Chapter Two: Hiru-gohan no Ato De

As much as he loved to perform, Isamu had been grateful for the week to start up again. They only had one performance during the week, so he had free time. And he was equally grateful that they were currently concentrating on a small grouping of states in New England, rather than trying to cover the whole country in a period of a few months. It left him time to find Sierra again. It had taken quite a bit of effort, but Isamu had found the college she attended.

There were people eyeing the limo as they walked by, but none approached it, so he was able to keep the window down just a bit. Just enough to allow some light and color to flood the limo, so that he was able to see the glitter of copper in Sierra's red hair. The school was built at the top of the hill, and she was walking down a ramp out of the building, followed by her friend Tiffany. The blonde was chattering continuously; Isamu could see that even from here. But he as much more interested in watching Sierra, who walked with her head held high and a confident, somewhat sexy swing to her step.

He saw her step falter when she noticed the limo. She might have simply ignored it, but Tiffany had seen it too, and she was tugging Sierra towards it. Isamu leaned forward eagerly and rolled the window down further. He rested his arms on the open window, propped his head up on his arms, and smiled at Sierra as she and the blonde approached. He watched the expression on her face flicker back and forth between dismay and excitement. Come here, pretty little fire-hair, Isamu thought, letting a hand dangle out of the window.

"Hiii!" Tiffany squealed. "I mean, konnichiwa! O-genki desu ka?"

Sierra looked away, rolling her eyes. Isamu fought back laughter. Even though he spoke English, he found it charming when Americans spoke Japanese for his sake. Still, he could understand why she might be irritated. Tiffany's obsession was overbearing. And he got the feeling that after the blonde's little stunt, leaving Sierra behind in the parking lot, they weren't on the best of terms.

"Hai, arigatou gozaimasu," Isamu replied, keeping his answer strictly textbook Japanese. And also keeping his gaze on Sierra when he spoke. "Would you like to join me for lunch, Sierra?"
Her eyes widened slightly. "I um...I'd...that is to say..."

"Her?" Tiffany asked, frowning. "She doesn't even really like your music!"

"I'd love to," Sierra answered, shooting a glare at Tiffany.

The blonde stared at her, open-mouthed. Apparently she hadn't been expecting Sierra to fight back. Grinning, Isamu opened the door of the limo and beckoned her in. She shouldered her backpack, lifted her chin stubbornly, and slipped into the limo. As soon as she was inside and the door was closed and the window rolled up, she slumped down on the seat. Sierra sighed heavily, and he got the feeling that she already doubted her decision.

"You really don't like my music?" Isamu asked, his voice slightly teasing. He hoped to lighten the mood.

Sierra glanced at him, startled. A hint of a smile touched the corners of her mouth. "I'm not that familiar with it," she told him. "So, where did you have in mind for lunch?"

"You pick," Isamu said, smiling back at her. "Please."

He was relieved when she suggested a small sandwich shop, one he actually knew of and liked, rather than a Japanese restaurant. Isamu enjoyed variety in his life, especially in his food, and his mother had been stuffing him full of rich, traditional Japanese food every night since he'd arrived. Yukio was teasing him that it had been only two weeks and he was already putting on weight. Isamu gave the driver directions, then sat in silence for the short ride to the sandwich shop.

He slid out of the limo and went around to the other side. Sierra was already getting out, but she actually took his arm when he offered.

"Such a gentleman," Sierra teased, leaning against him as they walked into the shop. "Much more polite than you were the other night."

Isamu smiled sheepishly. "I apologize for that, Sierra. I don't know what got into me. I'm not usually like that."

Her hip pressed against his thigh as they walked. He noted that her cheeks were slightly red. Isamu led her to a table at the back of the sandwich shop. One good thing about being a foreign band was that they weren't so well known as to be swarmed on the streets. Not in a small town like this. They sat down across from each other and Isamu was rewarded with a warm, shy smile. Sierra rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward, her smile turning slightly mischievous.

"So it wasn't because you find me irresistible?" she asked, smiling teasingly.

Isamu laughed. "Maybe I do," he said. "Tell me about yourself, Sierra."

"You first!" Sierra said, laughing softly.

So Isamu told her some things about himself, like that he was half-American, which she technically already knew. That he could also speak some French because Akio had taught him, but also some Spanish, too, just a little. He told her about seeing the cranes dance and watching the cherry blossoms and learning to make tea bowls for the tea ceremony. Sierra watched him, her eyes intent and interested in a way that was different than he was used to. Isamu realized she was interested in who he was as a person, not as a rock star.

And he loved the way she laughed. It was open, free; she tossed her head back and seemed to be unaware that she flashed her teeth, which were just a wee bit crooked. Isamu watched her, fascinated by her inner fire. She seemed very quiet at first, but the longer they talked, the more passion showed.

"So, what about you?" Isamu asked. "Good family life? No um...big scandals or anything?"

"Um...well..." Sierra began hesitantly. "My mother left my father when I was younger because...well, she was scared of my grandfather."

Isamu's eyebrows rose. "What? Why?"

She smiled at him, a small, sad smile that made him regret asking. He shook his head, indicating that she didn't need to answer the question if she didn't want to, then immediately changed the subject. Isamu soon had her laughing again, talking about her favorite things to do as a child, her favorite music, food, colors, everything. Sierra shared memories of Tiffany, who had always been pretty annoying, it turned out, and he shared stories of Yukio, Rai, and Akio. It was the best afternoon he had spent in ages.

*****

Sierra had agreed to visit Isamu's new apartment, although she knew she probably shouldn't have. He'd asked her if she would give him her opinion on the décor, although she couldn't help wondering if he had more planned. Having enjoyed lunch with him as much as she had, she almost hoped that he did have more planned. I must have lost my mind completely, Sierra decided, as she followed Isamu up to his apartment. I know better than to follow someone I hardly know to their apartment. Yet she allowed him to hold her hand and pull her along.

It was a very lovely place, done in neutral colors; cream couches and chairs, rugs of soft, charcoal gray, throw pillows and blankets of brown and cream. The wooden furniture was all glossy mahogany. Sierra could see the bedroom through the open door, and it was much the same. The bed was large, covered in fluffy pillows and blankets in shades of gray, like the carpet. It was the kind of bed that made a person want to toss themselves onto it and spread out like a happy cat.

Looking around, she noticed some picture frames, some on the walls and some on the coffee table. Most of them were pictures of Isamu with the rest of his band, but there was one of him with some American girl. Sierra fought away the urge to ask who she was. She turned her attention to him and smiled, showing her approval. Isamu smiled back at her, a cute, flirtatious smile that made her heart leap. I am in so much trouble, Sierra thought.

"Haha is happy that I have an apartment here now," Isamu told her. "She says I'll be here more if I have my own home to return you."

"Will you?" Sierra asked, before she could stop herself.

Isamu smiled at her. "I have to admit, I'm finding more reasons to visit this country every day," he told her. "Come here. I want to show you something."

Sierra followed him into the bedroom, a bit apprehensively. Her eyes were drawn immediately to the bamboo wall scrolls. Paintings of panda bears, samurai, and cherry trees covered the slats of bamboo. They were lovely, one of the prettiest thing she'd ever seen. Isamu watched her as she studied them. She was very aware of his eyes on her, but she couldn't help reaching out and gently touching on the paintings. He came up behind her and reached up, catching her hand with his.

"You like that one?" Isamu asked. His breath was warm against her ear.

"Yes," Sierra answered, her voice slightly breathless. She leaned back against him without really thinking about it.

His mouth touched her neck. She sighed at the light brush of his tongue dragging over the spot where he had left the hickey several days ago. Isamu's arms closed around her, pulling her up against him. Sierra tilted her head, allowing him to kiss his way up along her throat. When he turned her in his arms, she lifted her mouth eagerly to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sank against him, enjoying the teasing of his lips over hers.

Isamu stepped back, slowly pulling her towards the bed. Sierra went with him, sighing softly as his hands slid beneath her shirt. His touch was gently explorative, sliding over her ribs and up to her breasts, cupping them gently and stroking her nipples through the thin material of her bra. She leaned into him, laughing as he tumbled them back onto the bed. Isamu quickly had her pinned beneath him, his thighs straddling her hips. Sierra wound her fingers into his hair and smiled up at him as he pulled his mouth from hers.

"Do you want me to stop?" Isamu asked quietly.

He was watching her with those deep, dark eyes of his, watching her hopefully. She should tell him to stop, but she really didn't want to. Sierra tightened her fingers around his hair and pulled his mouth down to hers once more. As his tongue slid between her hips, she ran her hands down Isamu's back, and slid them up beneath the shirt. He groaned softly and nipped at her lower lip. He must have realized that she wasn't going to stop him, because he slid his hands beneath her back, lifting her up to get at the latch of her bra.

Sierra helped him pull of her shirt and the bra, too. As his mouth lowered to her breasts, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. Isamu's mouth tugged at one painfully taut nipple until she was squirming beneath him. She didn't want him to stop, but she also wanted to get that damn shirt off.

"This," Sierra panted, tugging at the shirt. "Get it off. Now!"

Isamu chuckled softly. She shivered as warm breath washed over her breasts. He sat back and pulled the shirt off, tossing it aside. Late afternoon sunlight spilling in through the bedroom windows gave his brown skin a warm, golden glow. Sierra ran her hands up over his chest, gripped his shoulders, and pulled him back down to her. She moaned softly at the feeling of his skin against hers. It had been such a very, very long time since she'd experienced this.

Isamu's mouth went back to hers. He kissed her until she was breathless and lightheaded. Sierra could feel the pressure of his body as he leaned over, reaching for the night table beside the bed. She heard him open a drawer and rustle around in it for something. Pulling her mouth back from his, she turned her head in time to see Isamu pull a condom from the drawer. She looked up at him, her eyebrows raising, a smile touching the corners of her mouth.

"You were prepared for this, weren't you?" Sierra asked, her voice slightly teasing.

"I'm always prepared for anything," Isamu told her, brushing his lips over hers. "In this case it was more like hope than preparation, though."

Sierra laughed. "Oh, stop it. I'm already letting you, there's no need for flattery!"

"It isn't flattery," Isamu murmured.

Then he was kissing her again. His hands traveled down over her breasts, down her stomach, to the top of her jeans. Sierra lifted her hips for him, allowing him to unfasten her jeans and pull them down. She was trembling, but in anticipation, not in fear. Isamu's fingers gently stroked her thighs, slowly creeping his way up as she spread her legs. Sierra gasped as his fingers slid beneath her panties and teased her, arousing her and making her wet.

"Beautiful," Isamu murmured against her skin. His lips rested against her belly.

She moaned as he slid a finger inside her. It was so sudden and surprising, and it felt so good. Sierra had forgotten just how good this sort of thing could feel. She lifted her hips into his touch, biting back a small noise as his thumb brushed against her clit. Isamu leaned over and pressed his mouth to hers, sliding his tongue between her lips. She put her arms around him, drawing him down against her eagerly. Sierra let her hands run down his back, around to his stomach, to the top of his jeans to unfasten them.

"You're sure?" Isamu asked, panting slightly. He sounded as urgent as she felt.

In response, Sierra tugged his jeans down. She sat up, taking the condom from him. Isamu watched her, his dark blue eyes almost completely closed, his breath catching in his throat as she wrapped a hand around him.

"I want you," Sierra said quietly. "I...can't really explain it, but..."

"Then don't," Isamu told her, touching her cheek. "Some things were not meant to be explained, Sierra..."

He was right. She leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. Isamu helped her get the condom on, because her fingers were shaking slightly. His lips touched her earlobe, his teeth nipped at it lightly. He trailed a hand down her body, between her thighs, sliding beneath her panties once more. Sierra moaned softly; she was wet enough, but he teased her until she couldn't take it any more. She pulled him with her as she lay back on the bed. Isamu hooked his fingers around the waistband of her panties, and she lifted her hips, letting him take them off.

He was careful as he slid inside her. Sierra experienced a little bit of discomfort, because it had been so long, but it faded quickly. She shivered at the drag of his body in hers as he withdrew most of the way, then pushed back in. Isamu's hands found her wrists, pinning them down onto the bed. He held her in place, with his hands and his mouth on hers, as he thrust into her. Sierra moaned, bringing her hips up to meet his, awkward in her rhythm at first, but her body remembered fast.

It wasn't meant to be romantic, but it felt like more than just sex. Isamu laid gentle kisses against her face, her neck, and her shoulders. His fingers found hers, closing around them, keeping their hands tightly together. At one point he lifted his head and looked down at her, his dark blue eyes glittering with a surprising warmth. Sierra watched him lower his head to her breasts and sighed at the feeling of his lips and tongue on her skin. It felt like he was savoring her.

Each thrust built the friction between them. Each thrust slowly built the rhythm and the pace. Isamu's body moved fluidly, gracefully, into hers. Sierra clung to him tightly, closing her eyes as her body tightened. She pressed her face against his shoulder, muffling her soft cry as she came. She would have thought, after so long, her body would not have been this easily responsive. It was almost as if Isamu had known her for a long time.

Sierra was actually a little embarrassed by her low stamina. She was glad that Isamu simply allowed himself to savor a quick, sweet release. Both of them were sweaty and out of breath, but the clung to one another as they rested. That was actually...very nice, she thought, smiling to herself. Sierra had often thought of herself as rather straight-laced; it had felt good to just give in to a bit of lust for once.

"Tell me something, Sierra," Isamu said quietly, as he finally settled down beside her. "Am I special?"

"Meaning?" Sierra asked, leaning back against him.

"You don't seem like the type of girl to follow a guy to his apartment and sleep with him," Isamu explained. "So I guess...I'm hoping that makes me special."

Sierra smiled slightly. "And if I say yes? If I tell you you're special, you're different?"

Isamu didn't answer. He simply nuzzled his lips against her neck. He is special, she decided, sinking against him. I don't know why, exactly, but he is. Sierra had never believed in love at first sight, but she did believe that she had a connection with Isamu. He must have felt the same way. Isamu allowed her to pick one of the bamboo scrolls to take home with her and told her it was a promise: he'd see her again.