Written by: Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
All right. A CHALLENGE HAS BEEN ISSUED AND ACCEPTED. Actually this goes to Mona's original challenge. I'm working on another story for merrow's. ^^ This is a Shigure X Mayuko story and takes place during the brief time that the two were dating. I've brushed up a little on the manga...so here we go! Lemon warning and possible OOC-ness. Mayu's still a new character for me.

"You planned this, didn't you?"

"I'm a regular customer, Mayu. I came in to get this one book and that's all, honest--"

"I swear Shigure, if this is your idea of a joke then--"

"Certainly not!" A pout. "Besides, it was supposed to be sunny all day today. The weathergirl said nothing about rain."

A sigh. "Try downpour."

A surprised look. "More like a mini typhoon."

"The wind's really kicking up, ne?"

"*pointing* I think that was Yogata-sensei's cat being blown down the street."

Another sigh. "Funny how they never get it right."

A nod. "Quite."

Mayuko Shiragi shook her head, placing the last board over the window of her parents' bookshop. This hadn't been her day to work, and quite honestly her folks suckered her into it. They spent their life in the store and rarely got out, so when they asked if she'd watch the shop for a day, she readily agreed.

Besides, what else was she going to do? Her part time job was giving her less hours than usual, and she was waiting to hear back about a teaching position at a local high school. A day at her parents' store couldn't be all bad.

She was quickly coming to regret that decision however.

The morning had gone by in a blur, with only two customers to speak of. The afternoon, however, was not going as well. Just after lunch she was surprised, and horrified, to see the store's most popular customer walk in. He waved to her amiably, walking down an isle of new releases her father had just stacked the day before.

It didn't help that he was also her current boyfriend.

Well, that's if you could define their current arrangement as a relationship.

Shigure Sohma was a well-built, well-dressed, good looking young man. At 25 his writing career was just taking off. He was witty and intelligent, and quite charming in an overly disgusting (if not annoying) way. He was quick to joke and hard pressed to tell the truth. His expressions were usually so carefully guarded, the it was difficult in some instances to tell whether he was serious, or telling a really bad joke.

This instance was one of them.

Who the hell relied on the weather girl these days?!

They'd started dating nearly a month ago. It was mostly on and off, but they managed to see each other quite often, either on the street or in public meeting places. It wasn't a serious thing between them, at least Mayuko didn't think so. Her true feelings lied somewhere...or rather, with SOMEONE...else. Shigure knew this from the beginning, and she supposed, in his own way, asking her to be his girlfriend was his way of helping her to stay close to him. HIM...the other person she loved.

His cousin.

Her best friend's fiancé.

But again, it was difficult to tell if Shigure really did care about her, or if he was just feeling lonely himself. She remembered seeing him in college, surrounded by flocks of beautiful girls who would've killed, quite literally, for his time. He'd never considered a single one of them to be close, personal friends, but still, she wondered why he had withdrawn when he used to be so popular. He was still a major flirt. Maybe sitting behind a computer and writing novels had taken some of the wind out of him.

Oh who was she kidding?! It'd only made him worse!

"Mayu? Earth to Mayuko? You there?"

She started, blinking in surprise and dropping the remaining board in her hands. It fell to the floor with a distinct CRACK and both people flinched. When they looked down, the board seemed to be intact, with one corner starting to splinter from the impact.

"Could've been worse," Mayuko said with a sigh.

"It's not like you to be lost in thought," Shigure commented. "They weren't naughty thoughts by any chance were they?"

This was just not going right.

"GAH! Shigure, only YOU would have those kind of thoughts in this kind of situation!"

Why did she have to get stuck in her parents' shop with Shigure?

"Mayu, so mean. It was just a simple question," he replied with a small smile.

Pulling a set of keys from her pocket, Mayuko tossed them to Shigure. He caught them, raising an eyebrow in question. As she bent over to pick up the board she told him, "Lock the front door, onegai. It's bad enough I'm stuck in here with you. I don't want to take in any more stragglers."

He turned away with a smile. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that. There doesn't seem to be another soul in sight." He paused after locking the door, watching a heavily clothed figure push against the wind to walk down the street. His eyes widened in surprise. "I think old man Yogata's going after his cat."

Mayuko set the board on the countertop and hurried over to the door. She placed a hand on Shigure's shoulder and rose up on tip toe to see. "Old fool's going to die in this weather," she commented shaking her head.

He handed the keys back to her, looking over his shoulder. "I can go after him--"

Mayuko shook her head. "No, it's all right. He'd just sit in here and mope about his cat," she replied with a sigh. She turned the sign in the window so that it read "CLOSED" from the outside and stepped away from Shigure. It shouldn't have felt awkward being so close to him, but she suddenly felt self-conscious. What was the feeling of warmth that spread through her when she placed her hand on his shoulder? She turned on her heel and walked over to the counter.

Shigure watched her leave, a smile passing his lips. Tons of thoughts passed through is mind...most of them like the ones he'd tried to accuse her of. It was true he had not planned this, although it seemed that perhaps someone else had. No, Mayuko wouldn't have done anything like this, but someone upstairs was looking out for him. He silently thanked whatever god made this possible and turned away from the door.

He knew that her feelings were for someone else, but that hadn't stopped him from asking her out. And he would never admit how much his heart soared when she agreed to their "arrangement". He'd originally done it out of loneliness, but it had quickly, without his knowledge, become something a little more.

Mayuko Shiragi was an intelligent, athletic and positively stunning young woman. She had a fighting spirit and a heart of gold hidden behind a tough exterior and an extra layer of defensiveness. Her loyalty is what drew him in the first place. And she was very loyal to her friend Kana, partially the reason for why they were dating now. They'd been best friends through high school, and although she had a crush on her best friend's fiancé, Mayuko remained true to Kana. There were only two people he could think of that he'd be so loyal to, but when it came to women, he was positive that loyalty would break quite easily. It made Shigure a bit jealous.

And very much envious of both Kana and Hatori.

"So what should we do now?" he asked, walking towards the counter. Mayuko didn't bother looking up as he approached, missing the slanted seductive smile edged on his face. "It doesn't look like the rain's going to let up anytime soon. And here we are...all alone in a little book store...."

"Well since you're here, you can help me clean," Mayuko said, putting the board underneath the counter and pulling out a bucket full of supplies. She looked up at him and smiled at the utter look of horror he'd given her.

"But--?"

"It's not that bad. Here." She tossed him a dust rag, smirking. "All you have to do is wipe off the ledge of the upper shelves. I can get the rest. When you're done...well...." She shrugged, trying to hold back a giggle when he looked at her hopefully. She knew she'd already foiled a scheme of his. "Grab a book and read I guess."

Shigure muttered something like, "That's not what I had in mind," but quickly turned and started working. He started with a shelf by the front door, wiping off the edges and nearly choking on the dust that fell in his face.

'Working's what I had in mind but not--! ARGH! When was the last time these shelves were cleaned?!'

Mayuko watched him out of the corner of her eye, grabbing another cloth from the bucket. She turned to a shelf near the register, glancing his way quickly before turning away. She had to stifle a giggle as he muttered to himself, trying to dust off his clothing. He looked pretty cute all flustered by the evil store dust bunnies. His guard was completely down....

'WHAT am I thinking?' she asked herself, turning to the shelf and absently wiping it with the cloth in her hand. 'He's a flaming idiot! Womanizing little bastard. He even flirted with the waitress on our first date! Well, okay, he did make it up to me with some ice cream and a casual walk along the water front...and he did look good in that suit. Was he wearing that same suit now? Yes, I think it is, but I don't recognize the shirt. Did he--? Oh shit, there I go again!'

An hour passed and the rain showed no sign of letting up. Shigure glanced out of the window on the door, watching as the rain fell. He'd completed his half of the store and it looked as if Mayuko was just about finished the other half. He could see her reflection in the window, watching her intently as she stood with her back to him, wiping off a shelf almost too high to reach.

Extending an arm over her head, her shirt also moved, pulling up just slightly, revealing a small expanse of smooth, lightly tanned skin. Shigure couldn't help but smile. If she knew he was watching he'd get beaten for sure and...wait, was that? Yes, it was! As she leaned over he could see a hint of pink beneath her blue jeans. She was wearing pink panties?! His body suddenly went numb. He couldn't believe it. Mayuko and pink just didn't seem right together!

Although the picture of her without ANYTHING seemed very appealing to him.

"Oy! Shigure? Could you give me a hand over here?"

Grinning to himself, he walked up behind her, stopping with about three feet of distance between them. His hands started to reach out for her, his fingers wanting a taste of exposed flesh, but he stopped himself abruptly. This wasn't good. This wasn't part of the plan. They were only together because they were lonely, cast aside by their friends who's live seemed to be happier without them in it. But just once...just once wouldn't hurt, would it?

'Shit, Shigure! Get a hold of yourself, man! She doesn't want you.'

Taking a deep breath he replied, "I can give you two," he said teasingly, his voice amazingly devoid of his immediate desire. Too bad his body couldn't react the same. "What do you want me to do?"

"There's something *hmph* up *grunt* on the top *sigh* shelf. I can't reach it." She halted her efforts and looked over her shoulder at him. "You're taller. Can you reach it?"

He nodded, trying to avoid looking her directly in the eye. Instead he looked up to the top shelf. He didn't see anything, but that didn't mean a small book hadn't been tossed up there for some unknown reason. He stepped to her side, reaching up to the shelf while maintaining a sufficient amount of distance. He quickly found the item she had mentioned and pulled it down for both of them to view.

It was an old copy of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew."

"How ironic," Shigure whispered with a smile.

"Give me that," Mayuko said, reaching for the book. She grabbed onto it and tried to pull it away. Shigure wouldn't let go.

"Maybe I'd like to borrow this one," Shigure said, feigning hurt.

"Then go to the library," Mayuko said. She knew he was playing a game. Was this another take on what he was scheming earlier? She was in no mood for games, the weather quite literally dragging her mood downward.

As she pulled back on the book, he let go. IT was so sudden that she stumbled a step and backed into the book case. She sighed in relief, glad that Shigure was finished his game.

Or was he?

When she looked up, he was practically towering over her. It was next to impossible, since they were so close in height in reality. Still, Mayuko couldn't help but feel small standing...well okay, half standing and mostly leaning backward...in front of him.

And his eyes. There was something dark and mysterious in his eyes.

"Shigure, what are you--?"

Bracing his hands on the bookshelf behind her, he cut her off, answering her question with the press of lips to hers. It was likely to get him slapped, but he hardly cared. Opening his lips he deepened the kiss, trying to coax her to play along as his tongue brushed along her bottom lip. When he pulled away, he was perfectly prepared for her onslaught of angry words and possibly her open palm against his cheek.

Mayuko's body froze when his lips touched hers. What the hell did he think he was doing? Was he kissing her? Instinctively her eyes began to close, and while her body was quite thoroughly enjoying the sensation of his kiss, her mind was trying to scream logical statements at her. And when he pulled away, she could feel her right hand clenching into a fist. But she resisted the urge to slap him...and hard! Instead, she gripped the sides of his face roughly and pulled him in for another kiss.

It defied all possible logic, but she had to admit he was a pretty good kisser. And the warm feeling, the same she'd felt when she placed her hand on his shoulder, returned with a vengeance, sweeping through her body like the typhoon outside. Something in her knew this was wrong, but on the other hand, it felt so...well, it felt right!

Surprised but undaunted, Shigure grasped the hands that held his face and placed them on his hips. Her hands just felt better there and he was safer from an accidental transformation. He moaned, his tongue seeking purchase inside her mouth. Just how far could he take this, he wondered.

He moaned again when he felt no resistance from her lips, her hands clasping tightly to his hips. This was almost too much! He had expected a response but not like this. And just how did she learn to do THAT with her tongue?! He almost lost it, pushing his hips closer to hers, but pulled back slightly to maintain a distance.

"What the hell are we doing?" he asked when their kiss broke. They stood, staring at one another in total astonishment.

Mayuko gasped for air. She came back to her logical mind for a quick second. That should never have happened, she told herself, but she could still feel her body tingling with warmth.

"Good question. What are we doing?"

"I asked first," Shigure pouted.

Mayuko nodded. "You kissed me first."

"Aa, but you kissed me back," he commented.

"That was my first mistake," she replied.

"Want to make another mistake?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Is that an offer?"

They met each other half way into their third kiss. This kiss was definitely the most intense with both parties giving it their all. It was unhurried yet forceful, demanding. Mayuko's hands never left Shigure's hips and she pulled him closer again, feeling for the first time EXACTLY how he felt about the situation. She was only momentarily surprised, then tried to pull him closer, wanting to wrap her arms around him as the kiss grew deeper.

Shigure growled as he ground his hips into hers. She was getting too close. Easing the kiss, he grabbed her wrists when she made to hug him. He placed her hands on his chest instead. He pulled back to look her in the eye and smiled.

"Why don't you start at the top and work your way down?" he suggested, his voice much deeper in register than normal. It made Mayuko's breath catch. She was confused by his actions but she didn't argue. Her fingers quickly began unbuttoning his shirt.

Leaning his forehead against hers, Shigure's hands also went to work, pulling the seem of her shirt upward and easing his hands underneath the material. Shock, like electricity, ran from his fingertips and up his arms as they touched her bare skin. They both gasped.

Her shirt was quickly removed, and much without her noticing until she felt the cool air of the shop caress her half-naked breasts. Her nipples immediately hardened more and she moaned at the sensation. Her fingers grazed bare skin and she pulled the shirt apart to stare appreciatively at his naked chest.

Shigure shrugged his shirt from his shoulders and tossed it aside. Mayuko's eyes widened when she got a better look at him. She was amazed that he appeared so built. Not well defined, but still athletic in his own way. When their eyes met, she could tell that he was eyeing her in the same manner, a hungry look flashed in his eyes, a feral smile passing his lips. It should've scared her, she supposed, but instead it enflamed her desired and forced her to continue.

Hands explored, fingers touching every open space of skin, caressing every dip and angle of the body. His hands rose to cup the weight of her confined breasts, squeezing the mounds through her bra. He could feel her nipples harden through the flimsy material. Using his thumbs he played with the newly hardened buds, earning moans and light squeals from his partner. He never imagined she'd be so responsive to him.

With her hands on her shoulders to steady her, Mayuko pressed herself into Shigure's hands, her heartbeat pausing for a mere second as he leaned forward and licked the top of one breast while gently massaging the other. The suddenly her breasts were free of her bra, the cups pulled downward to reveal her neatly rounded breasts. Shigure continued to kiss and lick the mound of flesh, his lip locking around the taut peak and suckling like a newborn babe.

Mayuko nearly cried out at the pleasurable sensations he was giving her. He didn't seem to want her to hug him. So in an effort to pull him closer she wrapped one leg around his hip, pushing her pelvis into his. She moaned again as she felt his aching member throbbing against her. Moisture pooled in her panties and she found herself grinding into him in a steady rhythm, trying to relieve an ache she could not name.

Shigure sucked in a breath as their hips met, her rhythm slowly driving him to distraction. He switched his attention to her other breast but found that he was quickly thinking of other things. He wanted to go slow, wanted the pleasure to last, but it appeared that lust was quickly winning above all else. He growled as her rhythm increased, answering her pace with his own thrusts. He smiled against her breast as she screamed her pleasure into the room.

"Shigure?"

"Hnnmm," he muttered from around her nipple.

"Counter...." she tried to say, but it came out with another gasp and barely audible.

He released her nipple and looked up at her. "Nani?"

She answered his gaze through hooded eyelids. "The...counter...NOW."

Shigure needed no other instruction. He stepped backward, carrying her as she wrapped both legs around his waist now. His steps were unhurried, but more from the uncertainty of carrying Mayuko without dropping her. That was the last thing he needed. Not that she was heavy, mind you. In reality, she was pretty light, much to Shigure's surprise.

He set her down in front of the counter, quickly divesting her of her pants and panties. The panties were just as blue as he'd seen before and looked rather cute on her overall. He tugged them down over her hips and watched as they fell down slim, athletic legs to pool at her ankles. She kicked them aside, her fingers fumbling with the button of his pants.

Shigure smiled as she cursed. The button finally came undone and the fly went downward. He cursed silently to himself as he remembered he'd worn underwear that day. He rarely wore underwear now that he was out of school. But it didn't seem to deter Mayuko in the least. She reached inside his briefs, grasping his engorged cock in her hand. He gasped as she fisted him, releasing the breath on a moan as she started to stroke him.

Leaning forward, their lips met in another kiss. With his hands on her hips, he helped her to sit on the countertop. It was at just the right level. She sat comfortably close to the edge, her thigh parted so that he could move closer. He broke the kiss to divest himself of his pants before stepping between her legs.

One hand molded itself to her breast while the other moved lower, through a small patch of curls and into a poll of wetness that made him moan and caused her to squirm under his touch. She was more than ready for him as was proved by how easily he slipped two fingers into her core.

Pulling his fingers from her, he licked them clean. He noticed her watched and purposefully darted his tongue along his fingers erotically. She bit her bottom lip, groaning in response.

"Shigure...."

He pulled her hips to the edge, positioning himself. "Are you sure about this?"

"GAH, Shigure, you talk too much!"

In answer he kissed her, slowly easing himself into her core. Kami but she was tight! He felt her fingernails dig into his shoulder, positive she was drawing blood over his slow intrusion. Was she a virgin? He thought she'd had a boyfriend in college. It mattered little now. Taking a deep breath he pulled out an inch before thrusting himself into her.

Mayuko grimaced as he penetrated her. She wasn't a virgin, not since her freshman year in college, but it had been a long time since she'd had sex. She groaned as he stretched her, her muscles working him, trying to be rid of his presence. For a moment she believed it worked, but when he thrust back in she moaned his name, pushing her hips forward to accept his next thrust...and the next.

The friction their bodies created was overwhelming. Shigure had never felt anything like it. Never in his life had sex felt so good. Perhaps it was the fact that he'd gone without for nearly a year. Or maybe...just maybe...it was the thought of being caught sexing up Mayuko when he knew she cared for another. But she wouldn't have agreed to this if she didn't feel something for him.

Right?

His thrusts increased as her hands reached around and grabbed his ass, forcing him to move faster. She looked as if she was going to lean forward and Shigure halted his movement, coaxing her to sit back in stead. She did as he silently instructed, moaning as new waves of pleasure washed through her. He resumed his old pace, quickly moving faster.

Her arms gave out and she was leaning on her elbows, her hips trying to keep up with his preset pace. It was difficult, waves of delicious warmth rushing through her limbs. A fog began to build in her mind and all thought left her as her body lit on fire, burning intensely. She screamed his name, coming again.

'So soon,' he thought. His male pride was boosted by her sensitivity, but he could not deny his body either. His own release was building, but he didn't want it to end. Not quite yet. He slowed his pace, stopping as Mayuko recovered from her orgasm. He tried to hide a chuckle as he watched her try to sit up again and his pride swelled a little more. She blinked at him sleepily, her voice uncertain when she spoke.

"Shi-Shigure--?"

Slipping out of her quickly, he pulled her off the counter and turned her so that she was bent in half over it. Raising her hips just slightly, he pushed himself back inside her. This was one of his favorite positions, and quite fitting to his personality. The sensations were wonderful, the friction even better and the sound of her moans nearly threw him over the edge.

Mayuko was mostly incoherent, her consciousness slipping with each stroke. This experience was so totally wonderful...so absolutely engaging and magical, that she wanted it to stop and continue at the same time. Never, in her life, had she felt anything like this. Would she feel this way if it were someone else? Maybe, but maybe not, she answered briefly before losing all thought patterns as she reached her climax once again.

In the end they came together, crying out each other's names. Mayuko breathed heavily into the countertop where she'd once sat. She could smell their combined sex. It wasn't a foul odor. Quite the contrary it smelled delicious. She began to stir, her heart slowing and sagging with exhaustion.

Shigure leaned over and placed a kiss to her back, slipping his limp member out of her in the process. He had a hard time keeping his eyes open, blinking them rapidly as he forced his breathing to even out. That had been absolutely exquisite. 'I have to get stuck here more often,' he told himself with a small smirk. But then another thought occurred to him and he quickly wiped that thought from his mind.

They went about getting dressed, an awkward silence hanging in the air. What had just happened should never have happened. Both parties knew it for a fact. Still, what were they to do now? Carry on? Act like it never happened?

Mayuko walked over to her discarded shirt, fixing her bra as she moved. She stared at the article in her hands then looked over to the man at the counter. She turned to Shigure, asking for an answer she was half-afraid to hear.

"This doesn't change our current arrangement does it," she asked timidly, pulling her shirt over her head.

Shigure shrugged, picking his shirt up off the floor. He put his arms through the sleeves, seriously contemplating her question. It stung a little but he wouldn't admit it. Her real feelings were with someone else after all.

"No not at all." It was mostly the truth. What had just occurred shouldn't change their arrangement, should it?

"Then..."

"Nani?"

"We won't mention this to anyone else, right?"

Shigure nodded curtly, his smile quite fake. "Absolutely. No one else will know."

Mayuko looked at him skeptically. She couldn't tell if he was telling the truth or lying through his teeth. In either case his answer shouldn't have affected her as deeply as it did. She would never admit it, but she could come to love him...REALLY love him...if he'd just open up a little bit more....

"Looks like the storm's cleared up."

Mayuko looked up from retying her pants. Shigure was standing by the door, looking out the window. It did indeed look as if the storm had cleared. The clouds were still tinted all shades of gray, but at least the rain had stopped.

He held up his book, smiling a slightly less forced smile. "Thank you for your patience, Mayu. I'll be back next week to check on my other order."

She blinked at him. Wasn't he going to stay? Part of her was happy to be rid of him. Still, there were still so many thoughts floating through her head. Maybe she should sort them out before talking to him. Yes, that was a marvelous idea. She didn't want to look like an idiot.

"I'll see you next week then."

"Ja ne."

Shigure left the shop, waiting for the door to close behind him before closing his eyes and sighing loudly. He felt like a prick for leaving. Actually no, he felt GUILTY for leaving, and that was even worse. He should've stayed to talk to her. But what was he going to say?

'Oh well,' he thought as he started walking down the street. 'I'll see her next week. Perhaps I'll talk to her about it then.' He smiled to himself, a new spring appearing in his step. 'And maybe we'll get another storm warning.'

~OWARI~