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 to you, Ayame-san! Light LEMON warning. ^^ Standard Disclaimer follows story.

Part Five - FAVORABLE PATTERNS

It was already well past lunchtime when I finally awoke in my private office. I know because my stomach was growling in protest of not being fed. I hadn't eaten since breakfast and even then I didn't eat much. Besides, there's no clock in the office, but my stomach never lies!

Note to self: purchase a clock for the private office.

I roll over to climb out of bed but I'm stopped by another covered figure. The sheets are pulled up to the head, a scalp of raven hair showing through the top. My mind drudges through the events of the past several hours and I can't help but smile devilishly.

Sweet Maker but that had been wonderful! One of the best experiences of my life. I don't think I've ever come so intensely. There were a few moments when I thought it would all be over, but I managed to keep from transforming into a snake. Go me!

And go Mine! Kami, but I love her.

Oh...did I just think that?

Searching under the sheets with my hands I find a warm body merely inches away. Mine appears to be asleep, lying on her side with her back to me. Oooo...but this has possibilities.

Soft skin squirms under my touch as I wrap one arm loosely over the top of her hip and pull us closer together. I love it when her body moves like that. It entices the snake within me and I can't help but hiss a little in response. With great care, I use my teeth to pull down the sheet covering her face.

Mine remains asleep, squirming under my touch and muttering something incoherent when I pull down the sheet. When she finally returns to slumber, her body relaxes and her facial features soften. She looks like such an angel with her hair down and spread across the pillow like a halo. I'm surprised she's still wearing her glasses, but no matter. With great skill and agility I manage to take them off and sit them on the table beside my side of the bed.

My side of the bed. I kind of like the sound of that.

I scoot my body as close to her under the covers as I dare. She squirms some more, probably feeling the heat of my body. Her butt wiggles over my erection and I moan in response. She does it a second time and I gasp. If it happens again there's going to be a big mess on my new satin sheets.

Oh well, I've been meaning to buy others.

Placing a light kiss to the nape of her neck, I use my right arm to gently life her right leg. My fingers softly caress tiny circles along her inner thigh, working their way up to their intended target.

Mine squirms some more as my fingers part her damp folds and one of my fingers finds it's way inside her. I hear her gasp, feel the tension in her body. She tries to relax, only to tense again when I add another finger. Slowly I move those fingers and in a matter of moments I can feel her hips rock in time to my light thrusting.

Carefully removing my fingers, I place my now engorged cock next to her wet lips. Allowing her hips to rock back into mine wantonly, I raise my finger to my face, licking my fingers clean. It's my first real taste of her. Tangy, a little tart, and if my tongue is not mistaken, a little sugary too. I've never tasted anything like it. It's uniquely Mine.

Raising her right leg again, I push myself slowly into Mine's wet core. Her body tenses again, but relaxes to allow me entrance. Her vaginal muscles fight my intrusion, contracting tightly around me a few times. If they're trying to drive me away, they're doing a horrible job.

As slowly as I entered I begin to thrust. Again, it's only moments before Mine's pushing her hips back on me. She wiggles her bottom a little, causing one of my thrust to change course and slam against a sensitive spot inside her. She gasps, moaning my name, and continues her actions.

My hands grab her hips to try and control her movement. But I find myself pounding in harder, driving my length into her as fast and as hard as I can from this spoon position. I can feel her muscles working on me double-time and I know she's ready to come. A few more thrusts and I moan her name into her shoulder, feel her back arch as she reaches climax, then spill myself inside of her, achieving my own release.

When I move to pull away, I hear a moan and feel her push her hips back onto mine. Her head turns to look at me over her shoulder and I can see one side of her glorious smile.

"Can't we stay like this? Just for a little while," she asks me, still half-asleep.

"I wish we could," I tell her. As much as I love to snuggle, it's difficult for me to do that with her. Besides, the shop still needed to be opened. I pull my now flaccid manhood from her with a sigh of regret. "But we do have work to do."

Tossing the covers aside, I crawl out of bed. My outfit is still neatly laid over the back of a chair. Thankfully there's also a towel lying on a nearby table. I wipe myself off then began to dress.

After I pull my pants on I turn to Mine. She's lying in bed, still on her side with her eyes open. She's staring right at me, watching me. Can she see me without her glasses?

"Like the view," I tease, reaching for my jacket.

"Very much," she replies, sitting up in bed and holding the sheet over her breasts. Modesty becomes her, even after sex. "But it might be even better with my glasses on."

"On the other table," I say as I slip my arms into the jacket sleeves. By the time I'm finished getting dressed, Mine is already up and out of bed, draped lusciously with my red, silk sheet.

"Ano," she says, searching for the dress I had her try on. "Where's the dress?"

"Let me find you something else," I tell her, hurrying from the room. I fiddle with a rack of clothes at the bottom of the stairs. Finding an outfit to my liking, I run back up to the office.

"Here you go."

"Arigato," she says, blushing a pretty shade of pink.

"I'm going downstairs to open the shop. Come down when you're ready."

"Ano...taichou?"

I stop in mid-stride and try not to flinch. She hadn't called me "taichou" since our little love play began. It sounded foreign to my ears, a harsh word spoken in another language. I rather liked the sound of my name from her lips. Nay, I preferred it.

"I don't mind if you call me, Ayame," I tell her, turning around to face her. "Especially after everything that's happened."

She smiles at me apologetically, but the smile fades almost instantly. "About...what happened...Ayame...."

My own smile dies and I feel my heart drop into my stomach. I was hoping to avoid this scenario for a little while. There was so much I needed to tell her anyway. So much she needed to know about me, about my family.

About my curse.

But now I'm beginning to wonder if she wants to know me at all.

The sad look on her face as she turns away to lay the clothes on the bed fills me with doubt. I'm not used to feeling doubt. My very being exudes confidence, sometimes too much. Or perhaps it's simply my boisterous nature. Still, the settling of my heart in my stomach is an unpleasant feeling. I want it to go away.

And I want Mine to smile.

Putting on my best smile, I walk over to where Mine's standing, looking down at the clothes I brought up for her. It's a simple outfit, and rather modest if I do say so myself. An ankle length, Chinese-style dress with a slit up both sides to the hip. Folded underneath was a pair of matching pants. I think it will look lovely on my newfound love.

Oh, there I go again with the "l" word!

"What is it Mine? I told you earlier that you can tell me anything."

I watch as her features run a gamut of emotions, with fear being the prominent look. She keep her eyes averted as she says, "This is going to sound like a silly question but...what *sigh* What just happened between us? A-aside from the obvious, of course."

"It was unexpected wasn't it," I say before I have a chance to really think about what I'm saying. Chuckling, I decide to lay it all on the line. My heart in my stomach threatens to choke me, but I push it back down. "But I think it's what most people would call 'falling in love'."

Her head lifts slowly, her eyes gradually rising to look into mine. She's asking herself a number of questions. Question I should probably be asking myself. But as I said before I hate doubt. And questions would only make me doubt. I'm going with my gut feeling on this one.

"There are a lot of things we need to talk about now," I say, hooking one finger under her chin so she can't look away. "There are things you need to know about me, Mine. Things that may drive you away. But never doubt me. Onegai. Never doubt my love for you.

"I love you, Mine."

Her eyes start to water. No, no, no. She's not supposed to cry. She's supposed to gush over me, screaming happily and confessing her love for me! Well, I guess I did just break everything too her rather quickly. There was no time to discuss this before hand.

"I love you, too."

Her voice is so low I'm not sure if I heard her speak or not. Her lips moved, but was there really any sound. As her tears start to fall, she smiles at me happily, her lips stretching from ear to ear. It makes me smile as well.

"I love you too, Ayame."

As if to seal the promise, we learn towards each other for a kiss.

"I need to get back downstairs," I tell her, parting from her sweet lips reluctantly. "We'll talk later. Get dressed. We have lots of work to finish today."

"Hai!"

Making my way downstairs, I take one last look at the door to my private office before stepping back into the shop. I'm surprised when I see a dark figure standing by the door. Was there a customer waiting? I know I put up a sign that said opening at 1PM.

The clock on the wall says 2:08PM.

In a flustered hurry I run over to the front desk and search for the keys. With them jingling in my hand, I hurry over to the front door and unlock it. Tucking the keys into a pocket in my jacket, I open the door and prepare to greet the customer on the other side.

Only to see the face of a smiling inu.

Shigure that is!

"Ah, Gure-san, welcome to my shop! Have you stopped by to check up on me, or the outfit you ordered for your wife?"

"Both," Shigure says to me with a big smile. I step aside and usher him inside with a wave of my hand. Leaving the door close on its own, I motion for him to take a seat in the nearby parlor.

"I haven't seen or heard from you in a few weeks," he says sitting down in a plush chair. "I was starting to get worried. You know how I worry about you, Aya!"

"Ah, you're always so concerned for my well-being, Gure-san," I reply with a sparkle in my eye. "Did Rin send you out of the house, or did you have sneak out?"

"I have been sent on errands," he answers with a shake of his head. "She thinks they'll do me some good. Gomen Aya, but I can't stay long." Then his smile perks up. "Is it finished."

"Hai, hai! Let me go get the outfit for you. I finished it this morning."

"Wonderful!"

As I step into the back room again, I see Mine coming down the stairs. She looks as stunning as I pictured in my outfit. She managed to tie up her hair though and I pout. Grabbing the outfit off a rack, I turn sad eyes to her.

"Ne, Mine. I liked you hair down. Why'd you put it up?"

She looks up, surprised I'm there. She blushes prettily at my comment and answers, "It keeps my hair out of the way while I work." She pauses in consideration then adds, "But I can take it down if you want me too."

I smile and shake my head. "I will deal with it for now. But you must promise to take it down for me later."

Her blush deepens and she nods. "I'll do that." Then she asks, "Did I hear someone come in?"

"Hai! My cousin Shigure has come to pick up the outfit he ordered for his wife." I present the garment I'm holding for her inspection. "What do you think? Should I make one of these for you too, Mine?"

Her eyes widen and for a moment I think she's going to pass out. The outfit is similar to the maid's dress she usually wears, but the fabric is totally sheer, the skirt obscenely short and the neckline far too low to cover anything. I wink at her, turning to leave the back room.

"Just think about it, okay?"

I don't hear her reply as I open the door to the shop. The door comes to a complete stop not three inches from the doorframe. Did I hit something?

"Iitai," I hear someone mutter. Opening the door a little wider, I see Shigure with a hand over his mouth and nose.

"Gure-san, you've been injured!" I cry out, but it's all for show as I'm trying to hide the laughter in my voice. He was eavesdropping on me. How would he know to do such a thing?

"Nothing serious, I assure you," he answers, smiling as he notices the large smile on my face. "Has my Aya finally found someone else to love," he asks as the door closes behind me.

"Aa," I answer in my usual playful tone. "I have. I, Ayame, have fallen in love."

Shigure nods, clasping a hand onto my shoulder. "It's about time, Aya. Seriously."

I nod in reply, my eyes turning to look back as Mine enters the shop. She smiles at us, bowing in greeting before heading off to the worktable to distract herself with work. When I turn back to Shigure I see that his gaze has followed mine. He's watching her carefully, trying to decide on if he should ask a question or not.

"She doesn't know yet, Gure-san," I inform him. She doesn't know about the curse. Not yet.

"Things always seem to fall right into place for you, Aya," he says, taking the outfit from me and admiring it handsomely. Folding it over his arm he continues, "I don't know how you do it."

"Things happen in all sorts of patterns, Gure-san. My patterns are just more...unique than most."

"I don't suppose I'll get any detail out of you here," he replies with a perverted grin.

"Gure-san! How perverted of you!" I laugh and lean forward as Mine looks up from the worktable. "I'll tell you over breakfast tomorrow," I whisper to Shigure.

He laughs, shaking his head. "You'll never make it for breakfast," he tells me knowingly as he walks over to the main entrance. Opening the door he asks, "How about lunch?"

"Noon sharp," I tell him, waving one arm in the air.

"Ayame," Mine asks after Shigure's gone. "Are you hungry? I think I brought enough that I can share my lunch."

Walking back over to the front door, I turn the sign over so that it reads "CLOSED" and pull the keys from my pocket. Locking the door I turn to look at Mine, a dark glint in my eye.

"Arigato, Mine. I'm very hungry, and I think there'll be plenty for both of us."

Shigure was right. I didn't make it for breakfast the next morning.

And I didn't even try to make lunch!

~FIN~