In her dreams, however...
Asuka sat at her table in the corner of the smokey and intimate club, her drink on her table, and a sheath of a red dress on her slim body. One shapely leg was crossed over the other, with the foot dangling in its high heel negligently. Her hair was styled to make her sophisticated, yet daring, with the make up to match.
Already she had been forced to brush off several nice, but unwanted offers, at least one from someone who would have been acceptable at any other time.
The reason for that was just coming onto the stage, seemingly unaware of the tension his presence was bringing up. His long lean body was clad in stylish black pants and shirt, just tight enough to let every woman there know of the muscles that lie beneath. At his hand was his instrument, the way for him to speak with his heart and soul.
That was what drew the women that sat at the tables right there in front of the stage. All of them wanted to be the one to touch him, to ease his loneliness, and to feel his touch on their own heated skin. It was one part physical attraction, another part heard song, and the rest was but the fantasy surrounding musicians.
But she had been there since the beginning. She had been there before the first outsider had heard his song and been entranced. He'd been hers, and hers alone, someone that she'd always counted on being there. Which was something that had never stopped, but he'd always been distant.
Yet, she still came, never missing a performance. Unlike those that sat around her, she knew that none of them would be spotted as they had planned to be and would not be taken to his bed. She wished that she could do just that, and wished for him to do just that, and hoped that one day he would look at her from that stage, find what he'd never seen in her eyes, and finally connect with her in the way that she'd wanted from back before he'd become the man on the stage.
Until then, Asuka would still sit there, in that seat, never drinking her drink watching every time he came out to play his songs.
Misato lay on her side, sleep slow in coming, but realising that it was inevitable. What had happened felt so natural, even the missed kiss, that she couldn't find any fault with it. But she knew of what troubles lay ahead, and worried for what they could bring. It was those fears that had kept her awake, but not even they could suffocate the joy and simple comfort that he had brought to her.
That gave her a warm cocoon to protect her on her way to dreams.
It had been hard to cut the orders that had sent him out into what would certainly become a battle, but Misato had known that she had no choice. There was no other way, and they needed him there. He might have not been in her chain of command any more, and wouldn't ever be, but he still had a job to do, and if the orders forced a situation where he had to go, he would do it.
But that did not mean that she had to like doing it. Even as she had made the proper documents up, foremost on her mind had been that doing this would cause him to be picked to go. Which she would have avoided at all costs if she could, but she couldn't. So he had gone, and she had been left worrying the entire time, though she had gone through it standing in the command center.
As soon as word that his plane was landing, she was already running for the exit. She'd made it to the ground in time to see it land, and had gotten a jeep as the crews had reached it to help in doing the post mission checks. By the time that she arrived there and got out of her vehicle, it was all congratulations and backslapping.
But she only saw him, and caught his eye. He held out his arms and she gladly ran into them, allowing him to lift her off the ground and twirl about several times. As they came to a stop, she put a hand on either side of his face and pressed her lips against his in a needy kiss, one that reaffirmed the love that they shared.
"Wow..," he breathed as soon as their mouths parted, "Is that how every wife greets her returning husband?"
"Shinji..," she happily muttered with a rising blush.
An unfamiliar ceiling was something Shinji was actually used to, as with his constant problems, he kept on seeing more of them than others, and the familiarity of such things meant that he had some continuity. But to stare up at a familiar cieling, especially when one has treaded onto ground that is new and possibly full of hidden parts, it becomes more of a problem than it would otherwise. He knew that Misato did not blame him for what he had done, and it looked like she might actually like him in that way, but he also knew that she was unaware of what he had done with her best friend.
Add in his worries and uncertainties about Asuka, and it made for a long time before the cieling faded into slumber.
Growing up as he had, Shinji had always imagined what it was like to go to the beach and enjoy the experience. He'd never really considered it, but he'd always thought that those images from movies and television showed what such things should have been like. Especially those of the long stretches of pure white beaches with a pure and shining blue sea. Or at the very least, they would be something those who could to wish, and try for, even if they'd never really get it to be exactly like that.
He'd just never thought that he'd be on the beach himself. A nice house was all that broke the scenery, and in fact, it managed to enhance it. Overhead, there was no sound of helicopters or planes, nor was there anything save a few clouds that floating by. Here the air smelled fresh and clean, with the scent of the sea filling his lungs. And not another soul could be seen anywhere on the beach.
Save Misato, coming over in her very stylish bikini, and carrying a drink in each hand. Each step she took set her bosom bouncing and her hips rolling in ways that had him thinking naughty things. But as he took his drink from her, he knew that she would far from mind.
Yet, he took his gaze from her, and looked out to the sea. He allowed her to lean on him and twine one of her arms with one of his as he went over the gentle waves as they gave life to an otherwise pristine surface. At the beach, they had only enough strength to touch the land, but still managed to leave the marks of their presence.
And out of those waves came Ritsuko, her slim body clad in a onepiece that stuck to every curve of her form. Nothing was left to the imagination, and she did nothing to hide that fact. Rather, she jogged her way up to them, water glistening on her supple skin, long legs moving, and hair swaying in the breeze. As she reached the pair, she took a drink that had been left for her, and leaned into his free side. Her arm slid against his, her fingers lacing with his.
And there they stood, both women leaning against him as they enjoyed the moment.
Though he did have to wonder why Asuka was standing there looking annoyed...
Laying in her own appartment was something that Ritsuko had done countless times before, but this time she could really sense the loneliness that enveloped the place. There had been times where self-doubt, anger or simple annoyance had ruled her thoughts there, but now she was feeling just how empty her life had been, and she was not happy with that. But she could not blame Shinji for that, for he had given her something truly special, and she could only wish that she could feel that she deserved it, and that she could actually be worthy so that they might make something more of it.
But the loneliness stayed and she fell into slumber torn between the world of darkness and the light.
Outdoor cafes were always a nice thing in Ritsuko's opinion, but when one was sitting at a resturant where being seated outside gave one a glittering view of the night city, it was wonderful. It was like the entire place was a massive dark jewel that gave off all sorts of sparkles of light and life. The effect was magical, and made her feel special, and warm inside.
Just as did the smile of the man seated in front of her. There was no judgment in those eyes, save that she was special. The way that his lean body moved underneath his tuxedo spoke of ease and comfort at being there. And his face spoke of his pleasure in his dinnermate.
She blushed, as she took in his gaze and remembered the preperations that she had made. Her black gown fit her tastetfully, but was chosen because of its alluring qualities. A simple placement of diamonds at her neck, ears, and wrists, and she had been ready for a date with the man who had become the one of her dreams. Not that he would have cared even if he had seen her in shorts and a t-shirt, but this was special and she had wanted it to be perfect.
Then he stood and held out a strong hand to her. She took it, and he drew her from her seat to the dance floor. A string quartet started playing, and he drew her into his arms. Their dance was slow and intimate, with neither noting if anyone else joined or watched them, but not caring about that sort of thing. This was their time, thier number, and thier sharing.
It was their moment to dance beneath the stars.
Each had fallen asleep, and become parts to dreams, theirs and others, while:
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(Posted Sun, 07 Dec 2003 03:38)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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