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“I’m not so sure about this dress.” Nanako kept looking at herself in the full-body mirror in their hotel room. She was wearing a peach strapless bodycon. If you asked Kiriko, she looked perfect in anything she wore. “What do you think?” She turned around to look at the redhead woman sitting on the bed with her legs spread and drinking from a can of beer.
“You always look gorgeous, Nana.” She blurted.
“Oh you.” Nanako waved her off and turned back, but Kiriko could still see her blush in the mirror. “It’s just that it feels too formal. I think it’s too much for a club.”
“Why did you bring it anyway?”
“I figured that with Sakurayashiki-san’s style, we’d end up attending some formal dinner.”
Kaoru had been the begrudging sponsor for their little weekend escapade. He and Kojiro were supposed to come, but they got sick at the last moment and it was too late to cancel and get their deposit back. So he offered Kiriko to take his place instead, and the redhead didn’t hesitate to invite Nanako to come along. They both had been working too hard and were in great need of a break. Also, she thought that maybe if they were away, they could finally seal the deal.
Kiriko had loved every single moment of their little trip. Because of their crazy schedules, they barely got to see each other. Kiriko visited the hospital whenever she could, and when she wasn’t working night shifts, Nanako would invite Kiriko over for coffee or dinner, but mostly they talked on the phone late at night. And it was fine, heck It wouldn’t matter if all they did was sat on the curb of a parking lot and ate junk food like teenagers. As long as she was with Nanako, it didn’t matter.
But this time, she got to spend three whole days just the two of them. The cop was elated. Especially, she loved to see this more carefree side of Nanako. She was so used to taking care of everyone, it was great to see her relax and let go. They flirt more freely, not worried about who could hear, teased each other, and just had so much fun together. They’d gone to the beach, where Kiriko shamelessly stared at Nanako’s bikini, ate delicious food, and took great advantage of the free bar. Even quite literally sleeping with her was magical.
“I wasn’t expecting that you’d suggest going to a club out of all places.” Nanako brought her back from her thoughts.
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to” She quickly reassured her. A night out dancing and drinking with Nanako looking stunning, or staying in and maybe visiting the hot tub or watching movies while asking for room service, wearing robes and facial masks, it was all the same for her. She just wanted to be with Nanako.
“I do want to!” She insisted. “It’s just… I haven’t been to a club in years.” She confessed.
“Oh.” It’s not like Kiriko goes to clubs daily, her full-time job wouldn’t allow that. In fact, she hasn’t been to one in months. But before meeting and falling for Nanako, she did frequent them regularly, either with dates or to pick up women. She supposes it’s harder when you also have to take care of a family.
“Yeah. It’s not like I had a lot of time while having a job at a hospital, spending time with my former husband, and being a full-time mom. And then after Oliver passed, I had even less time. ” She put her hands on her face and groaned. “Ugh. I sound like one of those boring moms. I assure you I wasn’t like that.”
Kiriko chuckled. “I know you are more than just a wife or a mom, Nana. You are a badass. But we also know a day only has so many hours. I’m not judging you.”
“You don’t think I’ll look out of place?” Kiriko understood what she meant, it wasn’t the dress but her age. It was unusual for Nanako to be this insecure. Kiriko admires how strong she is, yet she appreciates that she feels like she can let her walls down with the redhead. If it weren’t for her seventeen year old, Kiriko wouldn’t notice that Nanako was almost a decade older than her. Because it didn’t matter. Stupid 20 year olds thought that life ended at 30, but meeting Nanako taught her it’s just starting.
“Hey” Kiriko had stood up and approached her. She placed her hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in those chocolate ponds. “You look amazing. Everyone in that club will turn around and stare at the marvelous woman that you are. You’ll fit right in.”
Nanako gave her one of her warmest smiles. Kiriko was addicted to them and took pride in being the cause of them. With how much joy Nanako brought into her life, it was only fair that she did the same.
“I have an idea” Kiriko went to search for something in her luggage. “Here” She handed Nanako her leather jacket. “It’ll make the dress look less formal and you’ll look even more badass.”
“What happened to no one touches my leather jacket? Are you going soft on me, Kamata?” She teased.
“I guess I can make an exception.” Kiriko pretended to be annoyed by it, but in reality, she loved to see Nanako put on her jacket.
“All right, I’m ready.” Nanako finished her outfit by putting on her black stilettos and for the accessories, she went with three tiny studs on each ear, a golden necklace with a heart locket, and a gold cuff bracelet. “What about you?”
“Um…I’m ready?” She looked down at her outfit. She was wearing a cherry red short-sleeved t-shirt, with the first three buttons unbuttoned, tucked inside black jeans held by a leather belt with a golden buckle, and black slip-ons. A gold chain adorned her neck, gold cross dangle earrings hung from her ears, and she wore a black watch, a woven leather bracelet, and a couple of golden rings. She thought she looked more than fine.
“You are not wearing any makeup other than your lipstick.”
“That’s bold coming from you! You never even wear it.”
“Because it’s the hospital’s policy. But aren’t we here to forget about the world? Come on, at least let me do your eyes” She made puppy eyes at her and that was it for Kiriko.
“Fine” she relented.
“Come here.” Nanako grabbed her wrist and lead her to sit down at a chair near a desk where all of Nanako’s makeup was. Kiriko thought they were at an adequate angle and height difference, but Nanako didn’t like it. So she sat between Kiriko’s legs, and immediately the redhead wrapped her arms around her waist, for security reasons of course.
“Hey” She said in a low whisper.
“Hey there. Now don’t move, I don’t want you to look like a clown. You are too pretty for that.” She chuckled at the redness in Kiriko’s face.
Nanako worked slowly and with so much care. She mixed a sparky red with black for her eyeshadow and then defined it with a red cat eyeline. Kiriko let her add sparkles to her cheeks. She could’ve been bold and kissed her right there. They were so close, that she could feel Nanako’s breath. But she didn’t want to risk ruining her work.
“All done.” Nanako took her chin and turned her so that she could see herself in the mirror. “My pretty girl” Kiriko’s blush deepened. “Here, let’s take a picture.” She hopped off Kiriko’s lap and went to retrieve her phone from her purse. They took several pictures in the mirror, and for the last one, she kissed Kiriko’s cheek.
That woman was going to end her.
The club was as expected. Loud and full of alcohol. It was illuminated with neon lights that alternated the color and a chandelier at the center of the dance floor. At the back were three huge screens projecting the colorful logo of the place. They were playing popular pop songs while tons of people danced close to each other.
“I’m going to go get us some drinks” Kiriko shouted over the music, a song about making love through telepathy was playing. Nanako nodded and Kiriko left for the bar.
Nanako could feel the stare of some guys over her. She chuckled at the milf comments she overheard, from kids her sons' age. She was hot and she knew it, but she had no interest in that. Her eyes were set on a certain redhead. Taking advantage of the fact that Kiriko wasn’t around, Nanako took the lapel of the jacket and sniffed, taking in Kiriko’s soothing scent.
When Kiriko invited her on the trip, Nanako had no choice but to accept. She’d been so tired lately and she knew that Kiriko was too. The redhead had been so stressed out about a couple of cases turning to dead ends. And even so, she still found time to be with Nanako. Other than being with Langa, the time that she spent with Kiriko was the recharge that she needed. If only either of them would dare to make a move…
When a song that Nanako loved started playing, she danced to the music. She’d missed this so much! Her friends back in Canada were great, but they were stuck in their suburban mom lifestyle. She sometimes went dancing with Oliver, but most of the time they were just too busy and had no one to leave Langa with. They had fun in their own way, but Nanako liked this too and loved all that she did with Kiriko. Whenever she was with her, she felt free.
Nanako’s thoughts were interrupted when a guy approached her. “Hey beautiful,” He said smoothly. He started dancing next to her but Nanako stopped and took a step further from him.
“Hi” She answered kindly but cautious.
“I saw you from back there” He motioned to a table where other guys were staring at them. “And I couldn’t help but think I was watching an angel dance.”
“That’s cute,” Nanako said dismissively.
“What do you say if we take this to the dance floor?” He said confident and oblivious.
“Oh, I’m sorry, but I’m waiting for someone.”
“So? Ditch them. I bet you’ll have a better time with me.”
“Thank you, but no.” She said more firmly this time.
“Come on” He insisted. “At least let me buy you a drink, baby”
“No. And please don’t call me baby.” Nanako started to leave but the guy caught her wrist.
“Why not, sweetheart? We’ll have so much fun, give me a chance.”
“I already told you I’m not interested.” He held tight to her wrist. “Let go.”
“One dance, buttercup, you won’t regret it.”
Before Nanako could protest again, someone called them from behind. “She told you to back off”. Kiriko was behind them holding two glasses, they looked dangerously close to breaking. She had a murderous look.
The guy didn’t even look at her. He just laughed it off. “We are a little bit busy, pumpkin. Come back to my table, love. I’ll take care of you as you deserve.”
Kiriko left the glasses on a table nearby and grabbed him by the shoulder, pushing him away from Nanako. “Back. Off.” She was pissed off, it was clear in her tone and her deathly glare.
“Don’t get jealous, sweetheart. We’ll find someone for you too. But first I’ll dance with your friend.” He tried to push her away, but Kiriko stood her ground.
“That’s my woman!” She practically growled, sending a shill through Nanako’s spine.
“What?”
My woman
Kiriko put her arm around Nanako’s shoulders and grabbed her hand tightly, not enough to hurt but to prove her point. “She’s with me. Now back off before I punch some common decency into you.”
“Pfft. I don’t believe you.”
“Oh? Is your tiny brain too slow to process it? She’s my girlfriend.” She said as if talking to a small child.
“Yeah? Then why didn’t she say that before? Proof or I don’t believe you.” He crossed his arms.
“We are not here to give you a show, dickhead.”
“Because you are lying.” This guy had no intention of leaving. “Come on, baby, stop playing hard to get.”
The gall of this guy! Nanako had enough. She turned around to face Kiriko, grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, and crashed their lips together. Kiriko was surprised at first, but soon she joined in the kiss. She held Nanako by her waist and she wrapped her arms around the redhead's neck. The kiss was open-mouthed, hungry, and everything she had been waiting for.
When they had to gasp for air, Nanako saw a sly smile on Kiriko’s face. They were both breathing hard. Kiriko leaned in and pressed their foreheads together. They had both forgotten about the guy until they heard him scoff.
Nanako grabbed Kiriko’s hand again and held her in front of the guy. “Need any more proof?”
“Ugh, what a waste!” He turned around and went to join his friends, who were clapping and cheering. What a bunch of pigs.
“Thanks for that.”
“Anytime.” Kiriko blurted. “Er, I mean no problem!” Nanako laughed at how flustered she got. “But seriously what an asshole. If you say you are not interested, you are not interested. You shouldn’t need to pretend to be in a relationship for him to back away.”
“Yeah” She agreed. “But thanks anyway.” She smiled softly. “Let’s dance” She took them to the dance floor, still holding Kiriko’s hand.
Nanako couldn’t stop thinking about the taste of Kiriko’s lips on her. The murderous look she had was driving her insane. Even if the guy had long been forgotten, Kiriko still held Nanako close while they danced, always touching her somehow, mostly by a hand on her waist. She wasn’t letting anyone get close to her. If someone even dared look at her, Kiriko gave them a death glare that made them piss their pants and walk away.
They kept kissing. Whenever some dude felt bold enough to approach them, Kiriko cupped her cheeks and kissed her again. Always giving her the chance to back away and asking for consent. As if Nanako would ever deny her.
When they danced, they go lost in the music and in each other. They could feel each other’s sweat running through their skin after so much exercise. Nanako thought about taking the jacket off, it was getting hot in there, but she couldn’t bare the thought of leaving it. She could feel Kiriko’s breaths and all she saw was her. They were the only ones that mattered. She couldn’t ask for more, even if it was all to pretend that they were dating to not have guys bothering them.
After a while, she noticed no one was approaching them anymore, and she couldn’t help but wonder why Kiriko kept the act. She remembered the look in her eyes when she caught them, murderous and…possessive. She was jealous!
“Hey” Kiriko gave her a grunt. “Not that I’m complaining, but that guy’s gone. Why do you keep acting like we are together?”
“Um…” The color left Kiriko’s face. “I-I just didn’t want for another annoying guy to approach you. Sorry! Maybe you wanted to score someone tonight.”
“Are you sure is that?” She asked with a cheeky smile.
“Yeah?”
“Are you sure you are not jealous?” She teased.
“Me? Why would I be jealous?”
“Come on, Kiri,” She said sweetly. “I saw the way you looked at that guy. Like you wanted to tear him apart just for touching me.”
“He was disrespecting you!”
“I know. But you didn’t have to do that. Admit it, you went into a jealous fit.”
“So what about it?”
“Huh?”
“What if I say I was jealous? What if I never want to see you with another guy?” She locked eyes with her. There was a fire in those purple gems. “What if I don’t want this to end? Is that all right, Nana?”
In lieu of an answer, Nanako kissed her again. This time more slowly, but with the same passion as the other times. “Let’s get out of here.”
When they got back to the hotel, they claimed each other once more. Nanako showed Kiriko that she takes care of people in all ways and Kiriko had no problem giving her control. As long as she was hers, it was all right. Later in the morning, she’d tease her more for being a jelly baby, but at that moment, all she cared about was getting lost in those purple gems.