Chapter 28 - Paradiso
"That was exciting, wasn't it?"
Isami had his hands already placed on his hips as he smiled and nodded to Isshiki-senpai. The brunette upperclassman unlocked his Elite office doors and politely guided him into the middle of the room. He had an extremely delighted expression on his face as if he'd been waiting for this moment the whole day.
Isami had been anxiously waiting for this moment too. After Megumi-san's and Hayama-san's match this afternoon, it was only a matter of minutes before the next pair would be summoned by Isshiki-senpai and follow him back to his office to receive their theme for their shokugeki. Isami had been gearing himself up just as Fratello had been also. He'd spent weeks upon weeks of intensive training using everything Pappa taught him from his most recent trip back to Italia. In addition, every so often he would stay behind and consult with his teachers on various dishes he carefully devised. In competitions like these where one had no idea what to make until exactly the day before, rote-learning recipes were useless. Practicing techniques was the key and that was what Isami did all this time. Today's contestants had clearly shown the vast improvements they've made since first year. Anything could happen! Like Megumi-san defeating Hayama-san! This competition would be the tightest and toughest in Tootsuki's history. He normally salivated more when he put on weight during the cooler seasons due to physiological changes, but unexpectedly Isami had to catch himself from letting a bit of drool escape past his lips anyway. He really couldn't help it. The thought of catching up to Fratello and battling against one of the Elite Ten was a delicious thought. However first thing's first. He had to defeat his current opponent.
Kurokiba Ryou.
The laid-back boy slouched beside him. He looked completely dead on his feet as if he had come straight back from a dozen shokugekis rather than spectating today's. His eyes remained sullen and at half-mast. His hair was wilder and more unkempt compared to what it was before. A lock of greasy looking pitch-black hair trailed down the side of his face and it almost reached his collarbone. He either had decided to grow out his hair or he couldn't be arsed with such a task. Isami was surprised Alice-san hadn't commanded him to get a neat trim yet. Being an Italiano himself, grooming to maintain a tidy appearance wasn't something men could ignore. Despite what people thought, Kurokiba actually had astounding reflexes and was the sharpest out of the shining jewels of the ninety-second generation. His berserk mode concealed within his apathetic persona was only unleashed through his cooking. People had theories on how and why this split personality developed. Ever since in the middle school division, Isami and Fratello thought it was for strategic purposes mandated by Alice-san to help stoke her image of a 'Master and her personal bipolar Hell Hound' to intimidate everyone. He was placid in ordinary situations, but a ferocious beast in the kitchen. Kurokiba lulled the enemy into a false sense of security with his dead-panned expression. He inflated the enemies' ego by fluffing around when preparing the ingredients before actually cooking. Then boom! The flaming bandana pulled around his forehead would trigger his transformation into The Cerberus of Tootsuki and it unleashed the bloodthirstiness from deep in his soul. He was famous for crushing his opponents into the ground on the cooking battlefield with absolute bloodlust, merciless, until they were bound by complete submission for the flavours he created.
Which Isami would be subjected to if he wasn't careful.
Kurokiba scratched his head like he didn't have a care in the world and merely gazed blankly out the window behind Isshiki-senpai. But Isami could tell he was keeping his ears peeled. He had the hearing of a wild canine.
"Tomorrow, your shokegeki will be at one o'clock sharp and the theme will be decadent desserts.
Isami's back shot up and gasped.
'Desserts?! That's the same theme in the match Fratello had with Mimasaka that cost him his prized mezzaluna!'
Isami must've reacted too overtly without realising because both Isshiki-senpai and Kurokiba suddenly turned to look at him. Isshiki-senpai was still smiling, but his brows were raised in silent question whilst Kurokiba blinked at him as if he was an idiota. The younger Italian coughed into his hands as he felt his cheeks getting warm, trying to make himself less conspicuous.
"So… Desserts then…" said Isami trying to shift their attention.
"Yep! Not just any dessert. A decadent dessert. I'll let you boys figure out how you will make your dishes fit the oh-so descriptive theme for your match tomorrow" said Isshiki-senpai as cheerful as pie. "Any questions?"
"Ja. When do we get to the next round, to cook against you Elite guys?" drawled Kurokiba.
Isami didn't sense any impatience in his voice, despite his words implying he couldn't be bothered with the first round. It was obvious Kurokiba was only concerned about the final round. He frowned a bit at the implications that 'we' included The Cerberus himself amongst the victors, as if Kurokiba decided that he had already defeated Isami by standing in the same room as him. He earned himself that nickname representing the three-headed guardian of Inferno as Kurokiba had two extreme personalities. As for the third personality? Everyone suspected he had another side only shown to his master and keeper, Nakiri Alice. But that was speculation nobody wanted to put to the test. Isami resisted the urge to clench his fist and ignored the blood pounding in his ears. It was just Kurokiba's nature to be cocky in his nonchalant way, so he didn't let it get to him and allowed that comment to slip over his head.
"The plan I've put together is back-to-back shokugekis. One for each day. So if everything goes well, the first round should conclude by the end of this week. I and the rest of the Elite will take another week to organise the pairings between ourselves and whoever comes out victorious from Round One. Does that make sense?" finished Isshiki-senpai.
"Hmm… Why couldn't you make all the shokugekis on the same day?" asked Kurokiba.
Isshiki-senpai breathed in deeply. He perched onto the side of his table and finally opened his eyes. "Well Kurokiba-kun. Unfortunately all of us have our hands pretty full with issues surrounding Eizan-kun on top of our normal duties. So the Elite Ten had compromised that one shokugeki a day was the most accommodating schedule we could come up with"
Kurokiba sucked his teeth like he didn't care for an answer in the first place.
"If you are worried that other contestants will have more time than you do to practice, you shouldn't be. It isn't as relevant as you think since everybody will be given their themes exactly twenty-four hours before the shokugeki time. What matters most how well you conjure all that you learnt, whether it be within the last few weeks or the last few years, in your two-hour shokugeki"
Kurokiba nodded.
Isami did the same. Was it just him or had Isshiki-senpai been on edge lately? His facial expression had the same jovial and benevolent charisma he'd always known. There were no facial tics, no twitches, no tonal changes, or any fleeting changes to his expression, but it was the atmosphere he exuded that told him that this friendly senpai could snap without warning, like the cold frontier. Isami hoped the Elite Ten weren't stressing themselves out over Eizan-senpai's deal too much. How long had that been going on now? Why were they trying so hard to get him out? Maybe Yukihira-kun would know…
"Are there any other questions?"
"No. Grazie Isshiki-senpai. I'll see you tomorrow" Isami bowed and Kurokiba just nodded. The two teens exited the plush office, closing the heavy door on the way out. The corridors were empty and eerily silent. They both still had half a day of classes lefy and Isami didn't want to miss out on Chapelle- sensei's tutorials.
"Say Kurokiba-san—"
"Shouldn't you be looking up the definition of decadent instead of talking to me?" murmured Kurokiba as he brushed past Isami, not even looking at him.
Rude! Isami had only wanted to ask if he had any ideas about Eizan-senpai or what the Elite Ten had been trying to do to help his case. Isami guessed in the end it wasn't really his business, so he extinguished the thought. Isami was a calm and rational person and he tried very hard to develop a thick skin. After all, he went through his whole life believing he only lived in his Fratello's shadow and would never amount to anything compared to his older twin. So it was probably natural that Kurokiba saw him as a nothing. A baby lamb that wouldn't even be enough to get caught between The Cerberus's fangs let alone fill his stomach. He shook his head and lightly slapped himself on the cheeks. Okay! So the theme will be decadent desserts. Time to get in the game and really show the school what Isami Aldini was really made of and make himself, Fratello, Mamma and Pappa proud!
As Isami continued to stroll through the corridors back to the main class buildings, he zipped through all his dessert recipes and important dessert techniques that could be classified or modified to become 'decadent'.
'Hmm… decadente…la decadenza…something indulgente…'
He would think more on this later.
Isami admired the scenery outside the windows. The Elite Ten building had amazing views of the well maintained grounds and the distance mountains! The excitement of the day was sure to have died down and so normal classes had to resume. After the Elite Ten reshuffle competitions would be the Autumn Elections once again, exclusive to the first years high-schoolers. Isami fell back into reminiscing as a contestant. He would say that it was the first ever official and most serious match he ever had. The training camps didn't count. It was the stadium. He loved the shokugeki stadium. His mood slightly dampened when he remembered his name getting bumped down from the scoreboard and so his chance to participate in the quarterfinals was snatched from him. Once again, he had fallen behind Fratello. But not this time… He would make sure he would be good enough to stand beside Fratello and support him.
Something caught Isami's eye from the large corridor window to his right.
'Hmm? Who's that…'
The Elite Ten offices were all upstairs on the second floor so he had an unimpeded view of whatever that was outside the vast and ornate buildings. Isami approached the window and curiously peeked outside, pressing his hand on the crystal clear glass. Down below under the large branches of the Japanese elm trees was a person occupied on a mobile phone. It was a male and he was also leaning his back against the trunk of the majestic elm like he owned it. He was kind of obscured by the foliage, but Isami could still see that he seemed to be having a very animated conversation, gracing his free arm up into the sky as if beseeching The Lord before resting his outstretch palm onto the smooth trunk of the majestic elm. He was definitely not a student, nor was he a Tootsuki official, a chef or any of the administration officers as he was dressed too casually. The man was all in black and his jacket was furry around the edges.
'An outsider. He seems familiar… where had I seen him before?'
Then the man spun around on the balls of his feet and Isami could now see his face clearly. Those rust-coloured eyes and that devilishly-friendly smile instantly reminded him.
'Ah! He's that guy I met at the supermarket in Karakura honchou! ...But what is he doing here?'
Takumi expected his stress to lessen when he was with Ayame, but clearly he was wrong. When Isami and Kurokiba got called away shortly after Tadokoro-san was declared the winner, he'd been feeling awfully anxious. It bubbled in his stomach like gas that refused to pass. Yukihira went around patting Isami and Kurokiba on the back as they were the upcoming pair before they followed Isshiki-senpai back to his office. Now that the day was over, Takumi only had his younger Fratello's match tomorrow to look forward to. And then maybe his own will be next. Namikaze, Alice-san and Kuchiyose had mysteriously disappeared in the middle of conversations somewhere, but Ayame assured him that wherever they were they would be fine. She never seemed to worry about her two friends at all.
Classes had resumed by the time Isami and Kurokiba returned and he was delighted to tell Takumi about his theme for tomorrow. Takumi didn't know how well Kurokiba did with desserts as his strengths lied in seafood, but he had no doubts that even Kurokiba might be able to knock a dessert out of the ballpark. Namikaze and Kuchiyose had finally returned from god knew where and once again Ayame just treated their reappearance as a completely normal thing. Since the match of the day was over and all students in the bleachers were trudging on back to class, Ayame wanted to spend the afternoon in the Tootsuki school library so they could walk home together. She carried Isshiki-senpai's name as her all access pass so there shouldn't be any problems. Meanwhile, Namikaze and Kuchiyose had wanted to go home.
Yukihira was the most torn from their departure than anyone else, petitioning that the three Karakura high school students should join chef Chapelle's tutorial anyway and feast their eyes on more cooking action. Of course Nakiri Erina shot down that idea and told him not to be ridiculous and let them get on with their business, stating that if they wanted to go home, then they shouldn't be stopped. the red headed chef seemed to think he and Kuchiyose were 'bros' and had formed some sort of one-sided 'broship' with the silent giant. Takumi couldn't tell if Kuchiyose regarded Yukihira as anything more than an acquaintance. Then again, Yukihira tended to be over-friendly.
Ayame squeezed his hand, bringing him back to the present.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"Yeah. You're being stressed again" she said.
Takumi groaned. Of course she could tell. What gave it away? The despondency? His less-than-usual talkative attitude? His sweaty palms? He didn't want Ayame to worry about him, but some things just went against what he wanted.
"Kurokiba is an extremely formidable opponent. I'm worried how much confidence Isami has in himself" said Takumi.
"I'm sure he'll be fine" said Ayame airily.
The pair got off the bus at Minamikawase bus stop and made their way towards his and Isami's apartment complex. It was Ayame's idea to hang out at his place this afternoon which he was happy to agree to. Isami had decided that he wanted to stay back late at school as he had Chef Chapelle's permission to spend the extra three hours in the practice kitchen before teachers were released from their working hours. Ayame believed that she had the whole 'massaging' thing down pat. At first when she mentioned it with such gleaming exuberance, Takumi felt the muscles in his necks and shoulders bunch up at the memory of the aching pain she inflicted when she 'tried' to shiatsu his back and shoulders last time. Maybe she really did take a closer look at the pamphlet he secretly left in her room. Takumi and Ayame continued to chat about the more detailed ins and outs of shokuegekis as they rode the escalator up to his level. Once they got into this apartment, the two were met by the overwhelming scent of cooked food from this morning before school which got both of them salivating. He turned to his left and saw that Ayame was cutely sniffing the air and her eyes were glistening. He chuckled and pecked her on the forehead as she blushed.
"Take a seat, I'll get us some ice tea and something to eat"
"I'm going to use the bathroom first, if you don't mind" she replied.
"Not at all" he smiled.
The two of them dumped their school things next to the living room coffee table while they went their separate ways. Takumi hummed an Italian tune and poured out a bottle of her favourite peach ice tea. He always kept one or two of her favourite drink in his fridge. The Italian blonde thought of what little snacks he had pre-prepared during his cooking practice that was still in his fridge. Ah, he'd made hors d'oeuvres recently when practicing some Francese techniques. He lifted out a plastic-wrapped plate of them and chose a few to place on a separate dish for Ayame to enjoy. He wanted to see how she reacted.
'Vorrrp! Vorrrp! Vorrrp!'
"Hmm?" Takumi's head shot up at the sound of his girlfriend's strange ring tone.
He could never get used to that low wheezing noise. She was still in the bathroom, so he decided to just ignore it until the caller hung-up... Except the caller didn't seem to stop anytime soon. Maybe it was Namikaze? Takumi returned to the coffee table in the living and carefully placed his tray of treats and drinks onto the surface. Ayame's flip phone continued to vibrate and the vibrations were in the middle of carrying it across the table top towards the edge. Takumi deftly caught it before it could fall off. If it was Namikaze, he could just answer it for Ayame and tell the little troll to piss off and make another gaming account so she'd stop third-wheeling them. Takumi opened the phone and to his surprise, it wasn't Namikaze's name.
'Izumo… Saitou Izumo… who's that?'
Takumi continued to stare at the phone as it vibrated in his hand bellowing 'Vorrrp! Vorrrp! Vorrrp!' for a few good moments before it fell silent. He pondered on why the name 'Izumi' sounded familiar as he turned the small flip-phone over and over in his palm.
'I think Ayame mentioned him before. I think she said…'
Oh. OH. It was that little shit.
It all came back to Takumi. It was before the two of them started courting. She had mentioned there was a boy named 'Izumo-san' from her school who was constantly pursuing her in the hopes for a courtship. She mentioned that he kept coming after her even when she said 'no'. Takumi remembered that moment like frying an omelette. He had come over to Ayame's home during the summer holidays to teach her how to fry fish. He remembered that annoying prickling sensation on the back of his arms and neck at that guy vying for Ayame's attention and yet, he could do nothing but stew in his seat. It made sense that his brain remembered the name inside and outside, frontwards and backwards because deep in his consciousness, he saw 'Izumo-san' as potential competition. And so, his brain regurgitated that name up in spite.
After all this time, Saitou Izumo was continuing to call his amore?
Takumi really wanted to access her phone and find out how many other times he had called her during the time he and Ayame were in a relationship. His conscience was telling him that reading through his girlfriend's phone was a horrible and absolutely detestable breach of respect and privacy. At the same time, he really just wanted to make sure… It wasn't that he didn't trust Ayame… he just didn't trust this guy… At least that was how he rationalised it. He was frustrated just thinking about it and before he knew it, jealousy reared its ugly head. Takumi sunk into the living room sofa and whined lowly. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Dio mio, he was jealous! Since when had he stooped so low… The irritation turned into incessant itchiness. An itchiness he couldn't reach no matter how much he twisted and turned to relieve it. Ayame didn't deserve this… Cazzo! He was sulking right now. But he couldn't help it.
Ayame was his and his only.
Takumi couldn't bear the thought of another guy trying to get close to her and sharing the same air she breathed. His more amorous side paced back and forth snapping and growling. Ayame was such a gem, a starlight to him. Was Saitou Izumo the only one? Oh Namikaze wasn't shitting him when she said there were plenty of boys after Ayame, He just never thought they would still be after her after she was no longer single. Takumi gnashed his teeth and snapped her phone shut, depositing it back onto the table. It 'vorrrped' once again and Takumi, not thinking straight, shot up from his seat to look.
'What?! Twenty-one missed calls?!'
His eyes bulged from its sockets. The screen flashed, saying that Saitou Izumo was the twenty-first missed call of the day. Who the hell made twenty-one phone calls in one go?! How on Earth did Ayame allow twenty-one missed calls to pass her?! Was that even possible?! Unless she was purposely avoiding them. That made more sense. Suspicion got the better of him and he grabbed his girlfriend's phone again.
Per l'amor di Dio. To his horror he was right. All twenty-one were from Saitou Izumo. ALL TWENTY-ONE.
That did it. Burning jealously steam-rolled over his rational side and he angrily flipped her phone back open. He was going to give his undeserving little boy a piece of his—
"Aya... Takumi-kun what are you doing with my phone?"
"Ah!" Takumi threw the phone up in the air in shock and clumsily caught it in his lap. He flipped his head around to her voice and Ayame was standing there beside the sofa with her hands behind her back, looking at him curiously. Takumi's face felt extremely hot at being caught trying to look into his girlfriend's phone. What had he done...? Cazzo, she wasn't looking happy anymore as he could practically see the gears turning in her head, trying to make sense of this suspicious situation he was in. She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. She leaned closer to him now with speculation forming on her face. Suddenly he felt his actions were shameful and childish. But he refused to give in to his shame.
"Izumo-san was calling you" he muttered darkly.
"Hmm... give it here" she held out her hand expectantly.
Takumi watched her like a hawk, not letting any micro-expression escape him. He warily dropped the little flip-phone into her awaiting hand and resumed being sour on the sofa. She rolled her eyes and pressed a few buttons before snapping her phone shut and slipping it back into her school bag. Was she annoyed at him? Or was she annoyed at the little shit on her phone? She better be directing her annoyance at that other guy. She flopped herself beside him and pulled up her legs, leaning more into his side and yawned as he reflexively wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She didn't attempt to say anything much to his chagrin.
"You have heaps of missed calls from that guy. Why is that" he asked. He tilted his head at her, raising his eyebrow.
"Izumo-san recently joined the library committee, which I'm also apart of. He's still getting the hang of things so he often calls me for help. Though I wish he'd stop asking me obvious questions and figure things out himself first... Aya!-"
Takumi forcibly hefted Ayame onto his lap and pressed his face into her neck. He was barely listening to her words and just decided that being as close to her as possible was the best way to sooth the tantruming throbbing in his bloodstream.
"Takumi-kun! Wh—"
"Can't you just delete his contact and let him bother someone else?" he groaned.
He enveloped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. The ends of her long hair tickled his face and her scent soothed him. She was warm. Utterly warm. He felt her jerk as he spoke into her neck, just the way he liked it. Takumi started pressed his lips onto her exposed skin in a frozen kiss.
"That would be rude. Takumi-kun are you jea—"
"Yes"
He completely cut her off. There was no point hiding it or denying it. Yes, he admitted he was jealous. And he wanted her to know exactly that. Takumi pulled his face away from her slim neck and looked at her straight in the eyes. Her own vibrant green ones dilated as she looked back at him in shock. Why should she be surprised that he was jealous? Takumi slid his hands up to her face so that he grasped it, maintaining eye contact. He trailed his eyes over every inch of her blooming cheeks. His breathing fastened as he admired how beautiful she was.
His bella. His amore. His Ayame.
Ayame gingerly touched his wrists, feathering her fingertips up his forearms until they rested against his jaw. They each leaned forward until their lips met into a searing kiss. Takumi devoured her. He kept pushing forward until her back bowed and she had no choice but to hang on tightly to the back of his neck and shoulders to avoid falling off. He delved his tongue into her mouth and laced it with her tongue in a sensuous dance. He momentarily released her mouth to suck her bottom lip, causing her to sigh and whimper against him. He closed his eyes and his hands slithered back to her waist. He played his fingers across her smooth back, stroking the small bumps of her spine. His blood resumed pumping through every crevice of his being as he relished in her sweet, heady taste and in the perfect curve of her body against his.
Ayame pulled back, unraveling herself from their lip-lock. His eyes snapped open and his breaths quickened in panic at the growing urgency that was cut short. Ayame slid herself off his lap, her skirt-clad thighs gliding hotly against his thighs as she did so. He didn't understand why she opted to stand in front of him. Her face and neck were flushed red and her lips were swollen and parted as she sucked in deep breaths. Merda, he felt the same way. When was the last time she looked like this? He blinked up at her through the bleary passion, wondering longingly for what she was doing. Her sleek hair was slighted messed up like bed hair and her school uniform was rumpled with her grey skirt riding up her thighs revealing an expanse of her creamy skin. His fingers fidgeted, searching for something to latch on to hold himself steady from the sight of his amore looking so enticing before him. He peered up at her sharply, silently demanding an answer for her actions.
Her delectable lips twisted into a mischievous smile making his groin twitch.
"Hmmm… Maybe I should give Izumo-san harder library tasks so he keeps calling me. Just to see you looking so cute like this"
Takumi's wits snapped. She just did not…!
"AYAME!"
He lunged at her.
Her mocking laughter chimed throughout the apartment as she jumped out of the way and leapt past the sofa. His arms narrowly missed her as he almost collided his knees into the coffee table. She skidded across the living room floor, scurrying away from him as he immediately gave chase. Her hands flapped everywhere as she tried not to bump into walls and corners. His face broke out into a blazing blush from that cheeky remark. She was teasing him! He wasn't going to let her get away with that! Ayame swerved around the kitchen island with Takumi hot on her heels, just an arm-length and a bit bit away. He could only brush wisps of her long midnight black hair as she managed to dart just beyond his reach. His heart thumped heavily against his ribcage in both embarrassment and excitement, his hot blood coursing through him. It was like he was the predator closing in onto his prey. Takumi pushed off the kitchen counter and sped after Ayame, pursuing her around the apartment. Merda, she was fast for someone running and sliding on socks. Her sweet laughter taunted him further and it made him work his muscles harder to catch up to her. Every now and then she would glance back, her eyes glittering with cheek and that playful smile adorning her lips, making Takumi scrunch up his face in further embarrassment, fueling him on his endeavours.
She thought this was fun and games? He wasn't going to let her win!
"Get back here, bella!" he yelled.
"You're soooo cute when you're jealous!"
Ayame grabbed onto the edge of one of the doorways as she swung around the corner. Takumi leapt over their school bags landing in a loud thump causing the objects on the coffee table to clatter. He successfully shortened the distance some more as he hunted her into the hallway. Down the bottom, Ayame turned around and gasped. Ha! She realised the hallway finished at the linen cupboard. She flicked her head from side to side, determining filling her eyes as she worked to figure out which room was her best escape option. Takumi converged on her and reached out his arm, but she ducked from him again and bolted into one of the rooms.
'Nice try, amore!'
His girlfriend skidded to a halt in the middle of the carpeted room upon the realisation that escape was futile and the game stopped here. Takumi seized his chance and grabbed her around the middle, picking her up clear off of the floor. Ayame shrieked and kicked her legs out, laughing madly. Takumi's lips stretched into a victorious grin and dumped himself and Ayame onto the closest soft surface.
"… Ha…Ha… In the end… you chose… to run into…my room…" he huffed between breaths in a croaky, dry voice as he anchored himself over her, preventing her from getting up.
Ayame visibly relaxed as she gave into the fact there was nothing else she could do. She brushed his sweaty fringe from his face with shaky fingers and raked it backwards. He purred when her nails scraped along his scalp. She heaved sighs of contentment below him, her chest rising up and down with droplets of perspiration also streaking across her soft skin. Takumi licked his lips, tasting the salt of his own sweat. Ardour overcame him when the adrenaline wore off, leaving him a heated mess with only one thought on his mind. That he had Ayame exactly where he wanted. Takumi's ice blue eyes trailed languidly down her length, scanning every inch of her. Ayame laid flat on her back on his blankets. Her hair was fanned out behind her like a halo, with some strands matted delicately to her face and lips. Her hands hands rested beside her head in surrender and her legs were slightly parted and bent up, trying to maintain her own balance. He hovered above her, his thighs pressed tightly on each side of her hips. His own hands were pinned hard into the pillow on each side of her head and his shoulders hunched over her smaller form like the corded muscles on the back of a lion. The two teenagers continued to draw gulps of air into their burning lungs. Ayame's emerald green eyes glazed over as she stared up at him.
"Promise… that you will… stop teasing me?"
"I don't know… what do I get?" she smirked tiredly.
"More like, what won't you get if you don't promise me"
"Aya… that's a tough sell. I don't get any more food from you... Is that it?" she hummed teasingly and threaded her hand through his hair, playing with his golden strands.
Takumi pouted, leaned in and bit her ear.
"Hey! Mercy! Mercy! Alright I promise!" she shrieked until he relinquished her ear.
He chuckled at her and smirked. He'd won like he knew he would. They both stared adoringly into each others' eyes. Takumi couldn't believe they went from fleeting touches, small tokens of affection into something more serious, more indulgent, more intimate. Sexual. Takumi wasn't a fool to think he could avoid this moment forever. He could barely control himself when he was alone with Ayame having dinner as it was. He tried to delay the inevitable to ensure they would take that next step only when they were ready. The moral line he created to define their level of 'readiness' was quickly greying and blurring until disintegrated before his eyes. The blonde Italian banished all his thoughts and just concentrated on his love. He lowered his head and placed thick and fast kisses along her cheek, trailing down along her neck. He bent his arms, lowering himself onto his elbows as Ayame craned her neck deliciously to the side giving him further access. Her high-pitched moans stroked his fire. When Ayame felt good, he felt good. That was how these things went and he was more than happy to continue to focus on making her feel good. He changed into harder open-mouthed kisses on the hot skin of her collar bone and felt her knees lift up into his inner thigh as she started to squirm beneath him.
"MMmmm… T-Takumi-kun" she gasped.
Takumi was running on pure hormones now, listening keenly only to the small noises she was crooning. There was no Tootsuki, no Isami, no Trattoria Aldini, no shokugekis or competition. Just him and her. The only love of his life. He registered Ayame sliding her arms over his sides and gripped his shoulder blades as she egged him on. Takumi kept his lips latched onto her neck and sucked it gently, utterly soaking in her alluring scent. He couldn't get enough. He reached behind him and grabbed one of her soft hands and intertwined his fingers with hers, bringing it back to the pillow as he clasped her hand with his above her head.
Ayame's moans and sighs became louder and more earnest. Takumi lifted his head and placed chaste kisses upon her lips again, and again, and again until she was out of breath. His groin started to feel engorged to the point that it was straining in his dress pants. He stopped himself and rested his forehead lightly against her, trying to curb the little remains of his sanity.
"I love you" he whispered against her lips.
"I know" she whispered back.
His bella slid further down the bed and pressed her own lips against his neck. Takumi bit his lips and groaned loudly. Merda. Her tongue was unbearably hot, laving across his throat like a silky ribbon. Burning arousal bloomed from his groin. Every nerve ending was screaming for him to release his carnal tension with Ayame. He felt Ayame unbuttoning his shirt, the soft clicking echoing in his ears and he did nothing to stop her as she tugged his school dress shirt out of his dress pants. Soon his shirt was free and hung loosely around his body. Dio mio. What was she doing next? Ayame shuffled further down the bed and started pressing harder kisses along his chest, sinewing down to his stomach, around his navel. Her small wet tongue dipped into the shallow crevices of his abdominal muscles was driving him insane. Finger-light touches along the underside of his ribs sent his soul into embers. Takumi screwed his eyes shut.
"Urghhhhnnngg…" he groaned loudly and hissed.
His skin was so sensitive to her. Too sensitive. Every lick, every scrape, every kiss. It was all branded into him. The muscles in his upper arm ached from holding himself up. He'd been holding back for too long, that finally one of his chains broke. Takumi flipped themselves over and pulled Ayame onto his lap until she straddled him. He made quick work of her red school bow tie and white blouse, tugging them apart until her snow white brassiere was exposed. Ayame yelped cutely as he wrapped his arms around her tightly and pressed her flush against him. He bestowed biting kisses on the tops of her ample breasts listening to her moans scaling up and falling from her lips. Ayame shifted, so her legs wrapped around his waist and pushed herself onto his growing bulge.
"Aaaarrgghh... Cazzo!" He winced at the sudden pressure grounded onto his crotch.
"I can't stand the thought of another guy wanting to be with you…" he hissed.
Only their heavy breathing filled the room. He was too embarrassed to look at Ayame in the eyes, instead he tightened his grip to show how much he coveted her. He was being too childish and petulant but he didn't care. She had to know this.
"I o-only want you. So you needn't worry about anyone else" she whispered into his ear. She took his earlobe into his mouth, making his eyes roll back into his head. It felt really good and her warm breath puffing into his ear sent him spiralling.
"You have no idea what you do to me, amore. More than words could describe…" he gasped hotly. The heat was getting into his head and washing him over with emerging lust. "I will give all of myself to you… You know that right?" He looked up at her, boring his eyes into her.
"As I will do the same for you" she smiled gently at him, returning his exact sentiment.
With renewed and incensed passion, Takumi capsized the both of them again before a single sound could escape her mouth and he was on top. He ravished her lips, bruising them without meaning to as he hitched her thighs up over the notch in his waist. Takumi grounded his hips into her apex, rotating against that bundle of nerves that made Ayame wince with passion, letting her know exactly how far he was more than willing to go to show how much he loved her. She scraped across his back, finally scratching at his dress shirt and tossing it to the side. Takumi was relieved to feel the cooler air biting his bare skin. He reached behind her and tried to undo her brassiere, but it was tougher work than he expected, causing him to curse in Italian. Ayame giggled making him more embarrassed than he already was. Finally he succeeded and flung it across the bed. He lifted himself off and marveled at the perfect and beautiful body his beloved girlfriend possessed. Ayame suddenly turned very red and attempted to cover herself up from him but he gently took her hands in his and moved them away. She wasn't so embarrassed in the beginning, but it was a nice change to see her flustered instead of him.
"Don't. You're so beautiful" he said.
He dipped down and took a pert nipple into his mouth, sucking gently before she could protest. Ayame cried out and held onto the back of his neck pressing him closer to her. He circled his tongue around, feeling it pebble in his mouth. He brought his other hand up and massaged her other breast. It was soft and smooth in his palm, the perfect size. He felt himself harden further as he continued to indulge himself in her soft and warm bosom. Soon Ayame was a crying mess and he looked up, piercing her with his eyes, watching her face transform between ecstasy and euphoria with tears of pleasure dotting the corners of her eyes. Takumi released her swollen nipple with a wet 'pop' and meandered down further, kissing the underside of her breast, keen to bring Ayame to newer heights. He leaned back onto his haunches and pulled the back of her thighs towards him. Ayame groaned when the colder air brushed past her chest, causing her nipples to swell again and Takumi bit the inside of his cheeks to stop him from diving back to lather them in the attention they deserved. Takumi unzipped her skirt and carefully lifted her legs out from them, one by one and threw it to the side. Takumi gulped and mustered the confidence to go that one step further to send her to the heavens. He experimentally pressed his thumb against her clothed sex and watched with raptured awe as Ayame immediately arched her back in a silent scream. He was utterly mesmerised, the way she lifted the small of her back off the bed. She writhed before him and gripped his pillow until her knuckles turned white.
He shifted so that he floated over her again, feeling her breath ghosting invitingly over his skin which erupted in goosebumps. He took her chin into his fingers with his free hand and gently coaxed her to face him. Her eyes were clouded with yearning and her eyelids drooped with mindless desire.
"Does it feel good, mi amore?"
She nodded weakly with a husky hum. Takumi rubbed her clothed bundle of nerves in circles, increasing the pressure a bit as he went. Her eyes fluttered closed and she moaned long and hard. She clamped onto her lower lip and Takumi peppered kisses across her face, feeling and listening to everything she was doing under his ministrations. When he was sure Ayame was completely enraptured, he deftly slipped a finger past the edge of her undergarments and slowly inserted a finger into her with the aims of making her feel even better. Ayame's eyes instantly flew open.
"AH!"
Takumi quickly caught her lips into his own and swallowed her moan. He couldn't stand another moment if she nibbled on her lower lip again. She was wet and hot. His arousal heightened significantly from her moist and slick walls making him throb ever so painfully. But not yet… not yet… his needs will come only after Ayame's. Dio mio. He could barely handle himself right now. He started to slowly pump his fingers, adding another digit into her tight wet folds.
"Ah…! Takumi-kun… Nnnnggghhh…!" Ayame gripped him to death, her nails digging into his back. Takumi groaned next to her ear, captivated by the intense heat surrounding his fingers and her soft walls contracting around them. Ayame began rolling her hips into his fingers instrinctively, already seeking her own way to push her off the edge. She bucked and mewled sharply whenever he moved his long fingers in a certain manner which he concluded with the most basic part of his brain was her most sensitive spot that made her see stars. Takumi couldn't let her finish like that. He pushed down her hips with his free hand to halt her movements.
Then he curled his fingers.
"Oh god…! Yes…! O-Oh…!" she shrieked. She shuddered around him and Takumi stifled his own groan onto her shoulder. It was like his throbbing member was feeling exactly what his fingers were feeling. So close…! Yet so far. Ayame fell back onto the pillow, her face flushed all the way down to her chest. She panted deeply, catching her breath, her head turned the other way. Takumi placed soft kisses along her jawline watching her face freeze into stunned bliss from the after effects of the high he was honoured to bring to her.
Ayame was breath-taking. He slowly withdrew his finger from her and examined the milky and yet slightly clear fluids coating his digits. He ventured a small lick at the back of his fingers to sample her substance.
'Molto dolce…'
She tasted nothing like he'd ever known. So exquisite and so unique. If this was what her love tasted like, he was glad she had chosen him. It made his soul sing. The threshold of his palate for her taste rose. It was an addiction he wasn't willing to lose himself him just yet… Not yet… He wiped the remaining traces on the bedsheets brought her face to his. He wasn't finished yet, not by a long shot. He had so much more to give her. Takumi caressed her jaw and kissed her. He tilted her chin, making her open her mouth wider for him and he engaged her tongue with his in another sweet dance, letting her taste herself too. He slid his knees up and hunched his back, so as not to put weight onto her body. He threaded his finger into her hair and rubbed her—
He ripped his lips from her with a loud cry.
He could feel it…! He could feel her…! She was all over him… her hand…!
His muscles spasmed violently. He felt every one of her fingers caressing along his hard length up and down… up and down… He caught the headboard before he crashed on top of her and bowed his head with raspy gasps and hisses. His amorous side was focused so completely, and yet somehow this small detail of her hands slipping between their bodies and finding its way south caught him completely off guard. His body trembled in excruciating ecstasy. He sealed his eyes closed as he concentrated on the sinful sensation between his legs. Ayame tensed her fingers around him more securely and began to pump him through his dress-pants. He felt himself twitch excitedly and sweat poured from his forehead and neck. He chanced a glance down through slitted eyes. Ayame had the most embarrased and brave expression. Her lips were parted, panting in the save rhythm as her pumps. She looked incredibly nervous as she stared at his groin, her hands clumsily massaging his enlarged buldged.
She looked so erotic.
"A-Ayame…" he crooned.
"I-It's not fair th-that… uh… ummm that-that you don't g-get any… uh… any…" he voice trailed off. Her hold on him grew shakier and Takumi was blown away by the fact that she wanted to pleasure him also. He bent down and kissed her with all he had. He reached down and placed his larger hands over hers. He gently guided her into palpating his pulsing member through his dress-pants in just the right way. He gazed at her and her face grew redder and her green eyes continued to fixate on where their hands were joined together, pumping him in tempo.
"Ngghh…" he sighed. He forced her hands to slow down otherwise he would finish too soon. He didn't want to finish without her.
Somewhere in the more rational portion of his mental faculties, he knew that from here on would be the point of no return.
"Ayame… I love you so much. Tell me to stop… if you d-don't want this. You must…" he said through gritted teeth. He held the back of her neck, pressing his forehead against her, a hairs'-breadth away from her swollen, red lips. "Because once we continue, there will be no w-way I could h-hold myself back from you…" He waited desperately for her answer, craving to hear her words.
"I could never ask you to stop"
She squeezed him for good measure.
He bit his tongue. As soon as those nectar-like words graced his ears, Takumi took action. He growled and released her hand from his groin. He roughly unzipped his dress-pants, leaving him in his boxers. He grounded his hips against her feeling the wetness build form her again. He was adament to let her know what she was getting herself into and she best be ready, because was hell-bent on bringing her the ultimate gratification he could give. He continued to thrust against her clothed bundle of hyper-sensitive nerves and bestowed her severe kisses that told stories of his desire for her. Takumi hooked his finger around the band of her undergarments and slowly tugged it from her hips. Ayame purred as she wriggled her behind to ease it off as well and Takumi dropped it by the side of the bed. Takumi caressed her bare pelvis with the pad of his thumb, her smooth and creamy skin exciting him further. Next he hooked his fingers beneath the bands of his boxers and freed his throbbing member from the chafing strain and flung it to the floor. Both were finally in their naked and pure form, for each other. Ayame gasped as she stared his full erection. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with one of her hands in shock and apprehension. It must've looked too large for her, otherwise she wouldn't look so anxious.
Takumi peppered butterfly kisses against her cheeks, trying to distract her and whispered Italian reassurances to her. Soon her eyes fluttered and she sighed as he cradled her hips against his. He delicately rubbed his member against the side of her inner thigh and lowered himself closer to her form. She jolted from between his arms and whimpered when he gently and eagerly rubbed his tip against her wet slit. Cazzo…! He could feel pre-cum leaking out already as he coated himself with her delectable nectar from her weeping core. He shackled his urge to just take her then and there and make complete and utter love to her until the sun rose.
"Mmmm…" she moaned and slightly lifted her hips, trying to take more of his tip within her tight channel, but suddenly shied away when Takumi instantly met with a barrier from within. There was no other way around this.
"It will hurt for a bit… but I promise you, it will go away and you will feel good" he said, kissing each of her eyelids.
She nodded clumsily.
"Bite my shoulder if you have to"
"Wh—AAHHH!"
Takumi surged into her with one swift stroke, straight to the hilt completely. A loud throaty groan escaped from him at the sharp pang in his shoulders created by Ayame's teeth. She was mind-numbingly tight! He forced himself to still immediately, not wanting to force her into any further pain. He didn't care if he was bleeding from his shoulder as long as it did something for Ayame to tolerate that tear he caused inside her. He knew it had to be done swiftly for the pain to be over faster. She released his bleeding flesh and gasped. Her walls tightened from his intrusion and he released a guttural gasp at the tightness. He could only feel the hot, wet, slick walls surrounding his pulsating and turgid member. The pleasure was so intense it was painful! Ayame's breathing was sharp and erratic as she tried to accustom herself to his girth.
"…T-Tell me when it's a-alright" he whispered heatedly into her ear. Ayame continued to whimper and sob slightly before her breathing became steadier and Takumi had to chew the inside of his mouth to control the overwhelming drive to repeatedly take his beloved, over and over on his bed. When her breathing evened considerably, she shifted her hips curiously making him clench his jaw tightly and bulge the corded tendons in his neck. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the pillow. The next roll of her hips made him swallow thickly and groan loudly as he shook from his exertion.
"T-Takumi-kun. Please…!"
That was all he needed to hear.
The blonde Italian re-positioned himself and withdrew from her. Her tight walls clung onto him, as if trying to suck him back in with immeasurable force making him groan hoarsely. Ayame moaned loudly. When he was fully out, he slowly thrusted back in, feeling her muscles resisting his intrusion, but slowly yielding to him again. She bit into his shoulder again and sobbed softly, but he had to do this, this was the only way to start building the pleasure for her. He withdrew again-
Then he slammed back into her.
"AAAaaah..!" Ayame's shrill cry was wrenched from her throat in as she clasped her legs around his hips, absolute abandon and exhaltation lacing her erotic voice.
Takumi growled loudly at the rippling of her muscles around his impossibly hard length. Their bodies rocked together with such strong movements that the bedframe creaked with each of his strokes. Takumi lifted himself up and brushed her hair from her face. He wanted to look deeply into his eyes as he made love to her. He saw lust, desire and love behind those hooded, dark green eyes as they stared deeply back into him. She was seeing his soul and he was seeing hers. Those eyes were for him. She panted and crooned sweetly with wanton need, her lips still swollen and slightly bruised but he continued kiss her senselessly and thust into her in a constant, slow, but even rhythm.
She was so beautiful. She was so his...!
Takumi quickly hooked her legs over his elbows as he spread her wider. Ayame squelled with the sudden change in position as he bent over her form, filling her more with this new angle. He snapped his hips forward, grunting loudly as he did so, trying to reach and take advantage of that spot to bring her to the greatest of pleasures, at the same time relishing in those sinful bursts cascading up and down his spine. His strong languid strokes elicited amorous cries from her, echoing around his bedroom.
"Ayame…" he groaned darkly.
"Nggghhh!... T-Takumi-kun…!" she mewled desperately.
The friction was unbelievable and the pleasure was intense! It shot his nerve endings into fireworks. He watched her through his own half-lidded eyes, as she flailed beneath him and cried out so sweetly and he craved it. His current slow and deep strokes were fast becoming too torturous and so he quickened his pace even more until he was pounding his beloved harder, faster and deeper with more vigour than before. Suddenly her rhythm faltered as she could no longer keep up with him. Her breathing become more turbulent and her cries grew more frantic. Her hot sheath started clenching around him even tighter and that was when he was sure she was starting to reach her blessed peak. He lifted her hips higher at a steeper angle, penetrating her deeper than ever before.
"Oh god…! T-Takumi-kun!" she cried hoarsely.
Takumi could hardly breathe. Suddenly he could feel his own release building violently in the knotting muscles of his groin. He could feel Ayame's release drawing in closer for her too. Her muscles began clamping down on him relentlessly forcing him to abandon his rhythm and just slam into her with all his strength, his engorged tip hitting against the end of her channel, and over, and over, and over! He dragged his lips over hers again and kissed her as deeply as he could to the point their teeth clashed. He tangle her arms with his, pinning her to the bed with the force of his weight. He swallowed all her screams whilst she stabbed her nails into his hands and her thighs quivered harshly around him. The slick slapping of their sweaty flesh echoed around the room.
He was getting severely light headed.
'Cazzo! I'm reaching my end...!'
Takumi released her lips and snapped his head backwards. He grounded himself one last time into her, hilting himself completely.
"Nggghhh..! AHHHHH!... TAKUMI!" Ayame convulsed violently around him and her muscles clamped down painfully. Her body shook as her first orgasm ripped through her, riding the crest with her eyes tightly closed with tears lining her lashes and her lips poised in her scream. Breathy moans and sobs escaped her lips. Takumi crashed his lips onto the junction of her neck and shoulder. His teeth found purchase on her hot and sweaty skin as he bit into her supple flesh, making her yelp again. His length spasmed savagely.
"Cazzo! Ayame!"
His release came forth like a surging avalanche. Blinding light invaded his vision as he cried Ayame's name loudly. Viscous liquid burst from him, hot and thick, emptying himself into his amore. Ayame shuddered as she tightened her thigh around him, arching off the bed again slightly. He could feel the liquid warmth of his essence and her essence mix and swirl within her.
Takumi collapsed to the side rolling her with him. He was completely spent and Ayame was the same as he could see her struggle to keep her eyes open and her chest heaved from the intensity of their love making. Takumi refused to pull out and remained joined to her. He felt if he left her, they wouldn't be as close anymore and he would miss her too much. She made no attempt to shift his softening length away from her either, which he was glad of. He wanted to preserve this special moment with his amante. Takumi cuddled her into his chest and pressed deep kisses into her slender neck and shoulders. Ayame wriggled her arms free and cupped his face and placed a loving kiss on his lips, smiling at him so endearingly. They were completely exhausted, basking in the afterglow of their bout of passion.
Their hearts began to slow down, beating as one.
Haaaaaa... Takumi and Ayame... They're all grown up! Writing a lemon in Takumi's perspective was... strange to me... I'm a girl so, putting myself in a guy's shoes during sex is pretty damn challenging. We've seen Takumi mature in his relationship with Ayame and had taken steps with her in exploring their blooming sexuality as teenagers throughout the story. So, I hope he didn't come out too OOC in this lemon.
I gave Kurokiba the title of Cerberus of Tootsuki :) It sounded more dramatic and badass than 'Mad Dog' and I thought it added more to his prowess.
If you guys don't remember Saitou Izumo, refer back to chapter 8 as Ayame mentions him briefly to Takumi :)
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you guys think and I'll see you soon in the next battle of Decadent Desserts!
Signing-off
-TripWire-dono
