Infinite

Chapter 8a - The Home from Home

Zephyr emerged quickly from the room, the towel now draped over his left shoulder, a tight blue shirt clinging tightly to his build. It pronounced more muscles than Elixa thought she had seen before. Black, loose pants hung down to black, laceless shoes. She could feel her lip swelling as her teeth found their place along the indents. Damn, but he has my taste in clothing too.

She stopped herself short of undressing him with her eyes, and seeing him shirtless again, but he must have seen the gleam in her eye. There was no way to hide it. If he did notice it though, he said nothing about it.

"So, I believe you do not have University today, or work for that matter. What is it that you do for fun again?" His voice was curious, yet she believed there was a hint of sarcasm.

"I, like to read, play games, practice martial arts. Normal girl things," the last sentence followed by a flick of her hand and a rolling of her eyes, evidence that what she had mentioned was not at all how girls spent their time relaxing. However his ears had pricked up at the mention of martial arts.

"Oh, so we have a fighter. I know we picked you up from your dojo. What is it that you do again?" So he is interested in that is he? She had never lost a fight so if he decided to take her on, the outcome would be interesting. Besides, then she could be close to him again....her mind trailed off suddenly before it was snatched back to the question.

"Uuuhh, yes, I, um, I practice ninjutsu. I prefer it because they stole all the best fighting techniques from the other disciplines and left out the unnecessary extras."

"I am familiar with the style," Zephyr commented calmly. "It is an interest of mine as well. It is dirty, just the way I like it."

A shiver ran along her spine and disappeared at the base of her neck. Dirty, he says. "And your rank, if I may ask."

Zephyr pondered for a moment, then looked to her with his stormy eyes, "It does not matter. It was a long time ago and belt does not dictate skill, rather confidence in your particular art."

Urgh, must you brain, must you ask this now. Lacking restraint, the words left her mouth, "Would you care to show me your skills then?" Irritated with her curiosity, she looked down. She had never been so forthcoming with anyone. She just needed him close again, she needed him to, hold her. "I am considered the best in my class and would like to see how I fair against you." Again, she was never one to boast, yet here she was, opening her eyes to stare into his. Waiting his answer.

He appeared thoughtful, considering, then smiled. "I do not see why not." There was a playfulness, a toying in his eyes that sparkled like a little child's would, or a cat that is about to pounce on its prey. Suddenly her curiosity gave way to nervousness, but she would not back down from this now. Where would be best? There was nowhere for them to spar here. Maybe...

"I have the keys to the dojo. I am the only one Sensei would trust with them, and I am sure she would not mind if we sparred there. She said it would always be open to me."

"Then we best get going, if I remember correctly it was quite a way. Though I doubt we will lack conversation." Elixa smiled shyly at his comment, then moved to get her tog bag almost forgotten from the other night. She would need to be prepared for this fight, and that meant the right accessories.

The walk was not as long as she had hoped. They spoke lazily about the day, the way the clouds moved slowly across the sky and how soothing it was to both of them. Her feelings around him changed very little, though she felt if they kept the conversation simple she could keep her mind off the way he glided along the path, his muscles under his shirt, his cool grey eyes, the ease at which he seemed around her.