Disclaimer: My story. Got it? Okay. Oh, and the last line in the first paragraph is from "It's In His Kiss (The Shoop-Shoop Song)", most recently done by Cher. It's not mine, and yes, it's used without permission. Please don't sue me..I love the song! :-)
Ikimashou!
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Chapter Six - Like Mother, Like Daughters
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It took some time for Misaki to wash herself and finally get into the tub... She was lost in the kiss given to her by Alexa. It wasn't that she didn't want it--she was the one who tried to kiss her before the redhead left the bathroom. It was the hesitation Alexa displayed before she suddenly turned and kissed Misaki that had the brunette so vexed. "What is going on inside her? Why did she back away, only to kiss me? And what happens in her dreams that is so troubling to her in this world?" Misaki had way too many questions floating around in her mind about the prophetess, but one thing was clear: she loved the woman, and the woman loved her. It was like the old song said--"If you wanna know, if she loves you so, it's in her kiss."
Misaki let all the worries leave her mind, and thought only of the kiss, and only of the way it felt to hold the nearly-naked seer close to her. She imagined herself sharing the bath with Alexa, the water caressing her lithe body the way the redhead would if she were here. Touching her in places that only she knew existed, in ways only she knew how. She thought of Alexa, and the many lifetimes of experience the woman must have had, and smiled broadly at the prospect of being the recipient of such experience.
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"Why would you want to know about our mother?" Kurumi asked. "Did you know her?"
"You could say that," Alexa replied. She couldn't tell her the truth without divulging more than the reporter really needed to know. "I...I just want to find out a little more about you two."
Kurumi was openly skeptical. "How does asking about our mother give you information about us?"
"Simple, silly," Alexa grinned. "Haven't you ever heard the expression, 'like mother, like daughter'?" She leaned against the headboard of Misaki's bed and gave her arms a good long stretch upward. She stopped to notice Kurumi was staring at her large breasts. "In case you're wondering," she purred, pushing her chest out for closer inspection. "They're real. Wanna see for yourself?" Alexa knew Kurumi wouldn't touch her, but getting a rise out of her was fun--it also kept the raven-haired journalist off-balance.
"I--they--er, I mean, I..." Kurumi sputtered, then shook her head to clear the odd thoughts pushing their way in to her head. "I'm sorry, Alexa-chan," she said with an embarrassed bow. "I shouldn't have done that."
Alexa waved her off. "Don't worry about it. I get that often...from men and women. You're only human." The redhead smiled to herself, remembering Yume doing the exact same thing so many years ago. She had to make sure not to mention things like that to Kurumi, though. "What was your mother like, Kurumi-chan?"
Kurumi blushed at the upgrade in her honorific. "Well, she was an elementary school teacher. I'd say she was one of the best, but I'd be biased. All the kids loved her, and she loved them. She was very kind, soft-spoken like Misaki-chan, but she was very determined when she had to be. I guess that's where I get it from." Kurumi paused for a moment. "You know how kids always say their mom is beautiful? Well, my mom is...was very beautiful. Inside and out."
Alexa watched the emotions change on the other woman's face like clouds passing the sun. One moment she would be smiling nostalgically at something, only to be on the verge of tears soon afterward. Alexa has lost her own mother so long ago she had forgotten how, or even how she felt about it.
"I'm sorry if I'm hurting you, Kurumi-chan." Alexa lifted Kurumi face to see tears had found their way down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to--"
"No, it's alright. I loved her, we both did, and it's been so hard without her. She died twelve years ago, as Misaki was just starting school. We stayed with aunts and uncles until we were old enough to claim this house. My father--no, Misaki's father--was smart enough to leave a lot of money in trust for us. He was an investment banker and we all lived pretty comfortably. He even put up college funds for us both. He was a kind man, a bit on the serious side, but that's what my mother loved about him. She knew he was dependable, and that he loved her. She never wanted more than that.'
'How true that was,' Alexa said inwardly. Yume never wanted more than that from her, but dependability was something Alexa couldn't give...she felt it wasn't hers to give, that fate would not let her stay by Yume's side, and that someone else would make her happy. Now that she knew the vision was a lie, that she really could have stayed by Yume's side, Alexa allowed herself a few tears for her own misfortune.
"Are you okay, Alexa-chan?" Kurumi asked.
"Sorry...I'm a sucker for romance," Alexa replied, trying her best to cover her own feelings. "I guess you both are the same way when it comes to love, huh?"
"Well," Kurumi thought, placing a finger to her chin. "I'm more high-strung and high maintenance than Misaki-chan. But I guess you're right. Misaki's only been in a couple of relationships before, but she's been very loyal and loves deeply. If that's what you're asking. She doesn't get psychotic about it, though. She just hasn't met anyone who loves the way she does. Until now, maybe..."
Alexa smiled. "And what about you? Are you very loyal in your relationships?" She leaned close to the reporter's face, making sure not to break eye contact with her.
Kurumi felt uncomfortable with the question, and even more so when Alexa's emerald eyes met her onyx ones. Kurumi tried to answer the woman's question, but she was having way too much fun swimming in the depths of Alexa's eyes. She had to get closer, and deeper into them. Soon she felt the redhead's breath on her lips, and felt an urge to caress those lips with her own.
"Getting to know each other a little better, I see."
"AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEE!!" Kurumi was so startled, she probably set a sitting high jump record. Both women turned to see Misaki standing in the doorway, arms crossed over her toweled body. "It--it wasn't what it looks like, Misaki-chan! Really!! I wasn't going to--I mean, we weren't going to..."
Misaki watched Alexa giggling, and knew what she was up to. "I will let it slide this time," she said, shaking her finger at her sister. "But do not let it happen again! She is mine, not yours!" She walked over and grabbed a pillow. "Now get out before I beat the hormones out of you!" She watched as Kurumi scurried out of the room. She closed the door behind her, sat down on her bed next to Alexa, and the two women broke out in hysterical laughter.
"You really should not do that to her, Alexa-chan!" Misaki finally caught her breath and allowed herself to be cradled in Alexa's arms. "She might take you seriously."
"Nah, she's got someone, so she'll keep her hands to herself. Besides, she knows we're together, and I seriously doubt she'll do anything to hurt you." Alexa kissed the top of Misaki's damp head. "Are you jealous?"
"If it were anyone else, I would be. But I know you are only kidding with her, so I have no need to worry." She paused and looked up at her girlfriend. "Do I?"
Alexa answered with her tongue tracing the outline of the smaller girl's lips before pushing its way into her mouth. That was a good enough answer for Misaki.
Back in her own room, Kurumi slumped on her bed. "It's a good thing I'm going back to work tomorrow...I don't think I can take any more of this!" She laid back and felt her lips.
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Artemis strode through the marble-columned halls of the Court with a sense of purpose. Her petition to the rest of the Twelve would be heard today, and they were going to do something about her twin brother.
"Off to stoke a fire now, are we?"
The voice stopped Artemis in her tracks. To her left, a figure dressed in a slinky yet garishly colored leather jumpsuit emerged from behind a column. "Y'know, you could just turn me loose on him. I'm sure I can...keep him busy!" Her voice was cool and leering, and to a lesser person than a god or goddess, very unsettling.
"That will not be necessary, Eris," Artemis answered, not the least bit flustered. "I will be doing this the right way. Besides, your methods always end up in disaster."
"Awwww...What fun is being the goddess of discord and strife if you can't cause any, eh?" She walked up to the other goddess and the two headed for the Court.
"They will not admit you, so I see no reason for you to accompany me."
"Oh, I'm not going in." The spiky-haired brunette said. "I just want to see who's in on this deal...and what trouble I can cause."
"The last time you were there, you started the Trojan War." Both women turned to see Ares approaching. In his usual blood-stained armor and smelling of rotted flesh, he was the personification of war. "Granted, it was a lot of fun, but I don't think the rest of the group want anything like that on their hands."
"Ares!!" Eris jumped in her brother's arms. "You smell wonderful! Still having fun in Persia?"
The god of war rolled his eyes. "When was the last time you even saw a map, Eris? It's called Iraq now." He dropped his sister unceremoniously and sidled up to Artemis. "So, Bambi, what about we have a little fun before the show starts, eh?"
Artemis turned her nose up at him, more from the use of the crude nickname than from his stench. "I'd sleep with Cerberus first."
"I'm a better lover, but if you're into bestiality, well..." Ares' attention was taken by the approach of Aphrodite, who was being swarmed by her usual entourage, the Graces. She had a large golden collar around her neck with a chain trailing from it. The chain led to the brutish Hephaestus, who held it tightly in one hand, while holding his blacksmith's hammer in the other.
"Still won't let that one go, will he?", Ares sighed. "It was only one time!"
"For you and her, maybe, but as you know, she isn't exactly into monogamy...." Artemis followed the contingent into the Court.
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The room was cavernous; a large hall with rows of mahogany pews and brightly-lit torches. At the back end of the room, on what appeared to be a stage, sat three tables set up in a inverted-V pattern. Six high-backed chairs sat on either side, with a larger, more ornate throne at the center..
Artemis' group were the last to arrive, and so they took their seats at one end the table, with Zeus himself at the apex. She, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena and Hestia sat to Zeus' left; while his wife Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hermes and Ares were to his right. In the center of the arrangement stood an empty podium.
"Now that we're all here," Zeus bellowed, "we can get started. That is, unless anyone has any objections."
Aphrodite lifted her head to speak, but Hephaestus yanked the chain around her neck, incurring a dirty look from the beautiful goddess. "Fine, fine...I won't bring it up."
Zeus stood from the great throne. "Good. Now let us begin. The case of Apollo and Cassandra will be heard and judged. I expect a fair judgment, not a biased one." He motioned to Artemis to begin the proceedings.
The goddess stood at the podium. "Fellow Olympians. I am sure you are aware of the circumstances involving Cassandra and our Apollo, my brother. Some of you may know the unfair deal he has offered to her. I wish to petition his deal null and void." She paused expecting a response, but none came. "As recompense for her suffering at the hands of my brother and others, I further petition to endow Cassandra and her herald Misaki with the titles of 'demi-goddesses'."
That got a response.
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End of Chapter Six
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