Cross My Heart

*chapter 3

By Sakata Ri Houjun

~***~

Holding each other gently, as if in prayer...

I’ll leave my love behind within you

~***~

Nighttime in my apartment is probably my favorite time of day. At least it has been for the past couple of months, ever since Kitari came back into my life. In all honesty, I don't know how much I had missed until that chance encounter that day back in the honya. I sincerely doubt there has been a single evening we haven't spent apart.

At first, we started out by meeting up at some place or another, like a theater or a kareoke bar, and eventually head back to her place. But then it came to the point where she wanted to see where I was lived. I figured it was only fair at the time, so we took a taxi out to my apartment. If I'm not mistaken, I think that Touya lives in the same complex. Not that I would know for certain since he and I are practically on different schedules.

I had expected her shock and wonderment at how upscale it was, especially compared to her small 2 room flat. You could practically feel her envy as she eyed my setup that first night. Well, being the head of such a major project came with its advantages, so I ensured that I had it all when watching my anime. Big screen TV, surround sound, region one and region two DVD players, and just about every new game console that came out on the market. Except for a X-Box, as those are being phased out. The walls were lined, ceiling to floor, corner to corner, with shelves, my precious anime collection alphabetized. I think I rearrange it at least once a week when I make new additions, updating the ongoing series. And let's not get into how many games I have, categorized into two sections, one's I've beaten and ones I have yet to finish. It only takes a matter of time before even the most tedious of RPGs are conquered.

My stereo system is top of the line, the best money could buy. So when I hear Akemi Saito, or Gackt sing, it's like being front row to one of their concerts. My sofa is situated as close as possible, without causing permanent damage to one's eyesight, to the screen of the TV, a comfortable and optimum seat for viewing the newest releases or destroying one's enemies.

    Kitari couldn't say anything for a full five minutes, she merely walked dumbly about the room, moving as though afraid to touch anything lest it should break. Needless to say, she had been impressed with my anime setup, but my home computer completely blew her away. Course, she got to see that when I showed her the bedroom.

    Not only was my base of operations situated in there, but my various collections of paraphernalia. Kitari had squealed with delight when she saw how many UFO plushies I had obtained. They all but obscured my bookshelf that was crammed with, surprisingly enough, books dealing with work, DNA moduling, automaton development, computer tracking system schematics... The more boring part of my life as it were.

    It was actually pleasing to finally have someone stay over in my apartment for once. I always thought it to be rather large for just me, though it provided adequate storage for my hobby. Until the day I had run into Kitari again, I found myself spending more and more nights in my private lab that Kagami had provided me. Keep in mind though, I do have several television sets and gaming systems located in my lab and office. Like I could ever exist without my precious anime?

    Just like I can't exist now without my precious Kitari either.

    And so, the past few months had been spent thus, together every second we could spare. Whether it would be going out like a normal couple to a movie and dinner, or just staying at home like we used to back in high school, cuddled up on the couch watching anime. And no, we haven't slept together much since that first night.

    Take tonight, for instance. I brought home some of the files I needed to look over for the project, possible C Genomes that some lab technicians discovered through family genealogy and root tracing. I actually had been ordered by Kagami to quit procrastinating on those, so I opted to look them over at home.

    I had changed into a pair of loose boxers, a nice green and blue plaid color that I found soothing to my mind, and a t-shirt that said 'dumb gaijin' in kanji. Kitari had already made herself at home, putting the spare key I gave her to good use already. She was actually draped over me, reading a novel by...I can't remember his name at the moment, but it's the same guy who wrote Parasite Eve.

    You would think that she would be a distraction, her body pressed against mine like that. But actually, I found it more of a comfort, just a sweet warmth covering me like a blanket. As courteous as ever, she never butted into my work. The only sound coming from her was a steady breathing, ribs pressing into my back rhythmically, the occasional rustle of paper as she turned the page. Somewhere from the surrounding speakers, came soft instrumentals of the Eikou Den soundtrack, something faintly reminiscent of traditional Chinese, reminding me more of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon rather than Watase's work.

    I stared down at the files before me, an even bigger stack piled up on the floor in front of my cream colored couch. My job was relatively easy, in fact so much so that I often found myself getting distracted far too easily by my hobby. Though I figure that at this point and time of my life, it should be referred to as my obsession.

    For some strange reason, though, I could seem to stay focused on the task at hand. I was home, with the woman I loved, surrounded by so much. And yet, my mind screamed to get out. I laid down my pen, folding the file around my notes before reaching up to remove my glasses so I could rub at my eyes.

    I think Kitari more felt rather than heard my sigh, and I could feel her shift before asking, "What's wrong, Alec?"

    I folded my arms on the cushion, my head immediately pillowed. "I'm bored, deshi."

    There came a faint if not playful tugging on my braid. Then I could feel her body pressing closer as she leaned in to whisper. "What would you rather do then?"

    I seriously thought for a moment, considering my options, before lifting my head, my eyes trained on the files that Kagami needed urgently. Then I smiled.

    "Get dressed," I said simply, not embellishing any further on the plan that was forming within my mind.

    Kitari sat up a bit, certainly blinking in confusion. "Why?"

    I wriggled out from beneath her, knocking the files on the couch to the floor, but not paying much attention to them as I stretched my arms over my head. "Because, I want to show you something, deshi." I winked at her with a grin once I finished stretching.

    She sat there a moment more before returning my grin and immediately scampered off to get changed out of her sleeping clothes. I was in no hurry, but still walked at a brisk pace back to my room, yanking on a pair of black slacks and replacing my current shirt for a white cotton work shirt. I had just replaced my glasses when Kitari came in, her sleeping pants exchanged for a pair of snug jeans and a silky black shirt with a flame pattern on the hem over her tank top.

    She blushed when I whistled appreciatively.

    "Where are we headed to, Alec?" she queried.

    I winked again, holding up one finger in imitation of one of our favorite characters. "Sore wa himitsu, deshi."

*~~~*

    The Japanese branch of Mikage International is an imposing skyscraper, standing over 50 stories tall, the top couple being penthouses and private offices for the chairman and his son, namely Kagami and his father.

    Most of the lights in the building were out. Not surprising considering it was pretty late in the evening. I reached up and touched the choker that I had put on before leaving my apartment. Though I knew the monitoring computers would recognize me through the computer program I devised for security reasons, I could still run into a guard or two. Nothing against the guys who were trying to do their job, but some of them were a bit trigger happy.

    My finger absently traced the small gold plated emblem that was attached to the leather collar. an exact match to the 20 foot plus crest that stood proudly like a crown at the apex of the skyscrapers design. The Mikage crest, easily recognized by security, and my pass for walking through unmolested. Though sometimes wearing this collar made me feel less like the scientific genius that I was and more like Kagami's lap dog.

    Now that's an odd picture...

    I looked over at Kitari with a smile, wondering if she was impressed. Her actual expression was far from it.

    She looked terrified.

    "Kitari?" I questioned, my smile slipping.

    "Are we going in there?" she asked, her dark eyes riveted to the imposing structure that stood just outside the taxi we rode in.

    I think I blinked a few times, not quite certain what to say at this point. "Kitari?"

    "I don't want to go in there," she said, her voice laced with fear. "I don't like how that place looks."

    I sighed, reaching over to gently take her hand. Slowly her eyes shifted to me, wide and so frightened, like a child's. I smiled the most reassuring smile I could muster, hoping it was enough. "Daijobou, I promise that we aren't actually going inside the building, deshi."

    "We aren't?"

    I shook my head slowly, eyes sliding closed for just a moment, though my smile never slipped. "We're actually going around to the back, Kitari. What I have to show you is a surprise, deshi."

    She seemed to visibly relax at that point, squeezing my hand as she smiled nervously. "Good."

*~~~*

    My footsteps echoed against the metallic walls, some experimental alloy that was able to resist fire, earthquake, and terrorist bombing. Course, who would want to bomb some eccentric's lab?

    That's right, my lab.

    A quiet, dark corner of the building that Kagami gave me so I could develop his needed weapons systems and computer programming, all for his precious project. Early on in our working relationship, he learned the hard way that I work quicker and quieter when alone. Now I have all the space I need.

    Florescent lights flickered on at my touch, the artificial light hitting several work tables covered with miscellaneous electronic components, unusual casings, and exposed circuits and wiring. A conundrum of a mess if there ever was one. Funny thing is, I could tell you exactly where every piece of equipment originated from, and what it's new intended purpose was for.

    Next to me, I could hear Kitari gasp with delight. It would be extremely hard not to notice the partially completed robots. Pipe dreams really, considering Kagami had no use for such things. I tried creating full-sized androids to replace those creepy guards, but to fully load its weapon system and program the proper commands into its hard drive...well, it was just far too expensive. Only Kagami could see human life as expendable when it suited his purposes.

    "Alec, this is where you work?"

    "Um," I began rather intelligently, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Actually, this is where I work on various projects for my boss. Or at least I used to before he started up the new project that I have the honor of heading, deshi."

    Kitari wandered over to one of my smaller robotic creations, the template I used for the programming intended for the abandoned guard project. It was rather ridiculous, squat in shape with small wiry arms. It wasn't very fast, only succeeding in waddling around in a very comical fashion. There was no need to put weapons on such a design, so I incorporated a full vocabulary into the OS. But for some strange reason, this particular design could only say one word.

    "Does it actually work?"

    I walked over beside her, watching as she traced her slender fingers over the glassy black eyes. "It's a defective design, deshi."

    "It looks perfect, Alec. Something that only you could create." She lifted her eyes, meeting mine. Her smile warmed me straight to my heart.

    "We'd..better get going, Kitari. It's getting late, deshi." I started to turn away, but her small hand touched my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.

    "Alec, we just got here."

    I shrugged off her hand, trying to hide my blush. "I just wanted to show you my lab is all. Thought it would be nice to get out of the house, you know."

    "Alec?" I turned back around, about to ask what she wanted but she silenced me with a tender kiss, one that rocked me solid down to my shoes

    My eyes closed as I let myself get lost within her scent, her touch. I wasn't aware of what she was doing until I felt the sharp edge of one of my workstations pressing into my back. I broke away from the breathtaking kiss with a gasp, my eyes snapping open. Kitari had been pushing me back against the table, hovering over me with an expression that made my heart tighten in fear and my pants tighten with desire.

    "K-kitari? Nani...?"

    She pressed her finger to my lips silencing me before raking fingernails over the fabric covering my chest. I couldn't stop the moan building in my throat even if I tried. Then I heard a rapid succession of pops, followed by the clattering of my buttons as they hit the floor, followed by the cool air caressing my bare chest. My hands flew up to clasp hers, hoping to stop her. I opened my mouth to protest, knowing that my face registered the shock I was feeling.

    But again, she effectively silenced me, tongue plunging deep into my mouth and driving away any coherent sentences from my mind. Realizing how pointless it was to argue anymore, I released her hands, deciding it would be much better and beneficial for the both of us if I let her have her way with me.

    Almost immediately, her warm fingers returned to my chest, exploring and caressing, sending shivers down my spine. Our lips parted, her kisses becoming more tender and sweet. I found my hands making their way up the back of her shirt, playing with the hem of her tank top. I could feel her soft body pressed so intimately against mine, that firm warmth exciting me to no end.

    I gasped loudly as her lips traveled down my neck and chest, her tongue like a cat's lapping roughly at my skin. I lifted my head from the table, watching her through lust hazed eyes. My hands were full of the loose thickness of her hair, the warmth of her neck. I explored her face with my hands.

    She drew back enough, face flushed, whispering, "I think I'm going to fall down, my knees feel so weak, Alec."

    I laughed. "I do keep a futon in here for overnight purposes, deshi."

    We eventually made our way to where that futon lay, the same unmade mess I had left it in the last time I was forced to spend a night in my lab. Kitari was giggling as she lay beside me, not touching. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with laughter, face shinning with so much happiness. I reached out and traced her lips. Her eyes began to fill up with something darker as she rubbed her mouth against my hand.

    I leaned in, my mouth hovering over hers, lips barely touching. My hand grabbed the back of her neck, pressing my mouth harder against her own. We took turns exploring each other's mouths, my hand moving to pull off her shirt and tank while hers took care of my ruined shirt. I took Kitari's hand, sliding it down the front of my pants, rolling onto my back to encourage her. She had instigated what we were doing, it was only right that she maintain control.

    Her fingertips found me, cupping around the silk of my boxers. I could feel myself moaning even as my hands moved to mimic her movements, slipping into her jeans once I had loosened them enough. I wasn't surprised to find out she hadn't worn underwear.

    Her fingers slid up the inside of my thigh, mine followed suit. She leaned down to kiss me as those trembling tips slid slowly upwards along my hardness. It took me a moment to regain composure, my hand moving in deeper to brush against her moistness. Unable to control myself at that wet heat that was within my reach, I thrust my finger inside her. Kitari screamed against my mouth, her hand gripping me tightly. I touched her, explored her. She began to move against my hand even as she stroked me, our kiss growing frantic.

    Then she broke away, gasping, her hands withdrawing from my flesh to furiously rid me of what remained of my loosened clothing. I leaned my head back against the futon, feeling sweat prickle against my back as my erection was exposed to the cool air of my lab. I looked up at the vaulted ceiling, the exposed rafters shrouded in darkness, amplifying my breathless pants. Then suddenly, Kitari appeared above me. She was on all fours, looming over me. She cradled my face, closing the distance between us to kiss me again even as she lowered herself onto me.

    In one swift movement, I was inside her, and she cried out, her body spasming around me. I lay there, watching her flushed face, gasping myself. I let my eyes lower until I saw where our bodies were joined, watched as her legs tensed, raising upwards until I was all but withdrawn. Then she sank again, the force of that motion pulling a guttural grunt from my throat.

    She repeated the motion and I lifted my eyes, though what I was seeing was slightly unfocused now. Kitari rode me, her back arched, mouth parted as she cried out my name softly, face contorted into a mixture of ecstasy and frustration. Then she faded from sight as my own eyes squeezed shut, our rhythm building up into something exquisite and fulfilling. I groped like a blind man, finding the smooth expanse of her legs, traveling upwards to where her hips undulated against me. My fingers sank in tightly, and her hands soon covered mine.

    It was better than I could imagine, our moans and cries of pleasure intertwining together in the hollow metallic echo of my lab, the sounds of our flesh becoming one, fast and wet. I became aware of my own hips were jerking now, disrupting the rhythm of our lovemaking, but I didn't care. I only wanted this, only wanted Kitari.

    I heard myself whimper out her name as I sought to hold her in place, even as my body erupted, one hot, sudden rush of searing light that washed over me. I could vaguely hear her scream out my my name, and then I felt a vice clamp around my embedded flesh. Tears leaked from my eyes as a second orgasm overtook me, a bit weaker than the first, but still enough to drive me to my knees.

    Then came a sweet softness, damp and warm, pressing against my body. I held Kitari's tired body as tightly as I could manage, my whole being trembling from that incredible climax. I found the strength somehow to open my eyes, our panting filling the room with a constant whisper of noise. My bangs were plastered to my forehead, cheeks and neck while Kitari's hair was stuck to my chest.

    Her cheek rubbed against me, slick with sweat, and I heard a gentle sigh rush from her. "Alec, I love you..."

    I touched her dark hair, tilting my head down to kiss at the tangled strands that still smelled of lavender. "I love you too, Kitari, deshi..."

~***~

Next Chapter: The Price You Pay...