Warning: this story contains gender-switch Athrun, spawned from a printing mistake made on the Malay dub Gundam SEED VCD where the translators merrily proclaimed Athrun as a beautiful girl. This particular piece is set in an alternate universe, between the GS and GSD timeline (if that makes sense at all ^_^).
The sky near the horizon was turning a shade of crimson, and high above, the blue was as deep as midnight. A small meandering brook tumbled down across moss-covered rocks, the water bubbling gently amidst the greenery. It was the perfect place to watch the sun set.
"You sure you don't want to come?" Kira asked for the hundredth time.
"Yes. I'm a bit tired from today's outing and the visit to the temple. I think I'll turn in early." Athrun put a slender hand over his and smiled.
"Come on, you can't be all that tired," Kira persisted. "You'll enjoy the fair."
Athrun shook her head and pushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. "You go on ahead with Aunty Caridad, Lacus and the children. Don't worry, Kira, I'll be okay,"
A small crowd passed through the entrance of the Japanese styled inn, chattering animatedly as they made their way in twos and threes down the path leading towards the village centre. A group of young men stared pointedly at them as they walked by, and one winked at her cheekily. Athrun lowered her head to hide the flush that colored her cheeks. She recognised them as the same group that had been trying to chat her up earlier that week, albeit without much success.
Kira watched them with a neutral expression until they disappeared around a bend. He didn't like the looks the young men were obviously giving his best friend. A small frown creased his brows; he didn't like the idea of her staying alone at the inn. The inn was set a short distance away from the main village, on the southern verge of a forest of pine and cryptomeria. It was peaceful and atmospheric. A small sick feeling churned deep inside his guts. His fists clenched involuntarily.
If Athrun had noticed his unease, she'd ignored it. "Stop worrying about me," she said, touching him lightly on the arm. "You'd better go. They are waiting for you,"
"All right," Kira stroked her cheek affectionately. "Make sure you don't stay up too late."
She laughed, and leaning over, kissed him briefly on the cheek. "Just go," she said. "I'll be all right. The landlady will be here, anyway. You go ahead with the rest and enjoy yourselves,"
Kira gave her one final smile, turned and walked briskly away. Athrun waved until they disappeared from view before hurrying indoors. She hummed as she made her way to her room, her slippered feet making no noise on the wooden floor.
She turned around a corner, and bumped into the landlady. The landlady gave a startled gasp as a pile of linen slipped from her arms. Athrun apologised and helped the elderly woman pick up the linen that lay scattered on the floor.
"Thank you," the landlady gave a little polite bow. "You are not joining the others to see the fair at the village?" she enquired.
Athrun shook her head. "No. I thought I'll turn in early tonight. I feel a bit tired after that long walk we had this morning. I think I'll rest in my room for a while,"
"Was that your boyfriend? He seems very protective of you,"
She nodded, and said, "Yes."
The landlady smiled. "He certainly made sure the young men did not disturb you at all. Ah, these young men, they can be such a nuisance especially when they see such a beautiful girl like you!"
Athrun felt her cheeks redden. True, the young men had been trying to gain her attention without much success. It had been equally amusing and embarrassing for her. She could tell that it had annoyed Kira more that it did her. She was flattered, but truth be told, she wasn't in the least interested in their advances. In fact, it made her feel awkward.
The landlady sensed her discomfort and apologised. "I'm sorry, you must excuse me. I'm just an old busybody. I mustn't delay you with idle talk. You must be tired, yes?"
"It's okay," Athrun said politely. A sudden thought occurred to her. "Erm, I wonder if I can use the communal bath tonight? We are leaving tomorrow, and ... and I hadn't had a chance..." she laughed, a bit self-consciously.
The landlady merely nodded and stood aside for her to pass through, her eyes on the floor in front of her.
Night.
High in the sky, the moon sent reflected light across the treetops, and closer to her, the formal garden. Athrun opened the shoji, her geta making small sounds as she hurried down the pebbled walkway. Intense black shadows reached towards her, broken in places by the muted light from the Japanese lanterns strung at intervals along the path.
The bath house was a separate building, set a short distance away from the main building of the inn. The path that connected the two buildings meandered between the Zen pebble garden and the ornamental pond. A mild breeze blew, stirring her unbound hair. Cicadas called shrilly, and to one side came the soft rustling of leaves. She stopped, and looked around her, straining both her ears and eyes in the darkness. She gripped her yukata tighter across the front and hastened her steps towards the bath house.
Athrun pushed the door open and stepped into the chamber. The cool air made her skin tingle. She flicked on the light and closed the door softly behind her. The bath house was a simple affair, with the separate washing area and a furo on one end. She fell in love with the furo the moment she set eyes on it. It was one of the modern versions, complete with hot water on demand and timer, big enough to seat four adults. Since almost all the guests at the inn were out at the village – trawling at the fair and night market – she had the whole place to herself.
Athrun slipped off her geta; the tiles felt cool under her bare feet as she padded across the chamber and lighted some incense. The sweet smell of yuzu and ylang-ylang soon perfumed the air.
Stepping forward, she drew a bath. The sound of running water was soothing, tumbling ceaselessly like a distant waterfall. She watched the water rise, as if mesmerised by its beat. She hummed softly, a childhood tune, as she worked her hair into a loose bun at her nape. When the furo was three quarters full, she dropped to her knees to test the temperature. It was just right, not too hot or too cool, just how she liked it.
Slowly, she stood and slipped her yukata off. She washed quickly and stepped into the furo. She lay back with a contented sigh as the hot water closed over her naked skin. A small smile curled her lips and her eyes closed with bliss as she was lulled by the warmth and the heady perfume from the burning incense. The droplets glimmered softly on her skin as she ran her hands over her breasts, her stomach and her thighs.
Athrun let her thoughts wander. She suppressed a giggle thinking back about the comic attempts of the young men in trying to attract her attention. Little did they know they were just not her type; they were too girly in appearance despite their exaggerated macho swagger. They wouldn't look out of place in some boyband, with their bleached hair and earrings. No, she decided, not her type at all.
Eventually her thoughts turned towards Kira, her childhood friend and secret lover. Visions of his intense violet eyes, exotic like orchids, and the memory of his hard member buried deep inside her as they made uninhibited passionate love in the secrecy of his room in Father Malkio's orphanage sent a delicious shiver up her spine.
The first time they made love was back in Copernicus, at the age thirteen, in the privacy of his bedroom. She remembered it well; it was after school and she was helping him on a microtronics assignment. Kira had fumbled his project yet again, and when she chided him, he had burst into tears as he was wont to do back then. Feeling alternately annoyed and concerned, she had comforted him, holding him to her budding bosoms. That was when she experienced something entirely new and exciting. Athrun realized that Kira's tear-streaked face made her feel indecently excited. As for Kira, the feel of his best friend's newly developed womanly curves and the musky scent from her secret places had stirred within him a desire he had never before experienced. By mutual consent, they had traded their virginity, safe in the knowledge that Kira's mother was occupied preparing dinner downstairs to interrupt.
Athrun had missed Kira sorely when her father recalled her back to PLANT. When the Great War ended, she had opted to stay with him in Father Malkio's orphanage. It became a ritual for her to sneak into his bedroom at night. Sometimes they would make love, sometimes they would just sleep until dawn broke, when she would sneak back to her room.
Athrun took a deep breath and slipped lower into the furo, until the water touched her chin. Her hands dipped between her legs, rubbing at her mound. She sighed, as she slid her fingers inside herself.
Instinct allowed her to become aware of Kira's presence as he stepped into the chamber. She did not move even as she heard the bolt slide into place, locking the outside world away. A sharp flicking sound, and the chamber was plunged into darkness. She heard him come towards her. Softly. Her skin tingled despite the warmth, and she felt a strange churning deep inside her. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Kira sat at the edge at the furo, facing her, away from the moonlight that streamed through the small window set high on the wall. His face invisible in the dark shadows, but she imagined she could hear his heartbeat beating in tune to her own.
She was acutely aware of him; it was almost painful. After a long while, he shifted, and reaching down for her hand, pulled her up slowly. For a moment, she stood naked in the moonlight, the water gleaming softly on her skin. Kira lifted her out as if she weighed nothing and pressed her wet, naked body to his. She ran her hands down his chest, parting his robe.
A small smile curled her lips as she felt his heart beat strongly beneath her questing fingers. She laid her head on his chest and listened to the beat. Finally, she looked up into his eyes and saw the desire mirrored in them.
Kira reached behind her and loosened her bun; the midnight blue tresses falling to her shoulders. He caught a handful and pressed them almost reverently to his lips. Athrun saw his lips move, but she couldn't make out a single word; the sounds crashing in her head drowned everything else.
Her hands moved downwards, parting his robe further. The garment slipped to the floor, leaving him naked to her touch. She stroked his sides and felt his body tremble. A hand caressed her nape, tangling briefly in her hair before moving on to cup her cheek. His breath felt hot against her skin, and the press of his body seductive.
Kira was hard, and he was hard for her.
Athrun shivered and felt as though she was falling from a very high place, before finally crashing into her corporeal body. She blinked, suddenly aware of the urgent need to breathe again, as he spoke once more.
The moonlight threw dappled shadows across the floor, making it seems unreal. She nodded mutely and pulled him down beside her. Kira made no verbal response; he couldn't keep his hands off her. To him, she was incredible. Her smooth flesh pliant under his fingers, her face radiant. Her hair fanned beneath her, making her look ethereal, almost like an angel.
Athrun sighed as Kira leaned forwards and stroked her thighs. He had always been gentle with her, even in their most passionate moments. She shuddered as his lips closed over her nipple, taking in the surrounding flesh. Her skin tingled with pleasure as he continued to pleasure her; his fingers dipping into her hot centre. She stroked his shoulders lightly, gently, her fingers finally tangling in his hair as she guided him lower to her heated core, where she wanted him most.
Kira moved sinuously down her writhing body, a smile curling his lips, amazed at her response. His tongue traced lazy circles on her belly, and he felt her grip tightened almost desperately. Athrun lifted her buttocks off the floor, in an attempt to get him to pleasure her there. Her musk was overpowering, her thighs slippery with her juices and her breath came in short pants, as if she was choking. Athrun knew Kira was heady with desire, he was so hard she'd thought he'd never be soft again.
She whimpered deliriously as his tongue traced a path on her inner thighs. Her hips bucked as her thighs slid around his shoulders, her slender ankles locking behind his neck. He held on, his fingers and tongue circling repeatedly, pleasuring her where she wanted it most.
Where he wanted it most.
Athrun's body shuddered as wave after wave of intense pleasure pushed her closer and closer to the brink, only to ebb and peak as she teetered over the edge of her orgasm. She gasped out his name, her voice sounded like she was choking.
But Kira held on, until Athrun thought she might pass out with delirium, and he finally moved, stabbing through the wet, dark curls of her core, sheathing himself in the hot flesh beneath. He twisted around, and she was straddling him; her inner thighs slick against his, her hair falling over them like a curtain, their bodies hot where it joined in sinful pleasure.
Athrun's hands curled into fists, and her body arched as her orgasm hit her with a shattering force. Kira dug his fingers into her skin and the cords on his neck tautened as she tightened her ring of muscles over him, clamping his flesh in an exquisite torture. They screamed over and over, their sweat flecked bodies convulsing as they collapsed to the floor, both of them still in orgasm.
The countryside was bursting with a spectacular spectrum of reds and golds of the autumnal foliage. Athrun gazed out of the window as the SUV made its journey towards the city. The landscape blurred as Kira hit the maximum speed limit. Athrun pressed of her breast softly against his arm as she leaned over to look at the rapidly changing landscape on the other side. Her hand dropped lightly on his thigh, to brace herself against the swaying, almost innocently.
Aunty Caridad and Lacus sat behind them, engaged in muted conversation. Athrun's heart beat faster; she wondered if they would notice the proximity of her fingers to Kira's crotch. She turned around and offered them an innocent smile.
They smiled back.
"Kira, are you feeling better this morning?" asked Aunty Caridad.
"Yes, mother. Much better," Kira said, sounding apologetic. "Sorry for rushing out on you all last night. I wasn't feeling too good."
"It must be all the junk food that you ate, Kira," Lacus chided. "You know they are not good for you."
Kira laughed genially. He looked at his mother through the rear-view mirror. "How was the fair, mother? Did everybody enjoy it?"
Caridad Yamato smiled indulgently at her adoptive son. "Yes, we did. The children had a good time. Thanks for taking the trouble to arrange for this little break. You too, Athrun."
"Yes, thank you, Athrun, Kira." Lacus added brightly. "Too bad you couldn't join us at the fair. It was so much fun."
"I bet it was." Athrun smiled at the pink-haired girl. "We should plan more trips together, give the children something to look forward to."
Aunty Caridad and Lacus nodded their agreement.
Athrun faced forwards, and behind her, the muted conversation resumed. She glanced sideways at Kira and caught his eyes. Kira reached out and squeezed his lover's hand gently, as they shared a secret smile.
Finis
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