Ai Yori Aoshi Fan Fiction ❯ Necessary Evil ❯ Necessary Evil - Changing Seasons ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Changing Seasons

Tina ended the call from Aoi, pocketing her cell phone. Sighing, she leaned back against the edge of the doorway to the karaoke club. Inside, she was sure that Kaoru was wondering where she had gotten to, but she needed a moment to think things over. "This has turned out to be some kind of day." She muttered, looking up at the pouring rain.

It had been meant as a trip to the zoo for the entire club plus Landlady-san and even Manager-san if she felt like it, but Landlady-san was busy with housework, which meant that Manager-san wouldn't be going anywhere, then, that morning, Tae-chan got a call from her mother, who wasn't feeling well, and bailed to go check up on her mother. Tina could understand the situation, but she still didn't like it. It got worse at the train station, where she and Kaoru were supposed to meet up with Suzu and Saito.

Those bozos! Chasing off after trains and up skirt shots of celebrities! What a pair of bakas! She thought angrily. Her anger died as she remembered the rest of the day, just her and Kaoru. She giggled to herself. It's been like a day-long date! She reflected happily. "And best of all, no little Mayu-bitches all day!" she murmured vindictively. Remembering her `date' was still waiting for her, she slipped back into the karaoke palace and returned to the room she and Kaoru had rented to wait out the landslide cleanup.

Kaoru looked up as she returned from her call. Stretching, he slanted a look at his blonde companion. She's been acting a bit different lately. He thought. Still, she's a blast to be around. I can't remember the last time I had as much fun with anyone but Aoi-chan. He had to admit to himself that spending a day with the American girl had been a lot better than a day of studying. As far as company went, Tina was in a class by herself. And she's a knock-out, too! He thought, remembering the looks of jealousy from the young men - even the married ones - he and Tina had come across in the Zoo and the small town near the train station that serviced the zoo.

Finding her in that wedding dress in that freaky attraction at the zoo had been a bit of shock, as he didn't really think of her that way, in spite of their being lovers. It's not that she's not pretty, or fun, or anything. It's just… he considered it for a moment before admitting the problem with seeing himself married to Tina. …she's not my Aoi-chan. He silently stated. Still, that was something that Tina could live without hearing, so he kept it to himself. Absently, he glanced at the back of his hand, where he had scraped it during that Indiana Jones-like adventure to find Tina. His dick twitched at the memory of her leaning over his hand, licking the injury. For being so unscientific, it did in fact make it feel better. Go figure. He thought, mentally shrugging.

"Still raining out there?" he asked her, breaking an unintentional silence. Tina flinched from her own thoughts at the sound of his voice. Breaking herself free from her introspection, she looked at him, finding him waiting for an answer.

"Um, yeah. It's still coming down hard." She managed. Kaoru nodded.

"Well, we seem to have time for another few goes, then. Want to see if we can break 50 points?" he asked her, grinning. Neither of them had been doing anywhere near `good', let alone `great'. The highest score so far had been Tina's ear-shredding 47 points. It had beat Kaoru's best effort by three points. Smiling at him, she nodded.

"Sure. You're on, Kaoru-kun!" she said, dropping into the seat next to his. Together, they began to pour over the song list. Several minutes passed before Kaoru spoke again.

"That was quite a surprise." He said softly, still scanning the songs. Tina frowned.

"What was?" she wondered. Oh! They have some western songs in here! Maybe I can do better with an American song.

"Opening that door to find you there in that wedding dress." He said, turning to look at her. "You looked beautiful." He added softly. Tina felt her cheeks heat up.

"You're the first person to see me like that." She said, leaning back, her eyes on him. One eyebrow rose. "To see me as a bride, I mean." She clarified.

"I am?" he asked stupidly. "That's a surprise." He mused. "I would have thought that…" Tina silenced him with her fingertip. Silently, she shook her head.

"I've dreamed about being a bride, but…" she shrugged. The young man considered how to come back to that. Just then, the courtesy phone in the room chirped, and Kaoru picked it up, listening for a moment. Thanking the caller, he returned the phone to it's bracket and turned to Tina.

"That was the front desk. They're closing now." He said. Tina blinked, looking at her cell phone's screen.

"Already? It's barely 10 o'clock!" she protested. Kaoru shrugged.

"They close down pretty early in the country, I guess. Want to go see if the trains are back up?" he suggested. Tina rose, stretching a bit as she did so.

"Sure. Nothing else to do there, right?" she agreed. Silently, the two exited the karaoke palace and made their way toward the train station. Tina noticed that the rain was lighter than it had been before. Silently, she adjusted her stride to match Kaoru's, her arm brushing his as they walked. Feeling her skin on his, he glanced over at her.

"Everything ok?" he asked her. She nodded. "I was meaning to ask you who that call was from." He added. Tina smiled.

"That was Landlady-san. We were late for dinner, so she called to see what was wrong. I told her about the landslide, so she won't be worried." Explained Tina. "Still, I hate to miss her cooking." She added ruefully. Kaoru chuckled.

"I know what you mean! She's a better cook than a chef!" He and his lover shared a laugh. Their merriment was interrupted by the sound of a train departing the station. "Hey! They got it cleared! We might still make dinner!" called Kaoru, breaking into a jog.

Reaching the station, they were chagrined to learn that the train that had just left was the last one for the day. No more trains until the next morning. Tina had been growling about hayseeds under her breath as the man suggested that they get a hotel room. That broke Tina out of her rambling. Opening her mouth to tell the old man that she and Kaoru weren't a couple, she froze, considering the situation they were in. Closing her mouth, she hugged herself to Kaoru's arm and asked instead where they could find a hotel.

-

Aoi finished the last of the dishes and wiped her hands on the dishrag before exiting the kitchen. With Tina, Tae-chan and Kaoru-sama gone, it was lonely in the house. Still, Miyabi nodded to her as she settled next to her on the couch. The TV was on, but Miyabi had muted the set, idly shifting channels. "It's quiet without the others here." Said the older woman after a few moments of silence. Aoi nodded.

"And lonely as well." She added. Miyabi turned to smile at her charge.

"I'm here, Aoi-sama." She said comfortingly, placing her hand on Aoi's shoulder and giving her a gentle squeeze. Aoi smiled.

"True. And I am glad of that, Miyabi-san." Said the girl, covering her governess's hand with her own. Time passed. Then, Miyabi spoke again.

"What would you say to a nice, relaxing bath?" she asked her young mistress. Aoi smiled.

"I would say thank you." She replied. Miyabi killed the TV and the two of them rose from the couch and made their way to the spacious bathroom. Pausing to shed their clothes, the two shared a comfortable silence as they filled the tub and slipped into the warm water. Side by side, the two relaxed.

As they soaked, Aoi found herself eyeing Miyabi's naked body, especially her breasts. The girl was aware that most men had a thing for breasts, and in her weaker moments, she was worried that Miyabi, Tina or Taeko might steal her Kaoru-sama's affections from her simply by having a bigger chest than her. Aside from Mayu, she had the smallest bust of all the girls around Kaoru. Intellectually, she knew that Kaoru had chosen her over the others. Emotions, though, rarely listened to reason.

"What are you thinking, Aoi-sama?" came Miyabi's voice, interrupting her staring. The girl guiltily averted her eyes from the breasts of her governess. Miyabi had noticed the younger girl's attention numerous times before, but it didn't really bother her. Since she had developed her current rack, she had been the focus of a lot of attention.

"I was just…thinking." Said the girl, her hand absently touching her own breasts. At a full B cup, she was hardly flat, but with her fourth-place size finish, she still felt small next to her competition's tits. Miyabi didn't have to be a mind-reader to decipher the girl's body language.

"He won't stop loving you just because some other girl has more up top than you, Aoi-sama." Said the governess. I know full well that he thinks of you all the time, and though he hides it well, I would bet my car that it's your face he sees when he's cuddling up with me, or Tina or Tae-chan. "You have his heart, Aoi-sama. The rest of us can't match that." She assured her young companion. Stretching her back a bit, she shared another smile with the girl. "Besides, having so much weight on your chest can be uncomfortable." She added. Tae-chan knows that all too well! I should suggest that she get some breast reduction surgery if her tits keep growing. It was her turn to be started from her thoughts as Aoi lunged over and hugged her tightly. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around her slender charge, feeling their naked flesh press against each other.

"I…I know that, but it just seems sometimes that he might not like my body as much as he likes another girls!" said the girl softly. "I want to be the perfect wife to him, but I can't be perfect if my body is not to his liking." Miyabi stroked Aoi's hair soothingly.

"I don't think that you have to worry about your body being to his liking." She said, her tone casual. "Far from it. I think the real problem is that he likes your body too well." She said dryly. Aoi's eyes rose to her own.

"He…likes my body too much?" wondered Aoi nervously. Miyabi leered at her charge.

"Oh, yes! As bad as you two have it for each other, I can't help but wonder how much longer it will be before you two say to hell with it and become lovers in fact as well as words." Aoi gave a little shiver.

"I cannot wait for that day, Miyabi-san." She said softly, but passionately. "I await his claiming me as his with breathless anticipation." She said fervently. Miyabi shook her head a bit.

"I know, Aoi-sama. And I will do all I can to hasten that day, but until then, you understand why you can't consummate your relationship, right?" she prodded. Aoi reluctantly nodded. Miyabi rubbed her back and sides a bit. "God, I know! Ten years of `Kaoru-sama' this and `Kaoru-sama' that!" she smiled fondly at Aoi. "I think that you being anyone else's wife but his would be a crime against nature." Aoi giggled a bit. Impulsively, she leaned up, touching her lips to Miyabi's lips.

"Thanks, Miyabi-san, for always being there." She said softly.

-

My first night in a love hotel, and it's with Kaoru-kun. Thought Tina happily as she stood under the warm shower. The two had discovered that the only hotel in town was a love hotel. It wasn't really the kind of place that either frequented, but the deal was straight forward. Put in the money, select the unoccupied room, and the key dropped down. No human interaction. Kaoru had to admit that it was useful on occasion.

Arriving at the room, the two had realized that they were pretty much soaked from the rain, and Tina had suggested that they get dried off and set their clothes out to dry. Nodding, Kaoru had gallantly told her that the first shower was hers. Smiling at him, she had told him that he was free to join her. Sauntering into the bathroom naked, she hoped he would.

Catching sight of her reflection in the tile, she smiled a weak smile. Your daughter is a bad person, momma. She silently confessed. But, if it's Kaoru…if Kaoru is the one, it's all right, isn't it? Behind her, she heard the bathroom door open. Blinking as she turned to see if Kaoru would join her, she found him setting a towel in easy reach. He still wore his tee shirt. "Here you go, Tina-chan." He said, indicating the towel. "I've got your things spread out to dry. They should be good by tomorrow morning." He added. Tina nodded.

"You can join me, you know, Kaoru-kun." She said, smiling invitingly at him. He nodded.

"I know, but I wanted to ask if I could borrow your cell phone." He said instead, diverting the topic smoothly. "I wanted to call Aoi-chan and let her know that we won't make it back tonight." He said. Tina caught the use of `-chan' after the gracious girl's name. I thought that I could live with fuck-buddies, but this is harder than I thought.

"Sure. Knock yourself out!" she said easily, flipping a hand at him. Turning back, she breathlessly waited, hoping. Hearing a soft click, she exhaled. Pushing the disappointment aside, she reached for the hotel soap. "Temporary setback." She muttered, beginning to scrub herself clean.

When she emerged some time later, Kaoru was watching the TV, still in his tee shirt. "Shower's free." Said the girl, wrapped in a towel. Kaoru turned to look at her.

"Thanks, Tina-chan." He said, rising from the bed. Tina watched him move past her. His eyes kept drifting to her barely-clad form. "You look good in that towel." He said just before he closed the door to the bathroom. For some reason, Tina blushed badly. Hearing the shower start, the blonde was tempted to go back in and join him, but her skin was already a bit pruney, so she chose not to. Eyeing the bed, she smiled. Well, there's an idea! She thought, dropping the towel before climbing into the bed to await her lover. Settling in comfortably, she leered to herself at the thought of how Kaoru would react to climbing into bed with her and finding her completely naked. Her nipples stiffened at the thought.

-

In the shower, Kaoru guiltily double-checked the lock before tugging off his tee shirt. Turning to look over his shoulder at his back in the mirror, he grimaced at the familiar scars all over his back. All this time, and I still can't accept them. Because of them, I can't get a tan at the beach, or join Tina-chan for a shower, or let Tae-chan give me a massage, or have sex with Yabi-chan with her lights on! It was odd for him to think of the scars as a handicap, but since he had started to sleep with the girls near him, he had become acutely aware of how ugly they were. Only Aoi-chan has seen them. He mused. At the memory of her soft touch, his skin tingled. She didn't react to them beyond her promise to heal them with time. He remembered fondly. Seeing his scars, and knowing about the circumstances of his parting with the Hanabishi clan were something that he just couldn't bring himself to share with his lovers. Only Aoi-chan knows, and I want to keep it that way as long as possible. As my fiancé, it is her right to know me better than anyone else. He reasoned, perhaps a bit spottily.

Stepping into the shower, he sighed happily as he felt the warmth soak into his chilled body. Not unlike the first time with Aoi, he hadn't realized that he was as cold as he was. Now, with warm water sheeting over him, he could feel the extent of his cold. On the up side, he warmed up quickly. Reaching over to the hotel soap, he paused as he saw faint finger marks on it. Tina-chan's, of course. He realized. She would have wanted to clean up after a day of running around in the zoo, followed by the club, then getting soaked in the rain. In his mind's eye, he saw her naked and covered in soap suds. Shaking his head, he found himself rock hard. "Well, I guess that's that." He muttered.

Humming to himself, he leisurely finished his shower and took a fresh towel as he stepped out of the shower stall. Carefully drying himself, he debated rather or not to put his boxers back on, but decided against it, since it wasn't like Tina would mind, and he really needed to make sure that the clothes dried by tomorrow morning. Reasonably dry, he draped the towel over his shoulders and exited the bathroom, making straight for the main lights. The TV was off, and there was a lump under the covers of the bed. Did she fall asleep? He wondered, killing the lights.

Making his way back to the bed, he carefully felt around to make sure that she wasn't where he was about to sit before climbing into the western-style bed. It was a bit odd for him to sleep in a bed, since he had only slept on a futon all his life. Hmm. Come to think of it, Mayu-chan has a western-style bed, too. He mused absently. Settling under the covers, he could feel Tina's warmth next to him. "You don't have to stay all the way over there, you know." Came her soft voice.

"Oh, you're awake." He breathed. Next to him, he felt her move, and a moment later, her arms closed around him, drawing him to her, face to face. Instantly, his erect dick brushed her soft bush nestled between her legs. Tina moaned happily. Kaoru knew that moan by now, and he knew that Tina was planning on some sex that night. Reaching out, he closed his arms around her and sought her lips in the dark, finding them momentarily. As her tongue sought admittance to his mouth, he could feel her hard nipples pressing into his chest.

Tina hooked one leg over his hips, giving his ardent erection easier access to her own hungry sex. Kaoru could feel her excitement through the tip of his dick, and it made him hotter as well. Reaching down, he began to stroke her ass and back, his member rubbing against her as he did so. Reacting to the stimulation, Tina grew wetter and wetter. Her own hands went to his ass, gripping them and pulling him to her as she began to hump her soaked pussy against his turgid member.

Feeling his lust reaching a dangerous level, Kaoru tried to calm himself down a bit by exploring her soaked mons with his fingertip, finding her to be more than ready. Easing first one, then two, and finally three fingers into her spasming sex, he began to search for her G-spot, finding it fairly easily. Let's hear it for practice. Thought one part of his mind. Rubbing her inner hot spot as his thumb worked her erect clit, he soon launched her into a mid-level orgasm. He paused for a few moments while she reached the peak of her release, then stimulated both of her lower pleasure points as his mouth fastened to her breast, sucking on her engorged areola as his tongue tweaked her hard nipples between his teeth. This on/off treatment gained Tina three sub-orgasms as she fell back to awareness.

Seeing that his lover was back, Kaoru withdrew his fingers from her sated vagina, moving his own needful tool into position. Tina felt his blunt, silky tip press into her and bucked her hips, stuffing his entire head into her relaxed sheath in one motion. "Fuck me." She panted into his ear, already beginning to pound her hips against his, feeling his member sink deeper each time. "Please," she whimpered, "I want you, Kaoru-kun!" she begged. His lust overcoming what little control was left, he obliged her.

"You want it?" he growled in her ear, grabbing her knees and moving them up and apart to allow him better penetration. With his path clear, he settled into a hard, fast pace, fucking her instead of his regular love making style. Tina loved it.

"God! Yes! More!" she commanded, grabbing her breasts and tugging on her own nipples. Kaoru grunted his answer and raised her waist a bit, gaining maximum leverage, hammering as deeply into her as he could. In what seemed a single moment, but was more likely several minutes, he felt himself reach climax, crying out as he blew his entire load into his lover, who fell victim to a nearly-crippling orgasm as she felt his cum pack her vagina and enter her uterus. The second, massive orgasm proved too much for the American girl, and she slipped into unconsciousness in the throes of her pleasure.

For his part, Kaoru kind of lost track of things for a bit. He didn't remember letting Tina back down, or laying down, but when he was able to think again, he found that he was sprawled half-on, half-off the bed, Tina out cold on her back, legs splayed wantonly, a trickle of his cum leaking from her inner passage. Kaoru found his eyes drooping. Gotta find my shirt… he half-thought, trying to look around for his concealing garment. For some reason, all he saw was the insides of his eyelids.

-

Tina and Kaoru, freshly showed and re-dressed, exited the love hotel, heading for the station to catch the first train bound back home. Even though they had barely slept four hours, both were ready for the coming day, school and all. Tina practically glowed, humming as she walked beside her lover. Her thoughts drifted back to her waking moments.

She had awoken early to see Kaoru pulling on his boxers, tee shirt already on, a towel over his still-wet hair. She felt a pleasurable tingle in her pussy and knew that she should really shower. But some things were more important. Rising, she clenched her inner muscles, relishing the feeling of their mixed love juices shifting in her happy channel. Crossing to Kaoru, she hugged herself to him from behind, leaning over to kiss his neck. "Good morning, lover." She purred.

"You sleep well, Tina-chan?" he asked her, smiling at her in the mirror. She nodded.

"Yep!" she acknowledged happily. Her hands absently stroked his chest. "I don't suppose…?" she asked, a bit doubtfully, her hands drifting lower. Kaoru reached out, catching her wrists.

"Sorry, but we need to catch the first train out to make classes." He said, sounding a bit disappointed as well. "Besides, we have less than a half hour to be out of here." He added, nodding to the clock on her cell phone. Tina muttered a curse.

"I…better grab a shower." She said, releasing him. Kaoru, however, held her hand for a moment, catching her attention. When she swung back to look at him quizzically, he pressed his lips to hers briefly.

"Tina-chan," he breathed, squeezing her hand gently. "Thanks. For last night." He added. She felt her heart race. Leaning into his face, she kissed him back.

"My pleasure, Kaoru-kun." She said. Releasing him, she turned her flaming face away and all but ran in to the bathroom, twisting the shower in as she looked at herself in the mirror. God, girl, you'd think that he just proposed to you or something! She mentally rebuked her blushing reflection. He probably doesn't see last night as anything but an enjoyable time with a fuck-buddy. She reminded herself remorselessly. "Just a night with a fuck buddy." She murmured. From outside the bathroom, she heard her lover remind her that they were on a tight schedule. Pushing the thoughts back, she stepped into the shower, reaching for the soap.

"Tina-chan?" came Kaoru's voice, interrupting her reverie. Blinking, Tina turned to look at Kaoru.

"Huh?" she asked intelligently. Kaoru shook his head, smiling. "Sorry. Seemed to have zoned out." She said sheepishly. Kaoru chuckled.

"I said, `are you ok'?" he repeated, his tone betraying his amusement.

"Yeah, I'm all good." She said easily. It feels good to banter with him like this. She thought.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. I was beginning to wonder if you were ok." He said. Tina felt herself smile evilly.

"Worried you fucked my brains out, Kaoru-kun?" she purred, stepping into him, hugging herself to his side. Kaoru noticed the attention from the few early-risers, but couldn't bring himself to care right then. Determined to give her back what she dished, he returned her evil smile.

"Nah. You'd have to have brains before I could fuck them out." He returned off-handedly. Tina jerked her head in surprise.

"Kaoru-kun! That's mean!" she protested. He shrugged.

"Your point is…?" he asked leadingly. Tina just shook her head, separating from him a tiny amount. Seeing that they were almost half-way to the station, she slanted a glance at her companion.

"Kaoru-kun," she said softly, "would it be all right if I…held you hand?" she asked him, feeling her cheeks warm up a bit. God, girl, you're acting like some love-struck virgin schoolgirl! You did a hell of a lot more than hold hands last night! She mentally screeched. But still, that wasn't in public. And if we hold hands in public, it will make me his girlfriend in the eyes of everyone who sees us. She thought back, nervous about rather or not Kaoru would let her do that. He worry was short lived as she felt his hand slip into her own.

"I'd love to, Tina-chan." He said softly. Tina wordlessly squeezed his hand in return. Together, the two entered the station, got their tickets, boarded the train and rode back home, hand in hand.

-

"God, I can't stand this heat!" moaned Tina, fanning herself as she, Tae-chan and Kaoru sat on a stone bench on the edge of the quad at their school, each holding an Aoi-made bento - which meant that they would be eating better than the patrons of a five-star restaurant. It had been three months since the Zoo visit and summer was hammering down on them like a vengeful god.

Opening his bento, Kaoru smiled as he saw the little extras that his beloved Aoi-chan had tucked into his bento. At the thought of his betrothed, he felt his dick stir. Over the last three months, she had been finding more and more ways to be alone with him, and was getting increasingly forward with her self-appointed task of seeing to his happiness. It had been a bit strange at first, but he had come to enjoy her ever-increasing skills at pleasuring him.

Especially since Yabi-chan finally told me what was going on with her. He thought, remembering the night a week after Aoi-chan had first started to practice her pleasuring skills on her lover. Cuddled up in Miyabi's bed, he had asked her about Aoi's odd behavior, and after a bit of prodding, the older woman had told him his precious Aoi-chan wanted to make sure that she would be able to please him after he had been with more experienced girls for so long. That revelation had hit his heart dead center.

Sensing the way he had taken her confession, she had immediately moved to head off any thoughts he might have that she minded him being with other girls. For the next half hour, she had patiently reasoned with him, explaining in greater detail the way that the situation was developing and the outlook that Aoi had on it all. His bride-to-be saw this whole thing as a good thing, as it would allow him to gain experience in making love to a woman, and it would let him decide what he liked and what he didn't so she could be the perfect wife for him. Kaoru had had a hard time with seeing it that way, but Miyabi assured him that if he was worried, he should ask Aoi next time they were alone.

On the other hand, the governess explained, Aoi was worried that with his experience, she wouldn't be able to properly pleasure her precious Kaoru-sama, so she wanted to practice so he wouldn't be disappointed in her abilities. Miyabi had chucked when she related the story of Aoi's asking for her assistance in learning how to be the perfect lover. Kaoru had frowned, asking his first lover what she found funny about that.

"It's just that she has this notion that I have all the answers, Kaoru-kun." Giggled Miyabi. "I know that all the time I have been with her, I have always had the right answer and been able to teach her the skills she was required to know, but I never really thought that all that would make her see me as a master in sex!" Kaoru considered that for a moment, before joining her in a soft chuckle.

"Well, I don't know about you having all the answers, but you are good in bed." He allowed, feeling the long-haired woman lightly smack him. Both shared an amused silence. Finally, Miyabi broke it.

"Kaoru-dono," said the older woman seriously, "I…thank you." She said simply. Kaoru frowned. Sitting up and leaning over her, he studied her in the faint light.

"Thanks for what, Yabi-chan?" he wondered. I'm back to `Kaoru-dono' all of the sudden? Why? He saw that Miyabi had her eyes closed. "Miyabi-chan, what are you trying to say?" he repeated.

"She has devoted her life to you, you know." Said Miyabi softly. "And now, you've proven her dedication to be well-deserved. Thank you for being who she needed you to be to be happy." Said Miyabi softly. Her eyes opened, and Kaoru caught a single faint trace on her cheek. Is that a tear?! He wondered incredulously. His mind made a snap decision, and he leaned down, sealing his lips to hers, his tongue slipping into her mouth.

When he broke the kiss, he looked into her eyes intently. "Thank you, Miyabi-san, for being there for her when I couldn't be." He said, his tone deep and serious. "And thank you for being there for us both when we need you." He added. Shortly after that, they had fallen asleep, cuddled together, both dreaming of the girl that had bridged their different worlds.

"Hanabishi-sama!" came the all-too-familiar squeal of his youngest lover. Tina's reaction was immediate, her chopsticks snapping in her fist. Turning to see the slight girl running toward them, her eyes ignited in fire.

"Well, well, well!" she snapped irritably, rising to intercept the girl. "If it isn't little miss thing!" she said caustically. Mayu stopped toe-to-toe with the taller blonde, snarling right back.

"What's your problem, gaijin?" she snapped back in English. Seeing Tina open her mouth to reply, she waved it off. "Never mind; there isn't enough days in the year for you to answer that question." She said, dodging around the fuming American to wedge herself between Kaoru and Tae-chan. Silently, the well-endowed maid scooted over a bit to allow for a more comfortable arrangement. "Hanabishi-sama!" exclaimed the girl, "do you have plans for next week?" she asked eagerly. Kaoru tried to think of what was going on next week.

"I think that Aoi said something about taking a break and going somewhere." He said, trying to remember what he had seen in Miyabi's planner. Mayu frowned.

"Aoi?" she wondered, picturing the gracious girl she had met in the mountains. "Aww!" she whined. "I wanted you to come with me to the beach!" she said, pouting a bit. Taeko perked up at that.

"The beach, Mayu-chan?" she asked the girl. Mayu turned to her and nodded. "Yes. My father called yesterday and told Ruka-san that he and mother would try to get by our summer home at the beach next week. Ruka-san said that he would take me there in case they were able to break away from their work long enough to come see me." She said. Turning back to Kaoru, she attached herself to his arm. "I wanted to take you with me to meet them, Hanabishi-sama!" she exclaimed eagerly.

"Oh, and why is that?!" snapped Tina. "It's not like a little girl like you would have any reason to introduce boys to your parents, especially Kaoru-kun!" Mayu snarled at the taller blonde.

"Shows what you know!" she shot back. "Hanabishi-sama is going to be my husband, so it's only fitting that I introduce him to my parents before the wedding." She said, her tone dreamy. Kaoru closed his eyes. Ok, smart-ass, how do you get out of this one? He wondered. Tina savagely bit into her food, muttering under her breath about slutty teen whores. Mayu smirked at Tina.

"Um, tell you what, Mayu-chan," interrupted Kaoru, "Let me see what's on the agenda for next week and I'll let you know a little later this week." He said. Mayu frowned.

"Well, ok, I guess." She said, a bit mollified that he would be getting back with her. Turning her attention to his bento, she frowned. "Why do you and the others bring bentos for lunch?" she wondered. "Ruka-san always brings me meals from one of my favorite restaurants." She added, jiggling her own expensive meal. Kaoru smiled, expertly snagging one of his Aoi-chan's special chicken rice balls.

"This is why." He said, popping the small treat into her mouth when she turned to ask him what he meant. Instinctively, she chewed and swallowed, her eyes lighting up.

"That's incredible!" she exclaimed. "Which restaurant did this come from?!" she asked excitedly.

"None of them. Aoi-chan made these." Said Kaoru, smiling down at her. Mayu's eyes got wide.

"Really?" she asked, shocked. "Is she a master chef?" she wondered. Kaoru debated how to answer that.

"Landlady-san's better than that! She's the best cook I've ever heard of, and she does all the housework like it's nothing! Whoever her fiancé is, he's one lucky bastard!" she said, her eyes a bit sharp as she stared daggers at her rival. "After eating her food for so long and being around her, Kaoru-kun couldn't possibly be satisfied with a wife who couldn't cook and clean house as well as Landlady-san." She sniped. Mayu's eyes narrowed a bit. Kaoru winced as everything went to hell from there.