FAR BEYOND FRIENDSHIP by Jake Wickness -------------------------------- FOREWORD: With apologies to Racey's usual audience, I didn't write about any game characters in this one. Instead, I went back to the roots of the term "yuri"... I always felt Kei got dealt a bad hand when they left her name out. Yep, it's a Dirty Pair fanfic. And it's probably the only story of this kind I'll ever write, because it took me too damn long. But I wanted to make it good; I was inspired, to be honest, by the "Friendship" stories. It takes a long time to GET to the so-called Good Stuff (it's about two thirds of the way through, gentlemen), but the stuff that builds up to the Good Stuff makes it better, more meaningful than the typical hey-let's-fuck PWP - and, for reasons I can't quite quantify, having a backstory also seems to add to both the cuteness and hotness factors. And let's face it, no anime producer can get away any longer with creating a series about two cute female spies WITHOUT throwing in a little subtext. If they make a live action adaptation of THE DIRTY PAIR (which can still happen, God damn it! - they did a live-action CUTEY HONEY, after all) you KNOW there are going to be little nods to the yuri fans, jokes about what the Lovely Angels do on their free time and exactly why they spend all their free time together... as if being best friends made no difference. However, this is yuri, after all. If you think that a platonic friendship can't evolve into something more, you're in the wrong fandom. And what's more WAFFy than two lifelong friends gradually discovering that there's something deeper going on? (WAFF = Warm And Fuzzy Feeling = romantic moemoe?) So that ends my insomniac rantings. Here we go... --Jake "Moment of" Wickness -------------------------------- It was a tall block of apartments on the edge of downtown. Though fairly new, it still showed traces of charring on its northwestern face and a distinct cant to the southeast; visitors from Earth were reminded of a centuries-old monument in a country called Italy. This pronounced lean, the result of certain unfortunate events involving some of the building's earliest tenants, actually made for a rather chic and dashing design alteration; indeed, after the landlord corporation had collected on the insurance they had flung themselves (and large amounts of insurance money) into reinforcing the building as it was and re-leveling the floors of every room in the place. As for the tenants responsible for the tower's tilt, one of them was now sitting by her 22nd-floor living room window with a late-night cocktail in hand, awaiting the other's return. ---------------- Kei looked away from the Elenore City skyline and raised her cuba libre to her lips, wondering for the umpteenth time where, exactly, 'Cuba' was and why it was so important that it should be 'libre.' <> she thought to herself. The classic drinks had such odd names, didn't they? - Manhattan, Cuba libre, Tom Collins, Sex on the Beach, Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster... Her thoughts drifted yet again from Cuba to Yuri. <> Kei fumed silently. <> Another sip of her rum-and-coke. <> "The way she's going, I wouldn't wish her on my worst enemy!" she said aloud to her reflection in the windowpane, smiling with a vindictiveness she didn't really seem to feel. Then Kei sighed. Why didn't SHE feel like going out and finding some action? Especially now that she had nothing better going for her the next few weeks. It was reticence she felt, almost a *reluctance* to kick back, relax and indulge; it was the kind of thing one would expect from - well, from Yuri, really. Yuri's libido in overdrive, while hers was stalled out? Unthinkable. Was she just not interested anymore? <> she thought. From the distant 22nd-floor lobby came the ding! of the elevator. Kei turned to the door, hoping the footsteps in the hall weren't those of yet another richnik neighbor returning from yet another wild night. There was a fumbling at the lock - whoever it was couldn't get their ID through the reader properly - then, very slowly, as if requiring great concentration, the five-number entry code was keyed in. The front door swung in, settling flush with the wall; there stood Yuri's silhouette, teetering just a little. "Well," Kei said, "are you gonna be swaying back and forth in the doorway all night or are you coming in?" "Don't be stupid, Kei," came the reply. "I'm not *that* drunk. As you can see," Yuri said, stumbling past the door (which shut behind her), handbag dangling at her side, "I am only *slightly* drunk." "Drunk enough that I know something went wrong, yet again. What was it this time?" Yuri sat carefully down on the couch and sighed. "Well, let me see. I put on one of my GOOD on-the-town outfits, went down to the rendezvous point at about 1930 hours, and waited by the bar for him to show up. And waited and waited and fucking WAITED until approximately 2200, when I realized the bastard had stood me up - at which point I gave up and dug into their supply of Captain Morgan's. - Izzat a cuba libre?" she asked, pointing. Kei sighed, rolled her eyes, and handed it over; Yuri took an uncharacteristically large sip, and exhaled heavily as she placed the glass on the coffee table. "Why is it," she continued, "that all of the best and nicest guys in this world - in this *galaxy,* for that matter - are either gay or already taken?" "Oh, that's not true and you KNOW it," Kei scoffed. "There's plenty of decent guys out there - you just need to sift out all the assholes..." She found herself interrupted by another sigh. "Okay. What?" "This is just fricking RICH," Yuri said, slumping back in her seat and crossing her arms. "Here I am," she continued sulkily, "getting lessons on how to find Mr. Right from a woman who's always looking for Mr. Right Now." "Oh, *COME on!* That isn't even *remotely* accurate!" "Yes it IS, Kei! You're as much of a tailchaser as any woman I know! You're *worse!* You don't think I've been able to hear what goes on in your end of the apartment every weekend?" Kei blushed, and said nothing. "Hell, I was starting to figure your way was the best," Yuri said, her jaw locked in a desperate smile. "After all, I'm such an incurable romantic, always looking for the Right One - that one guy, you know, the one that'll finally totally knock me off my feet. And I have been with a couple of guys, but it never lasted..." "Yuri--" "I always kept thinking, this is it, I finally have a chance with this guy - and then what does he do? Fucker lets me down easy, or hard, or however he likes, and I'm high and dry." Yuri was hunched over now, her words coming out thickly. "I'm the romantic, but YOU'RE not romantic at all - and... and YOU'RE the only one who ever gets to have any *fun* on our time off! And...a-and that's why I've been racing around like this all week! I was thinking that maybe if I just let myself go, you know, just a little... an-and if I stopped being so damn uptight... I might... you know... ahh, FUCK it!" The dam burst; Yuri plunged into what Kei recognized as the beginning of a good, long drunken cry. Kei could think of nothing better to do than just hold her best friend in her arms and let her cry it out. And maybe the alcohol was getting to her as well, because she felt a kind of despairing pity for Yuri. God, if she had all these problems and worries, why didn't she ever TALK about them? It wasn't as if they didn't trust each other - they would have never been a success in the W.W.W.A. if there hadn't been any trust between them; if you're with a team of Trouble Consultants, you've got to know your partner (or partners) like the back of your damn hand before you go on a mission. And this whole romantic thing... Kei marveled at Yuri's ability to hide such facets of her personal philosophy, even from her fellow TroCon. It was just so - hell, romantic. What better word was there for the idea that somewhere in a universe this size, you could find a soulmate? - a little fanciful, granted, but still a beautiful idea. But damn it, that wasn't fair of her to say! <> Kei thought. <> The sobbing was dying down, and Yuri was into the final stage of the cry - the heavy-breathing-and-watery-eyes stage. Kei patted her reassuringly on the side of her cheek, and raised the collar of Yuri's shirt to wipe the tears. "N-no, don't," Yuri said, quickly (but without malice) taking hold of Kei's hand and pulling it away. "Th-thih-this... this stuff is dry-clean only. I, um, I don't even know what tears and mascara might do to it." They laughed, and Kei tried it again with the sleeve of her own shirt. "Hey, listen..." Kei began tentatively. "(sniff) Yeah?" "You know, if you're really serious about finding someone who'll treat you right..." "I am. You know I am." "Well, I think I might be able to help." "Oh good grief, Kei. (sniff) You're not talking about setting me up with one of your usual studs, I'm hoping." "No. Not one of my usual 'studs'. And I'll thank you not to call 'em that." "I only call it as I see it," Yuri said, fishing a packet of disposable hankies from her purse. "All that ASIDE," Kei pressed on, over the noise of Yuri clearing her sinuses, "do you want me to find you someone who'll show you a good time?" Through the last of her tears, Yuri smiled at Kei. "Sure. Why not? Can't be any worse than the last few have been." "Great," Kei said, smiling. "I'll have some calls to make once we get up tomorrow." ---------------- True to her word, Kei was making calls almost from the start of Saturday morning. No sooner had they finished breakfast (fried eggs by Yuri, bacon by Kei, and Bloody Marys for a little hair-of-the-dog) than she was pulling her own little black book out of her bedside dresser and making calls left and right. Throughout the whole thing, she never left her bedroom. Yuri knocked on the door about noon and asked: "Is it really taking so many calls to find this guy of yours?" "Please, Yuri! Not now!" came the reply. "I'm just getting a few details worked out." "Details? Why?" "Because," Kei said, opening the door, "I *myself* am planning on finding something entertaining to do tonight." "Lucky you," Yuri sniffed. "Looking for another one night stand?" Kei slammed the door in her face. Fifteen minutes later, she was out of the bedroom and preparing to leave. "Just a few errands to run," she told Yuri. And she was gone most of the day. Yuri, for her part, spent most of the day watching TV (700 channels and still nothing she liked) and trying not to be nervous about what was to happen that night. <> she thought to herself, <> The phone rang and Yuri went to answer it. It turned out to be from the 3WA: Dr. Kubelstein, from R & D. "Have you heard from Kei lately?" "No, she's been gone half the day. Why?" "Well, one of my staff told me she was in here picking up a piece of equipment while I was out getting lunch from the commissary. I haven't the slightest clue what precisely it was she took - I can't see that anything's missing..." Yuri sighed. She knew how Kei tended to treat the Doc's equipment. "Don't worry, Doctor. She probably knows enough to bring it back in good condition." "I should HOPE so!" the Doc moaned. "Well, if you do happen to see her, could you please find out what it was she took and how long she's going to have it? - Yes, thank you, m'dear. Goodbye." ---------------- The only other call Yuri received that afternoon was from Kei: "Your 'dream date' offers the suggestion that you put on your best clothes - you're going to a very nice place." Yuri hung up and excitedly laid out her favorite ensemble - the dark red dress with the slit up the side, the matching fake-fur boa and arm-length gloves, and the black shoes; she dithered for a while on the heels before ditching them and going with the flats. <> She pondered, for half a moment, what *else* she might be doing - and then added her concealed-carry pistol in its thigh-garter holster. It would fit nicely on the leg that wasn't revealed by her dress. It was almost 1630 when Kei returned home, a neatly folded garment bag in one hand and a small cardboard box in the other. "Picking up some dry cleaning," she explained; Yuri, who did not personally recall Kei going out to drop off any dry cleaning, merely nodded in understanding. She had better things to think about than Kei. A steaming shower quickly relieved worries and nervous jitters, releasing a cloud of steam from which Yuri emerged, razor in hand, with the warm glow of the freshly scrubbed. Kei banged on the door, demanding the shower to herself; Yuri told her as politely as possible that Kei could have the whole damn bathroom when she was done with it. She eventually wrapped herself in a towel and marched out of the bathroom, past a fuming Kei, and back to her bedroom. She kept her makeup light, put on a discreet pair of gold hoop earrings, and squeezed herself into the dress. She didn't usually think of herself as narcissistic, but she spent close to an hour adjusting and readjusting her dress and hair in the mirror; she wanted everything to be perfect. And she managed a reasonable approximation of perfection; even the pistol nestled against the outside of her thigh created no visible bulge in the dress's fabric. She checked her watch one last time before pulling the red velvet gloves up her arms; 1815, it said. She had 45 minutes to get to the rendezvous point - just enough time. "Kei," she called, "I'm going." No response from inside the other bedroom. <> Yuri thought, as she shrugged her shoulders and went out to catch a taxi. ---------------- Elenore City Park was not so much a park as a large, secluded plaza, overlooked at one end by the City Parks Administration building with its famous clock tower. In the grove of trees across from the big clock sat a number of wooden and stone benches, and on one of these sat Yuri, torn between romantic fantasies of what the evening might hold and the crippling fear that this might just be one more setup. She was watching the clock's minute hand moving, ever so slowly, toward the 19:00 mark. It felt to her as though time were freezing up - if only *he* would show, then it would start again. She became aware of a large black car that had pulled to the curb in the middle distance. A large, LONG black car. And she had been told to expect a limousine, too... Yuri rose and approached the vehicle; the driver's side window rolled down, exposing the face and shoulders of a tall side of beef stuffed into a chauffeur's livery. "You Yuri, ma'am?" he asked. "Yes," Yuri said. "You're expected," the driver said as he exited with unexpected gracefulness. He led her to the rear door, held it open for her, and having closed it behind her returned to the driver's seat. As the car pulled away from the curb, Yuri found herself in a nearly pitch-dark interior - an additional film had rolled up on the windows to obscure even more of the outside light. The person in the far corner was just a silhouette. "Good evening, Yuri," came a deep, soft voice. "Good evening," she replied with some hesitation. "We meet like this for a reason," the low voice continued. "Now I beg you not to be offended, but the truth is that we've already met, and you already know me." "Huh?" "You've known me for *years,* in fact. We haven't done much in the way of recreation, but I've worked with you and I flatter myself that I understand you." "...Chief?" "No," the voice said, laughing, "I'm not Gooley, and I'm not Gooley's boss either. I'm just someone who sympathizes with the situation you're in. And for that reason, I want to give you a night without worries, with no cares - a chance to relax and enjoy yourself, because that's something I know you want." The voice paused. "I'm doing this because I want you to be happy. Now, given that, will you promise me one thing?" "What's that?" said Yuri. "That when I turn these lights one, you won't be angry - you won't try to jump out and run home. Because this is *not* a prank or a joke, and it's *definitely not* me trying to get a laugh at your expense - it's just me trying to treat you with the respect a lady deserves." "Wait a minute," Yuri said, the seed of an outrageous idea germinating in her brain. "...No. No way. You can't *possibly* be - " "Oh, *can't* I?" the voice said, chuckling, and suddenly there was a click; the tinting on the windows disappeared, and the lights of the city illuminated an unmistakable shock of red hair. "*What in the HELL* - " Kei set down the voice changer she had borrowed from Dr. Kubelstein and put her finger to her lips. "What," Yuri continued in a lower tone of voice, "is the big idea, Kei? What's the meaning of this?" "Exactly what I said it was," Kei said, stretching out against the seat back. "If there's not a man in this town who can give you a good night out, I figure it's up to me." Yuri was blushing with barely-suppressed anger. "HONESTLY, Kei! What do you think this *is,* some kind of - " "No," Kei interrupted, "it's not a joke; I thought I made that clear. I really do want you to enjoy yourself tonight, and I really do intend to give you the best night out you ever had. ...If you can't see it happening, then I'll admit it was a crazy, stupid idea, and - and if you're offended then I'm sorry I did it. ...Yuri?" Kei was beginning to get anxious about the silence from the other seat. "I - I guess I'm not offended," Yuri said slowly. "More *shocked,* maybe. Geez, you really do mean it, huh?" "Absolutely," Kei smiled. "Okay. Well, as long as I'm playing along here: Where are we going?" Kei's smile widened. "Harney and Bloomfield's." "WHAT??" Yuri said, gaping. "That's expensive as hell! Do we have reservations? How'd you pull *that* off?" "Saved up some spare cash from our last New Year bonus. And as for the reservations, what'd you think I was doing on the phone all day?" "I guess it makes some sense, at least in retrospect... Um, Kei?" "Yeah?" "Not to complain, but what the crap are you *wearing?*" "Oh this? Rented it. I figure if I'm going to play your dream date, the least I could do was try to look the part..." ---------------- Harney and Bloomfields was a dinner place like no other. The back wall consisted entirely of huge leaded glass panes, giving an almost panoramic view of Downtown; a few gold-colored sconces on the deep- crimson wall provided the only other light, which gleamed off the teak- inlaid bar and the red leather booths. The place was dark, warm, comfortable, and positively *smelled* of money. The maitre d' had seen some fairly interesting types come through the door in his time, but he was unvaryingly polite as he personally led each party to their table or booth; it was hardly his place, he felt, to tell anyone what he thought of them. Therefore, he did not even flinch when two young women entered arm in arm - a dark-haired, pale-skinned girl in a wine-red evening gown, and a redhead wearing (of all things) a tuxedo. "Reservations for two at 20:15," said the redhead, pulling ID from inside her jacket. The maitre d' blinked once, checked the name against the reservation list, and smiled. "Please follow me, ladies." He led them to a cozy secluded booth in the far corner, by the window, and then promptly went to inform the wait staff that they were to address the tuxedo-wearing customer at Table 19 as "madame" and NOT "sir." The menus arrived. Yuri opened to the first page and her eyes boggled. "My god, Kei, the PRICES - " "Yeah, I know." "But if the *appetizers* are this much - " "Yes, I *know*." "Are you actually going to PAY for this?" "I'll pay for it, Yuri. This is all for you, remember? Don't sweat the price!" "Well... okay," Yuri shrugged, eyeing the crab cakes on the appetizer list. ---------------- An unusual ensemble provided the music at Harney & Bloomfields - drummer Piotr Andriakovic leading the Omnipresent Jazz Octet. Piotr was the only band member actually present on the stand at H&B; the other seven were beamed in by holoprojection from the other seven locations the Octet was currently playing, and his own image was beamed back to each of them. With each musician at a different venue, the projectors allowed them to play up to eight simultaneous gigs a night. Piotr's bassist had suggested a Mingus-heavy set list, but unfortunately (as he himself had remarked) the music of Charles Mingus is not easy to dance to. Which apparently hadn't stopped some people from trying; the pianist was laughing at something only he could see. The sparsely populated dance floor at H&B was deserted during the faster numbers, but a few couples took a waltz during the slow pieces; in a booth in the corner, two pairs of eyes looked longingly. "Can't they play something slower?" Kei said through a mouthful of filet mignon. "Why?" asked Yuri. "Want something you can dance to?" "Well, yeah! As much as I'm enjoying this meal, something's - missing, you know what I mean?" "Can't say I do. Want a piece of this lobster?" "Oh, *come on*. Don't YOU want to dance?" Kei got up from the table. "Of course I do. Pity we've got no one to dance with." "That's why I'm wearing the penguin suit," Kei said. "Why not dance with *me*?" "I'm busy enjoying this meal," Yuri said, spearing another forkful of lobster. "Oh, *now* I get it - you're too full to move..." "The hell I am!" Yuri grinned, putting her fork down and getting up from the table. "But I bet that martini YOU just had erased all your best dance moves from your memory..." "And what about those *two* Cosmopolitans YOU had?" Kei shot back. She reached out and grabbed Yuri's hand. "Why don't we just go *see* who can out-dance whom?" And Yuri could think of no objection. ---------------- Piotr Andriakovic looked out past the translucent images of his bandmates as the octet kicked into _Hora Decubitus_, and realized that someone was actually out there trying to dance to it. Obviously not used to the kind of music the Octet played - the two of them looked like ravers trying to swing dance. But by the time the song ended a good seven minutes later, the two dancers had not only kept up but were achieving a reasonable approximation of the Lindy hop. Piotr finished his last drum flourish and announced in his soft Martian accent that the band was due for a 20-minute break. His bandmates winked out of view, and he descended from the stand alone and approached the Screwdriver awaiting him at the bar - when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned, wondering who was getting between him and his alcohol - and found himself facing the dancer in the tuxedo. "You guys are good!" "So were you," Piotr said, fishing in his vest pocket for a cigarette. "Or at least you were *enthusiastic*. I love to see that - it tells me that I'm not working with a dead art form yet." "I was wondering," the girl said, "if I could make a request." "Hey, why not. What is it?" "Well - could ya play a few slower songs in your next set?" Piotr laughed. "As a matter of fact, that's exactly what we were planning." "Oh, thanks! But there was one in particular I was thinking of - " "Sure. Which one?" ---------------- Fifteen minutes later, Yuri was finishing off a particularly delicious Bananas Foster (Kei, predictably, had chosen the white-chocolate cheesecake) when Piotr counted off and led the band into _Goodbye Pork Pie Hat_. Yuri looked up, stunned: "I LOVE this song! Kei, did you tell them to play that?" Kei grinned and proffered her hand. "Wanna dance, Yuri?" "You bet." They stepped out onto the floor, a little tentatively, and joined the other slow-dancing couples. Kei led, of course, as thought she were used to it, and she and Yuri both found themselves swept away. They stayed on the floor through the end of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat and the next three songs. Kei didn't recognize any of them, but she felt as though she was losing herself - disappearing into the wave of sound that lazily engulfed the room. And they kept on dancing. And Yuri thought, "Is it all the drinks we've had, or do Kei's eyes ALWAYS shine like that?" And Kei thought, "Is it the booze, or does Yuri look particularly glamorous right now?" "...Not that I usually think things like this," Kei said, "but you have a beautiful smile. Makes your whole face look that much cuter." "...Wow. Thanks!" Yuri blushed. "What brought *that* up?" "Nothing. Nothing. It's just - you look really good in this light." "...You know something, Kei? So do you." And they both giggled and blushed, and held each other tighter. And the room spun around them in a delirious waltz. ---------------- At 00:52 that night, a taxi pulled up to the Elenore Tower Conapts and disgorged two women. Yuri had pulled off her gloves and fake-fur boa, and was holding them in one hand; Kei's bow tie was now in her jacket pocket, and the starched white shirt was open at the neck. Kei got out first, and held the door for a slightly unsteady Yuri; they tottered in through the lobby door hand in hand. At some point in the evening, one of the two had been imprudent enough to order a bottle of champagne to their table, and now their surroundings seemed suffused with a gentle glow. "Y'know, Kei, I don't remember thanking you for this lovely evening," Yuri said as she pushed the call button for the elevator. Kei had to think about it for a moment. "Uh... no. No, you didn't." "All right, then - thanks for this *lovely* evening. I think this was the most fun I've had in at least a few years, I kid you not..." "Same here," said Kei. "I can't remember the last time I enjoyed anything this much." The elevator bell rang once, and the doors opened; the two ladies broke eye contact long enough to step in. "Seriously," Yuri said as the doors slid shut, "to think that you did all it for *me* - all this crazy shit, just to cheer ME up? Geez, if you wanna talk about making someone feel special... I don't know if I can thank you enough." Yuri was silent a moment, then darted in and planted a kiss on Kei's cheek. Kei suddenly got an idea; maybe it was the booze that put it in her head, but definitely it was Dutch courage that drove her to act on it. "Hey," she said, turning toward Yuri, "what kind of a kiss was that? I'm supposed to be your *DREAM date*, y'know. If we kiss, it'll be like this..." and before Yuri could respond, Kei cupped her hands on the side of Yuri's face and kissed her on the lips. Yuri was surprised, but not unpleasantly so; she felt her own Dutch courage kicking in, and in a split second she upped the ante, pushing her tongue between Kei's lips. Kei reciprocated, and they remained locked in the French kiss until the elevator signaled the 22nd floor. When the bell rang, the reverie was shattered; blushing furiously, they pulled away from each other and gasped for breath. "Wh-wha...what the fuck were we just doing?" Kei stammered. "I don't know," replied Yuri. "I sure as hell didn't plan on that." "Funny thing is, I think I *liked* it." "...Yeah. Me too. Nice way to end a date." Kei's eyes glittered dangerously. "To end a date? What makes you so sure that we should end it THERE?" "What do you... *Ohh* no you don't. You're crazy." Yuri blushed even redder. "Oh, come on, why not?" "It's not exactly rational, Kei," Yuri said as she exited the elevator. "You're only saying it 'cuz you're drunk. Hell, we're BOTH wasted - even if we really do it, we probably won't remember it tomorrow." "Exactly. What have we got to lose?" Yuri groaned. "Now I *know* I'm drunk." "Why?" Kei asked as she slid her ID through the lock on the apartment door. "Because it's starting to sound like a good idea." ---------------- The door shut behind them; with Mughi gone, they were alone in the apartment. As soon as the door locked, they were again in each other's arms, leaning against Yuri's bedroom door, losing themselves in another, deeper kiss, two wet tongues meeting and withdrawing and meeting again and sliding across each other... Kei moaned. Her hand moved slowly off Yuri's bare shoulder, and slid down Yuri's shapely back to her butt, where it came to a rest. Yuri squeaked in surprise, then drew back and laughed. "You're *really* taking this role-playing-as-a-guy thing seriously, aren't you?" "Absolutely," said Kei, and laughed too. "And when *I'm* done with you, you'll never want any other man again, sweetie." "Oh *really*?" Yuri said archly, fumbling for the catch on her door. "That'd better be a *promise*." "Well, you'll find out..." The door swung open and they entered, still loosely embracing, still glowing under the magic spell of champagne. Yuri broke free of yet another kiss, sat down on the bed, and playfully kicked her shoes off. Kei stepped out of her own shoes and tugged off her socks. Yuri grinned. "You can't have been very comfortable wearing that getup all night... How about letting me get you out of it?" "If you'll let me shuck you out of that dress of yours," Kei replied, shrugging off her dinner jacket. And with a near-frantic intensity they came together again. Their hands groped and fumbled, reaching for buttons, zippers, belt buckles, snaps. A flurry of clothes flew across the moonlit room and fetched up against the door of the wall closet, and finally they stood bare-breasted in the moonlight, breathing with exertion. Kei looked down and smiled broadly. "You naughty girl, are you wearing a thong?" "Had to find something that wouldn't show under the dress," said Yuri. "I like it. Matches your gun," Kei said, and with one hand undid the velcro holding Yuri's concealed-carry pistol against her thigh. "Now lie down." Yuri complied, flinging herself back on the downturned sheets, her long hair forming a bluish-black halo as it spread out around her head. She bit her lower lip in anticipation. "Well, Kei, I'm at your mercy. Do as you will with me," she said breathily, and crossed her arms behind her head. Her skin glowed a soft alabaster white in the light from the city below. Kei crawled up the bed and lay down on her side next to Yuri. She slowly ran her finger down Yuri's side ("C'mon, stop it," Yuri giggled, "you know damn well I'm ticklish"), stopping at the waistband of Yuri's panties. "This'll have to go," she said, and hooked her index finger around the band, tugging gently. The thong began to slide, and Yuri obligingly canted her hips to let Kei pull it down off of her ass; she raised her legs from the bed as Kei slid it the last few inches, and watched it fly across the room and into the pile of clothes. "Honestly, Yuri," Kei sighed, "you're beautiful." Yuri smiled and arched her back, giving Kei an even better view of her perfect chest. Kei leaned over and began to kiss her again; her hand went to one of Yuri's breasts and began to knead it gently. Between kisses, Yuri gasped out, "Kei... mmmm... maybe you *do* know what I like." Her nipples were rock hard, and Kei moved down Yuri's beautiful body to play with them, first licking one, then sucking on the other. Yuri was responsive - she moaned and sighed and half-whispered Kei's name again. Kei shifted a little and kissed Yuri's cleavage, then began to move down her torso, planting a soft kiss every few inches. Yuri's face was flushed, her head tossed almost involuntarily, and she had clamped her thighs together as some sensation slowly began to build between them. Kei kissed down Yuri's stomach, feeling against her lips the other girl's soft skin and the deceptive steel of the muscle hidden behind it. She reached Yuri's bellybutton and, on a whim, started to lick at it, tenderly French-kissing Yuri's tummy. Yuri shivered and squealed and laughed, "I said I'm *ticklish*, Kei! You're KILLING me here!" Kei chuckled and moved on before the mood was spoiled. Yuri's long legs were pressed tightly together. Kei gently prised them apart, moved in between them and continued kissing down Yuri's velvet- soft belly. Yuri was practically writhing with anticipation: "Oh god, Kei, *please* - " "Please *what*?" said Kei, looking up from the Mount of Venus. "D-d-don-don't keep me waiting!" Yuri pleaded. Kei looked down. "Tell me, do you *always* shave down here?" "YesIdoIlikethewayitlooksKeiwillyou*PLEEEEASE* - " Yuri groaned and began to buck her hips underneath Kei's chin. Kei took a deep breath, then moved down and stuck her tongue out to explore Yuri's lower lips. The taste of Yuri's opening was tangy, sweaty, and not as bad as she had expected, and the response from Yuri was better than she'd hoped for; the minute she touched the little bud at the top, she heard a shrieking gasp from the head of the bed, and Yuri's whole body stiffened up for a second or two. Kei wrapped her arms around Yuri's thighs and dove in. Yuri was overwhelmed by sensation - pure sensation, radiating out from her pussy and spreading in wave upon wave throughout the rest of her body. Her face flushed deeper and her nipples tingled; one of her hands came down and began to fondle her breasts, and the other came down and clutched the sheets so tightly that her nails almost tore them. Kei was relentless, and Yuri found herself quickly losing control. She writhed on the bed, completely under the spell pf Kei's talented tongue, moaning, groaning, and sighing, in words whose meanings she no longer quite remembered, a long litany of ecstasy: "Kei... oh god oh yes Kei... mmmm oh yes it's so good Kei... yes oh god oh FUCK yes...mmmm god I'm so hot, Kei ahh... yes yes ohmigod, Kei, please... ohmigod it's so good... mmmm ohmigod yes Kei fuck me... I'm so - ahh YES, oh *please*... please Kei you're gonna make me come, ahh *fuck*!, oh *God* yes, mmmm... ohmigod PLEASE, Kei, you're making me - aaah fuck, I *LOVE* you, Kei, I love you *so much*, ohmigodohmigodohmigod I-I-I'm gonna, I'm gonna, OH *YES,* I'M GOING TO - " And she lost all her words as the tornado that had been circling around her body finally touched down. She felt an explosion of heat in her pussy, and shockwaves of absolute bliss crashed across her entire nervous system as she orgasmed. And it wasn't stopping, it wasn't even *close* to stopping, because *Kei* wasn't stopping, oh hell no, she had that *gorgeous* *fucking* *MOUTH* clamped tight on Yuri's clit and she wouldn't - let - go - !!! !!! !!! !!! After a seeming eternity, Kei stopped. Yuri lay on the bed, delirious, quivering and inarticulate, sweat soaking the sheets and making her body glisten, her breasts rising and falling as she gasped for breath. Kei crawled back up to her eye level and lay there, herself flushed and breathing heavy; a wet patch had begun to form on the front of her own white cotton panties. "You know what I said about you being beautiful?" she murmured. "Screw that. You're a fucking sex goddess, Yuri. I've never been so turned on in my life." Yuri was still short of breath, but she managed a weak laugh anyhow. "What... about... *you*... an' your fuckin'... Magic Tongue?" Kei began giggling with her. "I mean... god damn... where'd you learn... to do that??" "Simple. Just figured... I'd do to *you* what I like done to *me*." Yuri giggled again. "Hee... well, it WORKED... Love to pay you back... but I'm too... weak to move." "Don't worry," said Kei, stripping off her panties. "I've got an idea." "Ooh, *another* one?" Yuri grinned. "You just lie there and I'll do the rest." Kei slowly got up and knelt over the prostrate Yuri, straddling her shoulders. Yuri immediately realized what this gave her access to, and before Kei could speak, brought her head up between Kei's legs and gave her slit one long, slow lick. "Oh FUCK!" Kei almost collapsed right then and there, but she maintained long enough to know exactly what was going on; the tables had turned, and Yuri was now the one with her arms wrapped around Kei's legs and doing wonderful things to Kei's - Suddenly Kei felt something probing at her entrance that was NOT a tongue. Shocked, she looked down at Yuri, and saw that Yuri was accompanying her licking with the ministrations of one index finger; the sensation increased in intensity as Yuri slipped it into Kei's opening and began to stroke her from inside. Kei gasped. "Yuri - oh, oh god Yuri, that feels so..." Yuri took this as a cue to increase speed, and Kei began to find it hard to remain upright. She leaned back and supported her body with one hand, teasing her swollen nipples with the other. "Ahhh, Yuri - it's so good..." Yuri added another finger, and the feeling coming from Kei's tunnel multiplied, squared, cubed itself. Kei suddenly felt a familiar sensation; it was like an incredible heat, building deep inside her. She moaned louder: "Oh Yuri, it's coming - mmmm, god, I'm so fucking hot - " Almost involuntarily, she began to pump her hips. "Oh FUCK, oh *yes* Yuri get me off, oh, I'm gonna, oh god damn I'm gonna come so hard, ohmigod Yuri I love you, I *love* you, I *LOVE you* - " and she screamed to the ceiling as the heat of orgasm rose up and overflowed inside her. It felt like every muscle in her sun- browned body was simultaneously tensing and relaxing, tensing and relaxing, as she came; she could feel her pussy squeezing and releasing Yuri's fingers. She was losing her balance; with a supreme effort she pulled away, flipped over and landed on her back next to Yuri. They looked over at each other, and Yuri licked her lips; Kei, still descending from the heights of orgasm, was not even able to laugh for lack of breath. They lay there, panting for air, staring with a sort of pleasurable incredulity into one another's eyes. "I hope," Yuri said, breaking the silence, "that THAT was even half as much fun for you as it was for me." "Think it's... the... other way around." Kei was feeling short on oxygen; she forced herself to take one deep breath, hold it, then release it. "Heh heh. Called you a sex goddess, I didn't even KNOW how right I was. Ooh, geez, my legs ache..." Yuri wiped her face with the back of her hand, and wiped the hand on the bedsheet. "What part of it did you like best?" "Silly question, babe. But let me think... There was this point where you started doing *this* with your fingers - " Kei demonstrated by crooking two fingers and making a gesturing motion with them. "That felt weird, but - *incredible*... it was like you were tickling my G-spot. Where on the earths did you come up with that?" "Well, I... uh..." <> Yuri thought. <> "I came up with it while I was, um, experimenting with myself once. And *boy* - if it did to you what it does to *me* - " "I think it DID," Kei said. "Heh. In fact I'm pretty sure it did." "Kei?" "Yeah?" "I, um, I think I'm ready to go again." Yuri looked steadily into Kei's eyes. "In fact, if we *don't* go again, I'm gonna be extremely pissed." "Don't sweat. I don't think I'm done with you, either. But - " Kei put a finger to her lips. "No words now, okay? Just do as I show you." And she rose to a sitting position, pulling Yuri up with her. Yuri stopped wondering what they were about to do when Kei kissed her again. As they kissed Kei maneuvered the two of them together, ever so gently, facing one another. She withdrew from the kiss long enough to slide her left leg under Yuri's right, wrap the other leg around Yuri's ass and left hip, and direct Yuri to do the same to her. Yuri looked down at herself and Kei, and asked: "Are we really... gonna do this?" "I can't think of any more reasons not to," Kei said. There was a moment of stillness in the room, two sweat-shiny bodies in proximity and two pairs of eyes gazing longingly into one another. "I love you, Kei," one sighed. "I love you, too," the other whispered. And they could not wait another second. They wrapped arms around each other's backs and pulled themselves together tightly. They embraced, making contact with each other at every point their bodies would allow - mouth to mouth, breast to breast, belly to belly, thigh to thigh, and pussy to pussy. When the last contact was made, they both shivered with a sudden rush of pleasure. Kei, taking the initiative, began to slowly rock her hips; the little tuft of hair on her muff began to tickle Yuri's, and Yuri laughed and gasped as Kei's patch brushed ever so softly against her clit. Yuri began a counter-rhythm to Kei's - whenever Kei moved up, she moved down, and vice versa. They held onto each other tighter, embracing and fondling and kissing and swaying their hips in a dreamy, sexy rhythm. They moaned into each other's mouths; their tongues caressed each other languorously; their pussies were so wet they practically gushed. Yuri suddenly gasped and began pumping her hips faster and harder. "Oh, Kei, this is it, I think I'm - " "Mmmm, me too," said Kei breathlessly, herself beginning to move against Yuri, faster and faster. They began pounding, relentlessly, grinding their pussies together, clits and bellies and nipples and tongues all moving back and forth in delicious friction. It was coming, and neither one of them could stop it - neither one wanted to stop it... "Ohh fuck, Yuri - " "Ohmigod, Kei - " "I love you - aahh - " "Mmmm - I love you too - " And the dam burst. They clutched tightly at each other, squirming and cooing and caressing and wailing in simultaneous orgasm, their pussies pulsating in perfect unison, and they practically sang in enraptured harmony as sheer bliss overwhelmed them... ---------------- Yuri awoke, staring at the early-morning light reflected on the ceiling of her bedroom. Her head swam for a frightening split second, then readjusted itself. <> Her memories of the previous night cut like a thunderbolt across her drowsy brain, and she turned to stare into the eyes of... "Mmm hmm hmm," the familiar voice chuckled. "Mornin', lover." There lay Kei, gazing at Yuri with the sweetest smile Yuri had ever seen. "Kei...oh, *wow*," Yuri said, hands against her temples, "did we do what I THINK we did last night?" "Let me guess. You're remembering the same things I am." Yuri thought for a moment, and a smile slowly began to take shape at the edges of her mouth. "...I think I must be." "Listen," Kei said, "if you're starting to regret it, I totally understand, but *I* don't regret it at all. It was beautiful and wonderful and I loved every moment of it, but...wherever you want to take things from here, I'll understand." Yuri replied by leaning in and kissing Kei on the lips; their eyes closed, and their tongues sought and found each other again. "Well," Yuri said a full ninety seconds later, "does *that* tell you where I want to take this?" "Ohh, most definitely," said Kei, grinning. "I bet you want to spend the rest of today in bed with me." "Try the rest of this VACATION. I don't think I'll *ever* want to get out of this bed." Kei laughed at that. "...Yuri?" she said after a long, comfortable silence had passed, "I think I really do love you. I mean, that's not just the kind of thing I scream out when I'm having sex - when I said love, I meant it." "So did I," replied Yuri, enfolding Kei's shoulders in an embrace. "...You were right, you know." "About what?" "About me never wanting to chase after another man. Matter of fact, I don't think I *need* to... Everything I want is right here." Kei smiled. "Told you so." And again they held each other tightly, knowing that something had happened between them that put them far beyond partnership, far beyond friendship - it was love, for better or worse. -------------------------------- THANKS TO: Racewing and Mads (for the inspiration) / Johji Manabe (for the awesome Imasara dojinshi) ---------------- © Jake Wickness. Berne Conventions apply, I imagine - but you can spread the story around all you like as long as I get credit. ---------------- "...Yuri?" "Yeah?" "I can think of a couple of things we didn't try last night." "Heh, really? Like what? I *might* be interested." "You serious? All right, turn around..." "..." "I didn't mean like that, silly! Here, I'll do it." "What are you - Oh. Hee hee. *Now* I understand..." "See? You're up there doing mine, and I can be down here doing yours..." "Mmm. This'll be fun." "You bet. ...mmm..." [lick] "Oh, Kei..."