Author Words: Dear Guest: Well, you got your review about this episode on the other site, thank you very much again for reading. Greetings. :)

I've been too busy to update, but I hope to update soon the 23.

22. - The Next Step.

The redhead locked the room door; she left her coat on the table, picked up the remote to turn on the Home Theater, making the music invade some place. While the racer was looking at her in every action, even he had no idea what had happened and what was that place?

-I'm tired of being called Gaijin, and they said the same in so bad mood to all the people I love ... - She began to speak, approaching to the huge sofa surrounded the table in the room. She sat down and unable to hold it anymore, her tears finally peeked. -It seems that whatever I do is the same thing. I put much effort in all things, but it's equal to nothing, I think I do everything in a right way, but always I'm the error in front of others. - She meant she knew many people who gave their life so easy, getting jobs through friends, a college degree without any effort, a life of luxury with deceptions and traps in the background. Preferences to be born naturally in Japan. - I am respectful, I have values, I admit that I have my horrible reactions and defects, but... Enough... - Put her elbows on the table and then hands over her face, wiping her tears from time to time, but they kept coming.

Francesco looked at her a moment, reacted to her weeping and sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to draw her, placing her head on his chest.

- Oww, amore, calm down. But tell me what happened? I'm still nowhere. That woman at work told you something bad right? – He questioned.

She said you were a Gaijin ... - The redhead said.

- Oh... - He took his eyes up and down and side to side. - Well What's that? - Asked after blinking a few times.

- A stranger, but so offensive, she did not want someone like you to touch things in the kitchen, it would be something like a lack of respect for customers and employees your sudden request. - Sipped a little her nose and soon took away another couple of tears from her face. - Sorry, I reacted badly, the only thing that occurred to me was out of there, not hold it anymore.

- Then my entire fault, if you lose your job... ... I just wanted to make a fun afternoon, and pass it with you; I thought it was a good idea... - Sighed. - Here, everything goes wrong, if I was entered in the GP of Japan, I think it would have been the only thing that I would have a prize. - The Italian was very sorry for that and everything else.

- Francesco ... - Kaori looked up to find his eyes and smiled a little. - Do not worry, just... It's a matter of finding something else, yet I have some money saved for tuition of my children, it will take a couple of months, in the course I can get another job. -

- Only ruin your life... - He whispered.

-No! No, do not say that... – She hugged him tight. - I'm glad you're with me; please do not feel like that... I support you; you are not alone in this place. – Releases the hug and quickly looking for one of his hands, lacing their fingers, pressing gently. - We can help each other... No? –

He returned the hug, sighing deeply, feeling that he must do something concrete and begin to act as head of household, stop thinking that things were just for him. Although, he had decided his way, only that nothing in the correct order.

- I'm going to do it... - He suddenly said when she reached the hug and looking for his hand.

- What? What do you mean? - Kaori asked a little confused.

-I 'm going to give them the support and all they need, tuition, food, clothing ... Everything. You will not have to worry about that, I can give them everything, and more. I have a large salary; I make more money than they would have 10 people working one month. - Pressed a little more hand holding hers, while having fingers interlaced and looked directly into her eyes.

- Are you serious? - She asked again.

- Of course, I'm his father; I promised I would care of them. And you too Why do not you rest from work a couple of months and spend more time with children? Let me take care of everything. - He was pretty determined.

But Kaori looked strange, and a little sad, stooped hold his hand and looked a corner of the room.

- Francesco... You say a couple of months? You say that as if it were that easy for me, as if everything were defined as... Do not you have to talk first with your boss and your friends? What about your mother? Please, I don't have wanted to do illusions. It's so beautiful to have you here at last and all... But... We have not even formalized anything between us, and I guess it all depends on what your people tell you. Do you know? I have fear, I've been thinking a lot since yesterday we got to Osaka. - Another time was about to cry, but endured, swallowed and continued talking, now look at him. - I have scared you go again; do not keep your promise, fear of being alone again, with only the memory of what it was before you. Fear your long seasons of Formula Racing, which in those trips you know it, you really do not love me because... You are always surrounded by beautiful women and I know it's easy for a person who liked to flirt as much as you, find someone else or that someone notice you, because you're a very attractive man. Please do not take this wrong... But let's say we're just getting to know. A couple of months, and if... Was then I run out of anything? I do not want to be drifting. - Finished it.

He was hurt because she was so sincere, first understood it, but otherwise... This fairy tale was turning black with all that. With so many things were overshadowing the splendor of what is really important.

What had he done? Spend all those years searching for her, were not enough for her? How offense. He was always a man who does not give up easily when he wanted something, he got that something. And with this story, it would be no different.

Life was giving him a lesson, after so many achievements that were only a trick of youth. Fate left with a person with different values than the others. The girls he had been before, for more fame and fortune they had, they were willing to give for the same reasons that he, summarized in one word: Appearance.

- I understand your fears, I also I have mines. Still, I'm offend that you don't want understand than I love you, I have matured since the last 6 years. Francesco's essence is not lost, there is it, but now he is a man who seeks most of all things seriously. I really want to settle down. Would you all start being a bit more formal? Then... First of all... - Suddenly, he knelt in front of her, took her hand and without taking his eyes off hers, said: - Officially, want to be my girlfriend?

She hated having to be harsh with her words; she was not a heavenly angel, also had her bad deeds gotten and maybe, for having, make mistakes and learn from them was part of life.

The redhead looked amazed when he knelt. What to do? She asked that things are started to be in right way, then, should take the next step in this.

- Yes, okay... I want... - While holding her hand, she gave a little pull inviting him to be on his feet, and Kaori also stood up and smiled, caressing his fingers with her thumbs, like a little massage. - I love you, Francesco. I'm serious. -

- I love you too, I hope this time, will be clear and therefore, we seal this the way it should be. - He slowly removed his hand from hers, and gently put both on the redhead's face, caressing her cheeks and slowly behind her neck, as far as his fingers reached. Promptly smiled, closed his eyes and leaned forward, letting their lips met by reflex, by habit.

The chance of a kiss that was more than exciting, it was as if he had not kissed her long ago, and it was true, were almost two days he did not feel her sweet breath, their touch, their tongues finding, being more and more intensity, trying their teeth not bite, beyond a fleeting caress, which grew with every second insatiable like fire.

Francesco took his arms to her waist and hugged her, pulling her to his body.

Kaori complained a bit, but it was for the sudden hug that took one second work of breathing, but not letting their lips distanced. She circled the neck of the Italian racer with both arms, dropping a pair of tears on her cheeks, this time were of joy.

He felt her sobbing, so that the kiss did not continue. His expression grew concerned about the redhead, and removed her tears with the edge of his hands.

- What is it? – Francesco asked and his tone according to his face. - Are you sad yet? -

She shook her head slightly.

- No, on the contrary, although some of my fears have not been allayed, now I feel very happy. And do not ever want this to end. - Kaori said, and took away the arms of his neck. This time completely wiped her face and looked up to meet his eyes. - Sorry to cry. -

-You need not apologize for that. - He said with his charming smile accompanied by a soft laugh. He then took control of the home theater remote was on the table and got a little more volume, looked for any song that had a romantic melody that the tropical music was playing all the time and would not the environment that he sought.

After that, he sat back in that long couch that surrounded the table took her hand and pulled Kaori with him, but she did not move too much.

- Come here. - He smiled mischievously. - Sit here. - With his free hand slapped a few times one of his legs.

- Huh? Why? The couch is big enough, no need to sit on your lap. - She said, noting that he had made, about the romantic melody seemed cute at all.

-Do not kill the atmosphere of the moment, Kaori... Do not you think that make the love here seemed exotic? - Shamelessly asked, unfazed. - Or was for this reason that you rent this place?

- What? WHAT? - The redheaded thought she heard wrong. - W... Want that we…. here? - Her face turned so red that even she could see the hot expanding beyond her head.

Why he always had to said that his craziness? Although, she had heard before that many couples locked in karaoke to have sex. It was even cheaper than paying for a motel room. – But I do not for that, I rented it, I wanted to have a moment of relaxation, nothing more. – Kaori answered a little shocked.

- Oh, I see... But anyway, we have half an hour, we must seize it. - He pulled the redhead towards him again, while keeping her hand.

Kaori, this time, surprised, fell in front of him with both legs, one next to the other over the racer waist, her hands rested on the back of the couch, at the height of the head of Francesco.

- You are insatiable, and do not know why I would fall in your game of seduction, this should not happen... - She said as she almost whispered, looking away for a moment.

- What I can I say? Francesco has all the "I" in his favor: Insatiable, Intelligent, Interesting, Incredible, Ideal... -

- Idiot, Impertinent, Irritable... - Kaori helped him with a couple of words, with her eyes on him again.

-Ha -ha... Very funny. – He answered, whiles his arms around her and brought her closer to his body. Without stopping to show that suggestive smile. - Do you know? From this morning I wanted to with you in this way, I promised you wake up every day on your side, but last night was not possible then how do you want to start keeping my promises? Also, see you in that uniform, it drives me crazy. I remember the first time I saw you... With that maid uniform. - He spoke, while he was massaging her back, a massage where it hid the actual intention of reaching the zip of the dress to taking it off from her body all at once.

- So you like girls in uniform, huh? I thought you preferred women with more class like doctors, actresses, even political girls. - She smiled at him. For some reason, she would not say the words: "Top model."

- Depends on the uniform... Because flight attendants are lovely, but the girls in the army, I think they are too rigid. -

- What the hell are you talking about? - Kaori laughed, with some intensity.

- From women in uniform... Speaking of which, this dress is a challenge... - Still trying to unzip it strangely he could not find it.

-Leave it, I'll do... By the way, has no zip, it takes off from here... - The redheaded taught him in her chest was a tie, which threw the tip, open the dress top, exposing some skin, revealing her bra was purple with a black mesh around her breasts, making it look casual yet sensual, and just below, there was a pair of brown buttons vertically.

- Oh, well, the dresses are increasingly complex... But, it is a nice bra. Well, I'll do the rest. - He laid his hands on the buttons cluttering the next step, licking his lips every time he struggled to remove them from their buttonholes. Until he did.

- Half an hour is enough for you? Her fingers traced his hips in horizontal, more specifically by the outline of his pants, looking to undo his belt buckle and everything else.

- Um, could charge a little more, tonight, when we are at your home... – He whispered.

-I want to see if you could have extra energy... - This time she was opening the zip of his pants little by little, she realized something. Kaori looked down and her cheeks turned redder. - W... Why do you not bring underwear? - Smiled embarrassed.

-Because it's hot. - Francesco winked, responding as simple as that. But his words had a double meaning. And do not tell me this is unknown for you... -

The redhead laughed slowly and started kissing his lips again, his feelings were increasing, and she had to admit that she liked to soak up his exotic French fragrance and more.

Over time, just what was said, half an hour later, and there came the Home Theater will shut off automatically.

The couple walked out of the place as if nothing happened, but if they had been smokers, might lead a couple of cigars in their mouths, as the typical parodies when the lovers just after sex, relaxed with snuff.

Kaori, wearing her red coat, now she taking the arm of her "new" boyfriend. She wanted to forget her problems and be happier than ever.

Although Francesco, was worried about something and he started a conversation.

- Are not you going to return to the cafe restaurant? -

The redhead shook her head in denial, she was determined not to return and for minutes they were on the opposite way of the cafe.

-I do not want you to think I'm a coward for not coming back, I just do not want to think of anything else for now. In no one trouble. – She clarified . - I'll fix everything tomorrow after bringing the kids to school, I promise.

-All right... Does that mean you leave me alone in the morning? - The racer replied with some whimsical tone again.

-You can come with me if you want... - She replied, putting her head on the arm of him. –I don't want you escape and wander again as abandoned puppy.

Francesco smiled.

And as they walked quietly through the center of Osaka, he had an idea.

- Hey, we have a couple of hours before the kids get out of school right?

- Huh? Yes Why? – She asked curious.

-Come on, let's go shopping. – Smiling yet.

- Shopping? - She raised an eyebrow.

-I want to surprise the kids, and also to you, buy many beautiful things, also for me, I'm in the same clothes from yesterday. Come on, we have many hours ahead. We can lunch take advantage of something and have a good time.

Francesco this time took Kaori's hand, and she again began to follow the game. She had lost count of how many times he had seduced her with his ideas; she was not good for shopping and had almost no time with her life. But she wanted enjoy it, ran with him to the buildings full of shops.

To be continued...

Disclaimer:

-Kaori is a character that belong to me like this story. (c) Shadoru.

-Other characters belong to (c) Disney. PIXAR.

-Sorry my bad English.