Author: Alex Cartwright <alexl_cartwright@yahoo.com>

Pairing: Storm/Yukio

Rating: R

It has been two weeks since I traveled to Tokyo to complete an assignment. Instead of achieving my objective, apprehending an extra- dimensional slave trader, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. I experienced sensations and feelings never known to me during all my years as an X-Man. For the first time, I knew the thrill and adrenaline of being challenged. I used my powers and abilities not to defend some intangible ideal, but to satisfy the faceless people's screams and cheers.

And I loved every minute of it.

Control. It was a word I have been acquainted with for so long. Because my powers are linked to my emotions, I've been forced to exert a great deal of restraint. Over the years, I've grown used to it, but there were times when I wanted to throw caution to the wind and be free. At the arena, I thought I found it as a champion. I was allowed to act on my primitive instincts. There was no need to be rational or think deeply about the consequences. I didn't have to worry about holding myself back. After all, I was fighting for my life, for my very survival.

But soon, I realized that the arena and the life that came with it were not as attractive as I first thought. There was a price to pay for it all. Underneath the glamour of being the arena's champion was something sinister. My fortune turned as a result, and I found myself battling an internal battle.

Complicating things further was the involvement of an enemy, Masque. It turned out he set up the arena as a trap for me and I fell into it all too willingly. Not only I had a become Masque's temporary captive, I became one to the arena. My will and my body were no longer my own. At one point, I feared I was losing myself. I was not Ororo Munroe or Storm, but some...thing to be broken and beaten into submission. It was this that instilled a great sense of terror and rage inside of me. Gone was the freedom I thought I gained. I wanted to lash out.

But I did not. This time, control prevailed. I handled Masque and my rage in my usual cool and thoughtful manner. However, it was not the way I wanted to prevail. I still longed for more. I wanted to feel alive.

Unfortunately, sparring was not an option. As of tonight, management of the arena fell to Callisto. My friend and former adversary pledged to make it a safe haven for mutants. A former champion of the arena herself, she seemed like the perfect person to see this dream through.

This brings me to where I am now, walking with Yukio on the streets of downtown Tokyo. We are walking back from the arena, both of us having grown weary as a result of our involvement there. Like me, she is physically and mentally drained from the experience. Her eyes, usually so full of light, are not twinkling as much as they usually do. She is also still wearing a bandage around her throat. It is from where I cut her as a part of my plan to deceive Masque about my obedience. I still feel guilty every time I look.

Suddenly, my friend's mood lightens. "We should do something different," she says, onyx eyes recapturing their trademark sparkle.

I turn to her and run my fingers through my white locks, which are now past my shoulders thanks to Masque's interventions. "I actually kind of like my hair like this," I tell her with a smile, referring to our first meeting when I was inspired to get a Mohawk.

My little ronin laughs, a light sound that makes her glow. "No, I wasn't talking about that," she replies. Then she wags her brows suggestively. "Besides, I like your hair, too."

Suddenly, I blush. "Thank you," I murmur. My tension has disappeared. Now, it's replaced by something else; something that I have felt before when I was with her.

Before I can reflect and ponder my emotions, she speaks again. "I was thinking about taking you to my other apartment."

I'm surprised. She has never mentioned this to me before. "You have another one?" I ask.

Yukio shrugs, peeling off her fingerless, magenta gloves and throwing them into a nearby trashcan. They are torn and bloody from our fight with Masque. "When you're in my line of work, you gotta have another base of operations." Then she adds, "It helps when I get bored, too."

"What do you mean?" I inquire with wide eyes.

Her face becomes uncharacteristically serious. It scares me, but I am compelled to look. She is so beautiful.

With a deep breath, she says in a low, quiet voice, "I think about you sometimes when I'm alone in my other apartment."

I dare to ask another question as we are nearing a row of restaurants and sake bars. "What exactly?"

"Like about the crazy time we had when you came here."

"Yes, that was quite an experience."

"It was. Betcha haven't had as good of a time since."

"Well, it is hard to argue you with there."

"Hah! I rule."

"I have to admit it was a trip filled with firsts for me."

"Yeah, who knew there was a wild woman within the goddess?"

"Apparently, you did. You were the one who encouraged me. I mean, I would not have done the things I did if it had not been for you."

"You're sayin' that like it's a bad thing, Ro."

"No, I am not. I mean, the hair, the clothes..."

"And us."

It is then that I stop in my tracks. I am shivering, but I have not summoned any winds and the air is not cold. My response is from a memory of another first. Like the other changes I experienced, it left a profound effect on me. I learned about letting myself go in a completely different way; one that aroused a stirring of feelings and sensations I didn't realize were possible.

My hand travels to my mouth as if to stifle the moan that wants to escape from me. Images of Yukio's sleek, muscular body flash through my mind. I remember my wonderment and ecstasy. I remember her mischievous mouth and her skilled hands between my legs. I remember my crying out to the skies above as she stayed with me, never allowing me to come down until I was ready.

Sensing my recollection, Yukio stares deeply into my eyes and moves my hand away from my lips. Even though she is inches shorter than me, her gaze renders me weak. I am captivated by the darkness and twinkle in those onyx depths. This only serves to intensify my feelings.

Finally, she says huskily, "That night was incredible. Ro, you were incredible."

"You really think about it?" I am still in shock and disbelief. Surely, there must have been someone else after me, if not others. It was hard to imagine Yukio, gorgeous as she is, not being with anyone. I am suddenly jealous as the last thought races through my head. Quickly, I remind myself that I have no right to be. We had both agreed that parting was best. There was too much going on in our respective lives to start anything.

She nods earnestly. "No one's managed to compare to you," she says and swallows hard. "I keep looking for someone to make me feel the way you did. Nothing. Zip."

I am stunned. For a moment, I cannot speak or draw breath. It is hard to articulate what is going through my mind. All I know is that her words have ventured beyond my ears, as if seeping through my skin and settling inside me.

"Ro?" She looks up at me, her impish face congruent with the intensity of the confession she has just made. It's as if her words triggered a similar response.

My mouth is dry and my throat is so tight I can hardly breathe. But somehow, I manage to speak. "I-I never knew," I whisper, still overcome with what it is brewing within me. All this time, was she saying what I thought she was? I shiver with anticipation upon her reply.

A gentle breeze brushes her bangs from her smooth forehead. She smiles at me. "You?" she inquires.

I stare at her blankly because I am not sure. At this moment, any semblance of rational thought has departed. I am strictly operating on my excitement. My lower lip quivers as I wait for her talk.

Yukio studies me with affectionate and admiring eyes. "It was one of the best nights of my life," she says softly.

"Really?" My heart skips a beat and my stomach turns inside.

"Really," she affirms, still holding my hand and giving it a squeeze.

I am breathing harshly now, my shoulders heaving with each inhale and exhale. All of this is so familiar, but it's like the first time I met her. In spite of the years that passed since, I still find myself intrigued by her. I am drawn to her light, her zest and passion for life, and her loyalty.

Most of all, I am attracted to her lips, which look like two ripe cherries sitting on top of one another.

It is then I realize that I am feeling something else besides my desire. My nerves are excited, pulsating through my skin. I can feel my hands shake. My heart is racing and threatening to jump out of my chest. Yes, this is definitely something else.

Hunger.

I grab her hand and pull her into a nearby alley between a bar and a McDonald's. My hands reach out and grab her waist as I plant my mouth over hers in what is at first, a timid kiss. Her surprise melts away as she pulls me closer to her. She slips her tongue past my lips and into my mouth. I find myself being pressed against the brick wall.

Yukio draws back for a breath and smiles up at me. "I had forgotten how sweet your mouth is," she murmurs dreamily. Her hands push up the green bandeau top I am wearing, baring my breasts. Small, calloused fingers trace over my hard nipples.

I stifle a moan, still aware that we are out in public and that anyone could walk in on us. Desperate to mask this noise, I lean towards her and begin suckling on her neck, making sure to avoid the cut around her throat. She sighs in my ear and I am suddenly eager for more. My hand drops to the hem of her black-and-red ballet skirt, pushing it up. I tug her fishnet stockings down her hips slightly.

This elicits a shudder from her.

Her panties are already soaked. I circle her clit with my finger. My nostrils can detect the earthy scent of her arousal. Never have I smelled anything so wonderful.

Just as she is hard enough to come, she shoves her hand down the front of my pink bellbottoms. Her fingers imitate my rhythm. In response, I spread my legs further apart. My breathing is now shallow and I lose focus on touching her. I am consumed by the tightening coil in my belly, signaling the journey towards ecstasy.

Then I go blind. My head spins. It is as if time is standing still. Spent, I press the back of my head against the brick wall behind me.

Yukio grins as I lean against the wall. She places her other hand over mine, which is still buried between her legs. There is no need for words as she guides my fingers to rubbing her. I follow her lead and soon, I am jerking her off once again.

She whimpers softly. This time, she is the one losing control and her hand slides out of my pants. Her fingers are gleaming with my wetness. To keep herself from moaning, she slips them into her mouth.

I am flushed and dizzy. But I don't stop. I want more. I want her to come. I want to show her how much I share her feelings. My fingers push her panties to the side to get to her clit. I keep caressing that little nub until my little ronin reaches her height of pleasure. She buries her face into my shoulder, still suckling her fingers and sweating profusely. I pull my hand out and wrap an arm around her. My other hand strokes her head gently. I think I murmur something, but I'm not sure what.

After several minutes of holding each other, Yukio pulls away. She plants a kiss on my chin. Her face is still glowing in the wake of what has just happened. "That was..."

"Incredible?" I finish with a laugh and nuzzle her neck.

She joins in my laughter. "Yeah, you said it." Then with an impish grin, she drops to her knees.

My brows furrow together as I stare at her in puzzlement. "What are you doing?"

Her hands are starting to unbutton my pants. "Turnabout is fair play," she says, winking at me. "I want a better a taste of you, baby."

As much as I want this, I hesitate. My mind is reeling from her poignant words. There was so much passion, so much want that fueled them. To act on these words and to make love in this back alley only served to cheapen their meaning.

"Not here," I gasp, firmly grasping her small wrists and pulling her to her feet.

Her almond-shaped eyes are alarmed. "Why not?" she asks, her voice wavering as if she were afraid of being rejected.

I ease her troubled mind by kissing her mouth lightly. "Because I want tonight to be as special as the first time was," I tell her, cupping her face in my cool hands. "Those old memories you think about... We should replace them."

"With new ones," she says, clarifying my intent. "It'll be like a date?" Clearly, the idea intrigues her.

"Yes," I say, smiling broadly as we straighten out our clothes. "Like a date."

Yukio suggest we do take out, so we go to a place she knows that's open late night. Her friend, the owner of the restaurant, is a chubby, balding man with a rolling gait. He waves to her as soon as we walk in. Yukio shakes his hand and speaks to him in Japanese. We order only seafood dishes: squid in garlic sauce, stewed prawns, black bass stuffed with oysters, and sea urchins. He scurries into the kitchen, which is located behind a beaded curtain. Within a matter of minutes, he returns with our food. As he packs the container in a paper bag, Yukio tells him to put the bill on her tab. He laughs and replies to her quickly. The only word I recognize is 'favorite'.

We say nothing on the walk to Yukio's new apartment. However, it's clear that both of us are eager to get there. Fortunately, Yukio tells me that her building is a block away from the restaurant. Our steps are quick, but steady. We both want this to be right. As we both agreed, tonight was going to be an opportunity for new memories.

It is a brown building with an elevator that goes from the twelfth to the fourteenth floor, which is where Yukio lives. We walk down a long hallway until reaching a single steel door. In a low voice, she tells me that this is it.

This is it.

She fishes her key from her wristlet and then unlocks the door. I follow her inside. I am overwhelmed by what first meets my eyes. The foyer is high-ceilinged and narrowed. In place of traditional overhead lighting, there is a spotlight with a mobile with two blue and yellow birds on a tinkling wire. The floor is a mosaic of bright tiles in a pattern to resemble a silver seahorse ringed with nautilus shells.

Yukio leads me into a large room furnished in Japanese style, with black floor mats, low lacquered furniture trimmed in silver, and several subdivisions set off by panels of rice papers. On the panels are ink drawings of seahorses. There are two wide windows filled with small hexagonal panels, which faced east and south. To the right, there is an imposing black screen of eight panels, on which a deer was depicted progressively running through a forest. In the last panel, there is a shadow of its pursuer visible: a large panther. On the mantelpiece of the black marble fireplace are a collection of jade figurines representing stock characters from the Noh Theater. Along the far wall are potted plants with black, rubbery leaves that surround a white porcelain bust of a woman's head. Her eyes are blank and gaping and her lips are curled back in a snarl. It reminds me of Medusa, but her head is covered with a swarm of bees that are delicately rendered.

What dominates the room is an enormous, brightly lit aquarium that is at least several gallons, very wide and about five feet deep. As I near it, I observe that it is a diorama of the room I was standing in. A single fish glides in the water slowly. It is large, but sleek and has pure white eyes that contrast against its pink gills.

Yukio makes her way to the kitchen at the other end of the room and I follow her with our dinner. "What do you think?" she asks, already aware of my answer and taking out plates and chopsticks for us to eat with.

I watch her place them on a black tray. "How did you get this apartment?" I ask.

She adds a set of shot glasses to the tray. "I did some freelance work for this businessman," she says, grabbing a bottle of pepper vodka from the freezer. "He liked what I did, so voila!"

I grin. Her veiled reference to her former life as an assassin tickled me. Then I help to prepare condiments in bowls the size of silver dollars, such as shredded ginger, dried bonito strips, assorted pickles, and minced hot peppers. When we finish, I let Yukio lead me down an L-shaped corridor into another room. The walls were draped with black silk and the floor was deeply carpeted. Together, we dine on our feast. The food is delicious—nice and crisp, cooked in little oil. In between bites and shots of pepper vodka, we get the chance to catch up on some gossip. I tell her about the team I am leading. She listens enthusiastically and then proudly brags about a recovering Amiko, who has just received a full scholarship to Oxford. I make a note to let Logan know, who will no doubt be proud.

As I down my fourth shot, Yukio stands up. She is smiling and motions for me to follow her lead. When I rise to my feet, she takes my hand in hers. I am light-headed from a combination of the alcohol and anticipation of what is to come. But she steadies me.

"Now, for dessert," she says, pulling me towards a pair of identical doors that are side by side and on the same wall. They are padded in leather and had gold lever handles.

With a jerking motion, she opens the door. Then she leans towards me, tapping a finger against my lower lip. "Wait here."

Before I can ask what she means, she slips away. As I wait for her, my brain is filled with thoughts of me touching and tasting Yukio. The images are vivid and intense, stirring feelings of longing and lust inside me.

Suddenly, the door opens and Yukio appears, smiling with sparkling onyx eyes. She takes my hand in her small one and says, "Come with me, goddess."

The room we enter is at least ten degrees warmer than the rest of the loft. Yukio flicks on a wall switch. Inside, there is a Jacuzzi, which is already bubbling with water. Hanging over the tub are two silk kimonos. One is red and small enough to fit her, while the other one is blue and appears to fit me. At the other end of the room is a round bed, dressed in white satin sheets.

I tug her closer and kiss her forehead, stroking her short hair. "You had this set up?" I whisper, knowing full well that she did.

She nibbles at my throat. "Are you complaining, Ro?"

I sigh as she pulls my jacket off. "No," I tell her thickly and grin when her sure hands remove my bind necklace. My knees shake at the feel of her fingers along the nape of my neck. "It's perfect."

Yukio places the jewelry and my jacket on a nearby dressing table. She steps back when I try to return the favor by undressing her. I cry out in protest.

She smirks at me. "Waiting makes it all the worthwhile," she says, motioning for me to hand her the red kimono. When I do, my little ronin waves her fingers at me and motions for me to turn around.

Frustrated, but all the more aroused, I comply. My clothes seem to fly right off my body. I slip on the kimono and tie the sash, peering over my shoulder. My eyes widen as they drink in the sight of Yukio, who is standing less than a foot away. With her back turned to me, she removes her thong panties and then straightens up. I see that she has a large tattoo, which is presumably new. It is of a green- and blue- scaled dragon coiled around her muscular back and buttocks. I want to run my hands along it, to relish the tight muscles and soft skin underneath. Quickly, I turn away as she puts on her kimono, not wanting to get caught.

When she faces me, there is that impish smile on her face again. She knows. "Like the view?" she asks, leaning over the bubbling waters and sprinkling in some mineral salts.

I shake my long, white tresses over my shoulders and down my back. "I would be lying if I said no," I murmur. My heart is racing in anticipation. I can feel my skin tingling with anticipation. I need to feel her. All of her. Silently, I pray that she touches me soon.

Mercifully, Yukio is perceptive enough to detect this. Once she has emptied the salts into the water, she glides toward me. With an irresistibly sexy smile, she tugs at the sash to my kimono, opening it slightly.

I slip my hand around her small waist, pulling her close and pressing her tiny breasts against mine. Still heady from the pepper vodka, I lean in and lick the inside corner of her lips. Her mouth was as sweet and wicked as I remembered it to be during our last outing together.

Yukio shivers. "New memories," she whispers softly.

"Yes," I assure her, planting my mouth over hers.

As I kiss her deeply, my hands slip her kimono from her shoulders. Listening to the rustling of silk hitting the floor, I shrug out of my own. The fabric caresses the small of my back and buttocks, evoking a sigh from me.

Standing naked next to the tub, her onyx eyes gaze at my hourglass frame and mocha skin. "You are a goddess," she whispers.

"You make me feel like one," I tell her, staring at her small, compact form with plenty of firm, wiry muscle.

Holding hands, we slip into the hot, bubbling waters. Once in the tub, I close my eyes to relish the soothing minerals swirling over my skin. Then I feel her breath in my ear. Her delicate, pointed tongue runs over my lobe and darts around my inner ear. This sends chills down my spine as I sit in the hot water. Skillfully, she glides her tongue in and over and around my ear. I can hear her teeth clicking against my hoop earring.

"You like that?" she inquires, her giggles informing me that she knows I do.

I nod anyway. "More," I moan pleadingly.

She grins and then swoops in on my breasts. Her tongue circle one of my nipples, puckered and brown from the anticipation. She licks lightly at first, making little flicks. "Delicious," she murmurs, placing it between her teeth.

The sharp pain is momentary and it fades from my consciousness when she engulfs my nipple with her hot mouth. It is as if she is drinking me. Her fingers rubbed my other nipple, tweaking and pulling. Crying out, I clutch her head to my chest and grab handfuls of short, black hair.

She licks her way down to my breastbone and then pauses to suckle on each breast. "I've been dreaming of touching you like this again," she says huskily. "You feel so good."

My breathing is getting faster, her words adding to the intensity of her ministrations. For several minutes, she continues nipping and gnawing things out of me I did not know existed. I produce sounds I never knew I can make. Writhing postures take over my body. Bittersweet tastes come and leave the inside of my mouth. I feel like she is transporting me into another place, where only we exist.

Shivering, I can feel my teeth chattering in excitement. "Yukio..." "Ro-chan, you feel so good. Just like silk. Let me inside you."

My legs drift apart. She moves her hand between them. Her fingers explore me. She inserts two fingers into me while her thumb rubs my clit. I close my eyes and throw my head back. Her rapid-fire, piston-like thrusts are earth-shattering as I come.

Suddenly, she takes a deep breath and pinches her nose with two dainty fingers, and dives under. Her hair splays out like seaweed in the water. She drags her tongue over my lips, running it over the hood of my clit. Then she fixes her mouth over clit, licking and sucking. I lean my head back, feeling ready to embrace the height of my orgasm.

Just when I'm about to reach that deliciousness, she runs out of air and surfaces with a sharp gasp. Then she flops out of the tub and sprints to the bed. "Try to catch me, Ro!" she cries out, giggling.

Disappointed but again, still turned on, I haul myself out and follow her to the bed. Slapping her rear playfully, I turn her over. My hand soon grabs her breast, fingers playing with the nipple. "I've got you," I whisper huskily, nipping at her chin and then her mouth. I can eat this lovely creature whole.

Her fingers thread through my hair. "What are you gonna do to me?" she inquires breathily before kissing me deeply.

I don't reply. There is no room for coherent thought. My clit is throbbing wildly now. Without saying anything, I turn her over again so that she is her face down on the bed with her legs hanging over the edge. Then I grind my clit into the crack of her ass, working myself off. I scream her name and for a moment, I swear I hear thunder outside of the room.

Yukio rolls over as I stagger back, keeping her knees bent over the edge. With a flirtatious smile, she spreads her taut, muscular thighs. Her lips open enough to reveal her pink flesh and her clit. The hair is trimmed into the shape of a little heart.

Falling to my knees, I bury my tongue in her crotch. I want to show her that I am a different lover than I was when I first met her. I lick her luscious, waxed lips. Then I ease three fingers in, reaching for her G-spot and tease her clit with my thumb. I ease my shoulder into one of her thighs, pinning her to the bed. I move my fingers inside her, stroking her G-spot, and giving her long, slow licks to intensify the experience.

Yukio starts to tremble. "Ro, please now..." she cries out, pulling my hair so that my face is burrowed deeper between her legs.

I suck and gently flick her clit. I hum and flick, then suck and flick, and finally settle my mouth to suckle at her. At this moment, I am focused on my hunger. There is no way I'm going to stop until I taste every last bit of her. I have been waiting so long for this, to satisfy this hunger.

Suddenly, Yukio shrieks. Her orgasm splashes onto my neck and between my breasts. But I don't pull back until she wrenches my hand away. My eyes rove over her affectionately. She draws me into the circle of her arms, glowing and triumphant.

She presses her mouth against mine. "Ro?"

"New memories," I say softly, running my fingers between her breasts.

Yukio smiles, placing her hand over mine. "New memories."