((This is a companion to the last one so I'm posting them back to back. Hope you like it. I will try to do more Lin's voice and perhaps the others. I really like writing these, so I don't see myself stopping at Z this time either, so long as I have urge and the audience enjoys it I'll keep doing this. ))

L is for Lips

Mai didn't often wear make up, and there was a reason for that. Sadly her mother had died before her formative years that would require the application of such so she didn't know how to make up in a...subtle way. When Ayako had tried to give her lessons she'd not really gotten the whole idea of making it look like you weren't wearing any. She just wanted to be noticed they all knew, and not just by her friends but by a certain annoying, boy genius. At least that's what Lin had told him.

The first time she had shown up at the work with bright red lipstick everyone had raised an eyebrow and thought it was maybe a thing that all the school girls were doing. That Mai was just trying to be like the other girls at the girls at school. She'd been gently ribbed but she'd taken it all in stride. She was Mai after all.

Then had come the blue lipstick. That had left everyone throughly confused. Was she trying to be a 'goth' girl? Or be edgy or cool? Monk had been the first to suggest that Mai was maybe looking for some extra attention. Everyone had tried to be extra attentive to the girl; well everyone except for him. He had informed her that if she wished to look like a clown then she'd have to find another employer.

After than had been a parade of other colors, more conventional yes but none had suited her. He was very put upon when Mai had started to do things to her beautiful face..wait he did he just think she had a beautiful face? These long hours were really starting to get to him.. Still though..

The mauve was too deep, and left her looking older, and the peach was too orange. It had made her skin look sallow. She'd tried the beiges, then a variety of pinks, and all had made her look like something else. She had even tried brown and the comments had left her stung he noticed, especially after Yasu had called her chocolate lips. Naru hadn't said anything since that day she'd had blue lips, but he'd raise his eye brows when he'd see her in the morning and Mai could pick up on how much he disliked it by how forcefully he shook his head.

So after several weeks, and several more disguarded cosmetic tubes Mai had show up sans make up. Lips natural.

His lips twitched at the sight. This was the real Mai. The real, lovely, natural beauty. They had just a little; what should he call it, glisten? to them. They looked so soft and moist.

It was then that he kissed her lips.

The soft, gently, natural pink ones that were so moist and waiting..

They didn't need any dressing up at all.

Mai blinked when the pressure of his lips had left hers. She looked at him for a heartbeat, and then a second one. He was wisely keeping any comments to himself for a moment so he didn't set off the excitable girl.

"Lips," he whispered brushing his thumb across her bottom lip and letting it linger for a moment, "as perfect as yours need no adornment." With that he kissed her lips again. And again. And again.