Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Leather and Lace ❯ Chapter 13

Leather and Lace

By: Maidens of Konan

Disclaimer: Maidens of Konan, being of fairly sound mind, wish to state that they do not own any part of the series Fushigi Yûgi or the manga from which the series originated, (though they do fervently admire the genius of Yû Watase). The non canon elements of this story be it character, plot or dialogue based are the intellectual property of the author(s). Plagiarizing is a no no, and will result in an embarrasingly public expression of contempt, as sung and delivered by Nakago.

Song referencein this chapteris by J. Reznik of the Goo Goo Dolls. No copyright infringement is intended in mentioning it.)

Chapter Thirteen

Miaka's mouth went dry as her heart did its level best to pound its way out of her chest.

An entire weekend with Dante…alone...

The thought was tempting and definitely thrilling, but was she ready to take that step and face the consequences of what might follow? Even more unsettling was the recognition that guilt over choosing someone other than Taka had yet to manifest. She was sure that epiphany was but the first drop in a bucket of self-realizations, but she couldn't allow herself to acknowledge any others at the moment. First, she had to figure out what she should do.

Saying yes would be completely unfair to Taka- bad enough that she hadn't yet told him about meeting Dante-and it would and act of infidelity in itself. But then again, she would have been spending the weekend with Taka, but he had made his choice clear…and it wasn't her. Saying no meant disappointing Dante and possibly discouraging him from ever asking her again. Given all the disappointment handed her in the past year, and since she was now planning to cool things off with Taka, was it so bad that she got to go have some innocent fun with someone else?

Of course, it might not be so innocent. Dante was much more to her than a mere friend. She had had first hand experience as to what spending time and having fun with him could eventually lead to …which brought her back in a full circle to the 'what should I say' dilemma.

Gods, Miaka, get it together and decide! He needs an answer!

But it was no use. The intensity of the feelings she held for Dante coupled with the giddy happiness of being with him for an entire weekend had completely vanquished any semblance of logic or poise in her decision making. Her bemused gaze lowered to the hand he now held within his, then flicked up to peer at him from beneath the screen of her lashes. From his expression, she knew that Dante wasn't going to sit idly by and take no for an answer.

In desperation, she averted her face, but warm fingertips found the underside of her chin and tilted it back up.

"Miaka, talk to me!" Dante urged. "Look, if somethin' is botherin' ya, just spit it out! It's best to get it out in the open."

She sighed. His eyes were compelling her to tell the truth and she couldn't deny him. "I don't want to say no, but I'm scared to say yes!"

Clearly taken aback, Dante let go of her chin. "Hell's Bells! You...you're afraid of me?"

"No, no, no!" She shook her head for emphasis. "I'm afraid of me!"

He frowned. "I don't get it."

Miaka felt her face start to burn with embarrassment, but she pressed on. "I'm sure you've noticed that I have a difficult time controlling my baser impulses when it comes to you." She admitted unsteadily. "Considering that and the boundaries we've set until I can sort things out with Taka, it's my opinion that my coming and staying at your house for a weekend is like begging for trouble!"

Dante sat back in his chair with a thump and stared at her for a long, highly charged moment.

"Well…I sure can't treat ya like you're my sister or anything, but I can promise ya that there's no sexual expectations attached to this offer!" He said at last, regarding her with a steady sincerity as his hand gently squeezed hers. "We're both impulsive, but we both want to do this the right way- the honorable way. We know the penalties for screwing things up, and I say we can do this! I'd rather deal with takin' several cold showers a day than miss out on a chance gettin' to know you as a person."

He really is serious about this… he wants all of me, not just my body! Miaka thought wonderingly. And he's right. Nothing is ever resolved if you run away from it, and it would be stupid of me to turn down this opportunity just because I'm afraid something might happen that I can't handle.

In another second, her decision was made. A tentative smile creased her cheeks. "I agree, and since I know that you'll help me to be strong…Mizu and I will be honored to accept your kind invitation."

For a moment, an unmistakable gleam of triumph appeared in Dante's eyes. The sight of it made her a bit nervous again, but the boyish elation in his voice wiped away her misgivings.

"We're gonna have a great time!" He declared happily. "I've got a real nice guest room for you and the kitty cat-and a place for his food and litter box, of course. We'll order out, so neither of us will hafta cook, an' I'll even fire up the Jacuzzi for ya! How's that sound?"

Miaka felt her blush returning in force; she couldn't help being pleased by the unreserved pleasure with which Dante was soliciting her company. "It does sound wonderful, but please don't go to extra trouble on my account! A plain shower will do just as fine for me!"

"It's no trouble!" He gave her a devilish grin. "I know how the Japanese love their baths...an' trust me, you're gonna be beggin' for a nice warm soak after a day of sightseein' with yours truly!"

She gaped at him. "You want to take me sightseeing?"

"Hell, yeah! What kinda host would I be if I didn't show ya around town?" Dante exclaimed. "Cripes, you've been here over six months, and ya haven't even been to the top of Pike's Peak or visited the Garden of the Gods yet!" Amber eyes narrowed in thought. "Hm…I don't suppose you've had any experience with horses, though, have ya?"

She stifled a laugh at the question. We rode together plenty of times in Konan… if you could only remember! "I do, but it's been quite a few years since I've ridden one." She said aloud. "Why?"

"'Cause the best way to see Garden of the Gods is on horseback." He replied eagerly. "There's stuff on the trails that the typical tourist never gets to see! An early morning ride is best, then we can go get some breakfast. Mizu will have to miss out on those parts, though, 'cause of the rules about animals, but since ya have a leash for him, later we can take him up to Pike's Peak with us in the Jeep."

Miaka felt her spirits being lifted sky high. Dante's enthusiasm was contagious, and his speech was delightfully free of the reticent 'ifs' and 'maybes' that always peppered her conversations with Taka whenever they attempted to make plans. In addition, there was no doubt in her mind that Dante would follow through on everything he had said, and more. Like Tasuki, he was someone who she could depend on to be where he said he was going to be, and to do what he said he was going to do.

"That sounds like fun!" She said, eyes shining with reflected excitement. "I'm really looking forward to riding a horse again!"

"We'll have t'get ya some ridin' gloves, though, to protect your finger." He briefly brought her hand to his lips, kissed the bandaged finger in question, then released it with a sigh. "Now that we got that all settled, I suppose I better head out."

He got to his feet as he spoke, but his expression made it flatteringly clear that he was reluctant to leave. The feeling was mutual, Miaka thought; she wasn't anywhere near ready to bid him goodnight. "But what about the CDs?" She asked, in a fit of desperate inspiration. "You still have to pick some out to take home!"

Dante looked surprised, then smirked. "You're makin' me an offer I can't refuse."

Miaka laughed in relief. He was going to stay! "But of course, Corleone-sama! Just let me straighten up a little and then I'll go get them!"

She hastily began to collect their dirtied dishes, but he stopped her. "Hey, let me get those. Your finger has to be hurtin'."

It was, but she didn't want to give him any more reasons to think he had to leave. "Thank you Dante, but it's okay-"

It was apparent he wasn't going to listen; despite her protestations, he plucked the mugs and plates out of her hands and carried them over to the sink. Then, without asking, he turned on the faucet and proceeded to squirt soap from the dispenser standing next to it, showing the ease of a man long used to doing his own housework.

Miaka grinned, then sat back down and took advantage of the opportunity he'd given her to watch him from behind. Her admiring gaze wandered freely over broad shoulders, a back that rippled with muscle …and a butt that filled out his jeans in a way that made her hands itch to grab hold of it.

It was her misfortune that Dante was very efficient and soon finished the task of washing, rinsing and drying.

As he turned to face her, Miaka guiltily jerked her gaze up to his face. Really, she was getting just as shameless about ogling men's attributes as American girls…but who could blame her for acting a little out of character around such an impressive specimen of manhood?

Dante had been gifted with Tasuki's masculine beauty, a beauty which she hadn't been able to fully appreciate in the past. But this was a different time, a different place…and she was a far cry from the person she had been at fifteen. Whether that was good or bad was up for debate, but there was no denying that she now wanted the pleasure of looking her fill.

Gods, the man really was a masterpiece…twice over. She could stare into those exotic amber eyes forever and a day. They were so hot...and mysterious… and suddenly she was being transported back to a remote mountain cabin, held in thrall by a bandit wolf's predatory gaze…

"Earth to Miaka! Come in, Miaka!"

She gave a guilty start. "Sorry, sorry! I was spacing out again, wasn't I?"

"I guess ya could say that."

The amused note in his voice and the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes told her Dante had a good idea of what she'd been thinking, but her feminine pride wouldn't allow her to acknowledge it. "Thank you for doing the dishes," she said, lifting her chin a bit. "It was very nice of you."

He grinned at her prim expression. "Not a problem, darlin'! So what cupboards do ya keep 'em in?"

Her expression softened under the force of his charm. "That'll take too much time; just stack them on the counter and I'll put them away later."

"All righty." He obediently set the dried dishes on the counter along with the towel he'd been using, then followed her as she led the way to the living room. Her entertainment center was tucked away in a far corner of the room, and housed a brand new television, a DVD player, and stereo system.

Behind her, Dante let out a soft whistle as he read the brand and make of the equipment.

"That's a first rate set up ya got there." He remarked, as she pulled out a CD case from a storage area beneath the television.

"Thank you." Miaka said briefly. She always felt uncomfortable talking about her more extravagant possessions, whether it be to friends or her family, not to mention being certain Dante wouldn't like the answer. She was both relieved and grateful that he said nothing more save for a gruff "thanks," as he took the case out of her hands.

"Don't be shy," she urged, as he made his way over to the couch and sat down. "Whatever you want, take it!"

Dante's look would have melted her if she had been ice. Too late, she realized how her words could be misconstrued.

"You're a very generous woman, Miss Miaka!" He drawled, his accent now thick as spun honey. "I'll make sure you won't regret it."

As she went scarlet he grinned at her, then proceeded to unzip the CD case and slide his hands beneath the cover to lift it.

Despite her flustered feelings, Miaka found herself unable to look away; the most mundane actions seemed to take on an intensely sensual hue when Dante performed them! She stared at lean, strong fingers as they separated the various jewel cases, imagining them caressing her flesh in much the same way. Ripples of desire lapped at her loins, threatening to submerge her in yet another fantasy...

Something soft and furry was insistently bumping her ankles. In an instant, she emerged from her reverie.

"Ah, ZuZu! Are you hungry again, my little neko?"

A growling mew and a glare confirmed her guess.

"All right then, I'll go and get you something." She promised, bending over to caress the purring feline, grateful for the excuse it had provided her to leave the room and regain her composure. She simply had to get better control over her constant fantasizing! "Dante, I'll be right back. Mizu needs a treat."

"Okey dokey."

As Miaka quickly left the room, her guest shot an half-amused, half-exasperated glance at the cat, who immediately padded over and jumped up to sit next to him on the sofa. Taking the hint, Dante chuckled and obligingly stroked him.

"Gotta say I'm jealous as hell of ya, Mizu." He confided in an undertone. "You're a damn lucky cat to be living with her… you know that, don't ya?"

The Siamese stretched out lazily and smirked at him.

Obviously, it knew.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

Twenty minutes later Mizu had finished his treat and fallen asleep in a nearby chair, while Dante had selected a number of CDs that he could honestly say he was very excited to hear. On top of that, he had managed to regain most of his good humor by thinking that in less than three days Miaka would be in his territory and away from anything that reeked of her boyfriend and his dirty money. The worried look on her face hadn't escaped him, and he knew its cause. He also knew he didn't have the right to say anything about her getting rid of certain possessions…yet.

Nevertheless, when Miaka excused herself to go and find a bag for his borrowed loot, he seized the chance to take a longer look at the costly sound system, and then wandered around, checking out the artworks, glass vases, candles and brass decorations that were strategically placed about the room. As he did so, his initial impression of the décor was strengthened; though the room's expensive furnishings were tastefully understated and stylish, none of them captured Miaka's warmth and down- to -earth personality.

Obviously, she didn't spend much time in this room. Even the entertainment center bore the look of disuse; there were barely any fingerprints on the glass doors, and the TV still had its sales sticker on it. He resisted the urge to look to check for a price by speculatingwhat she did when she was alone if she didn't watch TV. That thought only served to irritate him, so he moved on to the framed photographs on one of the end tables next to the sofa, the only items that did anything to bring a touch of home to the room.

Curious to see who and what the pictures contained, he sat down on the sofa and reached for one of the biggest frames. It held a candid shot of Miaka and a blonde he recognized as her best friend Yui, along with a laughing young man that, by virtue of his looks, had to be Miaka's brother. Dante smiled at it, set it down, and picked up another. This one showed Miaka with an arm slung around a middle aged version of herself, who he guessed was most likely her mother; though their hair styles and coloring were different, their eyes and their smiles were certainly the same.

The last photo was the largest and was of Miaka with Taka Sukinami. It had obviously been taken at some corporate gala, for both were dressed in the kind of formal attire typically worn by the movers and shakers in the society pages.

Dante felt his gut clenching with jealousy at the sight of the proprietary masculine arm wrapped around Miaka's shoulders, and the glowing look she was giving the man. Well, what did you expect? He chided himself. He's her boyfriend, has been for years. She's gonna have pictures of him sittin' around.

He stared at the photo in masochistic fascination. There was no question that Sukinami had impeccable style and princely good looks. The man appeared to be both happy and supremely confident in his future- but then again, who wouldn't with someone like Miaka standing at his side?

Dante scowled down at the smiling face. Despite an assumption of ample intelligence, this Taka had to be an idiot; otherwise, how could he take his girlfriend's feelings for granted? Even worse, how stupid was it to make a girl as sweet and lovely as Miaka wait years for a marriage proposal? How unforgivable was it to have caused her so many tears? No matter how much money he made, the man's frequent absences and his misguided ambitions were going to end up costing him dearly!

He sucked in a sharp breath, feeling a surge of pure energy jolt through him. In his mind's eye, an image of a sneering, black silk clad Taka Sukinami appeared, waving some sort of weapon around as the sounds of paper being ripped to shreds and heartrending feminine sobs filled the air. Sukinami's smile was cold and pitiless as he lifted his arm with a jerk, and Dante felt himself springing into action as the black clad arm snapped the weapon downwards with a vicious clatter of chains; a dull roar had filled his ears- intense fury, mixed with a speed induced wind…

"You've hurt her enough!" He growled, unaware he was speaking aloud. "It ain't gonna happen again!"

"Dante-kun!"

As soon as he heard his name, Dante's eyes flew open. Miaka was standing in front of the coffee table, staring at him with frightened eyes; it was then that he noticed the faint crimson colored light emanating from the vicinity of his right arm. Shit, the thing's really lightin' up! Covering the glowing phoenix with a hand, he managed a reply. "Sorry, Miaka- were you saying something?"

"Are you all right?" She inquired anxiously. "Your face is all flushed!"

Doesn't she see that red light? Ah, what am I saying, she'd be too damn polite to mention somethin' so abnormal! "I was startled, that's all." He said aloud. "I'm feelin' fine." Strong emotions must trigger it somehow. I just gotta calm down and it'll go away. I just gotta relax.

With a concentrated effort, he found that he could let go of the anger that was still lurking in the depths of his mind. Relief took its place as he sensed a decrease in the energy that had been building up within him. He cast a quick glance down at his arm; was it his imagination, or had the light beneath his fingers also grown much fainter? Cautiously, he let go of the picture frame and then lifted the hand covering the tattoo by degrees. A sigh of relief escaped him at seeing that it was back to normal, and the red-tinged glow had vanished. Weird! Too fuckin' weird!

Green eyes regarded him with disconcerting intensity. "Dante, you can be honest. Tell me what's wrong."

Judging by her expression, he was going to have to do a better job of assauging her concern. "I was lookin' at all your pictures, and I guess I nodded off for a minute. Next thing I know I'm having a bad dream. That's all." It was a lame excuse, but he couldn't bring himself to tell Miaka about the little 'episodes' he'd been having until he had figured out what was triggering them. He could sense she wasn't appeased by his explanation, but how much worse a reaction would she have had if he shared the bizarre thoughts he'd been having lately? Even now, the thought of her finding out was propelling him to his feet.

"Dante-"

"I'm fine. Honest." He stated with a semi-forced calm. "But you're lookin' kinda tired. I should get going. "

Remorse assailed him as Miaka looked as if he had just slapped her.

"I'm having a good time, and I don't feel tired at all!" She declared softly. Her gaze wavered, then fell away from his. "I'd be very happy if you would stay a bit longer. It's nice to have someone here to talk to for a change. Mizu's good company, but…it's just not the same, you know?"

The sadness in her eyes and the melancholic catch in her voice hit him like arrows to his heart, and all thoughts of leaving crumbled under their impact. Hell, he hadn't really wanted to go in the first place! He had only suggested it as an excuse for his strange behavior, and not because he was worried he might have been overstaying his welcome.

But she was lonely and had asked him to stay. There was no way in hell he could refuse her request. The personal boundaries they had set couldn't be compromised, since staying with her had nothing to do with his desire to get Miaka into the sack...well, very little to with it, anyway. He'd just have to make sure to keep tight control over his emotions, and that was that.

"Yeah…livin' alone can be a real bitch sometimes." He agreed huskily. "All right, I'll hang around for a while- but only if ya promise to kick me out before midnight. Okay?"

"Okay!" Her delighted smile warmed him to the core. "Maybe we should have another cup of coffee and another snack?"

In her eagerness to play hostess, Miaka didn't wait for his reply, but turned and trotted towards the kitchen.

Dante chuckled as he followed her. "Sounds like a real good idea."

_________________________________________________________________ _______

They took the coffee and cookies to the sofa in the living room this time. A comfortable silence had fallen, since neither of them felt much like conversing at the moment; they were just content to bask in the glow of doing something as a couple.

"Did you want to watch the late edition news?" Miaka finally asked.

"Nah, not tonight. It's always depressing." Dante replied quickly. "How about listenin' to some music? We still have to find me a theme song."

"That's right!" Miaka reached for the stereo remote control lying on the coffee table in front of them, and handed it over with a smile. "Here you go, knock yourself up!" With a happy sigh, she settled back against the cushions, facing forward and waiting expectantly for Dante to praise her command of English 'street' language. None came. Bewildered, she turned her head to find that her guest .was shaking with suppressed laughter. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

It was a moment before he could answer. "Well, yeah, but that's okay, I know what you meant. The actual phrase is 'knock yourself out'." He explained seriously, though his eyes sparkled with mirth. "Ya see, the phrase getting 'knocked up' is actually American slang for…um… gettin' pregnant."

"Ohhh, I see." She nodded wisely. "It was the wrong analogy to use, since you're a man and that would be impossible." In keeping with etiquette, she bowed to express her regrets. "Gomen nasai, Dante-kun. I hope I didn't offend you."

To her consternation, he seemed to be finding her apology to be almost as funny as her mistake. As he broke into loud chuckles, a prickling heat born of shame crept up Miaka's neck and rose to the roots of her hair. If it had been Alan or Hannah correcting her, she would have laughed at her own mistake, but this was different. She wanted Dante to admire her, and to be proud of her, but he was American, and she was Japanese. The cultural differences between them could end up causing him embarrassment in front of his family and friends. She stiffened at the thought, face still burning with mortification.

Dante took one look at her expression, and was instantly sobered."Miaka, sweetheart, I'm not laughin' at you! I laughed because you look so damn cute when you do things like that! Please don't be sad…"

The sincerity in his voice and the comforting hand covering hers went a long way towards soothing her ruffled feelings, but she wasn't ready to let him off the hook just yet. "In Japan, a man would have taken great offense to my comparing him to a woman in any way." She stated coolly. "That's why I apologized for the insult, as I was taught to do by my mother."

"An' I'm an idiot who doesn't deserve one!" Dante's lips curved ruefully. "Ya see, American men tend to be more laid back about the traditional gender roles- unless they're clueless, insensitive jerks, that is. Speakin' of which…" he paused as he took her hand and briefly brought it to his lips, "…gomen nasai, Miaka. I'm very sorry for hurtin' your feelings."

Then he bowed, just as she had done to him.

A new kind of heat filled Miaka that had nothing to do with shame or embarrassment. A sense of wonder too, for up until now she couldn't have imagined Tasuki being able to pull off such a graceful apology. In the bandit seishi's case, chivalrous intentions and honesty hadn't always added up to tactful declarations of remorse. Still, when all was said and done, she felt she'd helped Tasuki become a bit more enlightened in his attitudes towards women.

In any case, despite the disparities in Dante and Tasuki's cultural and social upbringings, their personalities seemed to mesh perfectly. Perhaps she could think of the contrasts between Dante and herself in that way too; though these kinds of misunderstandings might often prove frustrating, they could provide opportunities for mutual respect and appreciation. The thought immediately brought on a smile.

"Thank you for your apology, but I think I was being much too sensitive." She said warmly. "Let's just forget about it and enjoy some music, okay?"

"More than okay!" Fang-like incisors flashed in a grin.

Dante had no problems wielding the stereo's complicated remote, and soon found the same radio station they had been listening to in the Jeep. The deejay announced that it was a commercial-free hour, and Miaka leaned back against the sofa, sipped at her coffee and listened intently to the songs that came one after the other. Though none seemed right for Dante's theme, one stood out to her as having captured the mood of their relationship.

"'Iris', by the Goo Goo Dolls." He commented, after a few seconds of listening. "An outstanding song, if ya ask me."

Miaka nodded her agreement as their gazes locked. She could see a host of emotions dancing in his eyes, but couldn't quite identify any of them. "They're well known where I come from. One of their albums, 'Bang' was released exclusively in Japan." She said. "I don't care for some of their songs, but I think the guitar parts in this one are beautiful."

"Yeah," Dante replied in a low voice. "An' the lyrics pretty much describe how I'm feelin'."

Looking down at the coffee mug he clutched in both hands, he hummed and then softly sang along with the chorus. When the song had ended he looked up, his expression dark with purpose. Miaka remained motionless as he deliberately set his cup down, then took hers and set it next to his on the coffee table before turning back to her. Caught in the hypnotic amber depths of his eyes and swayed by the power of music, she felt compelled to speak.

"Dante, listen. There are a lot of other things you need to know about me and - "

He made a shushing gesture. "I have things t' get off my chest too, but let's leave it for the weekend when we'll have more time to discuss them, okay? I don't want us to start spillin' our guts to each other right before I hafta leave." An apologetic smile curved his lips. "An' I am going to have to go home soon, darlin', 'cause I've gotta be to work at six."

She was aghast. "Oh, I've been so inconsiderate! If I'd known, I never would have asked you to-"

"Hush now." He interrupted. "I coulda told ya before this, but I didn't because I wanted to stay longer." His eyes smiled at her as he moved closer. "So, whaddaya say, Miss Miaka? You up for a little goodnight kiss?"

Her answering smile was as sweet as sugar as she slid her arms around his neck.

"What do you think?" She whispered, then said no more as his mouth took possession of hers.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

One kiss had actually turned into several before Dante finally found the will to disengage himself from Miaka, pick up his bag of music, and make for her door. She trailed after him out into the entryway with meandering steps, feeling as if she were treading on air.

"Make sure ya lock and bolt the door after I leave." He informed her in stern tones, as they paused in the foyer. "There are an awful lot of weirdos runnin' around out there."

Miaka simply nodded as she stared up at him with a dreamy smile; not even the knowledge that he had switched to 'cop mode' could break the romantic spell Dante had just cast upon her. The kisses he'd just given her had been different than any they'd exchanged thus far; they had been like moonlight and roses, and a soft, cozy blanket being wrapped around her…making her feel safe, cherished, and wonderfully pampered all at once.

She wasn't quite ready to let go of those feelings. On impulse she flung herself at Dante, wrapping her arms tightly about his slim waist . His shoulders fell back against the door under the impetus of her weight, and he gasped out a laugh as his arms automatically rose to encircle her.

"Whoa! What's all this about?"

"I'm so glad I met you!" She bubbled joyfully. "You make me so happy!"

He looked stunned for a moment, then a blinding smile lit his face. "Thanks, darlin'- the feelin' is definitely mutual!"

She snuggled in as close to him as she could, even though it meant she'd have to tilt her head even further back to meet his gaze. "I really wish we didn't have to work tomorrow."

A dull red tinged Dante's cheeks as she pressed her body against him. He gave her a fierce squeeze in response, then grudgingly released her as she slowly backed out of his arms.

"Thank you so much for tonight, Dante. I had the best time."

"I hope so." He said, thinking of her earlier tears, then asked quickly, "Is it okay if I call ya tomorrow after work?"

She nodded, her expression shining with pleasure. "That would be wonderful! I'm on the lunch and early supper shift so I'll get home around seven-thirty. Would eight o' clock work for you?"

"'Course it does." He confirmed, a bit throatily. "Eight it is."

The light in his eyes gave her goose bumps of happiness. She smiled as her arms fell to her sides. "I'll be waiting."

There was nothing more to say. After giving her a final -and markedly possessive- kiss on the lips, Dante quickly turned, flung open the door, and stepped out into the cold mountain air. He paused, not turning around, waiting for her to shut and bolt it behind him, which she reluctantly did. Then she leaned her head against the door, listening to his slowly retreating footsteps until the sound had completely faded away.

He was gone. A bittersweet feeling welled in her chest as she went back into her living room, which seemed colder and emptier than ever before. Almost immediately her gaze fell on the picture of her and Taka, which was out of place, then moved on to the table holding two coffee cups, one of which had felt the touch of Dante's lips.

She stared at the two cups, and then lifted her hand to her mouth, which still tingled from Dante's farewell kiss.

To the right, Mizu was stirring in the chair. The feline stretched, and then sat up with a sleepily inquiring meow, for he could see his mistress' expression now hovered somewhere between agony and ecstasy.

"Mizu, I've fallen in love." She announced.

And then burst into tears.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

It didn't take Dante long to discover that he was too keyed up to go straight home.

His mind was buzzing, constantly replaying everything that had happened on the date, everything that Miaka had said and everything she had done, until he was ready to scream with the sheer bliss and frustration of it all. Bliss, because she had made it very clear tonight that she harbored tender feelings for him that went way beyond physical attraction. Frustration, because there were two major things that kept him from going all out to win her; the fact that he hadn't set Miaka straight about his job for one, and that she was still seeing Sukinami, for another. He had to hold back until those things were resolved, but damn if it wasn't eating away at his gut to do so.

By nature, he wasn't a patient person. He had been able to learn patience for things related to his job, but when it came to women, it had never been an issue, mainly because he hadn't cared enough to worry about any of his relationships. The woman had done all the pursuing, and he had merely sat back and reaped the benefits.

That would never, ever happen with Miaka.

It had been sheer hell for him to even walk away from her door, knowing that she was still standing on the other side of it. After tonight, after what she had said to him -and how she had said it- he had wanted her so badly it had physically hurt him inside. He had her trust, though, and he cared too deeply about that and what Miaka thought of him to try to manipulate her with sex. Denying himself her body was torture, but if she decided to leave Sukinami and come to him, he wanted it to be of her own accord. Otherwise he'd always have doubts about why she was with him, and that lack of trust in her feelings would probably spell doom for a long term relationship.

Sukinami had been her lover for a long time. It would be wise not to underestimate the power of a shared history and personal loyalty... something of which he could tell Miaka held in spades. For now, it would be enough to know that he had a fighting chance of winning her heart, and of earning that same kind of loyalty. It wasn't out of line to think that, because having him around made Miaka happy- she had said so herself! Hearing those words had meant the world to him, and he'd do anything to put that same glow in her eyes every time they were together. He would show her what love meant, and make her love him, using every weapon he had in his arsenal. As he had told her in the park, they were meant to be together. He had never been more certain of anything in his life.

He had to be patient, though. He had to keep believing that things would work out for the best, and try hard not to scare her off by acting like a horny, sex-starved dog in the process. An ironic grin twisted Dante's lips. Never, not even in his randy academy days, had he ever gotten this worked up over being with a woman! The terms 'desire' and 'passion' didn't come close to defining what he felt for Miaka...

A burst of adrenaline powered through his body, filling him to the point where he felt he was going to jump right out of his skin. He needed to break free from the confines of his vehicle, needed to find a way to rid himself of this pent-up excess energy- and the sooner, the better. Glancing around for ideas, Dante smiled as he spotted a sign for a popular all-night supermarket. It was the perfect solution: he could pick up some groceries for the weekend, work off the crackling energy within him, and get control of his burgeoning emotions in one fell swoop.

Due to the lateness of the hour, there were only a handful of vehicles in the market's vast parking lot. Dante swung the Jeep into a spot right across from the exit. A minute later, he was walking through the open air entry and into the store. Snagging a waiting cart with one hand, he cruised over to the produce section. Large pallets full of crates were stacked here and there, and a couple of stock boys were busily prying them open and dispersing their contents onto several displays. Dante hesitated, then pushed his cart over to a huge table holding bins of different varieties of grapes. Grapes were always a safe choice; they were easy to serve, kept well, and he didn't know of anyone who didn't like them. He bagged up a generous amount of the green and purple kinds, placed them in his cart, and was about to head for the cantaloupe bin when a sweet, pungent aroma halted him in his tracks.

Peaches! Dante's mouth watered; one of the workers had just opened a fresh crate, and their scent was filling the air, bringing thoughts of home along with it. He turned and made a beeline for the display. As he drew closer, he was a little disappointed to see they weren't Georgia grown, but brightened again when he saw the Colorado seal. Colorado grown peaches were almost as good as his home state's-not that he would ever admit that to his mother.

He picked up a peach and eyed it, noting with pleasure that it was in almost perfect condition, rosy and plump. An erotic image of Miaka biting into the succulent fruit and slowly licking the juice from her lips rose in his mind, and he instantly decided that he'd buy a dozen. Grinning wickedly, he bagged up his loot and then headed back to the cantaloupes. They were piled high, and obviously fresh. He tested a melon for ripeness, discarded it, and then reached for another.

As he picked it up, a pair of droopy lidded, beady eyes were revealed. Dante choked on an indrawn breath and took a involuntary step back, almost dropping the melon he held in the process. "What the-"

An unforgettable cackle filled his ears, and he stared in stunned surprise at the diminutive old lady now walking around the pile of produce to confront him.

"It seems we meet again, Officer Dante Tager."

"What are you doing here, Grandma?" The question sounded rude, but he couldn't help it; seeing that prune-like face gave him the willies. "I mean, at this late hour." He amended quickly.

"Shopping, the same as you." She retorted. "I like to avoid the daytime crowds; for some reason, people tend to step on me." She eyed him warily, if as if daring him to laugh, but Dante wasn't in a laughing mood.

"Do ya need any help?" Though he made the offer reluctantly, it was sincere. She looked fragile, and very old, and fragile old ladies deserved courtesy. "You can put your stuff in my cart, an' I'll get things off the shelves for ya, if ya want."

The wrinkled face twisted into what he supposed was an approving smile. "Thank you, I'd appreciate that. I just need a couple things from the deli." She pointed at a cantaloupe. "If you're intending to buy one of these, that's the one you want."

She seemed so certain that Dante automatically put down the melon he was holding and picked up the one she had indicated. "Thanks."

"You are welcome."

They moved off together in the direction of the deli.

"So, considerin' we're shopping together, how about givin' me your name? I can't keep callin' ya Grandma all th' time," Dante said, as they approached a refrigerated unit containing snack trays, salads and pre-made lunches. He reached for an oblong, cellophane wrapped package, and offered it to the old woman with an innocent smile. "Sandwich?"

His companion frowned at him for a moment, then abruptly relaxed her facial muscles. "No thank you. I don't care for those."

"Well I do." Dante said, as he added the smoked turkey and cheese sub to his cart. "So how about it, Grandma? What's your name?"

"I have been known by many names, but you may address me as Taiits-kun."

"Is that your first name, or your surname?"

"Yes."

He glared at her in exasperation. "What do ya mean, 'yes'! It can't be both!"

The hag smirked. "It is both- and could you please get that package of stir-fry vegetables and a bottle of duck sauce for me?" She pointed at the highest shelf, which was obviously out of her reach.

Dante rolled his eyes at the change of subject, but did as she asked. "Fine, have it your way!" He grumbled. "At least it's a name."

_________________________________________________________________ _______

Several minutes later Dante finished his shopping by adding eggs, juice, milk, vegetables, and tuna-flavored kitty munchies to his cart, plus a wide variety of snack items, several of which came from the specialty food section. He'd eaten Yan Yan and Pocky at Craig's plenty of times and liked them. He figured Miaka might appreciate a treat from her homeland as well.

"Things must be going well with you and Miaka Yuuki," Taiits-kun observed, as he put the containers in the cart.

Dante gave a visible start. The small talk between him and the old lady had been superficial up until this point, and he had been content to leave it that way. "What do ya mean by that?" He asked suspiciously.

"You're buying a lot of good, healthy food, as well as some of her favorite snacks." Was the snappy reply. "You're obviously planning to have her over to your place. That means things are going well."

Dante glanced down at the carton of Pocky in his hand, and then shrugged. "Yeah, okay. So you can read a shopping cart." His gaze shifted to Taiits-kun, and narrowed. "If you're gonna keep makin' personal observations about me, I think I have th' right to ask you how you know Miaka!"

"We met when she was fifteen, and a visitor to my country." Taiits-kun replied steadily. "You could say that I had the role of her teacher while she was there."

Dante's mouth opened in surprise.

"She's come a very long way since then," the old woman continued, in brisk tones. "I was quite pleased to see her with you today, actually. Much to my surprise, Taka hasn't turned out to be the right kind of man for her. He's a very good man, but he's been careless and neglectful in his duties to her."

"Then he's not a very good man." Dante muttered resentfully. "Trust me, I know."

"No, you don't know!" Taiits-kun barked, with a look that made him want to back up a step. "Despite appearances, Taka is a very good and worthwhile person! You must believe that! It's vital that you don't jump to conclusions about him- if you do, it will end up hurting Miaka!"

In spite of his skepticism, a chill went down Dante's spine. "Why? Is something wrong? Is she in some kind of trouble?"

"Not yet." The old lady replied cryptically. "Now that you're in the picture, chances are much better that things will be fine. She's going to need both you and Taka at her side."

"What th' hell does that mean?" Dante was getting angry, and the increased volume of his voice showed it. "Are you suggestin' there could be some kind of ménage a trois goin' on here? Well you can forget that! Once I make Miaka mine, I won't be sharin' her with-"

"It's not that!" Taiits-kun said brusquely. "Honestly, you're just like Tasuki after all! Losing your temper, shooting your mouth off without knowing the facts-"

The name electrified Dante, and he interrupted. "Tasuki? You know Tasuki?"

For the first time, Taiits-kun's fixed stare seemed to waver. "Yes, I knew him. Quite well, in fact."

"Knew?"

The old woman hesitated, appearing to choose her words carefully. "The Tasuki that I knew… is no longer living."

"Oh." Well, that settled that, Dante thought. Strange how the news made him feel sad and edgy, rather than relieved. "Did…Miaka care about him a lot?" He blurted, unable to stop himself from asking.

Beady eyes regarded him shrewdly. "She loved him…and still does. Are you bothered by that?"

Dante turned away, feigning interest in a shelf laden with Japanese food products. "If the guy's dead, then there's no reason for me to be jealous of him, is there?" I can't believe I just answered that question! Just who th' hell does she think she is, anyway, to butt into our business like this? She's just a dotty old coot, and I think it's high time I got my ass outta here!

Apparently, Taiits-kun was of like mind.

"I've said enough for one day." She snapped, while flipping the ends of her shawl over her slight shoulders. "Let's go to the check out."

To be continued…

Reviewers of this chapter will receive a bear hug from Dante and a hearty slice of Ma Tager's Famous Peach Pie!