Chapter 18: Sleepless

Warning: This chapter contains some mildly explicit content. Mildly.

Soya walked into the bedroom after his bath, quirking an eyebrow to see Akemi furiously texting someone. "What's the matter?" he asked, making her look up at him with a look on her face that could've only meant one thing. "What did Jin say now?" he asked, sitting down next to her as she pulled the blanket to her face.

"He's just being stupid." She replied, Kazama turning her phone so he could read the message.

"Your love fortune for the day… Best Luck?" he asked, shaking his head as he read the whole thing. "Why does he have that?"

"He said he got it from one of the snack stalls that was running a promotion, and that they asked for the month and day of a friend to give the fortune to… He said he pulled one for each of us, and they said the same thing." She grumbled into the blanket, Soya rubbing her back to soothe her. "I'm going to beat him up."

"Yes, I know you are." He replied, sighing. "I'm going to want to fight him too, now." He added. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine, I just…" she looked up at him. "It makes me feel bad… Because I know you're waiting…"

"You don't have to worry about me that much." He replied, smiling a little. "I've handled it for this long, I'll be alright." He added.

"But I do have to worry." She replied.

"And what do you have to worry about?" he asked her. "I won't leave you, and I certainly won't go and seek out companionship elsewhere." He replied. "I'm waiting for you, Akemi. Only for you." He added. "No matter how long it takes. I promised you."

"I… Okay." She stopped herself, knowing he would scold her if she berated herself or said anything that he considered to be self-degrading.

"Good." He kissed her cheek. "Now let's go to sleep. You clearly need it." He helped her get comfortable and laid down next to her, turning out the lights and letting her relax in silence, knowing that would help keep her from throwing herself into a panic. He propped his head up with one hand, holding onto her with the other. He eventually moved to be fully laying down, dozing off.

Akemi opened her eyes, seeing only the darkness of Soya's room and the small area of the nightstand and pillows illuminated by the clock. 02: 30, she couldn't sleep. She was envious that he looked so peaceful as he slept, chuckling to herself and petting his head a little. "Lucky... you look like you're having a nice dream." she whispered, turning to pick up her phone when she felt his hand on her side.

"Why are you up?"

"Can't sleep." she replied, one hand on her phone, the other grasping his hand and holding it close. "Go back to sleep, Soya."

"Nn." he pulled her closer with surprising force and buried his nose in her hair, clearly not wanting her to stay up and think by herself all night. "You sleep too." He mumbled, clearly only half awake, not showing his usual restraint with how tight he was holding her.

"Now, now." she muttered, turning to face him fully, hugging him before putting the covers over his shoulder to keep him warm. "I'll go back to sleep in a minute." She was still checking things on her screen behind his head as he pressed as close as he could, waiting for the lull of sweet sleep to cause her to feel tired enough to put her device down. It took a while, Soya relaxing in her arms but clearly determined to stay up with her until he knew she was going back to bed.

"Stop scrolling." She smiled as he grumbled, her free hand reaching up to play with his hair soothingly.

"I will soon, I told you go back to sleep." She cooed, smiling as he tugged at her sleep shirt in protest. Another hour passed before the sleepiness began to weigh down her eyelids and she put her phone back on the nightstand.

"Akemi." He pulled her down to his level and into his arms, tucking her head under his chin so she couldn't reach for her phone again. "You need more sleep." He grumbled, making her smile more than she already had been.

"Yes, yes, as you say." She took a deep breath and got comfortable. "I'm sorry for keeping you awake."

"Sleep." He demanded, although it wasn't a rough sort of demanding. It was gentle and clearly just his sleepiness talking for him.

"Goodnight, Soya."

"G'night." he mumbled, soon falling back asleep. Akemi listened to his rhythmic breathing pattern, fading fast as she stayed curled up in his arms. This felt so safe to her, she wasn't even sure she could sleep without him anymore. And even now, he was so patient with her. She had never felt so happy. She relaxed in his arms, feeling as though sleep finally sounded like a good idea.

The following morning, Akemi had woken up early to get things ready. She and Soya had the same free time today, so of course they wanted one thing. "Mock fight~" she said cheerfully. "It feels like it's been a while."

"It hasn't been that long." Soya replied to her, glad she seemed happy.

"Even so…" they arrived at the training area and went to find a free room to go have a match. "Ready?" she asked once they located one.

"Whenever you are, Akemi." They arrived in the training room.

"What an audience gathering out there." She said smiling.

"Pausing to talk?" Kazama asked her, readying his weapon. "How unlike you. Usually you stay quiet before a mock fight."

"I think it's nice to slow down sometimes." She replied. "Besides, I know I prefer silence at home most of the time, so occasionally I want to hear your voice." She added, his cheeks coloring. "Hehe. Plus I have something I want to ask you when we're done… Only if I win of course." She added. "So… Soya…" she looked up, right at him, grinning. "Care to come at me?" Soya smirked, seeing that confidence he'd missed seeing in her. It had been a long time, but it was there, plain as day.

"Oh, alright. Then if I win, do I get a favor?" He charged at her, the two getting into their battle.

"Of course, whatever you want." She replied with a smile. They exchanged blows and finished their 10 matches, each fighting hard to get the win. When they finally finished, Soya chuckled as she took him down.

"You win." He stated, looking up as she helped him up. "All 10 matches at that, when did you get so good?" He added, Akemi smiling more at his praise. "So what do you want to ask me?"

"I was hoping that…" she leaned over to whisper it to him, his face flushing red. "I-If you want to, still…"

"Y-Yeah…" he stared, still in shock. But she suggested it, as embarrassing as it was. He recovered his composure quickly though, at the realization that she wanted to finally take that step. "Look at how bold you're getting." He teased, smiling at her. "I'm proud of you, Akemi."

"Well, don't tell me that." She chuckled, cheeks flushed. "I just know that I feel safe enough… and that it's you, and I trust you." She added. "Plus, seeing you go all out fighting against me like this makes my heart flutter."

"You're also in top form. All 10 matches, and you only sustained a few injuries." They walked out of the training room and headed to the vending machines. "Have you been training in secret?"

"Not really… I did get a lot of help, though, since I needed to be sure that I was working at my best when I fought you." She bought them each a canned drink and sat down with him. "I haven't been on away missions recently because I haven't been using Mukou, so I felt like I was maybe losing my edge."

"I don't think you could ever lose your edge." They chatted for a while, taking their time and going on their separate patrols before meeting back up that evening after they had both finished patrolling. They stood in the kitchen together, cooking Kazama's favorite meal before they ate together on the sofa. They did everything normally, taking their separate baths and doing their own thing for a while before they went to his room. "Akemi." The woman turned to him as they were about to walk past the door frame, seeing those red eyes staring her down. "Are you really sure you can do this?"

"I… I want to try." She told him, taking his hand. "Because I know without a doubt, Soya… I trust you."

"I know, but all the same. Are you going to be okay?" Kazama asked her, squeezing her hand. She smiled at him, leaning into his shoulder and letting him wrap his arms around her. "I know it's a difficult thing for you."

"Mmm, yes it is… But I'm also with the one person I know quells that uncertainty that I have, and keeps me grounded." She replied, hugging onto him. "The Number 2 attacker in Border's ranks…" she nuzzled against his shoulder and took a deep breath. "The one who never rushed me and waited so patiently for me for so many years…" she whispered, clinging to his shirt. "Soya Kazama, leader of Kazama Squad… and the only person I ever want to willingly do this with." She added, smiling as she felt him kiss her cheek. Soya nodded, leading her to sit on his bed and sitting down next to her.

"Don't push yourself." He told her. "If it's scaring you or makes you uncomfortable, tell me so I can stop." He added, not knowing if he could just stop once they got into it. However, for Akemi, he'd do whatever he could to stop himself. "I don't ever want to scare you or hurt you."

"Thank you." she replied simply, turning to smile at him. "It's for you, so..." she averted her gaze for a moment before looking back at him. "So I promise I'll let you know... But also don't stop unless I ask, okay?" she added. Kazama nodded, taking a breath before raising his hand to her cheek, caressing it slowly. He wanted to make sure this was perfect, and that she was okay before he did more. He leaned in to kiss her carefully on the forehead, then her nose, making her giggle. He kissed either cheek before his other hand came up to cradle her face, smiling at her.

"Have I ever told you how I adore you?" he asked her.

"Not in so many words…" she replied, smiling back at him.

"Mm, if I do, will you be embarrassed?" he asked, leaning in to kiss her, starting off slowly and allowing her to pull away if she wanted to. "If I compliment you, normally you tell me to stop and you hide."

"I do… because I don't normally have this kind of confidence." She replied to him, letting him control the pace. "However today, I think I might be alright. So long as it's just the two of us." She leaned into the next few kisses eagerly, Soya taking the invitation of her lips parting and proceeding to make out with her until they both needed to breathe.

"Then… I'll go slow, but I intend to take full advantage of this confidence of yours, Akemi." He replied, one of his hands leaving her cheek and trailing down to her lower back to hold her there. "Can I take this off?" he asked, tugging at her shirt.

"Only if yours goes too." She replied, both of them smiling before taking off their shirts and placing them down nearby. "If it's not even, I feel like I might die of embarrassment."

"Well, I can't have that happening." He pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back. "I need you to enjoy yourself, but not die of embarrassment." He added, kissing her neck, making her squeak in surprise. "Oh… do you like it there?" he asked, having never gotten the chance before to kiss her like this. It was always to her shoulder when she was wearing a shirt or the back of her hand under a glove. Her lips, of course, but aside from that… Never to bare skin aside from her face, let alone somewhere so vulnerable. He repeated the action, pulling sweet noises from Akemi as he worked. "Mm, Akemi… I won't stop if you don't say anything."

"It… Feels good." She whispered, her voice shaking slightly, but clearly not out of fear. "Soya. Don't stop." She whimpered. Soya chuckled, grinning against her skin.

"Whatever you want, Akemi." He replied. "But I have years of being pent up to get out… Nice and slow." He said. "Be prepared to endure." His lips met her skin again, her noises egging him on to do more, but he kept himself in check, taking this slowly and making sure she enjoyed everything he was doing. To others, it might have been painfully slow, but not to Soya. He preferred this kind of pace and approach to the fast approach he'd heard of others taking or what he'd become used to seeing in media. He knew he could never have that approach from the day he had asked Akemi the first time and been turned down. He spent all this time waiting for her, developing his own approach. A plan to take every step one move at a time, to get her used to it. To, hopefully, have her crave his touch. "I was hoping you'd want me to go one step at a time… Never thought I would get to do everything like this at once." He smiled. "It's like a dream, Akemi."

"Is it?" she asked softly. "I-I'm glad you're enjoying yourself So-oooh~" she moaned as he suckled on the spot he'd been kissing, whimpering as he continued. "Soya~"

"You get to feel all of that pent-up craving for you right here, right now…" he said softly. "I hope you're ready."

"I am… As long as it's you." She replied, already shaking from the little bit he'd done to her. Her whole being craved more from him just from a little bit of kissing and his lips on her skin. "So please… give it all to me, Soya." She moved her hands up his back to his hair, holding him there. "Please… I want you."

"Mmm, gladly."

Akemi was unable to sleep. It was about 4:30 in the morning after they had finally slept together. She'd tried desperately to relax, but somehow she couldn't calm down enough to do so. Her heart was still beating, and somehow she was still feeling wound up. She tried her best not to move around and wake Soya, but her restless movements drew out a sign from her partner. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." she replied softly. "Sorry for waking you, go back to sleep."

"Akemi." he pulled her back against his chest, the feeling of his skin reminding the woman of their previous activities. "You're not okay if you're awake with no reason." He helped her turn over and pulled her up against him, smiling softly as he tangled his fingers in her hair. "I'm right here, you know... if you want to talk or get something off your mind." He added, watching her cheeks color and her nerves get the better of her. He let her calm back down, playing with her hair like how she did with his. Akemi took a little while to calm down, taking deep breaths and leaning her forehead against his.

"Soya?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Akemi." he adjusting his position so his hand was on her hip, making sure she was covered by the blankets and comfortable. "Your skin is really soft." He trailed his hand up and down her side slowly, smiling as she shivered a little. "Thank you for letting me finally have you…" he kissed her cheek, earning a kiss in return. "Now go to sleep... you have to work in a few hours."

"Mmm, don't remind me." she smiled, nuzzling against him, trying not to put her hands anywhere that might end up working him back up. "I have to go and make sure things are alright with the others before the potential away mission, no matter who gets deployed…" she muttered, clearly more comfortable now. "Thanks… For reassuring me…" she whispered, earning a kiss from him.

"You're welcome. Now, back to bed." He held her close and watched her for a little while, seeing her slowly dozing off in his arms. At least she wasn't regretting what they had done, and hadn't been afraid of him when they really got into it. He felt his heart start racing again, and his cheeks colored a little. He shook the thought, taking a few deep breaths. He finally got the chance to give her everything he had to offer, physically, and she clearly enjoyed it by the way she clung to him and didn't once ask for him to stop or even slow down. That was enough for now. He relaxed once she was asleep, his eyelids growing heavy, mumbling another soft "I love you" to her before he dozed off again.

"Congratulations!" Jin grinned, Kazama and Akemi both red in the face.

"Finally, you two hooked up properly." Tachikawa grinned at them. "Judging by that mark on Akemi's neck."

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Soya asked, having walked Akemi home, only to find Jin and Tachikawa at her front door.

"I thought for sure you'd be at her house, but turns out we were wrong." Jin grinned, earning a smack from Akemi. "Haha, you're mad, huh?"

"I am going to beat the living daylights out of you in a Rank War." She stated, clearly embarrassed but putting up a front. Jin laughed and nodded.

"Yes, I look forward to our fight." He said, grinning.

"What about me?" Tachikawa asked. "I want another match too."

"I'll wreck you as well." She replied. "I bet you told Jin about that damn snack stand fortune, too. Along with Kako."

"Ooh, you knew about that?" Tachikawa asked, laughing. "Nothing slips by you, huh? But in any case, I'm glad." He said, Jin nodding in agreement. "When Kagami told us what happened to you back then, we were worried about you two."

"K-Kagami told you?" she asked, not realizing that Kagami had mentioned it to anyone.

"Yeah, he told us that was why you were so scared." Jin replied. "And that he'd demolish us both in a rank war if we ever tried to push you and Kazama-san into anything weird."

"That… Sounds like Kaga." She replied, clearly still taken aback by the knowledge that her teammate had said something. "But then why…?" Akemi's face went bright red. "J-Jin, that damned side effect of yours!"

"Haha, I'm sorry, I can't just turn it off." He said, cheeks pink. Akemi hid her face against Soya's shoulder, the black haired young man comforting her. "But at least now you two can be more open."

"D-D-Don't be ridiculous!" Akemi exclaimed, clearly too embarrassed about being "open" about her relationship with Soya.

"Akemi. Breathe." Soya said to her, rubbing her back. "I'm also going to beat you two up for embarrassing her." He added, the other two grinning at the concept of being beaten up.

"Then, do you want to see if we can fight a 2 on 2?" Jin questioned.

"Will they even allow for that?" Tachikawa asked.

"We can always ask."

"If they allow for it, then by all means." Soya replied.

"I did see that you two were fighting a mock battle yesterday." Tachikawa nodded. "Does that mean you're in top shape with all your new triggers, Akemi?"

"You'll find out when I beat you up, Kei." She replied, still clinging to Soya.

"Then let's go and have that mock battle." Jin ushered them all to base, amused by the thought of having a mock battle with the pair. "Akemi-san will end up embarrassed the entire time."

"Jin, you're asking for it." Kazama replied, knowing Akemi was going to be fine once they were in the arena. Akemi was already muttering to herself about beating up the pair, Kazama comforting her by telling her that she could lead their strategy against the duo.

"Ooh, letting Akemi-san take the lead?" Tachikawa asked. "Is that how you two are in the bedroom too?"

"No, I don't think so." Jin replied.

"Stop talking already you two." Kazama sighed, cheeks tinting pink. This was going to be a long day.

((Okay hi there friends. Sorry, it's been a hot minute *ahem 2 years* since I posted and I'm so sorry about the long hiatus with no word. I've been having a hard time recently so my brain was low on ideas and motivation to write. But I am at least going to give you the Akemi x Soya content because I just watched seasons 2 and 3 of World Trigger over and oh my goodness, I needed to at the very least update this fic. Hopefully, things will become less difficult in the near future. Of course, I might just drop off the map for another 2 years, we'll see what happens. Thank you for your patience and understanding~

-Winter Cheshire))