Hours, and what seems like an entire store full of dresses later, we finally walk out of the place with a beautiful lavender dress with a scoop neckline, low back and a slit up the long skirt to my upper thigh.
Heh, not half bad, I think to myself, shows off my figure, great color...one thing though...WHEN THE HELL AM I GONNA WEAR IT?!
Diana laughs at the expression on my face.
"What's on your mind, Moron?" she asks in her lighthearted way.
"Oh, how much I like the dress 'n all, and wondering when the hell I'm gonna wear it," I answer.
Diana and Zoi exchange a look and then they both grin wickedly at me.
"Oh no," I say softly before I crescendo into, "Not more SHOPPING?!?!"
Venus pats me on the back.
"See? I told you that was the last store."
I sigh in relief as there's laughter all around.
"Well then,
Shinobe, let's go home."
Neph is waiting for me when we get home.
"Enjoy the shopping, M-chan?" He asks.
"Well, let's put it this way," I answer, heading up to what everyone was starting to think of as Neph's and my room to put everything away, "If I never see a store again, it'll be way too soon."
He chuckles as I flop down next to him on the bed after everything is put away.
He gently strokes my cheek, saying softly, "Would you like me to check your back?"
"Hmmm...I think so, in fact."
He gently nudges me to roll over onto my tummy, which I do.
Within a few moments, I feel him gently raising the back of my shirt and undoing my bra so he could get at my back. Shortly after that, he's removing the bandages.
Wow, that doesn't hurt at all.
He gasps.
"Hm? Is everything ok, Neph?"
"Hai...it's just that...your injuries are now nothing more than scars," he runs his fingertips over my back, sending shivers up and down my spine. He refastens my bra.
I smile, closing my eyes.
"Good," I reply, "my healing factor's kicking in."
He says nothing, so I half turn over to catch his expression.
I can't help laughing at the shocked look on his face.
"Oh, Neph, don't go having a heart attack or anything on me, " I say, eyes sparkling with good humor.
He laughs and takes me into his arms.
"You are so amazing, M-chan."
I blush and gaze up at him, "So are you, Neph-kun."
He smiles and leans in to kiss me.
As his lips gently meet mine, I wrap my arms around him, pulling him close.
He returns the favor, his tongue caressing mine through our parted lips.
"Hey guys! We were wondering..." Jae's voice speaks up and squeaks to a halt.
"If maybe we should come back later, bye!" Mike finishes hastily.
In the mean time, Neph and I had separated quickly.
I look at the two, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.
"Hai, Jae?" Neph asks the blushing Jae as Mike comes over to me and presses a condom into my palm.
Jae's about to say something else when I realize what Mike had given me.
"MICHELANGELO!!" I scream and chase him from the room and down the hall, leaving a dumbfounded Neph and a laughing Jae in our bedroom.
Mike and I reach the pool and I shove him in and stand, laughing at his expression.
"Better not do that again, Mike, or next time I'll use MUSTARD!" I tell him between giggles as he climbs out of the pool and tries to grab me to throw me in.
I wasn't about to let that happen, so I sprint around the pool, making sure that he's right where I want him before shoving him in again.
Diana, TN and Zoi all show up then in bathing suits, Kunz and Don following, unable to take their eyes off of their significant others.
I notice something about Zoi.
Is she...? She looks like she might be in the beginning...
"ACK!"
SPLASH!!
I didn't even notice Mikey coming up behind me! I think as I resurface.
I flip my wet hair back, running my hands over it, noticing everyone else had joined us.
"Geezum...am I ever improperly dressed..." I say, trailing off when I see Neph in a speedo.
WHOA BOY!!! Hormones on overload!!
I pull myself out of the pool, acutely aware of my clothing clinging to my body...and worse yet...I'm cold. It's really quite obvious.
I feel Neph's eyes on me and say in a rush, "I think I'll just go change into something a little more appropriate!"
I flush in embarrassment as I flee the scene.
I grab the first bathing suit my hand encounters, a little metallic black bikini.
Oooohh boy...Neph's gonna LOVE this number, I think to myself as I put it on.
As I'm fastening the top, I frown, feeling as if someone is in the room with me.
"Hello? If you're here, you'd best come out," I say, unsheathing my claws.
Nothing. No answer whatsoever.
I activate my Sight and the world turns into nothing but gracefully flowing energy patterns, mind blowing until you get used to it.
I don't see anything that stands out and figure I'm just being paranoid.
I shrug and head off to
the pool, unable to shake the feeling of being watched and having no way to know
that the shadows themselves have been watching me.
Part VIII
Part X
Meetings Index