Ten Thousand Years of the Kusari Republic (redux)

[SupcommMonroee]

Kyoko spun on her heels and stuck her nose as high up as it would go, narrowing her eyes and donning an imposing expression of dissatisfaction. “Your games, Captain Takenaka, are childish and unbecoming of an officer.”

Akio threw his oval-shaped head back in ebullient laughter, every reach of his face alight with amusement at Kyoko’s vexation.

“The stake that sticks out gets hammered down, Commander. Maybe you’ll learn that come the next promotion cycle.” Kyoko declared with a mock foreboding tone. Her admonishment apparently served only to further Akio’s amusement.

The taller, lankier officer dramatically placed his hands on his hips and bent at the waist ever so slightly, as if to look down upon the subject of his brief game. “That’s rich, coming from the one who has her own legendary nickname,” he stood up straight and crossed his arms, sighing and looking to the side. “I suppose that if all you came here to do was get angry at me, I should just go…” Akio made a deliberate show of turning and starting away down the path.

Kyoko lunged forward and grabbed a fistful of collar. “You’re an idiot, Akio.” She dropped her act of faux indignation and planted on his lips a clean and proper kiss, as much as one can be. It was an experience closer to receiving a medal than exchanging heartfelt emotion. She pulled away, hands folded behind her back, standing at attention with an expectant glint in her eye.

Akio leaned in, his eyes drifting to the left and then to the right in a brief and furtive assurance of privacy. Such was all the time he decided to waste, and he completed his movement by swooping in and capturing the smaller captain in a tight embrace. The both of them took ample time to expunge weeks of mutual longing in that spot, half assuming privacy, and half uncaring if they had it. Kyoko’s hands crawled up her partner’s back, coming to a rest on his neck, gently pulling the two of them closer together, if his considerable squeeze was not already sufficient.

The two eventually parted, Kyoko holding Akio at arm’s length. “Surprise me, Akio. At least tell me you had a room paid for before you decided to play games with me.”

A chortle. The most reassuring of answers. “My dear, I’m afraid you hold me in such high regard…” Akio expelled a trifle more of his longing by parting Kyoko’s arms and nipping her neck, however quickly he was rebuffed.

“Room first. Then we can enjoy ourselves.” Akio dove in again, only to be rebuffed yet again, with a much rougher shove than last time. Kyoko closed the distance and seized his collar with one hand, intent on dragging him off to a Deshima hotel. Silently, she thanked whatever ethereal entity looking out for her that Akio was behind her, likely staring at her behind, instead of being in a position to see her face. Between the absurdity of the situation and her sincere joy and relief at being reunited with her dear fellow captain, her tight facade fell apart into voiceless laughter.

Once at a hotel, Akio carried up the rear to book a room for the night. Kyoko advanced ahead to a puny, single-bed cell of a room, still aloft a significant cushion of excitement. With as much haste a man about to get lucky could muster, Akio completed his transaction and bolted in pursuit of his “forbidden” rendezvous.

As he entered their room and hastily closed the door behind him, he paused, and grew ferocious in anticipation at the sight before him. Itto-Kaisa Kyoko Honda in none but her underclothes.

An exchange of grins, and the two enjoyed their respite from duty away from the prying eyes of the fleet.

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Royce.O'Hannigan / KDS-Hiei

"Real G's move in silence like lasagna."