Fatal Fury Fan Fiction ❯ Kage no Mai ❯ Kage no Mai 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Kage No Mai
Warning this is (sort of) a lemon story . It is kind of a combination of Fatal Fury and Ruroni Kenshin, well one character from the latter. Sort of. You don't like it (or aren't old enough to read it) I don't care, flame the hell out of me, and will simply post your mindless ranting on my site while laughing at you. This is a fanfiction done for my personal gratification so if you like give it away all you want but don't sell it. One other thing; Good guys aren't always good, and bad guy's don't always lose.

A quick Japanese-English glossary

Chikara: strength, power, force, or impact

Haiaku: Hurry

Ikuzo: Let's go, often used when challenging someone

Ken: fist, punch, or strike (like any real Street fighter fan wouldn't know that)

Kunoichi: female ninja

Mai: dance, see also adorable Fatal Fury kunoichi

Nasaki nai: Pathetic in the extreme

Ninja: a broad term describing one who follows the path of ninjutsu: the art of stealth and endurance.

Orokana: one devoid of thought, a very old and very serious insult.

Shi: Death

Note: All Japanese names are written in their Japanese form family name first, on with the tale

KAGE no MAI

The Shadows Dance Part One

Chapter One: Vengeance

The rain was falling heavily in Tokyo that night but it didn't help the heat any. Most of the drops never even hit the steaming pavement turning to mist and making the still air seem even hotter. In Ginza, where the lights blazed with a fierce presence and the street throbbed with its own pulse, it seemed to not affect the masses of students and office workers swelling the sidewalks and alleys. It was unbelievably hot for January even in Tokyo but the new year seemed to determined to start itself out memorably. The crowd was filled with those who willingly embraced the eighty degree temperature as a chance to show style and beauty wrapped for too long under the clothes of winter.

One man seemed out of place as he drifted effortlessly through the overflowing sidewalks towards the heart of Ginza. He didn't seem to walk, as glide and showed no sign of the heat despite the flowing black trench coat that rode with him. His hair was pulled into a small tail that fell short of the collar of the dark blue suit he wore. To most he seemed a successful businessman which in a sense he was.

As a courier for Japans largest corporations Shinomori Aoshi floated with confidence that most in his trade lacked. It might have been because of his past, his forefather and namesake had been one of the best clan leaders the Oniwabanshu ninja had ever known. Perhaps it was his parents. He had, at his mothers request studied the warrior traditions of bujutsu with diligence and ferocity. As he slid down the street he thanked her departed spirit and apologized for what he was about to do. This apology did not include his father.

He had known little of his father until recently, as his job carried him into the world of the Yakuzza. He learned that his father had been a gaijin, an American actually, and had still managed to dominate most of Japans organized crime. He also learned of the man who had so recently killed his father in combat. A task that Aoshi himself had been raised to do. On researching this man, this Terry Bogard, he encountered a ghost from his past.

Aoshi had studied Shiranui ryu ninjustu for three years partly because of the skill he gained but mostly because of the shidoshi's granddaughter. The ghost was another man who had helped slay his father and had also studied Shiranui ninjutsu at the same time as Aoshi had.

"Andy Bogard..." ,he hissed quietly to himself. But with this ghost had also come a dream. Aoshi reflected on what he was about to do, partly the act of a vengeful son but mostly there was another reason. And today was her birthday. He spoke quietly to himself again. "Father you taught me little save this: If you want something, the only way you will get it, is to be strong enough to take it!"

***************

The club throbbed with a sensual, infectious, rhythm and Mai was moving to it as soon as she cleared the security gate. She had possessed style and grace even before her training as a Shiranui kunoichi and now she was going to show it off. The red skin tight leather dress she wore looked painted on and showed off a good deal more than style. The white knee length stockings she wore simply accented the beautiful color and shape of her legs. It was her twenty second birthday and she was in very good spirits filled with excitement and hopes for this night. She turned around towards Andy and her mood impacted a brick wall. Despite having forced him into relatively stylish clothes, consisting of a white suit coat, red shirt, and white pants, and making him promise to have fun tonight, he still looked so out of place. His hands shoved into his pockets he scanned the crowd as if looking for an opponent. When none presented itself he hunched his shoulders and looked at Mai, smiling weakly.

Mai sighed and resolved not to give up without a fight. She instantly locked on to his arm making sure to wiggle so that she brushed against him with most of her, better features.

"Neh neh Andy! Look at how crowded the dance floor is! Isn't it great!"

Andy grunted noncommittally, his face showing distaste.

Not willing to let him go that easily Mai tried again. "C'mon lets get some drinks and hit the floor!"

"No," sighed the blond martial artist. "You know I don't drink and it's too crowded out there for me, maybe later."

Mai couldn't take it. She released his arm and slumped.

"Ma-ta-ku! Andy, you said you try and have a good time tonight!" she pleaded.

"Well I don't see why we can't do that somewhere more, I don't know, reserved." Andy responded. "Speaking of which, what's with that dress? I don't know if it's really appropriate."

That was it. The attention starved kunoichi straitened up with force, causing several drinks nowhere near her to be spilled as spectators observed how badly the dress failed at covering her. "Andy Bogard, it's my birthday and I am going dancing! If you get the courage to join me I'll be down there if I haven't found someone who is more exciting to be with first! You're worse than that stuck up little Kasumi from last year! At least she knew when to have fun!!" With that Mai stormed off towards the dance floor followed by a sizable crowd of single, and recently single, men.

"Mai!" Andy reached after her far too late. " Wait..."

His arm collapsed back to his side limply.

*************************

The shadow that was Shinomori Aoshi watched the distraught Bogard turn and walk slowly towards the bar. A slight smile crossed the corner of his mouth. this was going better than he had hoped already, and if Bogard got drunk... well, that would be almost too easy.

*************************

Andy found the one empty table in the club and sat down dejectedly. He loved Mai, he was sure of it, he just wished that she would act a little more respectfully. He sighed deeply, wishing he had Joe's skill at dazzling girls, even his brother, despite his rather lousy track record, dealt with women more comfortably than Andy. The younger Bogard tried to catch a glimpse of Mai in the pulsing crowd. When he failed Andy rested his head on his cheek and sighed once more. After coughing slightly he really wished that Mai could have chosen a club with less smoke in it.

***********************

Aoshi glided silently through the dense crowd letting his mind slowly relinquish conscious control and preparing himself mentally for battle. He was within ten feet of Bogards table when a compact, muscular, but still very feminine woman approached Andy from behind and greeted him. Aoshi stopped, he had waited six years for this, a few minutes more wouldn't matter. Aoshi shifted the uncomfortable piece of metal strapped to his back around and slid back into the crowd.

************************

"Hey handsome, lonely?" came a musical feminine voice from behind Andy.

"Uh... well.. umm... No... I mean... not... really...uh..." Andy stammered as he twisted hurriedly around to face the speaker. When he saw who it was, profound relief filled him.

"Mary! Don't do that to me!"

Blue Mary laughed as she walked around the table and plopped down on a chair next to him. She leaned it back and swung one booted foot to the table. Dressed in a very form fitting tank top, jeans, and combat boots, the American bounty hunter stood out amongst the throng tres chic Japanese college students almost as much as Andy did. Despite the obvious muscle in her arms and shoulders she was still an absolutely gorgeous woman. Her intense training had in fact given her body almost perfectly balanced look. Andy gulped as he realized two things in rapid succession. One, the club was very hot and Blue Mary had begun perspire slightly . Two, this made it very evident that the blue eyed knockout sitting next to him was not wearing a bra.

"Vodka, straight!" she yelled to the bartender while brushing her short golden hair away from her round face. She turned back to Andy and smiled . "Well what's going on cutie?"

"...What? Oh... um," started a distracted Andy as tried to fix his gaze to Mary's face. " It's Mai's birthday and she wanted to come here. She's down there, dancing I guess."

"Really! Hey, any chance that your brother's around?" asked Mary hungrily, leaning forward without moving her leg.

Unprepared for the passion in her eyes, or the view her top gave him, Andy squirmed away from her slightly. "Uh... No, sorry. I don't think he's even in Japan now"

Mary sighed in disappointment and sat back in her chair, snatching her drink from a startled waitress. She downed the vodka in single gulp and set the cup back on the tray before the waitress could move.

"Another one." Mary sighed. "Oh well, I guess it was too much to hope for. It's been a while since I've been with Terry. Ah well."

Andy decided that there were plenty of perfectly innocent explanations for that statement and resolved not to think about it.

"Well Mary, what are you doing in Japan?" he asked in order to help his mind focus on something other than the images Mary was inspiring in him.

"Oh just business like usual, but hey, I'm the one who should be asking you question's. For starters why are you up here and Mai's down there!?!" demanded Mary swinging an arm towards the dance floor.

"Oh well... I don't really like that sort of thing you know, and she seems to have fun without me anyway, so..."

Blue Mary shook her head in exasperation. "Andy! Mai is a beautiful, and very nice girl who most men would sell their souls for and she wants to be with you constantly! And you can't even dance with her on her birthday! Geez!"

Mary swung her leg off the table scooted closer to him. His hands were resting perfectly flat against the table and Mary laid her hand on top of his. "You know all she wants is a little attention if you gave it to her she probably wouldn't go off like this so often. Actually you better be careful or you just might lose her!"

Andy's didn't respond, his was mind reeling from several things, partly what Mary had said, but mostly from Mary herself, the heat of her touch, the scent of breath, the sight of her breasts against the material of her top, everything. Too terrified to move for fear of what he might do, and too frightened to speak because of what he might say, Andy seemed to go into a rigid, paralytic state. He stared hard at the empty table and didn't even breathe.

"Andy?" Blue Mary asked somewhat worriedly. "You still with me?"

The tortured martial artist nearly broke but remained locked onto the plastic of the table.

Mary shook her head. Oh well. "Andy, I am going to go find that poor girl and wish her a happy birthday. If you can find the guts come and join us."

She patted his hands and got up. The last part of her statement had sent an entirely new barrage of images through Andy's head and he began to shake very slightly. Mary got up turned away. She had only taken a few steps when she looked over her shoulder.

"Who knows maybe I'll even give her a present later!" she laughed impishly. "I bet she could use one"

That broke through Andy's self imposed paralysis. "Wait a minute Mary what do you mean..."

"...by that." Once again however, he was too late, Mary was gone. Andy closed his eyes and tried to clear his head. That proved to be a mistake. The thought of Mai and Blue Mary dancing together had been bad enough when suddenly without any conscious will another image replaced it. Mary and Mai were holding each other, kissing deeply. Mai moaned softly as Mary's hand traced the curve of her spine to the hem of Mai's skirt and slowly began to lif-

Andy slammed upright so hard the pressure from his hands cracked the two inch hardened plastic table. He panted trying to gain enough control to tell his body what to do. It was too much, the rhythm of the music, the crush of men and women together, the allure of Blue Mary and Mai... Andy looked around desperately, seeking somewhere he could get his head working right again. The first place to catch his eye was then men's room. Halfway there Andy started to run.

************************

Aoshi watched Bogard and the blonde woman, who he recognized as a bounty hunter out the America's, talk for a few minutes. He noted with interest the changes in Bogards body language and poise as the woman touched him or even came near him. When the blond martial artist stood up suddenly and ran in his direction the observant ninja began to understand. Bogard was a dedicated martial artist ,a follower of bushido, the path of the warrior, and a deadly opponent, all this Aoshi knew. From research on his records and watching tapes of his public fights, Aoshi had learned all he could about Andy Bogard. Watching him in person with a woman gave Aoshi insight previously unavailable to him. Andy Bogard had no experience in dealing with emotions. His lifetime dedicated to one art had made him dangerous in the extreme and little flaw could be found in his skill. However it was the emotional manipulation and psychology that his ninjutsu training had instilled in him that would enable Aoshi to defeat Andy Bogard. With all the sound of snowflake touching the ground Shinomori Aoshi slid behind the fleeing Bogard and followed him.

When Bogard reached the lavatory Aoshi quickly located the janitors closet opened it, and found an out of order sign. Before anyone else had entered Aoshi attached the sign to the door and entered. As he did another slight smile crept across his face.

"A odd place for a fight indeed. " Thought Aoshi. "But so be it. So let it begin."

**********************

On the floor of the club Mai twisted, gyrated, and above all danced. For the moment all was forgotten except the sensation of other people's bodies against hers, and the pulse of the music. Mai had trained all her life to be the best she could at Shiranui ninjutsu and had succeeded very well. But at a price of course. She had little chance to develop friends outside the dojo and lived little of the life other girls took for granted. Mai had always considered herself lucky to have met Andy and yearned for the day (or night) when she could finally show him all the ways she loved him. Throughout most days all she did was train and try to attract Andy's attention. At night she would lay alone in her bed, hands between her thighs, and fantasize what it would be like when she would not be alone, when Andy would hold her in his arms and the fantasies would end. However after years of this she began to wonder if such a day would ever come. Andy always seemed so distant, never truly opened up to her and had only even kissed her once.

But as always all of that didn't matter now. Now, all her pain was gone, and anxiety was a problem for other people. As always Mai lost herself to the dance. Mai's dance was not so calming to others of the crowd. She would slide to one man coyly move in rhythm with him for a moment and just when he would think it was permanent she would slide away to repeat the process over and over again. Even some girls were showered with her momentary attention everyone she danced with wanted more and not one of them was able to catch her. Without realizing or intending it Mai was a terrible tease. Though many were competing for her attentions by now none were actually angry with her. She just seemed too happy to be upset with.

Quite suddenly things changed. A pair of hands encircled her waist and a pair of jean clad thighs trapped hers between them. Mai was about to protest when a pair of rather large breasts pressed against her back. Mai had never danced with another woman for any length of time so she decided to try it now. Instinctively Mai snaked her left arm around the back of the woman's neck holding the other woman's body close. She rested her right hand on the same hand of the girl holding her. Mai's eyes closed as the two women began to sway up and down with the rhythm, as they did the other girls hands began to move. First they ran down the front of her thighs till they almost touched her knees then began to travel back up the insides of thighs up to her skirt then out and to Mai's hips, resting there for a moment caressing them softly. Mai sighed inwardly, no one had ever touched her like this with her permission before and it felt very good coming from another woman. She couldn't explain it but the other girls touch seemed, familiar somehow. The two women never missed beat of the music.

Without warning the hands on Mai's hips started to move again. This time the touch went up her sides stopping when they were beside her breasts then the woman's hands traveled feather light down to just below Mai's swaying breasts moving across her body and just barely brushing the bottom of Mai tits. By now Mai's breathing was coming quicker and even that light touch made her moan softly. The hands didn't stop however gliding down the front of Mai's dress towards her waist. To Mai the rest of the world had ceased to exist, even the pulse of the music was fading to the background, as her reality centered around the feelings the other girl was giving her. Her skirt ended halfway between her knees and Mai's waist and was just loose enough to allow some movement without showing her panties too much. The woman behind Mai began caressing Mai's sides and belly with slow gentle strokes, still in rhythm with the music. Suddenly the other girls hands dove down the center of Mai's belly to the edge of her skirt. Mai held her breath but didn't resist as both hands hooked under her skirt slowly drew nearer to her sex. Just before they reached however the hands spread to caress the very innermost regions of her thighs. Another soft moan escaped Mai's lips, quickly they slid back to her thigh and started up her sides, to start it all over again.

After a few times of this Mai's breathing was getting very ragged and she had stop herself from grinding the other woman's hand to her vagina. She did hold the other woman very close and leaned against her heavily, because Mai's knees were getting weak. As the hands once more began an accusingly slow journey down her sides, Mai felt the woman shift slightly. The other girls head moved to the hollow between Mai's neck and shoulder and their cheeks touched. Mai could smell the other girl's hair and feel her ragged breath against the skin of her breasts. Mai pushed the woman's hand down her dress harder. The woman inhaled deeply and moved her lips to just brush against Mai's ear.

"Happy birthday Mai-chan." the woman whispered in a familiar voice.

Mai broke their hold and span around. Blue Mary stood triumphantly in front of her arms outstretched, and smiling broadly.

"Mary-san! Yo-kata! It's been so long!" Mai embraced her friend warmly. "What are you doing here?"

"I just dropped by to wish my favorite kunoichi a happy birthday!" laughed Mary. The blonde looked around quickly. "Uh, Mai you want to go back up to the bar and talk? I don't think this is a good place right now."

"I guess so. Why?" Mai asked as she followed Mary's gaze. Then she saw. The crowd had formed a ring around them consisting mostly of young men, though a few women were staring also. Almost all the members of the ring were wide mouthed, several young men were bleeding from the nose, a few were drooling obviously, and one had simply passed out. "Oh, I see. Let's go."

When they arrived back at the bar Mary noticed something wrong.

"He was here when I left. Where'd that boy go to?" Mary wondered aloud. Mai slumped down in a chair and pouted. Noticing her friends mood Mary approached the bar. "Give me a bottle of your best sake, and two glasses."

"He can be so insensitive sometimes!" yowled an irate Mai as soon as Mary returned.

The blonde shook her head and poured both cups half full. "Why don't we sit and drink a little bit then go back out on the floor and dance some more? "

Mai responded by grabbing the bottle from Mary and slamming it. Mary simply blinked in astonishment and watched as the Mai drained the sake to it's halfway point. She then stopped set the sake down hard, closed her eyes, and arched her back sucking in a huge breath. Her top tried unsuccessfully to cover her and more than a few were given a glimpse at pretty much all of Mai's incredible chest. She opened her eyes and smiled at Mary, her face turning just a little pink from the sake.

"Good idea, Ikuzo!" declared Mai brightly.

Blue Mary started to get up eyeing Mai cautiously.

"I'm sure Andy just went to the bathroom or something..." Mary ventured.

"Yeah, right, whatever." Mai said a bit too casually. Mai grabbed the other woman's hand and pulled her towards the dance floor. "Now come on! There's still fun out there at least!"

************************

The men's room was fairly empty but Andy still had to get in line for a sink. Standing still was sheer torture, with images of Mai and Mary together, conflicting with the implications of what the American woman had said.

Lose Mai? Never! Andy thought to himself. She loves me, I love her, we stay together. That's how it works right? Right. But the doubt stayed with him. It was true that he didn't show his affection for her as much as she did but that was how it was supposed to be right? He had to keep the appearance of noninterest up until they were properly wed right? To do anything else would be dishonorable both to him and her. And the most important thing in life was honor. Andy was sure of that and breathed slightly easier knowing that not all his values had left him. He still clenched and unclenched his fists as the images of Mai and Mary still paraded in his head as if to taunt him.

NO no NO! Andy swore in his head. Such thought are without honor and disrespectful as well. I've got to clear my head, got to focu-

Andy's reverie was broken when he realized that he was standing in front of a sink. He turned the water on stared at it trying to focus all the impure thoughts out of his mind. One thing bothered him even more as the thought of losing Mai, and that was why Blue Mary had so much of an effect on him. He hadn't even thought of Mai like that until Mary had showed up. More thoughts of the two women flashed through his head. Even more disturbing was the fact that he only saw the two of them together. Like he was an outside observer.

Andy lost track of everything else he as slowly he pushed the pictures to the back of his mind. After some time he cupped his hands in the stream of water and splashed his face. Andy repeated this several times until he was satisfied that he could go face both girls. As he returned back to his normal state he became aware that the bathroom was completely silent. Andy thought this odd but didn't let it bother him. He wiped the water from his eyes and looked into the mirror. To his utter astonishment there was someone standing behind him.

*********************

*********************
Shinomori Aoshi waited patiently as gradually the other people left the room, and Bogard stared at the sink. The truly tactical thing to do would be to attack now while Bogard's mind was distracted. But this was not combat so much as the fulfillment of quest, and the ninja simply leaned against a wall. As he waited Aoshi studied the room. The bathroom was a large, with white ceramic tiles on the floor and walls. Like most high class clubs it was frighteningly clean. The lights were bright and harsh accentuating the difference between himself, his enemy, and the room. The dark clad ninja versus the brightly clad, honorable karateka, a souvenir of someone one opponent knew was dangerous presented in way of challenge. Aoshi shook his head, it was so... stereotypical. When the American martial artist looked like he was going to move Aoshi pulled the piece of metal strapped to his back from under his coat and glided behind Andy Bogard.

"Sore de hajimaru, konno owata." [So it begins, this ending.] Thought Shinomori Aoshi.

***********************

Andy studied the man before him. Half Japanese by the look of him, dark dressed, and dark eyed.. Even though he was holding a European style sword that looked somewhat familiar to Andy, of primary interest to the blond fighter were his eyes. They showed nothing but coldly, smooth, polished hatred. He stood relaxed, grasping the sword at the middle of it's sheath, for some reason Andy was sure that this man had no intention of using the weapon.

"I can't sense any ki from him, probably a Yakuzza thug." thought Andy

"You're a hard man to find Andy Bogard." Aoshi said in a calm, emotionless voice.

Andy looked at him closer. The face, the eye's, there was something familiar there.

"Who are you? What's this about?" Andy asked shifting one leg back slightly.

Aoshi allowed a cold smile to tug at his mouth. "Has it been so long Bogard? Six years was not enough time for me to forget. But Hanzo-sensei said you always were more interested in yourself than anything else."

"Hanzo-sensei!" Andy said in surprise. Then he remembered the time he met Mai, the time spent training in Shiranui ninjutsu and the one student who was even close to him in ability.

"Shinomori Aoshi!" Andy remembered aloud. The other man showed no emotion at the revelation. Andy was growing uncomfortable with the lack of ki he felt from Aoshi. He knew, as most masters did, that any martial artist who was good as this man had been, would give off some ki, good or bad. In Aoshi he felt nothing. To his heightened awareness the man before him did not exist. Andy did not know what that meant but it disturbed him.

"I ask again, what is this about?" Andy asked bringing his left arm up defensively.

Aoshi presented the sword to Andy and tipped the sheath letting it fall to the floor. Even with the blade snapped neatly in half Andy had been on it's business end enough times to recognize it.

"Lawrence Blood's!" breathed the blond man.

"What's this about?" Aoshi said sounding even colder than before. The ninja stepped his tabi clad right foot on the both parts of the blade. In one motion he sent the sheath and the broken blade, flying and sliding respectively, into a stall. Aoshi left his right leg back and brought both arms up to chest level, left outstretched, right hand equal with left elbow, and bent his knees sinking deeper into his stance. Andy recognized the stance instantly as Shaolin longfist. Aoshi then growled out a reply.

"You wouldn't understand. Love is beyond you. So she will not be involved. What is this about Bogard? Shi!"

Andy had enough time to raise his right hand before Aoshi was on him. The ninja's arms became blurs as first his right then his left screamed out. Andy managed to redirect the right but had to simply take the left with his right forearm. The American gritted his teeth as the impact numbed his arm.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------

The dark dressed warrior then hooked Andy's arm between his index finger, wrist, and forearm. Aoshi pulled with the direction of Andy's strike, then his left arm became a blur.

The blond fighter grunted in pain as series of three lightning finger strikes drilled his side, shoulder, and back. He launched himself into a roll to avoid being trapped by the blindingly fast Aoshi. Andy came out of the roll and saw his opponent set in an entirely different stance. He knew this one too.

"Mantis fist? From Shaolin?!" wondered Andy. The two styles were so different, it seemed impossible to change from one to the other that fast. Aoshi was clearly more dangerous than he had thought. Tapping on his ki Andy exploded from his crouch.

"Dai-anken!" howled Andy his right elbow slammed forward and he left a trail of ionized air behind him. The ninja was not so easily defeated however and ducked forward and under the deadly strike. Andy stopped his rush easily and arced one leg over his head and down towards Aoshi, redirecting the power of his charge into a vicious axe kick. White dust billowed from the crater Andy's ki charged kick left in the floor. The black clad fighter had seemed to swim out the way and close the distance impossibly quick. Aoshi was using the blond man's own energy to space himself. Another series of blurred fingertip strikes hit the karateka's body. Andy was getting pissed. He arced a powerful forearm towards the ninja's face. The angered fighter couldn't figure out what happened next.

Aoshi brought his left forearm to Andy's right, but instead of blocking or even redirecting the ninja rolled up Andy's arm, using it as a guide, across the blond man's shoulder's with his own to the other side. Aoshi landed on one foot and sent the rest of torque out with his other leg sweeping Andy's front foot from beneath him. Andy landed hard. The blond man guessed at what was coming next and rolled away from the black clad fighter and into a ball.

Andy had been right because a knife hand splintered the floor where he had been moments ago. Sensing a weakness the light dressed fighter torque his rear leg into the center of the dark blur that was Shinomori Aoshi. He felt it land with a great deal of satisfaction. The blur became a ball as the ninja bounced and rolled with the impact. Much to Andy's dismay however Aoshi stood right up in his mantis stance.

The black coated man forced a cool expression even though he could barely breath. That guy hit hard! Aoshi thought as he watched the white clad karateka get up slowly. Though he wished he could press the advantage he didn't want to risk it in his weakened state. With a deep breath Aoshi let his hands fall and stood upright.

"Hmf, I guess you have some chikara after all Bogard." He said mockingly. This time Aoshi didn't waste time getting into any stance he just vaulted himself at the blond man, his right leg becoming nothing more than a dark streak aimed for Andy's head. Bogard grunted from the force of the impact against his left arm. The ninja snapped his leg away just as quickly as he had struck. Andy was moving towards the dark fighter when he noticed something. Aoshi's knee hadn't dropped. By then it was too late when he saw motion out of the corner of his right eye. Then Aoshi's heel slammed into his cheek.

Realizing that his opponent had hooked his leg down and around Andy tried to focus quickly on the ninja's leg and saw it had not dropped yet. Knowing even a seconds delay could be fatal with someone as fast as Aoshi, the blond man closed the distance. Aoshi guided the inertia of his second kick outside and up, then snapped his heel down towards the karateka's chest. Andy took the hit full on his right arm. Although the kick deadened his arm Andy ignored the pain and span, thrusting his left elbow forward with all of his body and muscle behind it. With no textbook defense against such a move Aoshi slammed both hands against the sides of Andy's elbow and pushed backward with his left leg, surfing the force of the blond mans technique.

The distance he gained didn't last long. Andy observed the ninja's right leg touch the ground and launched into his Dam Breaker Strike. Aoshi slipped beyond the left forearm of the move and dodged to the inside of the first right palm. Andy saw his opponents weight on his right leg and continued the series with a powerful left knife hand to the chest. There was no way the ninja could dodge and throw one of his kicks at the same time so even before the third hit connected he raised his right arm above his head in preparation for the two finishing blows.

Then Aoshi's left shin burned into Andy's thigh, then stomach, and finally impacted against the underside of his upraised arm. Stunned Andy realized he had once again misjudged his enemy. An ambidextrous fighter was rare enough, but not even Kim Kap Hwan could boast ability like that in both legs. Aoshi yet again left his knee raised and pummeled Bogards right side with a barrage of hook and roundhouse kicks. Through the haze creeping into his vision Andy saw Aoshi's left leg raised high above his head and beginning a brutal descent. Desperately the blond man raised both arms in an attempt to stop the powerful kick.

Which never came. Aoshi slammed his foot straight down as his left arm snaked forward to land an iron grasp on Andy's wrist. As the blond man attempted to adapt to the sudden change, the ninja imbedded an extended knuckle fist to the back Andy's right arm paralyzing it momentarily. Using the numbed limb for leverage the dark fighter dropped to one knee for extra power, while lofting Andy over his shoulder.

Normally a distance throw would have been useless against one as skilled as Andy but with both arms weakened the karateka hit the tile floor heavily. His breath nearly left him entirely and Andy rolled as much as he could to put distance between him and the deadly man he faced. Aoshi stood up arms at his sides once again. With a smug grin he let Andy regain his feet.

"Hai-aku, hai-aku Bogard. I didn't hurt you too bad."

As Andy raised his arms and slid closer Aoshi switched styles one more time. He raised himself till his left foot was just barely resting on it's ball and both arms tucked in their bottoms facing out.

"Mhuay Thai!" thought Andy "Finally one I know!"

As if on cue Aoshi launched a two brutal elbows to the head in rapid succession. But this time Andy was prepared. He dodged one then redirected the other. Unfazed Aoshi launched a powerful knee aimed at Andy's mid section. The white clad fighter acted. Andy seemed to fall backwards with the knee catching himself with his left hand Andy turned and straightened his left leg wheeling his right heel into Aoshi's side. As the stunned ninja spun with the impact Andy regained his feet charged both hands with all the ki he could manage and slammed them forward.

"Genk-Hisho-ken!" An explosion of blue-white ki slammed into Aoshi left side sent him flying. This technique was one of Andy's finest, a short range blast four times as strong as his normal hisho-ken. The ninja hit the ground limp, and soundless.

Andy dropped to one knee having expended almost all his strength in that attack. He looked the motion less body of Shinomori and smiled weakly. It was worth it though. He then dropped both hands to the floor in order to hold himself up and closed his eyes.

***********************

Aoshi opened his eyes seconds after he hit the ground. The stark white light of the ceiling soon came into focus. Quickly he took stock of his injuries. Aoshi wasn't happy. His entire body burned with the effects of Andy's ki blast. That was just pain though, he was used to that, his left arm was another matter however. He could move his fingers but not the rest of his arm. That was good, it meant dislocated, not broken. He looked for Andy and saw him knelt to the floor presumably from exhaustion. He determined that if he was to win he would have to do it now. Aoshi quietly moved his right hand to his left shoulder and closed his eyes. This was not going to be fun. There was a soft, unpleasant, popping noise seconds later.

*************************

Andy didn't know what it was that made him break his trance and look up but his eyes widened when he did. Shinomori Aoshi was rising, his body shaking. Andy nearly gaped when he realized that the black clad ninja was laughing. Aoshi stood fully upright then, still laughing. He raised his gaze to Andy with a maniacal grin splitting his face.

"Is that the most you can manage Bogard? Nasaki nai! No wonder you get beat all the time, you have no heart!" Despite the immense amount of pain ripping through his body Aoshi kept a convincing grin on his countenance. It took everything he had to just stand but the ninja had another weapon.

"I was right then," said Aoshi "you don't deserve her."

"What?" gasped Andy. "What the hell are you talking about!?!"

"Orokana. You haven't guessed yet have you?" Aoshi droned. He had to keep Andy talking until he could fight. "Maybe she loves the innocence stupidity brings because you are overflowing with that quality."

Understanding came to Andy. "Mai! This is about Mai!

Aoshi shook his head. "Finally."

Now Andy laughed. "Ha! You can't win Mai's heart through battle! She is not a prize to be won or lost. This is not the middle ages."

Aoshi smiled. "Of course not. By destroying you I am just ridding her of the one thing that's held her back for so long. Her dedication was never to you but to the false ideal you represent!"

Andy normally ignored such insults but today was a little different. He did not answer but growled in the back of his throat. Aoshi noticed this and smiled even more broadly inwardly. "At least I would appreciate one so fine as her. You obviously don't."

"WHAT!!" screamed Andy." I love her!"

"Right. I saw you Bogard, when Mai was right next to you, you didn't pay any attention except to tell her what to do. But when the other woman arrived you acted like a teen-ager next Pamela Anderson! I'm not the one treating her like a prize, you are!"

Andy tried to form words but they failed him. Self-doubt reared it's head as the blond man remembered when Mary touched him. This made him even angrier, with Aoshi, with Mary, for no apparent reason with Mai, but mostly with himself. A fire burning with guilt, doubt, and shame lit in his gut. "No that's not true!"

"Isn't it? I can hear the doubt in your voice Bogard. I know better. You pay her almost no attention until she is taken away from you, and only then do you 'bravely' go to her rescue." Aoshi managed to clench his left hand and gritted his teeth. Almost there. "You're like a child who only wants something when they can't have it. Love her? Ha! You're bored with her! When something new appears you act like a child again wanting a new toy to play with to make his old toy exciting again!"

Andy stared at his hands pressing into the ground. No, it couldn't be true. Yet Aoshi had described exactly how he had been acting...

Andy's old sensei had always told him that without faith a battle was surely lost. Somewhere Aoshi had learned this too and had systematically dismantled Andy's faith in himself and in Mai. Without realizing it, Andy was defeating himself. Which was exactly what Aoshi had been hoping for. The ninja who believed everything he was saying, was feeling better by the second. Unlike some Andy was incidental to Aoshi's quest. He truly loved Mai, not because she was someone else's' but because he believed that no one would love her as much he could.

"She's mine." choked out Andy trying to find the strength to stand and failing.

"Is she now?" snapped Aoshi. His strength had pretty much returned and he wanted Andy to snap. "Then prove it. You obviously can't defeat me for yourself, can you do it for her? I doubt it. You don't love her enough. You're too caught up with idea that honor comes with the approval of others. Or the following of someone else's' values. I know better. Honor comes from following what your heart tells you and defending those you hold dear."

That was enough. By assaulting Andy's belief in honor Aoshi had crushed the last pillar supporting his spirit. Tears were now flowing from Andy's eyes, because Aoshi had broken him. Andy couldn't accept any of it on one level but on another he believed what Aoshi had told him. Because maybe, just maybe, it was true. He raised his head to look at his tormentor. Aoshi stood with his legs shoulder width apart arms at his sides palms turned out. In a totally unrelated part of his brain Andy recognized the stance. But right now he needed to strike out. To make this one pay for crushing him. Andy's knuckles turned white as he vaulted off the floor towards Aoshi, his aura fueled by rage and sadness glowed a blinding gold.

"DAI-AN-KEN!!!" Everything blurred around him as Andy lashed out at Aoshi with more power than he had ever struck with.

Not that it mattered much. Having been expecting this for sometime, Aoshi raised his left arm and knocked Andy's elbow away, with his right arm Aoshi grabbed Andy's shirt and flipped him over his head and into the ground. The impact left Andy breathless and dazed. The part of his brain that still worked told him he had seen this exact technique before. As if in a dream Andy saw his opponent raise into the air and cock his right hand back as if holding something. The same part Andy's brain began screaming at him to move, and just as the air began vortexing around Aoshi's hand, he started to.

"Sempu-Ken!" called out Aoshi as he sent his attack out. Somehow Andy dodged the full force of the blast and the impact only knocked him clear. Andy's body remembered how to roll and came out it facing the cloud of dust where Aoshi stood, a black silhouette in a cloud of white. It was then that he remembered both those techniques. They were used by...

"Geese!" At his words Andy saw the cloaked man turn his head towards him. Somehow through the smoke Andy knew that the other man was grinning at him.

"What can I say Bogard, like father, like son."

The blond man gaped. Geese had a son? But now was not the time. Andy realized that he had only one chance. With the last of his strength and all of his ki Andy picked himself up charged forward and dove.

"Final attack CHO-REYADAN!"

The world became nothing but twisting flames as the tremendous energy given off by his attack set his world ablaze. The last thing he saw of Aoshi was flash of black, then Andy's body went numb. He landed then stumbled forward. With no strength left he dropped to his knees shakily held himself up looked behind him. There was a small pile of something black burning. Andy slumped back forwards a weak smile on his face.

"I won.." he trailed off his eyes fluttering shut.

"You know I really liked that coat." rolled out Aoshi's smooth cold voice.

Andy's eyes snapped back open to see Aoshi standing aside from the burning coat. His suit was scorched and torn, but Andy knew that he'd missed, and lost. A black flame burst into life around Aoshi's right hand.

"Kore de owarida."[Here it ends] said Aoshi coldly. Andy tried to move but failed he just watched the man who had defeated him. Aoshi sucked in all the ki from around him and cocked his fist back. In a surprisingly calm voice he spoke.

"Void Crash." Aoshi became a blur and Andy's world turned to darkness

***********************

Chapter Two: The Sorrow of Seduction.

Mai sat down at the bar and pouted cutely again. Mary had gone off to the bathroom and Mai didn't want to dance alone anymore.

"Where is he?" she growled to herself. There had, of course, been no sign of Andy since they left.

"If he left me here I'm gonna kill him!" thought Mai and almost meant it. She ordered another bottle of sake and started downing it.

************************

Andy coughed blood onto Aoshi's fist and arm and twitched slightly. Aoshi seemed not to notice. He was holding his index and middle outstretched in front of his a looked to be concentrating. Then Aoshi deliberately hit Andy with those two fingers at specific points on Andy's body.

"Hah!" Aoshi breathed out hard send a bolt of ki into Andy body. Suddenly the karateka's body began to spasm and even more blood was hacked up onto Aoshi's arm. The ninja responded by pulling his arm away from the broken man's chest. Andy, who had been pinned to the outside wall from the force of the ninja's technique, slumped lifelessly to the floor. Although his chest still rose and fell the color completely drained from his face.

"Oyasuminasai [Good night] Bogard." said Aoshi to the unconscious face. "You'll yet live. Let's see what you do with that life without the ability to fight."

First Aoshi washed his hands of Andy's blood making sure to do it very thoroughly and using a paper towel to wipe off the faucets. Then the ninja began to gather the smoldering remains of his coat, and the broken remnants of the sword. He wrapped them in his suit coat, after placing the paper towel in as well, and tied the sleeves together. Aoshi moved to a window and opened it. He withdrew a lighter from his pocket and ignited the suit coat holding it outside the club to vent the smoke. When it was burning sufficiently he dropped it in the narrow alley running along side the dance club.

"That should make things interesting for them." thought the ninja, now down to a tight black t-shirt and dark blue pants.

"The dance of death is done, let the dance of life begin." Murmured Shinomori Aoshi as he headed for the door... and Shiranui Mai.

********************

Blue Mary sighed deeply with pleasure as Mai slid behind her and began to dance her hands along Mary's legs and sides. During one of their breaks Mai had confessed that she had never danced with another girl like that before. From her performance now it was obvious that she was quick learner. Either from the alcohol, or Andy's apparent rejection, Mai was getting much bolder now. The crowd that had ringed them earlier was gone now as most of it's occupants realized that neither girl was really interested in any of them.

Blue Mary on the other hand considered Mai very interesting. Undoubtedly Mai had some of the finest breasts Mary had ever seen, and the bounty hunter rather liked having them against her. Mary wondered what Mai was going to do next when the heavy chested girl clandestinely slipped a hand down the back of Mary's pants. The blond woman gasped as the younger girl caressed the back of Mary's thighs and her tight ass, using her body to cover what she was doing. Then without warning Mai slid two fingers under her panties and pulled up, bunching the material between her cheeks and cupping her sex wonderfully.

Mary stiffened in surprise as the sensations started filling her. Mai then removed her hand from Mary's pants and change their style of dance to one that moved their legs more. Mary's head rolled back to Mai's shoulder with her eyes closed. Usually she was the one to start this and having it done to her felt incredible.

"Mai-chan you're mean!" gasped the blond as she felt her panties start to dampen. The brown haired girl smiled mischievously in response and picked up the pace of their dance. Mary couldn't hold back a moan as the friction on her pussy increased. She snaked both arms around Mai's neck for support as the other girl stroked the skin under her breasts and then slid her hands to Mary's inner thighs and began to butterfly them apart and together rapidly. Blue Mary's back arched and her breathing grew very ragged and fast. She shut her mouth tightly to keep from crying out but still couldn't contain all of the sounds she was making. Somewhere in her mind she wondered where Mai had picked this up from, but mostly she just felt the woman's body against hers and the waves of pleasure rolling from her sex.

"Mmmmnnn...oh...ohhh...Mmm..Ma..oh! Mai!" Mary gasped into the other girls neck. The playful kunoichi started nibbling on Mary's neck and making sure her hands rubbed Mary's clit when her legs closed. It was exquisite torture for the American woman, she so wanted to taste Mai and feel the other girl lick her well dry too. Then Mai turned her face enough so she could kiss the blond gently on the lips. Mary felt herself draw closer to the edge and tried hard not to go over. Just as the song ended Mai pressed her middle finger between Mary's legs to the base of her pussy and pressed hard. Then she slowly dragged the digit up.

It was to much for the blond woman and Mary came hard. She collapsed totally into Mai's chest, gasping her name repeatedly. Though she was still dazed from orgasming Mary couldn't help wonder if Mai had been entirely honest with her earlier. Then Mary heard her laugh quietly. Opening her eyes slowly Blue Mary smiled contentedly.

"Whas sso funny?" Mary slurred. The other girl supported her and stood her upright.

"Oh Mary-san, you're a mess. Better hope the lights stay low on this one." Mai giggled.

*******************

Luckily for Blue Mary the next song was played low with no massive light show, and she snuck to the rest room without being spotted by too many people. Mai bounced happily up the stairs to the bar and sat down smiling cheerfully. She quickly ordered some light sake and sat back in her chair still smiling peacefully. It felt nice to do that, she thought, very nice in fact. She gave the bartender a brilliant smile when he arrived with her drink. So brilliant that when she reached for the money to pay the bartender just blushed and waved it off.

"Are you sure?" asked Mai sounding worried.

The poor man nearly melted and said that yes, he was very sure. Mai went back to smiling and blew him kiss. The blood in his nose nearly came erupting out and he turned and ran to stifle the flow. That was mean! part of her chided. Oh well! said the more dominant side. Mai ran the tip of finger around the edge of the glass and dreamily remembered what it was like to make Blue Mary cum. She sighed happily, and for the first time since Andy's disappearance felt really good. Mai shifted her legs a little and felt a tingling between them, she closed her eyes slowly savoring the sensation. Then a voice from inside came unbidden.

"Was that what is was like for King when she made you cum? When despite all your protests you were pleading for more by the end?"

Mai's eyes snapped open and she suddenly felt cold. She hugged herself trying to ward off the memory.

"No! It wasn't like that! She made me..." Mai silently protested against herself.

"Made you what? Made you let her stick her fingers into you? Made you soak yourself with cum when she slid that dildo in your ass? Is that what she made you do?"

Mai rocked back and forth squeezing her arms together tightly as she tried to hold back the memories and the inevitable scathing voice that accompanied them. She stared at her reflection in the sake to terrified to close her eyes because of the intensity of the emotions these spells brought.

"And what about Billy Kane? I suppose you had no desire to beg for more when he pulled his bo out of you? That you weren't screaming for him not to stop, to fill you up? A little whore like you doesn't deserve someone like Andy, that's why he left!" The voice of course was her own guilt which had torn at her since both these incidents had happened. Mai gripped her arms even tighter her nails threatening to draw blood as she tried to escape herself. It was this same guilt which made cling so desperately to Andy for the faint affection he showed her. By allowing herself to enjoy what she and Blue Mary had felt Mai had opened floodgates of memory that she had thought locked away for good. Now the harder Mai tried to push the memories and guilt away the louder the voice got filling her head and ringing in her ears.

"No..." she whispered tears gathering in her eyes. "...Please stop."

"Even now you do it." the voice taunted. "Even now yo-"

"Kirin from the tap please!" called a smooth voice from beside her.

******************

He was sitting down a seat away from her, all silky grace and easy power. Mai stared at him without realizing it, watching the shape of his muscles move, and the light on his face. Her mind desperate for something less painful too dwell on, instantly began studying every detail of him. With a start, Mai realized that she knew him. Although her memory was a little foggy and her judgment no where near sure, Mai was positive that she had met this man before. As he received his drink he noticed her attention.

"Good evening." Shinomori Aoshi said with a warm smile and toast of his beer.

*******************

Blue Mary stood up in the stall and buttoned up her pants with a sigh. She still wasn't completely certain why what just happened had happened. Early on in the night they had decided to dance together, neither really interested in any other boys they saw. So Mai and Mary had danced together several times tonight and always anything physical that happened was Mary's doing. Her brow furrowed slightly as she thought about it. The blond was sure that Andy hadn't done anything at all (poor girl) yet her touch seemed so... expert. Mary smiled and stretched luxuriously. Very expert in fact. Still it bothered her slightly.

"Guess I'll just have to ask her." Mary thought to herself. Then she smiled. "I wonder if Andy's got some competition out there. Actually I hope so, it'll keep him on his toes."

Then she checked what her pants looked like and sighed ruefully. This was going to get real uncomfortable later.

************************

Though she wasn't sure why, Mai blushed furiously when he spoke to her.

"Oh! Um..well..ah it's just...well...I ah...Don't I know you?" She finally managed. Why was that so hard to say? She asked herself. I'm not that wasted am I?

The man chuckled deeply. He fixed her face with his gaze once more. "Isn't that supposed to be my line?"

Mai's cheeks colored a little more. His eyes are so bright, she thought. "Oh no! I didn't mean it like that! I just..."

The man chuckled again. Then he cocked his head slightly and studied her face intently. Mai knew it wasn't the sake making her cheeks burn like they were. She couldn't explain it but his eyes made her feel so warm! What was going on? Then his eyes widened and he smiled warmly once more.

"Of course! How stupid of me! I didn't recognize you without the gi on." he said with that smooth voice. "Shiranui Mai! How are you?"

Gi? Wondered Mai, suddenly just confused. What was that about? Apparently not noticing her confusion the man went on.

"It's been what, six years, since I saw you or Hanzo-sensei."

Wait a minute thought she looked closely at him again.

"Oh yes I remember!" she exclaimed happily. "Your name is...uh"

In mock pain the smooth voiced man put his hand on his heart. "You can't remember me? Oh I am sorely wounded!"

"No no, just give me a sec." Mai said quickly. Then with a little embarrassment added. "I've been drinking a little to much."

"Nothing wrong with that." said the man taking a draw off his beer. Mai nodded in agreement and sucked some of her sake down quickly. As the liquid hit her throat she remembered. "Oh yeah! Ao... something. Um, oh wait... Aoshi! Right?" she ventured. Shinomori Aoshi bowed slightly, smiling broadly again.

"To hear my name from the lips of one as pretty as you is a fine compliment indeed!" Mai was suddenly blushing madly again. Aoshi's face fell as he leaned back in his chair shaking his head.

"I'm sorry that was forward of me wasn't it." He said apologetically. Mai calmed down a little and shook her head.

"No no, it was nice of you. Thank you." She said softly. For some reason it looked like that meant a great deal to him. Aoshi motioned to the seat next to her askingly.

"Oh, of course!" Mai said smiling brightly again. She watched him move, even over such a short distance she could see the play of muscle under his shirt and the cat-like way he moved. He slid into the seat with that warming smile on his lips and in his eyes. Mai began to feel hot again.

"Weird how things work out isn't it? For six years I never see a trace of my old classmates and then one night I run into two of them!" Said Aoshi sipping his beer. Mai suddenly narrowed her eyes. the heat in her mind was pushed aside.

"Oh really. Who was it?" Mai questioned keeping her smile bright.

"That gaijin in our class remember? Andy Bogard. I thought you knew him fairly well?"

"So did I." Mai murmured quietly.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------

"What was that?" Aoshi asked.

"Oh nothing. When did you see him?"

"Oh, about ten minutes ago. He was on his way to the bathroom, said something about not wanting to stay long and having to get into a fight?" Aoshi shrugged his shoulders.

Mai's eyes burned intensely. The NERVE of that man! This was too much, she would never forgive this!

"Something wrong?" Aoshi said.

"Not at all." Mai responded evenly. "Just sorry I missed him. It is my birthday after all."

"Oh really! Well then happy birthday!" Aoshi toasted.

"Yeah, very happy." This time Mai couldn't keep the glumness out of her voice.

Aoshi stopped his drink in mid-toast and set his beer down sliding it to one side. Mai's right hand was clenched into a fist on her thigh and Aoshi leaned forward very deliberately and put his hand on hers.

"Something is wrong." He stated, holding her hand gently. Mai had been on an emotional roller coaster all night and Aoshi's touch sent that ride into overdrive. Her pulse quickened as she fought with her passion, anger, sadness, and guilt. Her face remained stock still but she couldn't stop a tear from forming in her left eye. It was halfway down her check when Aoshi reached out and intercepted it with his left hand. He held her cheek caringly and tipped her face up towards his. She stared into his eyes only inches from hers now. They were deep, those orbs, and all Mai could see was concern in them. Concern and caring for her.

"If you don't want to talk that's all right. I'll be here to wipe your tears away." His smooth voice caressed her ears. Mai cupped his left hand with her's and managed a weak smile as more tears flowed from her jeweled eyes.

***********************

Blue Mary had been sitting about three chairs behind Mai since she had remembered Aoshi's name. She looked over at Mai and smiled sadly. She hadn't heard everything but enough had reached her ears. Although she felt truly sorry for Mai there was a twinge of jealousy fringing her heart. Mary sincerely wished that she could have been the one to help her friend through this. Mary sighed watching Mai cry silently remembering the taste of her friend on her lips. She watched as the fingers of their right hand interlaced and Aoshi guided her face forwards into a deep kiss. Blue Mary closed her eyes and wondered which one she envied more, her dear friend Mai or the man holding her. Bitterly she swallowed her drink and slammed the cup to the bar.

******************

The kiss was electric. It shocked Mai as soon as their lips touched sending waves of heat through her. As her eyes closed she forgot her pain for the moment and only Aoshi's tender lips existed to her. Mai drove it deeper slipping her tongue into his mouth and finding his.

For Aoshi who had waited and planned six years for this, it seemed surreal, a dream that he had stayed asleep for. Then Mai upped the stakes and it became clear to him that everything until this point had been a dream and he had just woke up. His hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck holding her tight to him. She moaned slightly into his mouth and he fought to control the desire burning his skin like oxyacetylene.

When they broke, very reluctantly, Mai realized that she had stopped crying and was smiling without having to force it. Aoshi smiled slow and warm, moving his hand back to her cheek and tracing her lips with his thumb. Mai rested her head against his hand and closed her eyes. Their other hands still gripped each other tightly. Mai felt him move closer and kissed both her eyelids very gently. "Sa ikuzo." he said quietly

Mai kept her eyes closed and nodded.

*******************

Blue Mary watched Mai and the man kiss and resolved not to be too bitter about it. She stood up and walked to the pair as they both stood up. Aoshi noticed her first, his eyes changing very subtly as did his entire attitude and poise. He suddenly looked just slightly on edge. This did not escape Mai's notice. She turned around and her eye's widened. Mai quickly decided to deny everything and answered with her typical speed and grace.

"Oh Mary-san! Um, this is my old friend Shinomori Aoshi. We were just ah...um...."

Blue Mary put a finger to Mai's lips to quiet her then replaced the digit with her own mouth. Mary wrapped one hand around the back of Mai's head and placed the other at the center of her back and pressed their bodies together. She then slipped her tongue into Mai's mouth. Mai's eyes widened even more then slowly dropped shut as she returned Mary's embrace. Aoshi was taken aback by this. He really hadn't considered Mai having a girlfriend! How would this affect things? Aoshi didn't want to share her affection. However at the sight of them he began to rethink.

"Then again this might not be so bad..." He considered. For the first time in his life Shinomori Aoshi was unsure of what to do. For six years he had worked to get to this point, to when he felt that he was worthy of having this girl he treasured so much. Aoshi had planned and waited always knowing what his goal was, now that his goal had been reached however... He looked at the two women and wondered what to do. Luckily for him Blue Mary slowly disengaged herself from Mai's lips. She smiled broadly at Aoshi and then winked at him. Mai opened her eyes looking pleased but very confused.

"Mai here is my phone number," Mary said digging a wrinkled business card out from her back pocket and holding it out to her friend while smiling impishly. "Call me in couple days, okay? In the mean time, have fun, you deserve it!"

Mai held the card and kissed Mary on the check. She whispered "Bye Mary-san."

Then Mai nestled against Aoshi, who with the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile, bowed to Mary very slightly. Then he turned with Mai and left the club.

Mary watched them go, smiling sadly.

"Alone again." she whispered ruefully. That was OK though. She was used to it.

************************

Mai didn't remember most of the ride in the taxi, spending the entire time snuggled next to Aoshi's chest with his arms around her. Aoshi on the other hand spent the time memorizing every detail about her, her face, her warmth, the smell of her hair.

When they arrived he helped her out and they headed to the elevator. Neither did Mai really notice when they got into the glass elevator. To her everything seemed hazy except the man holding her. Part of Mai's mind yelled that she was going to fast that this would be no different than the times with King or Billy Kane, but it was quickly silenced by the roaring blood in her ears. He made her feel so warm, and the tingling between her legs that she had when she had been dancing with Blue Mary had returned stronger than ever. Mai couldn't explain why she felt so safe with him, when at the same time he radiated an aura that she felt dangerously attractive. Maybe because he had met her for the first time in six years and treated her with more care and respect than someone she had spent her whole life with.

Mai started as she realized that had been the first time she had thought of Andy since Aoshi had kissed her. Almost instantly the voice of her guilt started again.

"Mai?" came Aoshi's caressing voice. She looked up at him and smiled. Aoshi instantly covered her mouth with a passionate kiss, and all else was forgotten. One of his hands pushed on her back pressing her to him, the other cupped one her of glorious breasts as he ran his thumb across the border between leather and exposed flesh. She gasped softly and ran her hands up and down his strong back. Soon Aoshi slipped a finger in between the material of her dress and her sensitive skin. When he slid the digit the base of her breast Mai moaned into his mouth again. This time he had to act and pushed her against the doors of the elevator as it continued upwards.

Aoshi slid the hand against her back to her tight, round ass and cupped it pushing up on her thigh. Mai quickly understood as he lifted her leg to his hip. She gripped with her calf, pressing herself to him and revealing in the feeling it gave her. She felt his thigh slide down hers and brush against her sex. At the same time he slid the rest of his fingers into her dress and came close to but did not touch her already hardening nipple. Mai broke the kiss as she tipped her head and groaned louder. Aoshi took the opportunity to taste Mai's cheeks and throat, covering them with kisses.

The passion drunk girl reacted by hooking her other leg over his waist and locking her ankles together. Mai rested both arms on his powerful shoulders and began grinding herself against Aoshi without thinking about it, whimpering lightly at the sensation. The young man grunted at this. Though he supported her with ease, to have her so close was sheer, absolute torture. Aoshi made the best of the situation and withdrew his fingers from her top. Mai's sigh of disappointment quickly turned to a gasp as he slipped both hands under her skirt. One hand caressed her upper thigh while he ran the fingers of his other hand in between her cheeks pressing her thin panties in between them. Aoshi felt her jump when he reached her anus and so ran the rapidly dampening material around the area twice before pressing gently.

Mai arched her back with each circle gasping softly at pull of the fabric against her slit, then cried out with the pressure, pushing her sex against him hard. She felt his erection through the thin material separating them and rolled her hips against his. It was getting to be too much for Aoshi. He sneaked his middle finger under her panties while desperately kissing the arch of her neck and the tops of her breasts. The attention to the sensitive flesh made Mai cry out again. Both she and Aoshi were getting very desperate, their breathing getting faster and more ragged.

Then the door to the elevator opened.

Mai yelped in surprise and latched onto Aoshi's neck tightly with both arms in surprise as they stumbled into the hall. Aoshi moved both hands under her thighs and managed to catch the overbalanced girl. Her face burning bright red, Mai looked down both directions of the hallway, and breathed a deep sigh of relief when she didn't see anyone. With his face crushed to the finest cleavage he had ever seen Aoshi didn't see much either. However, at the moment there was no reason in the universe to want to. Mai realized why the man beneath her hadn't moved at all and loosened her grip slightly. With the utmost regret Aoshi let the glorious globes move away from him and looked into Mai's face. She smiled slightly at first, and he did the same. Then Mai started giggling and his shoulders started to shake with silent laughter.

"Maybe I should get down." Mai said still laughing a little. In response Aoshi slid his left arm under her to fully support her weight.

"Oh no you don't! I'm not letting you go for anything." The young man said as he started to run towards his apartment. Mai yelped in delight and still giggling clutched him tight to her, this time letting him see over her shoulder. The reached his door and Aoshi's hand blurred as he withdrew his keycard and slammed it through the slot. The door unlocked it's only bolt and Aoshi kicked it open while shoving the keycard back into his pocket. Mai heard the door lock as it closed shutting out the light from the hallway. Illuminated only by the lights of Tokyo through large sliding glass doors, Mai could still see the desire in Aoshi's face and how hotly his eyes were burning. She knew her eyes were glowing with same light and cupped his face in her hands.

"Now where were we?" She asked playfully, bending down to kiss him.

After they separated, Aoshi, still carrying her, moved to another room, a bed backlit by the city and said "Here."

Aoshi laid her slowly on the silk sheets her voluminous hair splaying out beneath them. He straddled her with her arms still around his neck and lowered his lips to hers. Still connected Aoshi supported himself with his right arm and with his left found the zipper in the front of her dress. He undid it slowly letting himself savor the flavor of her lips and the smell of her skin. The zipper reached it's limit and opened up. Kept from slipping off by her breasts the leather exposed a long strip of skin. Aoshi was sure he had never seen anything more erotic. He slipped one side off without breaking their kiss and slowly began to massage her firm yet soft flesh. Mai lowered one hand to the back of his and tried to push it towards her nipple but he resisted, making slow circles with his palm and thumb. Aoshi took the lower pad of her lip in his mouth and sucked on it gently while raising his head back, drawing out the kiss. When he released her she laid her head back to the bed with another soft moan as he flicked away the other half of her dress.

Aoshi started trailing kisses to her other breast and dropped himself to his elbows in order to get his other hand onto her bountiful tit. Mai arched her back and tried again to push him to her nipples again he refused touching every bit of skin except that area. Slowly she increased the pressure her need grew, yet to no avail. Aoshi moved his legs in between her thighs and gently lowered himself to her. Her breathing increased and she started to roll her hips slowly. Finally it was too much.

"Ahn... oh...Please..." was all she could breathlessly manage. Hearing what he had been waiting for Aoshi instantly took one erect nipple between thumb and forefinger and started sucking the other. Mai's bucking increased as she dug her curled toes into the silk below her. Aoshi worked one nipple then the other feeling the tension build within her and hearing Mai's cries begin to gain volume. Whenever she had masturbated Mai had always ended every orgasm while fondling her breasts because they were so sensitive. Now under Aoshi's ministrations she felt her self climaxing faster than she ever had before.

It took all Aoshi's self control to keep doing what he was as he felt Mai dig her nails into the back of his head and buck her sex against him. Then he took one nipple between his teeth and rapidly ran his tongue across the swollen flesh. When Aoshi squeezed her other nipple with just enough pressure Mai came moaning and crying loudly every second of it.

As she lay in trying to catch her breath Aoshi raised himself and stripped down to his boxers in record time. Before Mai had fully recovered he was between her legs again. This time he put a hand under her back and lifted her up, whisking her leather dress from beneath her. Laying Mai back down to the silk slowly he began to kiss his way up her inner thigh. His free hand went to her mound and cupped it through the soaking cotton. Mai instantly began to focus on the new sensations and put both hands to the back of his head. Aoshi licked the fold of her thigh and pressed his finger lengthwise through Mai's panties into her folds.

"Oh! Ah...uh uhnmmmm" Her cries slowly descended into contented hums as Aoshi ran the fabric against the sides of her vagina. Mai's hips began to gain the rhythm of his caress and started pushing against them to gain more penetration. She left one hand pressing against the back of his head and moved the other to her lonely tit massaging it in time with his strokes. Then Aoshi hooked one finger of each hand in the corner of her panties and with one smooth motion slid them off her and flicked them in the same direction as her dress. Before Mai could really prepare herself he spread her petals open and dove in as far as he could.

There was no stopping her cries, the loudest yet, this time as his tongue worked her inner folds despite the bumpy ride of Mai's wildly spasming hips. He quickly wrapped both arms around her thighs and lifted her up until only her shoulders lay on the bed. Resting on one knee he spread her thighs wide and ate. Mai reached down with one arm and pushed on the back of Aoshi's head encouraging him to go deeper. Her other bunched the sheets as she clenched her fist against the tidal wave of pleasure rolling up her. Mai was shaking her head back and forth uncontrollably and screaming.

"YESS! OH! YESS! MORE! MORE!" As for Aoshi her cries had an effect. Hearing her made him feel that he was sharing her bliss and that made his member was so hard he could barely feel it. Aoshi worked his way up reveling in the taste and the feel of her. He worked his way up from deep strokes until he found her clitoris. As soon as he touched it Mai's body stiffened, her cries were cut short, and the hand on the back of her head seemed locked. Aoshi was curios about this a licked it again long and slow. Her body went limp for a second then spasm back tight. He heard her gasp. Realizing what an effect this had on her hit her button fast and hard. The only action Mai took was to remove her hand from the back of his head and slam it to the bed, trying to push herself into his face. Tears of joy formed in her eyes and poured down her cheeks. But it was too much to go on for very long.

There was no outcry this time, all Mai could manage was a strangled gasp. Then she creamed harder than she ever had in her life, soaking Aoshi's face with her honey. She went limp again and Aoshi laid her down gently and moved to her face wiping his face off his index and middle fingers. Mai's eyes were shut and her chest rose and fell rapidly, and sweet little mouth was still slightly open. Aoshi lay next to her and cradled her head with his unused arm. He ran the tips of his fingers around her lips leaving her own juice on her lips. Mai kept her eyes closed and ran the tip of her tongue across his fingertips. She apparently liked the taste because she then started sucking both fingers. Aoshi hadn't known what to expect it to feel like but this certainly wasn't it. Every caress of lips and tongue against his fingers felt like she had his manhood in her mouth.

Soon Mai had cleaned off both fingers and opened her eyes slowly. There was hunger as well as desire in them now. Mai put hand on his chest and pushed Aoshi to his back. He watched Mai silhouetted in the lights of the city straddle his legs and pull off his shorts. Aoshi reached for her but Mai gently pushed him back to the silk shaking her head and smiling. She grasped him both hands and examined it closely. Though Mai had only seen one before she liked his length and thickness. His member seemed strong in her hands and Mai leaned in close and ran her tongue up the length of bottom of it. Now it was Aoshi's turn to stiffen and clench his fists. He had dreamed of this for years and now that it was actually happening, Aoshi saw that nothing he had ever dreamed was close. Her tongue probed and caressed every inch of his rod and although she didn't know why Mai actually enjoyed it. Aoshi's back was arching and he was growling to stay in control when she stopped. He was almost glad, Aoshi was positive that he could not have held out any longer.

Then he saw her shadowed form straddle his waist. Still holding him with one hand Mai opened her lips with the other and slowly lowered herself onto him. They both arched into each other and moaned eyes sealed by the intensity of it. Though Aoshi had been with other women before it was nothing like this. This joining made every hair stand on end and every inch of skin cry out for more of her. Pleasure rolled out like liquid thunder from just that first contact.

She's so tight! Aoshi thought as he began thrusting into her harder. Mai rose and sank with perfect rhythm crying out again as he filled her over and over. Then she pushed both hands against his shaped, muscular abdomen and used that to for leverage too. Aoshi opened his eyes and saw both of her breasts bouncing deliciously and decided that he'd had enough on his back. He shot upwards and latched onto both beautiful globes squeezing and rubbing them almost roughly. He moved one nipple to his mouth and bit gently. Mai was already flowing freely and when he touched her sensitive tits she nearly came. For her the sensations blurred into one wave of pleasure crashing through her and she started to buck more wildly while scraping his back with her nails. Aoshi wanted to say something but his mouth was full and he didn't like the prospect of letting go.

To him it seemed that everything came sharply into focus, he heard every difference in her gasps and moans, felt every variation of her smooth skin, and smelt their sex and sweat combined. He had waited too long and she was so much more than his dreams ever could have hoped for. He felt himself drifting except for the intense sensation of his manhood and every thrust and retreat. Then he became aware of Mai calling out that she was cumming over and over.

It was too much. He let loose six years of stored desire in a tremendous shot. Mai's eyes rolled up into her head as she orgasmed even harder than before. They stayed there for a while, Aoshi still inside Mai and clutching her tightly, while her arms dangled limply at her sides. Slowly he lowered her back to the bed. Her breathing had become more rhythmic now and her eyes fluttered as she tried to stay awake. Aoshi kissed her eyelids shut again.

"Oyasuminasai Mai." he said. Mai tried to return the saying but was too exhausted from their night of passion and slipped asleep. Aoshi wrapped them both in the silk embrace of the bed and brushed the hair from her face. He knew that this was not the end, that there would still be problems . But right now he didn't care, it was enough to just touch her face and watch her sleep. He did just that until exhaustion claimed him as well. Before he lost consciousness he said one more thing. "I love you Mai."

********************

Central Tibet: Two men sat side by side in a lotus position. They naked to the waist despite the chill wind that blew across the mountain top the were camped on. Terry Bogards long hair flowed with wind as he allowed his mind to do the same. Without warning a blast of pain struck his mind along a blur of jumbled images and sound. Out of all of this Terry was sure of only one thing. A pleading voice that said:

"Brother help..."

Terry stood up and quickly began to dress and pack his duffel bag as it lay next to a nearly identical one. The very muscular Japanese man who had been sitting beside him and arose. "What is wrong?" his calm quiet voice rolled out like slow thunder.

"My brother needs me I need to go to Japan, now." The Japanese man gathered his few belongings and started placing them in his bag. Noticing this Terry spoke.

"You don't have to come this is not your problem my friend." the black haired man shrugged in response.

"I have few friends so their problems are also mine." Terry looked at the man and saw that his mind was made. He nodded and finished packing. "Very well then Ryu let's go"

TO BE CONTINUED

Writers notes and acknowledgments: Thanks goes to SNK for making Garou Denstetsu and all it's characters, especialy Shiranui Mai. Masami Obari gets extreme credit for his work on the animated series. Also thanks and trademark BS to Jump Comics' series' Ruroni Kenshin character Shinomori Aoshi. And of course to Paladin who first posted this story, and Now to Vegeta who is posting it now.. Note that during the 1700's through the late 1800's there was an actual group known as the Oniwabashu. They were ninja from various ryu (schools or clans) and were charged with the protection of the general of Edo (old Tokyo). Also while there is no known record of Shiranui ryu ninjutsu I have found continuous referances in the martial arts to "Shiranui style" techniques. Without exception these are subtle moves based on trickery, so who knows.