Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Ah, another spin-off! This story focuses on Ayame Sohma and his assistant, Mine. AU to the furuba universe, this story takes place roughly three months after the end of "The Difference Between Love and Hate." Warnings for a semi-serious (and sometimes totally serious) Ayame and perhaps a slightly OOC Mine. Back over to Ayame this time. LIME warning. ^^

Part Three - PATTERNS OF FANCY

"Taichou! I've arrived!"

My hands freeze over the material I'm sewing just long enough for me to register that Mine has indeed come into the shop. Strange. I don't remember hearing the door opening. I shrug. No matter.

"Ah, ohayo Mine!" The smile on my face is a bit forced as I'm still suffering from the effects of my little daydream earlier this morning. "Welcome!"

I can hear her walking around the store. My ears...no, my entire body is attuned to her movements within my domain. She rushes over to the coat rack and hangs up her sweater, then she rushes into the back to put away her packed lunch.

I sigh in relief as she leaves the main room. It's silly for me to be so worked up over a daydream, but it had felt so very real. Or was that simply what I'd done in the bathroom afterwards? Ah well!

Taking a deep breath, my senses calm and my focus returns to my work. It's been nearly two hours since my daydream and Mine's phone call. Leaning back on my stool, I survey the work table. To my own surprise, I've actually managed to get quite a bit done.

The peasant dress had been cut out and the pieces tossed aside in favor of the school teacher outfit. The skirt and shirt were finished in fifteen minutes. The vest completed in less than ten. All I needed to do was sew the buttons on the shirt and vest and it would be completed. The glasses and the pocky I could worry about later.

The outfit I promised Shigure was completed in less than half an hour. I'm tempted to keep it for myself, but I have other ideas so...no. I feel myself smile devilishly. My cousin is welcome to it.

My current project, however, is not one that had been lying on my work table. Oh no. This one was inspired by my earlier dream. I had tried to put it out of my mind, but it stuck with me. Ideas as good as this one rarely stick with me, and the material is scrap from a previous project. Cost effective and brilliant!

Who am I to fight Fate?!

The door to the back room closes and light footsteps echo in my ears. My entire body is once again very aware that Mine has re-entered the shop. I feel myself tense again, forcing my breathing to stay regular. Instead it echoes in time with every step she takes, stopping only when she does.

"Taichou, what is that you're working on? A new project?"

My breath is released on a shaky sigh. She's standing just inches from my right shoulder, gazing at the pattern and material on the table before me. My insides quickly turn to mush as my mind recounts exactly why I'm making this dress.

Wait a minute? Is she wearing her hair down?! She never wears her hair down!

And she's wearing the stewardess uniform I sewed last week!

Oh indecent fantasy!

Shigure would be proud of me.

Still, my tiny fanboy tendencies are tossed aside for a few moments as my illustrious...or perhaps more industrious...self gushes over Mine's curiosity and interest.

"Hai! I thought of this project this morning," I tell her, happily holding up the semi-finished product. My smile grows as her eyes widen and her hands clasp happily under her chin.

"Sugoi, taichou! Utsukushiiaya*! It's stunning as always."

Mine's praises ring in my ears. Her voice, sweet and melodic, floods into my blood stream causing my heart to race again. I close my eyes, hugging the still unfinished dress to my chest. Oh if she only knew what it was intended for. Or rather...who....

GAH! My perverted sensibilities cannot take over now! I have a dress to finish.

"Mine, be so kind as to fetch the lavender lace from the shelf, onegai."

"Hai, taichou." And she turns to do as I ask.

Quickly I put the dress back on the table. My muse is still working, urging me on to complete this fine masterpiece. Never before have I been intent on finishing a project. I'm no slacker, mind you, but I do like to savor each and every design I create.

And this one simply wants out!

"Here, taichou."

"Ah! Splendid."

"Do you want me to work on something specific?"

"Yes I do." The words escape my mouth without a thought. I pause for an instant, my body tensing again. Kami, what have I just said?

"Nan desu ka?"

I lick my lips in thought, searching frantically for something she can do. There are a ton of things, I know. I just can't remember them all right now.

All I can remember is the sweet memory of her voice crying out my name....

Her legs wrapped around me tightly....

My pulsing manhood ready to enter her warm, tight depths....

Dammit, if I don't stop myself I'm going to have to run back to the bathroom again. *pout* And that's just not as much fun.

"Taichou? Ano...Ayame...san?"

I'm quiet for too long and Mine's voice is tinged with concern. Oh goodness, where am I? What was I doing?

And did I just hear her say my first name?!

My heart stops as I recall her exact words in my head. Kami, she did say my first name. Oh what a beautiful sound!

Her hand settles on my shoulder and I jolt back into myself. I turn to her quickly, easing her hand off my shoulder as I stand. My smile is slightly crooked, my heart still pounding in my chest as I say to her, "I know just the thing!"

"Hai," she answers happily.

As I work, I send Mine on to do mindless tasks, such as sweeping and cleaning. She does so without complaint, moving about in her normal fashion. My eyes watch her move swiftly from one side of the store to the other as my hands work as if possessed.

Once she's done cleaning, she takes to straightening the shelves and displays. Carefully she readjusts a few of the mannequins in the window, straightening askew belts and accessories and pressing wrinkles out with her hands. Then she thoughtfully resets the books on the front counter, pausing to examine her work before trying something new.

When she's finished with that, she announces that she's going to check the back room for more stock. I only nod, grateful that my full attention can return to the work of art before me. The sewing machine runs on a constant buzz, my heart speeding up as the moment of triumph awaits.

By the time she's finished replenishing our floor stock, my creation is also finished.

I can't help but smile happily to myself. "Mine, it's finished! Come have another look!"

"Suteki*," Mine says, eyes wide with wonder. She eyes the dress carefully from the neckline to the hemline. With a satisfied smile she adds, "Omedetou*, taichou."

"Ah, thank you." I look at Mine, then back at the dress. "Ne, Mine? I'm not quite sure if I got some of the accents right. Would you mind...trying it on for me?" There are ulterior motives there, but one of the button holes just doesn't look right to my eyes.

She eyes the dress auspiciously. "You want me to try it on? I'm afraid I wouldn't do it justice, taichou."

"It'll look beautiful on you." Ravishing even. "It'll only take a moment, Mine, I promise."

"All right." Conceding, she gently takes the dress from me and folds it over one arm. Walking to the back room, she closes the door behind her.

It's only a minute or two before she steps out from the back room. And I was right, the dress looks lovely on her. The bodice of the dress hugs every curve of her body before flaring out into a short skirt at her hips. The skirt itself stops at her mid-thigh, showing off gracefully long legs. The white lace sleeves fall uninhibited from her shoulder to her elbow. My eyes follow the curve of her left arm as it holds the top of the dress to her chest.

To take away from the dull white fabric, I added a few touches of lavender, including lace lining around the curved neckline and the hem of the skirt. The rest of the lace was used as ties for the back of the dress.

I must say, it's a work of art that only *I* could accomplish.

Now if I could just get her OUT of the dress.

AH! There I go again!

My eyes roam over her appreciatively once more and I nod my approval. Something is still wrong with this picture though. Why is she holding on to the top as if it would fall off of her? Her ample breasts are more than enough to keep it from falling....Ah, silly me!

"Ano...I need a little assistance," she mutters, her cheeks flushing a lovely shade of pink that compliments the dress in so many ways. "I couldn't get all of the ties tied in the back."

I smile, waltzing over to her. "I can take care of that. Turn around."

Sighing, Mine turns around. She's managed to do three of the ties on the bottom, but there are still three more. Gracefully I sweep her long hair to one side and flip it over her shoulder. I never realized her hair was so long...or so soft. Was that strawberry I smelled?

Now I'm graced with yet another beautiful sight. Mine's skin looks nearly flawless. Pale and smooth under the open fabric of the dress. I can't resist a light touch, skimming my fingertips across her silky skin before reaching for one of the ties.

And if my eyes don't deceive me, it doesn't look like she's wearing a bra. Of course, I designed the dress that way. Still I never thought she'd take it off just to try on the dress.

Oh, who am I kidding?!

Thoughts of my daydream, mixed with new thoughts of Mine fill my head. I can feel myself grow hard and I groan audibly. Dazed, I lean forward, lightly touching my lips to the nap of her neck. I come to myself as I hear her gasp, my hands pausing on the bare skin of her back.

I kiss her neck again, getting the same reaction. Since she's not arguing, I plant a line of kisses on her shoulder blade, my hands slipping inside the dress to caress very soft skin. My fingertips brush over lightly revealed ribs as my thumbs stroke her sides. She gasps again, and I stop my motions, placing one last kiss to the nape of her neck.

She doesn't turn around to speak, but I can still hear the uncertainty I know is in her eyes. "Ano...taichou...Ayame...."

All I need is to hear my name on her lips. I mold my body as close to hers as I dare, seemingly agile and adept as I slither before her, turning her to face me at the same time.

I watch her for a moment, hoping she'll say my name again. Her mouth opens, her hands slowly reaching up to cup my face. Her eyes dance with something I've only read about in Shigure's novels. Kami it's been too long!

Give me a sign!

"A-ya-me...I...."

With a slight hiss, my lips descend upon hers without so much as a second thought. The sound of my name from her just drives me wild. I'm once again surprised by the taste of her lips. My nose doesn't lie when it smells strawberries again. Probably jelly.

Her arms move to wrap around my shoulders. I catch her wrists in my hands and guide them slowly to my covered chest. My clothes suddenly feel very restrictive as her fingers begin a dance of exploration on my chest and abdomen. I can feel the shiver in her legs, her knees growing weaker, so I back her against the nearest object.

My work table.

Lifting her onto the table top, I begin a new assault on her mouth, vying for possession with my tongue as well as my lips. I plunder her mouth, my own knees growing weak as she moans in response.

Gasping for air we draw apart. Mine is the very model of my dream. Her hair mussed from our play. Her lips swollen and parted as she tries to breathe. Her eyes, darker than I've ever seen them, are hooded by long, luscious lashes. Perhaps I've taken this further than I should. But I just can't help myself.

Please, don't let it stop!

"T-t-tai-cho, I...umm...I'm not sure...."

I smile at Mine's flustered actions. I can feel her arousal as surely as my own. Her eyes are half-lidded, her pupils dilated. She wants more, I know she does. But I have to hear her say it first.

"Then let me show you," I whisper as I lean in for another kiss. The first had tasted so sweet. Would she taste as good a second time? "May I, Mine?"

She's still flustered as I hear a rushed intake of breath. Her body is still slightly rigid in my loose grasp. I'm giving her an option here, and she's contemplating her every move. Like I said before, I like my women intelligent. I'm not about to give her something she doesn't want.

Her body slowly begins to relax, and it's Mine that initiates our next kiss. Leaning forward just slightly with her hooded eyes closing, she brushes her lips against mine. I'm shocked at first, but not as stunned as when her tongue brushes along my lower lip. With a sigh I part my lips, my tongue reaching out to find hers.

Our lips locked in a mind-blowing kiss, I move myself closer to her and the table. Her knees spread, legs parting so that I may step in-between them. With a groan I do just that, pushing my lips almost roughly against hers. She whimpers a little, scooting a little closer to the edge to be closer to me. I stop her with my hands on her hips.

This could get dangerous, I suddenly realize. Mine knows nothing about my curse and I don't want her to find out in the middle of sex. That would be mortifying beyond mortifying! I've never been ashamed of my snake form, but I fear her reaction to it.

"A-ayame, onegai." She's gasping for air as I am now that we've parted. Her lips are so rosy, so full from our kisses. Her body is still trying to get closer to mine and she whimpers again as I stay her hips with my hands. "Show me...."

And here I thought the kiss was my answer. Sweet Maker!

"Mine, perhaps we should continue this elsewhere," I murmur to her between light pecking kissing. My body is so burning with need. My more primal self says take her right there. So what if people see!

But alas, I am a man. A man who demands some propriety!

Besides, I want to be comfortable too.

Her eyes open slightly, the lids still hooded with desire. I take a step away, grasping her hands in mine. As I continue to step back, she hops off the table and follows me, almost like a doll, into the back and up the stairs to my private office.

~TO BE CONTINUED~

TRANSLATOR'S NOTES:

Utsukushiiaya = beautiful design

Suteki = fantastic/wonderful

Omedetou = Congratulations