BARE
by varon

Naked.

That was the first thought that entered her mind as she felt her bare shoulders tingle from the early morning breeze that lightly grazed it. Slowly she opened her eyes, blinking back sleep from them, and in an almost annoyed fashion, squinted at the sunshine streaming in cheerily from the open window. Figures, she muttered to herself, we forgot to close the windows.

The satin sheets rubbed luxuriously against her stomach, confirming that indeed, she wore nothing underneath them. Her senses gradually kicking back to work she tried to lift her right arm, which was starting to feel as if pins and needles were pricking it, and tried to sit up. But a heavy weight on her chest rebuked her, and she met it with absent-minded surprise.

Training her gaze to the head nestled in her bosom, as if noticing him for the first time, Ruriko smiled tenderly.

It was him.

She remembered all the details as if every movement was a permanent stain in her memory, and she would never want to find the solvent. No, she would never forget it, ever; the night that changed her completely. Every word, every breath, every gesture was memorable: How his eyes lit up at seeing her lithe figure by the window, clothed in a revealing low-cut nightgown, furiously fighting back her awkwardness, and her stubborn blush. How he smiled devilishly as he approached her, and she, unable to sustain his gaze, lowered her eyes on the floor. How his hands felt so warm and sensual against the cool, thin fabric as he finally reached her, and slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her close... he smelled wonderful, having come right out of the bath; she inhaled his scent deeply, memorizing him...

He had gently tickled her ear with his lips, whispering compliments she was only willing to believes -- she could almost feel his smile. His fingers tipped up her chin, and she was drowning in the pools of his eyes before she knew it -- "You're beautiful," he said, truthfully, and she rewarded him with a faint smile, her half- closed eyelids already focused on his mouth, inching closer to hers --

And they had kissed, for the longest time, their mouths claiming each other's, releasing the passion they have kept inside all these years, their tongues embracing, delving deeper into each other's being. It was wonderful, pure yet erotic, a kiss like they've never kissed before. However he broke it, although not because they need to breathe, because no sooner had he come up for air was he leaving a trail of heated kisses down her neck, and even from him, Ruriko was unused to such a bold display of affection. But she was swayed in the moment, and was not amenable to complaints.

He pushed the strap of her nightgown down a notch, and was kissing her shoulders -- she craned her neck to one side, tightening her arms around him, exploring his exposed back, saying his name...

Then she felt herself being lifted, being carried over to the mattress, all the while his mouth not leaving her skin. A disappointed moan was all she could manage when he pulled his lips away from her body, hoisting himself up directly above her. She opened her eyes to find him grinning cockily; she let out successive gasps when his hand reached under the cloth and worked its way up her body, caressing her thighs, then stroking her abdomen, fondling her breasts, teasing her hardened nipples...

Ruriko thought she was coming too early, before he was ready to take her in --

But she was already lost in him... and she was glad to be lost.

And not once did she hear him say "Rurippe" that night.

"Shun," she now whispered, extending a finger to brush back bangs from his forehead.

Stirring from his sleep, the man lifted his head slowly, and met her gaze.

Wait --

It wasn't him.

She realized that the moment the man's red eyes groggily greeted hers, and, for the last second, Ruriko met herself, startling almost visibly out of her memory.

"Ohayo, koishii," Kageyama Reiji drawled out, smiling lazily. He propped himself up on his elbow and pecked Ruriko lightly on the mouth. "You were fantastic."

Ruriko forced herself not to grimace; she put on a fake smile in place of a wince. She watched Reiji roll himself out of bed, grab the robe by the night table, and head for the adjoining bathroom. He didn't seem bothered that not another word was exchanged between the,.

Ruriko sat up as well, holding the blanket up to her chest, feeling numb.

And sick to her stomach.

Blindly she groped for the terry-cloth robe discarded on the floor, and with slow, deliberate motions, began to put it on.

She was going to go through this.

She had to --

Shun.

She watched, ineffectually, as a crystal drop of liquid splashed on her clothing.

Yes, naked was what she was.

And naked... naked was just how she felt.

Author's Notes: Yep, that's it. I'm leaving you, the mature and creative reader, to figure out the details -- although I initially wanted this to be an "Indecent Proposal" type of thing. I'm not really considering a sidestory or a sequel, but I just might... depending on the comments. =) I hope you enjoyed this fic! (Contact me at if you want to archive this or something. ^^)

~varon
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