Hm. Last chapter went over quite well, though some of you were skeptical over whether or not Sayer was really dead. If I can be perfectly frank, generally, if someone with massive brain powers gets their brain smeared across the floor, then their powers are kinda useless ^^; I can assure you, Sayer is outta here! He was just our Act I villain :)

To those of you who were having trouble accessing the LiveJournal link, if you tried it the day it was posted or the one after, then it wouldn't have worked because of me. I forgot to add the hyphens into the 'c-o-m' and it was censored out, so the link was incomplete. That's my fault, and it should be fixed now. Enjoy!

My thanks go out to theforgottenpeople96, AnimeKiwi369, Rapis-Razuri, FiringShootingStar, RunoandAkizafan, Mixer18, ProChampionDuelistA. K. A. Pyro, firesarrow, TFRiD Queen, and Darkangel2221 for their reviews!

And anons this week include Mariah, LDC, name, PDS, ChibiX, and one guest! Mariah: Well, there are two more acts left, so, no, their problems aren't over yet. And see above about the LJ link :) LDC: Time to pah-tayyy! Let the fluff begin! name: Well, we do have two more acts, but I can promise that they'll be nice and fluffy ones! PDS: I'm sure you have your reasons, so I won't ask ^^; I think this chapter should meet your expectations. I hope. ChibiX: I did notice, but that's all right! Yeah, Akiza's showing her inner strength now. She'll be someone to reckon with in the upcoming chapters :)

As per usual, my thanks go out to RobotFish for his awesome beta work!

Okay, I didn't want to do this because it seems like a spoiler, but then I realized it's probably cruel to do it the other way. This chapter has another MA scene that was written long before the take-down and the full chapter is posted here: vv fanfiction. live journal. c-o-m /11 000. html (Remove spaces and hyphens). Feel free to read it there and come back over here to comment :)

Sunset Horizon
Chapter 16 – Roses and Wine

Yusei shoved the front door of the Dragon's Claw open with his shoulder, one hand still gripping Stardust and the other firmly clasped on Akiza's wrist. He finally let go when they were inside, turning to walk around her and shut the door before locking it behind them. He felt her hand gently settle on his back before he faced her again, wrapping one hand around her waist and setting the other on her cheek while leaning in to kiss her.

He had waited far too long for this. The moment when they could truly be together. No threat of Sayer, no more lies between them, just wholesome, unbridled love. His lips moved against hers, drinking in her taste as his arms held her close. She reciprocated, both hands settling on his chest as he pulled her as near to him as he could. His hand moved back to her hair, folding around the nape of her neck as he tried to inhale her being.

Several long moments passed between them as they indulged in their ecstasy, lips pressing hungrily together while their hands eagerly explored one another's body. When the need for breath became too demanding, he drew back reluctantly, chest heaving as he tried to steady his breathing. He touched his forehead to hers, quietly whispering into the night, "I love you, Akiza."

A slight smile crossed her lips as she stood as close to him as she possibly could, hands still folded in the fabric of his black undershirt. "I love you, too, Yusei. I never thought I could, but I do."

Regret filled him at the thought of moving away from her, but he slowly stepped back, lowering his hands to settle on her waist and hold her. "Akiza…"

She averted her gaze and slowly stepped out of his hold, knowing what was on his mind. "Yes?"

He watched as she slowly moved behind her bar and leaned against the counter before following her and reaching out to hold her hand. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She swallowed and reached up to brush her mussed hair behind her ear. "About my powers?"

He nodded, but stayed silent and reached under the counter for a bottle of whiskey and a glass. He had no intention of getting drunk tonight, but he needed a shot to calm his nerves and give him the relaxation necessary to hear her out. Pulling the stopper out of the bottle, he poured a drink and waited for her to continue. Heaving a sigh, she kept her eyes on the opposite wall and whispered, "Because I was afraid."

He paused before the glass reached his lips and turned to glance at her. "Afraid?"

Her eyebrow rose at the drink and she muttered, "On the house." Shaking her head, she inhaled deeply and continued, "I was afraid you would think I was like him."

He gulped the drink down in one go and shook his head to clear the harsh bite before setting the glass back down. Taking a breath, he shifted to step in front of her and took her hands in his, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. "I knew Sayer as less than an acquaintance for about seven years before I came here, and we had only one real conversation face-to-face. I knew he was a selfish, arrogant ublyudok without even needing to talk to him. Akiza, I've known you for three years, watched you for two prior to that, and had the honor of sharing your bed. I know, gypsy voodoo powers or not, that you're a good person."

She couldn't hold back the chuckle that tumbled from her lips and flashed a bright smile up at him. "Technically, psychics are a far cry from gypsies."

His lips curled into a smile at her response and he kissed her again. He wanted to know more about her powers. He wanted to be able to understand what she could do. A particular thought crossed into his mind, making him wonder about something that was starting to make sense. "You said that psychics have a healing ability… Is that how your leg recovered so quickly?"

She nodded and shifted to hold one of his hands in both of hers. "Mm-hm. Well, I don't know if all psychics have that power, but I know both me and him had it. I can't say for the rest of the psychics out there."

This confused him a fair amount. "So all psychics have different powers?"

She nodded again. "They manifest differently in each person. Everyone is born with the possibility of becoming one, and Sayer hypothesized that it's an upcoming stage of human evolution. I can't say I believe it, personally. My powers revealed themselves when I was five years old," she said, her eyes focusing on his hands, calloused from working in a forge for years. "My parents made the decision to keep them hidden, and as I got older, I decided for myself that I would be better off keeping them a secret. Only six currently living people know, including you and my parents."

He listened in silence, absorbing every word of her story patiently. This was what he wanted. The opportunity to get to know her better, on her terms.

She inhaled deeply, her fingers playing over his knuckles as she absently toyed with his hand. "My powers are a blend of manipulating the air around me, healing injuries, and a sixth sense. I can't read minds like he could, but I might be able to reach that point if I practice enough. As I grew, I ignored my powers. I didn't use them unless I absolutely needed to, and they just sort of… faded into the background.

"Just like physical muscle, psychic powers must be used frequently to be effective. For example, let's say you work a job where you need to lift a heavy crate so far every day. As each day passes, it becomes easier as your muscle builds. Neglect your duties, and it'll only be harder. Psychic powers must also be trained.

"Because I neglected mine, they became so dormant that I have to focus completely on them in order to call on them. It's next to impossible for me to call on them when I'm afraid or angry. That's why… why I couldn't defend myself before… When he attacked me."

He brushed his free hand through her hair in an attempt to comfort her while mentally putting the pieces together. He wanted to ask to make sure, though, so he said, "What you're saying is that Sayer had practiced with his quite a bit? To be able to do all that he did without even breaking a sweat, I'd guess he's trained a lot."

"Yeah," she said. "He tracked me down because he sensed my powers. He got Goodwin to help him with his plot in exchange for volunteering to cover for him in this town. I guess they conjured up the fake relationship between them so the people in town wouldn't be so suspicious of him. Sayer did send me letters, though he pretended to be someone completely different. He was a kind man, someone I thought I would be happy to marry."

Yusei couldn't help but cringe a little as he was reminded of her former state of engagement. He had successfully forgotten, but he knew that he should keep the experience in mind for future conflicts. Knowing his luck, if he pushed it to the back of his mind and removed it from his memories then something would happen, and he would need to remember the details. "Akiza," he started. He wanted to know the answer, but he wasn't sure how to ask it. "Why… Why did you agree to the engagement?"

She inhaled a sharp breath, but nodded with understanding. "Of course, I learned what a lie his kindness was soon after he came to town. When he proposed, he offered me a union with a mutual benefit. He wanted the company of someone who could relate to him. He wanted to marry me solely because of my powers. To him, the fact that I am psychic meant that I was above all others and that I was 'worthy' of him."

He could feel his hands start to tremble as he anxiously waited for her answer to his question. It shouldn't have been so hard. He knew she didn't have any feelings for him. There was absolutely no reason to be jealous. He just needed to stay calm and hear her out. He was certain she had a good reason for agreeing.

"I accepted… I accepted because he offered to train me with my powers, in case I decided I would need them. Ironically, it's the training he gave me that built my strength to use them during the fight tonight. If he hadn't helped me manage my abilities, I never would have been able to call on them during such a time. But, in all honesty, that was only one reason for accepting."

He held his breath, waiting for her to continue as she said, "I accepted because… because I wanted to forget about you." She shook her head, a smile falling on her lips as she continued, "I had hoped that by marrying another man, I would be able to forget about my feelings for you. My plan backfired, though. By walking into a loveless relationship, I only thought about you more."

He moved in closer to her, unable to hold back as he kissed her. His hands moved to hold her hips and he stepped a little nearer, feeling the urge to hold her against him. Her palms settled on his chest as she released a light, airy moan against his lips, causing his hips to buck against hers. He pulled back from her, knowing deep down that he needed to hold out. It had been too long of a night and they didn't need it to end like that. It could wait.

Her right hand reached to settle on his arm, slowly pulling it from her waist before lacing her fingers with his and whispering, "I think we should go upstairs."

He felt his throat close as he resisted his urges to tear into her then and there. He needed to leave soon. "Akiza, that… that's probably not a good idea."

Her other hand moved up to gently stroke his cheek. "Why is that?"

"Because," he murmured, his voice sounding more like a growl than he liked. He locked his eyes on hers, wanting to lean down and kiss her but he forced himself to hold back. "If I go up there with you, then I'm not leaving tonight."

His bluntness did nothing to deter her as she slipped out from between him and the counter, tugging on his arm and coyly replying, "You come upstairs with me, and I won't let you leave tonight."

There wasn't even a choice anymore. He felt his trousers tighten as he closed the distance between them with a single step, wrapping his arms around her and drinking in the flavor of her lips. Her kiss felt like a refreshing spring rain, washing away his fears and doubts to leave him feeling rejuvenated.

He wanted her.

Drawing back slowly, he moved to press kisses along her chin and back to her ear, pausing to whisper, "Ya nuzhen pryamo syeĭchas."

Her hands folded into the back of his jacket as her voice hummed a sound of confusion. "Hm…?"

His tongue traced a vague pattern over her ear, eliciting a gasp of surprise from her. His hot breath wisped over her ear as he murmured, "I want you right now."

Her head ducked to kiss his neck, her hands pulling at his jacket in an absent attempt at removing it. "Then take me."

He had to fight to avoid dropping his pants in the middle of her bar and instead lowered his hands along her sides, pulling her hips snug against his. She moaned against his neck as he trailed lower, gripping her thighs and tugging to lift her off her feet. He felt her legs wrap around his waist as he moved towards the stairs, continuously kissing her neck. He found the first step and shifted to support her with one arm, using the other to follow the banister and find his way up.

Despite only taking this route to her room twice, he remembered the exact path perfectly and found her bedroom door easily. His hand moved to turn the handle and shove it open, wandering inside before kicking it shut behind them. He turned to face the door, setting her down and pressing his body against hers to sandwich her between himself and the wooden closure. His lips covered hers ferociously, his hips grinding into hers with equal fervor. The feel of her lower body constantly rubbing against his threatened to undo him then and there, but he forced himself to hold on.

Their clothes needed to go.

His hands roamed to find the buttons on the front of her shirt and pulled them free, shoving the two sides apart to reveal her breasts. He wasn't sure if he liked her better in the pants or the skirt, but he decided he liked her best without either one. His lips reluctantly released hers to inhale a much-needed breath before he dove back in, this time moving to her neck to kiss and suckle the smooth skin there.

She gasped in pleasure, finding joy in receiving his attentions as much as he was enjoying giving it. Her hands moved, one to touch his unmarred cheek, and the other on his shoulder, slipping under his jacket to push it off his shoulder.

He used his nose to shove her shirt farther along her shoulder so he could kiss her collarbone, his hands tugging at the sleeves of the fabric to pull it off completely. The dark cotton fell to the floor in a rough pool, leaving her torso bare as he flicked his tongue across her flesh. He pulled back, wanting to feel her lips again, and kissed her.

Her hands successfully removed the left sleeve of his jacket, leaving him to shake his right arm free of the other so it could hit the floor. Her left hand moved to slide back into his hair, her right sliding down his back to grip into his undershirt. He had never worn a shirt around her before because he only wore them during his late night missions, and he found himself cursing the fact that he was wearing one now. Why tonight, of all nights?

He forced himself to pull back slightly, gripping the hem of his shirt and pulling it over his head before tossing it to the floor and moving to pull the buckle of his belt. She seemed to just realize she was still wearing a gun belt and shifted to fumble with the clasp. He had his off and on the floor before she had even figured out the buckle, making him wonder for a moment if he could get it with his teeth in less time than she could with her hands.

Now wasn't the time to try that theory, he knew, so he reached out and tugged on her hips to pull her closer to him before masterfully removing her holster belt and laying it on the floor gently. She was in his arms again before he could stand up completely, and one hand moved to his hair, the other falling back on his cheek as she kissed him.

For the first time, something clicked in his brain as he realized she hadn't ever touched his scar. Her hands had been all over his face during their previous night together, but they hadn't touched his cheek since it had been marred by the bastard who'd torn them apart, then unwittingly pushed them together. He drew away from the kiss and combed his fingers through her hair, looking her in the eye as he whispered, "Akiza, are you afraid of my scar?"

A small sound of surprise escaped her lips as she averted her gaze. "I…"

"It's okay," he whispered, gently cupping her chin and lifting her eyes back to his. "There's nothing to be afraid of. It's just skin."

She nodded slowly, raising her hand to splay her fingers across his throat before swallowing her fear down. They moved gradually to run up his chin, grazing lightly over his scar in experimentation. A slight gasp of wonder escaped her lips as he stood still, letting her explore his injury.

After a long moment, she leaned closer and pressed a kiss to the yellow-tinted skin, giving her final judgment that it wasn't all that bad. He gave her a gentle smile as he caressed her chin and pulled her close enough to kiss her lips again, starting with a quick press before sealing them together with more intensity. His lips burned as his hands moved to pull her closer, his body needing her presence.

Her hands moved to his bare chest, feeling the firm muscle before giving a gentle push. He moved with her, letting her guide him backwards towards the bed. He set his hands on her hips, and when his legs hit against the mattress, he fell back and brought her down on top of him. She gave a delighted squeal of surprise as he pulled her with him, leaving her sitting above him, straddling his hips.

They tumbled together, reveling in the warm embrace of each other. He knew, in that moment, that he would never be able to live without her in his life.

Act I – End

Here's a link bringing you right to where we left off, if you like: vv fanfiction. live journal. c-o-m /11 000. html #cut id2 (Remove spaces and hyphens) I'm really sorry that I have to do this, but it's a lot better then the whole story being taken down again, right?

So… There we have it. The official end of Act I. We'll have a brief intermission, then we'll start Act II! Yay! I'm really excited for what's to come and I hope you guys will like it, too. As I said before, there''ll be a lot of fluff on the way, so Act II should be a little more light-hearted than Act I :)

Anyway, I'm just blabbering and delaying the posting of this chapter, so I'll shut up now ^_^

Visit my Facebook! www. facebook. c-o-m /OCValkyrie (Remove spaces and hyphens)

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-Valk