AN: So I was looking at some interviews. If you want to see Rain being super adorabbible in the extreme, look on YouTube for the Jean Wolf, Ninja Assassin interview. There's a point where they flash over to some of the 'outtake' style stuff, where he's kinda standing around, sees the camera, and like a little boy grins ear to ear, and makes a muscle with his bicep. You know how little boys (men too) do, where they go "looky looky I has muscles! I big strong guy!" while kinda giggling? Yeah. He's doin' that. There's also a pretty good interview where he stumbles around in English in such a way that makes you want to go "oh you get a cookie! And a megaglomp hug!", that's under the TIME magazine Rain interview. It's a couple years old, circa Speed Racer. He answers such questions as what it takes to seduce him "good cook, kind and um.. pretty would be a bonus. It would be perfect..." waves Hellooooo Rain, I cook, I clean, I do deep tissue massages and I'm pretty – like a Marilyn Monroe on mescaline who was crossbred with Hello Kitty! (At least that's what I've been told...)

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Wake Up 9
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Awakening with a long stretch, Mika glanced around. She was alone, still no Raizo in evidence. Laying there she thought about what had happened. Raizo's reaction had been beyond over the top, it had almost been crazed, and extremely out of character. Mika knew Raizo was an orphan, but what of his life before Ozunu had taken him? What had it been like? Now she thought she had some idea. Alcohol was poison to him, the very thought of it disgusting, that wasn't a normal aversion, there was no way it could be. That told her more about Raizo than a whole monologue about his life in the compound and his training ever could.

And the way he had flipped from towering rage to cold hardness when she called him a bastard. That too told Mika quite a bit. Not only was Raizo a mostly shut down young man, wounded by the rigorous programming he had gone through but his life before hadn't been a bed of roses either. Most of the information Mika had on Raizo was so sketchy, she barely even knew him, knew about him. But at the same time she did. Raizo had given her plenty of information on how he would treat her, protect her, by his very actions. It had to mean something. She could ask him countless questions, and he may not answer her with words, but with what he did and didn't say. If she only paid close enough attention, Mika was sure she could glean more from him with careful study.

When Mika had asked his age, Raizo simply changed the subject, deflecting her neatly. Maybe that meant he didn't know his own age for sure. He looked like he could pass for somewhere between nineteen if he were able to relax the air of his chilly exterior to even mid thirties. How much of that was simply his attitude or just his genetic make-up, Mika couldn't be one-hundred percent sure. Or it could even be that healing trick she had seen him use. Now that was a freaky thing to see, far more so than his disappearing act. Skin didn't knit together like that, it wasn't natural. Raizo said that there was no cost, but Mika didn't believe that crock of shit at all. Then there was the time she asked him in a sideways fashion his name, and he had paused before answering her, simply saying that Raizo was the name he had been given. Did that mean he didn't know his name, or that it was something that held more pain than the one Ozunu had forced upon him? It could even be possible that he hadn't ever been given one, but Mika thought that was unlikely.

Rubbing her temples, Mika hoped to prevent the headache that was on the horizon. Three arguments in a little more than a day, more questions than she had concrete answers for, and enough sexual tension to cut with a knife where the exact reasons she avoided men. They were often far more trouble than they were worth. Under most circumstances Mika would call her mother when she was having issues with men, and despite it being the middle of the night back in the States, she knew her mom would be happy to hear from her. It's just, what would she say? Mika didn't think a 'hey Mom, so I met this guy who saved me from ninja and I got stabbed protecting him and he looks really good covered in dirt and sweat when shirtless, and I think he's a virgin too' would go over all that well.

It had been too long since she dealt with the penis endowed sex, but even if she had, Mika was fairly sure that it wouldn't help her deal with Raizo. He was immensely fragile if her suspicions were accurate, and would require a firm, but gentle hand dealing with him. Bringing herself up short, Mika questioned her motives. Was she so enamored of Raizo because he was a puzzle, because he had saved her life, or because something inside her recognized his pain and wished to sooth it? And once Raizo was no longer shut down, was able to function on his own, would he need her anymore, and would she want him still?

The panic Mika felt each time there had been a threat to Raizo, and the peace whenever he was near was answer enough. Her words to him had been true, there would always be a place wherever she went for him. Even if nothing ever happened between them, Mika would still feel the need to make sure that she had room for him. Not just in her home, but in her life. Comforted, Mika stroked the fashionably worn gray shirt, that held his scent still. Musing that Raizo barely had any at all, Mika found that to be very curious, but what little there was was disgustingly yummy.

[REDACTED]

Afterwards Mika was always sleepy, but she should probably get up and make herself some sort of food. Fighting off the yawn, crawling out of the bed, she paused as something poked her hand. Her vibrator still needed to be cleaned from its' earlier use, but Mika left it there for later anyway and wandered out into the living room. At first she didn't notice Raizo, sitting there immobile on the couch, but as soon as she did, Mika flushed. Exactly how much had he heard?

Deciding to play it off, "Morning Raizo."

"Good morning Mika," swallowing, his Adam's apple bobbing, the motion drawing Mika's gaze there. She could probably live with her face pressed in his neck or chest, hiding from the world, "Did you sleep well?"

Going to join him on the couch, ignoring her bottomless state, besides his shirt covered her well enough if she was careful, "I guess. I would've been happier with you there, I slept much better the other night." Reaching out to tuck some of his hair behind an ear, "And you, did you sleep well last night?"

As she was drawing away, Raizo caught her hand by the wrist, then the other, staring at them, "I did not sleep." His voice had a strange quality to it as he whispered her name, "Mika," but then fell silent.

"What is it Raizo," making no move to go closer, nor to leave his firm grip, "is something wrong?"

Wordlessly he shook his head, pulling her hand closer to his lips, and then he did the strangest, most sensual thing a man had ever done. The tip of his tongue came out, lapping at her index and middle finger before sucking one into his mouth. Unable to hold in her moan, Mika partially cupped his chin, the sensation of his lips wrapped at the top of her index finger erotic. And like that he released her, before his cheeks turned a deep shade of red.

"Mika, I," stumbling.

"It's okay Raizo," stroking his jaw, "it felt good."

He looked unsure, lost, and embarrassed, "I, Mika, I..."

She realized then that he had probably heard her this morning, and if he had been anywhere nearby with his hearing, probably last night too. Mika should be embarrassed herself but wasn't. Burying her hands in his hair, massaging his scalp, Mika tipped Raizo's head back, forcing him to look up at her.

"Raizo, it's okay, really it is," with little thought, Mika moved to straddle his thighs, knees planted firmly in the couch cushions, "Talk to me Raizo, or I'm going to kiss you a whole lot."

A dreamy quality had entered his eyes, and Raizo had to visibly struggle to say anything beyond her name, "Mika, I, yes... I, I want..."

From the firmness that was pressing against the inside of her thigh, Mika could take a guess at what at least part of him wanted. But they couldn't, so Mika settled on some light petting. Pressing her mouth to his forehead, Mika stroked down his neck to his shoulders, massaging them while laying soft kisses all over his face. Hands went to grab her around the waist, while Raizo made a pathetic whine in the back of his throat that turned into a deep groan as her lips met his. When Raizo had to be nearing overload, his body trembling, his breathing was a ragged gasp, and she was approaching a place where she wouldn't be able to stop without going further, Mika pulled away, his fingers digging into the flesh of her hips.

"Is this okay with you Raizo?" stroking his bottom lip.

Tongue darting out again, "It's... it's..." he was clearly having a hard time, in more ways than one a naughty little voice in the back of her mind giggled, and Mika spared him.

Sitting back on his legs, closer to his knees rather than his waist, "Too much?"

"Yes," chest heaving, "we should... we should stop. You - you need to eat."

Mika didn't feel hungry, at least not for food, but she reminded herself to go slow, "Can I hold you a little bit first?" Patting over her heart, "Like before?"

Rather than answer in words, Raizo tugged her close, then maneuvered Mika so she was laying on her back on the couch, Raizo between her legs. Surprised, Mika only just barely kept her thighs from wrapping around his waist so she could press her crotch to his. Raizo lowered himself atop her while scooting lower awkwardly, his head coming to rest over her breast. The wordless request for what she had told him was snuggling was there, plain as day. Smiling down at him, at his clenched closed eyes, Mika ran her fingers over the back of his neck and shoulders, soothing him the way she had figured out worked best so far.

"Your heart is beating slowly," it came out clearly, but as a bare croak.

Craning her neck so she could plop a kiss on the crown of his head, "And your heart, what is it doing Raizo?"

"It was going fast," his admission causing her smile to widen. "It is normal now."

They lay like that until his stomach growled, and his face scrunched before smoothing out, making Mika laugh, "My sentiments exactly! Let's get some grub into that chiseled tummy of yours, or you may turn into a sack of bones like me."

Clearly reluctant Raizo pulled away, "I can make my body wait as long as necessary to take in food."

A sneaking suspicion nagged at Mika, "What did you eat last night?"

"Nothing," withdrawing fully.

"Have you eaten anything since that half a bowl of soup?" incredulous. At least Mika had scarfed food all day yesterday, shopping, rearranging the apartment and too much candy were what she had used to distract herself from his absence, "Okay that's it mister, up, up, up!" Waving her hands at him, "You are going to be stuffed like a Christmas goose by the time I'm done with you! Besides, I've got to have something in my kitchen you'll eat. And none of this 'just some soup' shit either!" Hopping from the couch, she 'eeped' when the shirt road up well over her waist, while Raizo blinked and looked away, blushing fit to beat the band, "I probably should go put some pants on," pulling the hem back down, hoping to sound nonchalant, like she hadn't just mooned him. Calling over her shoulder as she raced into her bedroom, "Go rummage in the kitchen will you? You're always saying that I need to keep my strength up, but you're the one who does the whole butt-kicking for goodness gig, not me, so you probably need way more fuel than I do."

Going into her closet, yanking the shirt over her head and tossing it, Mika was still buzzing from the endorphins of the tiny make out session. Christ that boy could kiss when he put his mind to it. Shoving aside a mini-fantasy of what that thick tongue could do to all sorts of parts of her body, Mika grabbed the first thing that came to hand. Some sort of burgundy sweater-shirt-dress was pulled over her nudity, and then she was squirming into some leggings, forgetting completely about underwear. Pushing the sleeves up to her elbows, Mika checked her appearance in the bathroom mirror, quickly brushed her teeth, and let her hair down from it's wrap. She really needed to go get it relaxed again, or spend some serious time with her flat iron, it was getting frizzy at the ends.

Joining Raizo in the kitchen, she saw he was staring at the plethora of food, "What?"

"Everything is Asian," he shook his head.

"So?" nabbing some nappa, squash and snow peas, "I like Asian. It's extremely yummy. And here, the only good food is Asian pretty much. Don't eat the pizza it'll give you the runs, and the German stuff gets heavy after awhile, the Italian always has overcooked pasta, the selection in the stores for most things is a little sub-par, so that leaves Asian. Conversely, if we were in England I'd probably have so much Indian and Arabic spices that my house would reek of saffron and cumin. Good stuff!"

Raizo was holding a jar of kimchi, rolling it from hand to hand, "At least it's healthy."

"Who cares if it's healthy Raizo," plucking the jar from his grip, she struggled with opening the lid, "so long as it tastes good?"

His brows were drawn tight over his nose, "I do." Raizo retrieved the jar from her, and she relinquished it, and with no hint of strain in his forearms, opened the lid, which came loose with a big 'pop', "You should let me do that."

"Okay," drawing the word out, Mika poked him the chest, "I hereby designate you as the Opener of Difficult Things."

Raizo sighed, obviously not knowing what to make of Mika, "You haven't taken your meds today, have you?"

"Nope, why?" grabbing some of the vegetables and beginning to cut them up. "Could you grab me the big skillet?" pointing vaguely to one of the cupboards.

"You should, you are very hyper, and -"

Mika cut him off, laughing, "I'm always like this. Supposedly I have ADHD, but the Adderall made me feel like a speed freak. Besides, I have no problem focusing on things, I simply... over focus on anything that interests me, not letting go of it until I've chewed it up, processed it, and set it aside ready for the next puzzle." Stopping herself before touching Raizo, Mika hoped that he wouldn't think that designation of 'puzzle' included him too, "Most guys I've been with in the past," this time Mika hopped Raizo didn't pick up the implication that she felt like she was 'with' him at the moment, "didn't understand it at all. They couldn't accept that just because I move from one subject to the next, fast as I possibly can, doesn't mean that I felt that way about them. Men are weird, freakish creatures, who only puzzle the hell out of me, but they aren't puzzles to figure out for the most part." Now Mika did touch him, making sure to stroke the back of his hand while he set the skillet down for her, "I may like to understand those I'm around, and I may focus on picking them apart, but it is so that I can better participate in the relationship process. So that I can give them what they need, just as they give me what I need."

Raizo stared at her a moment, opened his mouth to speak, then snapped it closed. Mika let him have the time to mull that over. For now she could let him live somewhere near his comfort zone, if not in it, and let him believe he was merely her protector, and she the protected. He could conveniently forget the fact that she had told him she was responsible for him too if he needed to, but that didn't mean that Mika was going to stop pushing him when necessary in the right direction. At least, Mika hoped it was the right direction for Raizo, and not because it was something she simply wanted for herself.

As she tossed the vegetables in the pan, then started cooking them, Raizo almost reverently touched the side of her shoulder, "Then they were very lucky, and very stupid to not know how lucky they really were."