Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Leather and Lace ❯ Chapter 10

Leather and Lace

By: Maidens of Konan

(The most honorable Watase-san owns Fushigi Yûgi. However, any non-canon, original characterizations and plot lines in this story may not be used without written permission. Disembarking will begin in a moment. Thank you for flying MOK airlines, and have a nice day. Chapter rating, 15+ for language and adult conversation.)

Chapter Ten

Miaka laid her head on Dante's chest, listening to his heart beats ticking off the precious seconds she had left to spend in his embrace. It felt so good when he held her, but she shouldn't wait any longer.

Lifting her head, she began to back out of his arms. "I'll be seeing you in a little while, okay?"

"Yeah." Though he didn't look happy about it, he allowed her to slip out of his grasp. "I drive a midnight blue SUV, and I parked right next to your car. I'm just a shout away if ya need some backup…"

She had to smile at the familiar display of protectiveness that had been a trademark of her fifth seishi. "Thank you Dante, but this is something I have to do on my own."

He glowered at her, obviously wanting to argue the point. She simply smiled in return, letting her feelings for him show in her eyes, and his expression softened to one of acceptance. "Okay, fine. But ya better make it quick, or I'll storm the place and carry ya off just like that bandit dude you like dreamin' about!"

She was shocked, amused and delighted by the very idea. "You wouldn't!"

"Just try me!"

Though he was half-smiling, the expression in Dante's eyes stated that he wasn't joking, as did his movements as he slowly and deliberately backed her up against the door frame. Two strong arms and a muscular torso effectively caged her in, and then he leaned in to capture her lips. His mouth was hard; the kiss was deep. It was more about staking his claim than tenderness, but she willingly responded, giving him a very passionate reassurance that he wasn't about to lose her.

Then, almost as quickly as it had been taken prisoner, her mouth was freed, and she was left leaning against the doorframe as Dante turned and strode away in a manner that suggested he needed to put a safe distance between them for her own good. Straightening, she hurried after him, stopping at the top of the staircase to call out a farewell as he begin his descent of the steps.

He stopped at the first landing, and then turned to looked up at her with a wistful little smile that melted her heart. Acting on impulse, she blew him a kiss, a gesture she'd never performed in her entire life, but which now seemed like the most natural thing in the world. The sight of his full-fanged grin and broad wink made her longing for him that much worse, a feeling that she was unaware was fully evident in her expression. She didn't know why Dante's eyes had suddenly narrowed, or why his grin had turned distinctly predatory, but she secretly hoped it meant he was thinking of making good on his threat to carry her off.

It was unfortunate that the raised voices and laughter coming from another apartment below them seemed to dissuade him from whatever he was planning. With a quick wave, he turned and jogged down the rest of the stairs without a second backwards look. Filled with an absurd amount of disappointment, Miaka scooted back into her apartment before she caved into the impulse to run after him.

Once she was safely shut up inside its walls, she leaned her forehead against the coolness of the white steel door. As she gathered her composure, she pressed trembling fingers to lips that still felt the imprint of Dante's. Did she look like she'd just had the living daylights kissed out of her...and that she'd enjoyed every second of it? I can't believe I did that with Taka here, not to mention kissing someone out in plain view of my neighbors! I should be able to control myself better than that! I mean, I was always able to treat Dante like a brother when he was Tasuki... Great Suzaku, please help me!

"Was someone here?"

A sick sensation filled the pit of her stomach. Dropping her arm to her side, she slowly turned towards the first man she had ever loved.

Taka was standing at the opposite end of the hallway, barefooted, damp haired, and clad only in his suit pants. She knew from past experience that his casual appearance was significant; no socks and no tie meant he expected to stay with her well into the evening, and no shirt meant until the morning. At one time this kind of signal would have sent her into raptures. Now it only brought a sense of apprehension that bordered on panic. I have to tell him about Dante! I have to! Oh, he's going to be so hurt…

"Honey, I asked you a question." Taka's voice held amusement and the barest hint of exasperation.

She tried to make her smile look natural. "Sorry...I guess I got lost in thought. Yes, someone was here."

"What did they want?"

"Who?" She replied, purposely avoiding his gaze and stalling for time.

"The person who was just at the door!" Taka persisted, now growing impatient.

A dozen plausible stories had crowded into her mind, but her conscience insisted on her telling him at least a partial truth. "It was the police officer who helped me out yesterday when I became ill. He works in this precinct, and stopped by on his way home to see how I was feeling."

"Ah! Why didn't you invite him in and offer him something to drink? I would have liked to have met and thanked him."

"I didn't think it was a good time since you were in the shower." It's not a good time, period! None of us are prepared for you two to cross paths yet!

Taka grinned. "There aren't any laws here against having a naked man in your apartment, as far as I know, Miaka!" He teased.

"It could have been embarrassing for him." She pointed out. "Part of the reason he probably checked up on me is because he knows I live alone."

Taka's smile vanished. "I see." He paused. "Is this guy single?"

"I'm not sure." She fibbed warily. "Why does that matter?"

Grey eyes bored into hers. "Because I don't think you should be giving out that kind of information to an unattached guy you don't know."

Though his argument was valid, she couldn't let the implied insult to Dante go answered. "He's a police officer! He's honor bound to protect civilians!"

Taka smirked, a look that didn't suit him at all. "Don't be so naive, Miaka. I'd be willing to lay odds that it's not normal practice for a cop to make personal follow ups on his own time unless it involves a beautiful babe."

He'd obviously meant it as a compliment, but it felt more like a slap. She stared at him with cold eyes. "Am I supposed to thank you for saying that?"

Recognizing that trouble was brewing, Taka began to backpedal.

"Don't get mad!" He coaxed. "It's not just that you're beautiful, but that you have a kind and innocent nature that appeals to a lot of guys. You do have this tendency to be too trusting of strangers-"

"And you have the tendency of being an overbearing cynic!" She shot back, feeling stung. "Officer Tager has acted honorably in this matter! I'm the one who's at fault for running late, getting a ticket...and then getting too sick to drive after that because I didn't drink my water!"

Dark brows drew together. "Tager? Is that his last name?"

Miaka blinked, momentarily distracted from her anger. "Yes. Is there something wrong with me knowing his name?"

Taka slowly shook his head. "It just sounded familiar, that's all."

Miaka's eyes widened. How could Taka possibly have met Dante without having told her about it? "You mean...you've met him?"

"No, I think I've just heard it somewhere. Can't remember, but I'm sure I'll think of it later. So how much is the fine?"

"Thank you, but I've got it covered." She lifted her chin, daring him to argue the point. "I make a fairly decent wage, you know."

"I know you do." He said quickly. "You'd think the guy would have let you off , though, being it was your first offense. From what I've heard, they can give you a discretionary warning."

"Actually, he was willing to do that. I wouldn't let him."

Taka's startled look quickly switched to one of faint approval. "Too bad, but that's for the best. Better to owe on the ticket than to owe him."

Miaka glared at her longtime love, silently fuming at the rampant cynicism in his comments, and mourning the changes in his outlook that had occurred since they'd first met. Now she almost wished she had callled him to the door to see Dante, because then he would have understood the situation, and then she could have confessed all, and-

No, she thought, breaking off the impetuous thought, my handling things that way wouldn't have been fair to either Taka or Dante. Finding a decent way to tell Taka that she wanted to break off with him and date the reincarnation of Tasuki was going to be more than difficult, but she had to try. Though her conscience was prodding her to take the plunge and be done with it, the love and loyalty she still felt for Taka dictated that she break the news to him as gently as possible.

"I'm sure Officer Tager is a busy man, and I think it was very gallant of him to go to the trouble of checking on me. " She asserted. "Have you become that jaded, Taka, that you can't see that there are many decent and kind people living here? Maybe you need to get away from your so-called friends at Thornton a bit more in order to realize that!"

There was a pregnant silence as he considered her statement. "You're right, Mi-chan." He admitted at last. "In the corporate world, random acts of kindness are rare to non-existent. I shouldn't have generalized. I'm sorry."

Miaka's anger subsided at hearing the apology. She had always admired Taka's sense of honor and fair play, which made it doubly painful that he had been willing to malign someone's character without even bothering getting to know them. That wasn't the man she loved! "I'm sure you'd have done the same for someone if you were a policeman." She said quietly. "Don't forget that you're a caring and compassionate man, Taka, even if you aren't allowed to show it at work."

Limpid grey eyes shimmered with warmth as he favored her with a brilliant smile. "Thank you, my love. I hope you know I'm still the same person... just a bit more...polished."

Miaka sighed. His smile and his eyes were Tamahome's, and had never failed to hold her in thrall while they brought back very precious memories. He looks so sexy and sweet right now, just like the boy I first fell in love with. She thought unhappily. What's so bad about staying unpolished? But...I suppose if I had tried harder to get interested in his business dealings I'd understand...

For a moment, she was tempted. All it would take was a single step and she'd be back in Taka's arms, rekindling the passion that had once burned so brightly.

Not surprisingly, an image of Dante superimposed itself on that notion as soon as it occurred.

It's already too late.

"You're welcome." She murmured, staying right where she was. No more dancing attendance, she told herself firmly. If he wants to keep me in his life, he has to start making some major changes. The kinds of changes that she doubted he'd be able to stick with, much less be willing to tolerate.

Her subdued reaction was clearly not the response Taka had been expecting, and his smile vanished. Mercifully, the awkward silence that fell was filled by loud, plaintive meows. Glad of a respite from the tension, Miaka crouched down to pick up Mizu. As her pet nestled comfortably into the cradle of her arms, she began to stroke his silky soft back, and Taka's gaze honed in on her bandaged forefinger.

"Miaka, you're hurt!" He exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Cut it when I was slicing up a tomato." She explained. "Don't worry, it looks much worse than it is."

"You need to be more focused." Taka advised her in a scolding tone. "If you don't pay attention, you'll end up cutting it off next time!"

Gritting her teeth, Miaka simply nodded as yearning for what used to be welled within her. There was a time Taka would have forgone the lecture in favor of wanting to 'kiss it all better', but reminding him of that would serve no purpose. There had been far too many moments like these lately, moments where she sensed the emotional fissure between them was widening like a chasm during an earthquake.

After a brief silence he added, "It really bothers me that you're having to prepare your own meals after cooking all day at work, Miaka. If you'd move in with me, I'd hire someone to do it for you."

She bent and set Mizu down before replying, using the action to hide her face as she got her emotions back under control. Why does he think throwing money at a problem is the only way to solve it?

Once deposited on the carpet, the cat slunk straight over to his human nemesis. In a display of blatantly insincere friendliness, the Siamese rubbed back and forth against Taka's pant legs, depositing thick strands of hair upon the charcoal-colored fabric. Muttering something unpleasant under his breath, Taka nudged the cat away with his foot. Mizu responded with a hiss and a swipe of his paw before stalking off.

"Damn cat!" He swore as he inspected the scratch on his left foot. "When you're living with me, he's gonna get de-clawed!"

"That won't be necessary, as I'm not moving in with you." She corrected him firmly.

Taka quickly opened his mouth...and then shut it again at seeing the warning in her eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he spun on his heel and headed into the living room, effectively ending further discussion.

Miaka blew out a sigh of relief that he'd given in without a fight and then moved past the living room to the kitchen, her gaze moving from the reclining Taka as he picked up the remote and switched on the television, to the pile of groceries on her counter.

Somehow she had the feeling that if Dante were with her he would have been in the kitchen, joking and chatting and helping her to put things away.

Heaving another sigh at the thought, she began to clean off the counter, all the while wondering how best to broach the subject of her impending date. After a few minutes of simmering silence, Taka helped her out by providing an opening.

"Hey Mi-chan! I thought that we'd go see a movie after dinner." He called out. "It's even your turn to pick, so how about it?"

How can it be my turn to pick? Doesn't he realize he hasn't asked me to the movies since I got here? And what about dinner- guess I'm cooking again? Irritation replaced guilt as she tallied all the things they used to do in Tokyo that had fallen by the wayside, fatalities of Taka's single minded quest for financial well being.

But I knew it would be that way when I came here; Taka was quite clear about his objectives. She reminded herself, in an attempt to be fair minded. I can't complain when I knew what I was getting into, and yet…how do I know that it won't stay this way with him even after he gets his promotion? Old habits die hard, and the higher he rises in the company, the more time he's going to have to spend on the job.

"Oi, Mi-chan! Can you hear me out there?"

Taka had turned the television off again, evidently thinking it the source of the problem. Taking a deep breath, she forced a note of unconcern into her voice as she answered. "Yes, I can hear you now."

I have to tell him the truth before this gets worse. It's not right for me to lie and pretend things are still the same between us.

"So what movie would you like to see tonight, love? There's a really good vampire flick playing at the Chateau, or maybe you prefer a romantic com-"

"Taka, we can't go to the movies tonight!" She interrupted in a loud voice.

His surprise was a palpable thing hanging in the long pause following her announcement.

"Okay, Miaka...I know what you're thinking. You're worried about the money, but it's okay that it's not a matinee. " He said with forced lightness. "Nine bucks a head to get in and twelve bucks for a bucket of popcorn and drinks is outrageous, yeah, but it's not like I can't afford it."

That does it, Taka! I can't stand any more of this! Miaka smacked the loaf of bread she had just picked up back down on the counter and strode out into the living room to confront him. "That's not what I meant, and it's not the reason we can't go!"

He threw up his hands and let them fall on either side of his legs. "Sheesh, what is going on with you tonight? You've done nothing but glare and argue with me since I got here! I thought you'd be happy I took the evening off to be with you!"

Miaka inhaled and exhaled slowly. "We can't go to the movies because I've already made social plans for tonight."

Taka blinked. "You...you've got to be kidding!"

"I'm not kidding."

"Can't you cancel or go another night?"

She folded her arms across her chest as he gave her a peeved look. "I suppose I could, but I'm not going to."

"May I ask why?"

"Because I want to go out and have fun doing things I like to do. Because I care about keeping my word. Because I've decided that my life shouldn't always revolve around you finding time for me in your schedule...and because I want to have a life." She replied, ticking off the points on her fingers. "If you really wanted to see a movie with me that badly, you could have called and asked me out ahead of time just like any other-"

The shrill summons of a pager cut her off. Taka glared at the apparatus as he unclipped it from his belt. He glanced at the name and number showing on the view screen, and heaved an impatient sigh. "Damn! Sorry, Mi-chan, I can't blow this one off. It's Mr. Thornton."

She waved off his apology. "Use the phone in the bedroom. It's a lot more private."

He stared at her, his expression plainly showing how confounded he was at her calm acceptance of the interruption, and her staunch refusal to rearrange her plans for him. His deeply ingrained loyalty to Mr. Thornton and his inherent sense of duty would compel him to answer the summons, no matter what kind of unpleasantness was transpiring between the two of them. This kind of dedication was second nature to him, had served him well as a seishi, and she couldn't fault him for it.

"It's all right." She repeated, in a gentler tone. "You need to take this call, and I'm not angry about it." As the words left her lips, she knew them to be true. It no longer troubled her that his work duties had infringed on his free time and the reason why was waiting for her out in the parking lot. I just don't care about it the way I used to.

"I'll deal with him as quick as I can. " Taka said, still staring at her. "I think we have to discuss what's going on here."

"Yes, we do." She agreed somberly, as he got up from the sofa and walked over to stand in front of her. She tilted her head to look up at him, unconsciously admiring the strong line of his jaw and the solid breadth of his neck and shoulders.

His hand lifted, hesitated, and then moved to tenderly caress her check. "Miaka…whatever it is that's gone wrong between you and me, I'm going to do everything in my power to fix it," he vowed. "I know I haven't shown it much lately, but you are the most important thing in my life."

For one incredulous, heart thumping moment she was buoyed by the hope that perhaps love had finally won out over Thornton Investments until his pager went off a second time. Her shoulders sagged in defeat as the shrill demand of the summons prodded him to drop his hand with an apologetic grimace, and then dash down the hall to her bedroom.

After he had gone, Miaka stood pondering the changes that had occurred within her heart and mind in a mere twenty-four hours. Yes, telling Taka why she wanted him to leave was going to be the most difficult thing she'd ever done. It also didn't help that guilt over what she and Dante had almost done the previous night was threatening her resolve to be truthful...but nevertheless she needed to be honest with Taka about her feelings. It was all or nothing as far as being with Dante was concerned. It could be no other way.

I was searching for something to believe in, and it was the difference in how they treat me that opened my eyes to what could be. Dating other people might actually be good for Taka… I certainly haven't made his life any easier with all of my complaints about his job. If he finds another woman who he can love, and who shares the same goals and who really caters to fitting in well with his plans, then it's certain that he and I weren't meant to be.

Although she knew it was for the best, she couldn't help feeling depressed that their fairytale romance was dissolving into stardust memories. She'd never, ever stop loving Taka but it was time to face facts. His priorities had changed drastically over time, but hers hadn't. It was true that they were no longer starry-eyed teenagers battling against evil and the overwhelming odds of staying together however, one thing had remained constant since their time in the book. With her, personal relationships always came first, even if it meant having to sacrifice everything else. Although she knew Taka loved her, she honestly couldn't say that he would put her or any children they might have had first. That spelled big trouble for having a happy life together.

As for Dante…apart from the great physical chemistry between them, it seemed that they shared the same outlook on what was truly important in life. Starting a relationship with him would be like turning a page and starting a new chapter in her life. At one time a thought like that would have shocked and frightened her, but no more. She'd managed to successfully adapt to a new language, a new country, new people, and a new job pretty much all on her own. She could do this too.

Not to say that there weren't problems in pursuing a relationship with Dante. For one thing, her feelings for her fifth seishi still needed to be reconciled with her feelings for his incarnation. Treating Dante as a substitute for Tasuki was as unpalatable to her as making Taka a substitute for Tamahome, and she was determined not to make any decisions with a heart that was chained to the past.

The need to occupy her time until Taka finished his call now propelled her into the kitchen, where she finished putting away the groceries. It wasn't a surprise when more than twenty minutes elapsed before she finally heard Taka emerge from the bedroom and go right into the bathroom. Since the door didn't click shut behind him, she knew he had gone to retrieve his tie and his suit jacket. Apparently, whatever his call had entailed was going to take him away for the rest of the night.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

When Taka finally walked into the kitchen, he was buttoning the collar of his shirt. As he finished straightening the knot of his tie, she faced him and waited for him to make his excuses.

"I have no choice. I have to leave." He finally said, while shrugging into his jacket. "Thornton wants to see me right away."

Miaka bit back the retort trembling on her tongue at seeing his stony expression. So this wasn't an ordinary meeting then, she thought with sudden apprehension. Something had to have gone wrong. Dread rose within her, pushing aside any thoughts of confrontation. "Please tell me what's happened!" She urged. "I might not be able to help, but at least you won't feel you in it alone."

To her amazement, Taka accepted the offer. "I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to discuss it with anyone. If what I suspect turns out to be true, it's something that poses a threat to Mr. Thornton's business reputation."

She looked him straight in the eye. "I swear I won't tell a soul unless I think you're in some kind of danger."

"I guess that's fair." He agreed, after a moment's pause.

"Good. So what's going on?"

Taka's voice was colored with anger as he continued. "To simplify, it seems that someone's accessed my client database and deposited some unmarked files there. I don't know where they came from, what they contain, and I can't open them to find out. It's possible that they're security backups or an accidental duplication of previous files... but not likely. Most likely it could be a hackers attempt to gain access to accounts for information. My files contain records of all of my clients' stocks, bonds, credit accounts, financial transactions and their personal assets, so they'd be a gold mine for some criminal who's in the identity theft business."

While she digested this information, he added, "The majority of my clients are close to or past retirement age, and aren't very trusting of computer transactions and electronic record keeping in the first place. If a criminal has broken into with their accounts, not only will it be incredibly traumatic, it'll totally shatter the trust they placed in me. I wanted to talk with Thornton before that has a chance to happen." Taka gave a short laugh. "Somehow my assistant managed to put the fear of god into Thornton's assistant and she was able to get me an appointment tonight. He wants to meet with me as soon as I can get to his offices."

"Of course you should go. Those people are counting on you- you need to take care of them."

"Thank you... I knew you'd understand." Suddenly, shockingly, Taka looked as if he wanted to cry. "Dammit, why is it always me they want? Why did this have to happen? I should tell work to go to hell and stay here so we can talk!"

Miaka stared in astonishment. It was very rare for Taka to show this kind of anxiety; these days, he was the epitome of the phrase 'cool headed'. Likewise, it was unusual for him to share any of his work problems with her.

To have him finally tell her something of importance, and to see him looking vulnerable and uncertain brought on a latent surge of tenderness. Taka wasn't the money hungry, jaded, hard-core salesman that she had been fearing he might become...at least, not yet. Lesser men- like most of his peers that she had been introduced to at various company functions- would have only cared about saving their own skin, or what the reward would be for making such a crucial discovery, or how they could use it to further their own prospects with the company. His only concern had been preserving his integrity, the reputation of the man he worked for, and most of all, saving his clients from harm. Given that, maybe it was a good thing that this crisis had happened to him and not one of the others. At least this way, elderly customers had someone fighting for them that cared about them as people more than he cared about their financial assets.

And she cared too. Placing a comforting hand on Taka's arm, she said, "it's not your fault this happened, but it is important that you get it straightened out. Everyone you've worked with knows you're as honest and loyal a person as it's possible to be. You're doing the right thing in reporting this, and even if it turns out to be nothing, I'm positive that you won't lose face with Thornton-san!"

"I hope you're right." Taka replied with a sigh. "I can't shake this really bad feeling that everything I've worked for is about to be yanked away..."

As her long time lover reached for her, Miaka returned his hug with sincerity, trying to provide the solace he obviously needed. When he pulled her closer and began softly kissing her ear and nuzzling the curve of her neck, she managed not to stiffen, not wanting to upset him with such an obvious withdrawal of affection. She had no idea what to do and didn't want to add to the mountain of half truths she had already told him, so it was best to stay still and say nothing. Further discussion of their deteriorating relationship could wait, for she just couldn't bring herself to dump that on him at a time when he truly needed her support.

She loved Taka... and she always would. The strong, timeless bond they had shared as miko and seishi still existed, just as it did with Tasuki and the rest of the Suzaku Seven. Nothing would ever dissuade her from trying to help any of them, no matter the time, the place, or what their problems might be. If she became Dante's lover, would he be able to accept her not wanting to sever all contact with Taka? Would he agree to that condition without some sort of explanation of why it had to be so? The thought of it made Miaka bite her lip anxiously. In all probability, he wouldn't. The only hope of Dante understanding her point of view would be if he could regain the memory of who he had been, and what his prior relationship was to her and Tamahome.

But what would happen if he didn't? What if she tried to explain and he didn't believe her? What if he rejected her along with the explanation?

There was also the question of Craig...Kouji...and why both he and Tasuki had been reincarnated into this world. Knowing how much they loved Mt. Reikaku, she couldn't believe it was by choice. Was Konan in danger? Was something bad about to happen in this world? If that were true, would her other seishi appear in due time?

She had so many fears and so unanswered questions, but for now she had to keep everything bottled up. In the short term she could handle it, but considering how awful she felt about hiding the truth from Taka, and given how fast things were progressing between her and Dante, it wouldn't be long before she'd have to confess everything.

In the meantime, she had to find some way of helping Dante remember his past.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

It was a good thing, Dante thought ruefully, that he was experienced with sitting in on stake outs, or he'd have gone stir crazy. As it was, his radio was on at a low volume, and he held a paperback copy of the best selling mystery he had bought a week ago with the intention of keeping it in the vehicle for surveillance ops. Since he had been reassigned to patrol duty, however, he hadn't gotten the chance to start on it.

He hummed along to the strains of the power ballad drifting from the speakers as he opened to the first chapter. At times like this, there was nothing better than reading a good book. Time always seemed to pass more quickly when he was reading, and hopefully it woulddistract him from speculating on what was happening up in Miaka's apartment.

She said she was gonna take care of it. I gotta let her do it t' show her that I trust her. After all, he rationalized, it had been obvious that Miaka had been extremely happy to see him and equally clear that Sukinami's visit had been an unwelcome one. Nevertheless,he wished to hell that he'd taken the time to call and tell her he was coming over before leaving the station. If he'd just shown a little more consideration, Miaka wouldn't have ended up crying in his arms like she had. The sight of and feel of her tears had been like a knife to the gut. He hated being thecause of her distresseven more thanfinding out that Sukinami had picked today of all days to pay attention to her.

Making a conscious effort to relax, he hunkered deeply into his seat and turned to the first page of the novel.

Three songs and two chapters later, he heaved an impatient sigh.

Okay, this ain't gonna work …I have no idea what I just read!

He snapped the book shut, carelessly tossed it into the back seat and then began to cast about for another distraction. Nothing was forthcoming, until he spied the small sketchpad and pencil tucked into the pocket his sun visor. Hey, this is good. I'll write up a grocery list or somethin'. Normally he wasn't the sort of person who ever made lists, but anything was better than just sitting and staring out the window.

He grabbed the items, then settled back in his seat, preparing to write down anything that sounded appetizing. Five minutes later, his grocery list was finished. Dante frowned as he racked his brain for something else he could do. As he thought, he began to doodle in the margin of the tablet. After a minute or two, inspiration hit, and he ripped out the list to start a fresh drawing. Funny that although he hadn't done any serious sketching since his police academy days, he could still feel that indefinable something inside him, helping to guide his hand.

A few minutes later he stopped sketching and critically surveyed the head and shoulders portrait he had created. A pleasant feeling of accomplishment filled him as he looked at it; despite his long hiatus from artistic pursuits, he had managed to render an excellent likeness of Miaka, except for one small difference. Instead of leaving it loose and flowing, for some reason he had drawn her hair caught up in two strangely familiar looking buns, one on each side of her head.

Weird. Why did I draw her like that? He frowned for a moment, and then grinned as a plausible explanation popped into his mind. Oh I see! Damn if I didn't give her Princess Leia's hair! Guess that's what I get for watchin' that Star Wars marathon last night. He scrutinized the picture. Somethin' is still missin' …

After short but thoughtful consideration, he quickly drew thick tendrils of hair that hung in front of her delicate ears and extended them beyond her jaw line, providing a soft frame for her lovely, heart-shaped face. As a finishing touch to the innocent look he'd given her, he added wide ribbons tied in a bow around the buns, drawing them in such a way that the bows hung beneath the rounded knobs of hair.

There. Dante thought, eyeing the picture in amused satisfaction. Holy shit, I'm glad she doesn't look that young in real life! I'd feel like I was robbin' the cradle!

He flipped the page over to begin a new drawing. Again, his hand flew over the paper, seemingly guided by some unseen force. In a matter of minutes he had completed a full length drawing of Miaka. Inexplicably, he had drawn her in a two piece harem ensemble straight out of Arabian Nights. Her feet were bare, and one arm was raised to the sky, as if summoning some great power to do her bidding. Dante shook his head, smiling at his whimsy.

The pose is way too dramatic, but I sure wouldn't mind seein' her in a get up like that one.

Scanning the blank space behind his subject, he grinned again as an idea formed in his mind. He set about sketching, and it wasn't long before a phoenix emerged, rising high enough behind Miaka so that its head hovered above hers, and its wings stretched protectively above and beyond her shoulders. Hey, that looks pretty cool! Maybe I'll frame it and give it to her.

So long had it been now? He glanced at his watch, and was annoyed to see that a good forty-five minutes had passed since he had left Miaka's front door. Just how long did it take to tell someone to take a hike, anyway?

Of course, he understood that what Miaka had intended to do would be awfully difficult for her, and of course he was more than willing to wait for however long it took for her to come to him. Unfortunately, that willingness and understanding didn't keep his nerves from fraying, or prevent him from feeling insanely jealous of every extra moment she was spending with his rival. What if Sukinami tried to make love to her? He wasn't blind- it was obvious that she harbored deep-seated feelings for the guy. From what she'd said, they had a history that went back to their teenage years, so how could she find the strength to start saying no to his advances?

A loud snap reverberated into the silence. Dante looked down, saw that the pencil he held had broken in half, and tossed the pieces into the back seat with a snort of self-disgust. At the same time, a flash of movement caught the corner of his eye. Slowly straightening out of his hunkered down posture, he cautiously peered out his front window just in time to see a dark-haired, well-dressed man rapidly descending the stairs from the third floor.

There was something awfully familiar about the erect posture and loose, confident stride, Dante thought, turning his head for a better view. When the pedestrian drew nearer to his position, he realized why. Although he had been stymied in his attempts to arrange a face- to- face meeting, he'd seen that lean, athletic build and the pretty boy face enough in the photos that he had gone through in his investigation of Thornton Investments to recognize it.

This person was definitely Taka Sukinami, in the flesh.

He continued to watch intently as the Japanese man passed by just a few feet from the hood of the Jeep, and then craned his neck to see what car Sukinami would approach. A derisive smirk curled his lip upon spotting the distinctive make of the vehicle. Must be nice to own a brand new Jag. Guess money ain't everything though, 'cause he looks pretty upset… maybe Miaka decided to break it off with him now?

Despite the hopeful thought, Dante couldn't help feeling an instinctive, masculine sympathy for his rival. Getting dumped by a woman was always the great equalizer among men. No matter how rich a guy was or how high a status he had attained in life, losing out at love was always a bitch. He's gotta be a smart guy to do what he does, so why can't he get a clue? Ah, but I'm not gonna start feeling sorry for him! It's his damn fault Miaka's been so unhappy here, and I ain't gonna stand by and watch him jerk her around. She deserves someone that makes her happy, dammit, an' I'm the one who's gonna do it for her!

His mind zeroed in on the present and the fact that Miaka was all by herself, and the thought propelled him into action. After carefully closing and puttting the notebook away under his seat, he switched off his radio and yanked the keys from the ignition. Then he waited, humming with impatience, for the gunmetal gray Jaguar to turn out of the parking lot onto the busy street in front of the complex.

As the car faded into the distance, Dante bolted from his own vehicle and made a swift dash for Miaka's apartment.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

When the door buzzer sounded, Miaka had just finished combing her damp hair and was scurrying around her bedroom trying to figure out what to wear. She stopped for a moment to smile at her pet, who was lying out in the hall, presumably so he could watch her and the front door at the same time.

"I think Dante must have seen Taka leaving, Zu-Zu." She said conversationally.

Mizu's whiskers twitched as he stared at his mistress.

"Well, he's going to have to wait outside a bit longer, because there's no way I'm going out with him in this outfit!" She declared, with a disparaging glance down at her faded t-shirt and wrinkled shorts.

Running to the dresser, she yanked out a dark blue, midriff-baring halter top and denim shorts from a drawer and then hastily pulled them on. A full application of makeup was discarded in the interest of time, except for a light coat of mascara, and a dusting of powder to reduce shine. She quickly finger combed her bangs, hooked a pair of silver Kokapelli dangles into pierced ears, and dabbed perfume on the inner bend of her elbows and behind her knees.

There. She was ready. Ready for her first date with someone other than Taka. Though she felt pangs of guilt, she also couldn't help feeling excited about going out with Dante. Just the thought of being with him made her life seem so much brighter. The reflection in her dresser mirror confirmed that observation, showing an image of a rosy cheeked, bright- eyed young woman looking as if she'd just received the best present of her life.

The buzzer sounded again as she ran from the room. When she reached the door, Miaka checked the peephole out of habit, and smiled happily at what she saw in the tiny circle. "I'm here! Just a second." She fumbled to unlock and open the door. "Sorry to be keep you waiting, but I wanted to change clothes." She added, somewhat breathlessly.

Dante smiled. "Don't go fussin' on my account! I thought you looked-"

What he had been intending to say died on his lips as the door swung wide and he took in her full appearance. His cheeks darkened as his gaze roamed over her. "Uh, never mind. " He murmured, as his gaze reluctantly met hers. "Ya look...great."

She smiled demurely. "Arigatou- I mean, thank you, Dante-kun. Would you like to come in now?"

"Thanks." As Dante walked past her into the apartment, he surreptitiously glanced down to check out her pert backside, which was nicely showcased by the short shorts she now wore. Yep, just as cute and sexy as he had remembered. Maybe more so.

Miaka closed the door, then turned to face him, and his gaze jerked upwards to her face. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice his delayed reaction."So... is everythin' all right?" He asked, trying to make the inquiry sound casual and not as if his future happiness depended on her answer.

"More or less." She said, after heaving a sigh. "I told him I had plans, but then his boss called and he ended up having to go into work anyway, so..." she shrugged, "...that's the way it stands."

Disappointment kept Dante silent. So they hadn't called it quits, but at least she'd turned down sex with the guy. She wanted to be with me tonight, not him. That's consolation enough to be goin' on with right now. "Well then, are ya ready to get outta here?" He asked, forcing a cheerful tone.

"Only if it's with you." She smiled as his face brightened. "May I ask where we're going?"

"Sure can! Ever eaten at The Sonic?"

"Is that the drive in restaurant with all the flags on the roof?" He nodded. "No, not yet. What kind of food do they serve?"

"American cuisine at its finest!" Dante boasted. "Things like double cheeseburgers, chili dogs, root beer, fries, shakes, onion rings…an' it's served by carhops on roller skates like in the good ole days. It's a real fun place, I can't believe ya haven't been there yet!" As a sudden thought occurred to him, his voice wavered with uncertainty. "Unless… that's because you don't really like that kind of stuff?"

Miaka gaped at him, and then giggled. "Are you kidding me? I might cook fancy things for a living, but I love the basics! Just let me grab my shoes and my purse!"

His smile returned in force. "All right, the Sonic it is!"

She smiled back at him as she disappeared around the corner. Dante wandered into the living room and then back to the entryway, trying not to think about where Miaka was at the moment and that he had her all to himself. Well, except for the cat, but Mizu was nowhere in sight.

His date reappeared, purse and keys in hand. He silently admired her dainty feet, now shown to advantage in navy blue sandals, and then asked, "So where did your kitty get himself off to?"

She blinked in surprise, and then smiled. "Oh, Mizu's asleep on my bed."

"That lucky little fuzz ball!" He drawled teasingly. "I bet he's purrin'."

Her laugh came easily, though her face was turning a brilliant shade of red. "Mou! Dante-kun is a pervert!"

"Just another service I offer!" He joked. "I like to call it part of my charm."

"I think it is." She said.

Her smile was guileless, but her eyes betrayed her need for his touch. As his own sexual response surged through him, Dante hastily averted his eyes to his watch.

"Wow, look at the time! It's almost seven." He stated huskily. "I bet you're hungry."

"Yes I am, " she murmured. "I'm ready to go whenever you are."

The breathy catch in her voice made Dante glance up in time to catch her gaze stray to his groin. He felt himself growing thick and hard under the perusal, but made no effort to stop what was happening. Instead, he simply hooked his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans and let her check him out to her heart's content.

When her eyes met his, their gazes locked. Several tense seconds ticked by as they stared at each other, neither of them moving or speaking, until Miaka finally capitulated to the demands of an empty stomach and propriety. "Um...are you ready?"

"Uh, yeah." Dante stepped back and gestured politely. "Ladies first." As she walked past him, he clenched his jaw as a subtle whiff of her perfume teased his nostrils. It took every bit of his willpower not to yank her against him and bury himself in that scent.

They exited the apartment, which Miaka locked up, and then made inconsequential small talk as they descended the stairs and walked to Dante's Jeep.

Despite the normality of their chatter, Miaka was overwhelmingly conscious of the sexual tension that stretched between herself and Dante. As she got into the SUV and buckled up her seat belt, she couldn't help thinking that it was almost as if the two of them were locked into an ancient, ritualistic mating dance, each of them circling and feinting...but never quite following through. Eventually the dance would have to end- but who would make the first move to finish it?

At the thought, an image of herself as a cavewoman popped into her mind. As she pictured her primitive self hitting an equally Neolithic-looking Dante over the head with a club and dragging him off by his flaming red top knot, Miaka choked on a laugh.

"Everything all right?" Dante asked, as he settled in beside her.

"Oh yes! Couldn't be better." She assured him dreamily, now imagining what she'd do once she got him back to her cave.

He eyed her with suspicion. "You daydreamin' about something?"

Her smile widened. "Mm-hmmm..."

"Whoa, we better give ya somethin' else to think about!" Suiting his actions to his words, Dante quickly reached under his seat and brought out a sketchpad, which he tossed into her lap. "Here ya go!"

Miaka cast him an inquisitive look as he buckled his seat belt and started the Jeep. "What's this?"

"Just some drawings I did while I was waitin' for ya. I'd really like to know what ya think of them… an' please be honest, okay? I'm very good at takin' criticism."

His face was tinged with red, and he wouldn't meet her eyes. giving her the distinct impression that he didn't want to watch her looking at his sketches. "If you're the artist I'll love them, even if they suck!" She teased. "How's that for being honest?"

Dante's blush deepened. "Pretty damn good."

She grinned at his profile before picking up the notebook on her lap and opening its cover with a flourish.

As the top page came into view, Dante folded his arms and stared down at the steering wheel. From his reaction, Miaka suspected the drawings might be of her, but she was not prepared for what met her eyes.

Shocked to the core, she stared down at the innocently rendered portrait of herself as a fifteen year old schoolgirl with ribbon-tied odangos...and felt the tears start to flow.

To be continued…

Reviewers will receive two scarlet hair ribbons and a package of marshmallow kitties (compliments of Mizu!)