State Voyage

[Reine de Tourençal]

     Aiko blushed as red as her kimono as she heard the words Kali spoke. "I...um...Thanks." Aiko stuttered. Aiko couldn't believe what she heard, he actually said it. She gazed at Kali, studying his features carefully. He couldn't be more than 25-26. She wondred if he has a wife or a girlfriend back home. She hoped not. "You are so sweet Kali. I'm really glad I met you, your very handsome and..." Aiko stopped herself before she went too far. "I admire you, Kali." Aiko stood up abruptly and turned away from Kali. This was not proper behavior for an empress. "Um I can show you to your room for the night if you'd like to rest." Aiko walked quickly to the grand staircase and waited for Kali to follow. They proceeded up until they reached a tall screen. Aiko knelt and opened the screen and waited for Kali to step in. She went in after removing her shoes and shut the screen door.
     Inside was a large futon bed accompied with red and white silk pillows. A nightstand the color of cherry wood stood next to it with a phone on top of it. A large window was on the west side with a picture of an ancient king and his subjects. A bathroom was connected to the room with the door shut. It was a simple yet lovely room.   
     Aiko stood up and wouldn't meet Kali's gaze. "Well, this is your room. I'll leave you be."

      Koichi disliked Malc but needed him so he could get rid of Kali. He was lost in thought trying to figure out what to say to him. 
     "Well, it seems like Kali has taken a liking to the empress, as has the empress. I don't think it is in her best interest if Kali stayed around. He is distracting her from her duties as empress. I was wondernig if you could leave tonight as soon as possible. We don't have anything against you of course, but I think it would be for the best." Koichi stared at Malc who was thinking and fiddling with something in his jacket pocket.   

[Xyrael]

Malc didn't really care for Koichi either, and frankly liked it here. He wanted a vacation, some time to set his feet down on a real bed and sleep longer than five hours. Drills, drills, drills, that's all there would be if he left, and half of his men were incompetent. He didn't want to sit on some blasted beach for days waiting for new orders, he didn't want to sit on a toilet in choppy waves. He wondered briefly if there was a bar, then he wondered what type of drinks it would serve. He couldn't leave a new place without seeing the sites. 'Join the Military, see the world!' was the advertisement, and damnit, he would. Another part of him wanted to see Koichi suffer while Kali romanced her, he knew Kali didn't know, but Malc was wise enough to know when another man was jealous. He chuckled, trying to think of a political way of telling the man 'up yours'.

"I'll... take it into consideration."


"Wait!"

Kali grabbed her hand without thinking, spinning the Empress around to face him and pulling her closer to him. He was taller than her, but still their lips were mere inches apart. He could feel her breathing faster, her kimono felt soft in his hands, and he just felt like he couldn't stop. His fingers caressed her cheek softly, looking at her closed eyes as she stood in his arms. His hands ran through her hair and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her hard.

They stood with their lips locked for what seemed like hours, and when Kali finally realized what he was doing was wrong he stopped himself quickly. He looked to the floor, stammering an apology. "I'm sorry, I ...I don't know. I'm sorry Empress."

[Reine de Tourençal]

     Koichi made a disgusted face. He knew what that meant. It was the political way of blowing someone off. He sighed and thought more about the empress. Maybe I can do something about it...Koichi thought more.
     After a couple minutes of deep thought, he wanted to get back to the empress and Kali. He hated the thought of those two alone together. Koichi grumbled something under his breath and started towards the door hoping Malc would follow.
     The empress was dumbfounded when Kali kissed her. She looked back at him, eyes wide open and her jaw down to the ground. She closed her mouth and composed herself. The empress took a deep breath and spoke to Kali, almost in a whisper,
     "Don't apologize Kali. I certainly enjoyed it." Aiko nervously laugh. "I like you alot Kali, stay with me. Stay in Odori, you can live in the palace. You can be head military captain here, it will be perfect." Aiko pleaded with Kali. She really wanted him to stay there with her. She grabbed Kali's hand and looked into his eyes. She stood on her tip toes and kissed him again. His lips were soft against her. Her hands made their way to his hair. Twirling her fingers in it, not wanting their lips to let go. Just then they heard voices comig from downstairs. From the sound and smell of things dinner was ready.
     Aiko pulled away from Kali's lips and ran downstairs grabbing her shoes. She was acting so stupid! But she really wanted Kali to stay with her. She sighed and put a fake smile on her face to greet her chef and dinner guests. I'll figure everything out when I'm alone in my garden she thought. 

[Xyrael]

Kali slumped to his bed, his heart racing, nerves shaking. He looked to the door that Aiko had just left, unaware that his fingers were running along his lips where she had kissed him back. She wants me to stay... Kali wasn't sure what to think, how he could talk his way out of leaving. Surely Malc would help him...

Kali sat there for several minutes no knowing exactly what to do, contemplating ways to stay. He had an urge to be impulsive now. And then the fragrance broke through and he could smell the food. He was so hungry, and the food seemed like it would taste so good with a hint of Aiko on his lips...

Kali hurried down the stairs, following his nose through hallways made of... he hadn't put much thought into that. Looked like paper? He kept moving, turning through a door and seeing Aiko kneeling on a pillow before a table built low to the ground.


Malc followed Koichi to the dining room, where Kali had seated himself beside Aiko, their eyes fixed on each other in a comfortable silence. Koichi seemed a bit upset by this, and looked to Malc. "You can have a seat," he told Malc.

Malc seated himself at the table as well, waiting for the food to be brought out. The Empress seemed quite taken by Kali now, her eyes refusing to leave him while Koichi seemed very frustrated. Kali glanced at Malc as though he wanted to tell him something, but his eyes went back to the Empress. Malc chuckled softly to himself as he tried situating himself comfortably.

[Reine de Tourençal]

     Aiko kneeled on her pillow worrying her head off. She just made out with an officer of another country she didn't even know! She even asked him to stay with her. What was her problem? Even though Aiko was stressed beyong all belief, the food did smell excellent.
     "Well gentlemen, I hope you enjoy the food. If you can't use chopsticks we do have forks and knives for you newcomers." Aiko laughed nervousdly and looked down at her plate.
    She ate fast, not noticig ad glancing at Kali every two secconds. When Aiko finished, she showed Malc to his room. 
     "Sir this will be your room for the night. If you need anything my door is right down the hall." Aiko half smiled at started to walk back downstairs to find Kali. She needed to apologize for her behavior.

[Xyrael]

Kali watched Aiko walk towards him as he finished his meal. Koichi looked up at her with a smile, "Excellent dinner, Empress."

Kali nodded, "very good, I loved the eel." Aiko didn't seem to acknowledge either as she continued over directly to Kali. She kneeled before him and blushed, her fingers playing with themselves.

"Sir Kali, you and I... we come from too far away. I shouldn't have done what I did before, I'm so--" she stopped talking as Kali turned to face her, also on his knees before her.

"Empress..." he interrupted softly, she stopped to listen. "You're amazing, you're beautiful and yet strong, and I've never quite felt this way around a woman before..." he looked deep into her eyes as he whispered to her. He wasn't sure what else to say as he leaned in towards her to speak. His hands gripped her arms softly, he could feel her breathe on his neck... his hand ran up past her shoulder and caressed her cheek. Aiko looked up at Kali, her eyes nearly building with fear that Kali would actually leave, that he'd listen to her. He pulled her to him, kissing her hard, pulling her kimono against him. He kissed her lips harder, tasting her and feeling her, closing his eyes and being absorbed within every moment. Aiko didn't stop him, her hands gripping his combat clothes and pulling him closer, the couple unaware that Koichi sat on the other side of the table, his anger filled eyes staring at the two as the food fell from his hands.