bubbling Jacuzzi sat off to one side, heated and steaming in the coolness of the night. In another
corner, underneath a soft cloud of mosquito netting, a futon style bed with thick padding and dark
forest green coverings lay in a blatant invitation.
The urge to feel more than just silk overcame any other demand. To caress his heated skin with mine. My hands went for his shirt and all but ripped upwards, sending buttons flying in every direction, swiftly baring his smooth flesh to my vision. I indulged myself, caressing the slightly rippled muscles of his abdomen, delighting in the feel as they tightened to my touch. My tongue followed suit by tasting one of his nipples, lightly nibbling while my fingers explored lower, finding the outline of his cock against the silk covered leg of his pants. My lust went into overdrive as I began to caress him, reveling in the thickness of cock in my hand. Markus groaned against my ear and backed away, taking my wraparound shirt with him. Gasping, he went to one knee before me. With his eyes locked on my face, his hands went to one ankle and started to slowly slide them up my calf, raising the skirt with each caress. I groaned as his hands left a trail of fire in their wake.
He smiled at my reaction, not stopping until his hands reached the sweet wetness between my legs. Only then did he break eye contact with me to bestow a lingering kiss on my stomach as my skirt magically fell away in the warm breeze. As the fabric swept it’s way across the wood flooring, Markus kissed his way down towards the deliciously moist heat of my pussy. I almost lost my balance as his fingers and tongue worked to stoke the molten heat into a white-hot flame. He teased and tormented me, keeping my passion on the fine thread of release. Squirming and arching my back, whimpering in abandoned lust only seemed to increase my torment.
Suddenly, he stood up, forcing my legs apart with his hips. With one swift lunge, he thrust deep inside me without any warning at all. In one trembling moment, he took me to the stars. For indeed, my soul flew high and exploded, then fell back to earth in orgasmic pleasure. I came back to myself to find that he had backed me up against the edge of the futon, and tumbled me onto it without losing contact with each other. The moment we were on the cushions, he showered me in frantic kisses while he moved his powerful hips. I could feel his hard cock, large and long, inside of me, seeking out every nerve ending, every treasured and secret spot. He leaned over to capture one of my hardened nipples in his teeth and bit down gently, which caused me to arch my back and moan at the pleasure, and pain, which burned and shocked every nerve in my body, demanding more.
Frenzied with lust, I rose to meet his thrusts, groaning as we became one in our heated passion. My hands sifted through his hair as he worshipped my breasts with his mouth. Watching him, there came an urge to pull him up and savor the addicting taste of his kisses with my lips. As if sensing my thoughts, he kissed his way up to my lips, frantically taking possession of them while our tongues sparred for dominance. Closer and closer, we came to the edge of the abyss. My whimpers and moans were echoed by the handsome man above me as he began to move harder, faster, taking control of the rhythm, relentlessly pounding away, as if he would fuse our two heartbeats together for that one brief moment of ecstasy. A few moments, or an eternity later, he roared his release and thrust deeply, triggering my second flight of orgasmic bliss. My voice joined his as we both fell back to earth, sweating and quivering in the aftermath of the experience. I closed my eye and tried to catch my breath as he tried to do the same.
Suddenly, the strange sensation of things hitting my face and body permeated the afterglow. I looked up over Markus’s sweaty shoulder, and laughed, because I couldn’t believe my eye. Amaterasu, grinning from ear to ear like a mischievous child, had blanketed us both in cherry blossoms. Circling overhead was the bat from the wall of the shop. Seeing me watching her, she winked and turned to leave. Turning my face to nibble my Markus’s neck, I gazed at the goddess’s back as She left. The bat, seemed to shrink in size and fly at her back, there to become a tattoo with cherry blossoms on the back of her neck. Together, they both faded into a fog that seemed to be rolling in. I sighed and let the afterglow of sexual satiation take me back to sleep, but, not before feeling Markus’s teeth nibbling at my ear one last time.
****
I sat bolt upright in bed, sweating profusely. The Tanto, now a naked blade in my hand, couldn‘t protect me from my dreams, but real life became a different matter. Thankfully, no one dared to enter my room at the moment. A glance at the clock showed five hours had passed since hitting the pillow. Soaked in sweat, my body still felt little electrical pulses of the highly charged, erotic dream. Groaning, the knife went back into its sheath and I turned on the light. The same, small room was the one that Joey had told me to sleep in. Off in one corner, a shower stood with clean towels nearby, making me sigh in relief. Grabbing one of the towels and seeing he had soap in there already, I stripped then peeled off the towel around my ribs. To my surprise, the ribs no longer hurt and the bruising was almost completely gone. Even the bruises around my throat seemed to have disappeared while I slept. My debt to Joey Shin suddenly got a bit larger.
“Never look a gift horse in the mouth,” I murmured then headed into the shower, pausing to remove my eye patch. Dried blood flecks had stained the brass embroidery, turning it a burnt copper color. Staring at it, my gut told me things were about to go wrong, or they already had. That sensation made me shower up in ice-cold water, bringing me wide-awake in half the time. I didn’t bother with underwear, just stepped into a pair of jeans and a gray muscle shirt. A spare eye patch came out of my duffle bag. The other one I’d wash later. With the clean eye patch over the eye, the Tanto tucked in the back of my jeans, I headed for the door, grabbing the Katana just incase.
Time to go find out what the hell is going on, I thought to myself.
“There is more at stake than you think.” Her voice replied as my hand touched the doorknob, freezing me in place.
“What do you mean?”
“Just make sure you listen before you leap, Terri. Lives are going to depend on you at this very moment.” She sounded concerned.
“Is that why you were in my dreams today?” I tossed out the question.
“Yes. It was the only way to get you to rest long enough for me to heal your body.” This time, her voice was tinged with amusement.
I chuckled. “Thank you. Now, let me go find out what’s happened.”
I opened the door, padding barefoot out to the main room, and got a massive surprise in the form of three men and two women. Ashi Nogura‘s family. As I paused in the doorway to take in the view, my gaze swung to Shin. His glance over my shoulder let me know that the Shadow Demon had followed me in his own, silent way. At my entrance, everyone turned to look at me with way too serious looks on each face. Knowing bad news when it arrives, I spoke in Japanese for the benefit of all involved. “Could I get some tea, Shin, before everyone drops the bomb on my shoulders.” I looked up and sure enough, the bat was still there, only now, a strange smile lit its face. Or maybe my imagination had kicked in again.
Joey bowed slightly and went to get a pair of mugs full of tea, adding honey to mine just the way he saw me do it earlier. I risked a glance at Markus. He was dressed like me, only he had a shoulder holster that bore the pair of Glocks and extra magazines snugged to his ribs, within easy reach of his hands should he cross his arms. Unlike me, he wore shoes. Turning to look at our guests, I positively identified four out of the five from my stepsister’s funeral. The final woman was an older woman, anywhere from fifty to eighty years old. Her regal bearing reminded me of the stories about women samurai warriors of feudal times who donned armor in defense of their own homes and the villages around it.
I sat down in a chair and removed the Tanto from the back of my pants. Both it and the Katana went onto the table at my left side. The only person who even took the time to examine the scabbard of the Katana was the old woman. Her eyes met mine and a slight smile brightened them. Thanking Joey fo
r the tea and taking a sip to brace myself, my gaze took in the entire group, “As much as I am honored to see familiar faces, and an unfamiliar one,” I bowed my head in the old woman’s direction, “I am curious as to why so many have made their way to this place and time.” I arched my left eyebrow up over the patch. “Would someone please explain?”
The youngest spoke up, “Terri-san, this is Ashi-sama’s mother, the Lady Kichiko. It is she that will explain to you what has happened to Ashi-sama.”
Joey started visibly and bowed so low, I thought he would tip over and hit his head on the carpeted floor before scurrying over to fill a teacup with tea for her. “Forgive me, Honorable Kichiko. I did not recognize you.” He knelt at her feet and offered up the cup with both hands, keeping his head bowed.
For the first time the Lady Kichiko spoke. Her voice had the same melodious quality to it that Amaterasu had when She spoke in my head. “I am sorry I did not speak sooner, Shin-san.” She took the cup and smiled. “But these are dangerous times and Terri Montegard must be told what has happened.”
My grip tightened on the cup in my hands. Markus, who had taken up a post behind me, put a hand on my shoulder. The touch was a welcome comfort and kept me calm. “If time is of the essence, Kichiko-sama, mother of my stepfather, please, tell me and let us dispense with the formalities.” That earned several gasps of outrage at my audaciousness.
Kichiko lifted her hand and got instant silence, “You are correct.” She sighed, patted Joey’s hand, and directed him into the chair next to her. “Ashi Nogura is in the hospital with a knife wound to his chest.” She spoke softly, “He will recover, but it will take time.” She gazed into my eye.
I groaned softly and closed my eye a moment, Amaterasu help me. Hold him in your grace until he gets back on his feet and protect his family. When my gaze returned to the group, my voice came out empty of any emotion, yet something in my face made at least two of the younger men step back, “Who did this and why?”
“He is safe, his family crest is the dragon and he embodies that nature wholeheartedly.” The disembodied voice said in my mind.
One of the older men came forward. “What Kichiko-san doesn’t say is they branded the spider crest onto his neck. Not even the honorable spider with web. But the most insulting spider brand, reserved for the lowest soldier of that clan.” His eyes held shame and hate. That, if anything, cleared my head and kept me from doing something incredibly stupid.
Taking a deep breath to clear my head and fighting down the black rage trying to scorch my reasoning, “The Nakamura clan has much to answer for.” I looked at Kichiko. “I know what your son is, Honorable Lady, and if I can do anything to help your family, even though I am gaijin, I will do it.”
She nodded quietly, then looked at Joey. “She is worthy of the clan badge,” she murmured.
I held up a hand. “The Ashi clan is a worthy clan, Kichiko-san, but I will not bear the crest until my stepfather is seen to. However, as my own woman, I request one tattoo for myself so that people will know who it is that buried them.” I pointed to the bat tattoo. “That one, with cherry blossoms on the back of my neck.”
I glanced at Joey, who started grinning like a fool. The rest of the clan simply accepted it as fact while the grandmother smiled quietly. “You should have been born a Samurai, granddaughter.” She gave a stern look at the rest of the family around her. “Make it known, she is no longer a gaijin member of this family by a marriage. She is accepted by me as well as my son. Anyone who doesn’t accept this will feel my wrath.”
All of them bowed low in the formal obeisance of respect and acceptance. My lips twitched as a slight smile tried to make it‘s way onto my face. Goddess help anyone who dares to cross this woman, especially when she uses that voice. Now I knew where Nogura got his strength and the ability to face down those who would challenge him. In the silence, the image of Nogura in the hospital, hooked up to tubes and monitors raced through my brain, causing me to flinch. A crunch announced the fact that the teacup had been crushed in my hand.
“Joey,” I murmured softly, “get your equipment and get started, please.” Looking over the rest of the family, “He’s got bodyguards and proper security?”
Ichi, Ashi’s sister, nodded, then grinned impishly, “The men guard the outside of the hospital while there are trained women security guards watching him disguised as nurses and orderlies.” She looked at Kichiko, “It was her idea.”
I knew I liked this woman for some reason. Joey knelt and picked out the ceramic shards from my hand, then wrapped the palm in a poultice soaked bandage. “Grandmother, does he know you are here and are doing this for him?”
Kichiko sipped her tea. “On one of his first waking moments, he demanded that you be told the whole story. I believe his words were, ‘Call the Montegard exterminator, there are too many spiders infesting the house.’”
One of his own household. Damn! Came the unwanted thought. Joey touched my shoulder and pointed to the padded table. I lay down, putting my face in padded circle. “Is the Ashi clan holding together well?” I felt a razor begin to carefully shave the area on the back of my neck.
“Yes. No one would dare defy my right to run things in my son’s stead.” Kichiko spoke with conviction. “You need not fear for us. But thank you for your concern.”
A towel cleaned off the neck and soon, a felt tip pen began the complicated work of drawing the design onto my neck. “Are you safe here in Seattle? Or are you heading back to Japan after this meeting?”
One of the heretofore-silent men spoke up. “We will be returning this evening. It is important that we be by Ashi-sama’s side when he returns to consciousness.”
A hand touched my neck, spreading the skin. Joey began the process of tattooing the old way. It hurt, severely, but I accepted the pain. It cleared my head, allowing me to think past my anger, my emotions, to the cold, calculated thoughts beyond them. “When he wakes, tell him that the spiders will wish they had never touched the house of Ashi and spread their web of lies and deceit to those walls.” My voice was flat and emotionless. “But tell him also that I hope he gets better and that I will see him after this is all finished.”
Markus chose that moment to speak up. “Tell him that the Kage Oni has also taken up the Ashi cause.“ Ignoring the gasps of fear at the name, I heard him move over to where I last heard Kichiko’s voice. A rustle of fabric told me he had gone to his knees. “The Nakamura clan hired me to kill Terri-san. When I did not receive sufficient answers for her death, I went against their wishes. I pledge to you that I will guard her with my life and beware anyone who tries to harm her while I live.”
I couldn’t move while Joey was jabbing tattoo needles in my skin, forever etching the image into my flesh. If people could see my face, they’d probably see it stained a deep crimson, the heat of it spread up into the roots of my short hair. Certainly, Joey could see it. Sometimes it’s good to hide your face and pretend you‘re invisible. Fortunately, he didn’t see the need to enlighten the entire family about how much Markus’s words had affected me. However, we would be having words in private about his declaration, but that’s just me, go figure.
Kichiko’s voice brought me out of my thoughts, “You two would make a good match,” she chuckled. “But I digress. I and mine need to leave if we are to return to Nogura’s side by nightfall.”
I sighed, “Grandmother, one thing. I do not want the Ashi clan to be associated with what the Kage Oni and I are about to do. They have forced me to spill the blood of a person that, while I claimed no love for, I respected for what he taught me throughout my life. For that alone, I ask that you keep Nogura safe and mind the businesses your family controls. To involve the clan would start a clan war and that would cost more lives of the people I have begun to call my own.”
“You are wise beyond your years, child. May you survive this thing and purge your own soul of the life you have taken.” A rustle of suits and a kimono was all that announced their exit from th
e building.
I felt a calloused hand take my bandaged one, steadying me. Hard enough to stay steady when some of those cherry blossoms coated my neck from just below the skull to my shoulder line. The wings decorated the back half of my neck, stopping in line with the back edge of my ear. It was an effort, but with a little help, I managed to stay completely still and quiet for the most part. With each painful jab, however, my thoughts reflected back to the discussion in the limousine on the way to the airport. How prophetic were his words that finding a Master of the art simply just fell into my hands with a simple business card.
“She’s right, you know. You are wise beyond your years,” Markus said in English.
“I don’t want any more deaths except the ones that deserve it, Markus.” I closed my eye and let the hate, and rage wash over me again. “When Joey finishes the outline that he is enjoying putting into my skin, we will look over my photographs on my laptop. Then I will give my friend a call again. If she has any contacts anywhere, she’ll access them if it means bringing down corruption and exposing murder.”
Joey Shin’s voice came from above me as he shifted position to get at the side of my neck. “What about me? I may be neutral territory, but I also have my contacts.” A small jab of pain announced the onset of Joey’s next words. “I may be able to identify what you two cannot.”
I held up a hand. “All right, all right, Joey. You’ve made your point, literally. How far are we from being done?”
Markus chuckled. “Give him about another hour. He’s enjoying himself, way too much. I’ll go ahead and get your laptop setup.” He patted my hand and left.
Chapter Fourteen
>The darkness outside the windows seemed sinister as the three of us poured over the photos, including the cleaned and cropped pictures that came from the larger photographs. A little work with the photo editing program and a delicate touch with the mouse sorted all the photos out into categories. My laptop had to be set up a bit higher because my neck muscles felt like macramé knots once Joey finished the tattoo. It took a little over two hours to finish the work, color and all. I couldn’t see it, but both men assured me the tattoo fit perfectly. Now, however, it became a fight not to reach back, rub my neck to try, and get the knots to release. Other aches were forming in places on my shoulders that shouldn’t have that much muscle to twist. Just thinking about them, made the ache worse. It would be a while before we all had time to relax.
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