Chapter Eighteen

I wanted to thank OokamiPrincess for the idea for dinner, it added to what I wanted to spice up a bit. XD

Kayura found Steve down in the gym of the old building. It was strange the building had a full fledged boxing rink and a punching bag, but she assumed it was probably a training facility once upon a time. She quietly walked along the elastic bands of the boxing rink as he focused on punched the giant bag and she quietly watched him. His muscles were visible through his sweat covered shirt and she felt her cheeks grow hot.

He punched it one final time and it sprung from its hold on the ceiling and landed a few feet away. He looked back at her, "how long have been there?"

"Long enough to know not to be on the other end of that punch," she said as she walked along the rope.

Steve watched her feet, she was definitely nimble and graceful. She dismounted with all the grace of a gymnast and he asked, "are you going to stay for dinner?"

"Sounds nice, but I wanted to test something first?"

"Hm," he asked as she stood on tip toe to kiss him.

She slipped her foot between his and knocked him off his feet with ease. He wasn't going down without her though and grabbed her waist to pull her down with him. He instantly rolled and pinned her down, "trying to get the drop on me?"

Kayura blushed, he had his body pressed against hers. His strong hands held her wrists on either side of her head and his lips were close to hers. She jabbed her knee in his side and she broke his grip on one of her hands. She flipped him over on his back, her legs straddling his waist, and said, "had to see if I could."

"You definitely have skill," he said as he easily grabbed her and pushed her back down. "Or are you just letting me do this?"

She smirked, "a bit of both."

"Oh, what brilliant sneak attack, have you been hanging out with Nat?"

"That sounds like something of experience."

He flushed, "you're definitely more skilled."

She felt his hot breath on her skin, and he kissed her mouth softly. He pulled back for a second and leaned over to her ear, "utsukushidesuyo...(You're beautiful.)"

Her breath caught in her throat as she felt his lips flutter across on her neck. He pressed tightly against her and kissed her throat, he could feel her pulse quicken as he kissed down to her collar bone. He let her hands go and she grabbed his back tightly as his kisses deepened. He moved his hands to her sides and slipped a hand inside of her coat finding her shirt had come untucked. Her skin was soft and cool under his hand.

She gulped as he pulled away, "that was hell of a kiss."

He smiled as he got up, "I think that's enough of a work out. I made dinner."

She laid there for a moment, trying to reassemble her thoughts and he held out a hand for hand to help her stand up. He laughed as he put an arm around her, walking with her to the elevator. She laid her head against his strong arm, "I could get used that sort of training."

He felt his cheeks turn red, "definitely not on the agenda."

She laughed as the elevator came to his floor and hall, "you know, you're an amazing cook."

He looked at her, "I had to take care of myself for a long time. So..."

"I mean I can hunt, and fish," she paused, "and make a darn good grilled cheese sandwich."

"Grilled cheese," he laughed as he opened his apartment.

She scowled.

"Grilled cheese," he laughed again.

She stepped in behind him and smelled a terrific spice, "is that..."

He smirked, "curry?"

She looked at him, "where did you learn to make that?"

"While you were gone, I went to the library to look up some recipes. Most seemed pretty tricky or had hard to find ingredients," he said as she smiled ear to ear.

She saw him go into the kitchen to serve a couple of plates, "when I was gone...huh..."

He put the plates on the table and sat down, "I didn't know how long you would be gone. Thanksgiving came around and there was Nat bothering me again about getting out there. I just couldn't..."

She sat down in front of him and reached out for his hand, "I didn't realize it fluxed so badly..I was barely gone for a day."

He shook his head, "I did something like that once."

"Yeah..."

"But I was gone seventy years."

She paused realizing she was on a sensitive subject, "why did you have faith I would come back?"

He looked over the woman who sat their quietly watching him. Her head was tilted to one side, her bangs falling across her eyes. Her hair was starting to grow out and he realized he missed the long hair that she had when they first met. He said, "because as far I am concerned, you're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

She blushed, "hountoni, Kanchou-san? (Really, Captain?)"

"Soudesu. (Really.)"

"Your Japanese is becoming impeccable," she smiled as she took a bit of his curry over rice. "Oishii yo! (Yummy!)"

"I'm glad you like it," he smirked. "So have you given a thought about where you want to get married?"

She felt her cheeks turn crimson and swallowed.

"No, rush," he laughed. "Just Nat is been bugging me over it."

She took another bite of food but didn't say anything.

"Nat has been bugging me about a lot of things."

She swallowed, "like?"

He laughed, "everything?"

She blushed, "oh..."

He assured, "I just tell her to ask you if she wants to know so badly."

"I don't look forward to that conversation," she said taking another bite.

"She likes you, she hasn't tried to kill you," he smiled.

Kay frowned, "if that was a prerequisite in my world, it would be so much easier."

He was quiet for a moment, "do you want to go a proper date?"

"We've been..."

He watched her wrinkle her nose, "I think we should go on a date before we get married, don't you?"

She turned scarlet again, he liked when she got all flustered, "what did you have in mind?"

"Dinner and dancing," he suggested.

"I would like that, we didn't exactly get our dance," she paused as she finished her plate and stood up to go wash her dish. She was quiet while he finished his food, but he couldn't help but smile. She was so adorable to him when she was trying not to know show her emotions. He stood up when he finished and leaned over to kiss her temple and she leaned against him, "I love you, Kanchou-san."