Serph x Argilla
WARNING: SEMI-AU, OOC, LANGUAGE.
Chapter IV
Theme14: Kiss
Argilla sat on the stairs right outside the Lokapala HQ with a frowning face. She wasn't displeased…or anxious…or angry.
No.
That wasn't the word that she would use. The word that she would use, if it were up to her, would be…
Curious.
That was right.
Curious.
She had heard a most peculiar word that she had still to understand. What was that word…? Oh yes. It was the word "kiss".
She blushed. She didn't know why, but at the sound of the word, her face as well as her whole body began to heat up.
She, Gale and Serph had reached Nirvana…Or, what the real Nirvana was, anyway. She snorted at that; this wasn't paradise at all!
'It's just some dump…!' she seethed internally.
"Yes. But to some…it's home." a voice behind her said.
She stiffened and turned, "Serph! Jesus Christ don't do that!" she blushed furiously, as she found herself completely caught off guard.
He chuckled and sat down beside her, looking at the street. Argilla grumbled something inaudible and Serph spoke, ignoring what it was she whispered, "So…What are you doing here?"
She blinked and turned to him and let a small blush creep up her cheeks, "Oh…Erm…Serph, I need to ask you something."
"…" He didn't say anything, but his silver eyes prompted her to ask her question and she nodded, "Well…aa…I seem to recall this word in my head…And, um, I heard it from other people too…and aa…I just forgot what it meant. That's all."
He blinked and said nothing, urging her to continue. She nodded, "Right. Well, aa…this word. I just think that you might know…and aa…yeah. It's the word 'kiss'."
He blinked again and Argilla's heart leapt, "You know what it means…?"
He slowly shook his head. Her face fell, "Right. Neither does Gale. Oh well," she said, standing up, dusting herself off, "I'll just ask someone else."
She turned and started to walk away when his voice stopped her, "Why…?"
She turned to look at him, "What?" she asked with an arched eyebrow. He licked his lips and spoke once more, "Why is this…so important?"
She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "I dunno…I just…I just feel that I have to know. Well, I'll see you later."
xxxxx
Argilla smiled as she saw two children run around, playing. She chuckled; she wished she could be like them…
'Not a care in the world…'
She then thought of something. Her face fell, 'Great…I'm resorting to asking underdeveloped human beings for information…'
She didn't like it; but she had to swallow her pride.
She nodded and walked over to them, "Excuse me…"
The girl and boy, probably about ten years old or less, stopped their activity and looked at her, "Yes…Miss…?" said the little girl politely.
She knelt in front of them and smiled, "Hi…I was just wondering…Um, do you kids know the meaning of the word…kiss…?"
At the sound of the word, the little boy made a disgusted face and wrinkled his nose, "Eww…! Kisses are for girls…!"
And with that, he ran. Argilla stood and looked on after him, confused, "Wait! I didn't mean to…" she sighed and knelt back, looking at the girl, smiling tightly, "Hey…Um…I'm not going to hurt you." she said firmly, her pink eyes looking straight into the little girl's hazel eyes.
The girl nodded, "Uh huh."
Argilla smiled again, "So…um…why did your friend run away…?"
The girl giggled, "He doesn't like kisses…"
Argilla blinked, "Why not…?"
"Because he says that it's gross…" the girl responded knowingly. Argilla internally made a face. A kiss was gross…? It was…disgusting…? But why…?
"Why…is that?" she prodded.
"Well…it's because…"
"Chiyo! Chiyo! It's time for dinner!"
The little girl looked at her apologetically, "Well…I have to go now Miss…Bye…!"
"Wait…!"
Too late. She was gone. Argilla sighed; it was back to square one. But at least she found out something about what a kiss was.
One; it was deemed disgusting. Two, it was only…for girls…? She shrugged her shoulders. Whatever. What sexist thought of that rule?!
She growled as she felt her annoyance beginning to peak. It was a single word; a small simple word! Then how come that she found it near impossible to find out its meaning!? Why?!
She looked up at the dull sky, 'Someone up there hates me.'
She looked around and saw a woman by a shop. She smiled within; aa…she looked like a competent person. And the fact that she was a woman gave her a plus point. After all, a kiss was for females only. It would be awkward for her to ask any member of the male populace.
She nodded as she felt her renewed vigor.
She confidently walked within the shop. The storekeeper, a woman, more or less her age, smiled, "Welcome. Is there something I can help you with?"
Argilla returned her smile and put her hands on the counter, "Hi…I was wondering. Do you…have a kiss here?"
The woman blinked, "Excuse me?"
Argilla's heart began to race. Wait; didn't this woman know what a kiss was…!?
"Erm…Do you have kisses here…?"
The young woman suddenly smiled, "Oh! Kisses! Of course we do! How many would you like…?"
Argilla blinked; what now…? Kisses were…being sold…in different quantities? She rummaged through her pockets and handed the paper and coins to the woman, "How many would…this amount fetch me?" she asked.
"A pack. Wait a second."
Argilla looked around the quaint little shop as the woman disappeared through the backdoor.
She blinked; there were so many items…
'They…need all this junk…?' she asked herself in utter disbelief as she mentally compared this shop to the Junkyard's Vendor.
It really was…a different world.
"Here they are." a voice from behind her said.
Argilla turned to the other woman and saw the packet that she was holding out to her. Argilla took it and smiled, "Thank you…"
The woman looked at her pink-haired customer curiously. She was holding the packet close to her face, almost…inspecting it…
"Um…is something wrong?" she asked.
Argilla looked at her again, "Aa…well, is it true that kisses are…for women only?"
The woman laughed, "Yeah…Well, I suppose you could say that. The men here aren't really concerned with anything sweet…It probably makes them feel less…manly, if you know what I mean?" she finished in a playful tone.
Oh Argilla understood alright. It was just like the way Serph and Gale would focus on their fists and not on their magic abilities.
'Men…They're such pigs…' she thought, snorting.
"So," Argilla began, "men consider these kisses to be…gross…?" she asked, mimicking the boy's choice of words. The woman sweat-dropped, "Sure…I guess so."
Argilla nodded, "So…these really are…kisses…?" she asked one last time, wanting to make sure that this time, she had gotten her information right.
The woman nodded and smiled, "Yup. It's guaranteed. Those are authentic Kisses. You can check the labels if you want."
"It's not a problem. Thank you for your time." Argilla said with a small smile before altogether leaving the small shop.
A few minutes later, Argilla found herself by the steps outside the Lokapala HQ, staring at the small plastic packet in her hands. She blinked, "It's just kisses…I should…I should just open it and see it…After all, it's for female consumption." she told herself, egging herself on.
She looked at the label and raised an eyebrow, "Hershey's…? Her…She…y's…?" She giggled, "I suppose it really is made for girls…Even its name insinuates it…"
With a nod, she tore the plastic covering and peered within. She blinked. They were small little things shaped in a most peculiar fashion.
Argilla blinked as she held one of the kisses in front of her. It was shaped…just like the mark on Jinana's face…
Curious…
'So, this is…a kiss…?' she asked as she looked at the kiss' silver foil wrapping. She slowly unwrapped it and saw, within, a slick and brown object. She brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply.
'It smells…good…!' she thought to herself in surprise, 'Am I supposed to eat this…?'
She looked at the packet once more and saw the inscription, "Chocolate…with a dash of mint! Let your mouth swim in choco heaven and still relish in minty breath!"
'Oh…I suppose…Well…' she thought, hesitant. 'Bah! Just do it damn it!'
She nodded and took it to her mouth and pressed her lips together. A moment later, as she settled the kiss into her mouth, she moaned…
It tasted…so good…!
It was…sweet…the feel of it was…unlike she had thus far tasted. She had never before tasted anything of the sort back in the Junkyard!
A few minutes later, she petted her stomach, "Oohh…those were some good kisses…" she said groggily as she looked at the now empty packet.
She had considered giving some to Gale and Serph, but decided against it as she remembered that kisses were made for females and female consumption.
She complained before of the person who invented kisses as being sexist. Well, not anymore. If the females could have something like as good and sweet as a kiss out of males' hands, then, god damn it, by all means, be sexist!
She laughed at that.
"Hey."
She stiffened and turned around, looking upwards, "Serph…!"
He did that a lot. Didn't he?
She patted the space next to her and he nodded.
"Did you…find out what…a kiss was?" he asked her gently, his eyes on the profile of her face. She turned and met his gaze and smiled, "Yeah. I did."
Serph blinked, "R-really…?"
She nodded, "Really."
"…"
Argilla raised an eyebrow; Serph was being extra quiet. Why…?
She shrugged her shoulders; well, whatever. She smiled at him and touched his arm, "Oh Serph…! You should've had one!"
"Had…one?" he asked, his eyes telling her that he was completely lost. She giggled, "A kiss…!"
His face blushed beet red, "A…a kiss…?"
She nodded, beaming, "Oh Serph…! I just had so many!!"
Her leader began to pale.
Serph blinked; she had…many kisses…?
"Oh Serph! They tasted so good…! Each kiss was better than the last…! They just get sweeter and sweeter each time you get a new kiss!" she said happily with her eyes closed, fantasizing of being in a place where they was only her and her kisses…
Serph's gut tied itself in a knot. Did Argilla have any idea of what she was saying!?
Tasted so good…?
Each better than the last…?
Getting sweeter and sweeter…?
'Is she…?'
Argilla opened her eyes and looked at his pale face. Her smile immediately vanished into thin air, "What's wrong…?"
Serph took a deep breath and released it. He was just going to have to ask her.
"From whom did you get the kisses from?" he asked sternly, his eyes steely and glowing. A part of Argilla shivered in nervousness…while another part of her shivered out of thrill. But why? After all, this was Serph!
She shook her head and looked away, "Why would you want to know…?"
"Just tell me." he instructed nonchalantly; his eyes continuing to burn holes through the side of her face.
She scoffed and looked back at him, "Why? So you can have some?"
What?! What the heck was she talking about?! He just wanted to know the person who was frolicking around with his Intelligence Officer!
Right…?
He shook his head, "…No…"
Argilla shrugged her shoulders and shivered once more as her pink eyes were met with his steely silver orbs, "Errr…A woman sold them to me…"
He blinked again, his eyes widening.
She got kisses…from another woman…?! He could feel himself shrinking in his uniform, 'I…I had no idea that she was a…a…'
But that wasn't the best part.
She received kisses from another woman…for a price…?!
Serph was having a headache. So many scenes were floating inside his head that he didn't know what to think anymore. 'What's there to think about…? She doesn't like men…! That's it! End of story…!' his angry self bellowed.
'Yes…but we're not exactly sure, are we…? Perhaps we had…misconstrued…?' the lighter part of him asked, hopingly.
His angry and hotheaded self resurfaced, 'Don't get your hopes up. She's probably thinking of that other woman right now.'
Serph shook his head, "Argilla…"
Argilla saw the pained expression on his face and she immediately cupped his face in her hands, "What's wrong…?" she asked, worried.
Serph said nothing and sighed, closing his eyes as he felt the warm sensation of her hands on his face…
If only she…
No! He shouldn't lose hope! He had known Argilla longer than any other woman! He could still her change her mind! He could! It hadn't been that long! They've been in the city in less than three days! Surely, the effects of that other woman's kisses on Argilla would wear off!
'But how…?!' he asked himself frantically.
'How else you idiot?!' his hotheaded self sneered, 'Let her feel the pleasures of being with a man!'
'But I…'
'But nothing! Stop being such a pussy damn it!'
Making up his mind, he opened his eyes quickly and quickly pulled her onto his lap before proceeding to crash his lips against hers. Argilla's eyes widened, her heart racing uncontrollably as she ascertained what it was that was going on with her and her leader.
'He's…! He's…pressing his lips against mine…!'
She was panicking…! But within…it felt…right. But why could that be? This was the first time that she had ever done such a thing and yet…It felt so familiar…
Serph saw her surprised, albeit, shocked appearance and used that as his chance as he pried her lips apart, slowly slipping his hot tongue within…
She gasped against his mouth; her hands gripping his uniform tightly as she felt sensations of warmth and pleasure engulf her body…
She felt his tongue within her mouth; searching…seeking her wet cavern for its lost treasures…for its secrets…Her body began to heat up…
Curious…
What was this that they were doing that yielded so much pleasure…so much heat…?
Her gasps slowly turned into low and throaty purrs as the minutes ticked by…By then, she began to respond to him…stroke by stroke…
A moment later…It all came to an end…
He laid her back on the stairs and she sighed, getting a hold of herself.
Their eyes met…and again, Argilla saw his pained expression. Why was he giving her that look…? Had she done something wrong…? Was he feeling alright…?
"Argilla…" he said painfully, uncertainty and hope apparent in his eyes.
"Serph…what…What is it…?" she asked, concerned.
"D-did you…" he paused, thinking on how to properly phrase his questions, "Which…kisses did you prefer…?"
Argilla blinked, "What…?" What was he talking about?! He didn't give her kisses! He didn't even know where to get them!
Serph sighed, closing his eyes only to open them once more, "Did you…like her kisses…better than mine…?"
Argilla was lost, "Serph…You didn't give me any kisses…And I have no more kisses to give…I…"
His face fell…So, she didn't even consider his efforts to be worthy of her attention…? So…she really preferred the other woman's kisses…?
"I ate them all."
Wait.
Back up.
Rewind.
His eyes flew to hers once more, his eyebrow raised, "Ate what…?"
She looked at him as if he was a retarded midget, "The kisses. I already ate all of the kisses that I bought."
Serph froze. The kisses that he was thinking of…was…apparently…completely different from the one that she was having…
The kisses…were…edible…?
Well…now it was beginning to make sense…
'I think…' he thought with doubt.
He was about to speak when something caught his eyes. There was a plastic packet behind her and he reached for it, "You shouldn't litter."
She sweat-dropped, "Oh right…My kisses' wrappers…I'm sorry…"
He froze and brought the packet close to his eyes, "Kisses…" He turned to look back at her with widened eyes, "These…" he began shakily, "these were the kisses…you were…talking about?" he asked stupidly, hating himself at the moment as he realized his major blunder.
So…the woman whom she "received" her kisses from was…the shopkeeper. So…then…she wasn't…She didn't just prefer women…Right…?
She nodded and beamed, forgetting all about her concern for his melancholy face, "Yup! These are the ones…! They taste really good…!"
Serph watched with a feeling of intense humiliation as she rambled on and on about her "kisses".
A moment later, she calmed down and looked at him seriously, "Serph…?"
"Hm…?"
She was blushing. She bit her lip and continued, "What…what was it that you and I did just now…?"
Alright.
Now it made perfect sense.
Argilla did not know what a kiss was. She didn't know what a real kiss was. She had thought that the chocolate was kisses. And they were! From…a certain point of view.
Those chocolate pieces were called Kisses…!
But they weren't real kisses…!
And now, her question had ascertained his assumptions. It had confirmed it. She was…confused.
He cast his face down, "…A kiss…"
Argilla leaned her face closer to his, "What…?"
He looked at her again with softened eyes and a warmly smiling face. He took her hands in his and firmly held them, "A kiss Argilla…What I gave you…was a kiss…"
Argilla's eyes widened, "But…!"
He chuckled, "These chocolate pieces are named 'Kisses'…Hershey's Kisses…" he softly explained, cupping her face with his hands, and leaning in closer, "While this…" he paused as their lips were almost against each other…
Argilla shivered again as she felt his breath on hers…This time, it was out of thrill.
"This," he began huskily, "is a kiss…"
Again, their lips met in a slow and passionate dance…
Now, she was sure…
Now, she was sure that she was really receiving a real kiss…
Argilla kissed him back with outmost fervor and ardor…He responded to her just as eagerly, his lips caressing hers…his tongue melding together with hers…
The two pulled back soon after as the need for oxygen fought its way to the forefront of their necessities.
Serph, who still had his eyes closed, pressed his forehead against hers, "I hope…that you liked that…"
He smiled as he heard her chuckle.
"Yeah…I did…I did like it…"
A moment later, they pulled apart and looked into each other's eyes, each having a smile for the other.
Argilla broke the silence and once more got on his lap. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer against him, "The other woman's kisses were good Serph…but…yours are the best…" she whispered seductively as their eyes locked together in a powerful gaze.
Serph's inner selves were jumping and prancing around within his head like nymphs.
Argilla frowned. Serph noticed, "What's wrong?"
She looked at him, "Serph. There was a boy who said that kisses were gross. Why?"
He chuckled again. Aa yes…
Why indeed?
"Well, as far as I know, under-developed female human beings spread a phenomenal disease called, the 'Cooties'."
"Cooties?" Argilla asked in disbelief. Serph nodded, a playful smile on his lips, "Yes. Apparently, this 'disease' is spread from one girl to a boy through a kiss. The kiss that you and I just had." he stated specifically so that she may not confuse a kiss for Hershey's Kisses.
Argilla blushed but said nothing, allowing him to continue.
"That is why…under-developed male human beings dislike such contact or any other contact resembling it."
"But…!"
He shook his head, beating her to the punch, "No. There is no such disease. They just think there is."
Argilla nodded; finally catching on.
This world…was strange.
"How did you know about kisses anyway?" Argilla asked, arching an eyebrow.
Serph chuckled, "I believe that I gather information a lot faster than you…and from more reliable sources."
Argilla blushed as she remembered herself asking half-formed humans for information.
He grinned at her as he pulled her closer and tighter against him, "You shouldn't have too many of those Kisses Argilla." he told her, changing the subject.
She blinked, "Why not?"
Serph felt his way within her uniform, making her squirm, "What are you doing!?"
"See…? You're already gaining weight. You don't want to have any more weight than what you had at the Junkyard."
Argilla's face paled, "A-are you saying…that…that I'm fat…!?" she asked in utter disbelief.
He chuckled and shook his head, "No. That's not it."
Argilla blushed, "So…so that's why…Kisses are for women…?! Because men don't like sweets?!"
He shook his head again, "Hey. That's not completely true. There are some who like sweets. But, I'm just not too fond of them…Chocolate…? Not really…They're just too sweet." he trailed off.
Now, what the storekeeper said made sense. She sighed; so…kisses weren't for females only eh…? She was glad at that.
Men weren't all that drawn to Kisses. They were…sweet; too sweet for the taste buds.
Serph frowned as another thought danced in his head. So, Argilla didn't prefer women. Right? Well, he just had to make sure.
He had to ask her one last time.
"What about the…woman…?"
"What about her…?" Argilla replied. He was asking her about…that…again!?
He shook his head, "Did she…ever give you a kiss…like mine…?" he asked, berating himself as he listened to the crap that he had just spewed out.
Argilla blushed beet red as she caught on, on what he was insinuating. She slapped him on the arm, "Serph…!" she growled playfully, "I'm not…I don't like women." she finished, whispering.
He raised an eyebrow and to assure him, she kissed him once more…
When they were content, the two pulled back.
"So…you…liked my kisses better then…?" he asked again, making the effort to bug and rile her a professional career.
She giggled, "Your kisses are my favorite Serph."
"Is that so…?"
She giggled again, "Let's just say that yours is the flavor that I'd never get tired of…"
He smiled at that, gladdened. After a moment of clarity, the two sealed the deal…with a tender kiss.
xxxxx
FIN
A/N:
Disclaimer: The use of Hershey's Kisses is only for convenience. I do not own it.