For Valkyrie
Leather Benten looked gorgeous today, Helena thought, his slim frame draped in blood red silk, loose trousers and a flowing, long-sleeved low-necked shirt, his frosty hair tied loosely at the nape of his neck with a jewelled clasp. He lolled gracefully on the black leather sofa beside her, elbow resting on its back, cheek cupped in his hand. Listening attentively. Helena sighed.
"I don't know what he's doing."
"How often does he… vanish?"
"It's every day! He gets up early, leaves, then doesn't come back 'til the evening. And I know he's not working."
That was a sore point with Helena at the moment: Sengoku was supposed to be at Nikkoyama HQ, learning about the company he would - eventually - take over. She thought it was a wonderful idea - he hated it.
"Have you considered tracking him?"
"Well, yes - but that's kind of… sneaky. Shows lack of trust."
Benten frowned slightly.
"But you don't trust him - do you?"
She coloured and lowered her eyes.
"Well, yes, I do. Mostly. It's just…"
"You would prefer to know he can be trusted."
She nodded. The albino inclined his head.
"Have you tried asking him?"
She sighed.
"He just changes the subject." Usually by making love to her...
"I see."
"What do you think I should do?"
Benten was silent for a moment, not entirely sure what he should say. He found it flattering that Helena trusted him, felt she could come to him with her Sengoku-related problems - in his line of work he had few friends; faces came and went; there was no permanence, and he sometimes wished there was someone he could rely on - but he was loath to interfere. He suspected Sengoku still had feelings for him, and did not want to make things more difficult for Helena.
Although he could always arrange a tail, just to see where the Nikkoyama heir went when he left in the morning…
No. It would be much better for them to sort out whatever the problem was by themselves.
"I think perhaps talking to him again would be best. Tell him your fears, that you worry about him, if you think it will help."
She nodded reluctantly, understanding that he would not involve himself. Which was only fair - it was her problem. And to be honest, just being here, talking with him, had made her feel better. Always made her feel better. She was very fond of Benten.
She jumped as the door buzzer sounded. Benten frowned at the chronometer, then rose gracefully to his feet.
"I am sorry Helena - it would appear that my… guest… is early."
She blinked - wasn't it rather early for him to be working? - then blushed at the thought and hastily stood.
"No, I'm sorry, Benten. Thank you for seeing me."
He smiled and laid a long, elegant hand on her shoulder, crimson eyes sincere.
"Always a pleasure, Helena-chan. I trust the problem will resolve itself."
She grinned and kissed his cheek.
"I'm sure it will…"
The buzzer sounded again, quietly, and Benten ushered her to the door, checking the external camera before opening. Helena's eyes widened: the young man standing outside was… stunning, lean and feline with dark golden skin, a long, heavy fall of thick, silky black hair, and vivid green eyes framed by long black lashes. He eyed Helena, then quirked a fine eyebrow at the albino.
"Am I interrupting?"
"Oh no!" Helena raised her hands. "I just - dropped in to see Benten…"
The stranger inclined his head with a small smirk.
"You must know Yanagawa-san well if you can just… drop in."
Benten frowned slightly - warningly, Helena thought.
"Helena-chan is a friend." There was a slight emphasis on the last word, and the young man bowed.
"I consider myself… corrected. Konnichi wa, Helena-san."
She bobbed her head.
"Konnichi wa …?" She glanced quickly at Benten, who smiled tightly.
"Jade."
"Konnichi wa, Jade-san."
There was a moment's awkward silence, then Benten touched her shoulder.
"Thank you for visiting, Helena. And may good fortune go with you."
"Thank you, Benten-san." She bowed, then made her way to the elevator, glancing back once to see Jade slide a hand under Benten's hair and pull the albino forward into a kiss as the door was closing.
Interesting… It was rare for Benten to invite clients to his home; this Jade must be one of the favoured few… Wonder what they are to each other…
She shook her head - she really must try not to be so nosy! And it didn't help her solve her problem. She sighed, and resolved to speak to Sengoku tonight, when he got home…She let herself into the penthouse - to find Sengoku already there, smirking smugly. She frowned.
"OK, I know that look. What have you done now?"
His expression changed to one of injured innocence.
"Don't you trust me?"
She slid onto his lap, nipping at his earlobe.
"Nope."
He chuckled.
"Well thanks a bundle!"
"You're welcome." She ruffled his hair. "So, what have you done?"
"It's a surprise."
"Oooh! When can I see?"
"Tomorrow."
"Aww…. Not tonight?"
"Couple more preparations to make first… You doing anything tomorrow morning?"
She nuzzled his neck.
"Nothing planned, no."
"Good. We're going shopping."Helena stared, then frowned at Sengoku.
"Um, what are we doing here?"
'Here' was a store full of leather clothing, most of it of a type she'd never seen before. Sengoku smirked.
"We're here to get you kitted out…"
"Me?! What about you?"
"Oh, I already have what I need…"
It was an old-fashioned kind of store, with real assistants. One of them sauntered forward, grinning.
"And what can we do for you good folks?"
Sengoku gestured to Helena, who was trying to hide behind him.
"We need a full set of leathers."
The young man ran his gaze up and down Helena's form, then beckoned to the pair to follow him…"I don't know which I prefer."
Sengoku leaned back against the wall, watching as Helena, clad in close-fitting rich blue leather, glanced back over her shoulder into the mirror behind her. He grinned.
"Then we'll take one of each."
Her eyes widened. That was going to cost… He inclined his head.
"Why don't you keep that on?"
"It's a bit hot." She frowned. "Why are we buying these anyway?"
He kissed her nose.
"Wait and see…"
Late afternoon, and Helena was feverishly impatient. She'd wriggled into the heavy black leather trousers and halter top, buckled on the heavy boots, and pulled on the heavy leather jacket, leaving it open for the moment. Sengoku, also in heavy black leather, wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck.
"Mmmm. Tasty."
"You too… But what's this all about?"
He grinned over her shoulder into the mirror.
"I suppose it's time I showed you…"She stared, eyes huge.
"What is that?"
Sengoku patted the big, black… thing… proudly, his eyes shining.
"Old style 'bike. Like a hoverbike, but on wheels."
Helena eyed it nervously, a horrible sense of foreboding making her stomach clench.
"You ride it?"
He smirked.
"We ride it."
She whimpered.
"But… but… how old is it?"
"Basic design - seven hundred years."
"That can't be safe…"
He frowned, then laughed.
"No, not the bike, idiot! The design. I've built the bike over the last month. Found the schematics in an old 'book, had the components made up according to the plans, put it together myself." Gloved fingers stroked the gleaming metal lovingly. "She's a beauty isn't she?"
"She?"
"That's what bikers used to call their machines."
Helena stared at the bike.
"It's only got two wheels."
"Yeah."
"So how…?"
"All a matter of balance."
"And you want us to…?"
"Yep." He grinned. "You'll love it!"
Oh, sure she would! She folded her arms over her breasts, scowling.
"You want me to risk my life actually riding that thing."
"Uh, that was the general idea, yeah."
"You actually know how to ride it?"
He smirked.
"Been practicing."
"How long?"
"All this week."
She shuddered.
"And you want me to trust my life to you, and that… thing?"
His smile was fading, to be replaced by a hurt look.
"Helena, you don't think I'd do anything that might risk your life, do you? It's perfectly safe."
"I'll believe that when I see it!"
His shoulders slumped.
"So you don't wanna go for a ride."
She hesitated. He'd obviously put a lot of work into the machine, and his expression was making her feel guilty.
"Well… maybe just a short ride…"
He grinned, eyes shining with enthusiasm, and kissed her soundly.
"You won't regret it…"She wasn't overly keen on the helmet he settled over her head, tucking the high collar of her jacket under the edge then pulling down the full faceplate, but, she realised, it would protect her - from the wind, as well as in case of accidents. He'd climbed onto the machine, pulled it down from its stand and gestured to her to mount behind him, which she'd done with considerable trepidation, clinging tightly to him, her arms around his waist.
"OK?"
She jumped: he hadn't warned her about the helmet intercom. She took a shaky breath.
"I guess so…"
He chuckled quietly.
"Hold on…"
A deep vibration under her backside, a deep throaty roar as Sengoku twisted the handlebars - she cuddled up as tightly to his back as she could, gasping as he pulled out of the private lockup and onto one of Oedo's teeming roads.
It was astonishing. The bike, big as it was, zipped in and out of the lanes of slow-moving traffic effortlessly, heading for the outskirts, the usual two hour journey completed in less than a third of the time. And then they were free, the vast city behind them, the wide open road ahead.
… it was wonderful… She sighed happily and relaxed a little, looking around as they sped smoothly onwards. Sengoku chuckled.
"Happy?"
"Oh yes… This is fantastic!"
"Want to go back?"
"No! Oh - do we have to?"
He laughed.
"No. But I thought you only wanted a short ride…"
She hugged him.
"I could ride like this forever…"An hour later Sengoku pulled the bike off the road, easing it between two stands of trees and into a slight hollow hidden from view, switching off the engine and pulling off his helmet. Helena climbed off the machine, stretching aching legs - it was going to take her a little while to get used to the seat, comfortable as it was - and lifted her helmet from her head.
The first thing that struck her was the silence. Well, not complete silence, she could hear wind, and birdsong, and there was flowing water somewhere near, but the omnipresent noise of traffic, people and equipment that filled Oedo was missing.
The second thing she noticed was the smell. Clean pure air. No fumes, no city-smell… She breathed deeply, eyes closed, smiling as Sengoku kissed her gently.
"Mmmm…. This is amazing…"
"Glad you like it…" He released her for a moment, turning to the bike and lifting up the seat. Packed tightly underneath was a blanket and a small package - full of fruit, as she discovered on opening it, with a couple of individual bottles of wine tucked into the side. She grinned and kissed his cheek.
"You think of everything!"
"Heh, not always. But for the first ride - I thought you'd enjoy it."
She shook out the blanket, laying it on soft grass and shrugging out of her jacket as she sat down.
"Pleased you came?" Sengoku had dropped to kneel beside her, one arm across her shoulders, his hand casually resting against the curve of her breast. She wriggled a little closer to him.
"Oh yes…"
He nuzzled her ear, sliding his hand into her top, cupping her breast and pinching the nipple gently. She shivered.
"Sengoku…"
"Hush…"
His other hand slid under her hair, unclasping the leather top, easing it down her body. He pulled her to face him, bending to take a nipple into his mouth.
"Ohhhh…"
He nipped gently then raised himself, hands moving to her waist, unzipping the trousers and tugging them over her hips. She lay down, lifting her backside to help him, eyes glinting between half-closed lids as he pulled off her boots, then the trousers, then the halter top, leaving her naked in the golden evening light.
She stretched luxuriously, reaching up to run a fingertip across his lips: he sucked her finger slowly into his mouth.
"Sengoku…"
He squirmed out of his own clothes and lowered his face to her groin, tongue flicking her clit then licking the entrance to her cunt, hands cupping rounded buttocks and kneading gently as she gasped and shivered, hands twining in his hair. He teased her clit, sucking and nipping very carefully until she quivered and came, then slid up and thrust into her welcoming body, holding her tightly to him as he fucked her hard…
She cried out as she came a second time, the sheer eroticism of making love outdoors under the first stars of the night heightening every feeling - wrapping long legs around his waist as he pulsed into her, gasping, then rolled to the side and crushed her to him in a fierce embrace.
"… god…"
She lay panting in his arms, one trembling hand stroking his hair, as they struggled to get their breath back. Long minutes later he moaned quietly and kissed her.
"Wanna do this again?"
"Oh yes please…"
He grinned and pushed her onto her hands and knees, easing into her from behind, reaching down and around with one hand to fondle her clit…It was well past midnight when they finally returned, Helena practically floating in a state of euphoria. Sengoku had laughed at her expression.
"Heh, would have got the damned bike ages ago if I'd known!"
Dreamily, she kissed his jaw.
"Oh, that's OK… Just think of all the lost time we'll be able to make up."
Golden-brown eyes widened.
"You mean that?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck as the elevator doors closed.
"Oh yes. Do you have anything planned for tomorrow…?"
© 2004 February 2nd Joules Taylor
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