Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Leather and Lace ❯ Chapter 9

Leather and Lace

By: Maidens of Konan

The rights to Fushigi Yûgi and its inhabitants belong to the very talented Yuu Watase and a host of multi-media type companies. The rights to original storylines, original characters, and the concept of Sgt. Dante Tager plus any other reincarnated identities that were concocted purely for a fan's reading pleasure belong to the author(s). Use them without written permission and be sentenced to playing fireworks roulette with a foaming-mouthed Ashitare. Takk fer det!

Note: A huge thank you and glomp to Chibi Kaz for her inspirational song suggestion, 'I Would Have Waited Forever' by Yes. It's a great theme song and played a big part in the creation of this chapter. (You rock, CK! :)

Chapter rating: T 14+ for profanity and adult topics.

Chapter Nine

Miaka tried very hard to banish her smile as she entered the restaurant lobby, but knew the attempt had failed when Hannah De Berg called out her name and enthusiastically beckoned for her to come closer. Though the woman's tone was buoyant, her intent expression broadcast the fact that she was fully prepared to run down and pounce upon her target if it tried to escape. The lack of privacy in having this type of conversation at work was exasperating, and yet Miaka found herself acknowledging a strange kind of eagerness to share her news, a feeling that had her willingly capitulating to the inevitable.

As she made the detour over to her friend's work station, the hostess grinned in triumph, and then lowered the volume of her voice to a discreet pitch as she asked,

"Where on earth did you meet that gorgeous sweetheart of a guy?"

"Out on the freeway yesterday, when he gave me a ticket for speeding."

"No way!"

"Yes way!"

"So he found out where you worked and came here to ask you out?"

Miaka simply nodded. It was a less complicated and much safer explanation, as Hannah seemed to have forgotten the wadded-up shirt she held in her hands. Questions about how Dante had come to have possession of that were best avoided.

"That's incredibly romantic! Please, oh please tell me you said yes!"

The hostess was almost crying with excitement. Despite the gravity of the situation, Miaka couldn' t resist stringing her along just a bit. "Excuse me, but aren't you assuming too much? I'm already in a relationship!"

"Yes, a missing person relationship that's been going nowhere for months!" Hannah retorted. "And don't roll your eyes at me! Your face was like an open book when you and Mr. Policeman walked out of here! You'll never convince me you're not interested!"

Miaka sighed. Seven months ago she would have been embarrassed to be called on her feelings, but not now. The past couple of months had seen this kind of conversation becoming a very normal part of a burgeoning friendship. "You Americans are so nosy!" She challenged, half-seriously.

"Yes, we do tend to care and get involved when we feel we're needed." Hannah shot back without batting an eye. "We also have a great deal of tenacity when it comes to rooting out the truth. So what was your answer?"

"If you really must know...I said...'yes'."

Hannah immediately clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle her delighted squeal. "I can't believe it! You've finally met the guy that could make you realize what you've been missing!" Reaching out, she clasped the younger girl's shoulder and squeezed it affectionately. "I'm so happy for you, Mia! He's just what you've been needing!"

Even as she said the words, Miaka knew they weren't convincing. "Han-chan, please! I haven't decided if...I mean, it's just going to be a date between friends..."

"Nuh-uh! It's way more than that!" Hannah declared gleefully. "That man is completely, totally and absolutely head-over-heels for you!"

Miaka gaped at her. "We just met! He might like me, but how could you think he's in..." She couldn't articulate the thought. Saying it might prove it false.

"I don't think, honey, I know!" The hostess proclaimed. "And there's no need to be worried and skittish," she added, as Miaka began to look wildly about them. "Everyone else here was too far away from the action to hear or really see anything. It was only obvious to me because I got a close up of his expression when he first caught sight of you." Her voice dropped to just above a whisper. "Trust me, Mia...if you want him, he's all yours!"

Miaka couldn't think of a thing to say in response. Her mind was in a whirl, her stomach had butterflies, her face was on fire and her heart was threatening to leave her chest. It was true Dante had demonstrated in words and deeds that he liked and was strongly attracted to her, but in dealing with her own feelings after his dismissal, she hadn't considered how deep his really went. Would he really have become that serious about her this quickly, especially when it was painfully apparent he no memories of a past spent together?

Of course, there were several indicators that pointed to his subconscious having recognized that connection; really, it was the only reasonable explanation for the easy and comfortable rapport that they shared in their first meeting on the freeway. It had been that way with her and Taka, too. Their first connection had been in Taka's dreams, followed up by the wonderful reality of a chance meeting...

Dante had said she was his dream girl.

Taka. How could she explain this to him? What would happen if she tried?

The wide-eyed look she gave the other woman was more telling than words. Thankfully, Hannah was very sensitive despite her outspokenness and quickly picked up on her friend's inner turmoil.

"It's okay. My lips are sealed." She stated gravely. "You obviously have a lot of thinking to do, so I'll quit badgering... just as long as you promise to call on me if you need a friend to help you sort things out."

"I promise." Miaka said warmly. Talking to Hannah wasn't the same as confiding in Yui, but the cheerful American definitely had her own sterling qualities to bring to the table. It was wonderful having someone to talk to who was honest and supportive. "I really have to get back to the kitchen and I know you have class tonight. How about at lunch break tomorrow?"

"You're on!" The other woman grinned, then leaned forward and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper, "by the way, McMasters was busy hitting on Briana while you were on break. She's totally ga-ga over him, and won't listen to the voices of experience...apparently she thinks we're just jealous because he's not interested in us."

Miaka grimaced in sympathy. "Well at least you tried. Maybe she'll figure it out before things go too bad?"

"Could be." Hannah said doubtfully. "If not, we'll just have to be there to help her pick up the pieces."

The two women exchanged rueful looks, and then Miaka headed back to work.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

Despite Hannah's assertion that people hadn't been close enough to notice, Miaka found herself running a gauntlet of widely smiling, inquisitive wait-staff that clearly had seen her leave with Dante. It served as a warning, and she was unsurprised to be met by yet another group of stares upon entering the kitchen; some curious, some amused, and others knowing.

She tried to keep her expression pleasant but unreadable as she passed her co-workers; obviously, someone had tattled about her spending her break outside with a handsome police officer. At this point, all she could do to side-track comments and questions was to go right back to work and hope that bending over a hot stovetop would provide an excuse for the blush that would be heating her cheeks every time she thought about Dante.

She hung up the t-shirt, washed her hands in the small staff room adjoining the kitchen proper, and then resumed her duties at her station, sending a brief, wary glance around the room while she did so. Sure enough, McMasters had zeroed in on her entrance. He returned her glance with a cool, hard-eyed stare that had her steeling herself for the inquisition she was sure was to come, but he surprised her by simply turning his back and barking out orders to a thoroughly cowed pastry chef. Still, she didn't dare exhale in relief until she saw her boss fall into the process of beginning his own preparations for the special main course.

Whatever else he was, Kevin McMasters was a consummate professional, and doing his best to please the restaurant's clientele took precedence over his personal life. That trait and her getting the chance to learn his superior techniques with Mongolian and Tibetan grilled dishes were the only reasons she had tolerated working with the man as long as she had. He was a world class chef, yes, but did the other assistants have to treat him as some sort of a god just because he had an agent? So what if he'd been featured on nationally syndicated cooking shows? So what if he had been the feature subject of articles in the top three fine dining magazines in the world?

I don't care how famous he gets or how many people are dying to work for him- he just better keep his hands to himself!

She moved with determination to one of six stoves set into a counter in the middle of the large room. Picking up a shaker of cayenne pepper, she added a liberal dose to a fragrant sauce simmering in a big aluminum pot.

"Better go easy with those hot shots, Yuuki!" A nasal voice murmured into her ear. "You do realize that Kevin got his undies in a bunch when he heard you two went off together, don't you?"

Miaka turned an affectionate smile towards the tall, sable-haired man standing beside her, just as the expression on his finely wrought features turned glum. "Alan dear, I don't care what Kevin thinks except when it comes to cooking." Her smile softened the edge in her voice. "Really, there's no reason for you to be jealous, and there never will be. I have no interest in being around the man other than at work."

Her co-worker made a face. "Sorry, ignore me. I'm feeling bitchy because he's lusting after the new waitress." Golden eyes narrowed in speculation. "Perhaps I should follow your example and try ignoring Kevin! He likes challenges, and Lord knows all my pathetic ass kissing isn't getting me anywhere."

"Did you ever consider that the reason you're not getting anywhere is because McMasters isn't gay?"

"Yes I have, Miss Smarty Pants!" Alan sniffed. "A man can still hope, can't he? It wouldn't be the first time a gay guy has acted like a Lothario in order to hide or deny his true tendencies!"

"I wouldn't know about that," Miaka said, grinning, "but I do know that if anyone can out him, you're the man!"

Alan's eyes widened, then crinkled with amusement. "My goodness, Yuuki!" He exclaimed. "To get such a ringing endorsement from the straightest person I know..." he paused to clutch his chest dramatically, "... words simply cannot express the happiness that dwells within the portals of this unworthy heart!"

Stumped for a comeback, she made a face that caused the sous chef to laugh and teasingly bump hips with her. "Something else just occurred to me, though," he added, in a far more serious tone. "What if Kevin's guessed I have a thing for him? God, that would be a disaster, that's the surest way of scaring a closet case off!" He nibbled anxiously on a fingernail, and then stopped with a grimace. "Damn! I have to go wash my hands again!"

"Maybe it'll teach you to leave those nails alone!" Miaka told him unsympathetically. "And to answer your question...no, I don't think he's guessed how you feel. To be honest, I don't even think he realizes you're gay! I think he thinks you look up to him- you know, like a role model or a mentor."

Alan blew out a breath, and his thin eyebrows relaxed from a scowl. "That's a relief. I've always taken great pains not to sound or act jealous around him, but especially so since that incident a year back..." He paused, a smirk tugging at his mouth.

"What incident?"

"It was with some tall, curvy redhead he shacked up with for awhile. I did my best to be friendly, but for some reason she took a dislike to me, and sent in complaints to Kevin about my cooking every time she ate here. Jealousy or not, I didn't like her, which meant I tried even harder to be professional towards her. The incident I'm talking about happened when she was eating a late dinner while waiting for Kevin. The person waiting on her was a trainee, and he got flustered when she flirted and displayed her considerable charms in requesting he pour extra amounts of high priced liquor on the complimentary dish of cherries jubilee I had sent out to appease her. She succeeded in conning him, but he still had enough wits to say he didn't have the training to safely light a dessert that was literally swimming in one hundred and fifty proof alcohol. She argued, of course, and Kevin came over to see what the problem was, and then ..." he took a deep breath,"...to prove her point that any schmuck could do it, she took the torch from the waiter and lit the dish herself..."

"Oh no." Miaka murmured, torn between horror and laughter.

"I'm afraid it's 'oh yes'! Luckily Kevin had a large serving dish handy to smother the flames!"

"Thank goodness! I hope she wasn't burned?"

"Just her hair. The ends were burned off and a good five inches past that were singed and smelled so bad that she needed to cut it off. She was a model, and so I thought for sure I was toast and she'd sue me for loss of income, but Kevin was really angry with her, and there was nothing she could do but sign the waiver form if she wanted to keep Kevin with her. In return, he bought her a very expensive long haired wig to cover everything until it grew back. It was actually very lovely, looked completely natural." Alan's sigh of regret was dramatic. "Unfortunately, right after that Kevin developed a severe allergy. Ask anyone who was here and they'll agree with me that he used it as an excuse to break up with her... because some rashes just won't go away on their own. Keh, keh..."

Miaka couldn't help chuckling at her friend's nasty cackle, but pangs of guilt quickly sobered her. "From what you just told me and what I've observed, even if he were gay or bisexual, it wouldn't change a thing. Kevin doesn't seem to care about anyone except himself and his job. He'd probably use you and then discard you like an old wrung-out dishrag!"

"I am fully aware of our leader's personality flaws, Miaka, but love isn't always a rational master." Alan replied quietly. "Deep down, I think he's been searching for a good relationship. Maybe he's chasing you because he's recognized that you are a person who would love him completely and unconditionally."

She blushed a deep red. "I'm sure you'd have that kind of love for anyone who was lucky enough to win your heart."

Alan's smile was bleak. "And what I wouldn't give for the chance to prove it."

That did it. Throwing down her chopping knife, Miaka put a gentle hand on her friend's arm. "Please stop. I hate seeing you torturing yourself over someone who doesn't have the capacity to return your feelings! Is it so impossible to forget him and find someone else? I want you to be happy!"

Golden eyes softened and regarded her with something approaching tenderness. "Thank you. If you truly want me to be happy, then allow me to have my hopes and dreams. Having fantasies about having the unattainable can't hurt if one realizes and accepts that they're only illusions."

"But-"

"Which brings us back to my original question!" Alan added, firmly cutting off any further protests. "Start dishing, honey-bun! What's up with you and that deliciously buff hunk of flame-haired man-meat?"

Miaka sighed in frustration. As with Hannah, she knew there was no way to side track the good-natured inquistion. Alan Thompson was just as outspoken and opinionated about her lack of a love life as she was about his, if not more so. He had also proven to be a surprisingly understanding confidante once he had found out that she had absolutely no interest in Kevin McMasters. Even better, since Alan was openly gay, Taka hadn't had any objections to the two of them hanging out at work, or doing things outside of it as friends.

They had certainly shared some fun times, but nevertheless, there was still an aloofness about Alan, a kind of watchful edginess, that sometimes made her question just how much genuine liking for her he really had and how much of their friendship was based on him wanting to keep tabs on her.

Maybe it was a good idea to reveal her feelings for Dante. If Alan knew how she felt, he'd realize once and for all that he had nothing to fear from her. She'd make it clear to him that McMasters had no chance, that Dante was-

The train of thought was broken as a large hand waved in front of her face. "This is a lot more serious than I thought!" Alan teased. "Just who is this mystery man who has our single-minded Ms. Yuuki so wrapped up in daydreams?" Without asking, he reached over her shoulder to grab the basil leaves she had been chopping and tossed them into the sauce. "Could he be the boy next door? An old family friend? A high school sweetheart? Or maybe an ex-"

Miaka replied as she bent over the sauce pot and briskly stirred its contents. "Let's just say he's someone special that I've decided I want to get to know better and leave it at that."

"Hey, that's wonderful!" From the sound of his voice, she could tell Alan was grinning. "And it's about time, too!"

"About time for what?"

The two sous-chefs jumped guiltily as their boss came to a standstill behind them.

"And what, may I add, is so important that it has taken you both away from your duties?"

As ice blue eyes skewered her in place, Miaka had to fight the urge to take a step back.

He knows that Dante was kissing me! She thought in sudden panic. But wait, we were out of sight of the building. How could anyone have seen that unless he sent someone to spy on me while I was on break? No, no, no, what am I saying? He wouldn't go that far. He's just trying to intimidate me, that's all.

"Miaka and I were discussing the in-depth article on Tibetan specialty dishes in last Sunday's Gazette!" Alan fibbed smoothly, drawing the chef's attention back to him. "I was just telling Ms. Yuuki how very enlightening it was to learn about cuisine from that region of the world. Since Tibet is such an isolated and inaccessible country, that makes your knowledge of their cooking traditions even more extraordinary."

Miaka stifled a smile as she watched McMasters basking in the younger man's obvious admiration. Alan. I owe you one.

"Yes, I must say I was quite pleased that they chose to feature the more remote regional cuisines in which I specialize, however…" the master chef sighed in mock exasperation as two men began to turn away from her, "I found it quite deplorable that their writer failed to capture the deeper religious and cultural nuances involved in preparing to make the dishes."

Alan nodded somberly. "Yes, yes, I completely agree…in fact, I have some questions about that if you wouldn't mind …"

They wandered off, deep in conversation. Miaka sent another silent word of thanks to Alan for running interference, and then glanced at the clock. Three more hours and then she could go home and wait for Dante to call. It seemed like an eternity.

Heaving a sigh of resigned impatience, she picked up the canister of cayenne pepper…and found herself still grinning stupidly at it a minute later. 'Hot shot' is a great nickname for Dante. If I get the chance, I'll have to try it out on him!

_________________________________________________________________ _______

Dante strode into the precinct building with the single minded determination that he'd make short work of changing his clothes and writing up the reports he had to file. Nothing was going to interfere with his calling Miaka tonight if he had anything to say about it.

As he strode down the stairs that led to the changing room, he mentally crossed his fingers, hoping that it would be unoccupied. If someone was in there, he'd have to be polite and talk to them if they felt the need to chat which would take up too much valuable time.

Thankfully, there was no sign of life in the white-walled, windowless enclosure.

He walked straight to his locker, opened it, set his hat on the upper shelf, kicked off his shoes, and then proceeded to quickly peel off his sweaty uniform and socks. A sigh of contentment escaped him as the draft from the air conditioning vent dried his sweaty skin. It felt so good and did such an effective job of cooling him off, he debated about whether or not he needed to take a shower. However, one quick, tentative sniff of an armpit quickly changed his mind. With a grimace, Dante hung up his uniform next to his street clothes, grabbed an unwrapped bar of soap sitting next to his hat, and then slammed the locker door shut. Clad only in his briefs, he padded across the room to the recessed cubicle that held two bathroom stalls and three enclosed showers.

Just in time he remembered he needed to grab a towel; he walked to a nearby shelf and took two, blithely ignoring the large sign on the wall that shouted 'SAVE ON LAUNDRY COSTS: ONE TOWEL PER BOD!'

Whistling softly, Dante entered the end shower stall, finished disrobing, slung the towels on the provided bench together with his briefs, and then stepped into the shower proper. He checked the nozzle, adjusting it to his height before turning it on with an expert flick of the wrist. His eyes closed in bliss as a pulsating spray of warm water massaged his tense, overheated muscles, before taking up the soap and briskly lathering himself.

It was unfortunate, as great as the shower felt, that only one side of him got the benefit of the heated spray while the other was literally left out in the cold. Wistfully, he pictured himself sitting in his Jacuzzi with a beer and soft music playing in the background, then shook off the image. He should be grateful that these showers were here for his use at all. It wasn't so bad; all he had to do was think of something that would warm him up.

Not surprisingly, the fantasy of a naked Miaka pressing up against him as she ran soapy hands over his back more than did the trick. Desire ripped through him like a raging wildfire, and Dante was vaguely surprised that the water bouncing off his skin wasn't turning to steam. As he felt his nether region becoming heavy and thick with need, he turned to shut off the hot water, muttering curses as the warm, pulsating stream changed to stabbing needles of ice. I'm losin' it, big time! Can't think about her for even a second without gettin' a hard on!

Cranking the faucets shut with force than necessary, he gingerly stepped out of the shower, shivering violently in the air conditioning as he did so. The tiled floor was slick from splattered water droplets, so he tossed one of the towels on the floor for traction and began to dry himself with the other.

So intent was he on his tasks, it took him a moment to discern that he was no longer alone; booming voices and a two way exchange of banter tuned him into the conversation taking place near the lockers. His interest peaked as he recognized that the voices as belonging to two of his co-workers in Investigations; a seasoned veteran transfer, Cody LaConte, and a rookie fresh out of the local police academy whose name escaped Dante at that moment.

His toweling motions slowed as he listened to their inevitable shop talk, and stopped completely when a single name captured his full attention.

"So how's the Sukinami case coming together for you, Cody?"

"Not so well. I've been working on it from a different angle since Tager got reassigned, but it's a stalemate right now. Apparently, the guy's being kept far out of our reach by his superiors." LaConte gave a mirthless chuckle. "Sukinami's a smart young cuss- he's made friends in high places."

"Bummer." The other man sympathized. "How about his girlfriend-got anything on her?"

Dante's eyes widened, then narrowed. Common sense and courtesy dictated that he should announce his presence right then and there, but instinct and intense curiosity kept him silent.

"Not so far. From what I can tell from the reports, Sukinami must eat, sleep and breathe his job. They hardly ever see each other." LaConte replied, in a mildly disgusted tone. "Personally, I think the man's got his priorities screwed up. From what I've seen and read on the society page, she's a very lovely young woman."

Dante's faint smile of agreement was wiped away by the younger man's reply.

"I've seen better pictures of her than that! Murray has a thing for Asian women, you know, and he thinks she's something extra special. We gave him a bad time about it, so he brought some old surveillance stills from when she first got here and passed 'em around at lunch the other day." A low whistle followed the pronouncement."Every guy there was droolin' over 'em, includin' me. She's a total babe!"

What the hell? Murray knows better than that! Dante clenched his jaw and his fists, desperately fighting to remain calm. Never thought he'd be the type to think with his dick!

LaConte sounded amused. "Did he also tell you that she's a gourmet chef?"

The younger man made a sound of amazement. "A great cook? Man, that clinches it- Sukinami is either light in the loafers or needs to see a shrink! I sure as hell wouldn't be pullin' overtime if I had a talented hottie like that waiting on me!" His tone turned speculative. "Maybe I'll bribe Murray for her address. I mean hell, she's bound to be lonely being so far from home, so what better person to come to her rescue than a handsome young cop? Whaddaya say, C.L.? Think I'd have a chance with a gorgeous chick like that?"

"Sure you would." LaConte paused. "And I own Pike's Peak."

The two men laughed, unaware that thoughts of punishing the hapless Murray were the only thing keeping Dante's temper in check as he continued to listen. Murray, your ass is mine! An' I'm gonna kick it to Topeka and back for passin' those photos around!

"Seriously though, I wonder what she's like." The younger man said, now sounding a bit wistful. "She's sexy, but she's not one of those hard-faced society bitches. She looks real sweet… you know, like the kind of girl you could take home to the parents."

You're right about that one, buddy. Dante thought grimly. Not that you're ever gonna get the chance to find that out.

"I've never met her face to face, but everyone we've talked to in our investigation who has had nothing but positive things to say about her." LaConte said reflectively. "I get the feeling she wouldn't be hurting for male attention if she decides to cut herself loose from Sukinami… but only if the courts don't revoke her green card and send her back to Japan first."

"No way! They can't do that!"

"Yes they can, Tom. It seems Sukinami vouched for her on the paperwork, and on top of that he's helping her out with various expenses- as well as putting up half the rent for her apartment. If he does get the book thrown at him. I doubt the INS will look favorably on granting an extended visa to her."

"But that's not fair! All she's guilty of is loving the guy!" Tom's furious protest echoed Dante's own thoughts.

"I know, but that's life. No matter how innocent you are, you're still gonna get judged by the company you keep."

There was a long pause.

"Damn, but that really sucks."

"Yep, it sure does."

There was the sound of two locker doors being slammed and a fading exchange of farewells as the detectives walked out the door. Dante released the breath he had been holding into the dead silence they left behind, and then slumped back against the wall of the stall. His displeasure at hearing other men salivating over Miaka's attributes was nothing compared to his dread at hearing of her dependence on Taka Sukinami. As much as it galled him to think she would be deported because of her association with Sukinami, it was even more galling to find out exactly how much she owed the guy.

He's paying half her rent...if she broke up with him, then where would she go? He fretted silently. An' I can't even ask her, 'cause I'm not supposed to know! Dammit to hell!

After a few moments of agitated soul searching, he gave it up as a bad job, put on his briefs, tossed the wet towels in a nearby laundry tub and headed for his locker. Throwing open the door, he dressed quickly in jeans and a dark blue CSPD t-shirt, defiantly donned his favorite silver and turquoise bead necklace, and then paused to stare at himself in the small mirror mounted inside the locker door.

It might be drivin' me crazy, but I'm in this until the end … couldn't walk away from Miaka now if my life depended on it.

A hot, prickling sensation seared his forearm. He looked down, unsurprised to see his phoenix tattoo growing brighter and much more pronounced in outline. After a long, reflective moment, his gaze returned to the mirror. Slowly and deliberately, he ran his fingers through his hair until it was free of its comb-back and his bangs fell forward to their usual spot over his brow; he then uncovered the rat-tail braid and pulled it forward so that it curled around the side of his neck.

The only thing missing from the image was his favorite set of earrings, which he had left at home at his chief's request. But oddly enough, it felt like something else was missing too- a certain something he always had with him, but couldn't quite remember. His hands slid down to the center of his chest, and then back up to his shoulders. His gun holster? But he didn't usually wear that unless he was going out on a stake out. He hadn't carried a backpack for years, not since his academic days.

Damn it all, why couldn't he get rid of this feeling?

Muttering in frustration, Dante grabbed his uniform and bundled it into the back pack he kept in the bottom of his locker. He had always preferred bringing his own shoulder pack to the CSPD standard issue duffle bag; it simply felt more natural and comfortable to carry his stuff that way. He zipped the pack shut, slung it over one shoulder and then froze in place, still thinking hard.

He had never done much analyzing on the origin of his various quirks, but something was now telling him there were deeper reasons-other than whimsy or habit- for having them. This strange awareness of another possible side to himself had been steadily growing inside him every since his encounter with the weird old lady, along with a determination to find out why it was there.

And hell, as long as he was at it, it would also be nice to find out if there was an earthly explanation for his tattoo lighting up like a neon sign whenever he thought of Miaka.

Dante sighed, glanced at the clock on the wall, and then forced himself to keep moving out of the room and up the stairs to the precinct offices. He had tons of unanswered questions, but they would have to wait for later. He was still on the job, and there were work-related matters that he needed to deal with, starting with Murray and his highly unacceptable lapse of judgment.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

It was three and a half hours after her conversation with Alan had ended that Miaka retrieved her purse, t-shirt, and a bottle of mineral water from the staff room refrigerator, and tiptoed out the back door of the Phoenix Grill's kitchen. She hated leaving without a word of goodbye to anyone, but it was necessary in to order to avoid any further confrontations with her boss. Even now she half expected Kevin to sense her departure and come after her, but thankfully he was deep in conversation with a manager from second shift and she was able to escape, undetected.

Disregarding the blazing heat that assailed her when she emerged from the building, she broke into a half-run, making a beeline for the side lot where her car was parked. Once inside, she locked the doors, started the engine and cranked the air conditioning on high before unscrewing the cap to the bottled water. She took several deep, grateful gulps of the cold liquid, then placed the cool plastic of the bottle against her cheek and neck.

I need a nice, long shower and a good meal. She thought tiredly. I'll just stop at the corner market and pick up some fixings for supper. The market was a lot more expensive than the chain grocery stores, but it was also less crowded, always stocked fresh specialty produce and was only a block from her apartment, which in her mind made it worth the extra dollars it would cost her. Time was of the essence, for nothing was going to make her miss Dante's call.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

Dante strode out of the precinct building with a spring in his step and a glint in his eye that spoke of having successfully accomplished his objectives.

Murray hadn't denied the incident when confronted with it, and had taken the severe chewing out he had been given like a man. Afterwards, when he had quietly apologized for his transgression, his sincerity had been quite apparent and Dante promptly lost the desire to write him up as procedure dictated that he should have done. The two of them had been on the investigations team since its inception, after all, and as long as Murray was now square on what was acceptable conduct, Dante was fine with leaving it there.

After that, the rest of his paperwork had gone well and since there had been no emergency meetings, he was now free for the night. A smile of anticipation spread across his face as he thought about getting to call Miaka far earlier than anticipated.

As he reached his Jeep, another thought struck him. He was only a few blocks from her apartment, and he knew Miaka hadn't any plans that evening...so why couldn't he just bop on over there and take her out for supper? She didn't seem the type to mind drop-ins…and if he was lucky, she might even be in the mood to pick up where they had left off the other night…

His smile had grown to epic proportions by the time he unlocked the door, clambered into the SUV and fastened his seat belt. However, it quickly faded as he glanced out the passenger window and spotted Detective Cody LaConte getting into the sedan parked next to him. LaConte turned his head, caught his gaze, and gave him a cheerful little wave, which Dante returned halfheartedly. Seeing his replacement on the Sukinami case was an unpleasant reminder that he hadn't been forthcoming about his job with Miaka.

It's takin' a chance. She might break things off if I tell her- but I'm not gonna think that way, dammit! I'll tell her when the time is right. She's sweet and understanding... an' I know she'll give me a chance!

As he waited for LaConte and a couple of other coworkers to leave their parking spaces, Dante flipped on the radio and tuned in his favorite station. When the cars had left, he backed out and followed them sedately, not wanting to attract their attention by any displays of haste. Predictably, an ornery inner voice was cursing at him and the enforced delay, but he silenced it with the reminder that only minutes remained until Miaka was back in his arms.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

Taka grinned in anticipation as he made his way up the stairway to Miaka's apartment. A quick glance at his watch a moment before confirmed that his plans were, so far, coming along very well. He had timed this little surprise perfectly, making sure he was able to leave the office in time to arrive at the apartment just shortly after Miaka got home from work. He knew from experience that she would be tired and sore from standing all day, and his fingers were just itching to work the kinks out of her tense muscles.

Thinking about Miaka's insistence that they live apart brought on a scowl of discontent. He knew he didn't show it often enough, but he truly missed being able to do all the sweet, intimate little things they used to do, like spending time curled up together on the rug in front of his fireplace. He knew she did too, and so he still didn't understand why it was that she refused to move in with him. He had even tried to explain to her several times that besides being able to see a lot more of each other, it would also be more cost efficient if they shared a residence, but Miaka would have none of it.

Not wanting to spoil the mood for love, Taka pushed all troubled thoughts aside in favor of imagining the look of surprise on his beloved's face when she saw him. In a few seconds his grin had reappeared and his slow, stepping gait had quickened to a jog. When he arrived at her door he went to knock on it, then stopped. With a thought that it would add to the surprise if he let himself in, he reached into his trousers pocket.

His key rattled a bit in the lock but the door opened silently, as he had hoped. He listened. All was still and quiet within the apartment. He called out.

"Miaka?"

No answer. Frowning in concern, Taka closed the door behind him and flipped the deadbolt lock into place. Then he sneezed. Looking down, he met the cool, assessing stare of Miaka's cat, Mizu. As was the norm in Taka's presence, the Siamese's back was stiffly arched and his slightly kinked tail was twitching back and forth in a manner that could only be described as unwelcoming.

He crouched down with his hand extended, but retracted it hastily as the cat hissed and swiped at him with a paw. Damn cat thinks he owns Miaka. Wonder if I can talk her into getting a dog…nah, I can't do that when she loves the little hairball. I'll have to keep trying. He's just acting like a tough customer. Sooner or later he'll be eating out of my hand. With that plan firmly in mind, he stood and injected an affection he did not feel into his voice. "Mizu, could you please show me where your Mommy is?"

Emitting something that sounded suspiciously like a contemptuous snort, Mizu pointedly turned his back and laid down directly in his visitors path.

"So sorry to trouble you, Your Highness." Taka murmured sarcastically. "Why don't I just go take a look for her myself?" Muttering under his breath, he carefully stepped over the cat, which hissed and took a swipe at his ankles, and glanced around the dividing wall into the living room. Upon finding it empty, he made his way down to the kitchen. A quick look inside revealed a brown grocery bag and various foodstuffs sitting on the counter but still no Miaka. Then, as he turned into the hallway that led to the bathroom and the apartment's two bedrooms, he heard running water and a feminine voice singing in Japanese coming from her bathroom.

He crept down the hall, pushed on the door so that the opening was big enough to admit him, and stealthily entered the steamy room beyond. Once inside, he could see the outline of Miaka's nude body behind the frosted glass of the shower door. From the movements of her arms, he guessed she was shampooing her hair and his body quickly responded to that knowledge. Although he had seen her naked more times than he could count, every time was like the first.; the perfection of her small frame always made him breathless with desire, and the beauty of her blushing modesty never failed to fill his heart with tenderness.

She was still singing, but she had switched to a different tune; he smiled as he recognized the song as a current j-pop favorite about a girl rediscovering an ancient but timeless love.

An idea materialized and his hands immediately carried it out, making short work of removing his suit; soon he was at opening of the corner shaped enclosure, wearing nothing but a very sly grin. Luckily, Miaka had her back turned to him and was too wrapped up in singing to notice his presence. Slowly, carefully, he pulled on the shower door until it opened, and immediately caught his breath as the nude figure inside the tiled enclosure was revealed.

Without compunction, Taka took advantage of the opportunity to gaze at his girlfriend's beautiful, glistening body. As he did so, memories of a past life struck him in force; her gracefully arched back, upturned face and blissful expression as she received the flow of water made her look exactly like she had during her purification ritual before the Ceremony to summon Suzaku. It was hard to believe that had been over ten years ago; yes, perhaps her breasts had filled out to more womanly proportions and the span of her hips might have widened a bit, but to him, she still looked as youthful and supple as the fifteen year old girl with which he- and Tamahome- had both fallen in love.

He stepped into the shower and closed the door, the sound of his movements concealed by the gush of water and her voice. He hesitated, savoring the sweet anticipation of the moment…and then reached out to run his forefinger down the middle of her back.

Miaka's reaction was only half of what he had been expecting. He had known the song would abruptly turn to a sharp, high pitched shriek and that she would whirl around to confront him exactly the way she did. However, instead of laughing and falling into his embrace, she backed away, covering her breasts with one arm as the other struck out at him with a ferocity born of severe fright. Instinctively, he lunged backwards into the wall behind him to avoid the blows, and grimaced as his shoulders and buttocks smacked painfully against the cold ceramic tile.

"Miaka! It's okay! It's only me!" He reached out to take hold of her flailing arm, and then let out a loud curse as he slipped and had to catch himself by grabbing the towel bar.

She stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes as he righted himself.

"Taka! What...what in the world are you doing here?" Her voice could barely be heard above the sounds of water beating against tile and glass, and her chest was rising and falling with each of her short, rapid breaths.

He wiped excess water from his eyes and mouth smiled wryly. "I arranged to get off work early today so I could come and surprise you."

"Surprise me?" She echoed, as auburn eyebrows lowered ominously over green eyes. "You scared the absolute living daylights out of me! As far as I knew, you could have been anyone! What were you thinking, sneaking up on me like that?"

Apparently he had scared her far worse than it first appeared, because she certainly wasn't falling into the kind of amorous, teasing mood that she normally did in these kind of situations. Had it really been that long since he'd done this sort of thing, that she really wouldn't expect it? He thought about it, and then closed his eyes as the sick realization hit him that he couldn't immediately recall the last time he had visited Miaka right after work.

And with that realization, came the certainty that he had a lot of groveling to do to get himself back into her good graces.

His eyes opened, and he gave her his most apologetic look as his brain frantically searched for a sure fire way to make things right. His intentions were good, yet he honestly couldn't help it when his gaze followed the enticing sway of her breasts as Miaka brushed back the wet tendrils of hair that had become plastered to her cheeks. He could feel his flesh hardening in response, which doubled the urgency to his making amends.

"I'm really sorry, Mia-chan…please let me make it up to you?" His eyes were soft with love and seductive intent as he moved closer. "How about if I wash your back for you…and maybe other things…?" His hands lifted, reaching for the globes of flesh that had been tantalizing him.

To his astonishment, she took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest. "I appreciate the thought, but it's time for me to get out now- my skin is starting to prune!" Her smile was tight as she showed him the rippled fingertips of one hand. "Besides that, I have some groceries to put away! But you can stay and take a nice, relaxing shower if you like."

As Taka stared into chilly green eyes, his desire went into rapid decline. "I'm sorry, Miaka. Maybe...I mean, I hope... that there's something else I can do to relax you after upsetting you so badly."

Her eyes warmed, but only a little. "Thank you, Taka. I just need some space right now. I've gotten used to having this time to unwind from the stresses of work." If you ever came here at this time even occasionally you would know that. Her underlying tone stated. "Kevin was in an especially bad mood this afternoon and he really cracked the whip."

As badly as he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss away her objections, he was no fool; his beloved's expression and body language were both making it very plain that forcing the issue with her would be a huge mistake.

"I understand, and I'll give you your space," he said gruffly. "Is it all right to ask for a kiss before you go do this unwinding of yours?"

In reply, Miaka obligingly went on tiptoe to brush her lips against his in a brief emulation of her usual kiss. Then, before he could respond or protest, she had pulled away, pushed the shower door open, and scooted out of his reach.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

"So in between the perfect flame of you, this love will never let you down…just take it as it comes…for everything will come around."

Singing along with the song on his stereo and tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, Dante drove slowly through the crowded lot in front of Miaka's apartment complex. His eyes scanned the rows of cars, and then lit up when he saw an open spot conveniently located next to Miaka's red LeBaron. He accelerated and quickly swung into it just as another car rounded the corner.

"I would have waited forever… for you to return into my life, I would have waited forever, I would have given you everything I had …"

Still singing, Dante switched off the ignition, and then checked his appearance out in the rear view mirror. Satisfied with what he saw, he got out of the vehicle, making sure to secure all of the locks before slamming the door.

"I would have waited forever… no question in my body and soul. Forever…"

He finished singing the rest of the song as he jogged across the lot to the stairway leading to Miaka's apartment.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

Miaka had just thrown on a t-shirt and shorts when she heard the door buzzer sound. "I wonder who that could be?"She exited the bedroom, shut the bathroom door where Taka was taking her up on her suggestion to take an extra long shower, and then went to peer through the peephole.

"Oh my…" With trembling fingers she quickly turned the deadbolt and yanked opened the door.

"Dante!" She felt as if her soul was smiling.

"Miaka!" He replied, with a warm, befanged grin. "Whatcha been up to?"

Before she could answer, a streak of gray had shot between her ankles. "Mizu! Come back here!" She exclaimed in surprise. It was rare for her heat sensitive cat to show any desire to venture outdoors before sundown.

"It's all right- he just wanted to say hi, that's all." Dante said, crouching down to stroke her pet, who was busily rubbing up against his ankles. "Whazzup, pussycat?" He asked, then snickered as the feline responded right on cue.

"This is a wonderful surprise!" She said, as he gave Mizu a final stroke and stood up. "I thought you would still be at work!"

"I managed to get out on time today!" He responded happily. "I was gonna go home and call ya, but then I thought, what the hell- I'm in the neighborhood, so why not deliver the message in person?" His gaze boldly strayed down her body, taking note of her wet hair and the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra. "I'm sorry, did I get ya out of the shower or somethin'?"

She blushed. "Um…no, actually I was -" Her mouth rounded into an 'o' of dismay and her eyes widened. Taka! Taka was still in the shower!

"Miaka, what is it?" Dante asked, frowning. "Are you feelin' dizzy again? Why don't we go in and-"

"No, we can't go in there!" She said frantically.

He gave her a baffled look. "Why?"

She opened her mouth to explain, only to be spared the trouble as Taka's laughing voice rang out into the hallway.

"Oi, Mi-chan! You stole all the towels!"

Closing her eyes against the sight of Dante's frozen expression, Miaka silently wished for a dimensional rift to open up and swallow her where she stood. Long, tense seconds ticked by after which Taka called out again. Mizu pawed at her leg, but she remained mute and rooted to the spot, trying to think of what she could do, or what she could possibly say to dispel the terrible things Dante must be thinking about her in that moment.

The first thing that came to mind was that she should at least be looking at him, so he could see that she wasn't trying to hide anything. Slowly, she opened her eyes, only to find her vision obscured by tears. Blinking hard in a futile attempt to clear them, she averted her gaze and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Dante, I know how this must look to you, but I swear I didn't know he was coming over! I was taking a shower, and he totally surprised me, and … w-we didn't shower together! Well, he did try to sneak into the shower with me, but I yelled at him and got out right away-oh!"

She gasped and her eyes opened wide as she felt herself being grabbed by her upper arms and propelled forward. A navy blue clad, tightly muscled chest loomed in front of her face, then obliterated the rest of her words. Steely arms wrapped around her body, providing both comfort and support.

"Don't cry. I believe ya." Dante said quietly. "My droppin' in like this wasn't fair to ya…I shoulda called first."

She wound her arms tightly about his waist. "Don't say that! I love that you surprised me!" Her voice was fierce with assurance. "Please, I don't want you to leave-"

"MIAKA! I CAN'T FIND ANY CLEAN TOWELS!"

Taka's voice had drastically increased in volume, and his tone held a distinct note of annoyance.

"Criminy! Ya better go get his damn towels or he's gonna have a fuckin' heart attack!" Dante growled, releasing her. "I'll wait here."

"O-Okay, I'll be right back! Don't go anywhere!"

Turning smartly on her heel, Miaka sped off to her bedroom, where she grabbed two towels from her clean laundry pile, then went to open the bathroom door and tossed them in at Taka.

"Thanks!" He said cheerfully. "I'll be out in about five minutes."

"No hurry, take your time."

With a forced smile, Miaka closed the door and then hurried quietly back to the entry, heaving a sigh of relief when she saw that Dante was standing right where she'd left him, just outside the open doorway. When their eyes met, her heart gave a lurch at the vestiges of hurt and jealousy in his expression. Without a word or a second thought, she walked up to him and slipped her arms around his neck. His went around her waist as he lowered his forehead to rest against hers.

"I was gonna ask if you wanted to go out and grab a bite to eat with me, but it looks like you're gonna be busy tonight." He murmured.

"I'm not going to be busy with Taka." She stated resolutely. "He's not going to be staying here tonight."

Dante stared at her as she leaned back to look at him. "He isn't?"

"That's right." She paused to let the affirmation sink in. "After he gets dressed, I'm going to tell him I have prior plans for the evening."

Amber eyes brightened with hope. "With me?"

Smiling, she nodded energetically. "Would you please wait for me in your car while I do this?"

Dante rolled his eyes heavenward. "Miaka wants to know if I'll wait for her." He repeated, as if addressing some unseen person. Then, meeting her gaze with a grin, he added,

"I'll be waiting for ya. Just try not to take forever!"

To be continued...

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