Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Another idea that came to be out of Merrow's fanfic challenge, and oddly enough inspired by my previous story "Storm Warnings". Following chapter 57 of the manga, and takes place about a week later(I finally looked it up, YAY me!). FINALE! Takes place a week after part 6. Told from Mayuko's POV. LEMON/LIME!

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Would you look me in the eye?

Could you look me in the eye?

I've had that all I can take

I'm not about to break Cause I'm happy now,

Are you happy now?

- Michelle Branch, "Are you happy now?"

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I was really confused the day Shigure walked out of the store without answering my question. It took me nearly a week to realize that maybe walking away WAS his answer. I'm still uncertain whether or not he is happy, but Hatori assures me that nothing's changed with him. But the two of us dating may have made him a little worse.

His incessant teasing and non-stop pouting, I mean.

I know he knows what happened on my first date with Hatori. It was the brunt of most of his jokes the night we all decided to go for dinner: Hatori, Shigure, Ayame and myself. It felt strange being with all three of them again. But some of the looks I got from other women at the restaurant made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I *am* the luckiest girl in the world.

And it doesn't take mind-blowing sex to prove it...but it helps.

Lying in bed with Hatori resting peacefully beside me I feel as if everything's complete. Sure there are things that need to be discussed -- like Hatori's unwillingness to be hugged -- but I'm willing to wait. My curiosity may kill me, but I'll wait.

Hell, I've waited two years for this. What's a little while longer?

I hear Hatori mumble in his sleep and I roll over onto my side to observe him. With gentle fingers I caress his forehead, pushing a few stray hairs away from his eyes. I know one of those eyes was injured in an accident -- yet another thing Hatori promised he'd talk about -- but you'd never really know. Lightly I brush the soft skin above that eye, smoothing the hairs of his eyebrow in the process. Hatori sighs in his sleep and I lean forward, placing a light kiss to his injured eye.

As I pull away, I'm stopped by a hand on my hip. Hatori's eyes open in slow motion and he smiles at me sleepily, his eyes and mind clearly unfocused. After another quick kiss, this time on the lips, he seems a bit more awake.

"What time is it?"

"Almost midnight," I answer, my smile turning sad. "I should be going."

"Won't you stay...just a little longer?" His voice is pouty, a bit whiny, and totally out of character for him.

I look at him, wide-eyed. "I think you've been spending too much time with Shigure."

With a great deal of speed he rolls over, forcing me to lie on my back while he hovers above me. "And I think you talk to much," he replies. His mouth descends just as quickly, our lips first brushing, then colliding in a forceful kiss.

There's really no need to rush, but our bodies don't comprehend the thought. Hands quickly roam, eliciting hisses and moans in their travels. The grunts, gasps and growls Hatori makes are absolutely wild and I answer them with my own calls.

His skin in flawless, even the scar over his eye is barely visible. It moves like silk under my hands, his muscles leaping into my touches. He gasps as I finger his erection, his own hands kneading and massaging until they too find what they seek the most.

With little preamble I pull him to me by his rigid cock and position him at my entrance. His fingers take over from there, parting my folds and sweeping across my center before the blunt head of his erection pushes in. I attempt to lift my hips, to further his entry, and he takes my invitation, pushing himself into me in one swift movement, burying himself to the hilt.

Our moans of slight gratification relax us, but too soon our bodies are screaming for more, begging for release. The friction begins at a slow tempo. Hatori's hips press into mine in a decadent rhythm. My hands clutch at his shoulders, my nails digging into the skin, scratching their way to his back. He hisses in pleasure as a pass over a nipple, closing his eyes and throwing his head back at the tiny sting of ecstasy.

As his tempo increases, I can feel myself drifting closer to the edge. I can't explain how well he fills me. Completely and totally just don't cut it. Utterly isn't quite right either. And every once in a while he changes the angle of his thrust, hitting that one sensitive spot inside me. I moan his name, over and over and he responds by increasing his thrusts to an even harder pace.

My fulfillment comes with his, on a wave of delicious warmth and bright light. My mind totally goes blank, my body numb, as I'm lost to sensation. I feel heat spread through my body, feel the ache in my groin subside and the final pulsing of his spent manhood inside my core. He slips from me carefully, groaning at the lost connection as he falls down beside me.

I have enough presence of mind to grasp his hand and pull it up to my lips. I brush alight kiss across his knuckles as I roll onto my side to face him. Then I turn his hand over, placing another light kiss to his palm. When he finally catches his breath and opens his eyes, I smile at him.

"I hope you're happy," I tell him, my smile turning to a smirk. "Now I don't want to leave."

"That was kind of the idea," he replies with a satisfied, boyish grin. With a light tug he pulls our grasped hands to his lips and kisses the back of my hand before letting both hands fall to his chest. "I'm glad you're staying."

"After tonight you're going to have a hard time getting rid of me," I say, inching a bit closer. Laying down, I rest the side of my head against his shoulder.

"We'll talk tomorrow. I promise. But...."

"But what?"

"I'm afraid." And that's all he says. He's tries to explain his feelings to me, but fails, falling short of forming words. He sighs instead.

"We'll worry about it tomorrow." Turning my head I place a light kiss to the soft skin of his shoulder. "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it together."

"Arigato." I feel his lips on the top of my head and I want to respond but my eyes are already starting to close. My body becomes boneless with sleep and I allow it to overcome me. I can feel Hatori's even breath rustle my hair and I know he's nearly asleep as well.

I hope we can stay like this forever.

Happy.

Now...and always.

~FIN~

MUSIC DISCLAIMER:
Lyrics are from the song "Are you happy now?" from the album Hotel Paper by Michelle Branch. (c)2003 Maverick records.